*I went out of town for the first weekend without Lucas.  We had a great girls’ weekend at the beach for a bachelorette party. It was fun even if it wasn’t that warm!!

*Lucas is now going to preschool 3 times a week.  He loves it there and loves his teachers and friends there.

*Lucas is cruising…cruising…cruising.  H is all over the place and hopefully will be walking soon.  We are doing physical therapy once every 2 months.  His muscles are doing what they need to and nothing is developing differently, it’s just a matter of time now.  God is good!!

*He also dropped his morning nap!! He looks pretty tired around 10:30, but if we can play and keep him occupied, he can make it til around 12:30.

*Lucas is also the March of Dimes ambassador child for the High Country!! We are excited to be a part of such an amazing organization that helps all babies, healthy and premature!! We are starting the campaign already, so if you want to help and donate, here is the link:

www.marchforbabies.org/goteamlucas

The big event is April 22nd at the Stadium at ASU.  It is going to be a great event for families!! There are games, food and lots of activities that you can play with some of the ASU athletes!! Mark your calendars for an awesome event!!

1. Date Night once a month.  Thanks to friends and family for gift certificates to restaurants and baby sitting coupons!

2. Nightly devotional with Andy and Lucas.

3. Be in the present.  When I’m at school, be there….when I’m with Lucas and Andy, be present with them.  Don’t be thinking about what I need to do when I get somewhere else or what I should be doing.  (Of course, as I write this, Andy and Lucas are playing on the floor, so this will be a tough one for me.)

4. Every day is a gift from God.  I need to treat it that way.  Everyday I will find one way to make a difference in someone’s life…whether it be giving an extra hug to a kiddo, a note to a co-worker, or holding the door to a stranger.  Find a way to share God’s love!!

5. Don’t argue about the little things…and unless it’s a matter of eternity, then it’s little.  This has come up over the past month twice…in a sermon this Sunday and in a discussion in Bible Study.  It seems so simple, but makes such since.  The times I am most frustrated is when someone doesn’t see something my way.  But unless it’s a matter of eternity, then it really doesn’t matter if someone doesn’t use the same pacifiers, swaddle their baby, go to public school, or agree on any of the little things.  We all have our own opinion, and I don’t need to get so worked up!

So there it is!! Only 5…I wanted to keep it simple so I don’t forget them!! HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Then on Monday, after 2 sleepless nights, we took Lucas in to the doctor and found out he had a bad ear infection. He also had a really bad cold that we got medicine for and he is getting 2 or 3 molars in. That combination made for a very sad Lucas. Luckily, the antibiotic is helping and he is feeling better.

All in all a great Christmas spent with family…even with a sick little boy!

One of my friends took some sweet pictures of Lucas!! Here is last year’s picture:

Lucsa in the stocking

Naughty....

...Or Nice!!

Our gift from God

And now…one year later….Lucas is growing up!!

Hi Bear!

Smiles!

Wonder

So happy!

Ready For Christmas

It’s hard  because we don’t want to give Lucas too much medicine.  Does he need Tylenol, Teething Tablets or Ibuprofen?  We don’t want to give him anything if he doesn’t need it, but when he wakes up in the middle of the night screaming….then I think maybe I should have given him something.

Again…we need prayers to do what is best for Lucas!! OF COURSE….we are so blessed that this is what we are thinking about today.  Lucas is a healthy little chunk! He is “thinning down” because he is so active.  Still not walking, but cruising around and pulling up on EVERYTHING!!!

Anyways….so we went and got a Christmas Tree.  It was awesome!! We went to a friend that Andy knew, and it was not just a “pick your tree” experience.  He had a Clydesdale horse that gave rides and pulled the tree to your car.  We didn’t venture out on the ride for Lucas.  We almost got a family picture, but our battery was acting up…so we only got individual pictures with Lucas.  Lucas also saw the moon…and was pretty amazed at it.  He kept pointing and pointing…and if I turned him another way, he would stretch his way around until he could see it! Loved it!

Lucas, Andy and the horse

With our tree

Looking at the moon

Andy and I were talking about what “words” Lucas knows.  Of course…dada.  He still laughs when I say mama and try to get him to say it.  He can say light “llll”, grandpa and grandma “gapa…gama,” ball “ba,”  kitty cat “kii ca,”  Boomer “Boo.”  I can’t remember others, but I think this is pretty good?? It’s amazing what he knows and words he recognizes.  He LOVES to look at his pictures on the wall.  If we ask, “Where’s Baby Lucas,”  he has the flirty smile, turns his head and points to himself.  It is seriously the cutest thing! Lucas has good self esteem!

He knows some sign language, and the newest one is a bit amusing.  Lucas is a biter…no other way to say it.  He bites when he is frustrated or tired…and last week, he bit a kid in preschool.  Of course, I was mortified!!!!  I talked to moms, looked online (still not the best idea) and tried to figure out how to help him.  So the best plan I had was to giving him a teething cloth on a paci clip and give him that to chew on…Well, he took it off and swung it around and around…so that’s not helping.  We also decided to move him away from us (like a time out) and tell him “no biting” while showing the sign language for no.  (Side note….it took almost 4 months for Lucas to learn the sign for more…after doing it every meal over and over and over again.) So…the first time I show him “no”  he signs it back to me.  When he bites, I do it…and it’s almost like he is talking back to me in sign language!! REALLY!! Already!!   Yes…I love my sweet little biter, but this is one of many things where I feel lost and so confused.  But I know with God’s help, we will get through this.  Do you think Jesus was a biter? Or was he the perfect baby?

Happy note!! Lucas no longer needs physical therapy weekly!! Physically he is doing great! He is now cruising around while holding onto the couch, toys, cabinets, anything and everything.  He is also letting us hold his fingers and he takes a few steps…if he is in the mood.  We will keep therapy once every other week because we are trying to help him with feeding.  He still prefers most of his fruits and veggies pureed.  He will eat cantelope, watermelon and banana not pureed (he eats other things that are not fruits or veggies), but most everything else is pureed.  So we will keep working on that.

Getting very excited because Aunt JJ and Uncle JJ will be here soon!!   Lucas will be getting baptized Christmas Eve so they can be there!! Can’t wait!!

Talking to Kitty

Lucas loves bath time!

Lucas was a monkey for Halloween but did NOT like his costume!! It was a tad bulky and he didn’t keep his outfit on very long!! Next year I think it will be more successful!!

Monkey Man

We had a good relaxing Thanksgiving! Ate WAY TOO MUCH at Granna’s and just hung around.  I think Lucas was a bit overwhelmed with the amount of people around him, so he ate most of lunch in the other room where no one was!!   He also had about the 10th cold in about 3 months…so the nose sucker has been in full force!

I actually ran an entire 5K on Thanksgiving!! They had the first Turkey Trot in Boone to benefit the Hospitality House.  I had a friend run with me and she kept me going!! I was VERY proud of making it the whole way!! There were a couple of hills that almost did me in, but I made it! Made it easier to pile on the sweet potato casserole!   We hung out at my parent’s house and Andy helped put Christmas lights up.  When we got home, he started getting the outside of our house ready as well!! We are going to get our Christmas tree tomorrow!! We’ve decided that should be part of our tradition!! I’ve been writing down all the “traditions” I would like to start! We will see which ones make it!!

Lucas is pulling up EVERYWHERE!! At church today, I go to get him and he is pulling up on the table trying to eat snacks from other kids! It was pretty funny!

All in all, a great Thanksgiving and now countdown to Christmas! So thankful for the time I get to spend with the 2 greatest guys!!

-I am thankful I found my camera.  I think God put it in Lucas’ diaper bag because i SWEAR it was not there.
-I am thankful for an amazing family and extended family who love us, help us and are there for us.
-I am thankful for an AMAZING husband who helps out more than I could ever imagine.  He makes Lucas laughs, loves him, cares for him, and is just WONDERFUL!
-I am thankful for the cutest little guy ever! I found out from my doctor in Charlotte that because of the septated uterus, and how big the wall really is…I should not have been able to have Lucas. So….
-I am thankful for an AMAZING God who can do the impossible and perform miracles.
-I am thankful for sweet friends who help me with my walk in faith, keep me laughing and going throughout the days, weeks and months.
-I am thankful for a job where I can spend my day teaching and molding young minds…praying that I can help change their lives.
-I am thankful for a church family that cares and loves for each other and those around us.
-I am thankful for my brother serving in the Navy.
-I am thankful for prayer.  How amazing is it that we can have access to God at anytime…he is always listening.  He might not answer the way we want, but he hears us.
-I am thankful for my health and doctors and my amazing midwife who helped us.
-I am thankful for Andy’s health and continue growth and recovery from his stroke.
-I am thankful for everyone who has helped us and prayed for us through our bumps in the road.

What if tomorrow all you had was what you thanked God for today??