13 months!

 

Dear Luca,

 

You are SUCH a big boy right now. Every day you look less and less like a baby, and I love the little man you're becoming. This past month has been pretty busy with Christmas and family gatherings, and you've loved every minute of the social interaction. You're such a busy boy and constantly on the go. Unfortunately for mama this means I can't take care of you for the majority of the day because I'm taking care of your baby sister. But you're having the most fabulous time with your Rara (grandma), and you also still see your cousins a lot.

 

 

Your favorite toys are any kind of ball, truck/car, any sort of remote or phone, and your new bike. You love to play catch with us, and you're throwing really well with both arms- I still think you're probably going to be right-handed, but we'll see! You make the cutest noises when you're playing with your trucks, and you occasionally get into your own little world while driving your cars around the wood floor.

 

You really understand a lot of what we say- mama will tell you to throw the ball, press the button, put the cap/top on the box, give a kiss/high five, ring the bell, turn the lights on/off, open or close a drawer, and that's just the beginning! When we say "where's your head/feet/toes" you're able to show us- it's adorable. We're working on nose and belly, but you always point to mama's belly when I ask you where yours is!

 

You're still pointing at everything asking "that?". We'll tell you what it is, and you sometimes try to say the word. When asked, you can identify and point to a ton of things- to name a few: window, chair, table, light, lamp, cup/milk, door, fan, hat, head, toes, foot, socks, pillow, toy box, box top, ball, bike, helmet, truck, dinosaur and of course mama and dada. You love to point to mama's growing belly and give your sister kisses.

 

Your vocabulary is growing slowly, but a few weeks ago you discovered the word "whoa" and you said it enthusiastically non-stop for a week or so. Here's a cute little video of New Year's Eve.

 

 

 

 You also say: mama, dada, ball, more, light, blow, pess (early please?), bum bum. We spend a lot of time with the alphabooks, and you really like watching mama sound out the different letters. You sometimes try to imitate, but sometimes just watch my mouth closely.

 

 

You're not quite walking yet, but you seem to really want to. You can coast from furniture to furniture without any assistance, but you don't really want to walk by yourself without at least touching a hand or holding onto a pant leg. You do want to climb on everything, though, making it more difficult for mama to take your monthly photos!

 

 You're very goofy sometimes and you do the silliest things- you love blowing your nose in socks or any kind of tissue/paper towel. You scrunch your lips up to your nose when you blow and it's so darn cute.

 

 

Mommy and Daddy are so happy when you're around, and you light up our days! We love you, Luca- happy 13 months:)

 

 

32 weeks and our Christmas!

 

Well here we are- into 2013, and I'm into my 30s! Baby is  baby is a little over 16 inches long and weighs between 4 and 4 ½ pounds, although she was weighing about that at my last ultrasound. My doctor tells me that second babies generally are 1/2 to 1 pound heavier than first babies, so that would make sense that she's a little bigger. Her skeleton is fully formed, but her bones are still very soft. Her lungs are also continuing to mature, but I'm glad I had the steroid injections just in case she decides to make an earlier appearance!

 

I've been feeling ok lately, but just ok. I'm still resting for the majority of the day while my wonderful mother-in-law watches and plays with Luca. It's been unbelievable to have this support system because honestly over Christmas when I was on my feet a bit more I actually felt my body changing, swelling, and heading toward the dreaded pre-eclampsia. I have a check-up tomorrow, so hopefully things are still alright with that because I felt like doodoo when I developed HELLP with Luca.

 

Christmas was wonderful, and I agree when people say the holidays are so much more fun when viewing them through a child's eyes.

 

Christmas morning we had breakfast and Luca quickly discovered his Santa gifts and his stocking.

We got him the Fisher Price elephant popper, and although it's kind of loud and the balls go everywhere, Luca loves it.

 

 

 

 

Luca also got a new train set from his Aunt and Uncle- how cute is this?!

After cleaning out his stocking, it was time to chase Max and get his stocking too! This picture pretty much sums up life around our house. Max gets comfortable with a toy or in his bed, and Luca chases him. I guess it's keeping Max young and on his toes!

 

 And what would Christmas be without a little snow! We really hadn't had much snow this year, and I was SO excited when we woke up to a few fluffy inches! We got Luca a new snowsuit for Christmas and we discovered he LOVES being outside in the white stuff. He literally cried hysterically when we had to go inside to get ready for the day.

Every year we go to my in-laws to have Christmas dinner, and this year was a little different than last! Last year Luca was only three weeks old!

 

 What a little cutie... won't be long before I have another little one (yikes- two under two!).

 

My how a year changes it all- Luca is almost walking and all he wants to do is play and learn!

 

 

My MIL has a beautiful party room that she uses for family dinners and holidays. The menu was delicious this year and I had every intention of taking pictures of the spread, but a certain toddler kept me *very busy!

  

 

It was an early year for us though- after opening gifts and singing around the piano, we headed home so Luca could get some sleep. It's so different celebrating holidays when you have children- much of the schedule is based around their sleep/eating needs- it's not like it used to be, that's for sure!

This time next year we'll have two... I still can't believe it.

 

Hope everyone had a fabulous Christmas!

Nursery inspiration for the little lady!

When thinking about baby girl's nursery, I really wanted something girlie but something that would grow with her. Luca's nursery (seen here) definitely has a theme, but I'm not so sure there's an actual theme for this nursery- modern vintage? pretty in pink? I dunno- just pretty:) We've officially painted the nursery (almost done!), and all of the furniture has arrived and is ready to put in the room, so I figured I would share our inspiration! I still have so much to do, but the walls are painted with Benjamin Moore silky smooth, and we'll be adding gray accents to counter the pink. I'm excited about how it looks so far and I'm hoping we can find the perfect details to complete our girl's room! Any ideas?!

Oh, and an update on my pregnancy- I was on my feet quite a bit more than I had been over the holidays and I certainly paid for it. We were at L&D yesterday because I was having some cramping and back pain, and I'm a little dilated, cervix is still effaced (was before though) and I was sent home to rest (already had the steroid injections and am on progesterone). Ugh... sometimes I think my back hurts because I'm not on my feet, but I guess that theory is busted!

Happy Holidays!

Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! Wishing you all a happy and healthy New Year!

Dear Santa (from Luca's mom)

Being pregnant during Christmas-time means a few things: an excuse to eat yummy cookies and treats, a reason to wear stretchy pants 24/7, and a tough time creating a Christmas list for yourself. I can't even think about wearing anything smaller than a size XL right now, my feet have grown so shoes are out, and you can only put so many pair of slippers on your list!

 

So I started thinking about what I would really like to get- even if it's just to create a list of future things I would like to gather for our home. We do entertain, not often, but when we do it's really nice to have a few things that make it easier to mingle with guests instead of constantly refilling the water jugs or serving plates. 

 

Pottery Barn glass drink dispenser and stand- I actually purchased this for my mother-in-law last year as a hostess gift for throwing me a shower while pregnant with Luca. It's simple, clean and looks great with the white ceramic stand. It's really an item you will use forever.

Pottery Barn 3-tier serving stand- I feel like everyone needs a 3-tier serving stand, and I love the look of this one. I haven't seen it in person, but eventually I would love to add it to our collection of serving dishes.

Snoozies Slippers- So this isn't just because I'm pregnant, on bed rest, and wearing slippers every day, but these are the BEST slippers. I have a pair, and they are seriously worn out and in need of replacement. They're so comfy and even have a non-stick sole so I can go outside if I need to. Love these.

Crate and Barrel Staccato Sugar and Creamer - This is the pattern of dishes we use from our wedding registry, and I didn't really think we would need a sugar and creamer, but again when you're entertaining it's nice to have something that matches.

Mini Tripod for my Canon DSLR- Last Christmas my big gift was a Canon Rebel (which I absolutely LOVE), and I would like to be able to take group shots and this mini tripod gets pretty good ratings at a great price.

I would love any books to read with my kid(s), a few things for the new baby girl, capri pajama pants, and a larger steaming pot (ours is little).

And finally, I think something I would really love this year is any amount/gift certificate toward a family photo shoot with Amanda of Doubly Happy Photography. I was a blogger for the website weddingbee (Mrs. Champagne), and so was Amanda- Mrs. Hot Cocoa! She took our maternity photos just a few days before Luca was born and we love her- you can see them here!

So there are a few things on my list! I'm not really expecting to get any of them, but it's nice to create a list of things you need or want eventually for the house. Any other good suggestions to add to my "house wish list"?

Dear Santa (from Luca)

This is actually Luca's second Christmas, but things are a little different this year. Last year he really didn't need toys or clothes, but this year he's exploring all that is around him. So here's what will be under the tree this year (or gifts he's already been given for his birthday)- not all from us!

Joovy Tricycoo Tricycle: I really wanted a tricycle that could grow with Luca, and surprisingly there are a lot of options! I loved this version because it had so many settings that could be changed. You can either steer and push the bike with the safety arms attached, or the front wheel pedals can be unlocked allowing the pedals to spin freely without force and "go" without the need to pedal. Then obviously when the child is ready it becomes a fully functional tricycle. One thing I really liked about this bike compared with the others is that the wheels are injection-molded with urethane treads instead of plastic, so it'll work well on our not-always-so-smooth sidewalks.

Little Nutty Helmet- rocket ships! This helmet has excellent safety ratings, and obviously has fun color/pattern choices! Part of the reason we love this helmet is that it has a spin-dial fit system that adjusts from 18" to 20.5" and it'll probably fit Luca for many years.

Lego Duplo Large Brick Box- Luca is more interested right now in the car and the box that this comes in than the actual blocks, but I know these will eventually be a favorite. We actually got the emergency vehicle set, and hubs already built the building on the front of the box- only to have Luca knock it down immediately:)

Melissa and Doug Puzzles- Wooden shape puzzles are fun, and again I'm sure Luca will appreciate them soon, but for now he just likes to take out the shapes and use them while he crawls to go faster.
They also occasionally end up in his mouth while he crawls- he's a funny dude.

Noah's Ark Shape Sorter- Luca actually received this as a birthday gift and we love it! Similar to the puzzles this is great for development and organization.

Baby Einstein Alphabooks- This is actually a collection of 26 mini books. Each letter book has three pictures beginning with that letter - a cartoon, artwork, and a photograph along with the word that corresponds. I purchased this for Luca not quite sure if I would want mini books everywhere, but then I saw my friend E @ Oh!Apostrophe recommend it and say that they all fit well in the box, so I figure we'll give them a try. The reviews are great and many parents claim this book is why their children know their alphabet and sounds so early. I find it odd that the manufacturer recommends this for ages 10+... I'm not sure what 10 year old needs alphabet review, but who knows.

Toddler Towels- we've officially grown out of the infant hoodies, and although I know we could just use regular towels, I really like hooded towels for kids. Plus, I found the pottery barn towels on sale and couldn't resist!

Books! Luca's attention span can usually handle a longer book these days, so we are addition to the library. Here are a few titles that we either received as gifts and loved, will be getting, or would like:
Good Night Good Night, Construction Site by Sherri Rinker- a birthday gift we love!
The Wheels on the Bus by Paul O. Zelinsky
We're Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen
Dinosaur Vs. Bedtime by Bob Shea
How Do Dinosaurs Say I Love You by Jane Yolen
One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish Blue Fish, Dr. Seuss
and of course The Night Before Christmas


So there are just a few things Luca either got for his birthday or gifts he will be getting for Christmas.
We also plan on getting him push toys and a toy vacuum/broom some time soon- Christmas and birthday all in one month mean toy overload! He loves playing with the broom, but it's just too big!

I wish shopping for everyone else were as much fun as shopping for an energetic 1 year old!

12 months!

 

 

 

I know the blog has been all about Luca turning one lately (I actually missed his 11 month post), so I promise this will be the last post about that. I want to continue taking monthly photos, but I'm not sure how I'll do it from now on- suggestions welcome!

 

Dear Luca,

You are such a big boy. This month you turned one, and it's like a switch was flipped on your behavior. It's much more.. toddler-like.

Most of your favorite things to do involve loud noises- banging maracas on walls, floors, tables, your head, anything! You're loving playing the drums, and sometimes I'll give you the wipe container while I'm changing your diaper and you play that like a drum- it distracts you long enough so I can change you! Noise and music are huge for distraction while changing your diaper- you still love the kazoo! You also love driving your trucks and cars around, and you make the cutest little truck noise while "driving".

Your attention span is all over the place- sometimes you can play on your own for a while, and other times you go from toy to toy very quickly. Anything that you can slide on the wood floor can amuse you for a while- you recently discovered the drawer where mommy keeps the placemats, and you took them all out to crawl while sliding on them. You also do that with puzzle pieces and books.

You understand a lot of words, but we're still hearing only a few words from you- mama, dada, light, dog, nanana (banana- your first three syllable word!) and I *think milk and max (these are fairly new and inconsistent). Your dad gave mom the most beautiful flower arrangement for your birthday, and we talk about them during dinner so you now point to them when I ask you where the flowers are. You're pointing at everything these days! We talk a lot about what's around the house.  

We put up the Christmas tree on your birthday, and you came down from a nap to see the lights for the first time. It was pretty cute! You love lights, and I thought it would be hard to keep you away from the tree, but you're being very good at looking from afar. Whew!

You love to give hugs and kisses, and mama loves getting them from you. You met your great grandfather a few weeks ago, and mama got a picture of the four generations of men on daddy's side of the family- that was pretty special! Granshan came to visit again, and you also met mama's dad! You are SO loved.

You're eating a lot more food now that we've tried to switch from the bottle to sippy cup and to whole milk all at the same time. You started using a sippy cup a few months ago and have had no problem with it during meals, but trying to get you to drink more than an ounce is proving to be difficult. So during the day when you're with your auntie you don't really drink much milk- hopefully you're going to start drinking more out of the sippy cup soon! Some of your favorite foods are blueberries, apples, squash, tomatoes, grapes, bananas and yogurt. You had your first peanut butter and jelly sandwich with daddy last weekend and I think you really liked it!

You have four teeth up top and two on the bottom. The two on the bottom aren't exactly close to each other, so we're interested to see if the one in the middle will pop up next. You're certainly teething in a unique way, and that's fitting for your personality:)

 
You're not quite walking yet, but you reeeeally want to! You're scooting everything around like it's a walker, including your high chair and the dining room chairs. I guess it's a good thing we have wood floors! Mommy needs to get you some shoes so we don't have to take off your socks all the time because you slip.

What else- you like to turn the pages when we read, and you sometimes get specific about what you want to read. You got a few new books for your birthday, and we've also been reading Christmas books, so that's a fun change.

Sleep- your bedtime is 6:30-7, and you usually wake up anywhere from 4-6 for a morning bottle and some cuddles. If it's early, mommy gets you to go to sleep again until 7ish, but sometimes you are up for the day- you just never know! We still try to get you to take two naps, but it's hard sometimes when you're excited. You spend the day with your cousins, and you just don't want to miss anything- my little social bug:)

Your one year check-up went great! You had immunizations and you did really well- you held onto an apple afterward and wouldn't let go- it was sad but adorable. You weigh about 23 pounds, and you're 30.5 inches tall (73rd percentile). You're wearing 18 month size clothes, and in some brands these are a little big but in others they fit perfectly!

You're pretty mischievous lately, and you love to go where you know you're not supposed to! The monthly photos this month were sort of difficult because you just wanted to do this...

 

 



When mommy tells you you shouldn't do that, you pout...

 
and cry with this face.. lips out and pooched.

 
And mommy can't help but laugh, and usually you see me laughing so your cry turns into a half laugh! Gosh you're cute...

We try not to keep it so serious around here, because you're usually such a happy boy! We love you big boy- happy 12 months!