Forget me nots

I have to write these things down. My mom says I must write them down or some day I'll forget. So all these cute, amazing, crazy, naughty, sweet moments from Lucas are my forget-me-nots. Like the flower.

I've had a harder time staying positive lately so these moments do my heart good. Lucas understands so much more than I even can give him credit for. It's amazing to see him grow into this little person.

Wednesday I was cutting him a little piece of cherry pie and he was excited. I sat him on the kitchen counter and told him that Grandma and Grandpa had sent the pie home for us on Christmas. He grinned at me and yelled out, "Thank you grandma grandpa!" It made me laugh. Then he told me, "Daddy's truck broken. Mama's car fixed." That's his new favorite phrase.

Tonight I was reading to Lucas. I love reading to him. We were reading "Busy Penguins" which, of course, is the sequel to "Busy Bunnies". In the book there are photographs of the penguins doing things and below the picture it says things like "Penguins jumping" or "penguins sliding". One of them says "penguins pooping" with a nice candid photo. This is Lucas and Megan's favorite page. Have you ever seen a penguin poop? Look it up. It's pretty gross! Tonight Lucas wanted to act out the phrases. One said, "penguins cleaning", and it showed a picture of a penguin grooming itself. I was trying to figure out how to explain this to Lucas when he got up, ran to the kitchen and started rustling around. He runs back out with a broom and starts sweeping the carpet. CLEANING. Such a smart boy making those connections.

Of course, he'll be scarred for life from the penguin pooping picture. (:

Testing Patience and Growing (both of us)

Lucas is getting so big.  It's funny because I feel like there is so much going on around us that the days are just flying by in a whir.  I'm working hard to try and slow down (which is forever going to be my mantra) and enjoy the day.  There's just so much to do and think about.

This morning I wanted, just a little, to throttle Lucas.  I went to take a shower and when I emerged he had gotten to the box of Annie's Bunny Grahams and thrown them all over the floor.  Everywhere in the kitchen were little bunny crackers.  I was so pissed, mostly because those crackers are so damn expensive!  And I knew that he wouldn't pick them up.  I just knew it.  So, I told him he couldn't have breakfast until he cleaned them up, but I was very patient.  He laid on the floor and just whined at me, "No clean up mama.  No!"  We did this for about 15 minutes.  Finally, I swept up the bunny crackers into a big pile and used his hands to pick up the crackers.  I could have sat there all day and waited for him.  I tried to make it fun.  I tried to positively reinforce him.  I tried to negatively reinforce him.  He's a stinker.  I do know that Brian and I are BOTH stubborn in are own ways, which spells trouble for us.  It's not just with me either, he does it at school too.  So, in a way, this makes me feel better because I know he doesn't just do it for me!!

Lucas' language is growing exponentially.  Right now he goes back and forth between calling his ambulances and firetrucks "wee-ooh-wee-ohh's" and calling his horses his "neighs".  But, I know the time is near that those words will be gone.  Today it started snowing while I was dropping him off at school and he said, "SNOW MAMA, SNOW!!"  He was so excited.  And, he's doing something really monumental, developmentally speaking.  He's been drawing on his Magna-doodle, just scribbles, but he gives those scribbles names.  He says, "Draw mama.  Draw my."  And then he scribbles.  He's is representing people with those scribbles on his paper ("my" is the word he uses for "me").  This will later lead to understanding that letter represent sounds, and lots of those letter put together represent words.  Very important and VERY cool!

I have a date on Saturday night when Lucas goes to his dad's.  Well, it's not officially a "date", but it's the closest thing I've had to any sort of a one-on-one hangout with a male since I got divorced (so, what like almost 3 years?).  Trying to imagine dating someone while raising Lucas baffles me, but everyone assures me that this is an important step in "getting back out there".  It's the first time anyone has even sort of looked my way in this three years as well, which I guess is kind of cool.  I don't know him very well, but I know he's not a crazy psycho, which is very nice.  It's actually sort of funny, how we started talking.  All I can think about is Elisha and I in the office a few weeks ago.  I don't even really know what to say about this situation, except that I think it's important that I note it because it's been awhile.  Time to step out of my comfort zone and DO something.  Right?  Right.  We'll see how it goes.

Go slow Mama!

Megan and Esh took Lucas to James Street Estates on Thursday while I was in class. He loved it. They told me that he was just awestruck and grinning from ear to ear the whole time. Megan said he just kept wondering why she was driving so slow.

The next night I took him by the "big tree". This is a tall tree over by Larrabee Elementary School that is lit up to the top with lights. He loves it. So as we were driving by he yells to me, "Go slow Mama!! Slow!!"

I'm pretty sure I couldn't have driven slow enough for him. I love watching this little man's language develop.

Criss-Cross Applesauce

Today I looked out the window of my office into Lucas' classroom and he was sitting cross-legged and reading a book. He looked like such a big boy. Sniff, sniff.

Conversations

Sometimes I find it just amazing that Lucas and I have conversations. So much learning in two short years! It feels like it was just yesterday that I was pregnant and he was kicking me in my ribs!

As Lucas gets closer to making the transition into the Toddler 2 room, he grows increasingly bored in Toddler 1. He loves his friends (Miles, LP, Galena) and his teachers (Katy, Heather, Rachel), but boredom equals naughtiness.

Lucas and Miles, the evil duo, tag team the teachers in throwing toys over the wall. Lucas will throw the toys over one half wall while Miles hits the other side of the room. This makes it nearly impossible to catch both of them in the act. An impish glimmer is in both their eyes.

When I picked up Lucas, having witnessed this event multiple times in the day, I had a conversation with him about his escapades. . .
"Lucas, did you throw all those balls over the wall?" (Multiple balls strewn all over the entry way outside of his classroom.)
"Yeaaah. My throw!" (He looks very proud.)
"Are you supposed to throw toys over the wall?"
(He tries to ignore me.)
"Are you supposed to throw those toys over the wall?" (Trying again.)
(Still ignoring.)
"Lucas . . . Are you supposed to throw toys over the wall at school?" (Third time's a charm?)
"Noooooo." (Still has the impish look).
"It makes your teachers so sad when you throw all the toys Lucas!" (I'm using superb voice inflection here.)
"Yeah! My throw!"

Uh oh. We're in trouble! But, all naughtiness aside, how cool is it that we can have a conversation!? Language development is so cool.

Being grateful

A few years ago at work we had a woman, named Alexis, who consulted with us as a public health nurse for our infant program. She was fairly young and just very down to earth. She got pregnant and had a healthy baby boy, but after delivering she found out she had cervical cancer. She ended up being transferred within her department at work and we didn't get to see her much.

I found out today that Alexis died from her cancer this morning. I went to her Facebook page and found she had a blog. I should be sleeping, but I've been transfixed by this blog of Alexis' where she is constantly riddled with cancer. Again and again, it just keeps coming back as she tries to hold into her family and be the best mom to her son she can be.

I am left with a grateful feeling that I must work to hold onto. I have the opportunity to parent, love, and spend time with my son. I have that gift of my health and time, for this moment at least. And even though I'm exhausted from Lucas waking at 4 am, even though my job just might be slowly killing me, even though I am a divorced, single, paycheck-to-paycheck woman, I am so blessed. I have to remember that because living that way will not only honor those who don't get that time with their families, but I think it teaches Lucas, by example, to be grateful as well.

Lucas is getting so big.  I feel like I have so much more of an understanding about the development of a child now that I have one that I watch every day.  The way that he plays with the English language and just learns things so quickly . . . the way that he mimics those around him . . . the way that he shows love.  He's just growing so quickly.  I wish I had a video camera that could capture every moment of his childhood so I could go back and watch it again and again.  I feel like I miss things.  I try to be so present in his life, his learning, because I know there will be a time where he wants very little to do with me.  But then life gets in the way, I get tired, I have to cook, I have to answer the phone, whatever.  It's a dance that I just am not very good at.

Lucas has learned about what "up" and "down" is.  Probably from the hundreds of readings of "Go, Dog, Go".  This book is just karmic retribution for my poor mom having to read it to me again and again when I was a young child. Now when we go up or down, whether it be stairs, hills, whatever, Lucas says, "Up, up, up, up" or "Down, down, down, down".  It's cute.  Except yesterday he got mad at me when driving home from a park because he wanted me to turn right and go up a big hill instead of straight (which was the way home).

He's also learning names really well now.  I can't tell you how cute it is to hear him say his version of "grandma" and "grandpa".  Friday we went out to my parents house for dinner and my dad helped me bandage Lucas' foot.  He stepped on a comb and it was red and painful looking so we washed it and put a big bandaid on it.  Very traumatic for Lucas, of course.  But for the next two days he kept pointing at it, grinning, and saying "Grandpa, Mama."  Like he was reminding me that Grandpa and I had bandaged his foot.  It was really cute.  Grandpa sounds like "Baumpah,"

My favorite thing is his toy horses.  They're just the "Little People" horses that came with a used farm set I got at a consignment store.  He immediately liked them when we bought it and now calls them his "Nay's".  He makes his "nays" walk around and ride on the back of his trains.  They ride on his bus and eat his food.  It's super cute.

I am pretty anti television for kids at this age.  I think it's overused and I don't want a child who depends on tv for entertainment.  Plus, the research shows that a lot of kids shows are really detrimental for brain development in young children.  I watch the Today show in the morning (changing the channel when all the violent national news comes on) and football.  The rest of my shows are on after Lucas goes to sleep.  But on special occasions or if Lucas is sick, I'll let him watch a little Sprout, which is a channel for preschoolers.  I didn't have regular cable growing up until I was just a bit older, so we watched a little PBS when we were kids (like Mr. Rogers and Sesame Street - both of which I think are pretty awesome).  So when Lucas was really sick with his fever/cold this last time, I let him watch Thomas the Train.  I think Thomas is a really decent kids show because it teaches them right and wrong, it's slower moving, and I think it's kind of interesting (all those train terms).  Well now Lucas LOVES Thomas the Train.  He was already embracing the whole train thing, so this just adds to it.  He grabs the remote control now and says, "Choo choo?"  Oh LORD, just serves me right.  (:  I think it will be okay as long as I have limits for him.  I just don't want to depend on that darn TV to make him happy.

I have decided to get him a train table for his birthday.  I am going to get the actual table used, and them I'm going to buy a wooden train set.  I'll probably affix the train tracks to the table at first, and then when he's a little older I'll unattach them and let him make his own arrangements.  I have all sorts of ideas for creating a cool train table.  Hopefully it will work out as good as it is in my head!

We're going camping on Labor Day Weekend.  Everyone keep their fingers crossed that the weather holds!  Lucas will have a blast.  (:

Surprise Bus!

Lucas and I walked to work today in the stroller. At the end of the day I got swept up in talking to Krissy upstairs and it was already 5:40. I didn't want to walk home, so I checked the bus schedule . . . 5:55!

Lucas and I booked it to the bus. He thought it was hilarious that I had to run. Stinker.

We made it. You'd have thought I made Lucas the biggest slide in the world by the look on his face! Bus!!!

We rode home on the bus with Lucas yelling "bye bye" to every car, person and animal we passed. His enthusiasm for those simple things is so contagious. I love it.

The bus spit us out right in front of our house. Bonus!

Thank goodness for surprise buses. (:

Hand, foot, mouth AND knees, legs, elbows and bottom!

Poor Lucas.  Last weekend he spiked a fever when he was with Brian.  He came home happy, but super hot.  He didn't have any other symptoms, but I was pretty wary because I knew that hand, foot and mouth virus was circulating in mass quantities at work.  But, he's had it before. . . a very light case last summer when we were Mason Jar camping.  By Sunday night, Lucas was not comfortable at all.  He had developed a few bumps on his hands and on his bottom, and in the folds of his knees and elbows.  I was worried about chicken pox at first, but after checking the CDC webpage I discovered that it can sometimes show up in these areas too.  Lucas' poor feet were getting bad.  He would fall asleep while I rocked him and then awake almost violently, rubbing his feet together.  I had to make a late night trip to Haggen to get some Benadryl for him.  Megan had come over to watch the last Bachelorette episode, so luckily I didn't have to drag him with me!

I was out of work Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.  Brianne watched him on Thursday for a good chunk of the day and Brian took him on Friday.  The worst place he got it was on his feet.  By Wednesday his feet had developed full-on blisters.  He was such a trooper though.  Tuesday was his crankiest day, but even at his crankiest he was still pretty tame!  I'd be way more cranky if it was my body covered with an itchy/painful rash.  No good.  Luckily, he's pretty much made a full recovery and it's back to school for Lucas tomorrow.  Almost 100% of both toddler rooms have had this bug.  That's absolutely the most absences we've had with any virus in my memory.  I called the health department and reported it, but they didn't have too much advice for me.  I guess it's just one of those things.

So, I've been trying all week to post all these cute things Lucas has been doing, but with his crankiness comes the "I-don't-want-you-to-put-me-down" symptoms.  But now he's asleep and I have 10 minutes before bed!

Stinky Feet
Lucas thinks it's so hilarious, at the end of the day when I take his shoes off, that I tell him his feet are stinky.  When he wears those Keens without socks, they are REALLY stinky!  (:  So now every time I remove his shoes, I wave my hand in front of my nose and say, "Ewww, stinky feet and toes!" And he laughs and laughs.  In fact, he's learned the word stinky.  Ha!

Hot!
One of Lucas' favorite books is "Goodnight Moon".  I'm surprised, because it's really not the most exciting book.  But I'm also not surprised at the same time because it's got some sort of weird calming rhythm to it.  I read it to him while I was pregnant too (they said that was good to do).  He sits in my lap when I read it to him and the other day he pointed to the picture and said, "Hot!"  I looked at the picture and saw the fireplace.  "Yes," I said to him, "It IS hot!  It's a fireplace."  And he started blowing on it, to cool it off.

New Baby
Natalie, Lucas' friend from school, just had a brand new baby brother.  When we got word that he (baby William) was born, we got a text with a picture!  Elisha took her phone in the classroom to show Natalie her new baby brother.  I watched from the window in my office.  Natalie just kind of stared at it at first and was a little memorized and confused, I think.  Lucas and Miles came over to look and Lucas kissed the phone with the baby.  Awww.  Then, of course, Miles and Natalie had to kiss him too.

Go, Mama, Go!
When Brianne watched Lucas on Thursday, she took him for a walk on part of the Interurban Trail.  On the downhill parts she'd jog with Lucas and he thought it was fantastic.  Today we went on a walk at Lake Padden and he kept encouraging me from the stroller, "Go, Mama, Go!"  I couldn't figure out what he wanted me to do for a second, and then I realized he wanted me to run.  Lake Padden's trail has BIG downhill parts so  we got some speed.  We got so much speed that the front wheel on the stroller started spinning around very fast, almost dangerous!  I got quite the workout in (probably looked like a total dork too), and Lucas thought he was speed racer.

Pretend Play
I love that Lucas is a good "pretend player".  He's been rocking his "babies" to sleep for months now, chanting "night-night" as he pats their backs (just like he gets patted at school).  He's recently started "feeding" his Little People and his cars and trucks.  When he has a bowl of crackers or blueberries, he makes sure that his toys all get bites of his food as he says, "Mmmm-num-num-num".  The other day he took his blocks and lined them up right next to each other, down the table.  I asked him what he was doing and he said, "Choo-choo!"  He was making a train out of his blocks.  (:

I could probably keep writing this stuff forever.

The funny thing is that he was driving me crazy by the time Thursday morning rolled around.  I was almost salivating to go back to work (and honestly, I think he was really hoping to get to go to school).  But as soon as I got to work, I missed him.  And at the end of the day, I was really happy to come home.  If I only had to work part time, that would probably be ideal.  But, this isn't an ideal world and we work with what we have.  More of that practice with balance. 

Flowers from Lucas

Lucas' Grandma and Aunt came to see him today and take him out for a visit at school.  He came back and brought me flowers.  (:  Pretty purple flowers from Lucas.  Thanks Lucas!

Yesterday Lucas and I had a power struggle over cleaning up.  I was finishing up taking a shower and Lucas came into the bathroom and dumped out my basket of baby shampoo bottles all over the floor.  It wasn't the actual contents of the bottles, but the bottles themselves.  Not a big deal, but we've been working on cleaning up our messes after we've made them.  Let me tell you . . . you have to start early!  So, when it came time for Lucas to take a bath, which is the norm for our routine, I told him he had to clean up before he got in the tub.

He did everything he could not to clean up.  He played cute.  He "pretended" to clean up the bottles.  He moved them around.  He stared at them.  But most of all, he ignored me.  I know very well that he knows how to clean up.  He's actually REALLY good at it.  He's one of the best cleaners in the toddler room.  He's just like his ever-stubborn mother in that he wants to do it on his own terms.  So, in a fruitless effort to teach him logical consequences, we went head to head.

Like I said above, I first told him that he couldn't get in the bath and play with his trucks (a very anticipated event of the day) if he didn't clean up.  That bummed him out, but not enough to clean up.  Then I tried to coach him through it . . . "Lucas, you should grab that pink bottle and put it in the basket!"  No go.  Then I got more frustrated and told him he had to sit down unless he was going to clean up.  We did this a lot.  He'd agree to clean up, I'd allow him to get up, he wouldn't clean up.  Ha ha.  If I used the term "time out", he'd get upset.  I can tell Brian has used that term with him because they don't use it at school and I don't usually use it.  In the field of early childhood, "time out" has kind of gotten a bad connotation because it's been overused.  People do time out's for every little thing, and for children of this age, it doesn't always teach them anything.  Plus, when they get older we try to teach them that taking "a break" can help to clear your head and calm you down.  When we use it as a punishment all the time, it's completely negative and no child wants to take a time out. 

But, sometimes that's the last thing you can do.  So I struggled for 45 minutes to find what works for Lucas.  This will be a puzzle that I will work on for the next 18 years.  I started feeling ridiculous after 45 minutes because the "child development" education major in me was nagging at my conscious.  After 45 minutes a toddler is not getting it any more.  He probably doesn't even remember making this mess.  The window of opportunity has probably passed.  He's not 3 yet.  Plus, I needed to get to work eventually and he desperately needed a bath.  So I picked up all his trucks and bath toys and put them away.  I told him he had to take a bath without toys because he hadn't picked up the last mess he'd made.  He didn't get it.  I know he didn't get it because it didn't really seem to phase him.  But it made me feel better.  (:

I was talking about it with Elisha later, and I think next time I would ask him to leave the bathroom (because at the beginning, I was still in the bathroom getting ready and all that) and then close the door.  I'd tell him that if he couldn't take care of his "bathroom things" that he couldn't be in the bathroom.  I think at the time, that would have made him really mad.  And I think taking away that "cool bathroom experience" would help him understand a little bit.  Who knows.  But, I'm proud of myself because during the entire experience I didn't get frustrated or raise my voice or anything like that.  I put on my firm teacher voice and my teacher face (or, I guess my mom voice and face), but I didn't yell at him and I didn't lose my patience.

Lucas REALLY responds to positive reinforcement.  He likes to have that positive attention.  I can tell that already.  He could care less about getting a "punishment", but he thrives on people watching and giving him that "thumbs up".  I have a book I need to read that we ordered for work that talks about how to work with kids in that positive way.  I think if I focus too much on the negative reinforcement and punishments he will naturally just do what he wants.  He seems to need more motivation. 

But he also needs to understand that there are natural consequences to his behaviors.  This is why I sometimes let him fall, let him feel the cold of the air when he doesn't wear a coat, let him push the cat to the point where they fight back (although they never have, silly cats).  He needs to know that there are natural consequences, outside of mama and daddy, that will happen if he makes those choices.  But I also need to protect him - so no, you cannot touch the stove.  You cannot climb up and try to stand on the balcony edge.  You cannot run out into the street.  Those are not logical consequences that will teach you anything you'll easily recover from!  Such a delicate balance it is. 

I used to think that I didn't like puzzles or mysteries, but the more I look at my life and the things I work on the most, the more I see that I deal with puzzles all the time.  Lucas is just my most loved puzzle.  (:

Toddler Reports: June 15 through June 18, 2012

Here they are!  Lucas' toddler reports!

June 15, 2012

Today Lucas went on a community walk with Nika and Heather.  Saw a big dog!  Lucas was so excited to help water our zucchini this morning!

June 17, 2012

Lucas was super stoked today – running, jumping, yelling!  Love his Keanu Reeves impression – “Woah!!!”

June 18, 2012

A little fussy this morning but happy after his nap!  Danced to music from cars passing by!

June 20, 2012

Lucas played in the water today.  He had a great day!  He loved rowing and splashing!

June 21, 2012

Lucas frequently enjoys climbing into/diving into the water tables.  Today we went on a community walk and painted.  We read the “Runaway Bunny” three times. . . in a row.

June 25, 2012

Lucas loved shoveling all the rainwater out of the water tables.  He was really into emptying the bookshelf so he could climb in and lay down!

June 26, 2012

We popped a lot of bubbles, took turns blowing them, read books, and snuggled!

June 27, 2012

Today we played in the sandbox, using the dustpan and shovel to clean up.  He turned a lot of different things into a telephone today.

June 28, 2012

Lucas loved splashing in the water outside today.  He had a good day overall!

June 29, 2012

Our new construction/excavation book is a little advanced for him but Lucas always responds with “whooooaaa” as he lifts the flaps.

July 2, 2012

Lucas had a great morning dunking baskets and testing his friends to see who would give up their toys!

July 3, 2012

Loved rowing the wooden boat with Miles and Kallyann.  Asked for a walk all day.  Yay!  He made it till noon (nap)!  I hope that makes the evening easier!

July 5, 2012

Today Lucas enjoyed showing me all the things in the yard – nature guide style.  Lucas would eat an entire watermelon, I’m pretty certain.

July 6, 2012

Lucas begged for a walk today and we’re happy he was awake to go!  He was throwing chairs today too, practicing for WWF wrestling.

July 9, 2012

Today Lucas watered the zucchini, played in the hippo sprinkler, and stomped in the mud puddles with Miles.  Lucas had a great time in the sprinkler and replenished himself with a ton of noodles and then promptly passed out.

July 10, 2012

Loved the new books about oceans and beaches!  Lucas has taught everyone to dip their fruit in tomato soup.  This is so bizarre!

July 11, 2012

Enjoyed tipping over the sprinkler and throwing the balls into the water tables.  We managed to keep Lucas out of the water tables, but not for lack of trying.

July 12, 2012

Lucas enjoyed splashing in the water table and watching the Costco man!  We also went on a community walk!

July 13, 2012

Lucas made it through lunch without any major meltdowns!  He had a great time dumping water tables out on all his friends.

July 16, 2012

Lucas was so snuggly this morning!  He had a good time playing with pretend food in our play kitchen.

July 17, 2012

Lucas checked the heartbeat of his bear with the doctor toys to make sure he was healthy!

July 18, 2012

Lucas mowed the lawn, played king of the slide, used wheelbarrows to transport balls and sorted shapes!

Today after work Lucas and I had to pick up our prescriptions at Rite Aid. Normally I carry him or put him in the cart, but today I held his hand and walked. We had so much fun. We played with the balls and picked out ice cream at Haggen. It's hot today, so I thought ice cream was completely justified. We got home and he ate dinner and then we had ice cream. When I have him a scoop of chocolate he said, "Mmmm, cream." It was so cute.

•••

Lucas really enjoys this hand-me-down book I got about using the potty. Some time ago I bought him a cheap little potty at IKEA and he loves it. He sits on it, randomly and says, "Poooo." it cracks me up. He doesn't really get the connections between those "sensations" of using the bathroom and actually doing it though. I let him go diaperless yesterday and he peed on the floor right next to his green potty. Ha! I'm not expecting him to ACTUALLY use his potty any time soon, but I figure the exposure can't hurt!

•••

I read this article somewhere on Pinterest tonight about things people don't tell you about raising boys. There was some section about weddings or something and the quote was, "There's a good chance you may scoop up your son, hold him close and slow dance with him in your kitchen, thinking: One day you'll be taller than me and we'll be doing this at your wedding." I got all weepy. I'm getting all weepy just rewriting it.

Damn time going so quickly.

Talk, talk, talk

My little Lucas, I love him. He's just a very chatty little man right now! My favorite is when I ask him a silly question (a yes or no question), and he grins at me and says, "Nnno!" Like he's saying, "Oh mom! You're ridiculous!"

We have a lot of things around the house that there are 2 of: 1 mom-sized and 1 Lucas-sized. He points to his and says, "My wawa." (If we're talking about water bottles.) And I say, "Yes, that's your water." Then he grins and points to mine and says, "Mama's wawa!"

I hope he calls me mama for awhile. I love it.

Videos and Fathers Day

I have some great videos of Lucas, but for some reason when I try to upload them to this blog or you tube they get all grainy.  Anyone have any advice?  It seems to be only an iphone thing.  Hmmmm. . . .

I have had a little, and I truly mean little, shift in my finances.  I think I might try to get some internet access at home so that I don't have to wait until the weekend when Lucas is with his dad to update this blog!  (:

Today is Father's Day.  I continue to find myself blessed that Lucas has a loving, devoted and kind father in his life.  I am always presented with family situations that are not idea for children - often with two normally great parents who hate each other.  I say it a lot, I know, but I think both Brian and I have done a good job putting ourselves aside and making life good for the most important part of us, Lucas.  I will continue to work my hardest to keep that trend happening, and I know Brian will too.  I think it's indicative of a mutual love and respect for each other, as well as Lucas.  Does that make sense?  Even though life situations have changed, we can't ignore the past.  It's made us who we are, for good or for bad.  Brian has had a part in making me who I am and making Lucas who he is.  I will forever love him for that and will work hard to make sure Lucas knows how much his dad and I love him, even through all our history.  If nothing else, it teaches him about what love, respect, and kindness is.  I wish Brian the happiest of father's days. 

Now, I have to go to Costco on a Sunday to pick up some groceries.  If you don't hear from me in 2 or 3 days, send the rescue patrol.  I might get mauled in the milk section. 

Slacker Jamie finally updates the Toddler Reports!

So I finally had a free moment, while Lucas is at Brian's, to update all his super funny toddler reports.  There are some days that I left out because they weren't very interesting.  Most of them are just hilarious.  I love Katy's comments about Lucas.  She's so blunt and witty, it adds some pizazz to the daily reports.  Plus, it shows that she's really taking note of each child's personality and who they are - a very important part of being a good teacher.  Ilana left in late May, so we won't see her reports anymore (so sad).  ):  I'm just learning the new teachers' handwriting, so if there isn't a name after them, I'm not sure who it is!  So, without further ado . . .

April 3, 2012

Lucas decorated Easter eggs, chased Miles around and around the slide! He loved plunking on the baby piano.

- Katy

April 4, 2012

Lucas had a good, happy day – took a long morning nap.  He loved outside play and having a blanket party!

- Ilana

April 5, 2012

Today Lucas enjoyed throwing himself into the stuffed animals and turning the sink on and off by himself.  He was such a happy dude today!  Testing boundaries as usual!  (:

April 6, 2012

Today Lucas had a blast playing in the big red car.  He got a visit from the “baby goat” and daddy.  He had a good morning!  We read many different books. He at well and was very busy outside.  He went right to sleep after lunch.

- Elisha and Ilana

April 9, 2012

Lucas was particularly jovial today!  He brought dinosaurs to life on the blue table with impressive “rawrs”!  We had circle time (colors, body parts, abc’s) and lots of outside time.

- Ilana

April 11, 2012

Lucas was really happy today – seemed to love circle time!  He played in the Spring rain, stacked cups and jumped into the sandbox!

- Ilana

April 12, 2012

Lucas loved playing hide and go seek with Benjamin today!

Ilana

April 13, 2012

Lucas enjoyed looking over the fence outside, doing crazy stunts on the slide and playing hide and see with Miles . . . ADORABLE!  He slept a long time and seemed really cheerful all day.

- Ilana

April 16, 2012

Lucas used his paintbrush like a pro today and painted himself a mustache!  He was really loving of us at circle time, joining everyone together for ring around the rosy.

- Katy

April  18, 2012

We’re glad to have Lucas back!  The furniture needed rearranging!

- Katy

April 19, 2012

Lucas enjoyed outside morning sunshine and was extra snuggly.  He was so excited to play peek-a-boo with Elisha in Toddler 2 during nap time!

- Katy

April 20, 2012

Lucas jumped off of everything he could find today and took off his own jacket!

- Katy

April 23, 2012

Lucas was happy playing with the cars today, driving them all over!  We went for a walk in the community.

- Ilana

April 25, 2012

Lucas and Estella took turns diving head first down the small slide today!  He loved rowing the rowboat and moving all the beds around for nap time.

- Katy

April 26, 2012

He had a wonderful time giving Estella and Benjamin hugs and kisses – pretty priceless.  He rowed the boat for a long time with the other kiddos and enjoyed shape sorting.

- Ilana

April 27, 2012

Today Lucas was rolling down the slide, helping teachers take attendance, singing songs and walking around with a bucket as a purse.

- Ilana

April 30, 2012

I don’t think Lucas would every exit the wooden rowboat if we didn’t have to take turns!  Today he enjoyed blocking the slide and stealing trucks.  (:

- Katy

May 1, 2012

Today Lucas talked on the telephones, enjoyed the reverberations when he pounded on the big balls, and had a “picnic” outside.  Lucas was so mad that his friends went on a walk without him.  He’s just a little too young and a little too wild yet! 

- Katy

May 2, 2012

Lucas played with basketballs, butterflies and caterpillars today.  He very intently examined the inside of all the dump trucks.  He really enjoyed trying to push over the crazy coupes (red cars) with other toddlers inside.

- Katy

May 3, 2012

I’m pretty certain that you could give Lucas cardboard boxes to sit in and climb into and out of and he’d be a happy camper!  He was a crazy man today and then he crashed hard!

- Katy

May 7, 2012

Today Lucas built and destroyed sand castles and played with the basketball hoop.  Lucas is an expert shape sorter.  It’s fun to watch him problem solve.

- Katy

May 8, 2012

Lucas got to go on a walk with Ilana and Nika and came back flushed and smiling!  He tried to eat foam art pieces.  On his community walk he enjoyed smelling flowers, holding smooth and colorful rocks, and seeing dogs and doves!

- Katy and Ilana

May 9, 2012

We played so much outside - he spent most of it pretending to drive to far away lands.

- Ilana

May 15, 2012

Lucas got really frustrated when he couldn’t pull the mobility toys on to the deck with brute strength while sitting down.  Hopefully he remembers to try it standing up next time!  He got to go on a community walk with Ilana and Nika!

- Katy

May 17, 2012

Lucas enjoyed the sunshine, a walk in the stroller and wooden puzzles.  He testes all of the older kids to see if anyone would let him steal their toys outside – no one would!

- Katy

May 18, 2012

Lucas was such a ham today!  He has so many new words and much clearer sounds!  Lucas and I read some fun stories about Lightening McQueen and all his friends.  Lucas also enjoyed playing “row, row, row your boat” and giving his friends lots of hugs.

- Katy and Heather

May 21, 2012

Lucas hid in the tent with me and we surprised everyone who passed by!

- Katy

May 23, 2012

Lucas raced trucks with his friends and enjoyed the bubbles!  He was super tired, but even so, he was pretty good natured.  It was a little harder to listen to his teachers, but his much needed nap helped things go smoother this afternoon.

- Katy

May 24, 2012

Lucas enjoyed linking cars and trains, reading time, and a truck for each arm.  He sang to himself the entire 30 minutes of our AM walk!

- Katy

May 25, 2012

Lucas loved playing with the balls and hula hoop day.  We also played with water tables and water toys.

- Heather

May 29, 2012

Today Lucas was castle buildin’, lawn mowin’ and dump truckin’.  Lucas was so hard to please this morning.  He gladly accepted extra lovins from teacher Tim.

- Katy

May 30, 2012

Lucas was so mad that we weren’t on a walk.  I asked him if he wanted to go lie down and snuggle his sheep and he passed out immediately!

- Katy

May 31, 2012

Lucas played with Safari animals, doctor toys and loved breathing into the stethoscope.  Lucas sorted shapes with us, dove into the animals and put the lion into his mouth and did it all with a smile.

- Katy

June 1, 2012

I’m so sad we didn’t get to take Lucas on his often requested walk!  Instead he enjoyed our baby maze and block building and demolition.

- Katy

June 4, 2012

Lucas is terrifyingly adept at climbing in his sock feet!  He loved helping Heather and I play popcorn with the parachute!

- Katy

June 5, 2012

Lucas got to play with the batmobile and threw his body over and bounced off the pilates balls (scary!)!  He loved playing with the music mat and the toddler sized pianos!

- Katy

June 6, 2012

Lucas had a great day!  He loved being outside and LOVED eating his watermelon at snack.

June 7, 2012

Lucas had a good day today.  He explored the tents and tunnels and knocked them over.  He got to paint and enjoyed playing on the rocking horses.

June 8, 2012

Lucas loved climbing into and out of the water tables outside.  He even showed Miles how to dive headfirst.  He got to go on a walk today!

- Katy

June 11, 2012

Lucas was very animated today!  He just loves to row the “boat” and played “ring around the rosy” outside.

June 12, 2012

Lucas was happy today!  Lots of climbing in and out of things today and played dress up!

June 13, 2012

Lucas was content to occupy all of the water tables during our hour of outside time this morning!  He loves climbing!  Lucas helped to water our zucchini plant this morning!

- Katy

June 14, 2012

Sweet little Lucas was a little more subdued today.  He got to go on a stroller walk and shared trucks with Connor and Matthew!

- Katy

Oh No! The elephant broke the clock!

Lucas has a friend at school named Soren. Soren is a few months older and so, by default, is an idol of Lucas'. Soren's parents told us a few months ago that he was pretty obsessed with this video on YouTube of the song "Hickory Dickory Dock". At the end of this particular video an elephant climbs up the clock and crushes it.

Elisha played it a few times at work for the toddlers on her phone. Half of them loved it and half were terrified. For some reason, kids are just mesmerized by this thing.

I've played it a few times for Lucas and now he too LOVES it. He asks for it by saying, "Clock?" and at the end, in only language that a mother could understand, he says, "Oh no! Elephant broke the clock!" He says this because I've probably said it half a million times.

To make getting the inhaler and tooth brushing easier I've started letting him watch it on my iPhone while we do it. I don't have to hold him down for the inhaler treatments with our clock song! He gets so delighted when it comes on!

Last night he kissed the screen when the snake went up the clock. He loves the snake.

I don't let Lucas watch a lot of tv because I don't think it's really necessary at this age. I don't want him to become a mindless tv junky (like his mom, ha). So, I figure this short, elephant-crushing video can't be so bad.

Here it is, without any further delay, Lucas' "Clock" video! Enjoy!

Swing!

Brian came over a few months back and told me Lucas was afraid of the swing. This was funny to me because he'd spent the first 9 months of his life in one while napping in the infant room. But, upon taking him to the park, I realized he was ok sitting on my lap and swinging, but absolutely was not ok by himself.

So, over the last few months I've worked to slowly get him swing-integrated. I've had lots of help from girlfriends and I'm sure Brian's been on it too. I can officially say that today, he loves to swing (although I can't be sure that it's not making him motion sick like his mama). I know this for sure because today he threw a big ol' fit when leaving Lake Padden and having to stop swinging. Even the "lide" wasn't as interesting.

However, almost every picture I snapped made him look like he was miserable!

Here are the best ones!

So Big

Today I looked at Lucas and I realized what a little boy he was becoming. Not a baby anymore. Sometimes I have to remind myself to be excited about the new things he's doing and what's yet to come, instead of always being sad about what he used to be like. Sniff, sniff.

More posts coming soon, I promise. I'm trying to form a nightly habit!

Too Fast

Today was the first day of the Bellingham Farmers Market and since Lucas took a short AM nap and Brian wasn't picking him up till noonish, I decided we should walk down there.

Ok, so it is still very early April and I need to remember that it's still pretty chilly. I had all the hope that it would feel like 72 degrees outside. But I did bring Lucas extra layers so we were ok.

We chatted about the cars, trucks and puppies on our way down while I got chillier. The market was packed, but it was fine because we spent most of our time climbing on hay bales. Lucas thought that was just fantastic. Plus, it was soft when his jump attempts failed.

Tonight, after Lucas fell asleep, I looked at pictures of him from about this time last year. I've been feeling pretty sad lately about how fast this all goes. I mean, it's just a blink and it's gone, almost like a cruel joke! So I am always attempting to remind myself to take each moment and savor it. But I don't want to be that person who never comes out from behind the camera either.

My hope and goal is to enjoy my little guy right where he is and try really hard not to think about how much I miss yesterdays or how fast tomorrow will get here. But I'm not very good at it yet and just get all weepy. As Elisha would say, "Turtle in a cage."

Hi and Flying Shoes

Last night I was rocking Lucas to sleep. When I got up to put Lucas in his bed he woke up a little. He looked up at me, bleary eyed, and said, "Hi. Hi!" And then he promptly closed his eyes and went to sleep again!

Then, at work today I was upstairs eating my lunch and I heard this string of, "Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi!" Over and over and over again! Lucas was "hi"-ing everyone. It's pretty cute.

***

I had a stressed out "mom moment" today. Lucas and I hobbled down the stairs of my apartment, me carrying a load of stuff to bring to work, Lucas carrying his new shoes (which he insisted on bringing with him). He tried to run out into the parking lot (laughing of course, as I chased him). So, I had to kind of throw everything down and get him. I put his new shoes on the trunk of my car, put Lucas in his seat, and then smacked my head on the car's frame. By the time I got everything and everyone in the car, Lucas was laughing and I was exasperated!

But I hadn't gotten everything in the car. . .

About three quarters through our morning drive and through "The Wheels on Mama's Car" song, an older lady in the car next to me at the stoplight flagged me down. I rolled down my window:

Nice Lady: "Your child's shoes are on your trunk! The shoes!"

Me: (Looking back, sheepishly and groaning) "Oh no!"

Nice Lady: "They look expensive! I thought you'd want to know. You lost the other one back by McDonald's."

Me: (Still embarrassed) "Thank you. I actually got them on clearance!"

Nice lady got out of her car at the light and brought the shoe over to me. I shook it at Lucas and said, "Your crazy mom forgot the shoes!" He smiled.

I turned around and found the shoe, by McDonald's. It was, of course, in the middle of Samish Way. I parked the car and ran in front of a parked city bus to grab it. The bus driver looked at me, puzzled. I held the shoe up and yelled, "It's been THAT kind of morning." He laughed.

I felt like I kind of owed it to Nice Lady and my bank account to go back and get the other shoe. Can you imagine how crazy I would have gone looking for those shoes if they had both flown off and Nice Lady hadn't flagged me down. I am super thankful for her today.

When I got to work, I realized I hadn't brushed my teeth. It was THAT kind of morning.


Lucas' toddler report today:
"Played with waffle connectors and chaining cars and boats. He had a great time outside. He didn't even care about his wet feet from constantly losing his shoes!"
- Katy
(Hence, the new shoes.)

(:

It's been a rough month for us . . .

I always tell people who ask about this blog that it's just about finding the time.  I try to write them on the days that Brian takes Lucas because I can high tail it to Starbucks, use the free internet (I don't have internet at home), and write away.  I can make use of the internet on my phone, but it's pretty painful to type on that little screen. The last few weeks, I've been lucky if I can just come up for air, let alone writing  a blog post.

Lucas has been sick a lot.  The asthma thing is virtually non-existent except when he gets sick.  Then it's like a war is being waged on his lungs.  This last time he was sick was harder on him and I more than normal, for a variety of reason.  For Lucas, this is his umpteenth time getting sick this season.  With this bout of pneumonia, it marks the 4th x-ray since January, the 7th dose of antibiotics since late October, and I can't even begin to count the amount of times we've gone to the doctor.  He's had pneumonia like three times.  It won't go away.  He's such a little trooper.  When he's on the antibiotics, he's great!  He's healthy, he breathes just fine.  But (and this makes me nervous for next week after Easter), about 5 days or so after the antibiotics have stopped, it's like he gets another cold and we start again.  For him, this is brutal on his body.  He's on an inhaled steroid two times per day via inhaler.  The asthma/allergist was trying to make my life easier by using an inhaler.  But, with this medication (Q-var) you have to be super conscious about rinsing your mouth out after each puff.  Well, Lucas is 1, he's not going to rinse his mouth out.  So, I brush his teeth after he gets his puffs.  He hates the inhaler.  I have to hold him down to give it.  And he's growing to equally hate the tooth brushing too.  He liked it at first.  He enjoyed the flavor of the toothpaste.  I bought him this natural stuff at the Co-Op that isn't filled with massive amounts of things I can't pronounce - it's a kids' toothpaste.  But now, the novelty has worn off, and he hates it.

He's on albuterol too.  We started with the inhaler, but he promptly got sick and we moved back to the nebulizer because it's more effective.  It takes way more time, but I feel like it works better in these severe situations.  He was on that every four hours at the beginning (even in the middle of the night - ugh).  Now I've just been giving it to him here and there. 

He's on the asthma drug "Singulair".  He enjoys this drug greatly because it's a chewable and it tastes like berries.  I don't mid it much either.

He's on Augmentin - an antibiotic - which messed his system all up last time he was on it.  He's on it for 14 days.  To counteract the antibiotic, he's on a child probiotic so he doesn't get a neverending case of diarrhea. 

He's teething like crazy - those pesky eye teeth - so I have to give him a fair amount of pain reliever. 

I've also started giving him a multivitamin.  I started with the dropper of medicine, and it tasted like crap, apparently, because he refused it after the first day or two (I don't blame him).  So I bought a child's chewable multivitamin, hoping for the same success as the Singulair.  But, vitamins are a different beast.  It's much harder than the Singulair, so it takes him forever to dissolve it in his mouth.  And, he drools it all over himself and any surface that is around him (including the carpet).  And, after multiple washings, we've discovered this vitamin drool stains.  So, we've been having our daily vitamin in the mornings at the high chair, with some success.

Then there's the flouride.

My God, I WANT to be one of these moms who's able to provide a non-invasive place for my child to grow healthy.  I try to stay away from the pesticides, the high fructose corn syrup, the artificial crap, the McDonald's, all of that.  I try to be the good crunchy granola mom that Bellingham has tried to make me.  It won't even matter because Lucas is going to get all his nastiness from the medical world!  Which leads me into my tough parts of his illness . . .

This last round of pneumonia was more difficult because as Lucas continues to get sick, I have more and more people telling me what I "should" be doing.  Some of these people have very valid points, some of them are doctors, some people have no idea what they're talking about.  This makes it very difficult for me, the one who's the primary caretaker during sick times.  The doctors tell me different things.  Lucas has an asthma/allergy doctor now and still his pediatrician.  I like both of them.  But it's not like we get to sit down and have a meeting, all of us, to talk as a team.  I LOVED that about the services Lucas received through the Center for Early Learning.  So well organized. 

Brian, of course, has an opinion.  I really try to take what he says and apply it to the situation because he is the other half of this picture.  But he's now getting advice from someone that Rachel works with.  They wrote Lucas up a care plan, I guess, but haven't seen him (I think just by going off of what they're hearing).   I want people to know that I value their opinions and advice, because I do.  But at some point I can't spread out all the medical advice and make it all fit.  I can't DO everything people encourage me to do because there's no possible way.  I valued the advice on the care plan, but was irritated that they wrote up a plan for him when they hadn't even evaluated him.  This may be what Brian called it though, it just could have been written advice and nothing more.  I always have to remember that I'm getting third hand knowledge as well.

Brian felt pretty strongly that Lucas didn't have another round of Prednisone.  H was really concerned about the side effects.  I had been concerned, but I think he was more concerned, so because I didn't have a strong opinion one way or the other, I defaulted to him.  Of course, when Lucas went to the doctor, the first thing they wanted to do was put him on Prednisone.  And because Brian needed to work, I was the one who got to duke it out with his doctors. 

At this point I'd like to take a moment to say, as much as I bitch about my job (and I will bitch here in a little bit), I have such an understanding work place for these issues.  I didn't get one word of discouragement or frustration because I missed so much of work.  On the contrary, they were all super concerned for Lucas.  I am so lucky for that.

So, I told the doctors that I'd rather have them hospitalize Lucas than put him on Prednisone again at this point.  It's hard going to these appointments on my own sometimes.  It wouldn't be hard if it was just me, you know?  Like if Brian was just never around and I didn't have to worry as much about representing both of us at these appointments, I'd feel more confident going with my gut.  But, because Brian is very present in Lucas' life, I feel like I need to be a voice for both of us.  That's the difficult part because I don't always know what his opinion is, and it's not always easy to get a hold of him.  As much as I don't WANT to care, if I mess up and make a decision that he feels might be a bad choice for Lucas, I do feel guilty about it.  Old habits, right?  This doesn't apply when I have a very strong opinion about something though.  Then I feel prepared and informed and I can fight to the death.  (:

Brian is coming to Lucas' next two big appointments, which I am very thankful for.  I don't know if he got the gist that I was frustrated and is coming, or if he's not happy with my representation of us both.  But, he'll be there.  He can ask his questions and I won't have to be that third party intermediary.  

The other frustrating part of Lucas' recent illnesses (aside from him being my poor sick baby), is that I can't work.  I have a job that is probably at least a 70 hour work week - so the work of two people.  I only have my 40 hours and Elisha to help me about 15 hours a week.  That leaves me 15 hours short, so I have to make up for that here and there.  When I miss multiple days of work, this wreaks havoc on my already NUTS work life.  I had an ungodly amount of voicemail messages when I came back to work.  I have to work to pay for Lucas and my life.  My job is very good to me in the benefits section and the flexibility (maybe not so much the pay), so it's not necessarily about choosing to do something different, it's just really hard to balance.  Brian's job pays better, but is not so good with the flexibility and benefits.  He can't miss the days because he doesn't get sick pay.  So, he does what he can here and there, but I usually take the bulk of it.  And the other people in my life work too, and they have other obligations.  I'm already awful at asking for help.

Then, the doctor, I was so irritated, she said to me, "Well, can you make another choice for his childcare option?  Could you put him in a smaller setting or have someone watch him one-on-one."  Yeah, sure, I have all the money in the world.  The amount of money that I pay for childcare is so minimal compared to how much I'd be paying if I wasn't a staff member.  I'd be paying more than my rent.  I don't qualify for any assistance, I'm just above the line.  Putting him in a smaller center would be more expensive than the full price at my current center.  Putting him in a smaller home setting would still be quite a bit more money than I pay now (and it's a home center - I have no idea what a quality home center looks like).  Paying for a nanny would be the MOST expensive.  When I told her it really wasn't plausible, she kind of led me to believe that this was the reason he's getting sick.  He just can't handle all the children.  I disagree with this - I think there are more germs he's exposed to, yes.  But, I also think it's unusual that he gets the SAME thing over and over.  That's not the norm with his peers.  Plus, what kind of awesome thing is it to have your mom on call in your classroom.  I hire all the teachers he has.  I know they have their background checks and all the qualifications.  It's a the safest place I can ensure for Lucas while I work full time.

I was frustrated. 

Lucas is much better now.  His antibiotics will end on Wednesday.  He goes to the doctor on Friday to get checked out again.  I think they're going to x-ray him again to make sure the pneumonia is gone.  He goes back to the asthma/allergist on Friday the 13th (spooky).  He'll get scratch tested for dogs, cats, dust, milk, soy, gluten, eggs, and tree nuts.  Then Monday the 16th, Brian and I will go to Everett to a satellite of Children's Hospital for a pediatric pulmonary consult.  Here's to MORE advice.  Hopefully, the right advice.

On a happier, much more positive note (because I'm really NOT a negative person ALL the time), Lucas is growing like crazy.  His recent thing is jumping.  Jumping off of everything and jumping while he stands on the ground.  Of course, he's not actually jumping.  His muscles aren't strong enough and he doesn't have the skill for it yet.  He takes his right leg and stomps it on the ground and says, "Jump!" in this low voice.  It sounds more like, "Gump!"  He's very proud of himself when he does this.  He also doesn't jump off of furniture.  He actually just steps off of it, falling on his bottom, legs, head, and so on.  He has bruises all over his legs.  I told him on Friday morning that he looked like an old pear!  But he does it over and over again.  I tried for awhile to stop it every time he did it.  This made him do it more.  So, I try very hard to ignore it, while being very close by.  Of course, I'm not REALLY ignoring it, but he things I am.  And then I can be right there if he comes plummeting down on his head.  I do step in and stop him if he does really careless things (like trying to jump off the back of the couch).  I'm hoping the natural consequences of falling are going to teach him very soon that it's not all that fun to fall off the chair or coffee table.  But, I know from stories that Brian was also very "active" and that he's probably going to break his arm before he's three.  Ha ha. 

Lucas is also very into cats and dogs.  He loves talking about them.  We read a book this week with a bunny, and he also really likes the rabbit too.  He thinks the sound that a rooster makes is absolutely awesome.  He growls for all of the animal sounds, except the rooster.  When he sees a cow, he growls, no matter how much I moo at him.  He's also really into trucks, of course.  Every time he sees a truck on the road he points it out and yells, "kkkruck!"  He loves the city bus too.  I think I need to take him on a bus ride soon.

Right now, Lucas' favorite foods consist of those Annie's Bunny Graham Crackers, Bananas, Apples, Pears, Green Beans, Peas, and really, any crackers.  I switched him to soy milk at home, at Brian's suggestion, to cut down on mucus.  He doesn't seem to mind.  He also LOVES cheerios and oatmeal.  I feed him everything I eat at meals though, whether he eats it or not.  Toddler does not live on crackers alone.   (:

Every morning before work Lucas helps me brew the coffee on the Keurig.  He gets excited and we do the "Hot Coffee" dance that I've made up a chant for.  He opens it up and pulls out the old cartridge, with my assistance, throws it in the garbage, puts the new one in, closes it and presses the button.  He often gets distracted along the way so I have to finish.  But when it starts brewing he gets all excited.  He also enjoys stirring the coffeemate into the hot coffee.  Now, every time he sees a coffee cup he says, "Hot!" 

Lucas is starting to recognize and remember places we go.  He knows the Play Cafe and grows impatient when we have to wait to pay.  He recognizes "Grandma and Grandpa's" house (my parents) and says, "Cat!" when we pull up.  He knows where the crackers are kept at Grandma and Grandpa's house.  Ha ha.  He knows that I'm often in my office at work and will occasionally pound on the window and yell, "Hi!  Hi!  Hi!"

Lucas says a lot of words too - Cat ("Ca"), Puppy ("Puhhp"), Cracker ("Crackrrr"), Mama, Dada, Night-Night ("Ny-Ny"), Bye Bye, Hi, More ("Mohhr"), All Done ("Ah Da"), Car ("Ca"), Truck ("Kruck"), Cup ("Cu"), Book ("Buhhk"), Block ("Blohhhk"), Coat ("Coh"), Socks ("Soh"), What's That (Dat?), and Yeah.  He's repeating a bunch of stuff too - he's repeated Megan ("Meh") and Elisha's ("Eshah") names, he's repeated Grandma and Grandpa (sounds like "Boma" and "Bompa"), he's repeated Van ("Va") and this morning I swear he repeated Rocket's name ("Rohh").  I know there's way more.  These are just the ones that seem obvious to me!

But . . . Lucas is still waking up at 5:00 am - even though we had daylight savings!  Bah!