winter wonderland

We made it to Boston just ahead of the storm on Saturday. Saturday night we got 14 inches of snow. Mike got up 3 times during the night to check the snow progress...like a kid waiting for Christmas!

Luca has been having a great time playing with his cousins and seeing what he can get into! So far the Christmas tree is still standing but not for lack of trying.

er...take 2

Luca made his second trip to the ER late Saturday night. He had been running fever since Friday night but Saturday when it got over 105 we decided it was time to take him in. All his tests came back normal and his fever finally broke so we headed home Sunday morning. He hasn't had fever since Tuesday but he has managed to get Mike and I sick. I think we're all starting to feel better and none too soon. We are leaving for the airport around 3am this Saturday morning to fly to Boston for Christmas, hopefully leaving all illness behind us!

Luca has been sleeping next to me in our bed while I write this post (where he has been sleeping since Mike brought him to our bed with fever last Friday). He just woke up and is alternately laughing and clapping and trying to share his binky with himself in the video above. I guess I will go try to coax him back to sleep...next will come coaxing him back into his own crib.

ho, ho, help!

Luca met Santa yesterday but he wasn't very impressed. In fact, he decided he was not a fan and promptly broke into tears. We gave him some cool down time with mama holding him and just talking with Santa and decided to try again. The result, Luca clutched onto me for dear life so that I wouldn't put him on that crazy man's lap again. He did manage to come around enough to get a toy from Santa...tears can ususally be stopped with toys! Our camera lady had obviously done this before because she was already snapping pics before the waterworks started and managed to get what we think is a pretty cute picture of Luca and Santa checking each other out.

t-r-o-u-b-l-e

This child cracks me up. How can he be such a little troublemaker already? Luca is extremely curious and loves to explore everything. He also loves socks and toilet paper and his pets.

Luca is saying hi to everything and waving lots. He is trying to say dog and when he sees his dogs or a picture of a dog he makes a panting sound. I can't get him to bark...yet.

He's also starting to look like a little boy and start exercising his independance. Luca doesn't want to be fed anymore and prefers to do it himself (including being sure the dogs get a snack). He is also not afraid to start wandering while we are in the library although he usually checks to be sure I'm still watching.

first haircut

before...

after...

Wednesday Mike and I decided it was time to get Luca's bangs trimmed because they were in his eyes too much. Yes, for those who have not heard, I did cry in Walmart as the nice lady trimmed Luca's bangs while he sat in the cart.

Luca seemed to like his new hair. He is smiling so big now and showing off all his pearly whites.

a time for thanks

We have been at home in Missouri for Thanksgiving this week and are having a great time. Luca has been having fun getting spoiled by his grandparents and Auntie Rhonda. He is also eating everything in site! The boys brought a deer home this morning. Here are some pictures from our trip so far...

on the move

happy halloween

Then...

Now...

One year ago yesterday our genial giraffe was just a baby bunny spending his first night at home. Unfortunately, Luca didn't make it trick or treating last night because he has a little cold and we thought he should stay home. He did dress up and help answer the door in between scurrying to the kitchen to play in the cabinets.

We were able to get a video of Luca taking some steps on Friday. He is doing more every day although he still resorts to crawling when he wants to get somewhere fast.

turning toddler

Luca is busy working on turning toddler these days. Tonight he started taking 6-7 steps in a row, he is wobbly but it won't be long! Luca is also enjoying feeding himself although he will still tolerate some help. I still haven't found anything that he doesn't like to eat

and he also likes to share...

I also heard Luca say mom 3 times today, that is so sweet. I'm off to look for recipies to make for my sweet baby. I will try to get a video of him walking but, until then, here is my little tough guy.

life as we know it

Luca has learned to open cabinets (and drawers)

and life

as we know it

is over!

a ONE-derful year

It amazes me how far Luca has come over this year...

where did our tiny baby go?

We had a nice week. Luca's grandparents and Auntie Rhonda came for his birthday. Luca loved being spolied by his family, of course. He learned to wave, started standing up on his own, took a few more steps and had his first big belly laughs. It was a big birthday week!

Can you believe I've been trying to get this post ready for the last 3 nights. I'm afraid our sweet birthday boy got a little too used to sleeping with mama and daddy last week and he has taken forever to get back to sleep after he wakes at night. Mike has turned into the softie and always says I should just bring him to bed but I think it's best for Luca and I to sleep apart. He wakes up even more when he's sleeping next to "Mom's All Night Diner." Going on 1 year and 1 week and so far Luca has slept through the night once. I just tell myself that someday I will miss getting up in the night to rock my snuggly baby back to sleep. After all, it's about the only time he slows down enough for me to hold him.