Another Corn Lover!

Corn is Nathan's favorite vegetable, and I admit, I'm quite fond of it myself.  So, thankfully, Luke likes it also.  He had actually been pretending quite a bit recently with eating imaginary corn-on-the-cob and giving it to Nathan and I for us to "eat".  So, when corn went on sale last week, it was extra good timing for having him try it again.  This time, I cooked up a separate half-ear just for Luke (rather than letting him try a portion of one of our ears when we were done with most of it), which he thought was GREAT!  He looked so cute eating it, and he did an amazing job getting the corn off - it was picked clean when he was through!  Welcome to this corn-loving family, Luke!  You're going to fit right in!

The Many Faces of Luke

I finally remembered to take some pictures of Luke helping me make rice for dinner last week.  He LOVES to help me pour the rice and water in the rice cooker, help arrange the lid and paper towel I put on top to catch the splatters, and push the button to start it cooking.  When I tell him it's time to help make the rice, he'll put down whatever he's doing and come over to push a chair into the kitchen to help!

While I was sitting down to rest while dinner was warming up, I noticed just how picturesque Luke was while playing with his cars on the end table next to the couch.  The lamp was right above his head, so the lighting was bright enough to not need the flash.  A few are still fuzzy, but I caught several different expressions of my precious little boy - I'm so thankful for the ability to capture these cubby cheeks and expression-filled eyes to remember what he looked liked at this stage after he's all grown up.  :)

Rainy Rose

Last week, we came home from running errands during a lull in the rain.  As I passed by one of the rose bushes outside our building, this blossom caught my eye - so pretty all covered in rain drops!  Out came my camera!  I like all of these that I took, so I'll include all of them.  I think my absolute favorite is the last one, but I like all of them.

Bunny Sighting

We've lived here for more than 5 years and I think this is the first time I've managed to capture a picture of one of the cute little bunnies that live in the bushes on the hill.  They often come out at night when it's too dark to take a picture.  Or, they're just super quick to hop away before you can get your act together.  Nathan, Luke and I were all together watching this one, so I'm surprised that it stayed put - we were only a few yards away!  Hi, Bunny!

It's been awhile since I took any pictures of Luke riding his bike.  Granted, he doesn't get to ride it all that often, since it's kind of an ordeal to go down to the garage to get it out, and I haven't wanted to help too much being pregnant now.  But, I suggested Nathan help him a couple weekends ago, and I sat watching - perfect vantage for taking a couple pictures.  Luke is doing pretty well pedaling these days, but he definitely has trouble when the ground is even on the slightest incline - he's not very motivated to push hard on the pedals.  Practice makes perfect.  :)

Peek-a-Boo!

Never too old for Peek-A-Boo apparently!  Luke was enjoying hiding in the curtains and throwing them open when I'd say, "Where's Luke?"  Guaranteed smile every time!

Electric Guitar

Nathan recently got an electric guitar and we let Luke stay up a little late after his bath the night it arrived in the mail so he could help unpack it and play with it for a little bit (hence the pajamas).  He's very excited whenever he gets to "play" Daddy's guitar.  :)

When we discovered the guitar set included a stand, Nathan set it up, and I thought it would be fun to have Luke stand next to it - they're about the same height!  :)

Practicing his pick technique - Luke LOVES using these!

Sweet Ladybug

Here's a nice picture of Luke.  Not sure what he's doing here, but isn't he CUTE?

While outside, Luke found a ladybug and I managed to get a couple fun pictures!  Yea for the macro setting on my camera.  :)

Little Gardener

If any of you know Luke at all, you know he's really into gloves.  :)  So, when Grandpa "needed" help from the grandkids to plant seeds in his garden a few weeks ago, you can be sure gardening gloves were involved.  It's actually his exposure to the gardening gloves at the grandparent's house that started his obsession in the first place.  :)

Helping plant carrot seeds!  Notice the tongue sticking out in concentration - love that!

Now for some water!

Silliness

Luke decided that the stickers he received from inside his Easter eggs needed to be placed all over his body.  Note: there's one on his neck, and three on his feet/ankles.  He even at some point recently has put stickers on the BOTTOMS of his feet and then tried to walk very gingerly around.  So silly!  After he carefully applied all these stickers, he carefully got up and started moving around very slowly - such a goof.

Then, just a few minutes later, he put on his football helmet from this past Halloween and I managed to get this super-cute picture of him in it.  :)

And last but not least, on this apparently very silly day three weeks ago, is this shot of Luke "roaring" while we're playing outside.  I love my cute boy!

Happy Easter!

Easter was a nice time with church and family - and thankfully I was finally feeling well enough that I made it through the whole morning without needing extra snacks.  :)  I enjoyed singing in the choir that morning, and we gathered as a family after church for several group pictures.  I love how this one of me & Luke turned out!

The best one on my camera of all the (present) grandkids - not sure who was being silly behind me, but it worked to get more of them looking happy!

Our family picture.

The Duncans.

Matt & Tara and family.

All of the grandkids with Grandma & Grandpa.

After this, we and Matt & family went to Nathan's parents for a nice, festive lunch together.  I'm pretty sure I took a nap after we got home that afternoon - even though I don't think Luke did.  :)  We're very thankful for all that God has done for us in providing His Son to be our sacrifice and savior!

Easter Birthday Party

The Saturday before Easter was Luke's cousin, Owen's birthday party.  I had to miss the first half because of choir practice, but apparently, Luke was more interested in driving the ride-in police car they have in the backyard than dying Easter eggs.  :)  They also opened presents during the first half of the party.  I got there during lunch, and enjoyed the egg hunt afterward.  The adult men probably enjoy hiding the eggs as much as (or more than!) the kids enjoy finding them.  :)  This year, Luke actually figured out what he was supposed to do after just a few directions and prompts, so it was lots of fun to see him actively looking for the eggs - "Me find more eggs!"  They released the kids outside gradually, starting with the youngest first, so Luke actually got quite a few eggs, even though he was the second youngest of 11 kids participating in the hunt.

Silly smile at Mommy for trying to take his picture while he rode this horse.  :)

Happy Birthday, Owen!

Springtime!

So, we finally bought a new dwarf mandarin orange tree a few weeks ago.  My parents bought me our first one several years ago as a birthday/housewarming present when they visited us.  It gave us an orange or two for a couple years, but last year, we didn't get ANY oranges.  The sun is quite harsh on our plants and one year I distinctly remember having several tiny oranges on the tree in the morning, and coming home from work to find they they had literally been BURNT on the tree!  They were dark brown and shriveled.  :(  Needless to say, we have finally found a decent patio umbrella that can withstand *most* of the wind that our hillside residence throws at it, and have gotten all our plants plantstands to keep them up off of the heat of the patio floor.

Last year, we tried repotting this tree, but I think we did more damage than good and it didn't seem to be very happy the rest of the year.  However this spring, that tree has actually looked quite happy so far, and even has several tiny oranges on it.  So, when we went to the nursery to get a new one, we ended up deciding to keep the old tree AND get a new one, just to give this original tree one more chance.  When potting the new tree (on the right), we did a little bit more repotting of the old tree (on the left), and made sure it's soil and roots looked nice and happy and covered.  We got some better directions for watering and we're also using a natural booster the lady at the nursery suggested called "Super Thrive" to see if that will give the trees some extra love.  In this picture you'll also see the 4 mini roses that seem to be the only thing hearty enough to thrive on our sweltering porch, and some parsley that has been surprisingly hearty and springs back to life even after being scorched.  :)

And, just to leave you with some cuteness, here's a pic of Luke sleeping - I can't resist!  :)  And yes, we usually find him sleeping on top of his covers - guess that's to be expected when he spent the first 2-1/2 years of his life sleeping in a crib with no blankets.

Ladybug Update

While on our typical Sunday evening walk, we found a ladybug.  Luke enjoyed watching it on our hands, but didn't want to touch it himself.  :)

Here I am at 12-1/2 weeks.  I thought this would be a nice background for a belly shot, even though it wasn't on a milestone day.  When we came back from our walk, a neighbor couple who live in our building stopped us to talk for a minute.  Just as we were moving off, the lady said, "Wait a minute!", then pointed to me and motioned with her hand to indicate a big tummy.  Taking her non-verbal cue, I nodded with a smile.  Then we exchanged congrats & due date information, etc.  That was the first person to ask if I was pregnant, just by looking at me.  :)  Very fun!

A few days later, I had my second doctor's appointment, where I got to HEAR this baby's heartbeat for the first time!  Such a reassuring sound!  I also was able to make an appointment for my next ultrasound to be May 4th - the week I'll be 18 weeks, which is BEFORE Mother's Day!  We have a big family shin-dig that weekend, so I thought it would be fun to try to find out if our baby is a boy or a girl before that - pray the baby cooperates!

Luke hadn't napped this particular Sunday afternoon, so the walk up the hill and back wore him out.  When Nathan asked if he wanted to be carried, he quickly agreed.  Picture opportunity!

Gopher Sighting!

Waiting on a bench with Daddy while I got a Strawberry Julius for us to share.  Such a cutie!!!  I was also getting a gift card for my sister, Heidi's, birthday, which was now a week ago - Happy Birthday!!!

While outside playing that evening, we happened to spot a gopher popping out of his hole a little ways up the hillside.  He was coming out to pull on this little bush and take leaves into his hole.  Very fascinating to watch!

And of course... boys will be boys.  Nathan taught Luke how to throw rocks at it.  :P  I thought this picture turned out great - Luke in mid swing while the gopher was out of his hole!

Cinnamon & Skating

Proof that Cinnamon is getting used to Luke - and that Luke is getting mellow enough for Cinnamon's tastes.  Cinnamon was blissfully sleeping in the sun front of the open window, when Luke noticed her and wanted to go lay down beside her.  While Cinnamon did wake up, she stayed there for quite a while before getting up and walking away.  Cinnamon will even voluntarily sleep in my glider in Luke's room when Luke is in there playing by himself!  Amazing.  In the past, she would bolt out of the room whenever Luke entered it.  :P

We bought a new tube of toddler toothpaste recently, and Luke decided that the flattened box, when placed under his foot on the tiles, was a lot like ice-skating!  He happily slipped around like this for quite some time saying, "ice skating!"  It's fun that he can now remember things that he's done before - even when they were months in the past.  Mom & Dad - he also remembers driving to the snow in your red van and wants to do that again!  :)

Willing to Smile

I don't often post the pictures that I take of flowers and such since there are too many good ones of Luke to post.  But, if you're interested in these types of pictures, they're all included on our Hughes gallery, too.  Maybe I should make a sub-album just for scenery/plant pictures...

Luke usually doesn't want to stop playing "rocks, sticks, leaves" to smile at my camera.  But EVENTUALLY, he agreed to face me and smile while he was sitting on this rock.  I think he sat on the rock about 10 times before he finally cooperated with me.  :P

Helping

"Being" Daddy - office chair, wrist brace and all!

Helping wash the cars!  These pictures are always so cute.  I took way more of all these events.  As always, check out our album on the Hughes gallery to get your complete "Luke fix".

Helping Grandpa weed the flower pot and plant new flowers!

Helping Grandma water the roses!