first jumbo jet

Luke's first time on a jumbo jet went well from our perspective.  I'm not sure how our fellow passengers feel.  The pressure changes didn't seem to bother him at all, but he did cry several times out of frustration and general discomfort.  We were seated in the middle isles, so he had no window view.  I don't think he knew he was in a plane.  He didn't have his own seat, but we were able to put the armrests up on two of our seats and he, Tim and I shared until they went to sleep.  He's technically too heavy for the cot/bassinet that they had for him which sits on a shelf in the bulkhead, but we put him in it after he fell asleep and he did well there for an hour or so.  After that, we took turns holding him while he slept.  The bulkhead is nice because you have all the extra leg room, but you aren't allowed to have any bags on the floor during take off and landing and there were no bins directly overhead.  When traveling with young children, it's really important to be able to reach into your bag at any moment for any number of emergency items: a cup of milk, a book, a toy, a cloth, a change of clothes, etc.  





waiting to board in denver

so big

getting ready for bed on the flight

On the flight to Cape Town, he got his own seat because the flight wasn't full and we were not in the bulkhead. Paul and I sat on either end of the row of four and by again lifting armrests, Tim and Luke were able to stretch out. He slept from take off through our dinner and then was asleep for most of the 11 hour flight.

sleeping on the flight to cape town with brother

peanut butter

Luke has been a great disappointer.  At three months he started sleeping through the night.  We celebrated the child that would sleep through the night.  That lasted about four weeks.  He sleeps through the night so rarely now that I keep track of it in my calendar.  When he started to eat solids, he ate  a lot of anything and everything: humus, avocado, cheese.  We celebrated the child that had a healthy appetite and open pallet.  Now he eats about 8 things.  This video is monumental because he has added peanut butter to his food choices (and he's just so cute playing with Tim's, now his, airplane).  

played out

Luke's all over the place with his nap times these days.  Over the summer he gradually switched from a morning napper to an afternoon napper.  It seems that he may be going back to the morning.  On Wednesday, he was particularly clingy, whiny, and annoying at about 09:30.  When I finally quit working in the kitchen and picked him up, he was asleep before I even had a chance to figure out what was wrong.  Today, he fell asleep on the sofa in the middle of playing with Buzz and Rex.  Fortunately, he's easy to transfer to his bed.

the end of summer

These photos are from the end of September and the end of the hot days of summer.  We're still enjoying the back yard, but we wear more clothes now.

on the trampoline/ball depot

furrowing his brow

inside toys are much more interesting when they are outside

20 months

9 out of 10 toddlers surveyed say that cheerios taste better when eaten off the floor

luke will sit on the car and push the buttons that make noise and play music but he has yet to push it around

developing skills

Luke has discovered that he can put lego pieces together as well as take them apart.

playing alone

People often comment that Luke is very independent or that he is so good at entertaining himself. He is. I don't know if it's because Tim requires so much attention so Luke has learned to take care of himself or if it's just his nature. Either way, it's delightful. However, sometimes, I forget about him. I've never left him at the store or anything like that, but sometimes he'll be playing in the yard while I'm gardening and ten minutes will pass before I look up and think "where's Luke?" If he isn't in the same spot doing the same thing, he's moved a few yards away and is doing something similar.



picking up rocks in the garden is one of his favorite outdoor activities




playing with small things in piles is one of his favorite indoor activities