Sick sick sick

We all spent the majority of last week sick. I started the Saturday before and Todd picked it up on Sunday. Poor Luke - both of us were laid out on the couch all day Sunday while he ran around. We were of no use to anyone!

Todd was worse than I was, so I went to work on Monday and Todd stayed home. Luke started showing signs on Tuesday, but was able to make it through day care on Wednesday. But by Wednesday night, he was done. He had Daddy's fever and Mommy's cough. I stayed home with Luke on Thursday and Grandma was kind enough to watch Luke on Friday.

There is always a silver lining to everything, and the "sick" silver lining is being able to watch exorbitant amounts of TV. (particularly "Little Einsteins") So he goes on the couch, grabs Sally and I tuck him in. Apparently, both Todd and I say "toasty" after tucking in the blankets, but it surprised me when he said, "Oooh! Toasty!"

Reading

Luke loves to read - quite a variety. Our current favorites:

The Very Busy Spider - by Eric Carle
Luke says all the animal names, their voices and a few words about what the animal asks the spider to do.

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (aka "Mickey House") Christmas Eve (yup, we're still reading it)
Luke can name all of the Fab Five really well, including Clarabelle ("Clarebell!), though he does call Pluto "Tito."

No More Diapers for Ducky
Luke has now started staying whole sections of the story - as seen in the video clip. "I told you Piggy, I'm sitting on the potty!" and then laughs hysterically. He also kicks the diaper away, just like Ducky.

Please note, there's a freak out moment at the end of the clip where he rips the book. YIKES.

What??

That's right.
Two. Sallys.

Our pediatrician advised us while Luke was still young, to invest in at least two 'lovies' - whenever we found out what he attached himself to. The first attachment was to "Buddy" the caterpillar (rest his soul) as Luke could suck on his antenna without having to hold him. Buddy was lost (rest his soul) and we learned our lesson when I couldn't find another Buddy.

When we discovered how much Luke loved Sally, we bought a few more. 3, in fact: 1 for home, 1 for the car and 1 for daycare. Later, when we attempted to introduce a new Sally (and a "used" Sally) after the 3 were getting . . . icky, it was not received well. So, we've been hanging with rotating the two we have and hoping that they don't completely fall apart.

So during the moving chaos, Luke ended up with both Sallys. He wouldn't give either up, so he was perfectly content with both Sallys.

Happy Birthday Uncle D!

We went to Benihana's for Uncle Dan's birthday, which is a popular choice. Not so, for the 2 year old. Yikes! Too long of a wait, too long of a show. But Mommy was happy - yummy yummy food! Luke at more pretzels before the meal than his actual meal, but he obliged Mommy with a picture in a "chef's" hat.


Collin was just being funny - silly kid!

There is a part of me that rejects Benihana coming into the digital age. No more Polaroids? Boo hiss.

What I Don't Miss . . .

Now that our move is a few months past (and the security deposit return has been cashed) its a good time to reflect on what our old home was, and likewise, wasn't.

When we were moving back in 2007, we had decided to get out of the apartment that we hated and into a place that was more "home" like that was still in our budget. We found our little place on Merry Lane and were thrilled with it. It was what we needed at the time and fit our lives, especially as Luke came along.

But there were problems that came along with it, so it was a good time to say goodbye.

Goodbye roof, so leaky, so new
Goodbye yellow countertops,
that stains would cling to.

Goodbye walls o' wood
that I tried to cover
Goodbye prestained carpet
I could not recover.

Goodbye bordello curtains
I couldn't wait to hide
Goodbye curtains o' lace
I couldn't like if I tried.

Oh the windows so drafty
The fireplace uber cold
I couldn't stay there
Once we found the mold.

Goodbye Merry Lane
With your loud music next door
Goodbye sharing walls
And the ghetto Safeway store.

Hello Stardust Lane
So beautiful and fancy
Moving here was the best!
I just feel so . . . dance-y?

Scenes from a Two Year Old

Scene: Breakfast. Luke and Daddy sitting at the table. Luke eating cereal, Daddy encouraging focus on eating. Mommy in the kitchen, doing . . . kitchen-y things.

Luke:
I love you juice. (kisses juice.)
I love you spoon. (kisses spoon.)

Daddy:
Luke, what is "love"?

Luke:
(thoughtful pause, then points to Mommy in kitchen)
Mommy love.

Mommy:
(auto tears activate)
I love you, Luke.

Luke:
I love you Mommy.
I love you juice. (kisses juice.)

And so Luke continues on with his world of language. Our pediatrician told us that while Luke is certainly chatty, all of the sudden, the words will just explode out of him. And the last few weeks, we have seen a huge improvement in vocabulary, pronounciation and enthusiasm.

Scene: Mommy picking Luke up for daycare. Luke comes to the door crying hysterically. He does not want to leave.

Mommy:
Luke, we need to go now.

Luke:
Noooooooooooooo! (*hysterical sob*) I don wanna!

Mommy:
Do you want to see Gramma and Pappa?

Luke:
(all crying ceases)
Okay.
Collin and Gracie?

Mommy:
I don't think so, sweetie. (immediately regret choice)

Luke:
(cue hysterical crying)

Mommy:
Uhhh . . . we'll see.

Luke:
(all crying ceases.)
Okay.

Scene: Luke has been wrangled to the car, heading for home.

Luke:
Mom, can we see Collin?

Mommy:
(feeling ultimately proud of her two year old speaking in a grammatically correct 5 word sentence, but hates to lead him on . . .)
We'll see. I like your nice sentence!

Luke:
(waits.)
Mom, can we see Collin?

Mommy:
(NUTS!)
We'll see. Should we see Gramma and Pappa? I like your nice complete sentence!
(quickly, before he can ask again, begins to sing)

"A sentence sentence sentence is complete complete complete
When five simple rules it meets meets meets."
(and so on)
Teacher brain switches on to distract toddler.

Later that evening . . .

Scene:
Gramma and Pappa's house. Date night for Mommy and Daddy (sweet!) Luke playing happily.

Mommy:
Okay sweetie - give kisses and say bye bye, Mommy and Daddy are going.

Luke:
(cue hysterical crying) (note: its been a busy day)
Nooooooooooooooo!!

Daddy:
Luke, Luke, you're fine!

Luke:
(continues hysterical crying)
Nooooooooooooooo!!
(Struggles against Gramma holding him)

Gramma:
Just get going he's fine.

Mommy and Daddy:
Luke, you're not leaving, Mommy and Daddy are.

Luke:
(cease hysterical crying)
Okay.

Gets down, goes and plays. Promptly ignores Mommy and Daddy.

*Fin.*

Luke at 2

We were tired of Luke's mullet-ish hair, but are just not interested in spending a ton at the kids haircut "salon" that we used to. So we buzzed him. He was not excited about that, but he sure looked cute after. Now Daddy and Luke have matchy-matchy haircuts.

Luke is now very much two. He is definitely still a chatterbox and will really use his words to get what he wants, ie: "more chicken pleeeeeeeeze" or "knee hurts. kisses pleeeeeeeze" or "that tickle Mommy!"He is still very much in Cars (obviously) and acts out the movie with his toy cars that he received as a birthday gift.

Luke had embarked on potty training (self-motivated), doing a great job, but then just . . . stopped. Because we're shooting for preschool this fall, we're back on the potty training . . . train. Luke decided he wanted to try the potty tonight and after being directed by the pediatrician to let him have his "space" (ie: no one needs a Potty Cheerleader), I left. (cue laughter)

I swear, I wasn't even gone a minute. Luke stood up from the potty and shot straight ahead. And where did he shoot, you ask? Right on the new bathroom rug, of course.

The joys of having a boy.

But Luke is a funny funny kid - I appreciate his sense of humor and his empathy. At daycare, whenever anyone gets in trouble, he apologies to Miss Helen. "I sorry Miss Hellen. I sorry." And then gives hugs. And when he peed on the floor? "I sorry Mommy. I sorry." Then he kissed my knee.

He is my sweetie pie - even if he does pee on the floor.