Luke's first birthday party!

A fun birthday party for Luke with our families!

Luke fell asleep in the swing:

Luke: Week 52...

52-week highlights:

• Luke is eating most things we put in front of him now.  He loves gogurt and chocolate chip cookies (who wouldn't?!), but he's also eating different kinds of meat, bread, fruits, and vegetables too.  I feel like he's finally getting the majority of his nutrition from food instead of from me!
• I am beginning the weaning process with Luke.  He's now eating when he wakes up, around lunch time, and before he goes to bed.  He was nursing in the middle of the night too, but the last 2 nights we've let him cry it out and he slept until 6:15 and 5:00am respectively.  I think I am FINALLY going to be able to stop nursing him at night now.  We have come so far!
• Even though I nurse Luke to sleep at bedtime, he usually wakes up when I lay him down, but he is able to put himself back to sleep, which is huge for us!  It's funny because we aren't trying anything new, it's just that Luke is finally ready to sleep.
• Luke loves to play outside!  He loves the dirt, mud, water, and swing.  If he is grouchy, taking him outside almost always cheers him up.
• Luke's sweet personality is really starting to come out.  He smiles a lot and makes me laugh constantly.  My heart just bursts with love for him!
• Luke is doing so well in the nursery at church, CBS, and exercise.  I can't believe how far we've come in this area!
• Turning one has been a good thing for Luke, we've overcome a lot of challenges in the past few weeks, and it finally feels like he is hitting his stride in life.  He is such a sweet little guy.  I just love him so much!

Luke: Week 51...

51-week highlights:

• I feel like Luke is a totally different kid than he was last week.  It's like he's grown up right before my eyes!  He is beginning to fall asleep on his own when we put him to bed at night, which he most definitely was NOT doing before.  He's also sleeping in his crib longer at night.  One night he was in his bed until 5am and the next until 6:15!  Progress is being made!
• He is eating lots of different foods all of a sudden.  Tonight we had spaghetti with roasted carrots and he ate some of everything!  He's eaten eggs, muffins, bits of apples, and, of course smoothie.  His absolute favorite thing to eat right now are graham crackers.  If he's fussy I can just hand him a graham cracker and he will calm right down.  He also likes drinking out of his sippy cup.  Last week I felt like weaning him was such a long way off, and now this week I feel like it's right around the corner.  Such is life with a baby, I suppose!
• Luke is walking EVERYWHERE.  His favorite thing to do is try and be anywhere Henry and Charlie are.  Unfortunately his brothers are not as excited about this when they are playing legos or CARS baseball or football :(  
• Luke LOVES to play outside.  He loves to climb into the playgarden and use any rake or shovel he can find and move dirt around.  He also loves to play in the water table.
• In general, I'd say Luke seems to be happier now that he's walking.  I'm happier too, less strain on my back ;)
• I can't believe our Lukers is almost 1!  What a joy he is.  I can't believe God has blessed me with 3 boys.  What a privilege!

Luke: Week 50...

50-week highlights:

• We have made small strides in the sleep department this week!  Luke actually put himself to sleep in the crib 3 times this week.  Once with almost no crying and the other 2 times were with lots of crying :(.  But he did it!  All 3 times he actually fell asleep LAYING DOWN rather than his usual sleep sitting up thing.  Hopefully we are getting somewhere now!  One night he stayed in his crib until 4 am, the next night 3am, and the past night 1am.  My goal is 5am, but right now if he can put himself to sleep at least once/night I'll call that a victory.  I'm not going to focus on how long he stays in his crib.  Baby steps :)
• Luke doesn't seem to consistently love eating anything in particular.  He does get pretty excited about smoothies in his sippy cup, but he certainly doesn't drink a ton of it.  Although I suppose that's how Henry and Charlie started with their smoothie drinking too.  He certainly isn't eating enough for me to wean him yet, so we'll continue on with the nursing until he can eat more solids.
• Luke is starting to get angry with Henry and Charlie sometimes.  For example, if they quickly pick something up off the floor so Luke won't get it (legos, playmobil, etc.) Luke will throw a fit and sometimes even pull their hair or try and tackle them.  Obviously he's a normal child so, just like the big boys, there will be no shortage of discipline for our sweet Luke :)
• Luke is officially walking!!!!!  He talks lots of steps now and can stand up in the middle of the room if he falls (which he definitely still does a lot of :)  He is so proud of himself it is just adorable.  It won't be long and he will be keeping up with Henry and Charlie!
• Only 2 more weeks until we have a 1-year old!  Crazy!

Luke: Week 49...

49-week highlights:

• He is taking more and more steps everyday, pretty soon the whole walking thing will just click!
• Changing Luke's diaper is the worst!  He will not stay still!
• Luke is making progress in the nursery.  He loves playing in the sandbox at church during exercise, and he even stayed in the nursery for an entire church service this past Sunday.  Go Luke!
• Luke still isn't eating a ton of solids.  He'll eat some of what I give him, but we certainly aren't at the point where he could get full nourishment from solids if I weaned him.  Oh well, we'll get there eventually!
• Luke is still fighting the sleep.  I have been able to get him to take naps in the stroller somewhat consistently.  He will also sleep on the couch if leave him there after I finish nursing him.  So, I'd call that progress!
• Luke has the sweetest smile I've ever seen!  When he gives me his big gummy grin I just about melt.  We love him so much and can hardly believe he'll turn one in 2 weeks!