Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

Maddie has been taking piano lessons for a few months and she really enjoys it.  The piano school philosophy is unique in that they teach only "correct" piano playing technique from the beginning.  They don't use teaching aids or learning aids.  From the first day students start to learn how to read music (not letters or finger guides) and are not allowed to look at their hands.

So far she's learned to play several songs... listen/see her play a popular beginning song in this video clip.

Note: Our piano is out of tune (will be corrected in the near future) so the notes that you hear that sound "off" are probably just out of tune (there might be one wrong note near the end).

Luke Chasing Maddie

This is pretty hilarious...

When Maddie was younger, she used to love to be chased around the house.  Now that she's older (and bigger) we generally don't allow her to run around the house and we don't play the chasing game any more.

For some reason the other night when Tom was carrying Luke, Maddie says to him "Dad, make Luke chase me!"  So Tom starts chasing (but not too fast) Maddie while holding Luke in a superman pose (on his belly, arms outstretched).  As he chases Maddie and she is screeching and giggling with delight, Luke starts screeching and giggling too.  He loved it!

See the video below.

Luke Turns 9 Months Old

I'm about three weeks late on this post... since he's now almost 10 months old!

The crawling is non-stop now and Luke's desire to "explore" everything keeps Angela on the run all day long (and Tom too on the weekends).  He's fast too!  He can move from one room to another in just a few moments... luckily he can always be found by following the drool trail he usually leaves behind.

You can see that all of these photos were taken before his haircut.  It doesn't matter... he's so darn cute!!  But most of all he's happy... always babbling and very easy to make laugh.  He's a true blessing in our lives and everyday we're so thankful for this little guy!

Playing in the bathtub

Meal time is fun (and messy).

Luke with sunhat

Mom and Luke at Children's Museum

Dad and Luke at Children's Museum

Luke clapping



Fun Luke Facts at 9 Months Old...
Favorite Food: Almost everything
Favorite Pastime: Crawling, "exploring" and trying to stand up
Least Favorite Activity: Having his faced wiped after eating
Tooth Count: 2
Weight/Height: 24 lbs. / 30 inches (both 90th percentile)

Luke's Man Cave

Okay... it's not really a man cave.  It's more of a baby cave... but Luke seems to like it.  We've been wanting to post photos of Luke's bedroom for so long.  The decorating process has been ongoing for awhile.  Curtains, crib skirt, pillows and artwork over the crib are homemade.  Other accessories are added as we find cute things in stores.

Zzzzzzzzz....

Chair for bottle feedings and story time before naps and bedtime

Changing table and dresser

Artwork supplied by sister Maddie and Luke Thomas written in bug font

Growth chart on the all to track Luke's height

Luke's First Haircut

It was definitely time.  Yes, it was still very cute.  Yes, strangers in stores would stop us (almost every day) to comment on how much they like the hair.  Everyone loved it.  His hair was becoming his defining feature.  Not in a Donald Trump kind of way, but in a cool James Dean kind of way.  But still it was time.  So today we took Luke to get his first haircut.


Unaware of what was about to happen, Luke waits patiently for his first haircut.

James Dean - Luke's first hair idol 

What's going on here... why am I getting strapped into this chair?

Everything started fine.  There were many interesting things to look at and distract his attention as we buckled him in the chair.  Everything was fine until the electric clippers were turned on (Bzzzzzzzzz) and started trimming the back and side of his hair.  Poor Luke was scared to tears.

I know... it's pitiful.

Luckily the electric trimmers only lasted a minute or so, and Luke was able to calm down with the distraction of some bubbles and the comfort of his binky (which he normally only uses to fall asleep for naps and at night).  Before we knew it, a new - even cuter - hair style emerged.

Almost finished and Luke is feeling better

Now he's sporting a cool new short hair style.  Of course he still looks super cute.  And it didn't take long for his new hair style to catch someone's eye.  Walking out of the haircut store, a stranger passing by noticed his new haircut and stopped us to say... "he's so cute - I love the hair!"

So cute... and still cool!

Luke Turns 8 Months Old

Our little guy has turned 8 months old and he keeps getting cuter every day.  We didn't think it was possible but it's true!  See these pictures taken over the last couple of months...

Enjoying the swing in the backyard

Luke and big sister Maddie enjoying the backyard swing

Luke looking for something to put in his mouth

This smile makes us smile

Having a ball in his bedroom

Luke loves when big sister plays too

Ready for PJs after a bath

Eating time can get messy

Relaxing in a mini man chair

 Fun Luke facts at 8 months old...
Favorite Food: All of them... we haven't found a baby food he doesn't like!
Favorite Pastime: Standing while holding someone's fingers
Least Favority Activity: Learning to crawl - he's almost got it but gets very upset after a few minutes of trying
Longest Continuous Sleep: Sleeps through the night EVERY night now (yipeee)!
Weight: 22 lbs at last doctor visit (at 7 months)

Run, Maddie, Run!

As some of you know, Maddie joined the school running club this past fall.  The running club meets 1/2 hour before school every Tuesday and Thursday.  The children are given 20 minutes to run laps and collect popsicle sticks for each completed 1/4-mile lap.

We weren't certain if Maddie would enjoy this activity or how long she might continue in the club.  Well running club "season" is over next month and Maddie is still running before school every Tuesday and Thursday.  She has shown great determination and desire as she has steadily improved over the past few months.

Maddie and friends from class stay loose before a race

This was evident recently during an after school "race" event with multiple elementary schools participating.  Maddie started the 1 1/2 mile race quickly, running past several of her kindergarten classmates and soon she disappeared out of sight (the race was around a large loop in a local park).  Tom started walking the race course thinking he would meet Maddie on the course.  Well he didn't get very far when Maddie came running into sight.  She was very tired but was determined to continue running until she crossed the finish line.

Maddie passes the 1-mile mark and sees the finish line in the distance

Maddie enjoys a popsicle after the race

She finished the race much faster than we thought she would and she didn't walk at all (that was her goal)!  We couldn't have been more proud of her.  Now she's looking forward to another after school race in February and another 1 1/2 mile fun run with Dad on a weekend, also in February.  Dad's a little nervous that his 6 year old daughter will embarass him during the race... and Maddie has already said that she won't wait for him if he needs to walk!

Run, Maddie, run!