Some new pictures...

Handsome boy looking so serious.

Holding on to Aunt Anne's finger in the car.

Passed out at Paradise Bakery (bad lighting...sorry!).

Watching Sports Center with Daddy.

New Things...

Luke has found his thumb! He LOVES his paci, but when he would lose it in his sleep, he would wake up and cry and cry until Phil or I would run upstairs and put it back in his mouth....That got old really fast. So we stopped putting his paci back in his mouth for him and voila! He found his thumb (after a few screaming fits). He doesn't like it as much as his paci, but it is helping him put himself back to sleep, which makes me happy. He can only get to his thumb when he is lying on his tummy and has his arms up near his face. This means that he can only get to it lying in bed (yes, we let him sleep on his tummy because he REFUSES to sleep on his back) or lying against my chest. He's not quite coordinated enough to be able to raise his thumb up to his mouth while in a sitting position, but that's ok. He'll get there one of these days. The funny thing is that many times he'll start sucking on his thumb for a few minutes, then decide it's not enough, so he'll try to stuff his whole fist in his mouth. Thank goodness his hands are so big, and he can't get it all in his mouth!

First time sucking his thumb while upright!


Giving up and going for the whole fist!


This is how I found him when I went to wake him up. So sweet!


I discovered the other night that Luke likes his bouncy seat now that we put batteries in it so that it would vibrate. So tonight I put him in it in the kitchen while I was making dinner. For the first time he actually started to play with his hanging toys! He batted at them for several minutes. This was the first time that we have seen him really reach for something and try to get it. His arm and leg movements still tend to be pretty erratic, more like twitching than deliberate movements. Tonight, though, he was just staring at his toys and reaching out to touch them. It was really cute, and best of all, it kept him entertained for quite a while!


Just look at that belly!


Reaching for the singing cow.

Luke on camera...

Here are a couple videos of Luke from today. If you are at all prone to motion sickness, beware...We were in the car and my sister was filming with her iphone, so it might make you want to toss your cookies. Watch at your own risk.

This one was filmed on solid ground, so no worries. Just disregard my double chin...I was super slouched at an unfortunate angle for the camera.

Visitors!

We have had lots of visitors come to meet the little guy, and it's been so much fun to share him with our family and friends. My mom came a few weeks ago to help me with Luke while Phil was super busy with work, and it was so nice to have her here. Then shortly after that, Phil's mom and one of his sisters, Joanna, came to stay with me while Phil was in England. I was so grateful that they came to help me so that I didn't have to be on my own for a week. Now my sister, Anne, is here for the weekend to meet Luke for the first time before she starts her new job in July! Here are a few pictures of Luke with his biggest fans.

My mom with Luke a few weeks ago.


Phil's sister, Joanna, with Luke last week.


Phil's mom with Luke last week.

My sister, Anne, with Luke today.

We did it!

So for 7 weeks I have been too chicken to go to the grocery store with Luke. I finally bit the bullet and did it the other day, and we survived! I can't say that it's my favorite way to go to the grocery store, but at least I know now that it can be done. I put Luke in the Baby Bjorn and wore him around the store. He fussed for a little while at first, but then fell sound asleep. That was good, but of course, I was kind of rushing around thinking, "What if he wakes up and starts screaming?". He didn't, though, thank goodness. Unfortunately the minute I put him in his car seat, he woke up and then started screaming. Oh well. At least we made it through the grocery store without a breakdown! I wanted to document Luke's first trip ever to the store, so I tried taking a picture of us. Here's how my first two attempts turned out....

Soooooo..... I asked the produce guy to take the picture for me! Here we are for the first time as mother/son at the grocery store. The first of thousands of trips, I am sure....

Yay for Daddy!!

Phil was in England for a week last week, and we were so happy to see him Friday when he got home! It was the longest he'd been away since Luke arrived, and he sure did miss the little guy. He was amazed at how much Luke had grown while he was gone and was so surprised to see how much more he was smiling and cooing than before. It was great for me, because Phil was ready and willing to watch Luke and spend all sorts of time with him while I did other things. On Saturday we went to Karen and Tim's house. Luke stayed with Daddy and Tim while Karen and I went to the nearby art festival. It was so nice for me to be out and about! Daddy had to feed Luke all by himself and he did great. When I got back Luke was sitting in Tim's lap, just smiling away. Later that day we went across the street to our neighbor's birthday party. Phil put Luke in the Baby Bjorn baby carrier and away we went! Luke fussed just a little bit, but then quickly fell asleep. He slept against Daddy's chest until it was time to eat again, and then we went home. It was a great day for Daddy and Luke...and for Mommy, too!!


Luke dressed in his baseball outfit (even the socks!) in honor of Daddy. Here we are about to go to Karen and Tim's house.


Getting ready to go to the birthday party across the street.

Daddy loves Luke.

Cute as Red Shoes...

Luke wore "shoes" for the first time yesterday. So cute!



This is how Luke rolls....with his feet crossed--ALWAYS. Even in the sonograms, he always had his feet crossed. At our last ultrasound, I was worried they were permanently fused that way, so I made the nurse push on my belly until he uncrossed them!



These are the cutest "shoe" socks. I love them!! Thanks, Paige and Susan, for these adorable socks!!




When I went to wake Luke up for a feeding yesterday, he was so cute that I ran down stairs and got my camera. I love his little feet in these pictures!!






My mom came to visit and help me last week. It was awesome to have her here. Moms are the best. I am so grateful for all that she did---cleaned, fed me, helped with Luke, got me out of the house, babysat, and more. Thanks so much, Mom!