Freebirds FANaticks!

Brent completed his GMAT with the EXACT score we prayed for-- I mean the exact one! To say I am proud of my hubs is a huge understatement. He will be applying to his top 2 choice MBA programs in the coming months for Fall enrollment. To celebrate tonight's victory, Luke and I took Daddy out for dinner to the newly opened Freebirds! They opened 4 days ago... we have already been there twice as well as became "Freebirds Fanaticks"... I see a trend coming on!

Luke ordered his first meal off of the kid's menu:

He also danced to Roxanne amidst a viewing audience:

Our first visit to Freebirds was with some of our buds... Holly and Tim had never been there before, so they were in for a MONSTER treat! The Carpenters were counting down to "opening day" with us-- Clayton even got a Tattoo for the event and Drew did some damage on his Momma's burrito!

All things MOUTH

TEETH: Luke is getting his molars! His back right one is in and he is so proud to show it off... the back left is very sore and red-- Motrin has been our BFF the last few days. Poor guy has a runny nose and is a little teary by night time after he has been a big boy all day- the soreness just catches up to him.

EATING: Luke eats like a champ! His favorites right now (in order): Blueberries, Bananas, Any form of Chicken (these top 3 get hummmms while he eats), Cheese, Beans, Yogurt, Fajitas, Green Beans or Peas in the single serve cup (he squishes the peas between his thumb and index finger as hard as he can, prompting the most serious and intense facial expressions before eating them), Pop Tarts/ Cinnamon rolls. Pretty much the only thing we know he won't eat is cake, carrots, and cantaloupe-- this child even ate olives and tomatoes! Hallelujah!

HYGIENE: Luke LOVES to brush his teeth-- he would dig in our bathroom drawer and pull Brent's toothbrush out in the morning and stick it in his mouth like Daddy does. I got him his own and he takes it everywhere!

DRINKING: Luke has graduated to a sippy cup with whole milk for the last few weeks now. He is still hanging on to the night time bottle-- it just isn't worth the fight to me right before bedtime to switch yet. NO MORE $27 FORMULA!!! Did I just get a raise????!!! Sure feels like it! Daycare got him to make the switch a week before he would give in at home... I showed up one day while he was drinking out of a sippy and "caught" him being a big boy... he smiled big like he knew I 'knew'!

This is the last can in the house that I will probably just toss... I'll be packing away the Dr. Browns and the eye sore drying rack too! All of those scoops are the measuring cups that come with the formula... I have such a hard time throwing them away... you never know when you will need a scoop, right? One night, when we were going through formula at a record pace, Brent went to throw away an empty can, I told him "Wait... I think I should save the can!" His response "For what, to hold all of the scoops you won't throw away?" Touche. I'll throw them away now... well, maybe I'll keep just one IN CASE! I seriously didn't realize there were 7 in my drying rack- I promise!

Luke says "Thank you" for all of his birthday presents!

Sports Center and Rocket from Aunt Jamie:

Shape Sorter from Honey:

(The Hunts got Luke a second basketball goal, so Leah, we took it back and got him 2 pairs of new kicks! See them above? Thank you!!!)

Pool Stick from The Bonacquisti's:

Ride on race car from Grandma and Granddaddy (Luke dances with the sweetest grin when it plays music):

Tonka Truck from Pops and Granna:

"Dentist Office" toy from Pops and Granna (I don't know what they are really called)

Lawn Mower from the Carpenters-- it sings "Pushing along with the mower, hoping the grass will get lower...":

Big Boy chair from Aunt Christy and Uncle Chris-- Luke LOVES crawling all over it!

This was my chair when I was a kid... Luke crawled right in it like he owned the joint!

Trucks! This boy is is hog heaven pushing around his new trucks! Thank you Tacketts and Mr. Doug!

Luke LOVES chasing the Tonka truck all over the house-- he giggles when it says "Lets find some DIRT".

The classic hammer toy from the Welches:

Luke's "Church" sippy cup from the Hunts... this is way to fancy to waste on a week day!

Clothes from Grandma, Aunt Melody and Uncle Justin, Honey... thank you, thank you! We are all set for winter!

Cash from Aunt Bev, Aunt Freddie, Granna and Pops, and Christina... you are filling up Luke's piggy bank! Thank you.

Books- thank you Clarks, Jennifer, Loftis's, Jamie, Sterlings, Carpenters, and Kraftsons! You have kept Brent and I entertained at bedtime!:

Most of all, thank your for your friendships and sharing in our excitement for Luke's birthday! We are blessed by you all!

Elf on a Shelf

Every year, I plan on buying our kids an ornament that has meaning to it-- this year, Santa contacted ME and said he wanted to send one of his Elf helpers to us as a special early gift to Luke. The Elf sits in the living room to watch children and reports back to Santa every night. In the morning, the Elf is sitting in a new spot after his trip to the North Pole to watch all over again for the new day. Santa told me this Elf was made in the 1950's in Japan... he is a world traveler!

Happy 60th Birthday to My Daddy!

My dad turned 60 on Tuesday! 60 looks good on him, I must say! Mom had a surprise ice cream sundae party for him and he had no clue! 21 of their friends flooded into the pool house on a weeknight screaming surprise! How fun!

I love that he was in his comfy clothes for the evening! Please notice his new camo slippers! Ha!

Birthday reading material. Nice, guys.

And, I guess when you are 60 and diabetic, you get sugar free ice cream! Cracks me up!

Happy birthday Daddy... it must be a gratifying feeling to walk into a new decade knowing you have led a life of integrity, provision, hard work, and love for your family and friends. I am your biggest fan! I love you.

Baby Radius

When we attempt to eat out with Luke, here is what you will see at our table (I lovingly refer to this as the Baby Radius. Without it, food would be all over the floor, all over Luke and I am pretty sure we would get a multitude of dirty looks):

Brent thought Luke should try a lemon...

He made this face and shook his head at the sourness, then laughed and did it again! Ha!

Not liking the pony ride in the least.

Daddy's Little Helper

Daddy, I'm just gonna hold the hose, okay?

Hum... are there clothes over here? Let me check.

Splash. Oh! That is fun! I wonder if they would notice if I hop in?

Okay. I am in and they aren't stopping me. Opps... I am supposed to be holding the hose.

Okay. Got it.

Mud Run 2009

Brent has been looking forward to this year's 10K Mud Run since last years! Another year older, lots of knee rehab, and a different pair of shoes later, he took it on this weekend with his sister, Jamie, our sister in law, Christy, and their friend Matt. They had a great time and Luke and I had fun cheering them on at the finish line.

The team coming down the hill toward the last obstacle (enjoy these pics... Luke and I had to trek it down a massive gravel laden hill in his stroller for these :)

Obstacle #16 (over, under):

My muddy sisters-in-law (Jamie, Christy) stopping to pose for a picture:

Crossing the finish line:

The fire department hoses everybody down with ice cold water:

Luke making friends with the Fireman!

I think it may be a little too early to ask them if they will do it again next year... maybe after the swollen knees and scrapes from rocks subside, they might answer that question with more clarity! They had a great time and I am proud of them!!! They beat last year's time by 31 minutes! Wow!

One Year Old Stats

Luke went to the Dr. yesterday for his birthday shots and check up.

Height: 31"- Whoah!

Weight: 22lbs. 11 oz.

This week, Luke has started having some separation anxiety when we drop him off at day care. Brent described it best when he said we sit him down in front of toys, Luke keeps an "Eagle Eye" on Daddy, cries until he picks Luke up and "clenches tight" until we can find another distraction. Luke's Dr. said this can last from 2 months to 6+ months. Oh, I hope not!

On a side note, to all of my pregnant friends, Luke's Dr. gave us Baby 411. I lived by this book in his first year, but most of that information doesn't apply now. Guess what? There is a Toddler 411 book. You can buy them here. These books answer every question I have and even answers the questions I don't know to ask!

Happy Halloween!

Luke's first trick or treat stop at our neighbor, Doug's house.

The guys:

The cutest little Lemur EVER (Grandma Brewer got him a glow stick-- this bought us more trick or treat time :)

We returned home and had smore brownies, then watched a scary movie: