Guess Who's Two!

Dear Luc-Luc,

Another year has passed, and quite quickly at that. You are far from being that tiny little ball curled up on my chest sleeping. It seems every other day I stop and look at you standing in front of me and swear you grew another inch. Your face is also a little more toddler-looking nowadays, yet I still see that puffy, scrunched face I instantly fell in love with two years ago.

Lots has happened in the last year. You've accomplished quite a bit, such as, transitioning from formula to whole cow's milk (after a short trial of coconut milk, which you were just not having), moving up from the bottle to sippy cups, and eating 'real' food instead of just milk for meals and snacks. Utensils are more often used instead of your fingers to feed yourself. You've finally learned to take longer naps (we're now onto one nap a day at 2-3 hours long. I never knew that was possible!). You also sleep through the night without waking from 8pm to 5:45-6am. (Thank you!) You've grown so tall, you no longer fit on the changing table and instead we must put the pad on the floor and break our backs to change you. But you're quickly learning how to take off your own clothing, or at least understanding the concept where your motor skills lack. You've also shown us how well you adapt to change by giving up your pacifier and barely giving a glance back. You've become such a big boy, with such a big personality to match it.

You're still our little clown. And we Love it! Your laugh is more contagious than any disease the world could know. You know how to make a miserable day, or a stressful moment into an innocent bout of carefree fun and uncontrollable joy. You love to be tickled on your neck and love to tickle Momma's feet in return. Whenever you see skin, you run over to tickle.

"Do you want to go outside?" You never say No. You would still much rather live outside than stay inside any building. You take great joy in walking, which you can do a lot of before you even hint at being tired. Lots of times you start to slow down and don't ask to be held until we offer. So strong! Sticks and rocks are like gold to you. As were the leaves this Autumn...that is until you find a better one. Then the first one gets left behind. You always want to go to the playground across the street, where you can climb the ramp and go down the slide all by yourself. ...a million times!

You're crazy about cars, planes, trucks, and trains. You like to play with balls, and sometimes the simplest toys (such as pom-poms and a container) can entertain you for hours and days. Games of Tag, Hide-n-Seek, and chasing are your favorite right now.

Your vocabulary, I've lost track of how many words you say now. You're starting to string a few words together, and I just love how you randomly find ones to imitate. "Oh Boy!" came from Curious George and it took us awhile to learn from where you picked that up. My new favorite, showing your little attitude in response to my request is: "Yeaaa, all right."

You're very obedient. Is it because I put my foot down that we don't play in the trash when you were only 7 months old? Or is it your nature? Or a little of both? Not to say there aren't times when you resist and try to show your independence. On average though, you're very helpful and listen well when we ask you to do something.

We of course think you're super smart for your age, you're the cutest toddler in the world, and do so much that makes us proud to call you our son.

You love playing with other kids and especially love when a girl takes your hand and tells you what to do.  You get along with lots of types of children and when they get to be out of control or too intense for you, you know how to sneak away and play by yourself for awhile. You give other kids hugs and kisses so easily, especially your cousin Kendall. I'm not looking forward to the day when you shy away from being so affectionate.

Though there are times when having an immobile infant was easier, seeing your personality, voicing your opinions, and hearing your little voice speak to communicate are so much more fun. Playing games together and learning the world through your eyes fascinates us every day. We cannot wait to see what this new year brings and how much you'll change and evolve into a little boy.

Love,
Momma and Dada

2-Year Stats:

Weight: 23 lbs 10 oz
Height: 33.5 inches

Bye Bye Pacifier

Day #1
Luc's been using his pacifiers more as a teething/chew toy then sucking on it for comfort. Of course he loves it when he goes to sleep or he's bored. Over the past month or more, I've thrown out about 3-4 pacifiers because he's chewed them apart. Last week he put a hole in his last pacifier, and I told Luc that once this one was broken it is going in the trash and Mommy doesn't have any more pacifiers left.

Newborn Luc

Yesterday, Luc chewed a bigger hole in his pacifier and kept telling my mom all day that it had a 'boo boo'.  Frederic was with me when I picked up Luc from my mom's after work and he showed us his broken pacifier. Frederic mentioned that it should go in the trash if it's broken. So Luc went to the cabinet to open the door where the trash is and went back to get his pacifier. I stopped him on his way over and told Luc that if he throws it away, that's it. No more pacifiers. He took it, threw it in the trash and said 'Bye Bye,' and closed the trash door. He didn't look back.
One the way home, Frederic kept him entertained by pretending to scare one another. Even at the store, he didn't ask for it. The rest of the evening, Luc and Dada played and went for a walk. He once started to ask for it, but Frederic was able to distract him again. When it was time to go to bed, Luc was looking for the pacifier. He had his blanket and thought we had the pacifier on the table. We reminded him that he threw it away at Grandma's because it was broken.
While we were changing him for bed he really started to cry. It was like someone had died. I can understand that. Something he was attached to and 'loved' was now gone. I can see where that's sad and upsetting. Frederic got him a little piece of chocolate, which seemed to shut him up. We did our normal bedtime routine and whenever he made the pacifier motion with his lips, we ignored it. I had him hug his monkey that he keeps in his crib and told him when he's sad to hug the monkey or his blanket. I also told him he we weren't taking his blanket away from him. I kissed him goodnight and said 'night night'. He responded 'night night', laid down and we didn't hear from him until 5:30am.

 Day #2
When he woke up, I went into his room and laid down on the floor next to his crib. I put my hand through the bars for Luc to hold my finger. He didnt' fall back asleep, but he laid there for awhile. His head touched my hand and I guess he was sleepy enough that he thought my ring was the pacifier and started to lick it and put it in his mouth. But the whole 30 minutes I was there he didn't ask for his pacifier. He still didn't ask for it while Frederic was getting ready for work and when he left with Frederic.
Frederic and I decided to give him one of his birthday presents early today as a gift for giving up his pacifier and being a good boy about it. And also as a distraction later in the day when he wants his pacifier the most. 

When Frederic was saying goodbye to Luc at my mom's, Luc handed his blanket to my mom (as is the routine) and then went to grab the pacifier out of his mouth too. Frederic and mom laughed and Luc wasn't phased by it. Luc was good all morning, not even wanting his blanket, until it was time for him to take a nap. He was looking for his pacifier and Mom had to remind him he threw it out yesterday. So Luc went to the trash and started looking inside for it and Mom told him it's gone already. He cried a little and snuggled up on Mom's shoulder. Then she brought him to his crib and he pretty easily fell asleep. He slept 3 hours.

I brought Luc the fire truck when I picked him up. I asked him if he'd had a pacifier that day and he said No with a little sad look on his face. I handed over the fire truck and said it was for being good and Big boy. He was ecstatic!

Luc didn't ask for his pacifier the rest of the day, even at bed time. And he ignored his blanket as well until I handed it to him before bed. Hopefully we can transition the blanket staying in the crib from now on.
We're really surprised how well Luc's doing with this. I think it definitely helped that he threw the pacifier away and we didn't really make him do it. Having the busy weekend the day before I think also helped him separate from the pacifier.
I can actually feel a relief in myself these past few days. Not that I hated the pacifier, but making sure I always had it on me for certain occasions, or that it didn't get lost or dirty, or could find it in the middle of the night under the crib was somewhat stressful. It was something else I always had to remember and keep tabs on. It was also something I started to worry about effecting Luc's front teeth (they seemed to push out more when he started using the pacifier more often) and his speech (when the pacifier was in his mouth he wasn't as vocal and I couldn't understand what he was saying).
*sigh of relief*

Halloween 2013- Lil Monster

The weekend before Halloween, I went to New Jersey with my mom for my cousin's baby shower. Frederic's parent's church was doing trunk or treat Saturday night, so they took Luc there. I had to hurry up on Friday night to finish making Luc's costume.

On Halloween night, we took Luc trick or treating on our street. Only one person thought he was a cow. Whew. I was worried that only putting on two eyes, the horns, and spots made him look more like a colorful cow than a monster. Ah well. I'll do better next time.
Luc had so much fun. He walked up to each house, grabbed one piece of candy unless they told him otherwise, and always said Thank you. By the end of the night he was warming up to things and started saying 'rawr' to people when we asked him what a monster says. Every time he got a piece of candy and came back to the side walk he had to show Bon Papa and Bonne Maman his 'andy' while holding his pumpkin basket up to show them.
We only let him eat M&Ms, but I think he was having more fun sorting the candy when we got home and pretending to give some to Bon Papa and Bonne Maman.
A friend told me what her friend tells her kids on Halloween. Since she doesn't want them to keep all that candy for weeks and get cavities, she tells them after midnight the witches come and take the candy away from all the kids. I think I might start doing that with Luc when he's a little older...or next year.

 

 

 

 

 

Smiling monster

sorting through his loot

Fall Fun

Luc is talking up a storm nowadays. He repeats more and more words and remembers more and more words. He's still attempting to put more than one word together. This usually happens after he hears us say something simple and just repeats it.
Luc now calls Cali by her name instead of 'woof woof'. But it sounds more like "I-lee".

Nothing cooler than playing with leaves. He always has to find a Red one.

Luc is a boy after my own heart. Or is it just something that people born in the fall love the autumn and everything with it? Luc loves leaves, pumpkins (Pum-pums), apples, pumpkin bread, the cool weather, apple and pumpkin picking, etc. I have a feeling he'll love corn mazes too. We didn't take him this year because we were afraid he'd try to run through the corn that was blocked off. The corn maze we usually go to in PA is acres big, and that's just too much space for him to get lost.

Luc being a clown

Last Saturday, we and Dave did our annual Lancaster Tanger outlet outing. It was prefect fall weather to go shopping for deals. Luc made out big with 2 new pairs of shoes, one of which is a pair of Pumas that light up on the side. He's absolutely in love with them right now and refuses to wear any other pair of shoes we've bought him. sigh.

Luc enjoyed the ride on rides around the shopping center.

Last weekend we went to Davidsonville, Homestead Gardens where they had a Fall Fest going on. Luc got to see some animals, pick out a pumpkin, play with bubbles, and put his head through the cutout board. He was most happy because it meant a day outside. 

Sitting on a big rock on Mommy's B-day...holding a stick, of course.

22 and 2 More to Go!

Using leaves as drum sticks

Luc is loving the Fall this year. Every time we're outside he has to collect leaves. As we walk, he picks them up and hands them to us. He especially loves the red leaves. Should be very interesting when all the leaves are on the ground in a few weeks.

Luc pointed to the stop sign the other day and said "octagon". I asked him to repeat himself, and yes, that's what he was saying. Later that night, he was doing his shape puzzle with Dada, and picked up the octagon and said the same thing. Guess it was worth it to buy the full version of that Elmo Alphabet app.Thank you letter 'O'!
Letter 'O' happens to be the same letter he recognizes and plays with in the tub. The foam letters are his new favorite toy. He gets really excited when he finds the two O's. "Twooo!"

I have to get Luc on video saying "Bonne Maman" and "Bon Papa". It's too cute. And especially when he's playing with Bonne Maman and she does something wrong. He says it like: BONne MaMaaann!

He has also mastered using his utensils to eat. He even tried to get a single blueberry on the spoon to feed it to himself instead of using his fingers. I think he likes the challenge. And he drinks out of our glasses (and yes, they're glass) by himself (we're not even allowed to have a finger on the glass) with minimum spilling. When he does spill, he runs to the kitchen to get a towel and comes back to wipe up the mess.

Every child (young or old), infant, or toddler is a 'baby'.

Luc's interested in the potty we bought him and will sometimes go to sit on it when he's peeing in his diaper. He needs to get better at pulling up and down his pants over his butt with a diaper on before we really get into the training.

He's also starting to say more two words in a row. My new favorite is : "Dunno know!" as he shrugs his shoulders and looks around for whatever.

Luc also learned how to open the folding pantry door the other day. When he was successful he said: "YAY!" Guess when you're determined to get food, you'll find a way to open the door.

Teeth: Both bottom 2-yr molars are in.

21 Months

We're getting closer to Luc's 2nd Birthday
Here are some updates on Lil Luc.

Weight: 21 lbs
Teeth: 17, 2-year bottom molar just came in

Favorites

Foods: Chicken nuggets, raisins, veggie straws, pita chips, any fruit but especially Blueberries, cheese, yogurt, Smoothies, Mac N Cheese, pasta
Color: Blue
Song: Frère Jacques. He walks around the house constantly singing "Ding. Dang. Dong."
Game: Being chased- by you or his remote control car

Luc:

-recognizes all his colors and say the name
-counts to two
-says 'hot dog' in reference to Mickey Mouse
-also loves Elmo, Chugginton (& trains), cars, fire trucks, bikes
-knows how to work and play on the iPad
-obsessed with bubbles in his bath
-does not like sand, crumbs, food, etc on his hands
-walks up and down stairs with some help or holding onto the railing
-identifies and says: Up vs Down, Dark vs Light, Hot vs Cold ("brrrrr")
-trying to jump
-loves to push his lawn mower and act like Dada


Luc is finally sleeping better. He still takes two naps a day on most days, but he can sleep up to 2 1/2 hours in one nap. He is in bed at night by 8pm and now, finally, starting to sleep in in the morning. I have to wake him up at 6am to get ready for the day.

Luc is also testing his independence. When he wants to do something on his own, he says "Me." This also means Terrible Two Tantrums have begun in full force. The only way I can get him distracted and to calm down is to take him into our bathroom upstairs and sit on the floor with him in my lap for a good 5-10 minutes.
No luck giving up the blankey or pacifier yet.

When we're driving home in the afternoon and turn the corner, Luc recognizes the streets and starts to say "Home. Mine." and then brings his hands up to his neck like he's hugging something and squeezes. It's too cute.

Baugher's Orchard

Saturday we met up with Bon Papa and Bonne Maman and went to Baugher's Orchard in Westminster. Before going out into the orchard to pick apples and peaches, we stopped by the petting zoo and play ground.

Luc loved feeding the rabbits grass.

After the animals, we had to get on a tractor ride to go into the fields. Luc was amazed at the tractor's big wheels and getting a front-row seat for the trip.

In the Orchard...

It's tough pulling off the fruit from the tree

But so worth that first big bite.