Luke loves music and songs. Every time we clean up he initiates the clean up song. "Keem up, keem up." He walks around the house singing, "E-I-E-I-O" or "Ashes, ashes, we all fall down." His favorites are "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star," "Jingle Bells," "Wheels on the Bus" which he loves to do the baby says "waa, waa" and momma says, "sh, sh" motions.And he's just learned the entire alphabet song. So cute!
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Monday, February 14, 2011
Howland History of Valentine's Day
February 14, 2006
Ryan and I had only been dating a couple of weeks when Valentine's Day rolled around. I didn't want to expect anything because I wasn't sure where we stood. He picked me up from work, we went to lunch, and he gave me a oversized Barbie Rockstar Valentine card and some M&M's. Perfect sweetness for our first Valentine's Day.
February 14, 2007
Ryan likes to plan surprises so he booked a night at the Chrysalis (where we stayed on our wedding night). We'd been married a month and a half and hadn't yet recieved our wedding photos. But just after we got settled in our room, Ryan pulled out our wedding album from our photographer. That was a great Valentine's Day surprise.
February 14, 2008
Hmmm...I don't remember. I do know we'd been living in our home for almost 6 months. And we weren't yet pregnant with Luke.
February 14, 2009
Baby Luke was 5 days old. Our first days home, Ryan had been sick and we were having trouble feeding Luke. I just remember sitting in the rocking chair with Luke for days on end, including Valentine's Day. It was not the year for a big Valentine shindig, but Ryan thoughtfully bought me a nice card.
February 14, 2010
Luke just had his first birthday and we were expecting Brody in just over six weeks. Again Ryan planned a surprise. He arranged for a babysitter, cleaned the house that morning (because he knows I don't like babysitters or anyone for that matter to come into a messy home), and made reservations for brunch. We drove along Chuckanut Drive with beautiful views of the ocean. At the end of Chuckanut is Chuckanut Manor. I'd never heard of the place before. Its basically a house they've turned into a restaurant. They had the most amazing Sunday brunch. I commented that it was one of the best places I'd eaten. I was quite fond of the pastries and didn't hold back!
Afterward we'd driven back along the ocean to Boulevard Park where Million Dollar Condos were open for showing. So we slipped in, pretended to be interested (yeah right, I'm sure they saw right through that one!) and viewed these gorgeous modern bay-view condos. Yet another surprise awaited...the movie "Valentine's Day." Very cute and my kind of movie. We picked up the Sweetheart Shake at Sonic and headed home. That was the best Valentine's Day I'd ever had. Beautiful, sunny, relaxing, thoughtful, care free day.
February 14, 2011
Or shall we say February 13...With two working parents of a now 2 year old, and a soon to be one year old, a Monday evening date would be difficult. So Ryan planned arranged for a babysitter and planned a Sunday brunch at the Chuckanut Manor again. Just as good as the last year! This year, not so keen on the sweets, but went to town on the clams and crablegs! Last year they put the pregnant lady right next to the buffet table. This year we got a nice romantic corner table next to the fireplace with a panoramic view, quite a ways from the buffet. We'd wanted to see a movie but with no good ones out and babysitters who had plans themselves, we headed home after running a couple errands. After dinner we opened the kids gifts from their Grandma's. Brody was asleep when Luke opened his. When Brody got up, Luke was so excited to give Brody his present and help him open it.
This afternoon I got home from work and made rice krispie treats with Luke. He dumped in the butter and the marshmellow, after eating some of course! Then we decorated with pink, red and white M&M's. But again, I think he ate more than he decorated with. Then we made a little card for Ryan.
We set it up just inside the door so he'd see it when he walked in and then we waited. The boys love to sit in the window sill and watch for Daddy. Luke was filled with anticipation. Ryan was about 5 minutes later than usual and Luke was saying, "Daddy, are you?" When Daddy arrived, Luke was yelling out the window, "Treats for you, treats for you!" Daddy walked in the door, Luke showed him his treats and then handed him his card saying, "a card, I color." It was so cute! I can't put my finger on it, but there was something about this whole exchange that was his first. Whether it was his pride in what he'd made or his excitement to give it away or that he remembered that he made all this for Daddy, maybe all three.
Ryan and I had only been dating a couple of weeks when Valentine's Day rolled around. I didn't want to expect anything because I wasn't sure where we stood. He picked me up from work, we went to lunch, and he gave me a oversized Barbie Rockstar Valentine card and some M&M's. Perfect sweetness for our first Valentine's Day.
February 14, 2007
Ryan likes to plan surprises so he booked a night at the Chrysalis (where we stayed on our wedding night). We'd been married a month and a half and hadn't yet recieved our wedding photos. But just after we got settled in our room, Ryan pulled out our wedding album from our photographer. That was a great Valentine's Day surprise.
February 14, 2008
Hmmm...I don't remember. I do know we'd been living in our home for almost 6 months. And we weren't yet pregnant with Luke.
February 14, 2009
Baby Luke was 5 days old. Our first days home, Ryan had been sick and we were having trouble feeding Luke. I just remember sitting in the rocking chair with Luke for days on end, including Valentine's Day. It was not the year for a big Valentine shindig, but Ryan thoughtfully bought me a nice card.
February 14, 2010
Luke just had his first birthday and we were expecting Brody in just over six weeks. Again Ryan planned a surprise. He arranged for a babysitter, cleaned the house that morning (because he knows I don't like babysitters or anyone for that matter to come into a messy home), and made reservations for brunch. We drove along Chuckanut Drive with beautiful views of the ocean. At the end of Chuckanut is Chuckanut Manor. I'd never heard of the place before. Its basically a house they've turned into a restaurant. They had the most amazing Sunday brunch. I commented that it was one of the best places I'd eaten. I was quite fond of the pastries and didn't hold back!
Afterward we'd driven back along the ocean to Boulevard Park where Million Dollar Condos were open for showing. So we slipped in, pretended to be interested (yeah right, I'm sure they saw right through that one!) and viewed these gorgeous modern bay-view condos. Yet another surprise awaited...the movie "Valentine's Day." Very cute and my kind of movie. We picked up the Sweetheart Shake at Sonic and headed home. That was the best Valentine's Day I'd ever had. Beautiful, sunny, relaxing, thoughtful, care free day.
February 14, 2011
Or shall we say February 13...With two working parents of a now 2 year old, and a soon to be one year old, a Monday evening date would be difficult. So Ryan planned arranged for a babysitter and planned a Sunday brunch at the Chuckanut Manor again. Just as good as the last year! This year, not so keen on the sweets, but went to town on the clams and crablegs! Last year they put the pregnant lady right next to the buffet table. This year we got a nice romantic corner table next to the fireplace with a panoramic view, quite a ways from the buffet. We'd wanted to see a movie but with no good ones out and babysitters who had plans themselves, we headed home after running a couple errands. After dinner we opened the kids gifts from their Grandma's. Brody was asleep when Luke opened his. When Brody got up, Luke was so excited to give Brody his present and help him open it.
This afternoon I got home from work and made rice krispie treats with Luke. He dumped in the butter and the marshmellow, after eating some of course! Then we decorated with pink, red and white M&M's. But again, I think he ate more than he decorated with. Then we made a little card for Ryan.
We set it up just inside the door so he'd see it when he walked in and then we waited. The boys love to sit in the window sill and watch for Daddy. Luke was filled with anticipation. Ryan was about 5 minutes later than usual and Luke was saying, "Daddy, are you?" When Daddy arrived, Luke was yelling out the window, "Treats for you, treats for you!" Daddy walked in the door, Luke showed him his treats and then handed him his card saying, "a card, I color." It was so cute! I can't put my finger on it, but there was something about this whole exchange that was his first. Whether it was his pride in what he'd made or his excitement to give it away or that he remembered that he made all this for Daddy, maybe all three.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Birthday Celebrations
Despite Mom and the boys being sick, today was a great day. Luke and I got up, watched Barney together. Ashley got here and the three of us decorated the house for Luke's special day. We had a special birthday breakfast of blueberry pancakes. 
Then we dropped Ashley at school, came home, played, picked up the house, the boys took naps while I wrapped presents, then everyone was up for a special birthday lunch! They won't eat much since they are sick, so I've just been giving them things they will eat to get something in their stomach. So special lunch consisted of grapes, strawberries, yogurt and cheese, of which they only ate grapes and a few bites of yogurt. 
When Luke got up to see a load of presents, he wanted to open them. I told him he had to wait til after dinner when Dad got home. He was SO patient all day. After putting Brody down, Luke and I made a cake together.
Kameron and Olivia both called him to wish him happy birthday. It was so cute to hear their little mommy-driven conversations of, "happy birthday," "thank you," "have a good day." Howie got home and went to fetch pizza. At this point Luke was not feeling well and was super whiny. Usually he would gobble up multiple slices of pizza but even after trying to do a pizza picnic in the living room, he would only eat grapes. So grapes were the birthday choice of the day! We still went ahead with blowing out candles and eating cake.
Of course both the boys mowed down on that! Then it was finally present time! Luke is so cute when he opens presents. He gets all excited over musical cards, and says, "WOW!" at everything. Once he opened everything, we began putting his parking garage together, and he kept saying, "this is fun." My two year old verbalizing that he is having fun is thanks enough for me.
Then we dropped Ashley at school, came home, played, picked up the house, the boys took naps while I wrapped presents, then everyone was up for a special birthday lunch! They won't eat much since they are sick, so I've just been giving them things they will eat to get something in their stomach. So special lunch consisted of grapes, strawberries, yogurt and cheese, of which they only ate grapes and a few bites of yogurt. 
When Luke got up to see a load of presents, he wanted to open them. I told him he had to wait til after dinner when Dad got home. He was SO patient all day. After putting Brody down, Luke and I made a cake together.
Kameron and Olivia both called him to wish him happy birthday. It was so cute to hear their little mommy-driven conversations of, "happy birthday," "thank you," "have a good day." Howie got home and went to fetch pizza. At this point Luke was not feeling well and was super whiny. Usually he would gobble up multiple slices of pizza but even after trying to do a pizza picnic in the living room, he would only eat grapes. So grapes were the birthday choice of the day! We still went ahead with blowing out candles and eating cake.
Of course both the boys mowed down on that! Then it was finally present time! Luke is so cute when he opens presents. He gets all excited over musical cards, and says, "WOW!" at everything. Once he opened everything, we began putting his parking garage together, and he kept saying, "this is fun." My two year old verbalizing that he is having fun is thanks enough for me.
Happy Birthday Luke
2/9/09, 7:09. I guess 9 is his number.
So in honor of Luke, here are 9 God given qualitites already present in our little boy.
1. Friendly
2. Fearless
3. Strong-willed
4. Determined
5. Helpful
6. Clever
7. Independent
8. Active
9. Musical
So in honor of Luke, here are 9 God given qualitites already present in our little boy.
1. Friendly
2. Fearless
3. Strong-willed
4. Determined
5. Helpful
6. Clever
7. Independent
8. Active
9. Musical
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Luke Happenings
NO WHINING ZONE
We've been teaching Luke to communicate using his words. "Use your words," we say. He is getting pretty good with this reminder and will say what he needs instead of whining. "I have - some - apple juice please?"
There are times, however, that he whines beyond reason. The situation might go something like this: We've asked him to communicate, he has, we've said no, he cries, we validate that he is upset, give him another chance, ask him to stop whining, and it still continues.
I am much more prone to put up with it, tune it out, and be patient with it than Howie. But lately its just so unreasonable. One day, after I had done all I could do and he was not moving on, I said, "Luke, this is a no whining zone. If you would like to whine you can go to your room and do that." I really didn't know how he'd react but I DID NOT expect him to say, "Ok," walk to his room, and come back with a better attitude!
I have now used this tactic a number of times and each time he says, "Ok, Mama," walks to his room and comes back at least somewhat better. I am still in a bit of shock this has worked!
STUBBORN
Today Luke spilled his popcorn on the floor. Ashley T. helped him clean it up. The next thing I know he threw his cup of popcorn in anger. Here's how the interaction went...
M: You need to clean that up.
L: No!
M: Ok, then you can go to timeout until you are ready to clean up the popcorn.
L: No.
Yet he calmly walks to timeout and sits down as if he's totally fine with timeout. He sits and enjoys watching the kids play. So I asked them to move out of his line of sight so he'd have no stimulation in timeout. He's fine with it.
After a couple minutes...
M: Are you ready to pick up the popcorn?
L: No.
M: Ok, then you can sit in timeout.
L: No!
M: Luke, you can pick up the popcorn and then go play, or you can sit in timeout.
I don't know how many times I made it clear that he could get out of time out if he'd just pick up the popcorn. But he choose timeout over picking up popcorn.
L: All done timeout.
M: Oh good! Then pick up the popcorn.
L: No.
Luke sat in timeout for 10 mintues before he decided it would be a good idea to pick up the popcorn and go play. And although 10 minutes is not that long, for a two year old, and Luke at that, it was a long time for him to sit there with absolutely nothing to do.
Its strange how he can be so defiant, and then once he decided to clean up he had a good attitude about. He began throwing popcorn in the trash as he sang, "Cleam up, cleam up, eveybody (*do your*) share." Then I gave him the dust buster and he vaccuumed the crumbs, then asked to vaccuum the crumbs left in the playroom.
I remained calm during the whole thing, which isn't always the case. And this whole interaction made me wonder how I act like this in relation to God. Sometimes God must just say, "why are you choosing captivity when all you have to do is clean yourself up a bit? Its not that hard, and you will have help."
I wuv Disa!
On the way to Puggles tonight, Luke was saying, "Christian, a Christian, Christian." I don't know where he learned that word, its not like we refer to ourselves that way at home, and I'd never heard him say that before. So I asked him if he knew what a Christian was. There was a long pause indicating he didn't know. So I said, "A Christian is someone who loves Jesus. Do you love Jesus?" He very enthusiastically responded, "YEA! I wuv Disa!"
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