A wet week

The last week has been pretty wet, cold, and drizzly around here. So, what's a boy to do, you might ask? Here's what I've been up to:

Taking baths with LOTS of bubbles ... I've always loved my bath, but this many bubbles makes them even more fun!

Hanging out with Brooklyn (who I now affectionately refer to as "B")

Wearing Daddy's sunglasses around the house hoping that maybe it will help the sun to come out so that we can resume our daily walks and trips to the park.

Trying out Daddy's slippers ... boy are they hard to walk in!!!

AND ... practicing with my new potty seat! We're just doing an introduction to the potty right now, so we really aren't trying to get rid of diapers. I mostly sit on it (often) and pretend with my clothes on, while repeating "poop, poop." Fun stuff!

Speaking of things I'm saying, I have a TON of new words. Mommy has officially lost track!

History is made

Dear Luke,

You can always say that you watched when ....

Love, Mommy

18 month check up and health update

We visited the pediatrician with Luke today. As many of you know, over the past few months we have been to the Dr. with Luke quite a few times due to his ear infection troubles.

In early November Luke got his first ear infection and was put on amoxycillin. Michael always had tons of trouble with his ears as a kid, but we were hopeful since this was Luke's first bout and Michael's infections started earlier in his life.

Well, by the weekend after Thanksgiving we were back to see the Dr., only to find that both of Luke's ears were infected. He was put on a round of augmentin.

The weekend before Christmas we were back at the pediatrician's. It was determined that his ears "may" have been infected, but the eardrums were covered by wax so the Dr. was not able to see. He was diagnosed with tonsillitis, and we decided just to ride the virus out and hope that the ears didn't become an issue since he had already been on two rounds of antibiotics in a short span of time. We re-visited the Dr. again on Dec. 23rd because Luke's balance seemed so off and just to be sure that we were safe through the holiday, which we were.

Luke made it through the holidays, but we were back at the Dr.'s last Monday with a fever. His ears were washed and looked mildly infected, so he was put back on amoxycillin again. At this point, we are just so frustrated because we want him to be well.

So, today's appointment brought both good and bad news: the bad, his left ear is very infected again. He hasn't shown any recent symptoms, probably because of the amoxicillin. The good news, his right ear looks normal and the rest of his checkup went great. His language development is ahead for his age (a very good thing since the ear troubles can cause hearing loss ... it seems like Luke is still hearing fine, but may miss out on some specific sound frequencies). He weighs 24lbs, 2 oz (25th percentile), and is 33 inches tall (75th percentile).

Where do we go from here? That was obviously our first question to his pediatrician. It is obvious that the infection in his ear is not responding to the amoxycillin that he's on, so she gave us a prescription for augmentin. We will only fill it if he starts exhibiting signs of discomfort or is running a fever. This will give it time to go away if it is just viral. In the meantime, we will be back to visit her in 6 weeks. If his ears don't look good at that check up, we will be visiting an ENT specialist to discuss putting tubes in.

Send Luke your good thoughts for healthy ears!!!

It's that time again...

What I love about Luke at 18 months

There is so very much to love, this month and always. Each month I think that it can't possibly get any better and I wish that he would stop growing, and with each passing month I am amazed at how much fun (in new and different ways) Luke is. So, without further ado ...

1) I love how well you are able to communicate with us now. You certainly know what you want and don't want, and you are so able to tell us. And then, when there are those times when we just aren't getting it, I can see the frustration on your face and in your tears and I know that it won't be long before you are able to communicate that thought to us as well.

2) I love how you dance ALL THE TIME. The best was New Year's Eve in Grammy & Poppy's bathroom in Tahoe. You insisted upon dancing THERE and there only ... and boy did you boogie down!

3) I love that you have been such a trooper through all of the ear infection drama that you have had to deal with in the past 2.5 months. Daddy and I hate that you don't feel well, but you've been so easy on us - you've dealt with it all so bravely.

4) I love how you were so, so happy with each and every one of your Christmas presents. You would have been happy with just that first gift.

5) I love how when we go to the park, you make your way to the very top of the big play structure so that you can go down the big, steep, winding slide. As you climb you say "slie, slie" and then when you finally turn around and come down on your belly, you laugh and squeal. There are often bigger kids around who are scared to go down that big slide, and they just stand by and watch you, the baby of the playground, take it on without any fear.

6) I love how you love to lay in my arms in your dark room and look at the stars from your twilight turtle. You tell me what they are, "sta, sta" and always make sure that we point out the moon.

7) I love how when we get ready to go anywhere together, you run to my closet and remind me to put on my "shoesh, shoesh, shoesh," as if I might forget if you weren't there to help me (although you usually pull out one of Daddy's pairs and hand it to me)

8) I love how you can recall several animal sounds (moo, ruff, ssss), but when I ask you what sound the kitty makes you reply "hi-kitty!"

9) I love how you think so hard about some things that I can almost SEE your brain working. The other day when I went in to get you out of bed after your nap, you wanted to tell me all about something super important. You grabbed your monkey that you keep in your crib and held him while jumping up and down. Then, after you fell down in the crib, you patted your head and shook your finger at me. I totally got it - you were reenacting the story that we read when the monkey jumps on the bed and then falls off and bumps his head ... "mama calls the Dr. and the Dr. said, 'No more monkeys jumping on the bed!' (while shaking his finger).

10) I love that I love you so much every month that I don't want you to grow bigger ... and then when you do, I love you even more. Crazy!!!

Picture time!

Mommy posted a new batch of pictures (although, if you check my blog regularly, you've probably already seen most of them):
http://www.kodakgallery.com/ViewSlideshow.action?&collidparam=65208082403.411923528603.1232089613842

Happy 2009!

New Year's Eve 2008

Tahoe times

We spent the week following Christmas at my Grammy & Poppy's beautiful home in Tahoe. We had a wonderful and relaxing week, and a fun-filled New Years. Here are a few of the highlights from my week (I say my week because the highlight for Daddy was certainly skiing, and for Mommy was two sushi dinners at her favorite sushi restaurant ... neither of which we have pictures of ... so these are really just my highlights).

Trying out my new snowsuit:

I wasn't thrilled with the snow at first (probably because I refuse to wear gloves and my hands got really cold):

BUT, once Grammy came out to play with me, I had a great time (Mommy says that she is sorry there are so many pictures, but she was having a really hard time choosing which ones to post because they are all just TOO cute!)

I discovered that I love icicles and will hold them in my hands as long as I can stand it:

More time with Elmo ... and just relaxing:

We took our adorable Brooklyn with us to Tahoe. It was her first experience with snow, and she LOVED it. She and her dog-cousin, Cosmo, became such great friends during their week together - they will really miss each other. Mommy says we need another dog to keep Brooklyn company. Daddy says that Mommy is super crazy!

Here I am laying with Brooklyn and keeping her company (hey, these dog beds are nice!):

What we know for sure is that she is going to be really tired for a while from all of the activity:

Beautiful Tahoe sunset from Grammy & Poppy's backyard.

Merry Christmas!

And, oh boy, was it ever merry!

My grandparents were all here with me, which was such a treat. Getting here for Grandma and Grandpa Saccento wasn't so easy ... they had a flight cancellation, stayed up all night trying to figure out how to get here, made a last minute decision to book new tickets and fly on a different airline out of a different airport between east coast snowstorms, were delayed on their new flights by several hours, but finally arrived several hours after planned, but amazingly on the same day! Of course, things couldn't start to get easier for them then - their luggage didn't arrive for a couple of days ... but thankfully got here just in time for Christmas Eve (since there were presents in there!!). Whew - Mommy says that someday I will be able to appreciate all that they went through to be here with me for Christmas.

On the Tuesday before Christmas, I went to the Children's Discovery Museum with Mommy, Daddy, Grandma, and Grandpa. I had an amazing time, but somehow everyone forgot their cameras. I thought it was a nice break, not having flashing lights in my eyes the whole time, but they seemed pretty upset about it.

We had Christmas Eve here at my house. While Daddy prepared, I spent the afternoon out with Grandpa. Daddy cooked for everyone (they say it was fabulous - I, on the other hand, enjoyed ravioli ahead of adult dinner time). My family open most of our presents on Christmas Eve. I received so many wonderful gifts ... and had so much fun opening this year. I wanted to play with each and every gift, but Mommy & Daddy tried to move me along because I had so many things to open. A few of my favorite new toys: Elmo Live, the Fisher Price Garage, and a play tent (oh, and check out my new keyboard ... I love my new lego train from SacEast ... and my Elmo's World DVDs - thank you EVERYONE)!

Christmas morning I was surprised to find even MORE presents. Santa brought me a wooden train set, along with a bunch of other train stuff. He really knows what I like!!!

We spent Christmas afternoon at Grammy & Poppy's house where my great-grandparents joined us. I spent some quality time with Elmo as well (as you can see below!).

Merry Christmas!!! We hope yours was full of fun, family, love, and laughter!

An early Christmas present

Since his ear was sticking out of the bag and it caught my eye, my mommy let me open my present from "Aunt" Deb early. Let me tell you, I couldn't have been more thrilled with my new bear.

Have a look and see some of my recent adventures with my new bear friend (yet to be named).

I feed him,

I kiss him,

I hug him,

We watch Elmo together,

I talk to him and teach him all that I know

I love my new friend very much - thanks "Aunt" Deb!!!