Luke helping to install our solar panels

After...

the precious curls are gone, and my little boy is growing up!!

Before...

Greg asked me to cut Luke's hair today...

little helper

Luke of course needs to be doing whatever we are doing, especially if it is something not exactly toddler-friendly - like loading the dishwasher or, in this case, hanging things on the wall... he had his step stool right next to daddy's and was ready with hammer in hand!!


baby #2 update - we are in week 19 and have our "big" ultrasound scheduled for monday! (no, Emily, we are not going to be finding out if its a boy or girl!)

thankful

wow - Luke is 19 months today!! he's growing up so fast!! I could go on and on about his awesome accomplishments, his amazingly vast vocabulary, and his radical musical ability (especially on the harmonica) -- but instead, a quote from tonight's bathtime:
from Greg to Luke "No dancing in the tub"

our bathroom has a shower and a bathtub separate and I was taking a shower while Greg was watching Luke in his bath and apparently he decided to stand up and do a little jig :) gotta love him and his constant music soundtrack running through his head! luckily he really enjoys bathtime, as well as pretty much everything else, except getting his face washed and having to come in after playing outside.

in other news, we are around 17 weeks along with baby #2 and he or she is definitely a mover and shaker already - I LOVE feeling the baby move in my belly and Luke is so cute - running up (and of course pulling up my shirt) to say his own version of "hi baby, this is your brother!!"
we've got a doctor's appointment next week and the "big" ultrasound pretty soon as well, so updates will be coming - as well as pictures - as soon as I can get them from Greg (yes, I still have no idea how to make them magically jump from the digital camera to my computer.)

its so crazy how life is reduced to weeks (baby #2 is about 17 weeks) and months (Luke is 19 months) even when our life is so fast-paced and busy - it just makes me appreciate all the precious moments that the Lord has given me in my growing little family!! Luckily I have an outstanding husband who makes time to sit with us for breakfast and dinner and bathtime and playtime in between ... yes, i might be a bit behind in my dusting, but i can say that i spent quality time with my family today!

after Mass fun

after Mass the little kids always run all around at church. here are a couple of Luke chilling in the grass. he also really likes to hold hands with all the little girls :) he's a charmer!

Finally a post!!

kind of a wierd look on his face, but still cute - our little football fan :)

I will definitely be trying to post more soon.... my good excuse is we are in week 15 of pregnancy #2 :) baby has been very active according the the doctor and the heartrate is strong ... looking forward to baby #2 right around Luke's 2nd birthday!! God is great!

Jenni's Reception

Luckily we timed our trip to Oregon to fit with our dear friend Jenni's wedding... here we are dancing at the reception... If you look closely you can see Luke is holding onto the black strap from the girl's dress ahead of him, because we were in a conga line :)

one of my dearest friends, Emily (Jenni's sister), with her two kiddos... i was totally lucky to score some time holding her precious little baby!! Luke was not too happy about that, but hey, he's gonna have to get used to it!!!

more from Odell Lake

Climbing trees with Nonno
Gotta love the facial expressions

Swinging with the Lake in the background

More swinging with Mama and Auntie Claire

Odell Lake

we had another awesome trip to Odell Lake (in Oregon) this summer! Luke has been there now both summers of his life and i think we are going to try to keep it a tradition! here he is in the cabin with my dad (AKA Nonno)
Not sure what's going on here....

Luke on the deck of the cabin... he is holding onto the bobber from Dad's fishing pole

on a hike/walk... Dad was "fishing" and Luke was holding the bobber again

happy little family hiking by the creek... not quite sure why I am the only one smiling at the camera...

ut oh...

he has figured out keys and doors... luckily he's still a little too short, for now

Skinner's Butte in Eugene

at the Zoo

visit to the Zoo

the Oregon Zoo was awesome!!!

hmm... a bear ...

Luke with his Uncle Mark ... if you can't tell, Mark is Greg's brother

so cool with daddy on the train at the Zoo

from left to right: Greg's sister Tricia, Mark Jr., Mark's wife Theresa, Mark, Greg, & Luke ... Luke's mama was taking the picture

Visit with Theresa and Thomas

We had a great opportunity to visit with our dear friends who live up in Oregon. We hope to continue having kids at the same time!! (hint hint: they are expecting their next baby in February...)


Theresa (3 years old) and Luke (16 months)

Trying to get them all to look and smile at the same time (Luke is 5 days older than Thomas)

i love this picture, Luke is oblivious and Thomas is laughing as Theresa comes after Luke!

Greg is in his thirties!!

so, back in the middle of july...

i was pretty proud of the cake i made and decorated :) you can see homemade cinnamon rolls in the background

sooo many candles

mom was there to celebrate with us