Happy Birthday to Grandpa Emil!

65 years young today!

Can't wait to see you to celebrate in person:)

Baby Joggers, Bottles and Bridal Showers - oh my!

Hanging with my best friend PJ

This week was slightly less hectic than last, but still with some fun activities.  The beautiful streak of weather we've been having continued and we got out there and enjoyed it.  I got the OK from the doctor to start exercising again and boy was I happy to hear that.  I swam, I biked, I ran - and now I'm sore!  It felt so good to be active again though.  Donna was very sweet to come over and hang out with the Lukers while I worked out, and they went on their own power walk.

With the end of my maternity leave looming, Matt and I decided it was time to introduce a bottle to Luke to make sure he would be able to eat well when I went back to work.  Matt did the honors and there was no problem - Luke is very flexible with how he gets his food it would seem!

On Saturday we welcomed Matt's coworker/friend Dana over for a visit.  Thanks for coming all the way up to LF, Dana, it was great to see you!

Then on Sunday Luke and I went up to WI to co-host a bridal shower brunch with Kristin & Mom for our cousin Melissa Walker.  She and her fiancée Sean are getting married on December 11th.  It was a great party and hopefully Melissa felt how much she is loved by all of her family.

Cousin Jessica and bride to be Melissa

Donut cake

Cousin Katie with Luke

Sunday night Luke and I had a sleepover at Kristin, Cory and PJ's house. Then on Monday we accompanied K & P to their music class in the morning and then had a fun lunch out before heading back home.

At the Chancery

Luke has been able to interact with his baby toys a lot more these days.  He actually seems to enjoy his activity mats vs just laying there!  And he is still very smiley.

Sleepy monkey

"I like chicks, man."

Staring contest with Daddy

A Busy Week

My maternity leave is half over, I can't believe it!  Week 6 was a busy one with activities almost every day.  In Luke development news, he is starting to smile with some regularity now.  It is SO cute, Matt and I can't get enough of it.  He is also growing a ton, almost too long for some of his 0-3 month sleepers already.

On Tuesday Jenae and Jeremy, Matt's cousins from Colorado, were in town with their two adorable little boys.  They were nice enough to take a day out of their busy schedule to come over for a visit, so everyone else came over too!  Congratulations to Jeremy for kicking butt in his first marathon - awesome job Jeremy!

Great Grandpa Boyd

Jenae charms Luke

River and Lennon

Jeremy and his little friend

On Wednesday Luke had his first "playdate" with my friend Bethany's 3 month old son, Rio.  Okay, it was really more of a playdate for the Moms:)  Bethany and I went to business school together and are excited that our little boys are so close in age.  Thanks for coming guys!

Thursday was Walgreens Day!  Luke and I headed over to the big WAG to meet all of my friends/coworkers.  My team was so sweet to have a little pizza party over their lunch staff meeting in honor of our visit.  It was so great to see everyone and introduce Luke to all the people who watched him grow in my belly for 9 months!  Then that night Luke and I had dinner with two of my girlfriends from work, Kate and Kristin.  Our other friend Patrice and her baby daughter Morgan had to cancel at the last minute, but we are excited to meet Morgan soon, born just a couple days before Luke!

My boss, Amy, with Luke - a natural mother of boys!

Kate and Kristin

On Friday our dear friend Gui, the Brazilian Birthday Boy himself, came down from Milwaukee to meet Luke on his way down to Purdue's Homecoming.  It was his birthday, so Luke insisted on making brownies for him.  Always a joy to see Gui, and we got to go on a beautiful hike before he headed out.  

Saturday we headed up to Wisconsin for a visit with Shelley, Rob and Alyssa Nolden.  They live in NJ and were in town for the weekend so we had to take advantage!  Shelley was a bridesmaid in my wedding and we were practically inseparable in high school.  Andrea & Kevin were nice enough to host our luncheon, with Luke & I, Kristin & PJ, and the Nolden's all there.  So great to see everyone, can't believe we all have kids!

Kevin and baby Josie

Shelley and  1 yr old (almost!) Alyssa

Saturday night we had a Fall Feast at Mom and Dad's house, complete with a fun bonfire in the backyard.  

Grandma and Mom (& Dougal)

Aunt Susan

Luke's first bonfire

Dad helps PJ roast marshmallows

Finally, on Sunday our friends Jeff & Sarah came over to watch the Bears game and meet Luke.  Jeff is Matt's closest friend from high school and Jeff & Sarah just had their gorgeous wedding in July.  Great seeing you guys!

So long until next week!

Our 6th Anniversary

This Saturday Matt and I celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary.  What a wonderful 6 years it has been, we have so many happy memories already and so much to look forward to in the future.  Love you Matty!

What a gorgeous week of weather we had too!  Just like on our wedding day.  Luke and I were able to enjoy it during the week with a fun outing with Grandma Donna to Emerson Creek Pottery in Oswego. It is the cutest little pottery shop and restaurant, we had a wonderful afternoon.  We also stopped by the Morton Arboretum for a fun hike. Thanks for the great day Donna!

Luke was ecstatic to finally meet our dearest friends Katie and Joe Richardson, who drove up from Indianapolis for the weekend.  We had an awesome couple days with them.  They are the most thoughtful friends - they came bearing a cooler full of delicious food to help celebrate our anniversary.  They served Matt and I a gourmet brunch, complete with a champagne mimosa toast!  Saturday night Joe and Matt, along with a few other friends, went to the Purdue/Northwestern game while Katie, Luke and I had a pizza party with our good friend Leah.  Good times!

Holding my pacifier in

Beautiful anniversary flowers from Mom and Dad M.