Toddler Alert

There is a lot to update you on with the Lukers.  He is such a toddler, it is amazing.  Last night Luke was being such a big boy playing with his toys, not like a baby at all, and Matt looked at me and said "I can't believe that little boy is ours, it's crazy!"  I agreed, it seemed normal for us to have a baby, but a toddler?  It can't be!  I'm beginning to see glimpses of our future, when we look at each other and say "I can't believe that full grown adult is our child!"  I hope it goes slower than the past year, but I have sneaking suspicion that it won't.  

Here are a few of his recent accomplishments/updates:

- He has two more teeth coming in on the top - they're poking through!

- Last night he said two words in a row - "All done!"  Matt and I were thrilled:)

- He understands when we talk to him now, quite a development!  He responds when we say "come here" or "no" or "thank you".  We ask him to point out where Daddy or Mommy is, and he can, or if we say "Where's Luke" he pats his chest.  

- He can find noses, and likes when you say "beep beep" when he touches it

- His balance is getting so good, he can run around and step over toys.  He can climb up stairs really fast, and can now climb down stairs too by turning around and going down on his tummy so carefully.  He uses that technique to wriggle out of your arms and climb down chairs and couches, too. 

- He has a cute little attitude, especially when eating.  When he's done he has no qualms about blocking your spoon of food with a kung fu karate chop.  He looks you in the eye while he does it, then laughs.  

- He also likes to feed Spumoni directly with his hand outstretched.  Spumoni is the same height as Luke's high chair so it is pretty convenient for Luke to simply hold out his hand and Spumoni will lick it and get his snacks.

- We gave him another little haircut.  When we could put his hair in a ponytail we figured it was time for a trim, see picture below.  

Last weekend Matt had a fun guy's weekend planned with all of his college friends.  They have called themselves the "Wolfpack" since they all became friends back at Purdue.  Now everyone is spread out throughout the country, many with wives and children, but every once and awhile they have an opportunity to get together and catch up.  Everyone met up in Indy, so since he was heading down there for his guys' weekend I took the opportunity to tag along and have another visit with Katie and her baby bump.  It was a short visit, but fun to see her and Joe - and see their adorable nursery all ready for baby!  We even got pumpkins before heading out of town.  

Nice shoes!  

Ponytails are in, right?

I had a really tough day at work today, and when I got home I had this waiting for me.  A drawing from Luke, a muffin  and a glass of wine.  Do I have the best husband ever, or what?!  I love my family so much:)  

Pure Michigan

So much has happened since our last post!  We had a busy two weeks that were filled with family, friends and LOTS of fun.

It all started with my Dad's CFO of the Year award's luncheon in Milwaukee.  He received the CFO of the Year Career Achievement Award and we're so proud of him!  

I stopped by to see PJers on the way back home that Friday afternoon - cutie pants.

On Friday evening Katie and Joe came up from Indy to spend the weekend with us.  Katie's belly really has popped since the last time we saw her, she is so cute!  It looks like she swallowed a basketball.  Baby isn't due until January, so we're looking forward to seeing her basketball get bigger and bigger.  We had such a fun weekend with Katie & Joe.  Leah also came by on Friday night, and we had the typical laugh-fest that we always have when the three of us are together.

At the park - Kessler and Spumoni swimming

Little Hiker

Eating al fresco in downtown Lake Forest - so fun!!

On Sunday we bid adieu to Katie and Joe and started our roadtrip to the western coastal towns of Michigan.  We travelled with Donna and Emil in their roomy conversion van and we had a blast.  WOW is all I can say, the scenery was simply amazing.  It was peak time for fall colors, so it was just beautiful everywhere you looked.  We lucked out on weather too, with sunny, warm days everyday.  We had a busy four days of travel.  The first night we stayed in beautiful downtown South Haven, MI and enjoyed this gorgeous sunset.

The next day we meandered our way up to Empire, MI stopping at wineries, apple orchards and little beach towns along the way.

Tuesday, after our delicious breakfast at the B&B we stayed at, we spent the day at the AWESOME Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park.  This was recently named Good Morning America's "Most Beautiful Place in the Country" and I have to agree - it was extremely beautiful.  I mean, look at these views!!  We stopped at the local "Cherry Republic" store and restaurant that literally is the Bubba Gump Shrimp company, but for cherries.  They have cherries in everything!  The food was delicious, and the store was dangerous - I wanted everything!

Walking around the grounds of our B&B

The water was so clear and the sky was so blue.

Picnic lunch in the woods:)

Hiking up the dunes was a lot of work!

 On Wednesday we were so excited to spend the day at the historic Mackinac Island.  The island does not allow any motor vehicles, and is home to the famous Grand Hotel that was featured in the film "Somewhere in Time" many years ago (but always a classic).  I have always wanted to go there, and it did not disappoint.

Passing under the Mackinaw City Bridge while on the ferry to Mackinac Island

We took a private buggy tour of the island

Butterfly Garden

Arch Rock in Mackinac Island State Park

Thursday was our last day, we saw the sights of Charlevoix before making the long drive home to Chicago.  I was so happy to have breakfast with Sam, an old friend from my masters swim class coaching days.  He and his wife live in Charlevoix.

Breakfast with Sam and Cass

Rainbow when we got back to Chicago - our house is at the end of the rainbow?

We returned Thursday night, and bright and early Friday morning I headed to New Jersey for a long weekend to visit my dear friend, Shelley.  Shelley and I grew up together and were inseparable for too many years to count.  She and her family live just outside of New York in New Jersey.  Last week Shelley received her last round of chemotherapy for the leukemia she was diagnosed with in the Spring, and so I went out there to visit and help out.  We had a nice time and it was so wonderful spending time with Shelley, Rob and Alyssa, her fun and adorable 2 yr old daughter that I got to hang out with.  I miss them already!  Shelley has been in remission since her first round of chemo (Thank God!!), so the rest of the treatment plan is just to make sure she stays that way.  We know she will!  Keep up the great work Shell!  xoxo

Finally, just wanted to include a couple shots of Luke getting ready for Halloween!

Mr. TP

It was a pretty normal week, nothing too terribly exciting to report.  Luke is becoming more coordinated as each day goes by.  Like he can now step up and down small steps without falling.  He also literally runs around the house and is such a fast little zoomer.  He understands if you ask him to put his arms up and down - and giggles while he does it.  He even has started to Moooooo!  He's definitely still our stinkers - I posted a little video of him.  He pulled out all of the TP from the roll and walked around with it, so cute:)

Last Saturday we were busy!  In the morning I met my girlfriends from business school for a fun brunch in the city.  Then as soon as I came home we left to go to Downers Grove for our friend Greg's Oktoberfest party.  Finally, from Greg's party we headed over to the Bullock's house to watch the Notre Dame/Purdue game with them and the Meyer's.  We stopped over at Donna and Emil's too, as they were kind enough to watch Luke for us while we went to the Bullock's for a few hours.  Busy, but fun, day!

Sunday we did the opposite - a whole lot of nothing!  I woke up with a bad cold, feeling awful, and Luke and Matt have been getting over colds too.  So we took naps and mostly lounged around the house, going out only to take a walk in Open Lands since it was such a lovely sunny day.

Sadly, yesterday our pool was closed for the season.  Goodbye for 9 months!!

I'll sign off with a couple other Luke pics.

You're not supposed to EAT the toilet paper!