NBC5 Chicago

Hey faithful readers! We used to be NBC5 news watchers in the morning (now we are Disney Channel watchers!) and everyday around 6:30ish they post pictures of babies celebrating their 1st birthdays that day. I sent Luke's picture via email earlier this week so watch for him on there hopefully tomorrow morning, but it could possibly be on Saturday too. I recorded this morning and he wasn't on there yet...his television debut...how exciting!!!

21

No, not blackjack....Aunt Car Car is FINALLY 21!!!!!

HAPPY 21ST BIRTHDAY CARLY!!!!

We love you!

St. Nicholas

St. Nick made a stop at the Zukowski house. Luke put his shoe out Saturday night and found a present next to it in the morning! Thanks St. Nick!!! See you next year!

Bolts

Last night we took Luke to his second Andrew Thunderbolts basketball game. His first was last January when he was just a bitty baby and Daddy was the assistant varsity coach. This time he was well aware of what was going on and Daddy got to sit up in the stands with us (yay!). The game was at Lincoln Way West so not a home game, but this school just opened last year and Wally wanted to check it out.

We had some dinner at Charley Horse before the game. We were all decked out in black and gold. Luke was so good! He had a big grin on his family almost the whole time. He did especially love halftime when there was some music he could dance to! He seemed to really enjoy it. I think we have found our Friday night action for the next couple of months! Oh and the T-Bolts won!!!





He couldn't take his eyes off the game :)

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

I LOVE Christmas! From the day after Thanksgiving until New Year's Day, I am in heaven! I love the tree, the lights, the music, the movies, the celebrations, the family time, the feeling at mass during Advent, the cookies, Santa and his reindeers, the twinkle most people have in their eyes, I could go on and on...What a wonderful time of year!

Last year at this time, I was anxiously awaiting our little arrival. I was 9 months pregnant, getting very uncomfortable, and thinking to myself if our child would be upset that his or her birthday was so close to Christmas (please know that at this time, I was fully certain that this child was going to be born like 2 days before or on Christmas...I was 9 months pregnant and getting a little crazy!!!) Little did I know that this would be such a magical time of year to celebrate a birthday! With Christmas in the air, everything in this world is THAT MUCH BETTER! And this includes birthdays (just think how beautifully decorated our house will be for his parties)!!!

I have finally come to peace that Luke's birthday is in December, and I hope that he feels the same way I do when he is older!

There is a magic in the air this time of year and you, my sweet angel, are an important part of that feeling!!!

Where Is the Christmas Tree?

Warning: This video may melt your heart :) I asked Luke the question (multiple times in the video - sorry for my annoying question asking) and didn't know what his response would be, but it was the cutest thing, I think, he has ever done to date.

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Do You See What I See?

Yep, Christmas is here!!! The tree is up, stockings are hung by the chimney with care, small pieces of Christmas cheer are spread throughout the house, and we are working on maybe doing some outdoor lights this year (although it is going to be COLD this weekend so we will see....) and hanging garland on the stairwell. So we aren't done, but close!

We came back from Thanksgiving in LP around noon on Saturday. I was anxious to get back to start putting up our decorations and to spend some time relaxing at home before heading back to work on Monday. Saturday I put up all the decorations around the house and then we headed to 5 o'clock mass. When Sunday morning rolled around, we decided to go get some breakfast at the family restaurant in town. And as if I don't hear it at least a few times a week already, a nice old lady saw us and said, "He sure looks like his daddy, doesn't he?" I said oh yes! She said, "Well maybe you can get the next one....." She was too cute! Anyways...after breakfast it was time to put up the tree. Luke went down for a nap so I ran to the grocery store and Wally started putting together the tree and stringing the lights. When I got back, it was just about ready for us to start hanging the ornaments. Luke was watching, and I gave him some unbreakable ornaments to play with. Then it came down to the last ornament - the pickle of course. We thought Luke could hang it this year! Then the topper - the Angel. He helped with this too!

And so now the tree has been up for 4 days and Luke does pretty good with it. He walks over to it a few times a night, points, and says "ooooooo". Then he gently yanks (yes, gently yanks) an ornament off the tree...there have been a couple of close calls on the tree falling over from his yanking. He really likes to pull the ribbon off too! Really, though, so far so good. It is still new to him so I am trying to be patient until the "newness" of the tree wears off!

Exploring the lights

He is so funny with this moose

I love this one!

He's got the pickle

Hanging it on the tree

Mommy and her 2 angels :)