Have I Told You...

...how big this girl was at her 9-month checkup?



She weighed in at 21 lbs. 15 oz. of pure perfection :) And she is 28 1/2 inches long.

...how sweet my little boy is?

I was trying on a dress I bought for some weddings we have this summer and my sweet Lukey came to see it. He said, "You look fancy." And then he told me, "You should leave the dress on so Daddy can see you. He will think you look like a princess." Isn't he the sweetest?

And THEN, I was trying Paige's Easter dress on her and Luke said, "Paigey looks like a princess. Maybe I can be a prince and we can dance together." Seriously. I can't make this stuff up. Get in line ladies! We have a charmer :)

...how Luke goes to the bathroom now?

He is officially standing up. And he wants everyone to see him do it. (We need to work on some modesty!)

...how cute Paige looks in her big girl jammies?

...that Paige has earned the nicknames "Boo Boo" and "Bruiser?

She is constantly on-the-go, pulling herself up on anything, beginning to cruise the furniture, holding on with one hand, getting into anything and everything that she can!

...how much Luke loves the park these days?





...how often I look down and see this little one trying to climb up my leg?

...how blessed I am to have these two sweet babies?

Night Out

Wally and I went to a wedding reception Saturday night and the kids had their first non-family member babysitter. Brandy used to work at the daycare (and her mom still does) so Luke knows her from there, which is great! I really didn't worry about the kids too much while we were out. I trusted her and knew that everyone was going to be okay. And while we know that a family member is always willing to come up to watch the kids, it is nice to have someone local that we can utilize as well.

So I had people take a few pictures of Wally and I at the wedding. I think Wally was annoyed by the second picture, but we rarely ever take a picture together just the two of us anymore and we certainly don't get dressed up very often so I took advantage of the night out!

Sunday

Funday? I'm not sure it was the most fun Sunday we have ever had, but we certainly were productive!

Our morning began at 6:15 so we figured we might as well head to 7:30 mass and get going for the day.

(Reading the Sunday Funnies on the way to church!)



After church we had breakfast at Cracker Barrel and headed to Menards. We came home and Wally & Luke got busy putting down some new mulch. Luke was actually a really good helper.

(Wearing his gardening gloves!)



While the boys worked outside, Paige and I did some organizing and cleaning in the basement. And she attempted a few steps with her push toy. I caught the last few steps on video.



While Paige was napping this afternoon, Luke and Wally took Nala to Petsmart. Today is Nala's birthday so she got to go pick out her own present!

And this is how I found Paige when I went to check on her.


She is sitting with her head between her legs. Obviously, I didn't lay her down in this position. My guess is she attempted to stand up, but then realized she was far too tired and just sat down. She has been waking up quite a bit at night starting this past week. I remember Luke doing the same right around this age. Paige is always standing when we go in there and usually completely out of it.



After dinner and baths, we sang Happy Birthday to Nala!



A good Sunday!

Swim Lessons

He looks excited to start swim lessons doesn't he?!?!


Wally's school has one-on-one swim lessons beginning at age 3. We thought this might be good for Luke since he is still a little hesitant in the water. So today was his first lesson!

Luke wanted to so badly get in the water before his lesson started. I kept telling him we had to wait for his teacher. He was put with a male student, Sal.

He was a little hesitant to go with Sal even though he knew ahead of time I wouldn't be going in the water with him. I was right there in the front row of the bleachers though so he could see me.

Sal put some goggles on Luke and he thought that was pretty cool. Luke sat down and put his feet in the water. And then he went in very slowly with Sal's help. And that is when things went downhill!

The water was cold and Luke was freaking out. He kept looking at me. Almost willing me to come over there and 'save' him. And I soooo badly wanted to. I am pretty sure I got tears in my eyes for a second. He was upset. I knew I needed to tread carefully here though. Sure, I could go over there, take his hand, and tell him it was ok and that we could leave. But, I knew that wasn't the right thing to do.

I walked over and told Luke that it was ok and he would warm up if he stayed in the water. I told him Sal was right there to help him. I asked him to try to get in the water and that I would be right on the bleachers watching him. And then I walked away. He was so sad, but trying to be so strong. I was the same. I knew that I couldn't linger over him or make a huge deal out of him being upset and the water being cold.

Luke and Sal sat on the edge for quite awhile. I don't know what Sal was saying, but he would get a nod out of Luke every once in awhile. Sal brought over some water toys and that made Luke a little excited. So for the remaining 20 minutes of class, Sal held Luke and walked around the pool. Luke held a toy turtle and pretended it was under the sea. I think Luke may have blown bubbles once in the water. And then the class ended. Luke couldn't stop talking about the turtle under the sea and the seahorse that was trying to get him. :)

I thanked Sal. Sal said at least we got him in the water. I guess that was the first step! Unfortunately, there is no class next Saturday, which means in 2 weeks we will probably have to start all over again.

As someone who isn't really very fond of water myself and a Mom, I really wanted to pick up my little boy, hug him, and tell him he didn't need to go in the water ever again. But as someone who isn't really very fond of water myself and a Mom, I knew that it was important for Luke to get in the water, trust someone else, but know that I was right there cheering him on and waiting to wrap him up in a towel and squeeze him tight!

Who would have thought that swimming lessons would make me so emotional. I can't stop thinking about the class this morning and his sad eyes as he is just looking at me. Is he ready for swimming lessons? Is this torture to him? So in 2 weeks, I am sure both Luke and I will pretend that we are excited for the lesson. We will both put on our brave faces and 'jump' right in again!

Easter 2012

We had a great Easter weekend!

Friday night Luke colored eggs and Paige was all smiles and then...

the Easter Bunny made a stop at our house a day early.

Luke was so excited he actually fell down the stairs – twice! Once at the landing and once at the bottom. After the second time he got up, laughed, and said “I keep falling!” Too cute!

The kids and I headed to LP Saturday morning. We had plans to get some pictures taken of the kids in their Easter outfits and wouldn’t you know just before we left our house Saturday morning, Paige hit her face pretty hard on a drawer in the bathroom. Her poor little nose did not look good – she was crying, I was crying (major mommy guilt- I had stepped out of the room for a second) and we had pictures in 3 hours.

In any case, the pictures happened and both kids cooperated fairly well! I will share some once I get them!

We then headed over to see Miss Avery and her parents. I didn’t take one picture, but she is getting so big and sitting up and rolling all over – so fun! It was a fun visit!

Then we were off to Grandma and Grandpa Zukowski’s house. I pretty much just dropped the kids off and headed to meet my mom at the movies – Hunger Games! Have you read the books? I was a little late to jump on the bandwagon and only read the first book just a few weeks ago, but I could.not.put.it.down! I loved it! And I have to say it felt so good to be so consumed by a book – it had been a long time since I was that into a book! The movie was good, but the book was so much better! After the movie, my mom and I met my dad at Buffalo Wild Wings for some beers and dinner! Good times! (Oh and in case you didn’t know, it only costs $4.50 to go to the movie between 4 and 5:30 at the Peru Mall – good deal!)

When I got back to the Zuk’s, Wally was in town (he had a doubleheader), Paige was sleeping, and Luke was minutes away from heading to bed. And to be honest, Wally and I weren’t far behind!

Easter Sunday started bright and early for us! Both kids were up at just before 6 AM. Luke found their Easter baskets and dove right in. Then we had an Easter breakfast followed by the annual Easter egg hunt.

And guess who came by again this year? The Easter Bunny himself!

Paige really wasn’t sure what to think of the Bunny!

Luke pretty much followed the Bunny as he was hiding the eggs – too funny!

We headed to mass and then went to my grandparents where we had another egg hunt!

I had to capture those legs :)

I am going to be an Aunt so soon - yay!!!

It was a nice day out, but a bit windy as you can tell in our attempt at a family picture!

After my grandparents, we made a stop at the Kohr Easter festivities and headed to my parents for some Easter pizza J, baskets, and another egg hunt!

Such a fun Easter, but it was a LONG day. We got home at about 8:30 and everyone was exhausted!

9 Months Old

Oh Paigey - time is just going too quickly! We have been able to enjoy you and your sweet smile for 9 whole months. That is how long I carried you for all the while imagining what that sweet smile of yours would be like. I seriously can not wrap my mind around the fact that you are already 9 months old!

This past month has brought on some BIG milestones and some little ones [and you no longer just sit and pose for me for pictures :)]!

First of all you are crawling. You started slowly moving on those knees about 3 weeks ago. At that time, your daddy would say you looked like a little caterpillar just inching along. But you have definitely picked up some speed and you go EVERYWHERE! There is very little of this house you have not yet discovered. We have needed to reorganize quite a bit to keep you safe, especially from your brother’s tiny toys.

Just over a week ago you pulled yourself up to a standing position for the first time. I was sitting in the living room with you and looked away for just a second. And when I looked back, this is what I saw!

And now you want to stand all the time. You can hold on with just one hand, but have yet to really start cruising the furniture.

Then…you found the stairs – ugh! I was surprised it took you so long actually. Just last night you made it up to the landing. Our parenting method with stairs is not to put a gate up on the bottom (we do put one up on top though). We would rather you learn how to go up (and eventually down) on your own. But believe me we will be right there with you for a long time yet!

Your 4 top teeth have broken through and seem to come down more and more everyday. We still can’t quite see them when you smile, but we will soon enough. So we have a total of 6 teeth! And so far your eyes are a dark green, but I have a feeling they will turn brown like your brother’s and Mommy’s.

You have been clapping and waving like crazy this past month! You also do “So Big” when you feel like it!

You have tried a lot of new finger foods this month – chicken, carrots, green beans, peas, mashed potatoes, cheese, bread, and cheerios, among others. You are not loving your baby food as much. You are always eyeing our plates so I try to give you what I can of what we are having. You pincer grasp is pretty good!

Sleep is still awesome for you! With you moving around a lot lately, your naps have improved! You usually take a great morning nap (1 ½ to 2 hours) and then the afternoon nap varies. Some days you are down for an hour and a half and other days it is a short 30-40 minute nap. You are ready for bed between 7 and 7:30 and sleep until around 6:30. What I have noticed lately though is that once you wake up, you are ready to get out! You are usually standing up now when I go in to get you (at least at naps, you are still in a sleep sack at night and can’t stand in it and that frustrates you!) and you want out. Your brother used to sit and talk to himself for awhile and be all smiles, but you missy just want to get out and see what’s going on! You’ve got things to do!

You have a lot to say lately too. Some of it sounds like a lot of complaining (“aye aye aye”), but we hear a lot of d, b, and g sounds. We also think you sound like a gremlin or now a dinosaur at times (“rahhhh” in a very scratchy voice).

You know what the word “no” means and you don’t like it. With your new found freedom, comes a lot of “no no’s”. You will do one of two things, look at me as I’m saying it and then take off crawling towards the trouble or you will let out your cry of frustration. You don’t really ever cry except when you aren’t getting your way – ha!

Our scale at home shows that you are just over 20 pounds, but we will find out on Friday at your doctor’s visit. Those legs and cheeks are as chubby and squishy as ever :) I hear all the time from strangers how they just want to squeeze you (don’t worry, I don’t let them!).

You are still a Mama’s girl (gosh, I hope this never changes!)! Poor Daddy wants to give you your bottle and put you to sleep some nights, but he can’t peel you from my arms. You are such a stinker! You do everything you can to avoid going to him. This is mostly just at night though, you do love your Daddy. He gets crazy and rough with you and you love it!

You are such a happy baby! Your daddy, big brother and I have loved every minute of the past 9 months with you!