Luke

I feel like it's been forever since I've blogged. I just can't seem to find the time or the motivation. We haven't uploaded pictures to our computer in a while too, so I haven't had easy access to show them to you. But, I'm going to get down to business and just blog a little every day to give you an update on how everyone here is doing. Today, it's Luke's turn. I sincerely hope to post pictures today too.

Luke should be the first one I update you on, because he's passed a HUGE milestone lately. He is now one toilet-trained big boy! (Begin Hallelujah chorus now, angels singing, me dancing) As of January 2, Luke was 3 and a half and showing few signs of "readiness" to go on the potty. That's what I had been waiting for: those ambiguous "signs of readiness." He would tell me when he would like his diaper changed (when it was so full and just too uncomfortable), but often he would be content to wear a soggy diaper; and he wasn't the least bit put-off to walk around in his own poo all day. I was starting to think I had missed a window; this was probably all my fault, and now I am so consumed with trying to figure my other booger of a son out. (Sigh)

Well, back when Simon was born and my mom came, she brought with her diapers for Simon and a package of Feel n Learn pull-ups for Luke. I just put the pull-ups in the closet - standing by for those lovely signs of readiness. I think they got pulled out of the closet one day when I was organizing, and Luke wanted to wear them. Well, for about 3 days, he wore those pull-ups and after going the bathroom in them, he would immediately go to the bathroom, sit on the potty (nothing would come out because it was all in the diaper) and change into a dry one on. I worried that he was just wasting them, but on the other hand, I thought that maybe after a little while he would start to figure out what it felt like before he had to go potty. And that is precisely what he did! Last Monday evening, he went on the potty 2 times before bed. He has been going on the potty ever since! Up until yesterday, he was still wearing the pull-ups (because he wanted to). I talked him into wearing his underwear yesterday because I wanted to see how potty-trained he really is. He had no accidents - just a couple of skid marks. :) I am so thankful and so proud of him. He's growing up so much! This is what I had been waiting for. I had been told that if you try to push it, you just create more work for yourself; but if you wait, once they get it, they GOT it. I did have to wait 3 and a half years though, but I think it was worth it.

Other Luke updates:

He is still running in circles around me all day. He has SO much energy. We are working on room time, and he shows some promise in that area. Yesterday, we enjoyed coloring together - something we haven't done a lot of since Simon was born, but we used to do a lot before. He is such a meticulous ang good colorer! We were coloring a picture of Thomas the train, and when he realized I was accidentally coloring smoke blue like the clouds, he kindly said to me, Actually, I think that's smoke. :) Oops!

He is more of a Daddy's boy than ever. He wants Daddy all day long (espeically when he's being disciplined). They play all kinds of things together, but most do not involve toys. Luke's got a big and wild imagination. He loves to go camping, play kickball, do snowboard tricks and exercise. He is growing into some Buzz Lightyear shoes that Maw Maw bought him last year. They light up with movement, so he likes to stomp around the house in them to make them light up.

Finally, Luke loves being a big brother; and he's a very good big brother too. He's very sweet and gentle towards Simon. He calls him Simoney. (I didn't think Simon would have a nickname, but there it is: "Si-mu-nie.") He is pretty helpful - running to get a diaper, or the Desetin, or a clean onesie. Sometimes he likes to help give Simon a bath too and will wash his feet.

So, there's an update on Luke. I promise that pictures will be coming soon!