Just a picture...

And we're back...

Wow. It's been a while since I updated! The reason I didn't update last weekend was...well, there just wasn't a whole lot to say. The weekend before, Lukie's cough had gotten a little worse and then gotten better. Then I got the bug and came home early from work on Monday, stayed home Tuesday, lost my voice, and was back at work (though not happy about it) by Wednesday. Pete started feeling icky on Friday and was sick Saturday and Sunday, causing us to cancel a planned date night and a bonfire with friends to get our little boys together to roast marshmallows. Ah, well. Is what is.

Mom and Dad, knowing Pete would probably be better by Monday, went ahead and visited this week! They came in on Monday and stayed until Friday morning! I am always a doofus about remembering to take photos, so I just have a couple from their stay, but I'll pepper the post with other pictures of Lukas.

Mom and Dad got in on Monday evening just before I got home from work. I had put together some baked spaghetti so that dinner would be ready, and it was nice to get home and have dinner with my family. Lukie had a pretty good evening, and Mom helped me give him his bath.

Tuesday Pete took a big group of students on a field trip to Old Salem in Winston-Salem, NC, where they toured the old town and the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts. It's place after Pete's heart- full of old furniture. He said the student who had taken the material culture class from him last spring did a good job of identifying different periods of furniture, and I think that made him feel good. He was gone all the way until 9 p.m. that night, so I was sure glad to have some help!

DROOLMONSTER.

Thanks for the cools duds, Grandma Vickie.

Standing against Mommy...not so sure about balancing, though...

Mom and Dad and I took Lukie to Johnson City to shop for Lukas' winter clothes on Tuesday. We have tons and tons of onesies for him, but he needed some warm pants and jackets in which to bundle up when we're leaving for daycare in the mornings! Mom is a saint (a saint who likes shopping for baby clothes, I guess) and bought Lukie his whole wardrobe. He's been sporting some pretty dapper looks this fall, already. After that, we strolled over to the bookstore to pick Grandpa Bob up and then went to Five Guys Burgers. Mom and I had eaten there before, but Dad never had. We knew he'd like it, and as burgers aren't really Pete's thing, it was a good time to go.

We came home, cooked some dinner, and hung out until Daddy got home. Well, Lukie and I were asleep, but we left Pete some pretty righteous pumpkin bread pudding that I had made from the pumpkins we grew in the yard this year!

Wednesday, I had to work. Boo. Nothing really happened Wednesday, but Mom and I both noticed that Lukie's cough was getting a little worse, and I noticed he was starting to pull off when he was nursing, like something was bothering him. I amateur-diagnosed an ear infection, since I figured the pressure of laying on his side might be what was bugging him. I called the doctor on Wednesday to set up an appointment. Nothing really ALARMING was happening, but Lukie had had the cough for about a month, and while it wasn't bad, it was starting to bug me a bit.

Dad and Pete also got a digital antenna up and running. We had gotten so sick of poor service from DirecTV, and honestly, we just didn't watch enough TV to justify the cost every month. We got satellite service when we moved into the house a year and a half ago after living our first year down here with only Netflix, but it's just never been something we really felt like we needed. So, with the antenna up, we canceled our satellite service and were still able to watch the World Series opener. I fell asleep with Lukie way too early to find out the outcome, but Pete informed me the next morning that the Cardinals had lost. He tried to keep the glee out of his voice. Glad they've tied the series up now.

I'm glad I set up the doctor's appointment for Lukie. Dr. McGill (whom I really, really like) diagnosed an ear infection in both ears, a minor sinus infection, and maybe a bit of gunk in his bronchial tubes, as well. None of those infections were bad infections, but they were enough to be causing him some decent discomfort. As of Thursday, Lukie has been on antibiotics. I think they're helping. Oh, and Lukie now weights 17 lbs. 10 oz. What a big boy!

Eyes are still blue. 

Thursday afternoon, Mom, Dad, and I took Lukie to Asheville, NC. It's basically Pete and my favorite town within easy driving distance. Pete and I went to the North Carolina Arboretum in the spring, and we really thought it was something Mom and Dad (Dad especially) might enjoy, since they had a really neat bonsai exhibit. My dad is a tree lover, so it seemed like a Bob type activity.

Lukie was totally passed out from his antibiotics and slept the whole way down, and then slept pretty much the entire time we were at the Arboretum. I was right about my dad liking the bonsai...but what's not to like? TINY TREES!!!

Lukie all bundled up and sleeping. Poor kid was knocked OUT from those meds.

They had a LEGO art display going on. This fox and rabbit exhibit was my favorite. The fox was at least as big as Maggie is.

Lukie did really well until after the Arboretum. Then we had a melt-down in the car because he was hungry (Mommy's bad. Should have fed him before we left the Arboretum), so we stopped in the parking lot of a Dunkin' Donuts to feed him while Mom and Dad went and got coffee. Then we went to have a painting that Dad inherited from his grandfather appraised for auction. The auction house was REALLY neat, and they had an original tile by Henri Toulouse-Lautrec there that they are planning to auction in November. It was worth the stop just to see that tile!

About to fall asleep holding Mommy's hand.

The drive home went smoothly until about Erwin- the same place Lukie broke down the last time we went to Asheville. It's hard work entertaining a freaking-out baby for 20 minutes, but I did my best.

Mom and Dad left at about 4:15 on Friday morning. My folks have always been crazy early risers, and they figured if they were up, they might as well be driving. I don't blame them, but it always makes me sad to wake up and they're already gone. House feels kind of empty on those mornings.

Lukie had a rough day at daycare yesterday. He didn't want to eat all morning, I'm assuming because his ears hurt. Refusing a bottle is a sure-fire indication that something is wrong with this kid-- he usually LOVES to eat. I called the doctor and asked if it was okay to give him Tylenol in combination with his antibiotics, and I think giving him some pain killer helped because he ate better in the afternoon. Poor kid has had a rough go of it. 

The fact that Lukie gets sick so often at daycare makes me feel kind of guilty that he has to go. There's no changing it, as I have to work, but it doesn't make it easier to know that he's having a bad day that could be made a little bit better if Mommy was around. I work because we need me to financially and because I'm a happier person with a career and life of my own...but oy, is it a tough line to walk. The worst part is that I don't get to spend tons of time with my son; often it's only 45 minutes to an hour after I get home that he falls asleep for the night, and those 45 minutes are often his fussiest minutes of the day, since it's getting toward bedtime.

Oh, well. I value the time I spend with him and I look forward to the day when I can get home and we can all sit down at the table and have dinner together, talking about our days and finding out all the cool things Lukie learned at daycare that day. I know it's a ways off...but it's a thought that keeps me going when I feel bad about not seeing him for 11 hours a day.

At least he's THIS CUTE when I get home.

Fall Fun!

It's been a week since I last updated...going back to work has definitely meant that I update the blog less often, but I'm trying to make sure I still get in one post per weekend. The problem with that is trying to make sure I remember everything from the week!

Last Sunday, Pete and I decided to use some gift money that my cousin had sent us to buy Lukie an activity gym and playmat. We had noticed that he really liked the one at daycare, so it seemed like a wise investment. In general, I don't like buying him tons of toys. I figure we wait and see things he likes and then decide whether or not it's something we want to buy for him. I don't want a house full of toys he doesn't use. I'd rather pick some quality toys that he really likes!

The mat we picked out has LOTS of fun stuff on it, and it's totally collapsible so I can still put it away at night so it's not constantly out in the living room. There's a mirror, three hanging toys, and a mobile that plays music and has butterflies that spin around. Lukas LOVES it, which has made Pete and me wish we had bought it earlier...but he probably wouldn't have gotten nearly so much enjoyment out of it before now. It keeps him occupied really well, and I can run to the kitchen and do the dishes really quick and come back to find him totally content.

The week went by pretty much as usual. Lukie managed to poop on his daycare teacher for the second time, so...way to go Lukie. I'd say I'm the only one who hasn't been pooped on, but he pooped in the bathtub with me in it, so I can't. Actually, he's done that multiple times now. Sigh.

This weekend was a busy one! Yesterday, we took Lukie on his first car trip longer than an hour. We drove to Asheville, NC and dropped Lukie off to stay at Pete's friend Robyn's house. Robyn and her husband retired to Asheville from Schaumburg, and they don't have any grandchildren yet. Lukie gets to be a visiting grandchild every once in a while! I'm a doofus, so I didn't take any pictures of Lukie with Robyn.

Pete and I went out to lunch at the White Duck Taco Shop, which basically turns everything into tacos. Pete had a fish taco and a Bangkok Shrimp taco with chili aioli and sesame glaze, and I had a Korean Bulgogi taco with kimchee and a lamb gyro taco. All were awesome. We also had their salted coconut macaroon pie, which was good, though I honestly think they went a little heavy on the salt. Either way, it was a nice lunch, and the place was PACKED, so the rest of the menu must be really good, too!

We also visited Asheville Hardware, the place we went on our day date in August, so that Pete could pick out some wood to build nightstands for our bedroom. I always get furniture for Christmas, so I think this is my Christmas present this year. I'll take it!

We headed back at about 4. Lukie slept the entire way down to Asheville and all but the last 20 minutes of the way home. He wasn't particularly happy when he woke up, though, so I scooted into the back seat to entertain him. That worked for a while until Mommy got kind of carsick. However, I did discover that Lukie laughs now! If I make laughing noises, especially loud, high-pitched ones (think a witch), then he giggles just a little! I can't wait until he's giving me belly laughs!

Pretty gorgeous day for a road trip.

The mirror and the mobile came, too. That activity center is worth its weight in gold!

Laughing at Mommy's noises.

We stuck a lot closer to home today. Pete and I planted pumpkins in two small raised beds earlier this year...well, they've overtaken the side yard. We decided to pick what was out there and pull all but one vine. Lukie came along for the ride. Then I cleaned and roasted one pumpkin...and got 10 cups of puree out of it. The variety is an heirloom variety called Long Island Cheese, partly because the pumpkins are flattened and look like a wheel of cheese. They're supposed to be about the best "eating pumpkin" out there..and I have to say, I agree! I'd have eaten the puree with a spoon, unseasoned. Pete disagrees, but that's because he really just doesn't like squash. I hope Lukie does, because I've got a ton saved in the freezer for him!

Finally, Lukie graduated from HAVING to take a bath with Mommy in the bathtub to being able to take his baths in the sink without a freak-out. I'm glad. I was sick of getting wet every other night, and honestly, sick of getting pooped on. It's happened like 3 times now! Anyway, now I can just clean out the sink instead of the entire bathtub if he poops. Thank goodness.

The bath went mostly well...but babies are slippery! 

Alright, folks! That's the recap! We'll see you next week...I believe this brings us to...

...the end.

3 Months Old!!

Lukie is 3 whole months old! We did our traditional (can it be a tradition after only 3 months?) birthday party. We were lucky enough to have my mom around at the last two, but in her place, my friend Suzi came over. I'm a doofus, so I didn't get any pictures of her there, but somebody had to hold the camera to take our 3-month family photo, so trust me, it was a party with more than just me and Pete!

I got off work early (yes, I rearranged my time this week so I'd get off early on Lukie's 3-month birthday) and came home to make dinner and pie. I spent all afternoon cleaning the house up and cooking; we had chicken pot pie, french bread, Illinois sweet corn my mom froze last time she was in town, and coconut pie!

Suzi came at 6:15 or so and we ate dinner, but Lukie started falling asleep while we were eating so we rushed through and brought out the pie to take pictures. It's amazing how much he's changed since we started doing month birthday parties. Here are his first two:

And here he is on Thursday, October 3rd, his three-month birthday (with an actual "3" candle instead of the same old "4" candle we'd been using:

Little bubs is starting to lose some of that beautiful hair, especially on the sides, but he's raelly starting to look like a little boy!

I've been trying to recreate pictures each month so that I have comparisons to show.

Here he is at one month again:

At two months:

And at three:

He's doing some serious growing up!

On the daycare front, the ladies have told us that he's a totally different baby since he started coming. They used to tell us he was having a good day...yeah, apparently they were blowing smoke up our you-know-whats and trying to make us feel confident, because he wasn't always having such a good day. I kind of appreciate that. I didn't need to know every time he was fussing, and it would have made me feel guilty that I wasn't there to make him feel better.

Talking with the director the other day, though, she says that he really seems content now. He doesn't fuss much at all, and he's learning to be patient a little longer when he's hungry. They can't always pick him up right away, and he's learning to wait until they can get him. He's much more content to just lay around on the floor and play when he's home, too. We used to have to hold him all the time, it seemed; now, we can put him on the floor with some toys and play with him, but we can also make a quick trip to the bathroom or walk around the room tidying up talking to him without fears that he'll have a meltdown.

Lukie has also started batting at toys a little bit. Tomorrow, we're going to go to Target and buy him an activity mat. He likes the one at school and will lay there and stare at all the things dangling in front of him, so we're hoping he gets as much fun out of one at our house!

I've also caught him watching and smiling at the dogs a little bit. Dixie in particular is very interested in him.

We try to keep her from licking him, but I also don't want to yell at her every time she comes near him. I'm pretty sure she gave him a French kiss earlier today, though...

Finally...sigh...I thought we were doing better as far as sleeping goes...but no. Last night was another rough night. He falls asleep early, and I really don't want to mess with a 7 or 8 p.m. bedtime because eventually, that's what I'd like his bedtime to always be, but it often means that he gets hungry before midnight or so. I wake up and feed him, and then it seems like we're up every 2 hours or so after that. Until 7 a.m. when it's IMPOSSIBLE to wake him up to feed him before I go to work and Pete takes him to daycare. Go figure.

For the last two nights, we've tried moving back to his bassinet from the buzzy seat, but last night he woke up barking again and I had to sit him upright to sleep the rest of the night. Oh well. I guess we'll figure out something that works for us, but I'd really like to move him to the crib within the next couple of months.