Being Silly in Mommy's Glasses

Visiting Michelle's Barn

One of Luke's teachers at daycare (who Jackson & Luke both adore) has a horse that she boards just a few miles down the road, so she kindly agreed to meet us there this morning to let Jackson take a spin on her horse, Guy. Jackson loves it when we have to pay to ride a pony at a fair, so he'd love riding Guy too, right?
It actually looks like he's riding a horse there, doesn't it? But, he's not.
He wouldn't get on. And, he clearly wasn't even too keen on getting in the saddle without the horse. I think the problem was that the introduction started off on a bad foot. When we got to Guy's stall, Jackson noticed that Guy had pooped on the floor. As I've mentioned before, Jackson doesn't take kindly to body excretions of any kind, even from a horse. Strike one. Then, as he was getting ready to pet Guy, Jackson was told to watch his feet so that the horse wouldn't accidentally step on them. Danger. Strike two. Apparently, in Jackson's world, there are only two strikes because the combination of poop and potential foot-stomping, just turned him off. He wasn't getting any closer than arms length, and even that was iffy.

While the visit with Guy was a bust, Jackson did have a good time visiting with the barn kittens. I guess the kittens were okay because they hadn't pooped and it wouldn't hurt if they stepped on his toes?

9 Months

Luke is now 9 months old, so I guess that means he has been "out" longer than he was "in". He's grown to be 30.75in in height and 25.7oz in weight. What else does 9 months mean for Luke? Here you go:

- He has more teeth. His upper right, front tooth came through about a week ago or so. Although you can't tell in this picture, it appears that he has about 3 more (the other front tooth and his top eye teeth) that are going to come in rapid succession pretty soon.
Due to all the building-up of teeth, most of the time, you can find him looking like this:He has really been quite miserable the last 3 days that it can only get better from here (I think).
- He puts his new teeth to good use and eats a lot - both jarred baby food and some of whatever you're eating too. Mostly, he just wants whatever you are eating, but if you're not eating at the moment, he'll be more than happy with the baby food. All this food means that he's slowed down on the formula. Not sure if he's slowed down so drastically because his gums hurt or because he has started to prefer eating. Maybe a little of both?
- He can drink out of a sippy cup, but he really doesn't drink much. Just an ounce or two. He mostly just chews on the spout.
- He doesn't crawl. Some might think this an unfortunate stall in their child's development. I think this a blessing. He can contort and stretch and reach things that you wouldn't think he can reach if you hadn't seen it yourself, but it's like he has a pivot point on his belly button (or his butt depending on his position at the moment). As such, anything outside a certain radius is still safe from his destructive little hands. SWEET!
- He will babble and grunt in conversation with you and seems to enjoy these primitive discussions.
- I think his favorite part of the day is taking a bath with Jackson even though Jackson only wants him in the tub to dump water on his head. Thankfully, Luke just thinks it's awesome that Jackson is actually paying attention to him so he tolerates the water-dumping terrifically.
- The separation anxiety is at its peak. Or at least, I HOPE it's at its peak.
- He can stand while holding onto something, like a table. He cannot pull himself to a stand on his own, but he loves it if you stand him up and give him a new perspective on the world.

Lake House

First time in the lake this summer & he did pretty good...
Swinging...
The playhouse was a big hit on this trip since the weather was pretty cool...
Only a Diego backpack watergun could put a mischievous smile like that on this boy's face...
Cuddling & giggling with Grandma (& Red the Fraggle) after a long day...
Luke's first pontoon ride...

Mmmm, Cherries.

Separation Anxiety

Please don't leave me here all alone. I don't like it. If you leave me, I'll start to think that you won't come back for me and that makes me nervous. So I'll start to cry and chew on toys. If I look at you with a pouty lip and puppy dog eyes, will you stay? Do you really have to go to the bathroom THAT bad?
Oh man. She's gone. Wah! Wah! Now I'll never get fed again! Waah! Waah! And, I'll have to wear this diaper for, like, ever. What's gonna happen when I poop again? I don't want to stay in a poopy diaper forever! Waaah. WAAAH! Good GOD! Somebody save me! Please! WAAAAAHH!
What? What's that? Oh, you're back. Good. Don't ever do that again or I'll make your night miserable lady. I mean it. I don't joke about things like that. I got family in Chicago you know. (evil glare).

It's a Cousin!

Welcome to the family Patrick! If your entrance into the world is any indication, we are in for a wild ride! :)

How Scared Does Luke Look!?!

"Official" Photographer's Tee-Ball Pics

I think there was a crier in every team picture I saw....
Yep, that says "Maples" under the brim of his hat...

Louisville Slugger Museum

"Let's fix it for them. It's a little crooked."
"It's kinda creepy, Dad. Is he real?"
"Who's Mickey Mantle and why do I have to wear gloves to hold his bat?"

Jackson Visiting Monticello, Kentucky