Hanging With Uncle Tony

Uncle Tony came to visit from Michican again. We love seeing him and we all HOPE HE WILL MOVE CLOSER VERY SOON! We had several fun gatherings while he was here. Luke loved playing in the pool and cooling his jets. He also got a new bike that he is going to grow into over the next few years. It comes complete with a helmet, bell, and horn (which he loves to toot). It sure was nice having Tony back. Can't wait for him to get back and play again!

Rutledge-Wilson Farm

We discovered the coolest place in Springfield today. Melissa and Hayden went with us to the Rutledge Wilson farm. It was amazing! We were there for over two hours. That is like a week in toddler time! They have a pond where kids can catch and release fish. They have a petting area for animals. They have a stable full of cool critters. They have the greatest slides and climbing area. I think the boys liked the tractors the best. They could have driven them all day long. We had a picnic on a blanket to top it all off. We will definitely be back several times this year. It is my new favorite place!

Butterfly Kisses

We went to Branson today and took the kids to The Butterfly Palace. It was AWESOME! Emily loved it the most. We couldn't leave until a butterfly landed on her. She got her wish and had several land on her delicate little hands. She was so careful with them. She couldn't hardly crack a smile for the camera becasue she was concentrating so much. They also had a bug and reptile room. The first picture below is of GIANT cockroaches. They were Angie's FAVORITE. I've never seen anything like them. They ate food that was the size of dog food pellets! Ethan liked the gift shop the best. It had lots of cool toys. Luke had one butterfly land on him. He was okay with it for about 3 seconds and then he was ready for his visitor to carry on about his business.

The Lady In The Park

Luke is fascinated with this woman. I think he is so taken with her because she is the only woman who hasn't flirted back at him.

Month Sixteen

Busy! You are sooooooooo busy! You love to push things. You are obsessed with wheels. When we go out anywhere I have to make sure to take a stroller so you don't follow everyone else around and chase their strollers. You usually run everyone down saying, "WHEEL, WHEEL, WHEEEEEEEEL!"

We have had an jam packed summer. You love the various pools around town. We've went to public pools, the creek, and also to Jordan Valley park to play in their fountains. You like to splash and collect water in cups. You are starting to get a little tan on your arms even though I completely saturate your enitre body in sunscreen. We swing any chance we get. If we have an hour to kill we find a park to explore. We've went to storytime at the library and the toy store. You love to watch the other kids and dance to the tunes.

At your last Dr. appointment you were a brave boy. You were much more aware of all of the things they were doing but you hung in there like a trooper. They went on and on about what a good patient you are. You weighed in at 28 pounds which placed you in the 75-90th percentile. You were 33.5 inches long which put you in the 95th percentile. You are still a big guy!

Your cheeks bounce when you walk. You have the chubbiest, most adorable sweet baby cheeks and they bounce when you walk. It crushes my soul.

You got your first bloody lip. You took a running dive off a curb at the car dealership. You went face first into the pavement. It was HORRIBLE. I know it is not the last bloody lip you will ever have but I'm going to spend every birthday wish and coin I throw in a well wishing it would be. I don't think I can take it again!

You no longer have to clutch your hands to your chest while you walk. You are still a little wobbly and often resemble a drunken sailor but you are getting better all the time.

You have to sit all the way down to look up high in the sky. If you don't, you will fall over. When we go to the gym you sit at the base of the flag pole and look up high saying "sag, sag, sag". You adore the American flag. I think your Papaw would have loved to see that.

Your speech KILLS us. We laugh constantly at the things you say. Daddy has taken much pride in teaching you new vocabulary. The other day you were in the high chair eating your yogurt. Daddy was using the bathroom with the door open down the hall. You heard the splish splash and pointed to the door and proudly said, "WHIZ!" Cookies are "keekoos" to you. You love sticks. You like to swing them around. When Daddy gets out his golf clubs you say "steek, steek, steeeeeek!" Daddy is also teaching you some basketball terminology. Slam dunk is "sa kunk". With some prompting you will say your name when asked. You proudly say your name is "ook" or "gook".

This has been the best summer for your Dad and I. We watched you out in the sprinkler tonight and giggled the night away. I can't wait to see what the next few weeks of summer holds for us. Thank you for being the best part of our days! We love you!

First Ball Game

Dad took Luke to his first game tonight. We sat out in the grass. Luke liked having room to roam. We enjoyed it because it was less crowded than the seats and we had a great view. We found a way to make baseball games feel like they last longer (because we always complain they go by too quickly). All you need to do is take a one-year-old to a game! It was the third inning and it felt like we had been there six hours. We chased Luke all over the place. It was exhausting! We had a ball though! He grinned the entire time. Everyone around him got a kick of being part of his first baseball game. It was a nice way to kick off the fourth of July weekend.