Friday, August 29, 2008

Luke, the Great

In the last few weeks, I have been grumbling a lot about Luke's growing independence. I thank God that Luke thinks for himself and is learning to assert himself. I just wish he could do so while obeying my every request. Pop and Granny remind me that God made 2-year olds so cute so that parents would still love them through this challenging stage. So, rather than bemoaning the latest challenges, I want to share with you some of the wonderful things about my incredible son. (in no particular order)

1. He loves his daddy and tries to be just like him.


2. He likes to be helpful. This morning, he helped me make the bed. I didn't ask for his help. He just started tugging on the covers. He threw pillows up onto the bed for me as well. He often helps me move laundry from the washer to the dryer. He always runs to get them mail when he hears it fall through the mail slot. He is kindhearted.


3. The faces he makes. The sounds he makes. The things he says. His laughter. This morning we took a walk around the neighborhood. I had constant commentary. He pointed out what was blue and yellow. Part of the time he just sang. He pointed out every basketball hoop along the way.

4. I love that he loves his cousins. Amelia is his best buddy. He also thinks very highly of Micah, Noah, Sam, and Will.

5. I love the way he pats me on the back when he hugs me.

6. I love the way he never really hesitates when I ask for a kiss. He just says, "uh-huh," pulls the pacifier out, and puckers up.

7. I love how he thinks. How inquisitive he is and how he remembers details. He has always studied the world around him. He soaks it all in.

8. I love how he counts, "1, 4, 8, 9, 10!" Or, how he always answers there is four of whatever.

9. I love how "alligator" and "elevator" sound exactly the same.


10. I love how he loves the out doors. He is a boy through and through. I love how when playing with Amelia, he will put his football or cars in the stroller and then push them around the house. I love how he tells me his toys are cold before covering them up with a blanket.


11. I love how he gets so excited about cake. And chocolate. I love how when he first started talking, 9 times out of 10 his first word in the morning was "chwoc-late." I enjoy that he still says it "chwoc-late." Several months ago, we were at my parents for my dad's birthday. I told Luke to go tell Pop happy birthday. Luke walked up to him and said, "Happy Birthday, Pop! Cake?!?!?!?!"

12. One evening, I tried to get Luke to pee-pee in the potty before his bath. He excitedly sat on the potty and tried to go. But, he must not have need to, because nothing happened. He then looked at me and very earnestly said, "Not working." The next day, I asked him if he would like to go pee-pee on teh potty, and his eyes got that intense look they get and he told me, "That potty not working!"

13. I love his eyes.


14. I love his smile, even when it is behind a pacifier.

15. I love that he never tires of throwing rocks, especially if they are being thrown into water.

16. I love how he wants everything to be in its proper place...unless he doesn't want it to be.

17. I love the way he runs, especially when he hunches up his shoulders, says "Hut! Go!" and takes off.

18. I love how he wants Mommy to build blocks with him. I love the way he laughs with glee when he knocks my tower down.

19. I love the way he asked to sit on the floor rather than in Mommy or Daddy's lap the other night when we said bed-time prayers. He was such a big boy, holding our hands, and bowing his head, though peaking around the room.

20. I love the way he says, "I love you, Mommy."