Baby Steps?

Well, I found out Mae (Luka's BFF who is 1 day older) is walking around Daytona Bch in flip flops.  Oh, Mae.  Well, Mister is on his feet now... and has perhaps made his first attempt at walking.  Could it be a stumble, or is it a conscious effort?  I took him to Barnes and Noble today, and stood him in front of the 0-3 books.  At one point he pulls one out and holds it with both hands as he stands there and looks at it.  And then, as I hold the book with him, he takes three strong steps towards the little bench.  I wasn't helping him at all.  He did it again this evening... he walked a few steps up to the couch and caught himself before he went down.  I saw the look of: I DID THAT! on his face... I don't know when he'll walk, but I know it will be before his 1st birthday.

A Holly, Jolly, Christmas

Luka takes a stand

Luka likes to stand all on his own now.  It usuall happens when he is holding a toy, and would like to use both hands to hold it, rather than using one to prop himself up.  He's pretty good and strong on his feet.  I imagine it won't be long before he discovers taking steps.

Cabin Fever

Today was supposed to be Luka's 9 month well baby check-up.  I had been scared to drive for a couple of days now.  On Saturday I went to the UPS office to pick up some boxes... I felt like I was driving in a blizzard. No joke.  I was going no faster than 20 mph the entire way, wondering if the office had even bothered to open.  My CRV got a little swurvey at one point, but I managed to get there and back safe and sound.  Needless to say for the next several days I opted to stay home!  Staying indoors with a 9 month old baby can be tedious!!  There were two days in which Luka could not even go on a walk because the air was so cold and howling.  But, today the weather has finally let up and he had a check-up that I was eager to go to.  I gave myself plenty of time to get there.  Luka was bundled up, buckled in, driven slowly, parked, unbuckled, trekked through a patch of deep snow, circled back to get into another entrance, and into the lobby we find that...... Pediatrics is closed!  No one called to tell us!  You would think they'd understand the great ordeal it can be to go anywhere with a baby/child.  You would think they'd have the courtesy to call.  So, back through the snow, to the car... Luka irritated, Mama irritated... buckle in, drive slow, unbuckle, and home.  But at least we got out of the house.

Snail mail

Many apologies to those whose packages are arriving late this Christmas.  Due to Portland being so unprepared for this winter weather, the regular post has been backed up and delayed.  

Winter Pictures

Icy Cold

We had record snowfall this weekend and today everything has been coated with ice.  We could hardly open our front door this morning.  I looked out the window and watched a man cross country ski down Alberta St.  Pictures of Portland's winter wonderland will be uploaded soon.

Happy Holidays From Our Family

From Holiday Card

Christmas is coming...

... and the gifts and cards have been arriving.  I actually did put some Christmas cards together, but they're sitting in a pile by the door.  So I'm sorry to not have sent them.  I designed them online and they only arrived yesterday.  I was going to go to the post office today but we are experiencing some crazy weather out here and I shouldn't drive, so  I'm going to post them on here instead.  I know it's not the same, but I've given up on any further effort!  And I know the whole "baby's first christmas" idea- and the pressure to sit him on Santa's lap and send out some kitschy cards of Luka with reindeer antlers on (yikes).  I hope you forgive me for not doing that this year.  One wonders where all my time goes...  

But I do want to thank everyone who has sent us cards-  Aunt Janet, Shannon, and Deutsch Oma. Also, thanks Janet B. for the candle holders (which look great lit up), and Mom and Dad for the stocking.  I know more is coming.  Merry Christmas!

Leaps

I've been wanting to write about Luka's mental developments for awhile- but now that he is down to just one nap a day it's been hard to get computer time.  It feels as though during the past 2-3 weeks he has become so much more of a "toddler".  He is really making connections with us, mimicking our sounds and actions, and becoming more aware of himself as an individual.  He plays games with us and acts funny to make us laugh.  He points at things, has started to wave, and is learning how to stack his blocks.  Today I was carrying him while putting dishes away, not knowing that he was studying what I was doing.  For the fun of it I handed him a spatula... and you know what he did... he leaned toward the open drawer and placed it in himself.  I couldn't believe it.  Only a month ago it would have just gone straight into his mouth.  More and more he's just been studying things with his hands, instead of with his mouth.  I can't believe how much he is transforming in such a short time.   

***SNOW***SNOW***SNOW***SNOW

Today it is snowing like crazy and has been for the past couple of  hours.  I took Luka out for a minute this morning, but it was blowing too hard and his face immediately turned pink.  We've been having fun watching Alberta St. from our window- cars sliding, people sliding, the wind blowing snow horizontally.  Right now Luka is taking his nap and Eric is driving his Subaru around; he's testing it out in the snow.  I'd like for the wind to calm down a little and take Luka to a park for some pictures of his first snow.  I just saw Karen's snow pictures of West Virginia, it looked so nice and peaceful with the early morning sunshine.  I can't say the same here, but it's still beautiful, nonetheless, with our Christmas tree and lights.  Luka is still a little young to get excited over it, but he sure did look and look this morning.  He knew something was different, and his curious nature brought smiles to his face.

Thanksgiving

I really need to get all of the photos together of our 2 week stay in Florida.  My mom has some, Erics mom has some, his aunts have some... I'm the only one who didn't take any.  

Our trip was great.  It was a lot of fun staying in St. Augustine with my parents- going on walks,  eating good food, and spending time with good friends.  Luka experienced a lot of new things- smells, sights, and sounds.  His Oma was very good at letting him experience the garden and nature.  He loved falling asleep in his stroller, wrapped up nice in his blanket (it was cold!). One of the nights we were invited to Deane and Dennis' house for dinner.  He was teething pretty good that day and was cranky all through out the evening, so Dennis pulled out his guitar and Luka's entire mood changed.  It was great!  He bounced and danced and banged to the rhythm. 

Thanksgiving weekend at Grandma Patty and Grandpa Scott was great, too.  Luka did amazingly well with all the new family he met, and they all wanted to hold and squeeze him. We took him to the Jacksonville Zoo with two of Eric's cousins and their children, and that was really fun. On the news the next day it said a bobcat had escaped... apparently the cat was being shy and didn't wander off too far.  

As sad as it was to say goodbye, it was nice getting back to Portland.  Luka is a great traveler and does pretty good on the plane.  It was time to get him back into his routine... shortly after we got back home he had a fever for a couple days, and a horrible runny nose. But now he's recovered,happy, and back in his own crib.

Mama, Dada, Banana

These are 3 words that Luka can say!

9 Months

Luka just turned 9 months, and just as all the books say, he's reached the peak of his separation anxiety.  I can barely step a few feet away from him without his eyes widening in protest and him whimpering and crying.  Sometimes, when he's a little tired, you'd think he was in pain- he turns red, doesn't breath, and screams.  It can be overwhelming for me most of the time, the constant contact and attention, but I have to remember that these are all stages that will soon pass.  Another factor that adds to his mommy-madness is his runny nose and fever, which I think he got from traveling on the airplane.  I can't believe how he is growing and I'm starting to understand his little individual self.  So much has been happening lately that needs to be blogged!

Photo Shoot

Here are pictures done recently of Luka by my good friend Jennifer Becker.  He was pretty tired and has been teething so that's why he's doing the finger in the mouth thing.  Anyway, I think they're really cute and here is a link if you want to see more of Jen's work: JBecker Photography

 

Kiss

So everyday I say, "Luka, give Mama a kiss", and usually it ends up with Luka trying to eat my face.  Well, yesterday I was giving him air kisses while hanging my clothes up and I heard little smacking noises- he was imitating me with his little mouth (in his own version).  So this morning I excitingly showed Eric, "Luka, give Mama a kiss!" and he did it!!  Clearly, he doesn't know what it is or what it means or even how to plant it on our cheeks, but it's a start and I can see the concentration behind it!  Blowing kisses, I imagine, will come next.  Also, at dinner tonight a man waved at Luka and in return Luka lifted his hand and opened his fingers.  Once again, I don't think it was an active wave but I can't believe it will be happening soon.  The smallest accomplishments are so ENORMOUS!

Lately...

Sorry, it's been awhile, I guess we've been busy around here.  I've been meaning to post some pictures of Luka climbing our stairs, which is his new favorite activity.  He is 8 months right now- Mr. Personality.  His 2 upper teeth are about to cut, so he's been quite a fussy little guy.  I can't wait for all his teeth to be in, it's been such a slow process.  I have also been wanting to take and post some pictures of him at 'Book Babies'- which is his social time.  I'm making a mental note to bring my camera tomorrow so I can share- it's the cutest thing.  We're getting excited for our trip to Florida.  We leave in 4 days!!  I hope all goes well on the airplane, Luka does not like confinement.  He is sleeping really well in his crib now.  I do have to get up 2-3 times a night to help him back to sleep, but at least he's in his own room.  I remember when I could not part with him.  The first 6 months it was so important to co-sleep with him... I just would not sleep well if he was't next to me.  Now, I think Luka and I are both happy to have our own spaces.  Also, he's eating more than ever.  Here are some things he likes: Puffs, Cheerios, Mashed apples and bananas, peas and diced carrots, tofu, rice, cheese, bread, and avocado.  I think he might also be entering the separation anxiety stage.  YIKES!  I left for 1 minute to get laundry out of the dryer and he hollered and hollered with Eric.  As soon as I came back he reduced it to a whimper, and only when I held him did he stop.  And finally a couple more things, he can HIGH FIVE and stick his tongue out at us (mimicking when we stick it out at him).  And he likes to pull and push his hand on his mouth while going "AAAAaaaaaaa", like the Indian noise (I don't know how else to describe it)... it's a little game we play.  More to come in the next day or two!

Obama Wins!!

It's 9:35 pm in OR and about an hour ago it was announced that Barack Obama is our new president and instead of feeling joyful for this victory I am consumed with feelings of stress.  Some evenings around here become such a battle.  Mothering has been pushing me to my limits. I wish I could share the happiness and excitement that's being felt around the world right now, but I'm too drained and tired.  I'm watching CNN coverage and it's making my eyes hurt.  Meanwhile horn after horn beeps continuously down Alberta Street, people are cheering and parading the sidewalks celebrating a new era... but I just need to go to bed.  

Post-op

Saw Dr. Wendy from Neurology today and she looked at Luka's back to make sure it's healing okay.  She said it looks great and that the tissue they removed was indeed just fatty tissue and nothing harmful.  They've ordered one more MRI for January and one more follow up visit to conclude that this operation was successful.  Almost done!

Crib? Bed? Crib? Bed?

I've firmly decided that Luka is no longer to sleep in our bed.  Co-sleeping is great and it made nights much easier for a long time... but I've had enough!  Now that he is sitting up and crawling I wake up to him leaning over me and pulling my hair all night long.  I think me being there next to him encourages him to wake and eat... on average when he sleeps in bed with me he wakes up 3-4 times a night.  So last night I nursed him to sleep and set him in his crib around 9pm and he slept pretty good until 2am (whereas he'd normally wake around midnight first). I tried the cry-it-out for 7 minutes to see if he'd fall back asleep on his own, but nope.  So I fed him, let him fall back asleep and then put him back in his crib.  His next wake up was at 5am, but I was so tired that I went ahead and considered it the next day and brought him to our bed.  I think this can work, and hopefully as he gets older he'll actually sleep through the night.  

The Pumpkin Patch

On Sunday the three of us went to the Sauvie Island Pumpkin Patch.  It was a beautiful Fall day, cool and sunny.  I don't think neither Eric nor I had ever been to a real pumpkin patch before so it was really neat to take Luka.  It's located on a little farm right when you get onto Sauvie Island and next door to the little market.  Luka was wide-eyed and curious, looking at the pumpkins, smelling food, watching children.  The patch also has a huge "Haunted MAiZE" which is a maze cut into corn stalks with spooky surprises that I assume pop out at you.  Although I did see babies coming out with their parents we didn't go, but hopefully next year.  We did take a hay ride, ate a caramel apple (Luka had some of the apple part), drank apple cider, and looked at some barn animals.  It was a lot of fun! Here is a link to more Pumpkin Patch photos.

The fireman

The boo-boo

If you get weak at the sight of this I apologize, but here is Luka's incision healing rather nicely.  The top portion of his stitches have already dissolved but it looks as though he has a lump on his back.  Perhaps a little swollen.  He hasn't needed any of the oxycodone so we've been sticking to Tylenol (once in the morning and once in the evening).  

Luka's surgery

First off, everything went like planned.  The surgery was a complete success, Dr. Selden was very happy with what he found, and Luka is on his way to a full recovery.  We arrived at the hospital 8:30 am on Monday and stayed with Luka until the  nurse took him into the operating room.  'Grandma P' and 'Poppy' met us there and helped us hug and kiss Luka goodbye.  That was the hardest thing to do- I was choking up the whole way down the hall- but Luka was brave and trusting and did not make one single peep.  After an hour and a half they let us know that they were sewing him back up and that all went well.  While we were waiting to see him Dr. Selden came out to report what was done.  He did cut out a large amount of tissue and he believes that there is a 92-95% chance that his spine will remain untethered and Luka will not ever need this surgery again nor have any side effects from it.  The scariest risk was nerve damage and Dr. Selden reassured us that all of his nerves were fine.  What a relief.

Once Luka was awake we were able to see him in the recovery room.  We then wheeled him up to his room on the 10th floor where he had to lay flat for 48 hours.  That was a big worry for me since Luka is so active and in midst of his crawling and cruising stage, but it wasn't as hard as I thought partly because of the pain medications and soreness.  The days and nights did drag but overall it went rather smoothly.  

The final morning was the hardest I would say.  Luka was no longer on morphine so he was ready to get going again and Eric had to leave and go back to work.  Dr. Selden checked in and okayed him, so I immediately picked him up (even though he still had his catheter) and nervously squeezed him. From then on it was NOT OKAY for me to set him back down on his back.  When the nurse took the catheter out we roamed the halls a bit, played in the school room, listened to a classical guitarist (part of the hospital's Musical rx program), and looked out the windows.  We were both ready to go home but Luka had to fully empty his bladder twice before they would discharge us.  

Patty, Scott, and Brooke met me there and drove us home when we were finally released. Luka was just so thrilled to be outside and in the car. He is back to crawling and standing, does not seem to be in much pain, and is sleeping a lot (it was hard getting rest when nurses were checking his vitals every 2 hours).  Last night he slept from 10pm-5am which is the longest stretch of nightime sleep he (and I) have ever had!!!!!!!!!!  That was amazingly nice.  Today he is in the 3rd hour of his morning nap.  Well, I have to say that this was hard and stressful, but we consider ourselves very lucky that Luka is healthy and strong unlike some of the other patients who roomed nearby.  As one nurse exclaimed, "You look too healthy to be here".  Eric and I have such a beautiful gift and are fortunate in EVERY possible way.  To see the pictures CLICK HERE

Florida

Luka and I will flying to Florida November 17th to spend Thanksgiving with our families this year.  Eric will be joining us on the 26th, and then the three of us will be returning home December 3.  I'm looking super forward to this!

Big Stuff

I know I've been talking a lot about Luka's upcoming surgery in the recent posts- and I just want to add that he is really being tough about it all (very strong).  On Wednesday we spent almost 4 hours at OHSU hospital meeting with Dr. Selden and his Nurse Practioner, riding the sky tram to the top of this hill (picture), getting blood drawn, and touring Doerbechers Childrens Hospital's pediatric surgery area where Luka will have his surgery this Monday morning.  He absolutely did not mind any of it (except for getting his blood drawn, of course, but even then he immediately stopped crying when it was over).  He actually enjoyed playing in the waiting areas and looking at the other children.  So, Luka is our brave boy and we can't wait for next week to fly by and for us all to be back home doing things as normal.  

A bit of honesty

...I have to say that sometimes I really do feel like I'm going to go nuts.  How in the world did I not know how time consuming, demanding, irritating, and tiring motherhood could be.  And why do I feel like sometimes I'm the only one who thinks that way.  I have about a half a dozen friends who are also mothers and I NEVER hear them complain.  I feel like I complain all the time.  Either it's my lack of sleep, or still having to share a bed, the whining, the crying every time I must change a diaper- on mornings like these I wish I could just walk away.  One child will be enough for me, thanks.  And I hope I'm not coming off as insensitive or irrational- but I just can't see how some women go through this two or three more times.  I've heard the old "Oh, you'll forget.  By the time the first turns 2 you'll be wanting another."  PLEASE DON'T LET ME FORGET!! Seriously, one is enough!!

Second MRI

Yesterday was Luka's second MRI.  I can't even say how nerve-wracking it is to take him to Pediatric Sedation.  It's the anticipation that is the worst.  And one would think since we had already gone through this once before it would have been easier for this time- but it wasn't.  Luka screamed much more, which was hard on us.  Mainly because the nurse had trouble finding a vein and after about 20 minutes of this they finally got him off to sleep.  I almost wanted to complain about a nurse who was obviously peeved that we chose not to give Luka a sedative.  I rather him carry on and fuss than be dopey.  That must have been wearing on her nerves.  This MRI went much quicker and he was awake by the time we reunited with him.  It took only an hour or two and he was back to his same little self: crawling, climbing, standing, being busy... Dr. Selden will be looking at the pictures and and in a week we will meet with him to hear what he plans to do in the operating room.

New Pictures

Here is the most recent album on our picasa website: Oma & Opa visit Sept '08 And whoops... mom missed her flight.  She was actually supposed to fly out this morning and not tomorrow.  So instead she will be leaving this Sunday and meeting dad at Chicago's O'Hare. They had planned a visit with Dale and a day trip to Chicago anyway, so in a way it works out.  It will be nice to have her here a little longer, but Dad was not thrilled.  He's stuck in Columbus for the next few days freezing loads of tomatoes.

Appointments

So, here is what he have: 

• Thurs. Sept. 25th MRI of spine 
• Thurs. Oct. 9th Pre-op visit
  
• Mon. Oct. 13th Surgery
  
• Tues. Oct. 14th or Wed. Oct 15th discharge from hospital
  
• Fri. Oct. 29th Post-op visit 
  

Oma & Opa

We are having a great time with Oma & Opa in town.  They arrived last Tuesday and have been enjoying every moment with they boy.  Since they have been here Luka has learned how to crawl and has also become much more vocal.  He really loves their attention and I'm afraid he will miss it when they return home.  Our adventures have included: Washington Park and The International Rose Test Garden, driving to Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood, visiting Rocky Butte, the Saturday Farmers Market, Sauvie Island and various parks and neighborhoods.  Oma also accompanied us at 'Book Babies' last Friday. Dad leaves tomorrow and Mom this Thursday- but Patty and Scott (in case you don't know they are Luka's other grandparents) will be arriving the 11th of October!  So Luka will only have to endure his normal routine for a short while.  He truly loves all the commotion and action of family.  I wish we all didn't live so far apart. 

Dr. Selden

We met with Dr. Selden, a well known nuero surgeon, this morning and had Luka's MRI explained to us.  Unfortunately, he does have a birth defect that requires surgery.  Basically how he explained it was that the fatty mass of tissue on the very bottom of his spine extends out and connects to his skin.  A normal spine is able to move freely, so in order for his to do so the doctor must separate the tissue with an incision.  Otherwise his spine will continue to be pulled and tethered which may impair his ability to walk and bladder control.  It is somewhere in the family of spina bifida but is completely operable and the chances of it re-occurring are 1%.  So the next step is for Luka to receive another MRI of his entire spine and to have surgery early October.  The risks associated with this procedure are very low.  Dr. Selden performs this operation weekly and I am very impressed of his bio. Of course, we are completely sick to our stomach over this, but I have high expectations that everything will turn out fine and that the odds will no longer be against us.  

Super-cute Spoon time

A cousin for Luka

This is Easton... Luka's little 2nd cousin that was born last month by Eric's cousin Amanda who lives in Nashville with her hub Darrel.  He is pretty cute!  They'll get to see each other over Thanksgiving. 

MRI results

I just got a call from Luka's doctor and what the MRI shows is that he has a spinal lipoma, which is an accumulation of fatty tissue (basically a non-cancerous tumor).  We're meeting with a neurologist this Thursday so we can get his expert opinion and decide if we should have it removed.  Dr. Lin reassured me that it is not urgent and to not be alarmed by this,  but it does require attention.  I guess more will come on this topic... And here is something I'd like to add if you want to read a bit about it: Spinal lipomas in children Which basically says that it is a good idea to have it surgically removed even if the child is asymptomatic.  

This morning's MRI

We were at OHSU hospital at 7am this morning for Luka's scheduled MRI.  He was in such a great mood, especially for being on an empty stomach.  Once checked in a nurse put a numbing cream on his hands and feet so that the IV needle would not hurt.  We played for 45 minutes and then were called back to Pediatric Sedation.  Eric and I were nervous as hell.  Luka still remained in a great mood- the nurses all loved him.  It's amazing to witness his magnetic personality at such a young age.  Only one thing went wrong. The valium.  Which I'm not sure why it was given to him.  The IV catheter was already in, but the anesthesiologist thought it would help calm him for sleep.  He had a 1 in a 100 reaction where he  became red in the face, scared, and crying out in abrupt bursts.  The nurse said it probably affected his vision.  It was disturbing to see... they quickly put him to sleep at that point. I couldn't help but cry a little.  From there Eric and I tried to eat in the cafeteria and wait around.  It took about two hours.  We sat in the lobby where we saw the nurses wheeling him back.   The MRI went great, he didn't move at all.  It took Luka about 10 minutes to wake up... so cute!  He was trying to smile and make his normal sounds but it was very weakened.  I nursed him, but it took awhile for him to get a good latch.  Finally, we got him dressed and strolled him on out.  POOR BABY! So brave... of course he'll never remember any of this.  We'll get the results either tomorrow or Monday, so I'll let everyone know. Currently, he lays sleeping at my side.  I have a feeling there will be lots of snoozing today.  Which is fine by me, I plan just to be relaxing with him!

Camping

Here are the pictures from our Labor Day camping trip in the Willamette National Forest.  We camped out about 40 miles east of Salem near Detroit Lake.  It was a lot of fun, and very picturesque... but was a spur of the moment trip.  So, next time we will have to be better prepared.  It ended up becoming very cold and I (nor Luka) did not sleep very well in the tent.  So due to sleep deprivation and feeling grimy we headed home the following morning instead of hiking around Detroit Lake with Cory, Scott, and Mae. Next time will be a longer adventure. 

Some Noteworthy Firsts

Luka had his first ride sitting in a shopping cart yesterday.  (hahaha).  At first he looked at me like, what are you doing??  But he thought it was pretty cool after all.  Usually when we go shopping I wear him in the Baby Bjorn carrier, but he is getting a little too heavy for that now.  Also, during our cray heat wave a couple weeks ago he took his first swim.  We went to the Buckner indoor pool (which is inside of an elementary school).  It was a little on the cool-ish side (84 F).  I think he wanted to cry a couple times at first, but he held on tight to me and ended up having a good time.  I couldn't believe that there was also a 6 wk old in the pool! 

And finally the boy is teething.  Well, has been for awhile- but now we FINALLY see the little thing poking under his gum.  He's had the fever, the runny nose, etc...  that I believe has to do with these teeth slooowly surfacing.  I'll make sure to get a good picture when it is finally here. (Hopefully soon!)

September 4th

...is going to be a nervous day for us.  Luka is scheduled to have a pelvic MRI for his abnormal gluteal cleft and hemangioma.  After seeing two urologists we've decided it may be important to take a look to see if his vertebrae is either tethered on the end or not fully closed.  If so, then he will most likely have some nerve problems with his bladder & kidneys (he will not be able to control his bladder or fully empty it... leading to bladder infections and wettings).  From there, we will meet with a Neurologist and find out if he is fine or if he will need some kind of surgery.  YIKES!!  

Adult Soap Box Derby 2008

Here is the link to see the photos taken at the 2008 ASBD (this is becoming an annual tradition for us).  The following day was my 26th Birthday.  We ate breakfast at Gravy and spent the afternoon at the Rose Garden and Japanese Garden in Washington Park.  Luka had a fever all week end, but one would have never known.  He's a trooper.

Our growing garden

Peas

Another solid for Luka.

New Mom's

I've finally started making an effort in meeting new mom's and seeking out support.  The hospital I gave birth at hosts 3 meetings a week in which you can bring your baby and talk with other moms.  I didn't go for the first 3 months because life was so incredibly chaotic, draining, and dare I say depressing.  I can't even hardly imagine it anymore... but I can remember A LOT of crying and fussing and squirming and more crying.  Car rides used to be nightmares.  So, I spent a lot of time at home and taking neighborhood walks.  Now that I'm comfortable with taking Luka out I've started to visit some of these groups.  How I wish I had gone sooner.  I could have really used it.  But now I go with my cute, smiling, curious 5 month old and sympathize with the mothers who bring in their 2 week old babies.  Ahhhh.  I've already met one girl who I think I will hang out with.  She has a daughter one month younger than Luka.  I've also joined a private group of moms who meet once a week at each other's houses.  But I think it's important that I find moms that I can identify with.  I'm not sure how much I will have in common with a middle aged women who drives her baby around in a new convertible Audi.  But we'll give it a try.  

Recent Outing

So, these days Luka's favorite activity is being outdoors and sitting on his mat.  I like to take him the neighborhood playgrounds so he can sit and watch the kids run and play.  Here are a couple of pictures from earlier this week. 

 

 

Get a load of this:

Luka's 4 month 'Well Baby' check-up

Currently he weighs 15 lbs 16 ounces and his height is 26.25".  His doctor says he is perfect (we knew that!)  I'm delaying further vaccinations (he had all of his 2-month old shots) until I do some more research on which I can delay until he is a little older, which I don't believe he needs at all, and which he should receive as an infant.  I feel that doctors and drug administrations are making our choices for us and I want to be a little more educated and confidant in what goes on with Luka.  Currently there are all these debates about why Autism, chronic allergies, asthma, ADHD, diabetes, are growing at such fast rates.  And some of the ingredients in these vac's are just not right...  monkey tissues, bovine serum, aluminum, formaldehyde to name a few.  Who knows what future research is going to say about all this.  Anyway, our main concern is Luka's overall health.  Of course we don't want him to catch the Whooping cough, but I need to be sure that these vaccines will be more beneficial than their possible side effects and risks.

Bananas

Luka is always watching us eat.  He follows the spoons into our mouths, the cups to our lips, watches as the crunchy tacos are being chewed.  As of a month ago I've been giving him tastes.  He's licked apples, gnawed on carrots and yes, I've even let him taste a cherry gummy candy (whoops.)  So last week after a huge fuss while watching me drink a berry smoothie I cut off an inch of banana and mushed it.  He sat all tall and might in his high chair as I spoon fed him his first bit of solid foods.  He ate so well, barely pushing any of it out with his tongue.  In fact his mouth was opening up for the next spoonful before it barely even left the bowl.  I had tried giving him rice cereal which is the recommended "first food" but that was a mess.  And giving it to him in a bottle is just no fun.  I plan to be careful of what I give him because too many new foods at such a young age could later cause food allergies.  For example, berries should wait until after a year old.  So, I'm sticking with bananas for a bit, and then maybe some mashed carrots or peas next month.  These mini-meals aren't supplementing any of his normal breast feedings, they're more about feeding Luka's curiosity rather than his hunger.

Holy Roll-y

Ok, so Luka can officially, deliberately roll over from back to tummy (with out my help).  All I know is that this morning I set him on his play mat, turned around to put his stroller in the corner, and when I looked back he was laying on his tums.  Of course I would miss it!

Blanket baby

Gardenista

First off, Portland is great!  Secondly, I hear it is a gardeners paradise.  So as of recently I've joined a community garden down street to give it a try.  Today I bought some seeds (snow peas, kohlrabi, mint, chives, basil, sage) and a small cherry tomato plant.  Eric and I weeded and prepared our plot so that this Sunday we can plant our seedlings.  I have to admit I don't have the first clue of what I am doing, so I've been calling my mom for help.  Here's how it looks so far.  I'll keep updating as it grows.

Luka Rolls!

Luka has now officially rolled over. Yeaaa!  Granted I have to first situate him on his side... but from there he goes right onto his tummy and lifts.  What a cute-y.

Week in Florida

~Friday July 4th~  Luka did soooo well on the airplane.  From Portland to Atlanta we had a row of 3 seats to ourselves so he was able to spread out for a bit.  Patty and Scott (grandma & grandpa) picked us up from the airport-  We cooked out and shot a few fireworks.  Luka played with his new giant toys.  And my friend Amy stops by to see the boy.

~Saturday July 5th~ Family BBQ.  By the end of the day Luka had bbq sauce all over his shirt from being passed around so much.  The day ended with him in a screaming fit of hysteria.  Poor baby is not used to so many people!

~Sunday July 6th~ He meets his Aunt Shawn, Uncle Jeff, Aunt Karen, and cousin Alicia.  Later on we went to the Outback Crab Shack with our friend Zach and his family.  Luka saw his first Florida gator in the wild! 

~Monday July 7th~ Toys R' Us with grandma (and Mama).  Other than that we just relaxed indoors in the AC.  Scott's famous fried shrimp for dinner!

~Tuesday July 8th~ Luka goes to the AT&T building downtown to meet his Grandma's co-workers who were all so eager to meet him.  We made our rounds to like 30 some people.  He was being his very cutest- giving everyone smiles and goo's. Grandma P was so proud! 

~Wednesday July 9th~ Eric, Luka, and I headed down to St. Augustine to spend a few hours being touristy.  It was very humid and hot. On the bayfront it was bearable, but St. George Street was sizzling as usual.  

~Thursday July 10th~ Some relax time for Eric and I.  Spent some time in the Jacuzzi and watching movie.  Later we met up with the Becker clan: Jen, Jeff, Ethen, Colleen, Chris, and Finn.  Ethen and Finn are both cute little toddlers.  We ate dinner at Olive Garden (should have had La Napolera!)... it was sooo good to hang out with my fellow mama and papa friends.  

~Friday July 11th~ Our trip is almost over and Grandma P wants to babysit!!!  So Mama get's her nails done. It was nice getting out on my own.  I guess I was gone for like an hour and a half (the longest I've been away from the Lukers as of yet... yikes that's it!?).  I'm proud to say that he was barely on my mind!  Eric went of and had some happy hour drinks, while I stuck around and hung out with Patty and Becca (Becca is Eric's cousin).  I had a real good Florida thunderstorm roll in.  I forgot how fast they move!!  The way the air changes and the temp's drop. Not like the NW at all!  Colleen, Chris, and Zach joined us for our last dinner.  Scott made some DELICIOUS filet mignon.  I pumped some bottles in order to have a few beers.  Patty did her best at occupying the boy.  But sometimes he just wants his mama.  We all must have stayed up until about 1 am... in four and half hours we had to wake up again for our flight.

~Saturday July 12th~ Getting kind of a late start, we hauled butt to the JAX. Dad- I know this would have driven you crazy.  Your ways of "leave room/time for error" must have totally rubbed off on me because we definitely did not get to the airport an hour early.  Oh well, right?  It wasn't too busy, and we went through security quickly.  Everything was going just fine until... poor visibility in ATL.  Our plane was grounded for an hour... our layover in ATL was only 45 minutes.  So to make long story short 8 hours later we boarded our First Class flight to Portland.  I have to say Luka was amazing the entire trip!  He adjusted so well, he let his Grandma rock him to sleep, he bared the awful humidity, and put up with Lucy and Charlie (the dogs).  He even did not give us an ounce of trouble during our horrendous layover in Atlanta... where at one point the 3 of us laid curled up on one of his blankets snoozing.  Only to awaken to three black women sitting directly over us smiling at us and eating their fast food while awaiting their flight to New Orleans.  One of them had a 5 month old who has been eating mashed potatoes for awhile now!

We had a great trip.  And Luka grew up so much while we were there.  To see pictures (and more are to be added soon) click on FLORIDA and make sure to look at the pictures of Mt. Hood taken from the plane. Amazing!

A Fish Named Luka

Pisces baby lives in a dream world, where there are elves, fairies and magic trees. He is somewhat different from the other babies, he will never shout, scream or throw tantrums for getting things done. He has a better tactic up his sleeve; he will charm you into agreeing for whatever he wants. Even after he grows up, the childish, wistful aspect of his personality will never go away. Make-believe world will always appeal to him. Whenever you are doing something important, just create a small little world around him.

Use some soft toys, balloons, dolls, etc, to do that and you will never even hear a word from him. A Piscean baby has a very sharp sixth sense and intuition. This particular personality trait may catch you off-balance quite a number of times. You will face a great amount of difficulty to make him adhere to schedules and routines. He will not eat because it is time for dinner or sleep because it is 11:00 pm. He wants to eat when he's hungry, sleep when he's tired and play when something attracts his fancy. 

It will be better if you adjust yourself to his schedule. Infact, your Pisces child will teach you not to be a slave of the clock. For him, it is just a piece of machinery, which should never dictate how you live your life. He is not too confident about his abilities and will have to be reassured time and again. Don't forget to give him lots of attention and admiration. Then, every now and then, he will want to be left alone. It is better to leave him alone in such silent spells and he will come back in some time, though it may turn out be the time for dinner rather than lunch. 

Conventions and patterns do not gel with the characteristics profile of Piscean children and they find it very difficult to stick to them. So, their teachers might find it a little difficult to fit in them in a particular mould. They will hold an interest in various art forms, music, dance and anything that's creative. A Piscean child is quite good with words and may become involved in poetry or story telling. Handling responsibilities will hardly be his cup of tea and you will have to teach him this. The fish is also extremely sensitive and harsh words are enough to being tears in his eyes. 

He will have a deep wisdom and will mostly prefer spending time with adults, rather than kids. People often accuse a March-born kid of lying, but this is not the case. He does not have a malicious bone in his body. It's just that he has his own vision of the world and the realities are too harsh for him to bear. So, he adds his own color and warmth to the situation to make it somewhat bearable. He needs your sympathetic attitude or he may draw into an unspoken, glum depression. What a Piscean baby sees and hears, no other person in the world can even imagine. 

Whenever he starts imagining, encourage him to capture it in the form of paintings, poems or other forms of art. Then, gently goad him to face the brutal realities of life. Slowly, he will learn to accept the world as it is. Don't stifle his fantasies; he needs to see them in order to build up the strength to face the facts of life. After he has refreshed his own soul, he will be able to do the same for others too. You can always learn from his empathy, patience, imagination and calmness. About that silver stars he follows, just wait and it is possible that one day, he brings it home and then, you can wish on it too!

fathers day

peek-a-boo

the little squirmer

Well, Luka has become a little squiggly worm recently.  After weeks of standing on his legs (with grown up hands to support him of course) he has discovered a new strength.  When he is restless and laying on his  back he can now push with his legs so that his back arches a bit, which shifts him into any which direction.  So, this morning I set him in his car seat so that I could make a banana smoothie and he totally gave me a "don't put me in here" whimper... before scooting himself right out!!  I looked at him like "I can't believe you just did that!".  He's so funny.

yoga... cont'd

So, the same instructor (nicole) who taught the pre-natal yoga also teaches Baby and Mama yoga. Luka and I went and gave it a try this morning, mainly just to get out of the house and be around other people. What did we think...?  Mmm not so much.  First off baby and yoga do not mix.  I thought perhaps they would incorporate the little ones into the work out.  Had I known that Luka was just to lay on a blanket the entire time I wouldn't have gone.  Some babies might be content with just staring lovingly at their mothers as they do their downward dogs- BUT NOT Lukey-boy.  And I don't blame him.  He squirmed, got restless, demanded attention, and finally let himself go to sleep as I spent an hour and half trying not to get distracted by all that was going on in this tiny room of 6 moms and 6 babies.  Like I said, yes it is an excuse to get out of the house... and maybe it's something nice I could do for myself- but the stress of getting there on time alone is not worth it.  Oh well.

guitarist in the making

hands!

For the past few days or so he has really been discovering his hands.  He had already been pulling his pacifier out of his mouth for awhile now.  I think that happens when he decides he'd rather stick some fingers in instead.  But lately he's touching textures and putting objects into his mouth (I hope he masters this in time for teething).  Last night as I ate my dinner, he played with my napkin.  And he's also playing with his toys.  You can tell he isn't able to fully control his fingers.  The index finger doesn't ever quite stretch far enough to fold bigger things- but I'm sure he'll figure it out soon enough.  Oh, and he also LAUGHS now!!  It's the best thing ever, and it makes u laugh, too.  Eric is getting is cam corder together this week, so I'm hoping we'll have videos to share soon, too!!

could he be any more perfect?

 I just want to say how WONDERFUL our little boy is!!  Those difficult newborn days are almost behind us now.  As sweet and tiny as he was, I am very happy that he is turning 12 weeks old.  Such a huge shift in is personality.  Of course, he still fusses- but he can now be (most of the time) easily consoled.  Both he, mama, and dada are finally getting the hang of it.  I am looking forward to this summer.  Taking him to the river, the Rose Festival, Florida, solid foods... What a great thing we have!  

mother's day

Luka & Mae

First Mother's Day...

brunch and mimosas @ our place

Today on our Street

break throughs

Finding joy on days where I'm being stretched to my limit is what makes this whole Mama thing work.  In other words, the exhaustion is well worth it.  Yesterday Luka had what I like to call 2 break throughs!!  A break through is anything that gives me positive affirmation that YES, things do get easier.  First off, he took his longest stroll yet and was happy with it the entire time.  And by stroll I mean in his stroller and not attached to his mommy.  Usually, when I set him down in it he protests- but this time... No problems!  Second break through, I TOOK A SHOWER YESTERDAY! woo-hoo.  I get to take about 2-3/ week and they usually require a lot of planning and timing.  But yesterday I just plopped him in his car seat and brought it into the bathroom with me- and he was completely fine for the entire 3 minutes of my speed wash.  These milestones count, too.

"get to know your babies personality..."

"HIGH-NEED BABIES: Babies who ask more of their parents can be just as much fun as easy babies, but they need more input from you to stay that way. Some will term these babies "fussy babies."  We find that they are more outgoing, energetic, and anxious than easy babies.  A high need baby likes to be held much of the day.  In fact, high need babies need to be held much of the day.  They just aren't content to be put down for more than a few minutes.  Tiringly, the high need label holds true for nighttime as well.  These babies need more attention from mom and dad when they fall asleep, and they wake up more often because they need a 'dose' of mom or dad (okay, usually mom) to stay asleep."

Most of that applies to, Luka, although I can set him down to play on his activity mat for about 15 minutes at a time.  After 15 minutes he then begins to whimper for attention.

"High need babies thrive on touch.  They've been inside mom for the past 9 months, and they aren't ready to give up that feeling of being enclosed and held.  They've grown used to the mom's movement and heart sounds.  Now that they are out in the world, they can experience this closeness just as intensely, but in different ways.  They hear you, smell you, see you, feel you, and even taste you (during nursing).  When mom isn't near, high-need babies feel unsettled and incomplete.  They sense that something is missing even if they are sound asleep.  They may sleep for hours on end when sleeping next to someone, but they wake up every half hour when sleeping solo."

I think that hits it right on the nail.

"High need babies usually have a great need to suck for comfort.  Whether it's with your breast or finger or a bottle or pacifier, comfort sucking is almost as important as food for these babies.  They won't easily fall asleep without it, and when they stir during the night, their "suck alarm" goes off and they start looking for whatever they can get their mouth on.  If you're not there, your baby will let you know loud and clear that he needs you."

"You probably know by know whether your baby is one of those 'always needs to be rocker or bounced' babies.  High need babies are not content to simply be put down to fall asleep in a crib or bed that doesn't move. There is something soothing about the gentle rocking of a parent's arms, a baby swing, or a cradle, and your baby knows it. It's almost as if your baby needs to be 'coached' into falling asleep- as long as you keep moving, baby won't notice that sleep is sneaking up on him."

As I sit and type.... by they way, I wouldn't want him any other way

just wanted to let you guys know...

IT'S HOT IN PORTLAND, finally

Science of Sleep

Now, that LUKA is 10 weeks I am trying to establish somewhat of a sleep routine.  The past 2-3 days his schedule has been a bit erratic because of what I believed to be was a growth spurt... nursing every 1 1/2- 2 hours all day and ALL NIGHT. Last night, thankfully, he fell asleep around 8:30 and did not wake up until 2am to eat... and then again at 7am.  Only one night time feeding!  That's amazing.  And I needed that sleep so bad.  They say by 3 mo.'s they should only need to take three 1.5-2 hour naps a day. Well, our Luka is a cat napper.  Unless I lay physically down next to him he will only sleep 30-45 minutes.  Which may be all he needs... but then he can't stay up for more than an hour at a time, otherwise he gets severely cranky (the only time he cries).  He needs assistance in falling asleep.  Essentially, I have to teach him how.  We'll get into his temperament on another blog... but let's just say he is not an "easy baby".

Playdate

Luka & Mae; buddies since birth

mornings

MMmmm Vita Cafe

Luka's first dinner out was a success... after sleeping through several breakfasts spots we felt it may be safe to go to the next step.  Din-din.  Aunt Fern came in town from Florida and took us all out in (pre) celebration of Drew's birthday.  The boy woke up as the food arrived to the table and sat on our laps for the entire duration of dinner without hardly a whimper.  In fact he gave a few giant smiles and a loud GOOOOooo.  What a little social thing he is already.  We can't wait to start airplane-ing the tempeh and mashed potatoes right into his mouth.

Undress me Mama!

Hi, my name is Luka

The little man is here.  Currently as I write this he is already 8 weeks old!  And has accomplished so many milestones since his birth.  He is Goooo-ing and Ahh-gooing quite a bit.  Likes to return a smile... blow spit bubbles...looks intently at things... likes sunny walks and being bounced.  He is also a screamer.  Possibly the loudest cry EVER!  Taking up after his dad?  He does not like sitting still, or being awake in the car.  He gives the carseat a good few minutes of quiet curiosity and then gets bored and irritated.  I managed to calm him down as I drove yesterday by singing 'MY BONNY IS OVER THE OCEAN..."which is a song my Deutsch Oma loves to sing (or used to)... in fact I can't really sing it without sounding like I have a German accent.  Luka is also starting to show more interest in finding his thumb rather than using his paci[fier].   I'm pretty sure he will become a thumbsucker.  He has a cute little chubby body, and enjoys time spent naked.  I think his diapers must be uncomfortable.  He poops and pees on me everyyyyday.  Today had to have been the worst, yet.  He spits up a lot too.  We have lots of laundry happening.  Too much laundry and not enough cooking.  I'm hoping this will eventually change.