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!