You better watch out..

You better not cry...

You better not pout...

I'm telling you why.. Santa Claus is coming to town! It turns out that Luke was a good boy this year! Teddi was good up until she sat on Santa's lap..

Love this kid! Christmas cards are on their way out, Luke loves his Christmas tree. Is walking about 10 steps at a time and is a constant charmer.. Whatever you want for Christmas, Luke, whatever you want (as long as it isnt from China - loaded with lead paint - like elmo, and practically everything you would want)...

We are counting on wrapping paper to be the big present from Santa. Big Boxes - lots of wrapping paper and little gifts inside that he will not likely appreciate anyway.

We have a big Christmas day planned with Gram (Haylen's mom, Bobbi) and just us.

1st Birthday!

Well, the crowned prince made it to his 1st birthday! He had his little friends over for one heck of a party!

Here he is blowing out his candle (sort of)

He has a tight knit group of little friends.. well, more of a travelling circus

Sometimes he needs his quieter friends

And a bit of family time (us in southern CA here)

How does he have such a thoughtful look already? And more importantly who's foot is that by his ear? his????

Mellow time in the fall with Huckseed himself.

He approves, if not even a bit self satisfied with his freeze dried apples..

Darwin started this way I believe...

But look out for the butterfly nets, Luke! Irony..

Fly away little guy! The flight of the bumblebee indeed..

What are you doing Daddy?

Oh... Running a 1/2 marathon. Nice one!

Life is beautiful!

Vacation!

Luke was so excited about vacation! Haylen took Luke on the plane July 24th - first class all the way to see her family in NY (more on that next entry). He did wonderfully on the flight although it was nearly diverted 2 1/2 hrs away at midnight...

Luke with 'Oppie' and Uncle Tommy. We kept dry at Tommy's house, we are grateful. SO much rain. And you guys have a real 'wet' heat in the east. It is no cooler than Phoenix, I can tell you..

Here Luke is very interested in his grandfather, Donald. I think Luke blinked first in this contest.

I joined the gang later and we drove to NJS - New Jersey Shore for a Brokars beach experience.

What is this granular, soft, wet substance? Silicon? I'll stick with carbon based creations thank you..

But, with a little encouragement from mom...

and a little help from family - here Aunt Carol - my father's sister who is so attentive. A few 'so big's' and...

This beach thing is alright!

This is what I mean by being 'surrounded by family'! My mother, father, nieces Katie and Alison

Luke developed quite a fan club:

Aunt Lori, on her neverending quest for favorite aunt. Luke is still deliberating here.. In all fairness, he could be looking askance at another, less engaging aunt off camera? (Gerry is camera left here, discussing flight of the conchords).

Or looking at these guys? (my cousin Michael and bro in law Chris)

Ally picks up the love fest from Yosemite and dotes on young Luke...

Meghan and Alana were so cute with him,

My sister Christine was having fun him every day he was there and we got to see Alex, Ally and Katie (not shown here) - Alex was even brave enough to bring his girlfriend.

Jet lag from Australia for my sister Alicia and her kids, Liam and Alana and husband Gerry. Just back from a amazing trip 8 week trip to Australia. Beach is the best cure..

Yes, we did actually spend time with him.

I need a vacation from all this activity! Phew...

Is vacation over?

I want to go back... Luke and parents just returned from a vacation back east - NY and a Brokars trip to NJS- New Jersey Shore. We need to download pics and videos.

However, Luke seems to want to travel back. He misses the crowds and celebration of his every move.

Sleep was the only missing element for him this trip, and his parents..

More to come..

Baby you can drive my car... Yes, I'm gonna be a star

Too soon to start him at the wheel? He looks pretty excited about the idea, for sure. Blanket in tow, just in case he needs that extra bit of security. We camped this weekend in Northern Arizona - high of 80 and low of 50.. It was a dry warm.

Luke did fairly well at camping, up the first night several times, but then straight through the night the next night. An adaptive little guy, but wouldnt go to bed until the sun went down (8 30 pm) and then up with the sun (6 30 am). Not enough sleep for little boys..

We camped with our friends Barry and Heather Holcomb and they made the trip much more pleasant and manageable. We had a great time with them, relaxing and next to campfires under starlit nights. The fields were covered in the distinctive pale green of the west.

We took an exciting ski lift ride with Luke to the highest peak in Arizona - Humphrey's peak (12, 600 feet - approx). Luke celebrated the ride up with a nap - wrapped in a new blanket and the way down by drinking his 3 pm bottle. He 9 months old.. we are just glad we are getting out and around with him!

He did his share of the driving on the way home.. Glad to be back, however. We love our microwave, and his dark bedroom, and our bedroom, and our shower, and our refrigerator and dishwasher, and our washer/dryer, and our bed...

Haylen may or may not have slept until 11 30 this morning as a sign that perhaps it is loads of work to camp with a baby...

Wassup!

Little guy has loads of energy and is becoming a running man! Video below shows him getting around well. He is a goal oriented little boy now!








Happy, Happy. We should all take a lesson from Luke and Abe Lincoln "you are about as happy as you make up your mind to be.."

Riddle of the sphinx

What walks on four legs, then two (plus four wheels) and then three? Baby Luke of course! 18 1/2 lbs and in the 89th percentile for height, but only 25th percentile for weight.. Tall and skinny, I can relate - genetics is a tough thing, Luke. Healthy and relatively happy.

Thanks to Mary Ann, who puts the 'great' in great aunt, Luke has the perfect walking assistance device! He is taking his first steps, as you can barely see in this video from my phone..