Word Association

The life of a full-time, working mother. We blog at midnight because there's no better time to do it.
Anyway, I had to post this before Luke learns something new. Earlier this month we have been babysitting a friend's dog named ChaCha. Luke calls her "caca", as well as any other dog, or animal for that matter. And sometimes he just randomly says "caca". It's kind of funny since Aldo's family speaks Spanish, but I don't want him going to school and get in trouble for calling homework "caca". Well, we bought my mother-in-law a puppy for her birthday. Luke was calling him said name, which wouldn't work because he's a boy... so I've since then been trying to teach him the word "puppy".
Last week, Aldo and I were just talking like usual on the couch, about our day at work, etc. and one of us said the word "puppy". Without a second to pause Luke said, "caca". I know that's not what I was trying to teach him... but I was so excited because it's like word association! Or idea association! I don't know... But it lets me know that what I'm teaching, he's understanding. And keeping in his mind until later it comes up again, and he recognizes it! Ah, sweet success.
That's my story for the night. I will probably have more as this weekend is my birthday and also a holiday, so three day weekend. And also next week we are preparing for Aldo and Luke's first ever airplane ride to Texas!
Until then, good night.

P.S. He has eight teeth and counting. There are four coming in on bottom right now... and the last two were full of endless drool baths. Two of them are molars!

Time At The Pool

After my first week of working full time, I had the entire weekend off. It was full of course.
We went to Schlitterbahn with our youth group (a water park much like Oceans of Fun), and took Luke too.
It was such a blast! He was actually able to ride every ride. We pretty much stuck to the wave pool though. And in between we would travel over to the baby pool, where he would go down the pirate slide. It was long and fast, and at the end Luke would smile and growl, and clench his fists. It didn't matter if he got splashed in the face or not. I think it's a sign that he liked it.
The craziest moment was when we were letting him walk around in the kiddie pool. We left his life jacket on because he kept trying to run into the deeper end and he would lose his balance and fall forward. Anyway, after squatting down several times to splash in the water, he decided to lay back and raise up his feet. Our 14 month old was floating on his back in the water. All on his own. It was unbelievable to me. He must be a natural water baby because I have never heard of any kid doing that.

Dancing Like A Jumping Bean

I know you are patiently waiting for me to post pictures of Luke's first birthday party. I've been trying to get the pictures processed, and just finished putting together his First Birthday Photo Album. SO CUTE. So I'll put the pictures on here as soon as I can.

My blogging has really gotten away from me. So here's the latest.

I recently took on full time at work. I am a working mama! At first I wasn't too sure about it; the schedule clashed with my play time with Luke. But we have it all worked out. On Monday through Wednesday he'll be with me until noon and then go across the street to my Aunt's house. A few hours later Aldo will pick him up and have the afternoon with him. On Thursday and Friday I'll go into work early and Luke will be with his Abuelita. I'll get home at 5:30ish and see BOTH Aldo and Luke! I'm so excited! Today is my first day going home early!
Of course, getting up wasn't easy at all. My husband has turned me into a night owl, and the one day I wanted to go to sleep early my mom asked me to help her with a project that kept us up past midnight.


Aldo started back at work this week also. He had one week off between his internship at the medical center and work to spend solely hanging out with Luke. They are so crazy when you get them together. It's cute how each of us have our own "things" with Luke. I have the "tickly fingers" and hide-and-seek, Aldo has the "wrestling" and signature "stomp", my sister plays follow the leader with him... and I guess my Mom lets him eat things he shouldn't... but it's so sweet how we bond. More than bond. These are off of my new phone.

 Cutest Cheese Ever!

Reading On His Own

Giving Daddy Kisses

Luke has learned so much and gotten so big. He's different day to day. When he was a baby it felt like months before he did something new, whereas now I just can't keep up with him. He points to things that he wants. The other day I didn't know what his grunting was, until he went over, picked up his bottle, placed it in my hand and grunted again. He reads on his own, climbs into things, drives, talks on the phone, watches some of the movies, SAYS PLEASE in sign language (a really big feat for us, we've been working on it since he joined the nursery at church), and so much more. Someone has taught him how to jump. I'm sure it was from watching all of our youth dramas. But now every time music comes on he really gets to bouncing.

The other day I took my sister to enroll at school and after meeting with the principal, the principal said, "bye". Without any hesitation, Luke said, "bye". Is this his first real word? (besides the regular sounds of mmm, mama, baba, dada, etc.)

Oh my little jumping bean.

More to come!