playground

It might seem a little daring, but I can climb all the way to the top

and go down the big slide all by myself

Month 13

I am already 13 months old! This morning we are playing with paint as you can clearly see. I am walking, carrying things with me while I walk, and making sure to fully experience everything I can get my hands on. I've started pointing at things that interest me, and making up my own little words for the important things in the world. If you pay careful attention you can tell I'm communicating with you - "th" with a head nod, for thank you, EmAH! with a thigh pat for any creature doglike, open hands and ma ma ma for Mommy. Interesting accomplishments of the last month: can climb to the top of the playground and go down the spiral slide all by myself at Bee Ridge Park, can now get close enough to chickens to pet them, can climb up the dining room chairs and onto the dining room table, and I popped out two top molars in two days.

Even though I'm getting bigger and doing all of these crazy independent adventurous things I'm still very snuggly, wanting Mom and Dad throughout the night. I still hangout in the Mei Tai too, when we're out and about, or just when I'm needing a cuddle.

and I can feed myself with a spoon and enjoy eating most everything. Taco Soup, Chicken Fresca, salads, green smoothies, yogurt and fresh fruit are my favorites.

It should probably be noted that at my one year checkup not everyone had such a rosy view of my development - my pediatrician is concerned that I'm a little behind on my communication skills (at that point I wasn't pointing yet and my only word was "EmAH") but Mom told his it was just because I was working so hard on learning to walk. We also checked this out with Early Steps (to confirm Mommy instincts) and they think I'm doing fine too. He was also concerned that my iron levels were a little low and prescribed a supplement, but Mom tried it and decided it was too yucky tasting to possibly be good for anything. And after researching more about what an iron supplement would do to my gut flora and immune system, that's probably a good thing. So instead we're going to work on correcting it with diet, and we'll see how our test results go with that.

chicken chicken laying eggs in our kitchen!

This is our silly chicken, the only one who is presently laying eggs, who insists on laying them in the house. She'll say "brock, brock!" until Mom lets her out, then she runs to the sliding glass door, and then as soon as it's open she walks right to her box and hops in! She doesn't seem to mind at all that I push her around, or that Emma and Jacob stick their noses in her business. When she's hops back our and proclaims "brawk brawk BRAWK!", then we tell her Thank You and let her back outside.

First Trip to the Zoo!

Today was my first trip to the zoo! I had the most wonderful view, and comfortable ride...

I'm going to touch a ray!

and everything was so interesting I kept my eyes open, even when I got sleepy

very sleepy

Celebrate!

It's my party! We celebrated out at Siesta Beach, since that is one of my very favorite places! I started laughing as soon as I saw the sand, picnic tables and playground. GrandMinna was there

Mike, Moriah & Evangeline Grandpa, Benjamin and Kelsea
Aunt Angi, Jonathan and Gaga...Uncle Joe is over by the playground with Benjamin Stephanie and Conlan (Justin is there too!)
And of course Mommy and Daddy! Here is my special first birthday treat, yogurt with my favorite fruits (strawberry, banana, apple and red grapes), granola and a candle!

And there were presents too!

Thank You to Everyone who helped to make this day so special!

I'm walking!

Daddy took this video of me playing and beginning to walk at the beach before my birthday celebration!

Luke's Tree

In honor of me taking me taking my first trip around the sun we are planting the placenta that nourished me while I grew in Mommy's belly, so that it can have new purpose in helping to grow my tree. Mom and Dad chose an Lulu Avocado tree, since it is one of my favorite fruits and in season in my birth month. My favorite part was the dirt. Amazing soft black dirt!
Daddy placing the placenta where the tree will go.

There it is!Can you see how it looks like a tree itself, with the umbilical cord being the trunk, and the veins reaching upwards and outwards like limbs?And here is my tree! I climbed into the hole to helpby squishing around in the mud. Surely there will be no air pockets around the roots now!
A final drink and then we are done with our planting!

it takes a village

Mom has been wishing, hoping and dreaming about a garden for a long time now, and this last month we started putting it in a little bit at a time. Here is what it looked like on September 23rd:

Every morning we get out bright and early to move compost, build beds and plant seeds.
And ride in the wagon, of course.

Usually we're outside when the kids are waiting on the school bus, and since I'm their favorite they all take turns pushing me around the yard, carrying me, and singing to me. Do you see that stump in the background? That's part of the old tree. Mom and Dad put it out there so that the kid have someplace to sit and put their backpacks up. around the front! Kelsea runs and dances with us

then around the side! When they're off to school Mom puts me in the mei tai so I can watch her work and take my nap when I'm ready. And day by day, we've gotten it done, so that today a garden sits beside the house, growing all sorts of yummy things for us to eat.

Today we also brought home my placenta tree (finally!) to be planted Thursday. It's a Lula avocado, since that is one of my favorite foods and this variety fruits on my birth month. So next year I'll be eating avocados from my very own tree!