Bunches o'Stuff

Jacob is really growing up quickly in so many ways. He's starting to combine words, is doing so well with a spoon, is getting better with a fork, can drink out of a regular glass, and wants to be helpful, mostly, when we ask him to do things. These transformations are just amazing!

One recent evening Jacob started saying "Hi Daddy" over and over and over. At the same time he was running around the room only to throw himself on the floor over and over again. I think I captured on video one of the last times he did it that night.


Then, finally, after doing all these things for what seemed like an hour (it may have only been a half hour) he said the 2 words that I had been waiting to hear all day...(listen for it at about 19 seconds)

My heart melted!

He's doing lots of cute things late, like climbing into and out of his toy bins.He loves getting horsey rides from either one of us, which usually end with him purposefully falling off somehow.He looks adorable in the sweater GrandMary knit for him for Christmas.He still loves to flirt with girls. Becky came over the other day and Jacob cozied right up to her for a book.Best of all he obviously loves his Mommy and Daddy.
I just wish he would willingly let me put him to bed once in a while. *sigh*

Merry Christmas! (and photo post)

Wow! What a day it's been! Thank you all for the many well wishes and love. I don't know about your house, but today was all about family at our house. While it was just The Luce Trio here we were still able to connect with family in Fargo, Denver, and Germantown.

It all started last week when Santa visited daycare. Jacob was too scared to get on Santa's lap but was willing to sit on Mommy's knee next to the famous one in red and white. Then last weekend we got hit with roughly 20 inches of snow so we were able to have a white Christmas!Here are a few photos of our day. The happiness started early, as usual, and after breakfast we brought Jacob into the family room where newly erected presents and many more presents under the tree awaited.
Jacob still has a few more presents to open which he gets to do tomorrow - yay for Boxing Day!

Snow Day!

It snowed all day yesterday so Jacob got to really experience snow! We walked in the snow to see Santa at a fundraiser up the street. Jacob was too scared of Santa to sit on his lap, but it was fun anyway.

After his nap, we all went out to play in the snow...
(Sorry I forgot and filmed it portrait-style).

Sunrise this morning was spectacular...

After breakfast Jacob and Daddy went back outside for a little more snow fun...I hope you enjoy your day!

The Zoo

Well, I didn't get to the Zoo on Friday with Jacob like I had hoped (way too cold) but the Luce Trio made it there today. It was such a gorgeous day and made it up to around 60 with lots of sun.

We all had a great time, especially Jacob. He got to see lots of animals including an elephant,a tiger,and whatever it is he's looking at here, and here.
Jacob got very worn out but must have loved it because he was very chatty on the drive home.

Then, about an hour late for his nap and 45 minutes into our hour drive home, he passed out asleep.

It was one of the best days ever!

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to anyone who is reading this. We have a lot to be thankful for in our family and I hope you do as well.

First, I must go back nearly a month (that long already?!) and show you a photo of our little "skeleton" from Halloween.

I also have to share a few photos from last weekend. Jacob was grabbing one book after another from the bookshelf (sci-fi paperbacks not child-friendly hardbacks), then pulling himself up onto the coffee table to "read" to himself. As soon as he was done with one book he would scramble back off the table, grab another book and then back up he'd go. I think what he was reading was something along the lines of "dubb-a-dubb-a-zubby-dub", but it was just too cute!
Funny thing was, he normally tries to eat books like a billy goat - heck he'll even grab his board books and run behind a chair, squat down and start munching. But not this time. He wanted to look like a grownup.

He's been adding nearly a word a day to his vocabulary. He says all kinds of things now like stars, moon, water, boots, shoes, socks, all sorts of animal sounds, but his favorites are still bus and truck. You would know that if you ever have the opportunity to drive a few blocks with him. He wants to point every single one of them out, and he'll keep pointing them out until you acknowledge that he did so. Then he'll point them out a few more times just to make sure you got it.

Needless to say, we're very thankful that we have a healthy and happy boy. We're also very thankful that each of our sisters have very healthy children and strong and loving families.

Finally, we're very thankful that we have such terrific friends who are willing to take us in for this family-oriented holiday. We'll be at Ron and Nancy's tomorrow and look forward to everything!

Enjoy your turkeys!

We Love October!

What a full weekend! We got to spend Saturday afternoon at Grandma and Grandpa Luce's and stayed through dinner and a bath.

We had great fun with them and will miss them a lot while they're away for several months. They're going to Denver to help when 3 new babies arrive there (note to Sandy and Jason: we can't wait for you to be parents!!!).

Jacob got into and out of their big toy bin over and over and over again. Sometimes while in there he even had fun playing peek-a-boo with Daddy.

This morning we went to Butler's Orchard for their annual pumpkin festival with Becky. There were hay rides,
a slide that went through a tractor (Jacob immediately ran back around to the stairs to do it again!),

a bus and a train,

piggies and goats (and other farm animals, too),

pumpkins,
and hay everywhere!
Then this afternoon was spent raking and playing some more in the backyard. We're all exhausted but very happy.

Been Too Long

Sorry it's been so long since I've updated this. There have just been so many things to do this summer - mostly involving pulling weeds somewhere. However, we did take a few photos so I will share a few now.

Most recent first - this morning Jacob was playing with his hard hat...

We all had great fun at the Blair-tastic Talk Like A Pirate Day Party last Saturday!
This summer we flew to Fargo to visit my family and allllll his cousins!

We also went to the park - a lot.

And visited Grandma and Grandpa Luce.