pumpkin patch

Luke and I visited the pumpkin patch yesterday to pick out a pumpkin for Halloween. We had so much fun that we actually came home with 8 pumpkins! Fortunately for the wallet, most of them were of the very small $1 variety.

the world according to luke

Luke has been learning how to use my [old-ish] digital camera. On Friday night, he didn't understand the concept that what he saw on the screen was what was being viewed through the lens. He simply thought it was a picture being displayed. On Saturday, after working with the camera for a while, he understood this pretty sophisticated concept! Thereafter, he's been snapping pictures of everything and everyone! Here are a few of pics of Luke's world, according to Luke:

overheard

[Setting: post snack-time, pre-dinnertime lull in activity]

Luke: Hey, Mama! It's the end of the day. It's time to watch videos!

Mama: Luke, were you a good boy today and did you clear your place? [e.g., clearing his plate from the table after a meal, our current measure of "goodness"]

Luke: Yes.

Mama: What about at breakfast? I think you said you were too busy.

Luke: [thinking]

Luke: Yes. BUT, I cleared my place at lunchtime and snacktime. That's TWO times that I cleared my place.

That's my boy! Solid logic and a passionate and persuasive way of making his case. Soon thereafter, Luke noted that I had changed the sheets on the big bed, and that it must be Dada's favorite sheet because it was blue and Dada's favorite color is blue. I am seriously astounded by this early math-like logic.

3 years old

We had Luke's 3-year old check up yesterday, and the relevant stats are:
29 pounds (20th percentile for weight)
3'2" tall (62nd percentile for height)

Luke spent a good portion of the visit explaining to Dr. Marta that the light switches in her office are just like the light switches at home, and he further explained how they worked ("if you push them up, the light goes on, and if you pull them down, the light goes off!" replete with hand and facial gestures to match). Her reply to me was, "Well, that tells me everything I need to know about his development! Now, Luke, can you show me how you jump?" Which he did, with a chorus of "Blast off!!!"

After three lovely years together, I can confirm what we knew on Luke's birth day: he's an utterly adorable and adored tall-ish skinny guy.

overheard

Luke: Hey, Mama! I have an idea!

Mama: What's that?

Luke: Can you read me this book?

I strike a deal with Luke: if he lets Dada change the poopy diaper, Mama will read him a book, snuggling up in the big bed.

Luke: [puts book on Mama's nightstand] Hey Dada, don't take it! It's on Mama's side, not on your side.

Luke: [calling from the other room, in the midst of the diaper change] Wait, Mama, wait! Don't go to sleep! Wait for me!

shenanigans

This is the kind of nonstop nonsense Luke and his buddy Sophia get into during their time together. The voice you can hear in the background is Jackie, Luke's nanny, whom he shares with Sophia on Tuesdays. Believe it or not, Dada taped over 8 minutes of these two running around--and they kept it up for even longer! Those two are like exuberant puppies!

luke's email

Luke now has an email address: luke [dot] vally [at] gmail.com.* Please feel free to send him an email! We plan to check it every few days, and to serve as transcribers for Luke's replies. (Why an email? We had to create an email for him in order to set up his own YouTube account and figured, "why not?!")

*Sorry for the funky writing, but I don't want our 3-year old getting spam!

sick boo-boo

Luke has been sick this week with a fever, sore throat, aches, and general malaise. After a couple of days of Dada's careful attention and then a couple of days of Mama's attention, he's on the mend. Jean-Max took him to the doctor earlier this week, where the doctor pronounced Luke [yes] sick, but generally healthy and successfully fighting the virus. They also gave Luke this really cool mask.

no clean teeth

Mama: Open up, it's time to brush your teeth. And, remember, if
there's no foolishness, you get a bonus book.
Luke: What happens if there's foolishness?
Mama: Straight in the crib, no snuggles, no bonus book. Just night-
night.
Luke: [mouth closed tight]
Mama: Open up.
Luke: [mouth closed tight]
Mama: I'm going to count to 3, and if you don't open up, then straight
to the crib, no second chances.
Luke: [mouth closed tight, but clearly a twinkle in his eye]
Mama: One, two, three.
Luke: [mouth closed tight]
Mama: Night-night [puts Luke in the crib, expecting -- but not getting
-- a protest] Sweet dreams, sleep tight, see you in the morning.
[closes bedroom door]
Luke: [falls asleep]

But where are MY night-night snuggles?? Rascal.

birthday celebration: my boy was bustin' a move!

A few pics from Sunday's birthday party. The singer is the fabulous Charity of Charity and the Jam Band! More photos are on our Flicker site.