Blaze and Buckles Family

Thanksgiving Fun with Cousins

2012-02-05T22:07:00.005-05:00

We spent Thanksgiving this year with Matthew's family in Northern Kentucky. The cousins had a lot of time to play together, which they rarely do, and they took full advantage. Myla snuggled up with baby Julia any time she got a chance.

Myla and Megan are two of a kind, and could play together happily for hours.

Luke pretty much did his own thing, but had a lot of fun too!

We wanted to get a shot of all the cousins together, and there are so many good ones here. Cute ones, funny ones--in all of them, I think Myla looks so grown up. I put two favorites here, but if you want to see them all you can click on the slideshow below. It's worth it!

Hello? Hello?

2012-01-21T23:11:00.003-05:00

Is this thing on? Wow, it's been over a month since our last post, which is a Blazebaby record. You know how it is . . . holidays, travel, work trips, ear infections, sinus infections, yada yada yada.

Since this blog is the official record of Myla & Luke's childhood, I'm going to try to catch up. I'll start with Luke's 15 month photos, which may provide some insight into why the blog has fallen into neglect. At 15 months Luke was in the midst of his first ear infection of the season, so he wasn't in the mood for the shoot:

He managed to pull it together for one reasonably good shot--look how big!

Luke: 14 Months

2011-12-16T10:10:00.000-05:00

Here are our best shots of Luke at 14 months, back in October. These have been really hard to get lately . . .

Most of the time I just get a not-great photo of him as he's running by me or away from me:

Halloween Wrap-Up

2011-12-15T10:09:00.000-05:00

These are the last few shots of Halloween. Here's Luke playing with his buddy Violet:

Myla at the end of the night with our jack-o'-lanterns:

And counting and organizing her haul with Daddy!

I want candy!

2011-12-14T10:07:00.001-05:00

Here's how Luke's trick-or-treating went. First, he fought it:

But soon warmed up to it:

And then at some point he figured out that grabbing candy was fun, like he was getting away with something. He would take candy from the bowl and run off at a dead sprint (or a 14-month-old version of it, anyway). He nearly made it to the street a couple of times:

Then, he started taking other kids' buckets and running away with them. I promise Henry was laying down already when Luke went for his candy. He's an opportunist, but not a bully.

Trick or Treat!

2011-12-13T09:57:00.001-05:00

Per our annual tradition, we went trick-or-treating from Nick and Anna's house. As you have already seen, Luke went as Calvin, from Calvin and Hobbes. Myla was Fancy Nancy--a favorite children's book character who loves getting dressed up and using big, fancy words. Matthew got major dad points by going as Fancy Nancy's dapper daddy.

The costumes:

Hitting the streets:

Pumpkin Patch 2011 Part 2

2011-12-11T21:27:00.008-05:00

Maybe you're getting to that part in the holiday season where you've eaten too many Christmas cookies and heard "This Christmas" on the radio one too many times? Then the next several posts are for you--it's Halloween again! First, some shots from our trip to Thistleberry Farms with Baw Baw, Grandma, and Uncle Andrew.

Even with five adults and only two kids, we had a hard time keeping up with Luke. Here, Matthew keeps him from running off again by using his wardrobe against him.

As you can see, we had a great time with corn cannons, hayrides, cow trains, corn pits, go carts--you name it. But the highlight was the giant bouncy pillow, where Andrew, Myla, Kathy, and I had a ton of fun. Andrew put on a bouncy pillow clinic--and look at Grandma Kathy getting some air!

Photo Shoot: Myla

2011-12-07T10:57:00.009-05:00

I seem to have worked out the technical difficulties that were keeping me from posting more pictures from our photo shoot with David Johnson (see Luke's pics below for a link to Dave's studio). Here are Myla's best shots--what a beautiful girl!

Luke: 15 Month Checkup

2011-11-28T14:59:00.003-05:00

Luke had his 15-month checkup today. He was 33.5 inches tall and weighed 28 pounds. The percentile score is actually higher for height (96th) than for weight (88th) but that 28 pound number really shocks me. Myla was 22 lbs. at 15 months, and I'm not sure she's cracked 30 yet. I'm thinking we need to enroll her in some kara-te if she's to have any hope of holding her own against him in the coming months.

The visit went well, though Luke would say that nurse was a little too trigger-happy with those shots.

Phone Cam

2011-11-17T10:12:00.005-05:00

There are lots of pictures from Halloween & other fall activities waiting patiently on our camera for downloading. Until I get around to that, here are a couple of recent ones from my phone camera.

First, I treated Myla to Starbucks (kids' hot chocolate) last night while she shopped with me in Target. She absolutely loved it, so I've probably gotten her hooked on the stuff at age 3. Oh well--like mother, like daughter.

And here's a picture I had to take while dropping the kids off at school last week. Apparently Myla's teacher asked each kid what they are thankful for. It put the biggest smile on my face to see what Myla's response was:

In case you can't see it, she says she's thankful for food (which is a bit of a mystery, given that she never eats), and "Luke, he is my favorite guy." Awwww!

I got in trou-ble!

2011-11-04T09:37:00.002-04:00

Nana and Pop are visiting us, and Myla is taking advantage of the willing and captive audience. Last night, she was playing school, ordering Nana and Pop around as their teacher. They were having "circle time," where Myla read from a book and then showed them the pages. I was on the couch, half-listening and half-watching Jeopardy.

All the sudden, I hear in a barking voice: "Mommy! Are you listening?"

I say, "yes, I'm listening."

Myla replies: "Okay, where are they?"

Yikes, pop quiz! I am completely flummoxed. I have no idea where Pinkalicious and her pal are in the story. She caught me!

She then accuses me of leaving my listening ears at home that day. I hope she doesn't send a note home to my parents!

Happy Halloween! Last chance for UNICEF!

2011-10-31T10:11:00.004-04:00

I'm having technical difficulties posting the rest of the pictures from the family photo shoot, so please be patient! But I didn't want our issues to mean you miss your last opportunity to donate to our Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF campaign. Donations will be accepted here for the rest of the day. We are 94% of the way to our goal of $350!

We'll be back soon with the rest of the family photos, and with lots of pictures of the kids' Halloween costumes. Until then, here's a preview of Luke in his Calvin & Hobbes time machine, with his Hobbes doll.

For you non-Calvin aficionados out there, here's a reference:

Finally, a Family Photo Session

2011-10-28T14:03:00.005-04:00

A few weeks ago we did something that was long overdue: we had a photographer come and take some family pictures. And not just any photographer--our volleyball teammate and friend Dave Johnson. I wanted someone to capture our kids in action, rather than take lots of posed photos. Dave was perfect for the job and got way more than I thought he was going to! In fact, the star of the shoot turned out to be Luke, which was a total shock given how uncooperative he was. But it turns out that he just wanted to play, and when we let him do that Dave got some amazing pictures.

I'll post a few of my favorites over the next few days, starting with those great shots of Luke. If you're in the Bend area and are looking for someone to take some family photos (and at a very reasonable rate), check out Johnson Creative Photography here and tell him we sent you!

And don't forget that if you want to contribute to our Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF campaign, you should do so here be Monday. Thanks!

Pumpkin Patch Time Again

2011-10-27T09:29:00.000-04:00

Nana and Pop also took Myla and Luke to our favorite pumpkin patch, Thistleberry Farms. This place just gets better every year, and both kids had a great time.

Thanks to a generous gift, we are now about 80% of the way to our goal of $350! Click here to help us get there by Halloween!

Play Doh

2011-10-26T09:26:00.000-04:00

A couple of weeks ago Nana and Pop came to visit, and we took advantage of some great fall weather to be outside. Myla took advantage of Nana's ever-willingness to play Play Doh, and this time Luke and Pop joined in.

Thanks to some generous donations yesterday, we're halfway to our UNICEF goal of $350! Click here to make a donation!

Jonathan and Maria's Wedding

2011-10-25T09:23:00.000-04:00

And here are pics from the wedding itself. Luke looked dapper in his sweater (the tie might have been even cuter but wasn't very practical). Here are the handsome Blazejewski men!

The kids with their grandparents:

Myla having fun before the ceremony:

I wish I had more pictures with the rest of the family, but I had my hands full with Luke so didn't get to take many! But it was beautiful.

We're getting closer to our goal--28% of the way there! Click here to donate to our trick-or-treat for UNICEF campaign by Monday!

Jonathan & Maria's Rehearsal

2011-10-24T11:20:00.001-04:00

On Oct. 1, Uncle Jonathan and now-Aunt Maria got married, and Matthew and Myla were honored to be in the wedding. Here are some pictures of the flower girls at the rehearsal. These girls love cousin time!

We're entering the last week of our efforts to raise funds for UNICEF. Click here to make a donation--we are trying to raise $350 by Oct. 31!

Andrew's Buddy

2011-10-23T19:29:00.003-04:00

This weekend, Baw Baw and Grandma came to visit, along with Uncle Andrew. We could tell Myla was thrilled Andrew was here when they had this exchange soon after he arrived:

(Andrew is resting on the floor)
Myla: Do you want me to rub your belly or pat it?
Andrew: Neither, thanks, I'm fine.
Myla: Okay. Let me know if I can get you anything.

Then we went to a pumpkin patch, where Myla wanted Andrew to ride the cow train and hayride with her instead of anyone else. On the way home, Myla asked where Andrew, Grandma, and Baw Baw were. Matthew told her they were in the car behind, but would be meeting us at the house. Matthew asked, "Is that okay?" Myla responded, "definitely!"

Click here to support our continued efforts to raise funds for UNICEF!

Luke: 13 months

2011-10-22T09:11:00.000-04:00

Yesterday's walking pictures were from our 13 month photo shoot, but here are the only ones we got with the sign. We had to use trickeration, but I think the result is pretty cute.

Postapalooza, day 5--click here to make a donation!

Walking Man

2011-10-21T11:08:00.000-04:00

Luke took his first steps a couple of weeks after his first birthday and was moving really well by 13 months. Here are some pictures of those early tentative steps. Love that move in the first one--everybody say heyyyy!

Postapalooza continues, as do our fundraising efforts for trick-or-treat for UNICEF. Click here to make a donation!

Luke's 1st Day of School

2011-10-20T21:01:00.001-04:00

About a month ago Luke had his first day of school! He's doing great there--playing and making new friends, and taking better naps on the cot than he does in his crib at home! Here are some pics of his first day.

Before leaving the house and in the car--he seems apprehensive.

Going in:

Making himself at home in the large motor room:

I barely got this post in before the end of the day, but the Postapalooza continues! We're 14% of the way to our goal of $350--click here to make a donation!

Train Table

2011-10-19T08:43:00.001-04:00

Myla and Luke are really starting to play together now. Luke is now interested in the train/Lego table, and that has renewed Myla's interest in it as well. Here she is, showing him the ropes.

Today's UNICEF update: 7% of the way to our goal of $350! Click here to make a donation!

Post-apalooza for UNICEF

2011-10-18T08:39:00.000-04:00

This is the fourth year that Myla (now joined by Luke) will be trick-or-treating for UNICEF! Last year we kicked our efforts up a notch, and our generous friends and family donated just over $350 to this wonderful cause. We'd like to do as well this year, and Matthew and I will again be matching all donations, up to $500!

UNICEF's efforts to help vulnerable kids around the world are even more critical this year, in the midst of a devastating famine in Africa. Just $1 can buy protein biscuits to help a starving child.

Please click here to donate by Oct. 31! As a thank you, we will be posting new pictures every day from now until Halloween! First, Myla poses in her flower girl dress for Jonathan and Maria's wedding. She felt so fancy.

Overdue Slide Show

2011-10-05T09:44:00.004-04:00

Sorry the blog fell into darkness for a couple of weeks. While we haven't necessarily been more busy lately, it seems we've been more exhausted, leaving little energy for posting at the end of the day. We have had lots of fun things like weddings, first days of school, etc. lately, so I'll try to get posts up soon.

But first, here's the slide show of Luke's birthday I promised a while back. There are lots of fun pictures--especially the ones of Luke eating his cake. Click on it to expand.

Luke's 1st Birthday: 1 year photo shoot

2011-09-16T10:21:00.003-04:00

Here are a few photos from Luke's one-year photo shoot, and a few cute ones of his birthday party thrown in. Next week I'll post a slideshow with the remaining pictures from the birthday festivities.

I'll also take this opportunity to post Luke's one-year stats. He is 32.5 inches tall (98th percentile) and about 25 pounds (84th percentile). He gained height but very little weight from his 9 month appointment.

The other big milestone related news is that he has taken his first steps! Last Thursday (9/8) he took seven steps as he walked from Matthew to me. Since then he's done a few here and a few there and moves from one supporting object to another pretty easily. I still wouldn't say he's "walking," but is getting there. We haven't managed to catch it on video yet, but when we do the walking milestone will get a proper post.

Luke's 1st Birthday: Party Time

2011-09-12T09:25:00.000-04:00

We had Luke's party on Saturday afternoon. Uncle Tim and Jack joined the grandparents as guests at the party. We had a picnic/cookout theme, and I made burger cupcakes (yellow cake and brownies, mmm!) and a watermelon cake for Luke.

Luke had fun opening presents, and Myla "helped."

Thanks so much to all of our guests for making the trip!
Check out Luke's rad new backpack in this photo!

Luke's 1st Birthday: Silverhawks Game

2011-09-08T21:14:00.005-04:00

I'm finally getting around to posting about Luke's first birthday. All of Luke's grandparents came to town for the weekend, and we had a great time at the Silverhawks game on Friday night.

Wine Club Cooks!

2011-09-01T13:41:00.002-04:00

I'm very happy to announce the debut of "Wine Club Cooks," our book club's new food blog! On it, we will share recipes and food reviews--mostly with each other, but with all you blog stalkers out there (you know who you are).

Thanks to Mandy for coming up with this genius idea, and for allowing me to fulfill my not-so-secret dream of becoming a food blogger. See today's other post for an example. Or here. Or here, here, or here.

Permanent link on the right!

Fruits of our Labor

2011-09-01T13:21:00.001-04:00

A few weeks ago, we got our first tomatoes from our garden. I don't know if it's the fact that we all worked to grow them together or what, but these were honestly the best tomatoes I've ever had. We had them with awesome farmer's market corn, and then in a fancy BLT. I might have cried.

Who knew?

2011-08-25T16:19:00.001-04:00

Yesterday was the 10-year anniversary of my first date with Matthew. For our date (in Lexington), we went to dinner with our friends Melanie and Jay, to a piano bar, and then dancing at the Blue Moon Saloon--where Matthew dropped me on the dance floor when he tried to do a little faux-dip with me that I thought was going to be a full-on dip. Good thing neither of us is too easily embarassed. We then talked for hours on Melanie's front porch.

I told this story at our wedding, but I'll tell it again here. The next day Matthew sent me an e-mail (technology was key in our relationship) saying that our date had been one of the few things that he'd really looked forward to for a long time, but that still managed to exceed his expectations. I felt the same way, and continue to feel that way now--10 years, a wedding, two kids, two big moves, two homes, and multiple jobs later, it still exceeds my expectations every day.

To give you an idea of how far we've come, here are some recent shots of Matthew with the kids at the zoo--it's no Blue Moon Saloon, but still tons of fun!:

Happy First Birthday, Luke!

2011-08-22T13:33:00.005-04:00

Today our little Lukester turns one! What a crazy, exhausting, fun, funny, and interesting year it's been.

At one, Luke is cruising and crawling very well, though not walking. He dances by bending his knees to the rhythm of the song, which is adorable. He talks and signs quite a bit--he has said mama, dada, ball, Pop, mum-mum, hi, and bye (though that list is not without controversy) and signs more, all done, and milk. He babbles and laughs all the time. Myla is dying to understand him--"What's he saying?!?" Luke loves to swing and play ball, to take baths and play chase with Myla. He loves walks, especially in the wagon.

Luke has lots of funny quirks and habits. He gnaws on his crib, or really anything he can get in his mouth. He loves to eat but won't touch or eat anything wet to the touch, which rules out most table food. He will dive out of your arms in an instant so you have to be vigilant when holding him. If he hears the gate to the stairs open he runs (crawls) to see who it is, and if you should happen to leave the gate open for a second he'll be halfway up them before you know it.

Physically, Luke's defining characteristics are his size and his hair. He's wearing 18-month clothes and even has some 2T t-shirts that fit him just fine. I honestly think I've improved my upper body strength in the last year from having to lift him. He isn't unusually chubby, just tall and big. And he gets a few extra inches from his hair! Luke's hair is a perfect predictor of the weather--on a humid day, it lays flat, but other days he looks like he stuck his finger in a light socket. We get comments on it all the time.

Luke has a very pleasant disposition and the sweetest face. He still doesn't sleep through the night reliably, and I often find myself woken from a dead sleep and crawling out of bed, mumbling curses under my breath. But as I pick him up, give him a bottle, and rock him, he's just so snuggly and sweet that in spite of myself I'm happy to be awake and to have those few minutes with him. And then, when he nuzzles his head into my shoulder and drifts back to sleep . . . well, I just don't think there's anything better than that.

Luke, we have all loved having you in our family this last year and can't wait to learn more about who you're going to be. I love you always, baby boy.

Fourth of July

2011-08-19T10:07:00.001-04:00

For the Fourth of July (yes, I know it's the 19th of August), we spent the day at the Smokers' house. Great friends, a swimming pool, a Slip-n-Slide, and a cookout--it was a perfect day.

Pool time for both kids:

Myla joins the big kids at the kids' table (Ella and Henry Smoker, and Lucy and Claire McNally), while Luke and Betty Smoker enjoy the company of adults:

Thanks, Smokers, for a great day!

Pool Time

2011-08-18T09:12:00.001-04:00

Playtime

2011-08-17T10:10:00.001-04:00

Luke is in the stage where he just plays all the time. Often by himself, but increasingly with Myla. His favorites are pushing things around on the floor (walker, chairs, giant ottoman), his fire truck, and the play kitchen, which he is always pulling down on top of himself. And more than anything, he loves to roll/throw a ball back and forth.

When he and Myla play together, they mostly just chase each other and roll around on the floor. She will grab his waist and sort of tackle him, until he gets tired of it and starts screaming. It actually drives me a little nuts, but I'm trying to enjoy the fact that they're at least doing something together!

Swing Man

2011-08-16T09:56:00.000-04:00

Luke is rarely happier than when he's in a swing. I love these shots of him enjoying the swing at the zoo.

Luke 11 Months

2011-08-14T22:28:00.008-04:00

In one week, Luke will be one! This week we'll feature lots of recent photos of him on the blog. We'll start with his 11 month photo shoot. I went to book club that night and left Matthew in charge of getting the photos. It was a tall order, since Luke was his usual mobile, mischievous self. And I think Matthew captured that very well--

Here he is, crawling around with a toy in his mouth. He does this so often that we call him our little puppy.

He also loves to crawl under the dining room table. This frequently ends in an injury, when he konks his head on the underside of the table or (as in the picture below) pulls a chair down on top of himself. Waaahhh!

In this one, you can see a nice bruise on his forehead--not a result of the chair incident, but from a few days before when he was eating dinner in a booster seat and banged his head on the table top. On purpose, as if to see what it would feel like.

Ah, Luke! You constantly test our agility, alertness, and first-aid skills, but we love it!

County Fair

2011-08-03T09:42:00.002-04:00

In July we attended the St. Joseph County Fair--twice! As featured previously, we went for good (bad) food and to see Myla's birdhouse in the 4-H display. It was hot, sticky, and lots of fun.

Luke loves to ride in the stroller, especially when there are lots of people around, so he was pretty happy. Myla was wary of the rides but by our second trip was excited to try the bear ride. Matthew goes green at just the thought of going in circles, so I got to take her. Of course we had to ride the pink bear.

Pretty Girl

2011-08-01T10:06:00.001-04:00

Food Week pt. 5

2011-07-22T10:21:00.004-04:00

It's the last day of food week, so let's have dessert. Here are some pictures of Myla helping Matthew make some chocolate mousse. Yes, this is similar to another recent post of Myla making mousse (different mousse). . . but I just love these pictures of dad and daughter in the kitchen.

Myla is always so proud of herself after she's helped us cook something. I'm really looking forward to seeing our kids' skills in the kitchen evolve as they grow.

Food Week pt. 4

2011-07-21T13:05:00.003-04:00

As noted in the last two posts, we've been growing a garden. It's in the little area behind our house, which used to be completely overgrown with ivy--you may not remember it, because we never took anyone back there. But Matthew transformed it into the spring, pulling up the ivy, adding rocks and creating a path, and building the little area for the garden.

Once he built the garden, Matthew turned it over to me and Myla to grow things. We started out simple with some herbs (basil, rosemary, thyme, cilantro) and tomatoes. We have since added cucumbers and some impatiens. Those pink and green things in the middle are caladiums.

Myla loves going back there with me, poking around in the dirt and checking on the progress. She has her own set of gardening tools and makes sure things get watered.

For my first attempt at a garden, I'm pretty happy. So far we've only been able to eat the herbs, but it's so great to have them on hand for cooking. The tomatoes and cucumbers look promising but aren't near ready yet. If I get to eat one tomato and one cucumber from my own garden this year, I'll call it a success.

Food Week Pt. 3

2011-07-20T09:30:00.011-04:00

This summer I discovered an incredible and incredibly simple recipe for grilled mussels on my favorite food blog, The Bitten Word. If your grocery cleans the mussels for you as ours does, this recipe takes about 10 minutes. But the result is so fresh and feels very fancy. This night, we paired it with pasta and pesto, made from the basil in our garden. Grate a little parmesan cheese over the top and serve on the patio--awesome!

Luke missed out out the mussels, but liked his sweet potatoes enough to smear them all over his hair!

P.S.--Aunt Kelly comments on how gross mussels are in 3 . . . 2 . . . 1 . . .

Food Week Pt. 2

2011-07-19T09:52:00.003-04:00

From corn dogs we move on to their distant ancestor, actual corn. I have never lived anywhere that provides the delicious and varied produce that we get here in Michiana. It probably doesn't surprise you to hear that we get amazing corn and tomatoes from Indiana, but who knew that Michigan was home to blueberries and peaches? We hit the farmer's market every Saturday, and most weekends at least one meal is fresh corn and tomatoes. Matthew and I like to make a salad of cherry tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil from our garden. (What? We have a garden? Yes we do--more soon!).

Corn on the cob is one of Myla's favorite things, along with eating outside. Ahh, summer.

Luke has to forego the corn but does love dining al fresco.

Food Week

2011-07-18T10:21:00.004-04:00

As I was downloading our photos from the last few weeks, a clear theme emerged--food. So I'm declaring this week "Food Week" on our blog, and each day will feature some member of our family eating or making something delicious. Prepare to be envious.

First up, here is Myla enjoying a corn dog at the St. Joseph County Fair. We went to the fair for two reasons: 1) to see the birdhouse Myla entered in the 4-H competition (seriously), and 2) to eat some fried goodness. We had fried vegetables, fried potatoes, and these incredible corn dogs.

Here, Myla watches "Galaxy Girl" perform while she eats. Galaxy Girl climbed a 10-story ladder and did a handstand on top. Myla was entranced.

Best. Videos. Ever.*

2011-07-14T11:00:00.003-04:00

Matthew shot these videos of the kids playing together the other night. In the first one, I absolutely love how Luke will chase Myla and then turn around and run (crawl) away when she turns around.

This video is a lot shorter and not nearly as funny, except that I love how Myla says "ottoman."

* Only applies to videos on this blog. Designation subject to change. No refunds.

Update: Luke at 10 months

2011-07-10T22:49:00.006-04:00

Luke turned 10 months old a few weeks ago! It's time to share the photos from the 10-month shoot, plus an update on what's new in his world (everything!).

First, the pics with the sign--ever harder to get, so not so great this time.

Without the sign, I was able to get some pictures of his favorite activities:

Cruising--the kid is on his feet and loves to find trouble this way. Nothing is safe, and we just had to put the gates up because he has figured out how to climb the stairs.

Smiling/styling--Luke is super happy and friendly right now. When we eat dinner in restaurants, he smiles and waves at anyone passing by. And strangers often comment on his hair, which is growing ever upward!

Annyoing his big sister--Luke's cruising abilities put him in Myla's way a lot of the time. It doesn't help that he wants to see whatever she's doing. Plus, she's barely taller than him so there's no safe place for her to put her things where he can't get them. But she's pretty tolerant and also finds him a lot more interesting and fun now that he's so mobile. They chase each other around the house a lot, which is really fun.

In other news, Luke is now waving, clapping, saying "bye bye" and "da-da," and I swear he said "hi" to Holly this morning. He still loves to eat and at meals will screech if you allow five seconds to pass without putting food on his tray. He's been sleeping all night most of the time lately, but still gets up between 6:00 and 7:00, which Matthew and I still can't get used to. His favorite activity is sitting in his stroller and catching this miniature basketball that we bounce to him. He claps and giggles at just the sight of the ball.

We've been having lots of fun this summer with both kiddos--stay tuned for more pictures in the coming days.

Happy Birthday to Me!

2011-07-09T08:37:00.004-04:00

Two funny exchanges I recently had with Myla that must be shared. On Friday morning, I got Myla up out of bed and we had this conversation:

Myla: Daddy, is today a mommy/daddy day or a school day?
Daddy: Today is a school day. But tomorrow is a mommy/daddy day and also my birthday!
Myla: It is? (with a big smile on her face)
Daddy: Sure is. We're going to have lots of fun!
Myla: How old are you going to be?
Daddy: Thirty-four!
Myla: After a long pause to think...."Do we have candles for that?"

I laughed because it kind of sounded like she was making fun of how old I was going to be. In reality I think it wasn't that she was thinking of 34 candles on a cake, but wasn't familiar with the number 34 and didn't know what kind of candle that comes with.

Then, just this morning we had another fun exchange when I got her out of bed.

Mommy: Myla, do you remember what today is?
Myla: Daddy's birthday!
Daddy: That's right! Do you remember how old I am?
Myla: No.
Daddy: Thirty-four! That's kind of old, isn't it?
Myla: But daddy, I still love you!

Already a great day!

Will he think it's this fun in 12 years?

2011-06-23T09:43:00.000-04:00

Myla got a play mower for her birthday (I say "play" in case you were confused and thought Baw Baw and Grandma gave her a real one). She's definitely had fun with it, but so has Luke! Here he is taking it for a spin with Grandma.

Water Table

2011-06-21T10:14:00.000-04:00

Early in June we got out Myla's water table. Luke was big enough to play in it a bit and really enjoyed it. Myla saw it as a good chance to break out her most stylish outfit. I had offered her a different pair of sunglasses but she insisted on these, telling me, "No Mom, these shades are cool." Excuse me!

Weekend in Kalamazoo

2011-06-17T15:52:00.003-04:00

Let me start the same way I start most of my posts - it's been way too long since I've posted! I want to thank my beautiful and very talented writer/wife who has been so great about keeping up with the blog. We both have very busy schedules and lives and while I use that as an excuse she still finds time to write entries on the blog. Maybe it's because I'm cleaning the kitchen or doing laundry while she is blogging. We have a clear division of labor but I'll probably pay for that comment at some point....

Anyway, I recognize that Kasey is doing all of the work on this blog that many years from now will be so much fun to look back at and read for the two of us as well as Myla, Luke, and future Baby Blazes (you never know). I really appreciate that and also couldn't miss an opportunity to capture in writing one of these stories from last weekend that we will laugh about for years.

So last weekend we piled the kids into the car and drove up to Kalamazoo with our friends Neal and Abbie and their two children. From what I recall, we had a great lunch at a pizza joint. The reason it's a little difficult to remember is because of the constant screeching from Luke as he continues to explore his own voice. The other people in the restaurant laugh for the first few minutes but then usually don't find it so funny anymore.

We then spent a few hours at the Air Zoo which is a place that has 20 or so airplanes from different eras on display as well as some small rides and interactive stuff. A fun place but the kids aren't quite old enough to really enjoy it just yet. We then headed into downtown Kalamazoo to burn off some energy at a park before dinner and that's when the real fun began.

We were all having a great time playing when we started to notice Myla holding herself as if she had to go to the bathroom. This has become a regular occurrence, but when we ask Myla if she has to go the bathroom she always says "no." Unfortunately, she has had a few accidents recently where she basically gets too busy playing at school or at home and just goes in her pants. The maddening thing is that not only does she not try to tell someone she has to go, but she doesn't even tell you after she has gone. She just keeps playing. (When she had another accident this past week we were asking her about it and she tells us in this sweet little voice, "I'm just a little girl." Grrrr.)

I didn't want to deal with an accident, so I grabbed her and said we were going to the bathroom. Unfortunately, we were in downtown Kalamazoo on a Sunday afternoon so not much was open and there were no public restrooms at the park. I've never been to Kalamazoo before so had no idea which direction to even walk in, so Kasey and Luke joined us as we started to walk in the hopes we would quickly find a restaurant we could duck into.

Not more than 200 feet into our walk I picked up Myla because she was walking too slow, and I instantly realized that she had already had an accident - and it wasn't just pee. No mention of it at all by Myla which is so frustrating because she has been doing so well with the potty training. I ask her why she didn't just tell us she had to go and she said "I don't know." This is one of many times each day where I have to remind myself that Myla is only three.

We still don't see anywhere to go, so I'm carrying Myla but trying to do so in way that doesn't make a bigger mess. We finally round a corner and see a McDonalds. I take her in and we go to the restroom to clean up. This is the part of the story that I could never do justice, because you had to be there, but the place was disgusting. I honestly was more grossed out by the state/smell of the bathroom than what I had to clean up with Myla. There were all sorts of unsavory characters hanging out at this place and it was just awful. I'm yelling at Myla the whole time in the bathroom, "don't touch anything!"

We finally came out of the restroom all cleaned up and walked back to the park. It added to my elevated blood pressure on the way back when Myla just didn't seem to understand why this was such a big deal. Clearly it wasn't, and is definitely something to laugh about, but all you parents out there know how frustrating these situations can be. We made it back to the park and then dinner and she continued on as if nothing had happened. As a side note, we had dinner at the Bell's Brewery where Luke finally was able to get to something on the table before we could pull it away from him. Again, all the parents out there are familiar with the game we play at any meal that includes clearing the reachable space of any objects we don't want them to grab. Well, he got to my almost-full beer before I could react and dumped the entire thing out on the table. Score one for Luke!

Yes, this is probably way too much information for all the readers and something not all that interesting. But I thought it was the perfect little story, especially a couple days before Father's Day, to put down in writing so that years from now we can laugh and remember some of the rough moments with our children when you couldn't decide whether you wanted to be mad or laugh at the fact that my life includes moments of carrying my poopy three year old daughter through a town I've never been in only to end up changing her in a disgusting McDonald's/homeless shelter. Being a dad is great and I love everything about it - even these moments!

Mousse Moustache

2011-06-16T13:40:00.001-04:00

I recently made some chocolate mousse to take to some friends who just had a baby, and Myla wanted to help. And then lick everything that came in contact with the chocolate.

Easter? Seriously?

2011-06-14T16:23:00.001-04:00

I just realized that I wrote an Easter post long ago but never posted it to the blog! Please enjoy these adorable but much-delayed pictures of the kiddies in their Easter best. And check out the slide show for lots of egg-related fun.

Luke 9 Months

2011-06-13T22:33:00.001-04:00

Great photos of Luke at 9 months! And no, we are not doing that to his hair. That is its natural state.

Silver Hawks and Slide Show

2011-06-10T09:30:00.004-04:00

Myla's big third birthday celebration was held at the South Bend Silver Hawks' game on Saturday night. Myla absolutely loves going to games (and especially loves the mascot, Swoop), so this seemed like a perfect fit. And it was fantastic--I highly recommend this experience to any of our local friends!

First, Myla got to throw out the first pitch. Though we practiced at home, I wasn't at all sure she would do it, but she did! In the picture, the ball has just hit the ground (she through a wicked sinker). After that, she got her picture made with Swoop. Her eyes were as big as dinner plates.

Then it was on to cake--which the Silver Hawks provided. Myla had asked for a cake with Swoop on it, and I was definitely glad to have someone else give that a try! Everyone loved it, and Swoop came out and joined us for a while as we ate it. And here's the whole party crew--thanks so much to Myla's grandparents for making the trip!

Finally, Myla went on the field in the 5th inning, and the crowd sang Happy Birthday to her while her name was on the scoreboard (again, with Swoop). And then he brought her doughnuts as the game was ending! What an awesome night.

Here's a slideshow with more pictures of the game, and the rest of the birthday weekend. This will be a tough one to top!

Cupcake Party

2011-06-08T22:20:00.003-04:00

For Myla's birthday, I took balloons and cupcakes to her school for her to share with her classmates. I didn't tell her about it, and she was surprised and so excited when I showed up with the goodies (along with Nana and Pop--an extra bonus!). She could barely contain herself:

The whole class sang Happy Birthday to her, and then they sat there patiently while we handed out the cupcakes and juice boxes. I have to say, I was very impressed with how well-behaved her whole class is. Those teachers are doing something right!

Myla enjoys her cupcake.

Big Sister

2011-06-08T09:20:00.003-04:00

Now that Luke is sitting up and crawling around, Myla is showing much more interest in him. She looks out for him and is usually pretty good about him getting into all her stuff (except when she's not). Here are a few recent shots of the two of them together:

Luke can now ride in the wagon, and LOVES it. Myla likes having a riding buddy. In the last picture, you can see that Myla likes to fire her water squirter at very close range.

Look like anyone else you know?

2011-06-06T21:08:00.004-04:00

Happy 3rd birthday, Myla James!

2011-06-05T22:16:00.006-04:00

Today, Myla turned 3! Several people have commented that they can't believe she's already three, but in some ways I can't believe she's only three. For one thing, it's hard to remember life before Myla. And for another, she's such a little person--especially in the way she talks!

At three, Myla is so, so sweet. She'll tell you she loves you fifteen times a day (not that I get tired of hearing it). She still has pretty great manners and will thank you for things you do for her, not just things you give her. And knock on wood, but she's very good most of the time. If she's starting to misbehave we just ask her if she wants to be in trouble, and that's usually enough to change her tune.

She loves to tease and be silly and make up words. She has an incredible memory and even helps me remember all the things we need before leaving the house! She seems to survive on one good meal every three days. Her best buddy is still Chi Chi the monkey. She loves girly things like skirts and dresses and toenail polish but on occasion has refused to go to bed until Joey Votto bats. Her teachers at school love having her in class and she has three best friends (Hailey, Emily, and Brianna). Several other parents have said to me that they hear all about Myla at home!

And when I come home at the end of the day, or pick her up at school, she screams and runs to greet me with a huge hug and a big smile that makes my day, no matter what kind of day it's been. It's a kind of uncomplicated love that probably peaks at around age three, so we're trying to enjoy every minute of it. We love you, too, Myla James!

P.S. This week will be Myla Week--come back every day for new pictures of her and the details of the birthday weekend.

Luke's Studio Pics

2011-05-31T10:07:00.002-04:00

Last week we had Luke's 9-month photos made at JCPenney's. They got some pretty cute ones (and some really goofy ones--please ignore any pictures in which Luke is wearing rain boots).

Click here for the link.

Chompers

2011-05-26T09:30:00.002-04:00

Luke got his first two teeth at around 8 months. Love this picture of them, and of him looking pensive.

Luke: 8 Months

2011-05-24T22:03:00.007-04:00

Here are Luke's 8-month photos (yes I know he was 9 months old on Sunday):

Here are some funny ones of Luke & Myla together. Luke was looking pretty rough on picture day (I really think he has seasonal allergies), and had just spit up, so Myla's trying to make him feel better. In the next one, I don't know if it's the perspective or what, but he looks so much bigger than her!

I often feel the same way . . .

2011-05-19T09:53:00.002-04:00

Last night as I was squeezing Myla into too-small pajamas before bedtime, I told her that she was getting big very quickly. This led to me talking to her about what she might like to be when she is a "grown-up." I asked, "Do you think you want to be a teacher? A doctor? A chef? An artist?" Etc.

Each time she shook her head no, so I asked, "What do you want to be?" She very seriously said, "I just wanna be a kid."

Really, really good answer.

Most Valuable Buddy

2011-05-17T13:56:00.002-04:00

Last night I tucked Myla into bed and went to turn out the light, and she asked me to leave the light on. This is unusual for her; she has never been afraid of the dark or too reluctant to go to bed. I told her that I needed to turn the light out, but that she had her purple night light and everything would be okay. She said "but when you turn the light out, I can't see Joey Votto!"

She was referring to the Joey Votto bobble-head that she got when we went to the Reds game a few weeks ago with Baw Baw and Uncle Andrew. She has been a huge Joey Votto fan ever since, and the bobble-head has a prominent spot on her nightstand.

Pop--if you want to put a stop to this, you'll just have to take her to the Cardinal's game on Matt Holliday bobble-head night (Aug. 28). Or better yet, Build-A-Bear Workshop Stan Musial Bear Night (Aug. 14).

Luke's Baptism

2011-05-15T21:42:00.005-04:00

We're a bit behind on postings, with lots to catch up on from the spring. First up is Luke's baptism, which took place in Northern Kentucky on April 3. We started the day with a brunch and then moved on to St. Joseph's Church in Crescent Springs. Here are a few pictures, and then more in the slide show.

I recommend going to the full slide show if you're a Luke fan, because these are some of the cutest pictures we have of him!

Luke with his godparents, Uncle Jonathan and Aunt Jennifer. Then with his parents, for the 30 seconds that he wore the hat.

The baptism. Luke was smiling and hamming it up through the whole thing. He thought Father Kettler was hilarious.

Check out his face in this one!

After the baptism, in more comfortable clothes.

Click here for the slide show!

Close . . .

2011-05-12T10:12:00.000-04:00

This morning Myla was putting her shoes on and kept saying she had to do the "scarecrows." I was puzzled for a minute but then said "Do you mean velcros?" Yes. That's what she meant.

Morning Menace

2011-05-11T12:03:00.000-04:00

Luke got up this morning at 6:45, and Holly arrived to care for him at 8:30. In the time in between, he managed to trap himself under his sheet protector in his crib (which of course I promptly removed), get the rubber tip from a doorstopper into his mouth before being caught, knock over a trash can, get stuck under Myla's bed, and nearly escape from his bouncy seat (can't use that any more either). He also spit up three times.

My hairdresser also has a little boy and she was telling me that boys have more testosterone in their system before age 1 than they do at any other time in their lives, relative to their size. If testosterone = trouble, then I believe it.

Old School Bows Out in Sweet 16

2011-04-28T14:44:00.009-04:00

Well, the dream run ended last night but not without a fight. We fought to the bitter end and were only down 19-16 before they scored the two last buckets to win 21-16. We represented ourselves very well, but it wasn't really a fair fight. Turns out the team we played was made up of current players from the Holy Cross College (small school located across the street from ND) basketball team. The tournament has very clear rules about how many NCAA players can be on each team (1) but doesn't say anything about NAIA which is what Holy Cross plays. Needless to say, they had slightly fresher legs than us and knocked down a few more open jumpers than us.

As a side, I have to say that I have played a lot of ball games in my life in front of a lot of different crowds, but nothing is more fun and more special than playing ball and looking over at my beautiful wife and two children watching. It's so hilarious to be involved in this highly-competitive game and then hear this little girl's voice chanting "go, daddy, go!" or look over and catch glimpses of Luke just sitting in his stroller intently watching all the action. My goal is stay competitive long enough for Myla and Luke to one day watch a game or two that they will actually remember. If not, I'll have to rely on Kasey to tell embellished stories about how good their dad used to be and the days when he whooped up on the kids that were 12 years younger then him. Here's some pictures and a copy of the article in today's campus paper:

Size helps Texas Roadhouse defeat Old School to advance
Texas Roadhouse used experience and height to tower over Old School, as athleticism proved victorious over Old School's older but well-conditioned squad in a 21-16 Texas Roadhouse win.

Staff member Matt McCubbins and graduate student Luke Chicoine kept Old School in the game all night long, playing scrappy defense in the post against Texas Roadhouse junior Taylor Williams. Texas Roadhouse junior point guard JT Breveard ran up and down the court tirelessly during the entire game, adding energy at the point guard position.

"It's a tough matchup for us because they had both height and a quick guard out there," Old School coach Todd Hill said. "They started draining outside jumpers there, and we had a letdown."

Texas Roadhouse struggled to pull away, as Old School was almost always within two or three points. Offensively, Old School continued to fight back with the help of staff members Joel Dosmann, Matthew Blazejewski and Mark Bennett. Texas Roadhouse took an 11-8 lead into halftime.

Old School's average age of 34 presented a challenge against a college-aged Texas Roadhouse team.

"We had a comeback, but I think it was a little bit too late there; we couldn't finish," Hill said. "Given we're double their age, I think it's pretty impressive what we've done. We know athletic-wise, we're not going to match up with these guys."

Texas Roadhouse senior Adam Dobrzykowski's height on defense ultimately served as the difference in the game, however, as he held an advantage against all of Old School's guards.

"Going into these games, we expect to win as the fifth seed," Roadhouse freshman Pat Derksen said. "We're pretty confident going in, and we just try and work the ball around, get good shots, box out, grab the rebound and just run — run those guys off the court."

Two Kids, One Tub

2011-04-28T09:30:00.000-04:00

Luke is finally sitting up well enough that we can give him a bath in the big tub. This means he and Myla can take baths together, which saves time but also seems to be fun for both of them. Luke likes to splash a lot, and Myla likes to brush Luke's hair/bonk him on the head with the brush.

Old School in the Sweet Sixteen!

2011-04-27T09:22:00.003-04:00

Matthew has been playing in Notre Dame's 739-team Bookstore Basketball Tournament this year. Most teams are comprised of ND undergraduates, but Matthew has a team of staff and graduate students that has run through the tournament like a knife through butter. Tonight they play in the Sweet Sixteen--which means they have already made it further than they ever have before. Here is an article from the Notre Dame student newspaper about tonight's matchup.

No. 5 Texas Roadhouse vs. No. 12 Old School
When Texas Roadhouse takes on Old School in the round of 16, the age-old themes of new vs. old and potential vs. experience will be on full display. As evidenced by its name, Old School readily embraces the fact that it is composed of players older than those on the average Bookstore team, ranging from their mid-twenties to their early-forties. Captain Todd Hill, a 1991 Notre Dame graduate, said that his team understands both the problems and benefits that come with his team's collective age.
"At our more mature age, we typically won't be out-athleting any teams," Hill said. "[However,] maturity does have its strengths and we play to them. We have a high basketball IQ, and we know who we are and who we aren't. We have played the burn offense for years, long before Coach Brey picked it up and made it part of the identity of the Irish men's program.

Hill is joined on the court by HR employees Matt McCubbins and Matthew Blazejewski, OIT employees Joel Dosmann and Mark Bennitt and graduate student Luke Chicoine.
Despite being matched up against younger teams in every game, Old School has yet to be seriously tested. Still, the age difference between Hill and many of his opponents is quite significant.
"When I told one of the guys I graduated [and] about us making it to the Sweet Sixteen, [he said], ‘Do you realize that most of the students you are playing against were not even born when you played your first Bookstore game as an ND freshman 23 years ago?'" Hill said.
That will be the case once again tonight when Old School meets Texas Roadhouse in the Sweet 16. Senior captain Adam Dobrzykowski leads juniors Zachary Cook, JT Brevard and Taylor Williams and freshmen Pat Derksen and Dane Okuda.

The young guns have not been tested in their games to this point either, having advanced by relying largely on their speed. "We score fast and play clamps ‘D,'" Cook said. However, Cook also said that his team has the versatility needed to match up against the advanced talent level in the later rounds.
"We feel privileged to play in such a prestigious tournament and showcase our talents," he said. "We feel that our team has achieved success because we have the necessary size, speed and basketball IQ. We look forward to competing against some very talented teams in the later rounds."

Old School and Texas Roadhouse will battle for supremacy and the right to keep playing at 6 p.m. on Court 4

Easter Treats

2011-04-26T09:30:00.000-04:00

Last week our nanny Holly brought the fixin's to make a special Easter treat with Myla. They molded Rice Krispie treats into egg shapes and filled them with M-n-M's. Yum!

Dentist

2011-04-24T22:26:00.005-04:00

Last week we took Myla to the dentist for the first time. As we were preparing her for it in the days beforehand, she kept talking about Hermie, the dentist/elf from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. We were thinking that this would be a disaster--she was expecting Santa and elves and was going to get her gums poked by a stranger.

Once we got in the exam room, she climbed up in the chair without any hesitation. There was a moment of lip-quivering at the beginning, but she fought it off and got through it like a champ. Sheila, our dental assistant, was wonderful, and Chi-Chi the monkey helped out too.

Diagnosis: 20 healthy teeth, four more baby teeth to come in. There isn't a lot of space between her teeth which means it's more likely she'll need braces later, but with my genes we figured she was destined for that anyway.

Past and Future Wildcats

2011-04-20T21:36:00.002-04:00

After the Cats made it to the Final Four, Matthew and Myla had a little flag-waving ceremony in the yard. Ohhhh, C! A! T! S! Cats! Cats! Cats!

Chunky Monkey

2011-04-08T15:35:00.005-04:00

Luke was feeling extra-heavy to me last night so I weighed him (using the classic method of weighing myself with and without him). He weighed 24 lbs. According to the CDC growth chart, that is the median weight for a 15-month old.

Thoughts:
1. So that's why the 12-month pajamas I just bought him are already getting too snug.

2. We have got to get the boy into a car seat so I can stop breaking my back every time I try to lift him in the Chicco carrier.

3. He is probably going to weigh more than Myla by the time he can walk. Big sis had better learn some self-defense maneuvers, stat.

4. Luke's height percentiles match his weight; if he keeps on this trajectory he will be taller than me by age 13. That's a big 'if,' of course, but I already have visions of being one of those moms who look like a midget next to their teenager. Freak me out! :)

Luke: 7 Months

2011-04-03T09:20:00.000-04:00

Myla Moments

2011-04-01T09:20:00.000-04:00

Luke Moments

2011-03-31T09:20:00.000-04:00

Au Revoir, North Shore

2011-03-30T09:20:00.001-04:00

Earlier this month we closed on our old house. The one upside of taking so long to sell it was that we were more than happy to see it go . . . no tears shed. But we did go by there the day before to take a few pictures. You were very good to us, little yellow house.

Peas and Love

2011-03-29T09:21:00.002-04:00

Luke's first real food other than rice cereal was peas. Before we even began, he looked alarmed. Think Myla had warned him about those "little green balls of mushy poison?"

Peas go in . .

. . . initial reviews are mixed.

Luke: 6 Months

2011-03-28T16:20:00.003-04:00

We're a little behind on some posts . . . here are Luke's 6-months photos from February. He looks so long here!

He's started to be really tough on our little signs. This one suffered serious damage before we got it away from him.

More posts coming this week!

C-A-T-S!

2011-03-27T22:26:00.005-04:00

It's been a long 13 years since UK last went to the Final Four. I remarked to Kasey during the game tonight that it's kind of funny to think about what we were doing the last time UK was in the Final Four (junior and sophomore in college and partying on the corner of Euclid and Woodland) and comparing it to our experience watching the game tonight (constantly wiping Luke's nose and trying to keep him from crying since he doesn't feel good while pressing pause on the dvr to take Myla to the potty). While I had a phenomenal time in college celebrating three straight title games, how can you beat watching your daughter root for your team while they beat on the Tar Heels and make Roy Williams start his annual cry session? That guy that was waving a flag on top of the sign on Euclid and Woodland all those years ago (a reference that only those in school at UK at the time would understand) has nothing on this girl:

Winter Style

2011-03-23T09:19:00.000-04:00

Luke : Food :: Fish : Water

2011-03-15T09:15:00.000-04:00

About a month ago we gave Luke his first solid food. I'd summarize his reaction as: "Finally, real food! Where have you been all my life?"

From the first spoonful he was opening his mouth like a pro. We very quickly moved on to other fruits and veggies, but here are some photos of that first meal of rice cereal.

Gimme!
In it goes!
Happy, happy baby.

Dear Day Care:

2011-03-11T20:57:00.002-05:00

Please explain.

(In case you can't see the detail, it's a toilet paper roll. With little notches cut on one end. Then covered with splotches of blue glitter. With the words "Myla Germ Friend" scrawled on it.)

Snow Day!

2011-03-11T09:20:00.004-05:00

Back in February we woke up one Wednesday morning to a fresh two feet of snow on the ground. The timing and amount of the snow caused Notre Dame to shut down, which meant a very rare snow day for Matthew and me! Myla and Matthew took advantage and played outside in the snow.

In the first picture, Matthew tries to show how deep it is by having Myla stand in it, but she's so light that she just stood on top of it. Then: snow angel!

Luke: 6-months doctor's visit

2011-03-10T10:49:00.004-05:00

This morning we had Luke's 6-month doctor's appointment. I dread getting the bill for this visit because I'm afraid they will charge us for breaking their baby scale. Luke weighed 21 lb., 10 oz! He was also 29 3/4 inches tall, so his percentiles for weight and height were 93rd and 99th, respectively. No wonder my back hurts all the time! I'm thinking maybe he'll be ready for tee-ball this summer.

Along all dimensions, he is doing just great. He was especially happy for the visit this morning and was cute as can be. It's always reassuring to have a good checkup!

JCPenney Photos: Luke at 6 months

2011-03-08T15:44:00.003-05:00

We recently had some studio pictures taken of Luke at 6 months. There are some very cute ones, and some very strange ones--especially the ones in the suitcase. The photographer had some kind of wacky ideas, and you can tell exactly what Luke thought of it from the expression on his face.

Click here to see the slide show. Enjoy!

Over 600 wins, and delicious too!

2011-03-01T09:30:00.001-05:00

At our local mall they have pictures hanging up in the food court of famous Indianans. The one near us had Muffet McGraw on it, the women's basketball coach at Notre Dame. Myla asked who she was and I told her. After thinking about that, she said "I want to be a coach for the girls when I get big." I told her that was a great idea, and Pop would be so proud!

Then a few minutes later she said, "look at that picture of Corn Muffin!"

Apology

2011-02-28T09:54:00.003-05:00

Yesterday Myla was sitting on the potty, and she told me that she had peed in her underwear a little bit. I actually couldn't find any evidence of that, but I told her that it was okay, it was just a little accident. She leaned over and looked at her underwear and yelled, "I'M SORRY, BIG GIRL UNDERWEAR!"

Goofball

2011-02-27T09:30:00.001-05:00

Myla has been such a hoot lately. She has an incredible imagination and a great sense of humor. Here are some pics of her in action.

Myla works day and night to take care of all her "babies" (some more baby-like than others). Here, she's putting the gang to "bed."

Crazy hair! And she's always on the phone.

I don't even know where to start with this picture. The sunglasses? The outfit (or lack thereof)? The one-armed baby?

It's 106 miles to Chicago, we got a full tank of gas, half a pack of goldfish, it's dark, and we're wearing sunglasses. Hit it. (That one's for Dad, who turns 60 today--happy birthday, Pop!)

Shiner

2011-02-26T09:30:00.000-05:00

This is what Matthew looked like for most of January after getting bumped while playing basketball. You should see the other guy.

Squirrely

2011-02-25T09:30:00.001-05:00

We have a few squirrels that love to play on one of our window sills. Myla thinks they're pretty funny.

Tea Party (pastries, not protests)

2011-02-24T09:30:00.000-05:00

Aunt Kelly's 30th birthday is today! Let's have a tea party in her honor.

Luke looks like he usually does when Myla wants to "play" with him--suspicious.

Gotta love the plumber's crack. Now that Myla doesn't have diapers to hold her pants up anymore, we see a lot of this.

Headlock

2011-02-23T09:30:00.001-05:00

As we were taking Luke's 5-month photos, Myla said she wanted to "help." In the first one, Luke is saying, "Are you guys sure this is a good idea?"

The kiss is sweet, even if the execution is poor.

Happy Half-birthday, Luke!

2011-02-22T09:30:00.003-05:00

Today is Luke's 6-month birthday! I can't think of a better way to show you how cute he is and how big he's gotten than to share some photos & videos of him in his jumperoo. The jumperoo just made it back up here after keeping Lofton entertained for a few months, and Luke took to it like a fish takes to water. It took him about five minutes to figure it out and work himself into a jumping frenzy and it's now his favorite place to be. Here are some photos of his first time:

And here he was just yesterday--go Little Man, go! We love you to pieces, happy 1/2-birthday!

Luke: 5 Months

2011-02-21T09:30:00.003-05:00

Pics of Luke at 5 months--getting big!

This picture perfectly captures life with Luke at this point. If there isn't spit up on your shirt, in your hair, or on the floor at the moment, just wait five minutes.

Stay tuned for lots more posting in the days ahead!

It does sound fake

2011-02-10T09:30:00.000-05:00

I was making brownies and Myla asked to taste the batter. I gave her a little bit but told her she couldn't have more because I didn't want her to get salmonella. She said "Sammanella? Mom, you're making up words again."

Christmas-isms

2011-02-09T09:30:00.000-05:00

Last thing to share about our Christmas--Myla has been talking like crazy the last few months, and over Christmas we heard some gems from her. Here are a few:

* One day while Matthew was out, she and I wrapped her present for him. When he got home she showed it to him under the tree and exclaimed, "It's a shirt!"

* Called candy canes "candy candies"

* As we were pulling up to the house one evening, said "Daddy, you did a great job with the lights!"

* Looking in her Rudolph book, she insisted one of the toys pictured was a piggy while I said it was a bunny. She said "okay, it's a 'buggy.'"

* I used one of her toy phones to pretend I was talking to Santa. When I hung up with him, she said "now call the Statue of Liberty!"

Christmas Slideshow: Blazejewski Family

2011-02-08T09:30:00.000-05:00

And here's a slideshow from our time with the Blazejewski side. Thanks to everyone in both families that made our Christmas so easy and fun!

Christmas Slideshow: Buckles Family

2011-02-06T21:05:00.002-05:00

We'll wrap up the Christmas photos (yes I know it's February) with a couple of slideshows. First up, pics from our time in Elizabethtown. Click on the slideshow to enlarge it.

The Real Thing Can't Compete

2011-02-01T16:24:00.002-05:00

Me: "Myla, do you want to help me make some cookies?"
Myla: "Well . . . I already have a kitchen."

Christmas Morning: Myla

2011-02-01T09:30:00.000-05:00