Oops! This was supposed to be an 18 month post, but here we are with a 19 month old, so that is how we will update!
Lucas is just a bundle of energy! And he is ALL BOY! Running, jumping, climbing, getting minor boo-boos, tormenting the dog, etc!
He also has some obsessions at this point - trucks, trains, planes, lawn mowers, motorcycles. It all started with planes when Eric took him out to Minnesota at the end of July for his cousin Allison's wedding. Lucas LOVED being on the plane, and then when Aunts Dede and Kris, and Eli babysat the night of the wedding, he was able to see lots of planes flying above their house since they live close to the airport. Now, with his keen sense of hearing, he can hear any plane that is about to fly over head (half the time, Eric and I don't hear it!). Lucas will make this priceless face of surprise - eyes wide open, mouth in an "o", accompanied by a gasp and a point overhead! It's hilarious! He also loves when semi trucks pass his window in the car, and will usually ask for "mo" (more) so he can see another one. Our Wegman's grocery store has train tracks that run overhead near the dairy section, and as soon as Lucas hears we are going to "the store" or we actually walk into Wegmans, he starts asking for "choo choo". Thomas the Train is also become a favorite around here.
Another obsession that Lucas currently has is with the moon. He LOVES going to the window, lifting up the blinds and pointing to the moon. Or, many nights, Eric will take Lucas out to the back or front yard to find it before bedtime - such a sweet father and son ritual. I love watching their smiling faces from inside (and sometimes I will even crash their party to get an up-close look at the excitement!). For a couple of weeks, we weren't able to see the moon before bed since it was too low in the sky, and on those days when Lucas would ask to see the moon, we would tell him that it was not out tonight. His response would be "moon" "nigh-night" "bye". Those nights, books like "Goodnight Moon", "Goodnight Gorilla", "On the Night You Were Born", and "Twinkle, Twinkle" were nice distractions (basically any book where we could point out the moon on the majority of the pages).
Dancing and singing and other fun activities that involve music are pure enjoyment to Lucas. He sings parts of "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" saying "up above the sky" with the proper tune too - impressive!, "Ashes Ashes", "Row Row Row", and he tries to sing the ABCs - usually starts with D or H and basically just says the tune with his own version of the letters. It's actually quite cute when he grabs the book "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom" (or "boom boom" to Lucas), and turns the pages as he attempts to say the letters. Any time music comes on our ipod speakers or the TV, he will starts to bounce and waves his hands all around. A band was playing one Friday evening when we went to dinner at Wegman's (before we went grocery shopping as a family), and Eric said that Lucas had 3 men laughing hysterically at Lucas' moves (I was getting our dinner from downstairs and missed the show!). Hence, we have signed L up for a music class come the fall. We went to a preview a few weeks ago and I was very impressed with the program - Lucas, more so. He participated more than any other child in the class - following the instructor's moves to the songs, clapping along. He would even give her a standing ovation whenever a song finished - he'd stand in the center of the circle and joyfully clap and say "yaaaaay". He had the entire class laughing so hard at his cuteness!
Lucas has about 45 words at this age, and he has started to say the words to the signs that he knows - milk, more, all-done. He also has added the signs for "please" and "thank you" as we try to teach him some manners :) Self-feeding with spoons and forks are improving, and he also gets a kick out of blowing on his food when it's hot! He often asks to drink from a regular cup, so we will fill it with a tiny amount of water to let him practice.
Eric and I both think the biggest change over the last few months is Lucas' comprehension especially when he is asked yes/no questions or to do something. We always thought this was a strength of Lucas' that started around the 13-14 month time frame, but it has improved so much over the last 5-6 months.
This is definitely a fun age! Talking more, laughing more, understanding more, playing more! It's also a tough age where Lucas is testing our limits and where we are dealing with crying when Lucas does not get his way. But, we wouldn't change any of it, as this is all a part of growing up and parenting!
The next time we publish a Lucas update, he will be a big brother! Can't believe his siblings are going to be here in just over a month!
