Some new Lukas-isms

I ain't scared of nobody!
Originally uploaded by siraulo

Knows where is feet are!

Is able to put the rings on his rainbow ring sorter

Is babbling different sounds non-stop - "weh weh weh", "ta-oh" etc. He's definitely saying things, I just don't know what he's saying, hehe.

He is such a social boy. Every chance he gets to interact with people, he grabs at it. Everytime we go to a place with other kids there, he just lights up and tries to join them, even if they are older than him. It's like he is craving the interaction!

Lukas at 14 months

My Schroeder
Originally uploaded by siraulo

Things that Lukas is doing:
(aka a list to make up for the fact that I'm worried that he may not be talking as much as I think he should)

Walks, practically runs, and climbing EVERYTHING!

Climbs up the stairs

Dances to music he likes - classical (especially songs with prominent string instruments) as well as pop!

Starting to stack blocks

Presses the buttons on his musical book and musical computer to play specific sounds

Puts the balls in the hole of his helicopter

Puts the shapes in his shape sorter box, starting to put the right shapes in the sorter

Says mama, dada, papa, papaya,ball, shoe, socks, yea, Gracie (our cat), Lala (for Lola Aida, sometimes sounds closer to dada, but he is definitely calling for his Lola!), Wowo (for lolo) and today learned to say Topi (Stop it!).

Waves hi and bye

Throws things (balls, but also other toys -- usually stuff he's not supposed to!)
Understands "give me" "kiss" "knock on the door" "kick" "eat" "drink" "up" "sleep" "lie down" "close the door"

Knows where his mouth, nose, and tummy are.

Waves is hands when we say "no more" or "wala na"

Plays piano

Claps

Eats table foor, loves his vegetables and brown rice. Is currently into yogurt.

Plays peek-a-boo and "chase me"

Turns the pages of books

Hits his golf balls with his toy golf clubs - but more in the style of a hockey player, hahaha...

Hair today gone tomorrow

AFTER
Originally uploaded by siraulo

Dear Lukas,

I can almost count the days to your birthday on my fingers! I can't believe it. This month is already chock full of firsts, my not so baby boy...You had your first haircut yesterday at Frankie's Playce in Atlas Park Mall. You were so good. You didn't cry at all, you smiled at the hairdresser and you didn't try to jump out of your seat. I was popping Cheerios and Peach Yogurt Melts in your mouth throughout so you were quite content. Blues Clues the movie musical was playing on the tv so you were bouncing up and down during the jumpier tunes.

The weekend before was July 4th weekend. We went on our very first family vacation with Raelie and her Mommy and Daddy to Avalon, NJ. You and Raelie experienced many first together as well! First time in a pool, first time on a carousel. The Mommies and Daddies enjoyed Kohr Brothers frozen custard, Shriver's salt water taffy, Johnsons caramel popcorn, and fudge from the Fudge Kitchen. At one of the groceries you rode in the cart for the first time.

But I guess what has been the most exciting thing in the past few weeks is that you are truly walking more and more each day! You started at a few steps at the end of June and now you are walking up to 10 steps all by yourself! You are totally comfortable walking holding just one of our hands. During our vacation you made a sport out of running back and forth in your playpen. What a trip!

So, in just a few weeks, we will be celebrating your 1st birthday. We are having a BBQ party at Cunningham Park with friends and family. Even Lola Auntie Yoly will be coming all the way from Seattle to join the festivities! A week after that we will be going on our first plane ride together with Lola Aida and Lolo Ernie to the Philippines! Daddy will follow a few weeks later. I am so excited! I hope you are too!

Love you always and forever,
Mama

These Feet Were Made for Walkin'

Dude i'm at the beach
Originally uploaded by siraulo

So, in keeping with my "promise" not to wait monthly to do a full month update, which obviously was not working out, I have an announcment: My boy is walking!

Mom (or Owa, as Lukas calls her), was starting to get worried that, month 11 was just around the corner and he showed absolutely no interest in walking. I mean, he was definitely "cruising" across the couch, along the coffee table but his primary mode of movement since April has been to crawl. Crawling EVERYWHERE over and under and climbing anything he can get on with breakneck speed. So last week we started to play the walking game. Mom (or Dad or B or Auntie/Lola Eva or Uncle Carlos) and I would sit across from each other and we'd have Lukas walk one to the other. The first couple of times, he would not budge until his hand could reach the other persons hand. Otherwise, he would just slink down to the ground, purposely weaken his knees so we wouldn't even be able to get him to stand. After a few tries the very first time, he was able to take at least one step - a split second - without a hand. Then he would cry as if being on his feet was torture. Then we upped the clapping and "yay-ing." He LOVES the praise so much so that he will give us the biggest smile, sometimes even shriek in delight and clap along with us. He totally waits for the applause. And everyday, we would pull farther and farther apart to the point that now he can get about 7 to 8 steps in between and sometimes he just wants to turn right around and keep going back and forth. A few days ago, he even got up the nerve to let go of the couch and walked a few paces to me! Now if only he would slow down, he would walk with much better balance. But of course, our kulit Kidlat insists on living up to his middle name, hahaha!

Monthly Letters...

My sleeping drummer boy
Originally uploaded by siraulo

As I attempt to begin this month's letter, I am lying on my stomach on the living room of your new home. You are in the playpen next to me and we are watching Elmo "guesting" on Oprah. You are now lying down drinking your milk, holding the bottle all by yourself. And now you are doing a mix of a song and gurgle with your milk. You are a funny kid. I realize I will not be able to write monthly letters again.

The boy that made me a MOM

Build-a-bear
Originally uploaded by siraulo

May 12, 2008

Letter 8, Month 9 1/2

Dear Lukas,
Thank you for coming into this world and making me a mom, specifically YOUR Mom. I don't think I'm going to be able to write my monthly letters to you but I will still try. I feel like every month I have been saying you keep us so busy, but this month, I really mean it!

It seems that the more independent you get, the less time I have to do anything else but watch you! You are now an expert crawler, stair (and just about everything else) climber, and gurgler-babbler extraordinaire. You are eating pretty much everything and now I can just mash your foods rather than put it in the food processor. You gnaw on pita breads and just yesterday at Villa Rustica, you enjoyed a freshly made foccacia bread. You definitely know good food.

So, I know our original plan was to wait until you turned 1 before we would cut your hair but look at yourself! Your hair is just ridiculously long and constantly in you eyes. After Daddy and I watched IronMan yesterday at Atlas Park, we discovered a new store called Frankie's Playce. It's a store with a party room AND hair salon just for kids! So one of these Saturday mornings we will take a special trip to get your very first haircut. Although I have to make a confession. Last month, I couldn't take it anymore and trimmed your bangs. Don't worry, I saved a lock of the hair I cut. It is already growing back!

Okay, that's all for now...I'll do more updates instead of waiting every month to write your letters...

I love you soooooo much!

Love always,
Mama (or as you seem to be saying lately, Nanay)

At a(nother) playground...

At a(nother) playground...
Originally uploaded by siraulo

Baby and I will spend this week exploring various playgrounds in our neighborhood...This week I would like to visit these places:

Hall of Science
Queens Zoo and/or the nearby carousel
Queens County Farm

...let's see how it goes...