Spring

Our gardens are so beautiful this year. Everything is blooming in our yard, even our pond plants are blooming. Looks like the fish have had babies once again and Maggie has helped us spread our strawberry patch all over the yard. (We never actually get to taste the strawberries before she’s eaten them all.)
Luke loves the outdoors. Many times throwing a tantrum at the sliding glass door as we let the dogs out and we don’t let him go out with them. Tantrums are becoming part of our lives now that Luke is approaching 18 months. He’s not talking much but sure can scream and whine for whatever it is he wants. I’m starting to think he’s a bit spoiled. Notice his Pottery Barn Kids arm chair that I gave in and had to get it for him. (I think it was more for Grandpa then for the baby.) We also got him a tiny cabin play set for the deck. He loves it!

Grandpa Ed with Luke and the dogs

The binks will go soon... but how cute is that?

Luke's new cabin

The pond

The backyard

More flowers

The Koi

In & Out... Luke's favorite game

Time...

In the last month, Brad and I have discovered how little time we have. We're both wrapped up in our jobs as well as trying to maintain a normal home life with Luke. (Whatever "normal" means.) To add to all of that, I have decided to go back to school. I start classes on the 12th of May. I haven't even started classes and I'm already swamped with homework. I'm in a program that the U defines as the "pre-MAcc" program. Basically, for the summer and fall semesters, I'm taking a few cources to be elegible to apply for the MAcc program (Masters of Accounting). I will start the Masters program January of 2009, and then sit for the CPA exam in January of 2010. On top of all of this, Luke has become more independent, but also become more of a handful every day. He's all over the place. I try to take him to the park every day for a bit. He loves to pick up the wood chips and put them in the slide. He loves the slide and just walking in the grass. He's starting to babble in the form of sentences and has figured out how to feed himself with a spoon. We continue to be amazed with all the things he does... I'm posting a bunch of pictures since it's been so long since we've posted anything.


Naked... looking for bink's under his bed.



"Oh... think I got one"

Didn't get it, but I have a messy face!

Lot's of bink's this morning...(Look close, there are 4)


Loves bathtime.



Not qutie ready to wake up this morning

Helping mommy?

Hanging with Daddy
























So sweet...

The Flu...

Well, all of us in the Pierce family came down with a para-flu virus. Apparently it's a strain of the flu that is going around that the flu shot doesn't protect you against. All three of us have it all at the same time. Brad took Luke to the doctor early this week thinking we all might have strep... It hasn't been fun, but we've been making the best of things. Luke has been enjoying the added amount of times he gets a bottle during the day (so we can force more liquids), Brad and I have been eating ice cream and popcicles. It's about the only thing that relieve the sore throat! Luke has also begun to really enjoy Playhouse Disney and it's been quite nice for mom and dad to be able to put something on for him to watch while we try to get some much needed rest. No matter how sick Luke is, he doesn't seem to want to slow down much.

It has been quite a month for us. Brad will be starting a new job at Qualified Personnel next week. He's kind of taken a career change and is now going to be a recruiter. So all of you out there that ever need a job...you know who to call.

Luke is all over the place these days. Can't turn your back for a minute. He likes to flush the toilet and play with everything that is not considered a toy... even the dogs. He now thinks its fun to sit on the dogs. I'm not so sure how long they will allow this to happen as he weighs more then they do. Other then sitting on the dogs, he's actually quite gentle with them.

Luke likes to climb on everything. This is one of his toys that he takes apart and uses it as a chair.

Luke and Scottie Reams. They're only a week or two apart. Both hungry and waiting for the parents to stop talking and feed them. =)

I told you he likes to sit on the dogs... particularly Molly.

The crazy things we do...

Time out? Not really... Luke decided that he was going to put himself in that corner. He hung out there for awhile. It was actually very funny, but who knows why he does that.















Who does he look like? Maybe a good mix of both? But the hair is definitely daddy's.

Luke loves his bath. He's finally learned how much fun it is to splash and get mom wet. But mom thinks it's funny to do crazy things with his hair.

The Little Guy

Our little man... he's got such a personality. The dogs have fallen in love with him. Luke has learned to throw the dogs toys and has figured out that they like to play fetch.







Auntie Kat gave Luke is first rocking chair for his birthday. He loves to sit in it and watch his "shows". Look at that hair... don't you think it's time for a hair cut?





Finally... a hair cut! How cute is that?! it will only last a week or two so enjoy it while it lasts!

Growing so Fast!

Luke love's bananas. Banana was his first word!
Luke walking!




Luke is getting so big! I know I say that at every post, but it's so true. He's walking well now. Looks a bit unstable but gets around quite well. We've had a lot of head bumps recently, lots of tumbles down the stairs and head bumps on the walls and floor. We've found that we can't do anything but chase after him. We've recently had to put up all kinds of safety things. Most recently we've had to put a lock on the toilet. Not only does he find it fun to drop things in it, but he also thinks it's fun to stick his hands in the toilet. Sick, I know. I had to throw him back in the tub to disinfect him, and then we decided it was time to get locks for the toilets!

Anyway, here are some fun pictures for you to enjoy....

Even more pictures...

More Fun Pictures

Big Boy Now!

Well, I think now that Luke is one, it's time to quit calling him "my baby". He's turning into a toddler right before our eyes. I took a day to just follow him around the house. I let him basically go where ever he wanted. I followed him with my camera and it was pure entertainment. The dogs have become quite fond of Luke. They chase his toes when he crawls fast, they bring him their toys, he throws them or plays tug-of-war. He's also learned that the pug's basket is fun to climb in and out of. He's talking quite a bit now. Not that we understand what he's saying, but he sure does think it's important. He's finally calling me "Mama" again, instead of "Dad". He will bark like the dogs and points at everything and says "dat" (that). Luke finally got a hair cut the day after Christmas, but it still seems to be out of control. At least it’s a bit shorter. =)