These aren't the droids you're looking for...

A momentous occasion: watching Star Wars with dada for the first time. 

He was mesmerized. Ken was so proud. 

Boots on!

Remember how Luke kept trying to put on his shoes all by himself? He has finally figured it out! Now he happily wears shoes all day.

My twenty minute breaks are gone. 

Ready for Church!

Kitchen Helper 5

One of Luke's favorite activities includes "cooking with mama", which means he gets to stand on a chair next to me while I cook. (don't worry, I keep him away from all sharp and hot objects) Unfortunately, with his newfound sense of independence, watching is no longer enough and he must interact with something. So I usually end up giving him a bowl and some spices and let him shake to his little heart's content. The other day I gave him a bowl and told him to transfer the recently-made guacamole into it, which he did enthusiastically. I looked away for a second, turned back around and found this:

Guacamole a la toddler spit. 

22 Months

Man Luke is a talker. I mean, with Kenny as a father what else could he be, right? He loves repeating everything we say and has an incredibly large vocabulary, busting out with new words all the time. He also loves music and sings as often as possible; he picks up on song lyrics and tunes very well and will mimic songs he hears on the radio when we are driving in the car. Some of his new favorite songs include Stevie Nicks' Edge of Seventeen and Bill Withers' Ain't No Sunshine, but he is also a big fan of Old McDonald. 

And oh, is he independent. His most often used phrase is "Lukey do it", and includes things from putting on his socks and shoes to pouring his own milk. He will spend literally twenty minutes trying to put his feet into his shoes, refusing all help from me, until I finally have to pick up him and the shoes and let him continue trying in the car. His bitterest tears are shed when we have to squash his little independent dreams. 

Luke is also a little tease. He loves testing his not-always-so-patient parents with things he knows aren't allowed, and will do so with a little side glance and a little smirk to get you going. He has also completely stopped sharing with kids he doesn't know (the nice lady at the gym daycare has told me several times this week that he won't let the other kids play with any of the toys). But he is also very sweet and empathetic, and voices his concern and offers hugs and kisses whenever we seem unhappy.

Sitting on Sammy

And after being so worried earlier on that he was going to be uber risk-averse thanks to his uber risk-averse father, he has now overcome his fears of playgrounds, swings, and slides, and goes down and up any and all contraptions he can find. He desperately wants to be like the other big kids and climb up the big slides; I think he's way too big already. 

Infestation!

Look at the size of this thing! 

In our apartment! In our apartment! In our apartment! 

I mean, I've only seen bigger ones in zoos!

Blech. 

He is Risen

Happy Easter! 

Luke still didn't seem to really care about the whole egg-finding business, but he had a great time spending the day with surrogate grandparents Kay and Bill Harlan and surrogate aunt Grace! (and yes, that is his new Easter suit and dinosaur rainboots)