Lucas eats pears

Pureed avocado didn't go over so well, but I redeemed myself as a baby chef by preparing pureed pears for Lucas.  They were a big hit.  I must thank Lucas' grandmother, Mimi, for giving us a wonderful baby food making machine, the Beaba Babycook.  It has made making meals for Lucas so easy.  It is compact and simple.  It steams and purees food all in one machine.  It comes with great instructions and I am amazed at the amount of food I can make for Lucas with just a few fruits or veggies.  Three pears costing under $4 made about fifteen meals for Lucas.  Fifteen containers of store-bought baby food is close to $15.  So way to go, Mom!  Thanks for the great gift.  Here is a link to a more in-depth description of the awesomeness of the Beaba Babycook and, as usual, below are more pictures of Lucas.

Pears are so good that I think I will take over this whole process.

Bite of pears, bite of duck.  Thanks, Aunt Ryan, for the wonderful rubber ducky!

I've got my duck, my pears, and a lot of attention.  I am content.

What else can I do with this spoon?

A dirty face, a dirty bib, and a boy doing the full-belly-stare-off-into-space.  Nap time awaits! 

It's not easy eating green

A lot of new and wonderful things have been going on in Lucas' world.  A few weeks ago Lucas ate cereal for the first time.  Now that he is six months old we have started solids.  Our first try with solid food was pureed avocado.  I thought avocado would be a good first food because the likelihood of an allergic reaction is slim, it is easy to prepare, and it was endorsed by a pediatrician's wife.  Also, Lucas' mom--yours truly--loves guacamole.  I thought fondness for all things avocado was definitely ingrained in Lucas' DNA and he would adore his first solid meal of pureed avocado.  Yeah, that didn't happen.  What did happen was this.

A happy baby eagerly awaits his first bites of solid food.

This is not what I expected.

Do you see the tear forming in my right eye?  That means I HATE THIS.

I'm two more spoonfuls away from having a major meltdown.

I am stunned.  I just didn't think it could ever happen to me.

Let me out!  No more!

Lucas at 23 weeks

I am going to have to get more creative with Lucas' posing for the weekly pictures.  If you look at the weekly picture posts there is a recurring theme. 

Play yard?  Check!

Late at night?  Check!

Lucas lying on his back?  Check!

Lucas wearing a sleeper?  Check!

Lucas smiling?  Check!

*sigh* 

Being a stay-at-home mom in graduate school means that I am in the business of putting out fires.  As important as it is for me to document the journey and share it with family and friends, making sure that everybody is fed and clean takes priority.  I acknowledge that our weekly pictures are most likely predictable.  I will do my best to spice things up a bit.  If possible.  While I take a class.  And work on a project due in an hour.  On a computer with Windows in Polish.  One-handed.  With a crying baby.  Who needs food.  And is covered in poop. 

In other words, stay tuned for more pictures of Lucas smiling and wearing a sleeper while lying down in the play yard late at night!

The yellow and green turtle you see next to Lucas is a Christmas gift from his Aunt Dona.  It lights up and plays music and Lucas loves it!

I'm such a good sport and always smile for my mom!

Lucas at 22 weeks

These pictures epitomize our lives as parents.  It's getting late.  We are tired.  The baby is tired.  The sheets don't match.  Way too many activities that used to go on outside the bed are now happening in the bed.

Lucas poses mischievously.

Big grins help make the world go 'round.

It's good to be king!

We are getting tired.

I'm so happy to be developmentally capable of holding and mouthing this sign!

Lucas at 21 weeks

My little boy is 21!  I'm pleased that he celebrated this "birthday" by playing with his toys and drooling instead of going downtown for a wild night.

All the cool kids arch their backs when being put in the car seat.

These signs are getting more and more tasty!

Lucas is temporarily distracted.

Pitiful or cute?  You decide.

Kung Fu sign action

When do we start solids, Mom?

Lucas at 20 weeks

Dad isn't wearing polyester?

Overalls are so tasty!

Lucas enjoyed posing for his week 20 pictures in front of the Christmas tree on Christmas Day with his dad.  Lucas fell asleep while we opened presents, but I am sure that he will stay awake next year!

Lucas meets Santa

Santa visited our local toy store and I took Lucas to tell Santa what he would like for Christmas.  Lucas slept while we waited in line and did very well with Santa.

Not even Mom's flash can disturb Lucas' deep car seat slumber.

Pre-Santa slumber continued

The Big Guy looks pretty happy, but Lucas is slightly unsure.

Santa shares some words of wisdom with Lucas.

Santa and Lucas express their dislike of Santa's whimsical toy store chair.

Santa's white glove reminds me of something...

 

 

 

 

 

Yes, it is wrong.  Santa, I'm sorry, but it was totally worth it.  Coal next year for me?  Bring it on!

Lucas' acting debut

Recently I was approached by a fellow parishioner at church and was asked if Lucas would be willing to play the role of "Baby Jesus" in the annual Christmas pageant.  Apparently, the trend these days is to have a live Baby Jesus.  Here are some pictures of Lucas as Baby Jesus.  I played the role of "Mary's midwife," basically an adult who holds Baby Jesus amidst a sea of children in costume.

Lucas did very well.  He did no crying or anything else unacceptable in the theatrical/biblical world.  One of the children playing the role of a sheep did not do so well.  He saw mom and dad and scrambled to leave the altar and go sit with them.  Unfortunately for said sheep, he was strategically placed between two older siblings who tackled him every time he made an attempt to flee.  Eventually the little sheep escaped the clutches of his well-intentioned siblings and ran away to be cuddled by mom.

It was all very cute.  I'm sure Lucas will be a runaway sheep in two years.

Mom, Dad, and Lucas pose before the pageant begins.

Joseph, Mary, Baby Jesus, and Mary's Midwife

Dad shoots another picture of everyone before the show starts.

What a happy little sheep!

Lucas gets into character.  After all, Baby Jesus was a pretty happy kid, wasn't he?

Stretching never hurts before a big event!

Mom, I'm so tired!  Will it ever start?

Lucas gets some pre-show encouragement from Mom.

Are they serving milk?  I think I see milk!

Here is the whole gang.  Everyone is happy for now!

The sheep is getting a little restless...

Just a few...more...steps and I'm outta here!

Please don't make me stay!

I don't want to be here!

Notice the lack of sheep and the look of defeat on his siblings' faces.

It is so nice to rest in my car seat after a long morning on stage!