Luke's Third Thanksgiving

There. Got your attention. 10 months old and three Thanksgivings?

First: Nov. 2006--still a belly inhabitant, a month-and-a-half before exit.

Second: Oct. 2007--Canadian Thanksgiving with the Armstrong-Gouthro-Rose clan in Winnipeg.

Third: Yesterday--all by ourselves. (By choice. Too tired to do anything else. The Sorbellos all headed to the South Bay to spend a couple of days with Sam's family, who are absolutely wonderful; but the Armstrongs were just plain pooped to be anything but party poopers. See last blog entry if you need a reminder of why we are all tuckered out.)

Pictures of The Armstrong Three Thanksgiving will come, we assure you. But first, some shots of the previous few days with our recovering Sicko (who still isn't sleeping, by the way).


Luke has mastered the art of begging. Usually, though, he doesn't beg for a chocolate cookie--most times he simply wants "up." So his wish is always granted. (Got to seize these moments while they still happen!)


A couple pictures of Luke with his mama.




Luke has discovered a number of variations on the game of Peekaboo--"hiding" under his hat, "hiding" behind the bars of his crib, and now even "hiding" by looking down at the floor, then coming up to a joyous, "PEEKABOO!"


The classic game of Peekaboo. Happens every mealtime. Hiding behind the (now very grimy) curtain. "Where's Lukey?"


"THERE he is!!!"


After a few rounds of Peekaboo, Luke thinks he's really funny.


But later his serious warrior face comes on.


Yes?


Looking up with wonder at...


...a clothespin. (AHA!)


What does a baby do with a clothespin? (Why ask? Duh.)


Our little Curious George at work.


Thanksgiving morning, all dressed up: "Shall it be Oxford or Cambridge this fine morning, gentlemen, for a cup of Earl Gray tea?"






"UP!"


Luke now has mastered his second official word: BALL. He loves it. He shouts it out whenever he sees a ball. It is so fun to see him discover language, and the lightbulbs have definitely turned on about sounds conveying meaning. But we gave him so much attention for saying "ball" that now everything is a ball. This picture captures him in the middle of saying his favorite word. We called Gramma in Winnipeg and let her hear it too. (She also got to hear Luke answer the question, "What does a fire truck say?" He answers with a high-pitched siren.)


Hanging out Thanksgiving morning, just playin' with a spoon...


Luke is still obsessed with books, particularly "Pat the Bunny" and "Goodnight Moon." Here he reads "Goodnight Moon" while indulging in his latest kick: to sit on the floor with a book in front of him and "read" it, turning each page and examining the picture, then reaching the end, slamming it shut, turning it over, and starting all over again. Sometimes he even "reads" upside-down! (What talent.)


Well done, Goodnight Mooner!


Luke is not as enthralled with the Internet cord these days, but he did seem to be entertained by the fact that the cord was hidden behind the couch cushions instead of underneath the couch. Now there's something funny for ya.


With one hand on Dad's Bible, Luke was our Thanksgiving preacherman. Sermon title: "BALL!"


Luke appears not to have inherited his mother's posture.


First taste of Daddy's morning Postum! Mom says, "YUCK!" Dad says, "Thatta boy."


Luke says, "More please!" ("Heil Postum!")


After indoor shenanigans, it was time to bundle up and head outside to an empty Poppy and Grammy's house to do laundry and eat pumpkin pie. (They left us a whole pie!!!) (THANKS!!!) First, a family photo in the bathroom mirror. (Not sure whose idea that was.)


Look at Luke's face to see how much he enjoys being kissed by his mother.


Something was really funny about this picture. Luke is getting a jolly kick out of something.


Finally outside on Thanksgiving morning with our squishy baby Eskimo!








"OK, enough pictures already."


Zoning out.


This is what we mean by doing laundry at the Sorbellos' Laundromat. Load 'er up...


On our way back home with clean clothes and tummies full of pumpkin pie, a happy guy! (His toes were just tickled.)


Later in the afternoon, we headed out for a walk in the UC Davis Arboretum. Of course we couldn't go without Luke's red limo.


Luke loves to drag things that he dangles out of the wagon--whatever he can get his hands on.


"Look what I got!"


Savoring his precious possession.


"What do you have Luke?" "BALL!"


All things are edible in Lukeyworld.


Sharpening the end of his stick. All the better to poke his eyes out.




The Armstrongs (minus Bethany) all love their palm trees... Richie is training Luke young.


Funny how in parents' attempts to get their kids to look at the camera, they are the ones who end up looking weird.


When Nick and Beth (PhD friends and neighbors only a few steps away) found out that we weren't traveling for Thanksgiving after all, they let us join their evening feast. And boy what a feast it was.


Luke has taught us more than we have taught him. One thing he has reminded us is the value of noticing and appreciating the most mundane things, because if you think about it, they really aren't as boring as we think they are. On Thanksgiving, he and Timothy were very thankful for a cardboard box.