Luke's newest favorite thing is putting his hands in his mouth. There's a lot of drool involved and we got to wondering if he might have some teeth coming in. We thought, he's only 3 months and some change, it can't be that.
All Luke wants for Christmas is his two front teeth. But they are still working through. I thought that they were poking through, but they're not.
I know it's been some time since I posted. But we've been busy. We decided to go to Arizona this Thanksgiving because Greg's extended family would almost all be there(We missed you Gardners). Greg's mom, Debbie, was going early to a wedding so she invited Luke and I to come a little early so she could have more quality time with her only grand baby.
Luke and I flew out on Wednesday the 18th. Luke was very good on the plane. We left the house at 7am and arrived in AZ at 11(12 central) He gorged himself on milk drinking almost 24 oz on the trip. I was afraid that he would spit some of that up, or scream or have a blow out. But he didn't do any of that. Debbie and Grandpa Darger picked us up at the airport.
I saw Stefani and her twins on Wednesday, Alison and her twins on Thursday and we went to New Moon Friday sans babies. I liked the movie and the company. Thanks to Debbie and Donnie who watched the kids.
Each morning at Grandma and Grandpa Darger's house there was a morning walk, breakfast and then a crossword puzzle. Sometimes I went on the walk. Sometimes I made breakfast so it would be ready when Debbie, Luke and Grandpa Darger got back. (And snuck in a shower while my baby was gone.)
Donnie and Natalie came over and played games with us. We also got to see Annie, Toni, and Jamie within the first few days.
Friday night Greg flew down after work. I was so glad to see him. He must have been so lonely without his wife and child.
Luke and I were put in the master bedroom. That first night I got like no sleep. I remembered why Greg and I had kicked Luke into his own room. He is a very loud sleeper. He tosses, turns and grunts all night! I knew that my vacation would be miserable if I had to deal with that each night. So the 2nd night Luke slept in the walk in closet. I could only hear him when he cried, thank goodness.
Debbie had a ton of fun with Luke, holding him as often as was possible. He loved being held all the time.
Saturday night we went to Alison and Mike's to play games. We played games until after Mike fell asleep on his living room floor.
We went to church and had fun sitting with family. Sunday night we ate dinner and played games at Donnie's.
Monday we watched movies at Grandma and Grandpa Darger's house and played games.
Tuesday I was able to take Luke and go see my friend Chelsea Pace and her two boys. There was a slight error in my finding the right park. But it was so fun to see them. I'm glad that our vacations in AZ overlapped.
We also went to Stefani and Brett's house to play games and watch "UP". We ended up playing "Wits and Wagers" which we had just given them for Christmas. We told them to open it early so we could play it.
Wednesday I made toffee, pumpkin squares and pumpkin roll with my helpers at Donnie's house. The pumpkin roll didn't turn out at 100% but everything else did. My mom tells me that I should have let the pumpkin roll cool in the fridge 24 hrs before filling it. Oh well.
Wednesday afternoon the rest of my in-laws showed up. Mark, my father-in-law told Debbie that since she had come early, that now it was his turn to hold Luke whenever he wanted. And he did take advantage of that. He held Luke Thursday almost all day. We were so excited for Luke to meet Gary, Emilee and BJ.
Wednesday night the girls participated in the annual go to dinner and then set up the church tradition. We went to a delicious Mexican restaurant where we saw lots more family. Then we set up the cultural hall with tables and decorations so we could come the next morning with the food and eat.
Thursday we went to the church around 10:30 am. We ate at 11:30. Then we played games until 6? We cleaned up and went back home to play some more games before bed.
In other Thursday news, the church was broken into between the time we left on Wednesday and go there Thursday. The doors had all been locked. But the library door had been forced open and a tv, dvd player, copier and some other items had been stolen. So we spent some time with the police on Thanksgiving. I can't imagine that a person could get very much for that stuff, but whatever.
Friday we went to Annie's and played games and ate leftovers. We made cute hair clips under Toni's direction.
Saturday we basically did the same thing. The only difference was that Saturday was the couple night so all the little kids got banished after the BYU win back to Grandma and Grandpa's house. We had yummy chicken noodle soup for lunch and Panda Express for dinner. Then we played more games. Some people watched "Sasquatch," an old Disney movie about an indian. I played Hearts with Stef, Brett, Ladell and Annie.
Sunday we were able to go to Brightyn Steven's baby blessing. It was nice to be able to attend that family event.
Then we had dinner and played games at Donnie's house. Alison came over and played games with us while Mike slept in the den and the twins slept upstairs.
We meant to take a four generation shot with Greg's dad, but we forgot. So we just took one with Greg's Grandpa. One day Luke will look at the camera.
Us with Greg's grandparents
Luke with his great-grandparents
Monday morning we woke up at 3 (2 central) to get ready. Grandpa Darger took us the the airport at 3:45, our flight was at 6. We got back to Houston around 9:30. I dropped Greg off at work. I came home and crashed after a while. When Greg got home from work, he also took a nap. We had a great Thanksgiving vacation! It was great to see those that were there.
When Luke was about 6 weeks old, I walked into his room one morning and caught him sucking his thumb. Before that there was no sign at all that he sucked his thumb. I tried a few times to catch him with the camera but had limited success. See below.
But as the time goes by he has continued to suck his thumb. He mostly does it when he's sleepy/ing. But I think it's very cute and very handy. Because if he loses his thumb we're in trouble.
Happy Halloween! This is Luke in his dragonling costume. I made it.
Well, after the blow out. Please ignore the poo on his sock. His real costume has a red stomach.
Our creepy family.
Greg, the warlock and his dragonling minion.
Crazy stare.
The mage and dragon.
I also made my cape, vest and shorts.
Two month picture.
Luke is now two months old. He weighs 11 1/2 lbs. He is 23 1/2 inches. He may scratch his face but we don't put gloves on because he sucks on his hands and that keeps him sleeping through the night. We put a sound making toy on his stroller and he will kick to hear the noise. And the most exciting thing he is doing is smiling back.
Greg has been working with Exxon's executive loan program with United Way. We got to attend a barbecue fund raising event. You should have seen Greg pushing Luke around the office, showing him off. What a proud daddy. Luke was smiling at everyone and was well behaved the whole time. What a good baby.
Our newest addition. Greg finally got his x box 360. It's partly for Christmas. But he already busted it out.
He fell asleep on the way home from the store and Greg thought it was so funny looking that he wanted a picture. If you think it looks painful, you are right. Luke woke up crying because his head got stuck like that. Kinda looks photoshopped.
Luke napping on Daddy
We also recently had another fun visit. Merilee and Canute came to see Luke before they leave on missions. We played games and they fought over the baby. It was nice. (Merilee, please send some photos 'cause I didn't take any.)
This is a picture of Luke who is already 6 weeks old.
He's pretty happy.
Compare to his blessing day.
Doing exercise.
Such a big boy sitting up in his bumbo seat.
Going on a walk.
"I love staring at lights."
Halloween decorations.
Finally got some decor up in my house. Thanks to my in-laws visit.
Hope you like the pictures.
We recently took Luke in for his one month check-up.
He weighed 9 lbs 14 oz. 50% of kids weigh less than him.
He was 22 3/4 inches long. 90% are shorter than him.
The circumference of his head was 15 inches 50% have bigger heads than him.
Here are some cute shirts I recently made. (Read: Ironed on fabric)
These girlie ones I gave as a baby shower gift. My boy can't wear Hello Kitty.
These are the ones that Luke is now sporting.
I know I need to post more pics of my baby.
Don't wake the baby. This is my favorite picture of Luke so far.
We recently had Greg's parents come to visit. They had come to adore their first grandchild. It was really great to see them. We played games too.
Luke and Grandpa Mark.
A curious little guy.
All dressed up for his blessing.
So cute.
Three generations of Gessel men.
Luke with his grandparents.
Our little family.
Wide awake to go to his first Sunday meeting.
Luke and Grandpa Mark having fun.
Luke and Grandma Debbie. She would seriously hold him every moment she could. (Meanwhile I would sleep.)
Greg calming Luke.
Going on an evening walk.
We were very sad to see Greg's parents go. They were a great help and we had so much fun. Luke especially misses his morning walks with them.
We were very glad for all the help and support we got from Bonnie who has been living with us this summer. We didn't get a picture with her and Luke at the hospital, but she was his first aunt to hold him.
We gave Luke his first bath at home and decided we better take a photo.
Luke is very glad to have Grandma Debbie and Grandpa Mark visiting. He has loved being held constantly.
These are pictures that I took of Luke 2 minutes ago, asleep in his car seat. He is looking washed out because of the flash, but oh well.
