The Amazing Luke

It has been an amazing summer for Luke!! He has learned so much and is really growing up!! He was so disappointed that he didn't get to go to Kindergarten this year. He has asked me several times if we could just change his birthday so he could go ahead and go to school!! Every time he hears of someone else that DID get to go to Kindergarten, he burst into tears all over again! Perhaps that suggests that he is NOT, in fact, ready for school!!

Luke is, by nature, cautious and often timid when trying something new. He doesn't like to get close to animals, is shy around new people, and is always happier when someone else "goes first," especially if he's not completely comfortable. That's why his progress this summer is even more amazing!! He has really stretched himself and has been SO proud when he's tried something new and can do it!! Here are a few of his new tricks:

We went swimming a lot this summer, but Luke would never really venture much beyond the baby pool. But at the end of July/first of August, he decided to trust that a life jacket really would hold him up and a whole new world opened up!! He was so proud to be swimming without holding onto someone! He could jump in without anyone catching him and would swim across the whole pool!! Very cool!!

Luke has been riding a bike for a while and has a good friend across the street that loves to ride bikes. But Luke has always had his training wheels and Kaleb doesn't need them. We tried to take Luke's off one time, but it didn't work out so well! Then, mid-July, we tried again and he just took off!! The first day he could ride if someone got him started. The next day, he could "push off" and start himself! He was very proud!! Just for the record, they usually don't wear their helmets when they are just riding in the driveway!!

Luke has really started drawing a lot lately. His interests are pretty limited to drawing baseball fields and football fields. Here he is with Dad and his latest baseball picture:

Here he is with a new friend we found in the garage this morning!! Very surprising that he actually picked it up! I think Luke surprised himself - he was squeezing the poor thing so hard, the frog's stomach and eyes were bulging!

And after so many accomplishments, the only thing left to do is sleep!! His favorite place is in our bed, snuggled up next to his dad!!