Day 4

Well, the new beam is up, one door is framed out, and we have had our first (and ONLY) kitchen project snafu. We can't find any tile to match what is already in the kitchen, so it looks like we need to replace the flooring. Not cool. But, on the upside, we didn't love the floor tile, and it's only money, right? RIGHT?!?!
Anyway, here are some photos...

End of Day 1

Wow. Please note the metal nail embedded in the ancient knob and tube wiring.

Before

Now, what these shots don't show is that the drawers and cabinets don't close, or don't open, easily. The oven door is an obvious bust, but the burners are also unpredictable. When you use the sink, an almost steady drip of water is slowly destroying the wall under the window. And the garbage disposal. Don't get me started. See how the fridge doesn't live with the other appliances? Not cool. Also, the attractive lighting has really worn out it's welcome. But still, it is kind of cute and cozy and vintage, right. I think you'd be over that initial feeling after two days. Or one.

Merry Christmas!

New words this week: Hi, Car, Cheese. He is still working on please and thank you, I just know it.

Some photos from last month....

Correction

I don't think that he really said water. But he does say cheese. That is documented.

I just couldn't go on another minute having you think he says water. Now that that is out of the way...

Little man is still the snugs. He has gotten into the holiday spirit by being even more cozy and just running up and hugging me all the time, and then does a few little pats with his little man-hands just for good measure. He also does this to dogs and cats and pictures of people and trucks.

I am going to post some 'before' pictures of our kitchen because our kitchen plans were approved by the city and today I ordered the cabinets. We have the appliances in the basement, a sink, and a faucet. Soon, our kitchen will be arriving in the 21st Century! I'll keep you posted!

xoxox
R

He is a genius!

He says ball and water now! Not that well, but he is really talking!!!

Don't get me started....

I know it is so pathetic that I haven't posted in a month. Terrible. Also terrible the lack of photos that this post will have. But stories! I have stories for you!

So the other day, I was in the hallway, and Lucas was walking from his room to the living room. He almost made it past the bathroom door, but did a double take and backed up to walk into the bathroom. He pulled his little potty (which he doesn't use yet) next to the sink, pulled a cup off the sink, turned on the water, filled up the cup, and started chugging. He only stopped to look at me looking at him with water dumping all over his belly and the faucet on full blast to laugh hysterically.

Lucas is quite the puzzle fanatic, too. He dumps the pieces of the puzzle out, and compares each piece to the board and really thinks....really really hard....and then when he puts it in just right, he nods his head and moves on to the next one. So smart!!!

No big changes on the talking front. He can say mommy, loddy doddy (daddy), oh wow, hi, and no. I can't wait until his funny little babbles turn into real sentences so I know what is going on in that head!

I do know what is going on outside that head....tons of hair! Sometimes he looks a little Donald Trumpy. If only he didn't hate getting his hair cut so much, he wouldn't look like such a little ragamuffin. His hair has just about lost any red that it had, and is just straight up blonde. He is supreme. And handsome. But I digress.

No more bottles at bed-time! Our biggest little one just gets a few moments of snuggley togetherness and then I heave him over the side of the crib and he snuggles his pillow and that is it! Bedtime! I just don't advise trying this without the pillow. He really loves it.

We decorated the Christmas tree today, and Lucas still is a little concerned about having a tree inside. He keeps on picking up the needles off the floor and trying to put them in the vacuum cleaner. I love that. He keeps taking off the ornaments and then putting them up and marveling at his work. Genius!

I promise I'll try to put up some more photos.
xoxox

Lucas Talks to the Ducks

So, we went to Little Farm in Tilden Park right here in Berkeley, and Lucas just went coocoo for the duckies.


Check him out, he is like the 'Duck Whisperer', except he was a little louder.


Or a lot louder.

Hey there!

Here is my future clothing designer....watch out Project Runway!

Halloween!

Seriously! Because he never stops moving, it was hard to capture the grandeur. Try to piece it together from the photo montage!

We've got photos!

Hey there, Aunt Lainey is hooking me up with some computer skills right now so I can upload photos!

Love this little guy!

It's been a month....shame on me!

But seriously, I have been busy!

I went to Spain, and then to Lainey's wedding! I know, I know, you are thinking, who cares about you, we want to know about the baby!

He is officially no longer a baby. Walking, running, molars, talking (sort of), and major high-fiving are my little one's newest tricks.

The talking thing has us in a tizzy. Trust me, this kid can communicate, but he really says 'no', 'mamammmamamamamamama', and the occasional 'oh boy' and 'oh wow', he just doesn't say much. He babbles, yes. He follows directions, yes. But talking, not. When we hang out with Aunt Becky and Ruby, he seems like a mute. A cute, very hungry mute, but still a mute.

Anyway, not a problem, he is supreme, and will talk soon. I just hope he tells me he loves his mom.

I got to spend some time in Spain with Annamarie, and did we ever have fun! We had wine, tried to find trouble, saw an opera, walked till our feet hurt and had to soak our feet in a hot tub, people watched, and enjoyed some togetherness while in Barcelona. I was so lucky to have her visiting me since I was really missing my little guys. Anna is awesome. Totally awesome.

Ben's Mom, Susan, was here for the week I was in Spain, and I only got to see her briefly, and through jet lagged eyes. Bummer! I wish we had had some more time together, but I know that Lucas and Ben enjoyed every moment with her. I may take her with me to Spain next year!

Aunt Lainey's wedding was awesome! It was so great to spend time with my grandparents, parents, and Miri and the kids. Lucas was so happy to be with his cousins, and does he ever love his Aunt Miri!

We are just so lucky to have such a wonderful family. Ben and I say all the time how lucky we are, but when I think about how rich we are in love, I just can't stand it!

I am running into another 'lack of memory' problem, so although I have bazillions of photos and videos, I can't post a thing...yet!

But here is the good news....

Did you know that Lucas can walk backwards? It is really fun to watch his face when he is walking forward and thinks, "Hey, why I don't throw my junk in reverse and give these people something to talk about?"

He also likes to scream with joy when someone opens the medicine cabinet in the bathroom. That could mean he'll be a doctor, right?

I have photos of the baby 'helping' in the garden that I will post tomorrow.

R

Impetigo

Google it. Not cool. Baby has it. Also has creams to stop it, but let me assert that it is not cool.

Boogie Down

This was from a few weeks ago, but get a load of these moves, people. He definitely has his own style. I thought you needed a video!

Good Times

Well, our heat wave is over. It was two days. Two days above 70 degrees. Big whoop.

Enjoy these photos!

Baby's first pupusas!





I am Lucas. I love this chair. I love Cheerios. I love Aunt Lainey's house.





First ride on Tilden's Steam Train.
He loves it. Or does he?
Actually, he was heartbeats away from falling asleep the whole ride, but got a little nervous in the tunnel. But, he was super duper cozy during the whole ride, so I was in Lucas heaven. Have I ever mentioned how cozy he is?!?!




Three generations of Schefers men.

Sigh

At this very moment, everyone's favorite Lucas is screaming his lungs out trying to avoid falling asleep.

Man, is it awful.

Can I go in yet?

How bout now?

Oh, I think he is asleep.

I just didn't know I could ever love a little person so very, very much.

He IS asleep!

See, that wasn't so bad. I don't know what you were stressing out about.

Jeez.

What a weekend!

Man, did we have a fun weekend. And, it involved a day of actual....wait for it....sunshine!

I celebrated the sunshine by getting a raging neck sunburn, but we all have our crosses to bear, right? What a dope.

Anywho...


I have lots of photos to post, but running low on energy. I know you'll love this video, though!

Cheers to you all!

Panda

I love this girl. She has been a super great (and at times, super bad) dog. For the past five years she has been with us, and we have had so many laughs and adventures with her. I just love her.

Photos...Videos...Good Times!

The world's coziest Lucas.

Incidentally, and this has nothing to do with anything, I think this kid is going to have a gap between his two front teeth. And, he is slightly allergic to strawberries.

On to the videos!


Not that exciting a video, just thought he was cute and I love that green sweater. See how I must hide my food? It is just survival, people!


Entirely too cute. I wonder where he gets these moves?

Invasion of the Toe-Eater?

Man, he thinks he is funny.

It is ON!

Let the walking begin.

Photo-less update

Sad, but so true, the lack of computer space means no photos today. Also sad, but true, is that I have tons of cute photos and videos to share with you.

I just love this little person more every day. He is really so funny and cracks me up. For one, he is a little mischievous devil! You may know that of late he has become super in love with his pacifier. Not as much as he is in love with a good laugh. Just wait till you see the video of him crawling past my feet, looking at me, looking at my feet, and laughing. Then he spits out the pacifier and starts to BITE MY TOES! And laugh like a little crazy nut! I recorded it on video. But you can't see it yet. Wanna buy me a new computer with tons of memory? Anyone? Is this thing on?!?!

In other news, Lucas is walking. Not that we should be sooo surprised, but he is really doing it. Don't get me wrong, he takes about 10-15 steps and then looks like he's going to explode with pride.

I, too, might explode with pride. I was just folding laundry ( I know, what a thrill), and just can't believe how big he has grown and that all that he is able to do these days. He is a snuggly little one, and can really give a great hug. He laughs so hard whenever I try to teach him a few sign language signs like I am the nutty one. He shares his food with me and looks so pleased as if I would perish if he didn't share a cheerio or strawberry. And, man, does he love to throw food over the highchair for Panda. Panda likes that, too. What strikes me the most about this little person is that he is so much his own person. He may have my hair and Ben's lips, but he takes every opportunity to show us he is Lucas.

Lucas had his second official haircut. Let's just say it could look a little better. I tried to fix it. Let's just say it could look a little better. I am sort of glad there is no photographic evidence of this haircut. Yikes.

On other fronts, I am sleepy and heading to bed. I swear I'll find a way to post photos soon.
xoxoxo
R

Peanut Butter Update

After much hemming and hawing, nervous hand wringing, and procrastination, we have given Lucas a taste of peanut butter.

He is alive and well.

Now you can rest easy.

Big Night Out

Ben and I went out to dinner the other night, and Lucas chaperoned. We had to buy him his own dinner. This kid is going to cost us an arm and a leg.
But just look at him in the candlelight with his crayons and everything. He is more delicious than dinner. See how he shares with his mommy? (PS, he did not eat the fries, but devoured the grilled cheese)

But Baby REALLY loves drt!

Can you get a load of this kid?!?!

Baby Loves to Vacuum!

Lucas loves clean almost as much as mommy. As soon as he learns to walk, I just know he will vacuum!