The one with a trip to provo.

Luca hasn't been too into participating in music class lately, but on Wednesday he basically led all the kids in a marching band down the hall with their recorders. That was adorable. I wish I had gotten more kids in the picture. 

We all headed down to provo after that and met Sara and her boys at byu. Our old neighbor, Todd Stilson had an exhibit up in the library there so we went to see it. It was strange. But I've learned to at least attempt to enjoy things from Sara, and really look at things. Thanks for that! 

We decided to walk over the bridge to the Bean Muesum so Kenz and Tony could see that too. We got some good exercise. 

Tony really like this museum with all the taxidermy animals. 

Then we got delicious coco bean cupcakes and headed to the river woods to meet Matt at Tucanos. 

That was the most important thing for Mackenzie to do here. She's been craving salty meat. It was beautous for her. And everyone else. 

We had three birthday cards to use too so it was successful! 

The one with bread and a shower.

Nicole got Luca and Grant the cutest matching jackets--and luca finally fits in his! We wore it to music class this week. 

Which included a new song, and a new activity. The tunnel. Oh man. Luca loved that thing. It's on my list for a gift for next gift giving holiday for sure. 

He had a hard time taking turns, we'll work on that. He went through more than anyone. 

Lately after nap time has been snuggle time. That's all luca wants to do--and have some milk of course--for a solid hour. Since he's been sick we have been snuggling to Frozen, but I think we will switch it up with some books and reading time this week. He's been sitting so good for Harry Potter lately. He even asks me to read! Yes. I am proud. 

He would not eat his oatmeal with any help from me. That resulted in some lovely fake crying. So I let him. 

Stop being so big child. 

Since its been so so so beautiful out we have been outside every day. I have been trying to think of outside toys to get for him, and then I remembered this irritatingly loud lawn mower! Perfect doe outside!! He likes to drag it around more than push. But in his defense the grass has yet to be cut this year and it's really long and lumpy. 

One of my favorite parts of outside playing. When he slowly backs up to sit on the step. 

Okay. Showers. Luca loves loves loves them. Way more than baths. He spent 40 minutes in there the other day. And I let him. We are going to be the source of a drought. 

He was just SO happy in there!!! It was beautiful for both of us. He was having a blast and loving his life. 

He spent the first half in there with no toys too--but he was still happy as anything! 

Then I realized he could have his bath toys in there of course. 

He just loves it. I'm so excited for the splash pad to open by us! He will love that so much--and bonus--it's only a block and a half from us!! 

More after nap snuggles. Seriously.y favorite part of the day. 

So Jose went to demo some of the recipes for the restaurant at Sysco yesterday, and he brought home more bread than a family of 20 could consume before it went bad. Literally. 

They are "samples" and by that they mean bags of 12 of every type of bread they make. So. Much. Bread. 

So we again, spur of the moment decided to do hamburgers that night and invite our neighbors over to judge the bread with us. We made little slidder guys so we could try more buns. We are so grateful Analia and Blake are always willing to help. :) 

 

We all ate so much and were basically in pain the rest of the evening but laughed and chatted away for hours. 

Then we did French toast for breakfast, and planned for pulled pork sandwiches for dinner.  We have bread coming out of our ears over here people. 

I feel terrible throwing so much away, so I'm thinking I'll post it on our neighborhood site tomorrow and tell everyone it's free, as long as they give us their opinions on it. Then we can decide which ones to use. 

Luca has been loving the bread though, he's asked for it several times today. Maybe he can finish it. 

Luca begged Jose to bring this giant piggy bank downstairs to me yesterday--I dumped some coins out and let him practice his fine motor skills. 

I've only done this one other time--when grant was getting a new brother and stayed with us--I couldn't believe he remembered. 

The tongue. It was out and all over the whole time. He was focusing real hard apparently. 

The one with a more connected day.

This mornings music class was so not the norm.  Luca had no desire to participate, he just wanted to stand against the garage door the entire time, so I sang and did everything all alone.  

He came over a few times, and took the things we were using with him, back over to the door.

We did a new song this week, that I particularly loved.  Pom-poms for, "We're all in this together" from high school musical.  I laughed when it started, and sang along in my head.

I was doing the laundry upstairs when Luca brought this container full of these paper flowers.  He always wants me to open them, but I never do, thinking I will use it one day--which will never happen.  So I finally gave in, opened it and let him play around for a bit.  We threw them around and stacked different colors for quite a while.  He loved it, and I realized I don't always have to say no.  It wasn't hard to pick them up, together, when we were done.  It occupied him for almost 15 minutes, and we just sat and laughed together.  

I just want to soak in all the time I have with him.  He needs love and I have it, I just have to be willing to step away from the things that don't matter, like my phone and the tv.  I am trying harder to do just that.  It worked today, and I intend on keeping it up.

Luca has wanted to be outside constantly lately.  It has been so nice out so I have been going out with him.  I found some balls in the garage, and he threw the soccer ball around for a solid hour, and ran around and collected some more rocks.

After Luca ran straight into the street--watching me all the while, knowing he shouldn't--he lost his outside privileges for a bit.   

In the interest of staying involved and connected today I got a cookie sheet out and put some cornstarch and water on it for him to play around in.

Sorry for the million pictures and un-edited and not cropped.  I put all my videos and pictures on the computer today, and they all got deleted from my phone before I had a chance to do anything, so I am doing this post from the computer.  Be proud, Sara!

He soon learned it wasn't delicious.

Although, that didn't stop him from trying to drink it.

I was stressed about the mess, but cornstarch and water is a snap to clean up!  It ended up everywhere after Luca splashed around in it, but it wiped right up!

When I was cleaning all of it up, he stood like this, arms out and head tilted for a good 5 minutes.

He got to go outside again when dad got home, and they ran around and played for a bit, then went on bike ride.  When they got home I was making dinner, and Luca wanted to stay outside so I let him go in the backyard.  If you can call it a backyard--dirt and rocks--but he didn't mind.  In fact I think he would prefer it stay like that forever.

My goal is to connect with Luca more and more each day.  He is starting to be independent and defy what I say to him, and when I am on his level he seems to communicate better with me.

I keep forgetting to add this into any post, so I am going to here.  These are some of the things Luca loves to do at 16 months old.

 He is getting so much better at communicating lately.  He signs so much, babbles constantly, and loves to repeat things we say to him.

He signs incredibly well and on his own when he needs something.

Please

Thank You

More

All Done

Help

He also combines the ones he needs to make mini sentences like "More, please"

We are working on getting names out at the end of the requests.

He also knows the sounds that a ton of animals make.  He is most skilled at the dog noises, and makes them whenever he sees one anywhere, outside, on tv, or in books.

He also knows, cows, cats, monkey, and can do a rabbit nose, and a fishey face.

He is all about learning new things, and we practice everyday.  I love this desire to learn, it makes everyday different and fun.