Leighton's 2nd Birthday Party

Leighton had a great 2nd birthday party! Luke and I cannot believe that he is already 2.

Grandparents were here for a Thomas the Train themed party. Cake, balloons and presents made it a fun day.

We are so amazed that he is getting so big and that he is 2 years old. It doesn't feel like we have been parents for 2 years already! Time flies so we are trying to enjoy every moment.

Top 10 AMAZING things we enjoy in our 2 year old:

10. Teachability - He really is learning so much. He picks up on everything we do and copies it. He also is learning right from wrong, quiet quickly .... most days!

9. His Long Hair - I am biased but it is soooooo precious!

8. Brotherly Love - Leighton loves to help take care of McCabe. He gives him his bottle, plays with him, plays with him, shares toys, kisses his head, tries to make him giggle, like to be a part of getting him out of his crib. We hope their relationship continues to grow more and more.

7. Long Naps - Leighton is out for about 3 hours every afternoon! Though most days I start to miss him - it is nice to have a big chunk of time!

6. Desire to Succeeed/Desire For Independence - Leighton loves to try things and accomplish them by himself. He has started to try to cut with a fort and knife, he likes to put his own pants on, and tries to put his shoes on all by himself. He is growing a little more independant but not too much. 2 year olds are the perfect combo of independence and dependance; He still loves and needs us soooo much but there are few areas of independance that actually make my life a little easier.

5. His Joy - He is so full of Joy. His smile, attitude, personality, and the way he plays show that is pretty happy go lucky. You should see at 10 oclock when he gets his second wind.

4. Cuddle Time - I must note that this is very very hard to come by! It requires a pacifier and blanket or an injury.

3. Night Prayer Time - Luke prays with Leighton every night before bed and Leighton asks for it! Sometimes he says, "Mommy pray too!" It is so wonderful to know that he is starting to pick up on the fact that mommy and daddy pray!

2. "Toddler English" Communication- it is so fun to have conversations with him. His sentances are simple, but very easy to understand. Here are some great examples: "Water Ice Please", "Leighton Back Outside", "Leighton eat pizza lunch", "Bye-bye Daddy", "Cabe come too!" There are too many others to include here.

1. Voluntary Love - It is so wonderful to get a voluntary kiss or hug from him. It is so amazing to know that he loves us and wants us with him all the time. If feels great to loved so dearly. "I love you Mommy" is my favorite phrase!

Yard Work!

After an intense winter, the melted snow reveiled a lot of yard work! Leighton has spent a couple hours walking all over the yard picking up sticks that had fallen from the trees. He has also shoveled the thick patches of snow to spread it out to help the remaining snow melt faster! Luke has also been working hard, trimming bushes and raking.

McCabe hasn't been put to work yet. He gets too easily side tracked and wants to eat the mud and sticks! So he just watches and enjoys the breeze!

Of course we have some fun too. Leighton loves his 'motorcycle', his buckets and garden tools, his little trampoline, his new wagon and whatever else his little heart finds.

McCabe's 1st Food

McCabe had his first bite of green beans. Do not be deceived by the picture, he doesn't like it. He doesn't cry much, he just spits it out and smiles, and then refuses to open his mouth!

Leighton Carrying McCabe

This morning Leighton discovered that he could lift McCabe and take him wherever he wants to go. He also knows McCabe isn't supposed to be by the TV so he acts as Mommy's helper by moving McCabe away. Since his discovery this morning he has done this more than 20 times. McCabe laughs most of the time but it always ends with McCabe crying because he gets dropped or laid on.

Baby 3 will be a piece of cake if Leighton can carry McCabe everywhere for me!!!

Blessing #3

“From the fullness of grace we have received one blessing after another”

John 1:16

Baby Hukee #3 is 9 weeks old and is due October 11, 2010. Luke and I are so excited for another little one around here.

Please join us in praying that the Lord would knit this precious one together perfectly and that God would Perfect us, Prepare us, Provide for us, and Protect us!

Climbing on Daddy

Leighton and McCabe have a new favorite game! Leighton loves to climb on daddy, jump on him, sit on his face, and wrestle. As long as it isn't laying still and cuddling, Leighton loves to do it! McCabe will hear all the fun and crawl over to the couch, pull himself up and beg to join in the fun. Poor Luke comes home from long days and all that the boys want to do is beat him up! Luke loves this time with them. He wishes it would end with still, calm, quiet and cuddly boys, but it never does! They go a mile a minute until we put them into their beds.

The Ludemanns Visit

Grandma and Grnadpa Ludemann came to Des Moines for a visit at the end of February. Grandma got roped into playing in Leighton's bedroom. They spent a lot of time watching cars out the window, playing basketball, and throwing balls onto the bed.

Thanks for coming Grandma and Grandpa. I enjoyed getting to eat out a lot and Leighton enjoyed eating your clementines. You got Leighton totally hooked on them, which he thinks are oranges and says "orn!" We all had a great time! We are excited to see you again in a month for Leighton's 2 year birthday!

They also brought family pictures from Christmas. I haven't uploaded the one of the entire Ludemann/Miller/Hukee family yet, but here are a few of the good ones I have on my computer!

No, we don't have 3 kids ... yet! Leighton is torturing his poor cousin Hayden. This picture is just priceless. McCabe is being his usual self which is crying till mommy holds him. Leighton is being his usual self which is trying to push people heads down so he can sit on them (Luke is usually the victim in this game. I love to watch it ... especially when Leighton has a smelly diaper!).

Now McCabe is trying to copy Leighton, and Leighton has had enough of the sitting still. A little better, but still not quite the perfect pose! At least it is documented, right?

A Little Grass!!!

The past few days have reached the 30's here in Iowa! Believe it or not, after all the snow we have had this winter, I can actually see a little bit of the green grass in our front yard. The rest of the yard has a long way to go but this spot on the front hill has gotten just enough sun to keep our hopes for spring alive!

We also cannot believe that it is March! Leighton turns 2 years old this month and McCabe turns 9 months! Then in April, I turn 25, and in May, Luke turns 26. In June, McCabe will have his 1st birthday! Lots of birthdays are coming up for us which give us many reasons to celebrate and to be thankful to the Lord.

Eliza, Quinn, and Leighton

Dan and Meg Rude went out on a date, and Anna and I watched Quinn. Eliza, Quinn and Leighton were inseperable the whole night. They were all over the place. They did sit still for a water break on the step. It was so much fun

Fish Face

Leighton was sure on a role today! Right after his spectacular ABC song and dance, he was doing fairly well at his fish and bunny rabbit face. Grandpa Hukee tried to teach him that the Bunny raises his little nose up and down. But when Leighton tries to raise his little nose, his eyes just blink! He doesn't look like a bunny, but he does look really cute!

I am so glad that I get to witness all these little moments everyday! It is such a joy to get to stay at home with these guys everyday!

Singing the ABC's ... and Dancing!

Leighton is getting good at his ABC's. He has mastered his alphabet puzzle and we are working on the ABC song. Enjoy this song and dance!

Usually when we ask him to sing the ABC's, he just responds, "Mommy sing!", or "Daddy sing!"