The Ice Man Cometh and Lucas Walketh!

Above is the view from our deck taken yesterday. The trees are tired.

The clump of foliage in the lower right hand corner is actually flattened bamboo. Poor bamboo- he is really getting his resiliency tested.

These little ditties (above and below) were captured on my digital camera, so there is no sound. But you can see that the little guy is walking! Sorry that the one below is sideways- I wasn't thinking about the fact that I was shooting video (and so flipped the camera) and not a photo (which is easily flippable). I could probably flip it but we have a software conflict issue as yet unresolved.) The items hanging out of the bottom drawer are cloth diapers. Lucas empties the middle and bottom drawer of that dresser out everyday.

Despite the ice storm we are hanging in there - I have not left the house since last Saturday- but at least we have plenty of food, electricity, and Lucas to entertain us!

Holiday Pics 2008

Christmas has come and gone and we had a great time but are pooped from all the running around. Here is a quick rundown of our activities as of late: Saturday we shopped for presents, food, and libations. Sunday we went with my folks to Indianapolis to visit the latest addition to our family, Joseph Callagher Gregory. Lucas was happy to meet a new cousin and was a pretty rugged road traveler. His Grandriri did a nice job telling him stories on the way to and fro Indy. On Monday, we attempted to recuperate from our 7 hours in a car the previous day and went to my Mom and Dads to eat and spend the night in order to get some good qt in with my sister and her husband who were visiting from Portland. Tuesday morning we woke up, went to the grocery, and went home. Melissa and Dave (my sister and husband) came up for the night. Dan made a delicious Indian feast of Lemony Cilantro Chicken, lentils and greens, carrot salad, and chapatis. Dave, Dan, and I stayed up late playing Gin rummy which I handily won. Wednesday morning Dave and Melissa returned to my mom and dad's and Dan, Lucas, and I follwed them there later for a Christmas Eve feast. Dave made delicious Porkloin on the grill. I made mediocre mashed potatoes (I overwhipped them). Dan did the green beans just right. Melissa made a goat cheese and beat salad that was delectable. My mother made delicious rum cake. It was a yummy meal topped off with wonderful wine from Washington State compliments of Melissa and Dave. Christmas day Dan, Lucas, and I tromped off to my grandmother's for a small visit en route to Dan's moms (Lucas's Gigi's) home in Lexington where Lucas got to delight in the company of aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents. Throughout our holiday week of travel Lucas was, as his Grandirir would say, a super trooper. We are blessed with family and friends and this week certainly reminded us of that. Merry Christmas! Now rest! :)

We Wish You A Modest Christmas and A Humble New Year!

LUCAS LOVES HIS TREE!

FIRST FAMILY CHRISTMAS 2008

BATH TIME BRINGS MANY SMILES

Hello to all out there in the blogosphere. We wanted to upload some recent photos of our little guy as he edges ever closer to his first birthday. As of late he has been taking a couple of steps unaided (but not actually walking around free of support). Nevertheless, he moves around like a pro, grasping onto walls, couches, tables, or whatever it takes. We are having a great time with him and we hope that we are as entertaining to return the favor.

At the urging of my dear coworkers, Rhonda, Kristi, and Pam, we put up a little Christmas tree to help enculturate Lucas into the celebration of Christmas. It was the right thing to do. While my Mom and Dad were here to watch Lucas this weekend Dan and I set out in search of a little tree that might be sort of like a Charlie Brown Christmas Special tree- humble, but appropriate for our little unfinished farmhouse. I had lights and ornaments from my past life as a child. Dan sawed down the tree in about 45 seconds. We filled a bucket up with sand and stuck the tree right into the sand. Et voila! A tree!

We had been a little unmoved by the holiday spirits as we have all been sick with the flu as of late. We picked up our bug somewhere in our travels to Little Rock, AR a couple of weeks ago where I was traveling for work. There was one particular woman on the plane from Memphis who seemed unable or unwilling to cover her mouth when she coughed. Oh well. Lucas had a flu shot so he seems to have fared the best. I missed a couple of days of work last week but am trying to power through this week in anticipation of the week off I have planned next week.

We wish you all the best of new years!

Directly above is a photo from our front yard. We have been far flung as of late- We flew to Louisville for a play date a few weeks ago, compliments of our friend Al who is a pilot and Father of a little one we are considering arranging a marriage with for Lucas.

We are so cosmopolitan. Lucas, Erin, and Riri flew to Portland to visit aunt, sister, daughter Mellissa and her husband Dave. Lucas liked the beach, particularly the sand.

Lucas should start considering frequent flyer miles as he will be accompanying his Dad and Mom on a business trip to Little Rock in a couple of weeks.

Dry Spell

Sorry we have not been forthcoming with photos as of late. Life has been hectic. Here are some new ones to gander at. Lucas is growing great guns. He is a full on crawler now at 8 months and is into pulling up on everything imaginable. He eats good food prepared by mom and dad, including brown rice, lentils, sweet potatoes, white potatoes, pears, apples, peaches, bananas, avocado, oatmeal, and carrots. He is a very good eater and incredibly tidy for one his age. He is still depending on dear old mom for his supply of milk and we are amazed that he has not yet needed any formula. A few weeks we have been sure that he would catch up with me, but somehow we always manage to make it to Friday. We are enjoying this phase of his life so much. Wish we could share the time with all of you!

Happy Autumn!

Visitors from Louisville

This weekend we hosted some old friends and their two kids. Dan made a delicious leg of lamb using an awesome Indian recipe. Sunday morning breakfast we were also treated to homemade biscuits! We took a walk this morning and then the Reigelmans were off again, back to their beloved home of Louisville. I was struck by the delight that Lucas showed spending time with other young people. He was very into playing with his two new friends and he did a good bit of sitting up and being quite a big boy for his age (he'll be 6 months July 11). Now he is napping and his mom is about to do the same thing as soon as she gets these photos up.

Lucas and his Great Grandmother, Mildred

Lucas and I stayed with his great grandmother last weekend when Dan went on a canoe trip. We had a nice visit. Lucas was a well behaved guest and slept well. He likes hanging out with his great grandmother, as evidenced above.