Luther: 32, 34, and 36 weeks old

Luther Tom! You're 8 months old! Mommy can hardly believe it maybe because it feels like we should still have a newborn in the house. You're now closer to being ONE than you are to being a newborn. Which means I can't keep using you as an excuse as to why I haven't picked my meal planning regimen back up! ;)

32 weeks

34 weeks

36 weeks

I can't remember what happened during which week, so these are in the best 

• Well in the last six weeks, you've popped another tooth through (34 weeks I think) so you now have two on the bottom. I can't imagine much that is cuter than a baby with two bottom teeth. Well, MAYBE a baby with two bottom AND two top teeth. It gets me every time.

• You've taken over mommy and daddy's bedroom. We've been sleeping here there and everywhere, often times leaving with you with the entire room to yourself. This will soon change however because a deposit has been made on bunk beds for the big kids, which means you're moving out to what will finally be an empty room. Sorry. I'll miss you, but I'm so ready to sleep in my own bed and not tip toe around in the dark anymore. I don't even remember what rested feels like. Yep, just yawned.

• You made back to back road trips down to Grandma and Grandpa's house, and traveled SO well. We didn't have to stop either time, which makes me so happy! Especially since I was by myself for one of the trips.

• One of the reasons we went back to CC was for Aunt Glady's funeral. It was a beautiful celebration of her life, and despite the circumstances, I had fun showing you off to a ton of family you'd never met. You were quite popular and received a warm and loving extended family welcome.

• I've seen you try to pull your knees up a few times. This is not allowed! No growing up! The pack n play was lowered four weeks ago, which mommy's back is not liking.

• The three of you went as Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus for Halloween this year. Your costumes were quite the hit, and you graciously let me eat all of your candy.

• One of my favorite times with you is in the morning. Typically you've nursed at some point in the middle of the night or early morning so you're laying the middle of our bed. You almost always wake up happy and smile a big smile as soon as we make eye contact. I keep secret toys stashed away in my pillowcase so I can hand them to you and buy myself some more resting time. You look at your fingers and play happily while kicking me, pulling my hair, touching my face, talking and talking and sometimes you even fall back asleep. I'm so grateful for your laid back personality!

• We have balloons in the house right now, and I'm fairly convinced we need balloons in the house at all times because you're obsessed with them. There have been two times in your life you've cried when something has been taken away from you. Actually three. 

1.) Your mommy

2.) Your first ever food...a banana

and

3.) These balloons

You could play and play and play. It's actually quite fascinating to watch because you put one hand over the other knowing you can pull them down to your level by doing so. A genius I tell ya!

• Gwendolyn now says you have "fur" on her favorite squishy spot (the back of your head.)

• You've been a very, very busy art student at "school." You've brought home the cutest little crafts including some master paintings using fruit, your foot, and today a turkey made out of your adorable little squishy hand prints. No wonder your clothes are always stained. Wish I could be a fly on the wall to see you finger painting.

• Guess what?! We leave for Disney World in a few days! I am on the edge of my seat to see your reaction and watch the three of you in the most magical place on earth. Please please please fly and sleep well while we're there. 

I love you Luther Tom!
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UPDATE: We're home and I am finally posting this. You didn't mind the flying one bit and were a complete charmer with everyone around us. Short naps both ways, puffs, teething toys, and snuggles were all you needed. Absolutely NBD. Sleeping was awesome and horrible all at once. You were by yourself in our walk-in closet, which was perfect. The first two nights there you slept until 5:00 and then 6:30. The rest of the nights were rough, one in particular was exhausting. Because you were overall just plain tired from travel and time change, you ended up going to bed earlier, which meant you were up for the day at 6:30 a few mornings, which is totally unlike you. BUT we survived! And you got to meet Cinderella and Rapunzel and Aurora...you're a lucky baby!