With Auntie Jenilyn

Here I am with my favorite Auntie on Daddy's side. This is Auntie Jenilyn. She thinks I'm the best thing since sliced peaches. I think she really cool too!

First professional family picture

We finally have a professional family picture! We have been meaning to do this for months. This was taken mid-January. Lucas was 8 months old.

Lucas has mastered the opposing hand and foot crawl these past few days. Friday night we were at a friends house for supper. When we arrived home, I put Lucas on the floor and went to use the bathroom. I heard little slap slaps coming across the room. Then the door opened ( I hadn't latched it) and in came Lucas as proud as can be. He crawled over, grabbed my legs and pulled himself to
standing. Gone are the days of going to the bathroom alone :-)

New Tooth! Finally

Last night Lucas was gritting his bottom two teeth against his gums. It made the worst grating noise- the kind that makes one shudder. This morning tooth number three has broken the surface. Its the top left one.

Brushing my teeth

When mommy and daddy brush their teeth in the morning and at night... I like to be included. I put the bristled end of the brush in my mouth and "brush" my two teeth. Though it probably just feels good on my top two teeth that are trying to work their way through the surface.

Lucas the Lion heart :)

When Lucas was first born, Rick bought him a stuffed lion. Today, as I was sorting his toys I thought that I would get it out for him. He's 8 1/2 months. Big enough - I thought- to enjoy it.
At first he just studied it. He sat judging the size and those great big teeth. Consequently he decided it was scary and climbed up on mommy crying. He clung tightly to me as I carried it back to his bedroom to put away until he's older and braver. He is also afraid of the blender and vacuum cleaner.

Pulling myself to standing

I took this picture this afternoon. He is grabbing anything he can and pulling himself to standing. In fact, he was playing on the mini trampoline. When I walked by a few minutes later he had crawled up and was sitting on it playing with his toys. He is such an incredible miracle

Lucas the little elf

Here's our adorable little elf over Christmas - 7 months old

Lucas the Model

He missed his calling! He should have been a baby model. This was taken at 6 months of age over Thanksgiving in Keene Texas

Learning to crawl can be a startling process. Here he is at almost 6 months

Lucas in Hawaii

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When Lucas was four months old... Dad and Mom took him to Hawaii. These were taken in front of the resort. We visited Maui, staying at the Sugar Beach resort.

Lucas' baby dedication

Lucas is wearing a hat and bootie set that his Great Grandpa Miller bought for his first child. He thought that they were going to have a boy. This set was passed down to his eldest daughter for her first child. Rick wore this at his baby dedication. Lucas carried on the tradition. Maybe someday his first grandson will wear it at his dedication.

Lucas just chilling

Here's Lucas at about a week and a half. So cute!

Newborn

Dedication

This is Aunty Jen--and this is the first post on Lucas D.'s blog. Lucas was born May 12, 2006. I don't even know the weight I was when I was born, so how would I ever possibly know how much Lucas weighed? Except he was a big-un.

I ran across the freeway, the wind whipping my hair in a twirling mass so I had to yank it out of my eyes as I looked both ways yet again. Across the median was my sister-in-law and mother, and my new nephew--once I made the final sprint across and laid eyes on the dark brown skin of this new baby, the tears rushed down my face. I hate crying in public--because it is so easy to just let loose and let all the pent-up emotion free, springing forth in raging fury. I was in a rush to get to Spokane to catch a flight to D.C. and since the new wee one was on his way home, we scheduled the meeting stop so I could see him. He was beautiful. So small, so fragile. So perfect. I fell in love, and will do anything to ensure his happiness and good welfare in life.

Now, eight months later, I walk in the door and his eyes alight on my face and a grin creeps across his face. My heart melts yet again. I whisk him up, smother him with hugs and kisses as he squeels in delight, and I know that he is the most beautiful precious little boy, and that I am truly blessed to be a part of his amazing life. He has already had a hard knock to begin with, and this is only the beginnings of pain for him as he traverses the globe of his emotions. But he will not just survive, but thrive, because he has us. All of us--16 in the immediate aunt/uncle/grandparent/cousin range. We stick together. We love each other. We live and die together.

Lucas, we are your family, and we love you.

This blog is dedicated to your growth, so that all sixteen of us, and then the extended great-grandparents and such can view you as you change and mature.

All My Love,
Jenilyn