Happy 1st Birthday Lukey!

I cannot believe it's already been a year! My sweet baby boy is getting sweeter by the day. He loves to smile, cuddle, crawl to me. He asks to be carried often and prefers me especially at nighttime. All of this is what I feel is so characteristic of a baby's 2nd year of life. During the first year, baby's need for mom is primarily to provide for their basic needs, which can be provided in different ways by different people. During the second year, they really need their Mommies (sometimes Daddies). This makes it harder to get away but at the same time so nice to be needed in such an intentional way.

To celebrate, we had a "Dragons Love Tacos" themed birthday party for baby boy at El Portal in Pasadena. It was fun to catch up with old LA friends and family. Just like Makayla at this age, Luke is absolutely obsessed with balloons. We hired a balloon man to make balloon animals, etc. for the kids.

Physical Development
Luke now has 6 teeth, 4 on top and 2 on bottom. He has really started thinning out these past few months. He is still about 25 pounds and a bit taller. His hair started growing pretty quickly people started mistaking him for a girl, yes even with blue clothing on, so we gave him his first haircut a little before his first birthday.

Gross Motor Development
Though Lukey isn't walking yet, he is much more confident standing. He is cruising all the time and is very stable when he brings himself to a standing position or when moving from standing to sitting. He also "surfs" from furniture to furniture. When he stands or cruises he is no longer standing or walking on his tip toes.

Lukey is able to walk while pushing a push toy or stroller.

Lukey loves to climb up the stairs. He'll quickly head over to the stairs when he notices that someone's accidentally forgotten to latch the gate.

Cognitive Development
Around the 11th month, Lukey started initiating joint attention. He would point at objects all the time as a way of saying "I want that." He also points at objects and look at me as a way of communicating that he wants me to look at or get the object for him.

He's recently stopped putting things in his mouth all the time.

I forgot to mention this in the last post, but at around 9-10 months old, Lukey started to "dance". Mainly in the form of moving his head in sync with music. It's so cute!

Socioemotional Development
Luke is beginning to talk a little. He says "MAMA" or "MA" and sometimes it does mean me. One time I was walking up the stairs, and he crawled quickly over to the bottom of the gate and yelled "MAMA!!!!" That was awesome :) He also says "DADA" and "that" while he's pointing at objects. When we say "dun dun" light in Chinese, he'll look up and point to the lights. He also points to his belly button when we say "bee bo" and looks at Makayla when we say "Jie Jie" big sister in Chinese.

Lukey is becoming extremely attached to me. He's a bit more reluctant to be held by others and definitely prefers to be held by me, especially when he's sick, hungry or tired.

Luke obsessions
- balloons
- SUPER obsessed with these flowers
- lights
- stairs
- disposable cups, lids and straws
- smoothies
- Annie's cheddar bunnies