Here Came Santa Claus Right Down Hudson Street

So in the midst of Harper's arrival, we prepared for and celebrated Christmas. This was the first year that Luke grasped the build-up to the holiday and enjoyed learning about Santa, the reindeer, the Christmas tree and PRESENTS.

A few weeks before Christmas, we got our first real tree for 1333 Hudson, and let Luke go through our "cornaments." [and disabused him of the notion, much to his distress, that they were not to be eaten]

Football Team Guys were a favorite

As was "Nut Guy"

Luke helped Daddy with the lights

And Daddy placed our robot tree topper just so

This Christmas spirit, it is strong with this one

Finally it was Christmas morning! Luke promptly took all of the presents from under the tree where Santa had left them and arranged them on the sofa (or the "delivery truck")

And Luke the Delivery Guy drove the truck to Luke's house (sadly, he does not observe 10 and 2 hand placement on his steering wheel)

After some pajama collateral damage, Luke changed into pajamas of his own design - including "Grandpap's sweatshirt." He also enjoyed some peppermint tea

He used his new doctor kit to check and run tests on all of us

Paging Dr. Luke

He loved his fireman puppet from Grandma & Grandpa Casey

And took a cinnamon roll break!

Busting out his Legos from Grammy & Grandpap required that he roll up his sleeves

"I'm building a ROAD!"

In the background, the fire station (with animal statues) he and Daddy built for the firetruck ornament from Grammy & Grandpap - in the foreground, the fireman puppet reports for duty

Dr. Luke "checks" baby sister

Dr. Luke declares her to be "just fine." Phew!

What We've Been Up To...

We are thrilled to introduce Luke's new baby sister, Harper Rosella Casey (aka "Chooch"). Born on Friday, December 17, 2010 at 8:53 am, weighing in at 9lbs .04oz and measuring 20.5"

Luke came to visit Mommy, Daddy, & Harper in the hospital. He gave her a snuggle and the "Baby Bear" he had picked out for her during a shopping trip with Daddy a few weeks before she was born. Baby Bear has helped break in Harper's cradle swing, bouncy seat, and bassinet in anticipation of her arrival

Upon closer inspection, he also declared her to be "stinky"

The next day, we suited Harper up in the outfit Luke picked out for her to wear home from the hospital (declaring "I think this will be very cute")

We were ALL glad to be home

And once she was cleaned up, Luke found her to be quite cuddly

Grandma Casey got in on the snuggle action before heading back to Scranton after 3 days with Luke (THANK YOU, Grandma & Grandpa!)

And Grandpa Casey, too, of course

And in the last week, Harper has seen a lot of this....

And heard a lot of "Old MacDonald" and "Itsy Bitsy Spider" and "People on the Bus." [Luke is especially proud of his own lyric, "The Chooches on the bus go wah wah wah, wah wah wah"]

Luke has proven himself to be a great big brother, giving his baby sister gentle hugs and kisses, singing songs, and declaring her "little hands," "little ears," and "CHEEEEEKS" to be his favorite things about her

Welcome, Harper!

Thanksgiving

Luke enjoyed the Macy's parade for the first time this year. The combination of U2's "Beautiful Day" and "guys" singing & dancing in a preview for Sing-Off made him get up and move his butt around.

Spooky Lukey 2010

So we knew that his costume (or, in his parlance, "cos-t-yoooom") fit "jussst right," and we and school had spent the last week in October talking up all of the fun of Halloween in Hoboken. School "Fall Festival!" Hoboken Ragamuffin Parade! Trick or treating! Pumpkin carving! He was prepped & ready for the big weekend. (and Dad was hoping to catch a glimpse of NBC's Natalie Morales)

On Friday AM, Luke was dressed and ready for school in record time. Just before leaving the apartment, he decided that he needed his "Dalmatian Dog" to complete his ensemble. It was his last dash of whimsy, I guess

On Saturday he took his costume for a brief spin, driving the "fire truck" (our sofa), and then running a quick errand with Daddy. He then put his costume away "to keep it nice and neat" for Sunday

On Sunday afternoon, we headed out for Hoboken's Ragamuffin Parade - think he was excited? While there were several firemen to be seen, no others had their trusty dog, Dalmatian Dog, with them

After weeks of talking about going to see the fire house in his costume and showing them his jacket, and his boots, and his hat, and his pa-yants, when we got there he was so excited he could barely react....

...let alone interact with this kind, patient fireman who took the time to try to coax a smile from Sphinxy (note the matching jackets)

"He didn't like parades just passing by him...." so he busted a move to the music from one of the floats

Mom introduced him to her favorite candy, Reese's peanut butter cups, being sure to teach him to smell it before eating it (because the smell is MAGICAL)

Dalmatian Dog held his hat

On Sunday night, Daddy took Luke out trick or treating to HoBOOken's spookiest 4 square blocks - check out the giant spiderweb! Luke came home and told Mommy, "I was a little scared, but it was just pretend"

After trick or treating, Luke & Daddy got down to pumpkin carving (Luke had requested a "happy pumpkin"). [the hat was his newborn hospital cap that was uncovered in the cleaning efforts for new baby sister that are underway. He looks Amish, no?]

This time it's Daddy making him smell something. The yardstick, you ask? Why it's his guitar slung on his back (or tucked into his pants' waistband)

Behold! The happy pumpkin!

Even Later than Ever: Summer Vacation Part Dos

On our first full day of vacation, we went to see John and Cathy Marr, and Avery. As you can see, Luke and Avery hit it off famously, thanks to her patience and willingness to run around the backyard like a nut.

There was a lot of jumproping

And even more.

Plus some wagon/flashlight playing


Luke also took very quickly to hotel breakfast, and enjoyed his new favorite cereal, oatmeal with lots of raisins (plus bagel, plus fruit, plus some of Mom's bacon and eggs.)

He also enjoyed "coffee" in the morning.

soon to come... two days at the beach