Lucca (16m)

What a joyful addition Lucca has been to our family! He continues to declare himself as a super chill, and fun little guy… unless he’s hangry, in which case you can’t provide food fast enough.

He loves to clap when big sis sings, and has just started walking, which has opened up a whole new world for him. He and Dashe are best buds, and he loves his sis - if only she’d give him some space sometimes. He’s a little pickier with his eating than Noelle was, and is still intolerant to cow’s milk protein, which has made it difficult to get weight on him. His activity level doesn’t help either. Just like Noelle, he is constantly moving. (Mom and Dad thought they’d get a break with the second kid, but that doesn’t appear to be the case). He’s a great sleeper, though, so it all balances out, (right)? He still doesn’t have much to say, but in the last few weeks we are hearing a lot more “Ma ma ma ma ma,” “Da da da da da da,” and maybe even some variation of “Dashe.” Otherwise, he has an awesome scream and will often catapult his food to get his point across.

Already striving to be like his big sis, Lucca had his own (very scary) hospitalization in August when he was treated for Kawasaki Disease. All the follow up has been encouraging with the exception of an incidental finding of an atrial septal defect in his heart that will need monitoring for the next few years. Thankfully, he returned home just in time for his ‘Lucca’s Pizzeria’ first birthday party. He loves bananas, blueberries… let’s just say all fruit… his toy Vespa, Dashe’s dog food and water bowl, slamming the toilet lids shut, climbing into the dishwasher, into Noelle’s bed, and up the stairs at the speed of light when his parents look away. He isn’t a fan of being confined, doesn’t much care for snuggles (insert Mama crying), story time, or crawling/walking on grass.

We’d like to say Lucca got his first passport stamp this year, but the UK no longer stamps. He did go to 3 countries, and visited 5 states for the first time. He doesn’t fly as well as Noelle did at that age, but overall, international travel went smoothly and we hope he continues to adapt to it as easily and as well as Noelle has.

He, too, is quickly moving out of his baby stage and becoming a rambunctious toddler. Knowing he is our last child, it’s all the more saddening to see his infancy become the past. Baby or not, every day with him is sweet and treasured.