100 Degrees Today

Today, Luca and I went to the NORTH shore of
Long Island to go to the beach.
Luca is a little scared of the waves and the ocean,
but he was fine with the calm north shore.
We swam and Luca tasted sand again.
He found things to try to eat (rocks, bottle caps, cigarette butts, etc.)

One of Luca's FOUND objects, a spoon. He tried to dig with this spoon making me think I should actually invest in some beach toys now!

Summertime

We had a few days that felt like Fall last week.
Here's his cute new stripped shirt for Fall. Such great colors on him.

Luca and I went to the Brooklyn zoo yesterday. It was the last zoo in the area for us to visit. He's seen every possible sea lion and monkey in the tri-state area!!!
This is a carousel ride next to the zoo. Luca's trying to imitate the horse.

Daddy and Luca out on the balcony with all of our flowers.

I'M ONE

Here I am holding up one finger when mommy asks me how old I am!
I also got my car seat turned around so I can see where we are going in the car now.

My family. We're eating at an Indian restaurant for my birthday.
I didn't eat much, but the mango ice cream was great.

Mango ice cream with TWO spoons.

Birthday dinner and song, with mango ice cream!

Granzie's visit

Luca loves story time with Granzie.

Trucks from Bumpa and Granzie.
Lots of buttons and noise, just what Luca likes now.

Our first trip to the Museum of Natural History.

Lots of bones and stuffed animals to see.

Luca was asleep from the upper west side, thru central park,

on the subway downtown, and woke up right as we
arrived at the restaurant for dinner.

Granzie, Luca and Rob on the beach at Long Beach.

A stroll after a good Italian meal.

Granzie's headband on Luca.

Birthday Song

Happy Birthday to you

Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday dear LUCA
Happy Birthday to you

Luca's FIRST Birthday Party

Luca had such a great time at his FIRST BIRTHDAY PARTY.
Here he is...surrounded by presents!

The cupcakes suffered in the 90 degree heat--a little melted, but delicious.

The kids ate them and licked them, despite their appearance.

Michael, Luca (with stickers on his face) and Oliver.

Robbie and Luca.

Michael, Mary and Jeremy.

Kalyani and Jeremy on the rock climbing wall, chillin'.

Granzie with Luca.

Grandma and Luca.

Emma, delivering her prize to Luca.

Jen, Renee, Dorian and Jenny.

Eli, a champion rock climber.

The kids playing on the human teeter-totter.

New Jersey SHORE weekend

Luca's friend, Max, invited us to spend a weekend at their home on the beach. Luca is 2 weeks older than Max.



Luca trying to find a shady spot.



Max and Luca just chillin' on the beach.



Charlie, Max's older brother.

Trying to say his first word, TRUCK

Luca's trying to say TRUCK, and he can show you where his hair is if you can't find it!

The Poconos (Pennsylvania)

It was a celebration with the WHOLE Schroeder family for Grandma and Grandpa's 50th wedding anniversary. We all went to Woodloch Pines in the Poconos for 4 nights of fun, sun, and family.







It was like a cruise, only on land. We had to dress up one night for dinner.



Lots of nature.



They had a special padded shallow kiddy pool. I could just let Luca crawl around and not have to worry too much with the padding. He's sticking his face in the water a lot trying to do "blow bubbles". Swallowing more than blowing, but getting the idea.



2 of Luca's 14 cousins, Patrick and Devon




A photo of Rob with his 5 siblings and parents.
TOP: Michael, John, Jimmy, Robert
BOTTOM: Joanne, mom, dad, Dianne


More cousins from left to right:
Monica, Margot, Luca, Jack, Patrick, Robbie, Devon




Luca took a ride on this pony at a little petting zoo they had open.




He was so exhausted our last night there that he fell asleep in his high chair at dinner.

11 MONTHS OLD

Luca is doing so much at 11 months that I am amazed every day. He can find mommy and daddy's nose, his hair, and his toes. He is trying to say the word "TRUCK" and knows what a truck is and gets very excited when he sees or hears one. Luca hands me his NUK(pacifier) if I say "give mommy the NUK". He also hands me all sorts of stuff when I say "hand that to mommy".
He's doing the arm gesture for "WHERE" all the time, and can find something when I ask where it is.

As you can see from the photo, Luca bumped his head and got 3 stitches. He's all better now and proud of his new very small scar.

We've been to Vermont, The Poconos, and are going to the Jersey Shore tomorrow, so it's been a well traveled month.

Folk music in Vermont

Folk singing and picnics

Road Trip to VERMONT

Where is it? His favorite new gesture is WHERE? He can actually find dad's nose when you ask WHERE is daddy's nose?





Luca's first PUBLIC skinny dipping in a lake. (Dad has his suit on)





After a day of sun, swimming and naps under a tree....Luca is ready to go home.





Lots of wildflowers and nature in Vermont.




We went to go see a folk singer one night at this resorts court yard. Soooooooo Vermont!



At a rest stop in Vermont.




A gondola at the rest stop.




On our way home we stopped at an arts and crafts fair.