First haircut

Today Luke had his first haircut! We were trying to wait until his first birthday but we had a great opportunity that we couldn't pass up. An American friend's sister is here visiting and she knows how to cut hair and she volunteered. He has been looking a little scraggly lately and several of the neighbors have asked if he was a girl! Here they often shave babies' head in the summer (to make the hair grow back thicker) so I've been afraid to take him to a hair salon. It went perfectly today , of course thanks to a baby DVD playing and Gina worked super fast. I got teary eyed of course because he looks like a BOY now and not a baby !

He's a hit with the ladies

Last week we finally moved into the house we are renting and immediately Luke has become a hit with the neighbors, especially the children. I'm not sure if it's because he's a baby or a new kid or an American, but the little girls are coming constantly to the door asking if Luke can come out. They all beg to hold him too! Here's a funny picture of one of the little girls who comes all the time. He's almost bigger than she is!

Fun in Issiq Kul

At the end of our week we had a staff conference in Issiq Kul, a beautiful lake right beside the mountains. Definitely the most beautiful place we've seen in Central Asia. We didn't have much time for swimming but at least Luke got to sit in the water a little bit. He liked it so much he tried to crawl into it!

We are SO glad to be home after a week of traveling with Luke. He's quite a handful but still a ton of fun. What a personality he has!

First trip to an amusement park

We also tried out an amusement park with our friends and their kids. Not exactly Disney World but it was still fun for Luke. He was pretty tired by the time we got there and I'm not sure he knew what to think about it all. Maybe it was a bit too much for him!

Checking out all the playgrounds in Bishkek

Luke LOVED the slide!

Yes, he's trying to crawl UP the slide. Can't get enough of the slide.

In Biskek last week Luke had a blast trying out all the playgrounds in the shopping malls there (yes shopping malls! and fun for mommy too!) He loved the slide the best of course. Now that he's so mobile he's having a blast moving always. Maybe by the next time we go there he will be able to walk!

An attempt at 10 month pics

Every month I try to take a special picture of Luke. I have to improvise a lot since there aren't a lot of options here for us to get professional pictures made. But now that he is so ACTIVE he never wants to sit still and I can barely get him to look at the camera! We were in Bishkek last week staying at a wonderful bed and breakfast that has a beautiful garden. This was probably the first time Luke has sat in grass too, as we don't have much at all where we live. I could barely get him to look at the camera or sit still long enough for a picture. Oh well, at least these capture him well!