Luca Hill

Hiya Baby Bear!

It's Christmas, It's cold, family is here, and you Luca-Jo are 30 weeks old!

Can you believe it?!

We started off this wonderful week with your 30th week of Life Celebration.

Every Saturday you turn another week older. We celebrate your life and start your adventures on that day. Since "30" is a big milestone for everyone, we knew it needed a party to commemorate the occassion. We invited some of your favorite people, who have been anxiously waiting to see your sweet chubby face, to Ultrsona for a 3D ultrosound. We all enjoyed watching you wiggle and kick Mommy. You were also so cozy and snug right where you were, so you stayed put for most of the party...but gosh were you oh so funny and incredibly cute. You are so loved!

Link to Luca's 30th Week of Life Celebration

Every year, since Mommy can remember, we've gone to O'Fallon's Celebration of Lights. It is an absolutely gorgeous display of twinkiling Christmas Lights and scenes that are all about Jesus and Christmas!

We loaded up in the 'Hill Polar Express' and chugga-chugged our way to Starbucks for some hot chocolate!

As Big Brother likes to say, "Alllllll ABOARD!"

Daddy and Luca waiting patiently for their Hot Chocolate!

Luca's Hot Cocoa!

Oh my word, how you love it! One sip of hot chocolate sends you and Big Brother into kicking crazy machines!

Annnnnd we're off!

The Lights!

Our two favorites <3

As soon as Big Brother saw the lion he shouted, "Luca Lion, Luca Lion!!!"

and its not a Hill Polar Express without a little FAITH and the ability to always BELIEVE...

We recieved some very sweet Christmas gifts this week! Daddys friend sent us a bottle of wine called LUCA! How stinkin' cool!

It was such a surprise and so thoughtful! We decided we are saving it and we will open it on your 21st birthday. <3

A very special Christmas angel left a card on our front door for you too. Enclosed was a Christmas card and a donation to your Bright Light Fund. There was no name, and no matter how hard Mommy looked at the writing, she couldn't figure out who left it. It was such a wonderful surprise and such a selfless and kind gesture.

Thank you for making Luca's Christmas extra bright Christmas Angel.

Your amazingly sweet GodMama came for a visit and gave you your first Baby Bible. <3

On Christmas Eve we went over to Cheeks and Grandma Sue's to celebrate the holiday with our Hill side of the family.

Grandma Sue and Cheeks gave you your very first Christmas Eve Present!

It was a toy lion! You gave out a big Luca kick as Mama and Daddy took it out of the bag. You certainly loved it, and you get to play with it next month, no worries!

We then went over to Grandpa Gregs's and Grandma Christi's for our annual Gilbertsen Christmas Eve. It was such a sweet surprise to arrive and see our family in their Luca shirts to celebrate your very first Christmas!

Have we told you how awesome your family is?!!!

We are so lucky! Every Christmas Eve Santa takes a quick break from all of his deliveries to STOP at our house. Can you believe it?! We've always wondered how he could possibly do it but he's never failed us and has visited since Mama was a tyke...probably even longer than that! We certainly love him and we were so happy he could come again this year and bring you one of your Christmas presents. Thank you Santa!

After a long night of family and food, we headed home and waited and hoped for Santa to come to our house!

And guess what?!!!

HE CAME!

He left presents for you, Big Brother, and Backes!

Lucky Lucky boys.

Santa brought you your Rosary, a Lion outfit, and your 2014 Holiday Bear to commemorate your first Christmas.

Big Brother helped you open your presents. <3

I had to add a picture of Luca's Rosary that Santa brought. It's stunning. I found Deborah O'Connor on Etsy when our God Daughters Baptism was approaching. Her rosaries are simply beautiful and we certainly cherish them. Her shop is called TheCherishedBead and I highly recommend her.

I guess Santa knew we were ready for Luca's and got him one for us, its perfect!

After presents and Mommy's Christmas quiche (a tradition that Grandma Melinda started for us) we headed off to Aunt Alice and Uncle Bill's for Christmas with the Lawrence clan.

They are actually your GREAT aunt and uncle, but we don't say that out loud because it makes them feel old ;p Hehe!

Aunt Alice and Uncle Bill gave you such a precious Christmas gift. It was the perfect end to your very first Christmas.

Aunt Alice's sweet friend knitted together a preemie sized hat for you. She even, so thoughtfully, put your Luca Lion on the brim. It brought Mama to tears just thinking about how perfect it was to keep your sweet little head warm after delivery. We love it.

Then, they gave us the most beautiful prayer blanket for you. Aunt Alice's friend sewed together this blanket and specifically picked out the fabric for you that said Baby Angel on it. She then took it to her prayer groups and church to have it blessed and prayed over. <3 Its amazing.

Just holding it gives us so much comfort. Its truly incredible what words and the power of prayer can do. We cant wait to wrap you in it and have you feel all the love and comfort that it holds within each one of its stitches.

Merry Christmas Baby Boy and Happy 30th Week of Life.

We love you SO MUCH...to the moon and back, forever and ever. -Mommy and Daddy

Welcome to Luca's 30th Week of Life Celebration!

On Saturday December 20th Luca turned 30 weeks old.

We celebrated by having a sneak peek at him at Ultrasona, a local 3D ultrasound imaging center, with a few of our family and friends.

No party is ever complete without yummy scrumptious cake. The cake was so scrumptious though, that it got eaten before we got a picture of it in full. And, yes, it was eaten by Luca. :) We are ashamed :( Ha!

The boy loves his ice cream cake and we were hoping a bite would get him to roll over so we could see him!

Here is a little peek into his ultrasound, recorded by Rachel's sister, Jessica.

Luca's 30th Week of Life Celebration

Luca was "head down" and hiding for the majority of the scan. It was so beautiful to see him wiggle around and be able to share that with everyone there. He loved burying his face in his Mama and staying snug, so we weren't able to get any complete clear face shots of him. Even after cake and a little poking he did not want to move. In fact, he gave us this gem after Mommy rolled over to try and get him to turn...

Oye!!!!

But, as we've learned from previous ultrasounds, Luca has a way of knowing what he is doing. If he's hiding or burying his head....it's for a reason. So we just let him be.

Ultrasona is letting us come back to finish a video of just Luca in his Mommy's belly. As soon as its complete we'd love to share it with you all! So stay tuned!

We got to briefly look at his profile and caught some sweet smiles and yawns :) Here is that sweet smile one more time... We just love it!

Afterwards we had a Sparkling grape juice toast to Luca and everyone else enjoyed their slice of cake.

We were so happy Ms. Shannon and her daughter Avery could join us. Shannon put on the Christmas fundraiser for Luca and has been such a cheerleader for Luca these past 7 months. We are so grateful for her and her wealth of love and support for Luca and our family. <3

Luca and his Grandma Melinda

Luca and his Grandpa Rich 'Cheeks' and his Grandma Sue

Luca and his cousin Kenley, Godfather Uncle Jason, and Uncle Jacob

Luca and his Grandma Christi and Grandpa Greg

Luca and his Auntie Ariel

We weren't prepared for the wonderful visit we got from these two. Check out week 29 to see their surprises for Mommy! We were so happy that Luca got to spend time with his Aunt Jessica and Uncle Greg. <3

Luca's Crazy Family :)

Big Brother was not about to get his picture taken when there were toys to be played with and cake to be snuck and eaten. So instead of smiling, he chose to spit at the camera.

Two year olds...enough said.

I know we say it a lot, but we feel we can never say it enough... Luca has the best family and the best friends surrounding him. We owe so much of who we are, what we are, and where we are to this incredible group of people and to all of you who are Team Luca Supporters. God is so good to us and speaks through all of you each day.

YOU mean so much to us.

Thank you to everyone who celebrated Luca's Week of Life with us and thank you to those who sent us pictures that we can treasure and add to his scrap book!

We love to see Luca in so many wonderful places.

Luca traveled from Norfolk VA all the way to Dubai with Aunt Heather!