We are here, We are breathing.

It's been a crazy summer.  We've been to Roanoke, VA, Camp LaJune, NC and Boston (area), MA.  We've been to the pool, the park, the zoo and I've been to a John Mayer concert - YAY!!!

Lincoln is 20 months old.  He is brilliant!  He sings ABCs, counts, shapes, sings along with me, repeats everything, can throw a baseball 10-15' and loves a baseball bat.  He still loves to read and lives to watch Elmo, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Handy Manny.  He loves music and insists on listening to John Mayer's 'Heartbreak' when we get in the car. He loves kisses, hugs and knows how to give noses, noggin', and knuckles.  He really enjoys being around extended family and knows who everyone is.  He really enjoyed our trip to Massachusetts and was a wonderful little traveller.  I have made him an album of his extended family members.  He is obsessed and knows who everyone is- and that's saying something since he had 4 sets of grandparents! 

I love Lincoln!

David is still working hard and doing very well at school.  He has a fraction more than a year left and we are already praying that he will find a job in his field. 

I am doing well, I like my new job, but still miss my old job.  I don't think that will change, especially because I had the opportunity to have family to work with, not just co-workers.

Life is busy, wonderful and crazy!  Just how we like it! 

BIG Changes

Well I have a new job.

I was laid off from the position is had been in for 6 years.  It was super sad, because we were like family, and not personal but because it was done because it was best for the company in this still crappy economy.

I worked for an additional two weeks, completing as much as possible and getting my office manager, my "work-mom", as ready as possible.  While there wasn't enough work for us both, it will be a lot of work for one person.  During that time I was also applying for jobs, sending resumes (totalling 50 by the end) and interviewing. 

I have found a position in a very busy office.  I worked Thursday and Friday last week and tomorrow starts my first full week.  I would describe this job as fast-paced, detail oriented and definitely a constant buzz of work to be done. So we're all adjusting at my house and we'll have to see how we fall into the rhythm. I have to be at work earlier and during a certain season there will be required overtime. I am very optimistic and everyone is every friendly, so this should be awesome!  I think its a very good fit, but definitely an adjustment getting used to a busy office again, but everything goes so fast the day really flies and I love that!

My blogging will hopefully get more regular as I figure out my new schedule... we'll see.

The Sweetest Boy.

Lincoln makes every day worth taking the next step.  He makes me smile wider, laugh harder and my heart fuller than I ever imagined it could feel.  I am a better me because he and David are the loves on my life!

The word of the week is school bus.  We notice them and point at them all the time.  We have turned around the carseat and Lincoln is taking in every new sight and experience.

Tonight, a half hour ago, I was dancing in the kitchen, singing a little song I made up when I used to babysit.
'I love you and
you love me too, too, too.
I love you, and,
you love me too-o.'

When I stopped singing Lincoln started!  "I yuv you", so I said and you love me too too too, "I yuv you" and you love me too-o.   GAH!  Help me that was awesome and so suh-weet! 

My cup runneth over and over.  We are so blessed to have such a sweet affectionate darling BOY!  He is all boy, running, tumbling, busy, but also exuberantly loving.  We are so blessed.

Finding the sweet spot.

I am in a good place right now.

I seem to be finding my niche in it all right now.

I am joyful and content where I am right now.

Feelings like this are sometimes fleeting.  I want to remember this.

I need to remember how wonderful it is to be in love with my husband and to adore our son.
I need to continuously remember how blessed we are to be healthy!



There are so many things every single day that try to distract from this feeling I have.  Friendships in flux.  Expectations others place on me that I cannot meet.  Deadlines I will not achieve.  Bills I forget to mail, so I pay online ;) Dishes stacked in the sick and dust piling on the mantle.  I may not have time for twice weekly visits to the grandparents.  My toes may not have been painted in a month :(  I may not have returned too small pants that have been in my car for two weeks and shirts hanging on the door for a month :( 

I give myself a break, tell myself I work all day and need to see my son in the evenings.  I need to spend time with my little family of three from Friday at 5 until Monday at 9.  And while this is undoubtly selfish, I know I will never in my life regret the time I spend with my husband and son. 

So I have my peace and my joy and my loves!  I have taken the time to be splashed in the bath tub.  I have stroked my boys warm head and sung him to sleep.  I have played cars and read books and explored grass and discovered birds and gotten dirt under my finger nails and colored pictures and watched Elmo.  :D  I have watched silly videos on youtube, cuddled up for a movie, made muffins just for him, put away his socks.

I am me, I am David's wife and I am Lincoln's mom and now these titles in my life come first! and it's sweet!

Milestones

Lincoln seems to be crashing through a milestone a minute lately.

You are of course walking, running, now climbing, sliding, talking and repeating, dancing...

You have never needed a security object.  You aren't yet attached to a blanket or stuffed animal. 

You gave up the pacifier, un-prompted, at 9 months.  Just stopped taking it and wanted nothing to do with it.

It took a long time for us to get you interested in a sippy cup.

At 17 months old, you still have a morning, nap and bedtime bottle.
This weekend we are going to try to stop the morning bottle, trading it for a cup- we'll see.
You like your bottle and its the first thing you ask for in the morning after Dada.

You are still a baby, and most certainly MY BABY.  I am completely ok with still cuddling up and giving you a bottle.  I am completely ok with having you sit still for a moment so I can cuddle you, smooth your hair, rub your head, touch your sweet face. 

While there are still many milestones that will be accomplished, and we are joyous and proud at each one, I cherish each day I can love you as my little baby boy who fits perfectly in my arms and upon my lap and overflows the confines of my heart.  I love you sweet boy!

Lincoln - 17 Months!

Lincoln, love, you are 17 months old.  You are busy, constantly going, moving, running, playing!  You captivate me and capture my attention in little things you do every day.

You are enthusiastically affectionate.  You blow kisses with the exuberance and force of hurricane winds.

You are a sweet mimic.  You copy every word we ask you to say.  When I ask you, What does Lincoln say?, your answer is "Huh?"  Its so funny!

You are becoming a comedian and like to make us laugh, repeating funny words or making a weird sound until we are falling over laughing at you.

You like Elmo and Sesame Street, but we fast forward until Elmo is on.  You like Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Handy Manny.  You like the songs on these shows and sway and dance to theme songs and things like the hot dog dance on MMC.

We are working with you with numbers, colors, shapes, and ABCs already.  If we say one, you say TWO! You repeat the colors when we point them out. Red, Blue, Yellow, Green, Orange and Purple.

You say Sky, Tree, Car, Outside, Bye Bye, Home, Oh no, Uh oh, Dog, Doggie, Cat, making all animal noises still, Bath, Teeth. You point to your nose, mouth, hair, ears, teeth and belly button.

Lincoln, you love routine.  When you wake up you ask for your bottle.  When its time for bed we change your bottom, put on your jammies, brush your teeth ( you love to brush teeth).  Then we go upstairs and rock and you drink your bottle of milk and when you are done, you hand us the bottle and give a kiss and say BED! 

You love to be outside and you like to go bye bye.  You and I went to the mall last weekend and you were perfect.  Just sing-songy through the store saying 'shopng, shopng' and if I asked you if you liked something you said uh-huh!  You are a perfect personal shopper!

You are trying new foods all the time.  You like queso at the Mexican restaurant, sloppy joe's, spaghetti, green beans cooked w/ bacon, corn bread, angel food cake.  You know that I have a candy dish at work when Dada bring you and you share a hersey kiss with us.

Lincoln Update

Lincoln today you are 16 months, 2 weeks old.

Eat

Chicken Nuggets, Fish Sticks, French Fries, Green Beans, Cucumbers w/ Ranch, Bananas, Apple, Apple Sauce, Crackers, Cookies, Vanilla Pudding, Vanilla Ice Cream, Ham, Spaghetti, Sloppy Joes, Grilled Cheese, Shells & Cheese, Yogurt, Oatmeal, Pancakes, French Toast,
 
We let you try whatever we're having. You like fruit alot, but don't have much interest in veggies and spit them out. 

Sleep

You go to bed around 8pm, give or take a half hour on a normal night.  You sleep through the night and wake up around 7:30 or 8 am.  You sometimes coo in your sleep and we hear you over the monitor.  Sometimes the monitor is nice and othertimes it makes us completely paranoid.
Our evening routine is pretty simple.  We read books and watch Sesame Street throughout the evening, I wash your hands and face, change your diaper, put you in your pajamas and we grab a bottle from the fridge.  We go upstairs and you drink your bottle, I'll sing you a couple songs and when you're done with your botttle you give it to me, give me a kiss and I put you in your crib, cover you up and leave the room.
The nap routine is exactly the same as the bedtime routine.  We usually put you down around 1pm and you sleep anywhere from 1.5-3 hours :)

Play

You like to climb and slide, you love the new toy climber we got.  You also like the basketball hoop on the side and to crawl beneath it.  You like to play with bowls, spoons and baking pans in the kitchen while we are cooking.  You LOVE to be outside. Coming in is one of the only times we see you throw what could be called a tantrum.  You love to explore, walk down the street to get the mail. You love to swing at the park, and don't usually want to leave there either. 
You can show us your nose, ears, hair, eyes, mouth.
Gives high fives, noggin', kisses, blows kisses, fake sneezes, fake coughs, says Boo to surprise us.
Claps after a song is over or whenever he hears clapping on TV or a live song on te radio.

Talk

Cracker, Cookie, Sky, Tree, Car, Apple, Bubble, Hot Dog, One, Two, More, Hey Baby, Mama, Dada, Grandpa, Dee, Ally, Matthew, Hi, Bye-Bye, Night-Night, Morning, Up, Elmo, Abby,
Animal Noises for dog, cat, horse, cow, sheep, duck, owl, lion. 

I know I am missing some, this kid is going to talk just like his mom.

Love

Books, Baths, Brushing your teeth (playing with the toothbrush), being outside or climbing, being tickled, Elmo

Lincoln, I don't think that your dad or I could love you more than we do!  We also like you a lot and are really enjoying seeing your out-going, friendly and happy personality come through on a daily basis.  You are very sweet, smart and  funny little dude.  I was really pleased to see you go up and give a baby at daycare noggin' today -  you see babies already and give them your toys, rather than take them, and laugh with them :)

Still here.

I am still here.
We are still here. 

This week is the first week of a new term.  The last 10 weeks have been very demanding, school wise, for David.  He had had hours of homework on the weekends and not been getting home until 11pm four nights a week :(

This is a new term.  David only has one class this 5 weeks, he's only gone 2 nights a week.

Its adjustment.  While its wonderful that he's home, I forget what I do usually and don't know what to do when he's around.  We're going on a date. On a week night. This week!  Crazy. Wonderful!

I am already anticipating the adjustment on the other end of this 5 weeks.  You know, the one when he's gone ALL the time, again! :p  not looking forward to that at all. 

And just for balance, while it's great that he is home, its not because eventually he will have to make this time up.  They don't have a class for him this term, either he's already taken what is being offered or he hasn't completed the pre-requistes.  This is a 2.5 year program; so the negative would be that the class off adds 2.5 weeks onto the end.  We have done this definately two, maybe three times.  Hopefully they'll get it together and help David continue moving forward towards graduation.

Lincoln is awesome, I am going to do an update on him soon, so I'll save it.

I am good too.  Enjoying my time with David and seeing Linc show us how smart and out-going he is everyday.  Work is good, hoping things will continue to get busier in the construction industry in the coming spring and summer months.

Sweet Sixteen (months)

Happy Birthday, Sweet Sixteen Months!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Testing out the Climber

I think you can see, we LOVE the climber! 

We helped Lincoln and he figured out the climbing side in no time.  He tries to climb the slide, but we take his hand and show him the other side.  He dances on the landing too : )

It's in the living room for now and will go outside soon, but I need to get something to put at the bottom of the slide so he doesn't scrape his bottom.

Couch Climber

Lincoln can get onto the couch now.  He has been doing this for almost 2 weeks.

It's a challenge.  You know, I am always excited to see Lincoln learn new things, but he makes me anxious.  I worry he will fall down, he gets fussed at and told to sit on his bottom all the time. 

Hopefully playing on his climber/slide toy will give him something to do other than climb my couch and drive me crazy.

A New Toy

Photo Credit: Toys R Us

The we ordered Lincoln a big and special present!

It arrives tomorrow and I am hoping David will have time to build it when he gets home from school.

Lincoln loves being outside!

Lincoln loves basketballs, baseballs, footballs, soccer balls, play ground balls!

Lincoln loves to slide!

Lincoln LOVES to Climb!

I think Lincoln is going to love this!

Weekend Recap

Friday: Target run for outdoor toys for Lincoln!  Dinner at Moe's! Started laundry, played, gave Lincoln a bath.  David put Lincoln to bed and then working on a paper for school for three hours.

Saturday: I let David sleep in; got up with Linc and we watched Sesame Street.  He can say Elmo and love when Elmo is on TV.  Played outside.  Lincoln took a 2 hour nap, I took a 1.5 hour nap and David worked on his paper.  Lincoln played outside some more.  David picked up Subway for dinner.

Sunday: David let me sleep in, he made french toast w/ a 12 grain bread- I did not like the texture of the bread and seeds, etc. in the bread. YUCK!  Boys played outside, I continued working on the laundry and took a shower.  David moved the back yard for Linc.  We washed the front windows, sprayed the screens, and washed cars.  Linc and I watched and Linc ate goldfish.  Linc took a two hour nap.  I am not sure how I managed to waste that time :)  We ran to Wa.l-M.art to get groceries and found a bucket to hold Linc's outside toys.  I made steaks, mashed potatoes and mushrooms for dinner.  Somehow I forgot a veggie :( I need to get better about that.  Played duplo, ball and climb everything for the rest of the night.  I put away laundry and sorted Linc's clothes that are too small or too warm for spring.  David gave Linc a bath and put him to bed.

I am all good!

The last post has been written for a while and I decided it was time to put it out there. 
It is absolutely not in response to anything currently going on with anyone.

We had a good day just hanging out today.  Linc is loving playing outside and pushing his toy lawn mower.
Lincoln also began saying BUBBLE today out of nowhere.  We have no idea where he picked it up, but were blowing bubbles for him for a half hour tonight :)

David has alot of homework this weekend.  For some reason each of his teachers think his life revolves around the class they teach.  So let's not take into account that he has a full time job, 2 classes, a son, a wife....  He has spent 8 hours on homework this weekend, working when Lincoln goes to bed and is napping.

It's just a season... just a season in our lives.  This will be nothing when we look back 60 years from now!

Baggage

I’m standing in a calm corner of a busy airport baggage claim.
The normal hustle and commotion seem to cause the floor beneath my feet to vibrate.
I am alone.

A bell sounds, a light flashes and the conveyor begins to move.

My grandma told me to tie a yellow ribbon to my bag to help me find it in the sea of identical bags that will soon come down the conveyor belt.

Each bag has a yellow ribbon, tied neatly onto the handle.

This is all my baggage.
I am alone.

There were no other passengers on this flight.

This is where I come to claim my baggage.

I begin looking at the address tags labeled childhood, loss, anger, bitterness, joy, fractured friendships, love, broken promises, lies, God.

Wait!
Why is God in a suitcase?
How did he get there?
Who put God in a suitcase?
I did.
I am alone.

In the last ten years, after many disappointments I began to try to find a way to cope.

I have witnessed a splintering divorce, my own failures when attempting college, met the love of my life, fought to tread water and keep afloat, married the love of my life, stood by my 25 year old love as he fought and won his fight with cancer, and become the mother of our precious son and bloomed into the family core I had always dreamed of. I have also made and lost friendships, tried to navigate a slippery and cracked relationship with my parents and siblings, stood by as three of my beloved grandparents went on to Heaven and have tried to bury my head and heart as I am losing another to dementia.

I have accumulated a lot of baggage.


I wish I had known that putting God in the suitcase would just magnify my frustration.

I am working on me. I am working on me so that I can be better for my love and our son.

I am not alone. GOD is here. I am breaking the cracks of the walls that I have put up. Somehow in all this period of trying, and failing, to protect myself the only one I held out was GOD. I was unable to protect myself from the hurt and failure. I am unable. HE IS ABLE.

This is not being written to blame any occurrence in my life for the way I feel today. I am writing this to remind myself that all of these events helped to make me who I am, all the good parts, what I like about myself and to help me focus being more of that.

Right now I am struggling with anger.
Right now I am struggling with bitterness from my past.

Right now, God offers me grace.
Right now, I am trying to apply grace to the wounds I am feeling.
God’s Grace describes ‘unmerited forgiveness’. He forgives when we don’t deserve it, probably especially when we don’t deserve it. God’s Grace is invaluable, priceless and if we were to attempt to try to earn it, we’d fail.

I am not writing this because I am living it. I am writing this because I am trying to live it. This is head knowledge for me and not heart knowledge.

The Meaning of Life

My friends Dave's Facebook Status: “Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming—WOW! What a ride!”

My Facebook Status: I think life is all about priorities and perspective. For me my family of 3, our health, our time together and finding our joy every day are number 1!!

Abraham Lincoln: Most people are as happy as they make their minds up to be.

Albert Camus : You will never be happy if you continue to search for what happiness consists of. You will never live if you are looking for the meaning of life.

Albert Schweitzer: Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.

C.S. Lewis: Affection is responsible for nine-tenths of whatever solid and durable happiness there is in our lives.


Kin Hubbard: It's pretty hard to tell what does bring happiness. Poverty an' wealth have both failed.

Martha Washington: The greatest part of our happiness depends on our dispositions, not our circumstances.

Thomas Jefferson: The happiest moments of my life have been the few which I have passed at home in the bosom of my family.

I find my most peaceful time are in the hectic, run of the mill, regular days spent with David and Lincoln.
I don't care at all about money, except where it relates to having a roof over our head, food on the table, transportation, diapers for our little one, and some to have fun with now and then.  Bills are a part of our lives and right now I am doing a great job of paying many down at a rapid rate.  However, it is not my goal to ever be rich and that's good because its probably not going to happen ;).  My goal is to contribute and provide for my family and make memories doing fun things.
I am grateful for my husband and our marriage.  We are both very aware that this season in our lives is a lot to deal with sometimes, but we have great hopes for David's career in the future with computers.  Having him be a full-time electrician and a full-time student, and of course, a full-time dad makes him incredibly busy. Although I miss him, I am totally proud of the way he is tackling things and still managing to help me.  There has never been a question, we are a team, and equal partners at that and I feel so lucky to be his wife!
I am really enjoying this time in our lives and really looking forward to the bright future David is working towards.

C.S. Lewis: God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing.

Here's his sign...DUH!

David's cousin gave birth to her second and third children in January, adorable boy/girl twins.  Mom, Dad, first son and twins live in Massachusetts. Let me tell you, I cannot wait to get up there to see them, but it won't be until the summer. 

So... Last week we receive a cute birth announcement for the twins, dressed in blue and pink, and I hand it over to David.

David: So are they identical?
Erin:  Really, David?!?!?
David: What?
Erin: What did you just ask me?
David: Are they identical?
Erin: Think about it, babe.
David: What?

Hint: Boy/Girl twins are NOT identical.  One is a boy and the other is a girl ;)

Poor David, it really showed that he's been working 8 hrs., then going to school for 4 hrs. Sometimes obvious slips through the cracks- but I got a good laugh out of it :)

A Day at the Park - A picture heavy post :)

Lincoln in his cute outfit from his Auntie Angie

Lincoln LOVES to swing!

Somehow, the slide shocked David and went to his glasses :( It hurt him pretty bad and we don't know how or why it happened.

There is a field behind the park and Linc really enjoyed the freedom to run. 

I think dogs spend alot of time back there :(  So I'm not sure how much time we'll be able to spend back there since Linc (well and me too) are a little nervous around dogs lately.

More Rites of Passage- Parents Edition.

Poor Lincoln....

This weekend Lincoln hada bit of a stomach virus.  Well, at least that is what we think it is. 

We were up late Friday night, David playing his computer game and I was watching a movie.  We heard Lincoln coughing, and I waited for him to stop and then went in his room to check on him.  Poor guy : ( He was trying to go back to sleep but had gotten sick all over himself and in his crib. This was around one o'clock in the morning. I gave him a bath and David stripped his crib.  Lincoln easily went back to sleep in his crib, but we repeated the process, minus the bath a half hour later.  Lincoln never cried.  Lincoln is such a trooper and great baby.  I know I cry when I am sick, but you'd never know with Lincoln, poor baby was trying to go back to sleep instead of crying, calling for us and freaking out.

Well, we thought we were over it, except that Lincoln's appetite has not returned, but tonight Lincoln lost it while we were out to dinner.  Luckly for us, the waitstaff and our friend we were out with were more than understanding. 

We don't know what's up with Lincoln or why he is getting sick, but hopefully he'll be feeling better this week!

Public Service Announcement Ahead

I am going to try to get much better about posting here on my blog. 

I need to do more posts on Lincoln and what he's up to these days.

I need to use this blog as a journal and outlet for some thoughts I am working through right now.

There are going to be some deep, introspective posts in the coming weeks.

If you are reading, and are a member of my family, please understand that this is my journal where I process my thoughts and feelings. Please do not take anything personal or be offended; there is no reason to, this ins't about anyone other than myself.  No one is, or will ever be, referred to personally.  I am processing events in my life that effect who I am today and how they relate to me daily in my life, my marriage and in being a mom. 

I am trying to figure out how to deal with some of the feelings that bother me.

This is my life. The Chronicles of Craziness.  The perfection of imperfection.

I want to be the best I can be, most importantly where is effects D and Linc, so I am going to delve into these issues.  I think processing them here will help me be that best version of me.

Thanks!

Eskimo Kisses

Lincoln's bedtime is pretty simple.  After changing into pajamas, washing his face, and brushing his teeth, I grab his bottle from the fridge and we head upstairs.  We read two books (if we haven't already read everything already. twice.) and then I give him his bottle and we snuggle for a few minutes.

Lately, he is not asleep when he finishes his bottle. He curls up with his head on my shoulder, and then his head will pop up with the happiest little smile on his face : )  He has been giving us noggin (touching or banging his forehead into ours) for the last few weeks.

Last night, when his head popped up and he put his forhead to mine I gave him an eskimo kiss, rubbing our noses.  He LOVED this!  He repeated it over and over!  I love this sweet affectionate boy.  I love my son!

Sidenote: He is also very into kissing books right now.  We have one I tell him has a picture of his Colorado Grandpa in - well, Bapa gets kisses all the time ; ) Love it!
I am going to make a small photo album for him, so he can have his own book of his people he loves.

Houdini

My son is on a quest to be the next Houdini. 

He is an accomplished magician.

As a newborn, Lincoln could escape even the tightest (and safest) swaddling blankets.

As a crawler, Lincoln could find himself behind shelves at daycare, crawling through our coffee table and even between the small space between our couches.

Now, as a 15 month old walking machine he can open the baby gate between our living room and kitchen!

My goodness, I guess I'll be buying a new gate tomorrow.  I would just leave the gate off, but then Linc is constantly going between the kitchen and living room and doesn't stop to play with his toys. 

ETA (Edited to Add): I bought a new gate and David put it up Wednesday afternoon : )

Things I want Lincoln to know...

I think often about the kind of young man I hope Lincoln grows up to be.  Lincoln, we love you so much and your dad and I try every day to be the best parents we can be. 

Characteristics, Traits and Values we hope to teach.

• Family time is #1.  Our time with Lincoln is priceless. We hope to create a routine of family nights in our home as Lincoln grows up.
• Lincoln growing up and being happy is not our goal.  Happiness is a feeling, like something being hot or cold, and will change with the weather. We hope to impart a feeling of contentment and peace, a state of his spirit and not his emotions.
• We hope you grow up having an appreciation for hard work and knowing the value of money and the cost of having things.  Things will come and go, but you learn and grow from the lessons learned through hardwork and perserverence. 
• Silly things, like how to cook, do his own laundry, make a bed.  Lucky for me your dad knows how to do all of this and helps me with all household chores.
• Lincoln will be taught to be respectful.  To teachers, grandparents, babysitters and our friends.
• Lincoln will be encourages to show gratitude, compassion and volunteerism.
• Lincoln will be taught that he is accoutable for his actions.
• Lincoln will know how to have fun and play hard.
• Lincoln will know that laughter is the best way to make others smile.
• Lincoln we want you to have an imagination! To build rockets with cardboard, color outside the lines, play in the mud, splash in the puddles, sing in the rain, make airplanes with legos and people with play doh.
• Lincoln will know the 'Bambi' rule.  You know, if you can't say anything thing nice, then don't say anything at all.

Lincoln's First Haircut

BEFORE

[Preface: I have been so thrilled that Lincoln has had hair as a baby- I didn't have any until I was three, so the hair has been a big deal for me:)]

Lincoln is nearly 15 months and we took him for his first haircut last week.  I am opinionated when it comes to giving my son a haircut.  I didn't want to give him a "big boy" hair cut right away; I was him to keep looking little for as long as possible.  He'd been looking a little rough with his hair getting so song around his ears and neck.  I couldn't decide when I was going to do it and kept talking myself out of it because he'd have a day with the curls above his ears and on his neck! 

I took him to the gal who cuts my hair, on a last minute call, when David had a work from home night. She just trimmed around his ears and his neck line- that's it!  Linc's haircut was so fast she even cut David's hair that night too.

Helping me with my hair :)

Five Question Friday

1. Have you ever hit an animal with your vehicle?
Yep, I've hit a bird, and most memorably a goose.  It just jumped in front of my car, no time to avoid it or stop the car.  I looked in my rearview mirror and saw what looked like remnants of a pillow fight!

2. When you see a string on your clothes do you pull it off or cut if off?
Depends on if I am near scissors, if not I'll attempt to pull it off.

3. Did you have your own room or share a room when you were young?
I always had my own room. I was the middle girl, between two brothers.  Lucky me.

4. Would you rather wear the same thing for the rest of your life or eat the same thing for the rest of your life?
Definately wear the same thing, as long as I could choose what it was.  I get tired of eating the same things.

5. What was your favorite TV show as a child?
The first show I really remember being obsessed with was Dawson's Creek in high school. 

Making Goals... Being Held Accountable

There are some habits that I want to start and to hold myself to.

1. Work out.  I have Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred and I have time to do it after Lincoln goes to bed.
2. Declutter the House.  Including table surfaces, closets and drawers.
3. Clean. Implement and Stick to a House Cleaning Routine.
    Daily - Make beds, Do Dishes,
    Monday- Clean Bathrooms
    Tuesday- Maintain Laudry (Fold and PUT AWAY!)
    Wednesday - Clean out Refrigerator, Trash
    Thursday - Clean Kitchen
    Friday -
    Weekends- Dust, Sweep, Mop, Vacuum, Laundry (Put away Linc's Laundry)
4. Take better care of myself.  Drink Water, Use Chapstick, Apply lotion ( I get heat rash on my arms every winter), Last. Dentist? Yuck.

Tips: I have seen that some mom's lay out their kids clothes for every day at the beginning of the week.  This would really help me with the morning scramble, so I will begin this on Monday, Feb. 22.

Longer-Term Goals:  

Plant small garden, especially basil for pesto- oh, how I love pesto, YUM!

Play outside with Linc this summer. I am an indoor girl, but I need to commit to this. Go to the pool, playground, walks...

Give hand/home made gifts for Christmas. Strawberry jelly, Pesto, homemade ornaments, art by Lincoln, etc. Only buying for children this year to minimize costs and stress.  Christmas can be a very wonderful time or stressful time and I am making the decision early to try to focus on Christ as the center for Christmas and my little brother, nephews, niece and Lincoln having a happy Christmas.  You know, if they're having a marry Christmas we will too : )

A Little Perspective, please.

Optimist?  Half Full? Susie Sunshine?
Pesimist? Half Empty? Eeyore?

I also believe in another category. The ostrich; he/she sticks their head in the sand, scared, but pretending that nothing bad will happen. My husband calls this army tactics, that if you can't see the bad guy, that bad guy cannot see you. While we call it different things, we agree that these coping tactics rarely work.

Realist.  There is water in the glass. Fact.

I didn't find out that realism was an option until my senior year of high school.  I liked the idea of focusing on what is rather than worrying about all the gloom and doom or thinking it would all work our perfectly. 

I appreciate the optimists, pesimists and ostriches in my life. The help me be real.  They help me to have perspective in this crazy world. 

It is important for us all to remember on days of work set-backs, sick children, mac and cheese for dinner, car accidents, being stuck in traffic... that life isn't all that bad. Keep in mind that work is just work and can be better tomorrow, illnesses will pass, dinner will be better another day and your commute will be lighting fast on the way home.  Problems, irritants, frusterations and stress can often go depart as quickly as they arrive.  For work, I try to start fresh everyday, either with a clear desk or plan of attack for the next day.  For traffic, I stop listening to radio reports and turn on a favorite CD (worship songs, John Mayer, Kelly Clarkson, Colbie Callait) and go somewhere else in my head.  I was getting really angry for a couple evenings and really didn't like that about myself, especially knowing that Lincoln is in the car with me in the mornings.  I got an i.Pod shuffle for christmas and bought myself a car adapter so I just need to load it up and it will be my traffic solution.

I know that God has a plan for my life and the lives of my husband, son and our families.  I also know that trials, stuggles, adversity, poverty, pain, illness, sadness, brokenness, etc. are part of the human condition. It's those times that should bring us closer to our God and our faith. 

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Not cut out for this.

Lincoln is teething... or sick... or teething

David had some side work to do yesterday.  Oh yes y'all!  We're re true romantics over here.  I was at home covered in snot and tears and David was working, boots covered in mud, and frusterated he couldn't figure something out.  All is well, he took care of the issue and only has a couple more things to do and he will be done with side work for a while.  We totally appreciate the opprotunity, although it has been hard to have a grateful heart sometimes.  We knew for a long time that this job would come along for David, but never thought he would also be in night school, 4 nights a week, working towards a bachelors degrees when it came time.  It isn't easy to be grateful all the time, but I think we've done a good job.  We are very excited for the people David is doing the work for and think they will enjoy their home when it is complete.  It is a big opprotunity for David to wire a house and has been a learning experience for sure, and I am very, VERY proud of him!

We are united in making sure that we don't take our family time for granted.  It has been our plan since David began night school and this is just one more reminder of how precious our weekends are.

Lincoln is a bit of a mess today, and well, yesterday too.  I think he is cutting two top teeth.  His nose is running like a faucet, and he is coughing this evening too, he has been very clingy and sensitive.  He was given meds for pain relief when he seemed to need them.  Just so you don't think he's too sick, he managed to tear apart the living room, all his toys, and all of my DVDs no less than 4 times today.  He has been busy.  No less thirsty, but eating about half what he does normally.

I am not cut out for 2 days at home alone with a teething/sick toddler by myself.  I love Lincoln- I told him constantly today- I held him when he'd let me, wiped his nose and tears : (  He was mad- that's where I become confused and feel inadequet.  Sometimes he didn't want to be held or comforted.  Just wanted to let out how mad he was and maybe even that he hurt.  It is so hard to not be able to comfort him and have him talk and tell me what I can do.  He did not nap well yesterday and today.  My neighbor had someone over who left two pitbulls in their turck for two hours and the barking woke and kept Lincoln up - I was pretty pissed- I knew he needed sleep.  He was in bed at 7:20 tonight. 

I hope he feels better tomorrow.  I hope David is around to be my partner in crime next time; I am so grateful that we are a team!  Today was a long day, and while we had moments of laughing, cuddling, and learning new words (like,  Gotcha) it is more fun if I know he doesn't hurt/feel like crap.

Warning: This is an honest blog.  If you don't like it, are offended by it or feel the need to say anything snotty you can leave.  Just go on ahead and click that little X in the top, right of your computer and don't look back.

If you can relate and understand, please keep on coming back! :)

Update for Family & Friends 2.9.10

David had a check-in today with his oncologist and everything still looks great! He had a chest x-ray last week and they did blood work today and everything is normal :D He will be seen again in 3 months and then we move on to appointments every 6 months!!

We took Lincoln with us today and David's doctor and nurses just love him there, he shows off some, but mostly is quiet, making sure we know he is not our trained puppet and never, ever performs on command.
Lincoln is 14 months old and a busy ball of energy! He is walking, but mostly running; talking: he can say ma-ma, da-da, tree, car, shoe, hat, ball, ba-ba, cracker (cah-cah), apple, grandpa (ba-pa) and more. He also does baby sign language for more, all done, and cracker. Lincoln also can make animal sounds for a cow, horse, sheep, dog, duck and lion. His latest thing he is doing is picking up his large toys and carrying them around, displaying what we call 'feats of strength'. He will pick up anything for my hand weights, his little people parking garage, his little couch, a storage ottoman that holds his toys.... He is lot of fun, very happy, very busy, super affectionate... you get the idea- Lincoln is awesome and we're loving every stage :D

David is still going to night school (in addition to his day job), working towards a degree in computers (Simulation, Modeling and Game Design). He has been going for nearly 10 months now and is maintaining a 3.7 GPA. He will finish sometime around the end of 2011. Our jobs continue to go well and we are hopeful that jobs will pick up and we will be busier this year. I am doing well, enjoying keeping up with my guys. I am looking into getting a better camera for myself to better capture Lincoln's busy life and build a photography hobby.

Feats of Strength and New Talents

Is the circus hiring? If so, we have a new side show performer for them! 

Lincoln is working on his Feats of Strength' act!  He carries both of my 3 lb. weights around at the same time.  He moves his little couch, little people parking garage and a storage otoman that hold his toys all around the living room all day long.  We laugh at him and try to look out for him hoping he won't hurt himself. 

------

Lincoln is copying lots of things we say these days and is doing more and more animal sounds every day!  Nay (horse), Mbooo (cow), Uh-uh (dog), Baaaahhh (sheep), qack-qack (duck).  He is now signing cracker, its a wierd sign- with your right hand, knocking on your left elbow- and saying cracker at the same time!  We, like all parents, think Lincoln is so very smart and are very proud of how he is picking up signing and talking so quickly!!!

:)

26

My birthday is this week.  I am 26. 

I think this is the beginning of the sweet spot in my life.  Hopefully it lasts for years and years to come : )

I love the life David, Lincoln and I are building and enjoying together everyday!  I enjoy my time with them more than I can say.  David and I have a great relationship; lots of talking, laughing, cuddling & TV watching.  Lincoln is growing so much every day.  I try very hard to soak up the time I have with him every day.  He is awesome, and while there is the compulsion to wish we could 'stop time' and just try to capture his wonderful ways in my memory and pray that I remember in the years to come. 

David and I have some big goals this year to lessen our debt and we're already tackling that in a big way.  We're also looking into trading his small 'cross-over' car for an SUV to better suit our needs with Lincoln.  We're looking into getting a fancy DSLR camera to help us take better pictures of Lincoln and 'capture' more family moments : )

This year didn't begin for me on New Years; it begins for me this week and I am very much going to enjoy 26!

Condolences

I fact I haven't been able to escape in adulthood is family, friends and parents of friends passing away.  My grandpa passed away when I was a freshman in high school.  My nana passed away when I was 19 and my papa when I was 24.  One of my best friends from high school dad passed away last year.  I didn't go to any of these funerals.  I went to a friend's grandfather's funeral when I was in middle school- I don't know why.  My grandpa, nana and papa lived in Colorado when they passes away and I was not able to travel there for their funerals.  Not being able to attend something that should make a passing real makes it very easy to pretend that it's not.   Or maybe un-healthily (I made that word up, just now), clinging to them not being gone? Or letting go enough to have them be in Heaven, knowing we'll see them again.  I was very close to my grandparents, especially when you consider that I grew up a N.avy brat and only lived in the same state as my grandparents for a couple years in elementary school.  I need to write a separate post about how awsome my grandparents were and are, but for now I'll say that I love and miss them. My grandma is currently battling dementia, has been since 2007, and it is very hard to visit with her knowing how much is missing. 

Last weekend a friend of mine passed away.  I hadn't seen her in about 5 years and she moved to another state about a year ago.  She was only in her 30s : ( 

To her family,
I am so deeply sorry for your loss. These is no way to sum up               or her meaning to me, my parents and siblings, classmates and church family in words.             shined from miles away, sang for all to hear and hugged us with her entire spirit. She was always there as a listening ear, a hand to hold, shoulder to cry upon and dear friend to sing, laugh and celebrate with.                was my friend, mentor, youth leader, choir director and roommate on many church trips. We laughed until we cried and cried until we laughed. She will be missed, but we will see her again soon. I personally can't wait to see the party she is preparing for us in Heaven. See you soon              , show that angelic chior how its done! God Bless you Mrs.  and family. May the peace of God hold you at this time and comfort you until we see           again!

Snow in Virginia?

Well, it snowed.  I am extremely frusterated with the hype of it all yesterday.  We hear it all the time and the weathermen are always wrong... always wrong.  This is a big deal around here and only snows like this maybe once every 5-10 years! Craziness! 

At about 5 a.m.

These were taken at about 9 this morning.There are about 8 inches or so on the ground.

Lincoln was interested and might've wanted to go out, but he has a cold and lacks the proper attire.  He had been in the snow in Colorado, so I wasn't worried about him missing out on the experience.  He is still working on that top tooth, it's still not through yet.  He has a cough and runny nose too, so it was probably best that we were snowed in and just hanging out today :)

Rite of Passage

Today another toddler at daycare hit you on your head with a toy car. You have a owie on the top of your head that will probably scab by tomorrow. You took a toy away from a 12 month old (who had been taking your cup all day) and Ms. P told you that you couldn't take toys away from A and made you give it back. When A got the car back he hit you on the head with it :( Your little feelings were hurt both when she made you give the car back and when you got hit. Ms. P feels terrible that you were hurt and threw the toy away.  She cares about you a lot and called to check on you tonight. This is the second time another toddler has hurt you with a toy.

While this makes us sad that you're hurt, we know it is part of how it goes having a child in daycare and that if you had an older sibling you might be getting beat up at home more often. I have to say I am so glad its not you being the bully; I certainly don't want that at all. We also, are not looking forward to these situations as they may escalate to pushing, punching, biting. We know these are steps in growing and learning boundries.  But it is very sad to see you hurting and sad. 

While this may be a rite of passage we hope it can stop leading you you getting hurt.  You are a sweet boy and share so well, hopefully the other toddlers will learn from you.

PS- You've bruised my face when you threw your toy phone.  You have your own crimes.   ; )

14 Months... old?

Is he 14 months old already? As what's with the 'old' at the end?  He's not old.  He's little.  I want to keep my Lincoln little for as long as possible.  Oh well, I suppose the fact is he is going to get big, and we're enjoying every minute in the progression towards having a big boy.

Lincoln you are BUSY with a capital B.  You have no time or patience for being held back when the world is out there waiting for you to figure it out.  You step out the front door in the morning on our way out to day care/work and I lock the door as quickly as possible, because you are racing for the street.  I think if you could walk to where ever we need to be you would.  (Now, don't panic, we live on a cul-de-sac and here is no traffic.  I am right beside you.)  Dad took you for a walk on Sunday and you wandered the high school track and threw tennis balls and you loved it.  Today, Dad brought you by work so I could see you and you went into everyone's office to say hello, but you were too busy running around and playing with Mr. White's trucks to show off all of the talking you do.  When I tried to pick you up to talk to you, you arched and fussed, flailing a acting like a wet noodle until I put you down to explore some more. 

You can say duck, book, car, tree, cheese, cookie, apple, nana, dada, mama, grandpa (ba-pa) and tonight you said pudding (puh).

You will point to your nose when prompted.

When asked what a cow says, you say Mmmbooooo! You can also say ruff-ruff (dog) quack-quack (duck) and rar (bear, lion, tiger).

You shake your head for yes and no, but just cause it's funny; not purposefully.  You spin in a circle when we prompt you to dance.

You are affectionate giving hugs and kisses and blowing kisses.  You follow directions, simple requests and share very well .  You are a good eater, most of the time, and are still drinking for bottles bcause you refuse sippy cups. 

You are finally taking good naps.  1-1/2 - 2 hours at daycare and consistently 2 hours on the weekends.  Now that I've typed this you probably won't nap at all this weekend. 

You're also getting your 2nd top tooth, which will bring the total to 6.  This is the first one that has cause any trouble.  You had a fever 2 days ago and there seems to be a knot on your gums where it's going to break through.

Lincoln we are enjoying every day, every step, every word.  We love you!

a day for..

...a fever.  I picked up Lincoln from daycare and his sitter was taking his temperature.  He'd had a wonderful day, a normal day and they were dancing and she was giving him a hug and he felt warm to her.  His temp. was 102!?!?!  He hasn't had a cold, runny nose, cough or been pulling his ears.  Finally it dawns that it might be his teeth! WOW, duh, what a good mom I am that I think all the crazy stuff before the obvious stuff!  He only has 5 teeth so you'd think it would occur to me that maybe his little mouth might like a few more to add to the collection.  I know I thought of it yesterday because my poor guy has a diaper rash and no reason for it... so teeth it is.  There is a big bump on the top.  So that's the one I'm watching for.

Smart Boy

Lincoln has been able to mimick us when we prompt him to tell him what a cow 'says' for a couple weeks now. 

But this morning, while driving into work, when I asked him (without me giving any hints) he said "Mbooooooo!"

I guess I need to start loading my little sponge with more info, because he really is getting it and soaking it up!! YAY

Not me...

David and I were not mortified when Lincoln threw his bottle of water on the floor, in T.arget, cracking it in half and causing instant spillage.  We did not have to put the bottle in a ziplock bag that moments before held cheese and sop up the floor with a burp cloth.  Nope, not us!

Linc is not still drinking for bottles at 13 months old.  (We've tried quite a few sippys and he wants nothing to do with it.  We'll try again in a couple weeks.)

David and I did not have to drive back to Moe's after having lunch there yesterday to retrieve one on Lincoln's shoes, after having already driven home. I  always know whether or not he has on both shoes and is wearing them since it's currently in the 30s!  So cold!

My keys were not locked in my car this morning.  I did not have to call David and have him leave work in Virginia Beach, haul back to Chesapeake and get us in the car, and all of us head back out to Virginia Beach for daycare and work!

* These scenarios may or may not be a true representation of my life with my dear son and darling husband ;)

Weather Persons

Weather persons (meteorologists) are the only people who can be wrong all the time and still keep their jobs.  Or at least that's what my husband says! 

While the rest of the country is getting an accumulation of snow... we are not.  I read somewhere yesterday that in areas like ours they should call it a heavy frost rather than a light snow.  I tend to agree. 

It is about 36 degrees today and actually feels warmer today than it has all week.  It's supposed to be cold this weekend :(  Bummer, since I have alot to do this weekend.  I'll be thinking warm thoughts!!

Lincoln's First Snow Day

Here are pictures of Lincoln's first day playing in the snow in Colorado on Christmas Eve!

Here's Lincoln is his snow suit!

First steps in the snow

My very own snowbaby.  Don't you LOVE this face!!

My living room.

I have told myself it is time to put some paint on these walls.  Most of our stuff is here to stay.  I'll be working around it to pick the right color scheme for us.  The couch is denim, and let me just tell you I can fall asleep on this couch faster than in my own bed!!  When we have considered getting a new couch we've leaned towards a chocolate brown.  So I am thinking we'll go a khaki direction with paint color.

Everything is painted with boring, white, flat paint.  We are open to alot of options and would love suggestions.  We'd love to paint the door and accent color and definately painting the mantel.

I will post updates as we make progress!

Lincoln, you are 13 months!

Lincoln we are having a blast with you and you are learning more and more every day!  You are walking everywhere and almost running.  You hardly ever resort to crawling and are not phased when you fall. 

You have become very attached to your stuffed monkey and get very excited when you see him and give him hugs and kisses.

You can say MA MA, DA DA, DUCK, BOO (book), DAA (ta da!), AH DAH (all done), CAR, TRUCK, CHEESE, JUICE, COOKIE ('ck' sound), TEE (tree) and still of course, HUH and YEAH.

You are a good eater most of the time, are very grumpy and whiney when you get your meals late (so, when in doubt, we feed you) and you want nothing at all to do with sippy cups.

Last night when we were getting ready for bed you were going back and forth between your dad and me, giving us hugs and kisses!  We just giggled and hugged you tight.