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.

Happiness...

We tend to seek happiness when happiness is actually a choice.


People who make big decisions based on happiness, especially when not considering if or how their pursuits effect other people, make me very angry. 

As a good friend, child, parent and person in general (I hope), I try to make the best decisions for myself and my family.  I put my husband and son first, extended family, friends, myself, further down on that list.  I learned a long time ago that sometimes people forget that sometimes other's happiness should come before your own.  Especially in a situation where you immediate family is affected.  Sacrificing your parents, spouse and/or childrens happiness for your's isn't a equitable trade off.  I think if you're not happy in a situation, that you need to evaluate your commitments and who else will be affected if you make changes in your life.

That all being said, I think happiness is crap.  It is a fleeting emotion as predictable as the weather (sarcasm).  It'll come and go in a gentle breeze.  I think we as humans are not perfect and yet so often, we seek a perfect life, free of problems and really that isn't even a possiblity for us.  Happiness is a fleeting feeling and maybe what we should more often be pursuing is the Joy of our mundane daily lives and God's presence in it!

Good Poem

“As children bring their broken toys with tears for us to mend,

I brought my broken dreams to God because He is my friend.

But then instead of leaving Him in peace to work alone,

I hung around and tried to help with way that were my own.

At last I snatched them back and cried, ‘How can You be so slow?!’

‘My child,’ He said, ‘What could I do? You never did let go.”

2010- To Do List

1- Paint the guest bathroom

2- Paint the living room.

3- Possibly, re-paint the front door.

4- If  number 1 and 2 go well, paint the kitchen.

5- Take a sewing class... learn to sew.

6-  If I get a new camera... take a photography class.

7-  Go to church.  (Already attended today!)

8-  Find a bible study for David and I to do together.

9-  Make a binder for birthday and holiday ideas.  Plan and shop for Christmas earlier so that it doesn't feel like a hassel.  Theme for Christmas 2010: Homemade w/ Love ....