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 :)

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.

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!

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 :)

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!!!

:)

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!

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

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!!

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.

Lincoln's 1st Birthday

Lincoln elbow deep in cake and icing.

Lincoln's FIRST birthday party was a couple weeks ago. I had a blast making the decorations and really focusing on him and the last 12 months.  He has changed so much (of course he has!).

I made his cupcakes and pennants that said Happy Birthday and Lincoln Oliver on them

It is insane to see him grow and change in these 13 pictures!  I adore this banner and it will probably hang up for the next year!

The party was a blast and we had a great turnout.  My mom and dad came, which is a big deal to me!  My dad brought my adorable little brother Matthew who is two and a half and a complete blast!!!  My brother drove about 4 hours with his girlfriend and their three boys.  The were all so good and we had a great time.  Lots of friends came and we enjoyed visiting with everyone. 

Lincoln did great.  I was absolutely worried that Lincoln might be overstimulated and unsure but instead he crawled right in and loved playing with all the kids and seeing our friends.  He enjoyed his cake and really wasn't very interested in the presents. 

Lincoln, I love you! Your dad loved you too!  We are so proud of you and so blessed to be your parents and watch you grow!  Happy Birthday Squishy!

11 Months

Lincoln, my love, my son, my squishy,

I love you dearly and deeply. 

You are walking assisted around everywhere, pulling up on everything.
You can climb the stairs faster than mom and dad.
You can very quickly side step around furniture, take all your books and our DVDs off the shelves.
You are very good at walking while pushing your cart.
You can roll your ball back and forth and push little cars back and forth.
You turn a bath into a jacuzzi with your crazy busy legs.
You wear size 3, almost 4, diapers and 12, almost 18 month, clothes.
You finally have TWO bottom TEETH!  They arrived right around your dad's birthday (Oct. 16).
There are no signs of anymore teeth coming anytime soon.
You are busy, wiggily, cannot sit still.... and we love it!
You hardly nap.  A good nap for you is an hour and a half, we're thrilled when you sleep for 2 hours.
You sleep from about 8:30 to 8:00a.m.
You give hugs, and say AW.
You give wide open mouthed kisses.
You laugh the hardest when you are startled.
You like ham, cheese, grilled cheese sandwiches, pancakes, french toast.
You like cheese dip, like queso at restaurants!
You say YEAH and HUH when spoken too and it sounds like you know how to say DUCK.

We adore you, miss you when we're not with you and you drive us nuts when we're around you.  That is just how you'll come to feel about us in the years to come.  I hope always know we love you!

A Tooth! Two, Three!!

Lincoln, It's your dad's birthday and you managed to get him a present and not tell anyone!  You have two teeth coming in!  You are nearly 11 months old and finally teeth!  Good job Buddy!  Love You!