Milestones!

Get ready, everyone . . . . there's lots to tell in this post! Several major events have happened over the past week, and I find myself so happy and a little sad. I'm happy because Lincoln is growing and developing into a little person right before my eyes and sad because everyday he's less and less my little baby. His personality is so funny, and he surprises me with every new thing he does. Last Saturday, a little tiny tooth broke through! It has continued to emerge so that you can now see the entire top of the tooth. He used to chew on my fingers quite a bit, but I'm not really a fan since he's got a weapon in there. (No incidents while nursing yet . . . I'm a little concerned but am staying the course.) I've been trying desperately to get a picture of it, but he's not in the cooperating phase right now. If his mouth is open, he's chewing on something or hanging his tongue out. Thank goodness for digital cameras or I'd have spent a fortune on film!

Speaking of cameras . . . I received a VERY early Christmas gift from Nana and Pops this weekend and am proudly utilizing my new Nikon D3000 (translation = super awesome professional digital camera). I feel like a photographer already, but I know once I get a few of the instructional classes under my belt I'll be real pro! Enjoy my first batch of pictures.Perhaps my most cherished moment as a mother so far came last week. Lincoln looked at me and clearly and plainly said "Mama"!!!!!!! We had been working on mama and dada for a while, and he would move his mouth to mimic us but without sound. Then he began really saying baba sounds. All of a sudden he says mama, and it's the sweetest thing ever. He says it most when he's tired, sad or needs something. I never tire of his chatting, and if he's like his mom and dad there will be a lot of it!

Giggles

Here's a snipet of what goes on while I'm prepping dinner! I could listen to this all day . . . (boss, don't get mad at me for playing this over and over at my desk!)

Dr. K and The Freeman's

We've had a lot of activity lately, so let's get caught up. Lincoln had quite a bit of drainage from his left ear a week ago, and it scared me to death. I immediately called the doctor for an appointment, even though I had a happy, giggly, non-feverish baby. No matter what, ear drainage can't be good! The doctor took a look in his ears and diagnosed one ear infection (right ear) and one ruptured ear drum (left ear). I was so upset that I'd let the infection get so bad it had to rupture, but Dr. K assured me that he wouldn't call Child Protective Services! Lincoln hadn't been running a fever or pulling at his ear, and he was as happy to play as ever with no signs of pain. Even my hat diligence seemed futile with the diagnosis. Lincoln's first trip to the pharmacy would yield one round of amoxicillin, and I think it has worked well. He's not really a fan of taking the medicine, but he gets it down.

Sorry fellas, Mommy's about to ruin the moment with the medicine!

Minnie, Grumps and Ally came to visit over the weekend, and we had lots of fun. They couldn't believe all of Lincoln's new tricks. He's very charming and had them wrapped around his finger! We shopped and played and slept in (a little). Mostly we just marveled at how great Lincoln is. He is super squiggly right now, and I know crawling is soon. He can get up on all fours but isn't sure what to do at that point. At least he can get his belly off the floor!

Once again, I don't have any pictures of Lincoln and Allyson. She's usually taking pictures of him so I never stop and make her pose. Next time, I promise!

Who needs toys?

It seems silly to buy lots of expensive toys because Lincoln just wants a few simple things to play with . . . a water bottle, a blackberry, a camera, and a remote. Like father, like son!

New PJs

On a recent trip to Target, I happened to find myself strolling through the baby section . . . can you imagine that?! I just had to buy something, so I picked up automobile long underwear. This is typically not a very flattering clothing option. You know it's pretty slim and form fitting (in all the wrong places). Lincoln has never worn long underwear, but I'm afraid he may never wear anything else now! It is the cutest, funniest thing I've ever seen! His belly pokes out in the front, his diaper pokes out in the back, and his arms and legs look too skinny! He didn't seem to mind modeling it for me, so I'm sure he'd like to have a few more suits.

If anyone knows where I can get a supply of long underwear, let me know. I'm ready to purchase my stock for 9 months.

Visit to the Pumpkin Patch

We ended our weekend with a visit to our local Pumpkin Patch. It was Lincoln's first good look at pumpkins, and he didn't seem very impressed. I guess we should get to know the pumpkins on our front porch! He was pretty cooperative and posed where we put him, though there were a lot of distractions. I probably took 20 pictures just to get two good ones! (I always find it easier to just take a bunch and delete the bad ones later.)

We were on high alert for suspicious-looking people and pumpkins . . . you never know who's gonna give you the Swine Flu. Kevin was getting testy with me about taking pictures from more than one location. (I think he wished he'd brought Clorox to spray down the pumpkins and scarecrow!) Lincoln sat on the blanket the whole time and didn't eat any hay (hopefully!) with germs on it. You can imagine his reaction when I suggested we have Lincoln hug a pumpkin or lean on one!!!!!

The Dallas County Komen Race for the Cure was held this Saturday, and of course we wouldn't miss it. Lincoln walked with me last year (in utero) so I guess this was his second Race. The Whitener's joined us this year, and we had lots a fun catching up with them for 3 miles.

Before: curious at all the people milling about

During: lulled to sleep by the motion
After: energized from the nap and dancing with the band

We spend a lot of time playing on the floor, and Lincoln does lots of rolling around, scooting in a circle, and climbing all over me! He's so happy when he's right in the middle of things. He goes through phases with his favorite toys. Right now he likes chewing on rattles and a baseball. Daddy is excited about the baseball choice!

At the ripe old age of 6 1/2 months, we decided to play with the sippy cup. He immediately grasped the handles, but he wasn't all that sure about getting milk from the spout. He chewed on it a bit then sucked a bit. Perhaps complicating the situation was the fact that there was just a little milk in the cup. He needed to turn it all the way up and hold his head back . . . that's a lot for a kid to figure out on the first try! I certainly don't expect him to use the cup for meals, but it can't hurt to start the introduction.
Little chunky monkey was all bundled up for a walk. We've had crazy weather recently, and you never know what it's going to be the next day - cold and rainy, hot and humid, windy and gray. Lincoln has adapted well to a hat and hoodie one day and shorts and a tee the next. I always prefer him wearing a hat both because it makes his cheeks look extra kissy and it keeps his ears protected. Don't we all love products that multi-task!

Blocks

"Mom, look at me! I'm almost 5 blocks tall! I love playing with these blocks."
"I'm about to knock this over, Mom. Will you stack them up again? This is too fun!"

New Digs

Eric and Samantha are proud new homeowners, and we love their new house. They closed yesterday after a long search. It's the perfect place to begin their life together. We went by to check it out this afternoon, and there was so much going on already. We couldn't wait to go back, so we grabbed a pizza and salad and headed back over for dinner! Lincoln had a great time playing on the big couch, and he loved to watch Sugar (Samantha's yellow lab). They've even given Lincoln his own room . . . can you tell how happy he is?????

Proof of what a smart little man we have:

Towards the end of supper almost every night, Kevin arrives home from work. I used to smile and ooh and ahh to get Lincoln excited when I heard the key. Now Lincoln hears the key and immediately turns to look down the hall. As soon as Kevin rounds the corner, Lincoln breaks out into a huge smile. Glad his Daddy's home!

Cute Stuff

After I pick Lincoln up from school, I take of his (potentially germ-y) outfit and let him have "naked baby" time. He LOVES to be naked, and I don't have to worry about getting an outfit dirty while I feed him supper. He was especially happy this afternoon!

He has discovered his tongue again! It was all the rage at around 2 months, then it lost its luster. Apparently tongues are cool again, and Lincoln sticks his out all the time! I usually stick mine back at him . . . is it too early to worry about setting a good example? :)

The jumper is getting more and more play these days. He is really into jumping now, and likes the freedom of moving between the different stations. He can play music, reach the hanging toys or play with the attached frog. These are very important decisions, and he always gives each item equal consideration (and chewing). He's so funny!

When its time for bed . . .

We introduced Lincoln to his new cousin Ava this weekend and posed for a picture with she and Julie (Kevin's cousin). Ava is just two months old but so cute. She has beautiful hair already . . . maybe she could spare some for Lincoln? The babies were happy and content to check each other out and we were enjoying a quick visit.

We didn't even need a watch to know when it was bedtime. These two let us know it was time to eat and hit the sack! I snapped a picture of Kevin and Julie just before it was time to go so you can see the yawns and cries. Little Ava was so sweet at all of the wedding festivities. She just ate and napped while Lincoln's head was on a swivel trying to take it all in. He's definitely the nosiest kid I've ever seen.

Wedding Celebration

This past weekend we traveled to Oklahoma City for a Kuhlman wedding. Kevin's cousin Leslie and her long time man Jessie, finally tied the knot. We were happy to be a part of the celebration! We headed up early Friday so we could get settled and change into our best duds. The rehearsal dinner was at the famous Cattlemen's Steakhouse in the OKC Stockyards, and we all needed to look the part. Lincoln got new jeans and a pair of suede shoes (ok, they were Ralph Lauren loafers . . . not exactly cowboy wear!). I brought out my western-est shirt and boots, and Kevin stuck to his uniform which does include boots. How do we look?

We enjoyed seeing family, meeting little Ava (funny pics-I'll post them later) and getting to know a few new people. Due to Lincoln's bedtime and dinner running a tad late, we weren't able to enjoy one of the legendary steaks. Kevin, however, unknowingly sampled a western staple. Appetizers were brought to the table, and he immediately dug in. He insisted I try one of the chicken strips, but I was distracted with Lincoln. We found out a few moments later that the chicken strips were actually calf fries. (For more on this delicacy also known as Rocky Mountain Oysters, check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocky_Mountain_oysters.) The guy next to me said, "Try one. It's like chicken." I don't know about you, but I don't eat things that are "like" other things. If you know Kevin, you know calf fries aren't something he would normally eat. We had fun laughing at Daddy!
Feeding a 6 month old in a hotel is a little challenging, but we did great. Bumbo, throw away bowls, lots of bibs and patience are necessary for success. Luckily the little pig was just interested in eating. Sorry to the Waterford for all the carrot-stained hand towels!
After Kevin's ushering duties ended, he joined us for the ceremony. It was beautiful and laid-back and perfect for Leslie and Jessie. Jason was a great officiant and really made it special. Off to the reception at Oklahoma City Country Club, where big screen tvs were brought in for the OU game! The food was wonderful, the band rocked, and we had a great time. Lincoln danced with Nana for a while then entertained many other guests.

My two guys were definitely the cutest ones there.

It was fun to get dressed up for a special occasion. Of course Lincoln was the cutest little boy at the wedding! (Would I say anything different?) He got a little wind on his cheeks that made them extra rosy and extra kissy. A little Vaseline took care of the pink overnight. Don't you just want to pinch him?

Thanks for a great weekend, Leslie and Jessie. What a great looking bride and groom!

Water Baby

What is the "go to" trick for a bored or fussy Lincoln? Nothing beats a splash in the sink! He loves the water, the bathroom, the mirror and being messy, so this is the perfect entertainment. I fill up the sink and let him splash away, regardless of the water drenching me or the rest of the area.

Splashing in the sink isn't the only water-obsession by far. Filling up a glass of water from the fridge brings smiles and a giggle, watching the drops fall from the roof or tree is amazing, and don't even get me started on how much he loves an Ozarka bottle. I'm sure there is lots of puddle-jumping in my future, along with a backyard pool and sprinkler. I wonder if he'll like to drink water as much as he likes to play with it . . .