Under the Bigtop!

The circus is in town!!!!! I saw a flyer about it a while back then Nana offered to keep Beau if we wanted to go. We decided this morning that tonight's 6:30 show would be perfect. Of course we talked about the circus with Lincoln all day, and he was so excited! He would shout with glee about the elephants and tigers and crowns (clowns!), but I know he must have had absolutely no idea what he was going to see. Every car we passed on the way to downtown was going to the circus too, according to Lincoln. His excitement was precious! The show began with the big parade of animals, motorcycles, clowns, dancers, gymnasts, and the ringleader. Linc was already entranced! During intermission he got to pick a toy, and believe me it was a difficult task. Finally he decided on the light up elephant stick, then the lady asked him if he wanted blue or red!!! They only had the red one on display, so he looked frantically back and forth and decided blue at the last second! He loved it immediately. He spent most of the time on our laps so he could see everything. Kevin was most impressed with the motorcycles in the ball/cage thing. They had seven motorcycles in there! Lincoln clapped and cheered and had lots of fun!

It was a wonderful evening, and I'm so glad Linc liked the circus. I can't wait to take Beau next year too!
(Blogger is acting weird and I can't move the pictures around in the text like I normally do. Excuse the out-of-order parts!)

Video Times Two!

We're trying to remember to video more, and I got these sweet little clips during bathtime tonight. Beau was happy and giggly, even though he's still not sure what's happening when a laugh comes out. It's almost like it scares him!

I told Lincoln he had to sing the I Love You song or he couldn't do his bath paints. If I hadn't given him that deal, he wouldn't have had anything to do with singing on video. He's the cheesiest with the regular camera but gets all shy about the video.

Kids Say the Funniest Things

Each Saturday morning at the conclusion of Linc's super fun gymnastics class, the kids all line up at the end of the mat and get stamps on their hands and feet. They say things like "Good Work" or "Super", or they may be a picture of an ice cream cone or frog. You get the picture right? Lincoln (and all the kids) love the stamps, and he talks about them all day. Beau, Lincoln and I ran to Central Market to visit the butcher on Sunday afternoon. Lincoln was excited to order our pork butt! He was looking around while we waited for our turn and all of a sudden got excited. He said, "She got lots of stamps, Mommy!" I turned to see a woman with TONS of tattoos on her arms and busted out laughing. Is that the funniest thing ever! We almost missed our turn because I was frantically texting Kevin and Allyson with this woman's picture and the story.

(To protect the innocent, I cropped the picture to cut off most of this highly-decorated woman's face. She sure provided us a Sunday highlight!)

Two Cuties

These two cuties have been keeping us laughing lately. Beau got a new seat with a toy tray on top, and Lincoln loves it! If Beau's not sitting in it, Lincoln is. If Beau is sitting in it, Lincoln hauls the Bumbo chair to use that. Silly toddler loves baby toys! Linc is always happy to show Beau how to do things, and "help" him play. I'm sure Beau thinks he could figure it out by himself!

Linc giving instructions and demonstrating!
Lincoln was turning the lamp on and off, and they were both entertained by the light. Their size difference doesn't seem so great in the picture. Beau is trying his best to catch up and eating every drop of cereal or milk I give him. I weighed them last night: Lincoln-28 lbs, Beau-16 lbs 12 oz.

Happy Birthday Mommy!

I was very lucky to hear "Happy Birthday, Mommy" over and over again from a sweet little two year old today. Lincoln was very excited about my birthday. He asked me this morning if I was going to have a train at my party today. When I told him no, he said it was because I'm too big. Such a smartie! Beau got in on the act too because he was on his best behavior this evening! Nana and Lincoln were busy all day planning my party, practicing the birthday song, checking out the cake, arranging the Sesame Street cups, plates and napkins, and tieing balloons all over the house - even one in the garage to welcome me home! We had a fun dinner at Mooyah then yummy Stein's cake. What could be better?!?!

The partyers!

Just a sampling of the balloons that are floating around the house. Lincoln liked the Elmo one, the Mickey one, and pointed out that the Princess balloon was tied to my chair at the table.

Happy Birthday to me!

I went to lunch with a group of friends, got lots of wonderful cards and gifts, had many birthday wishes posted on Facebook (even though I'm a horrible Facebook-er and never post there), and got hugs and kisses from the two cutest kids ever. Oh, and Kevin came home from a week of traveling for work. What a relief! It was a great birthday, especially because Lincoln was so excited about it. He was in major hyper-mode all evening (even before his small slice of cake). I was sure he would fight bedtime, but I guess he wore himself out. Hopefully those two cuties keep up the birthday kindness and sleep peacefully . . . for the next 18 years or so! Sometimes I wonder how, at only 32, I'm qualified to raise two children, have a fulltime job, and manage a home with a busy, working (sometimes traveling) husband. Seriously - who decided I'm mature enough for that? I don't know, but I pray each night for God to hold my hand and lead me in the right direction. I'm definitely not capable of doing in alone! Thanks to all for a wonderful birthday. I'll take another one like today anytime!

H-O-T

Why do I even bother to check the forecast?

Just Hanging Out

After all of the yummy cereal, Beau decided to kick back and watch a little baseball! He was looking so chill!

Later we did some tummy time and looked at a few of Linc's Elmo books. Linc immediately joined in the fun. He wanted to tell Beau who was doing what on all the pages.
I made little slider hamburgers for dinner tonight, and Lincoln loved them! Of course, he had to have the little bun beside the burger instead of eating it the normal way, but whatever! He's definitely a good meat/veggie/fruit/bread eater. No pasta for this kid! Sweet potato fries and regular fries are fine, but don't fix potatoes any other way. I don't know anyone who doesn't like mashed potatoes except Lincoln. Oh well! I can't complain because he really has a very healthy diet. He likes most kinds of meat provided that they are plain - ham, turkey, any kind of chicken, hot dogs, pork chop, pork tenderloin and now burgers. He always requests steamed broccoli, green beans and carrots, and he thinks fruit is candy. When he's given the choice between strawberries and M&Ms, it's a toss up! I hope Beau is paying attention!

Time to Eat

Since Beau is the big four months old now, he gets to eat rice cereal! We started on Sunday morning after church. He was looking cute (according to Lincoln, of course) and wondering why he was perched on the table instead of in my arms with a bottle.

"Hmmmmm . . . this is weird, but I'm gonna give Mommy the benefit of the doubt."

Success!!!! My little eater was excited about the rice cereal and sucked it off the spoon like a pro! I'm also proud that he didn't make a complete mess. I know that won't be the norm, but it was a nice bonus for our first feeding. One note: he didn't like the cereal runny. I first made it up with a little cereal and a lot of breast milk, but quickly added more cereal. He wanted it thick!

Beau's teacher told me that "he ate the cereal like he's been eating it his whole life" today at school! I'm so glad he likes it. Lincoln thinks it's pretty funny that Beau is sitting on the table eating while we are eating too. He requested a spoon for his lunch and dinner (even though his food wasn't "spoon required") just because Beau had one. He shoveled in green beans on his spoon with renewed enthusiasm! Nana got in on the cereal-action when she came over for dinner tonight. Beau's one hungry kid, so it's best to shovel it in fast. He doesn't want to wait for the next bite! Lincoln was a good eater of cereal and baby food, and Beau seems to be headed down the same path. What a sweetie! Not to leave Linc out, he requested chicken, carrots and broccoli for dinner. Such a healthy kid. I gave him a wheat roll instead of the normal wheat bread slice, and he was so excited. He said, "New bread, Mommy! Lincoln like it!" Score for Mommy!

Book Worms

Lincoln's love of books is no secret. Of course he has lots of favorites, but he also goes through little phases and adds new (or old) ones to the mix. Right now he's gotten confused about the season, I think. Favorite Bedtime Book: Twas the Night Before Christmas! Favorite Playtime Book: The Five Little Pumpkins!

Beau is developing his love of books too. When Beau gets a diaper change, Lincoln looks through Beau's book basket and selects one for each of them. I read one to Beau and Linc reads his in the floor, then we trade. Beau decided to get a closer feel of his tiger book!
I am a big reader and was given a wonderful gift for Mother's Day - a Nook ereader! It's the best thing that's happened in a long time, and it makes all of the pumping I do each day a breeze. The only problem I have now is affording the multiple books I buy each week. I'm gonna have to start re-reading them. Allyson just got one too, so we're planning to lend each other our purchases. I hope Beau and Lincoln's love of reading continues and that they are sharing books on whatever crazy new technological device exists in 20 years!

Lincoln's Big Day

Lincoln had an exciting Wednesday. The first words out of his mouth this morning were, "Nana buy a fan for Daddy." Then he described in great detail on the way to school how they were going to open the box with scissors, take it out, put it together, and turn it on. He was so excited about this fan! I called Kev and told him NOT to get the fan out of the box until Lincoln was home. Sure enough they had a great time with their activity.

Lincoln wanted to help with every step, but mostly he wanted to carry the actual fan around. He also found the remote and demanded batteries be put in! He loves batteries!

The Farmers Market came to Linc's school today for a lesson, and I'm sure he told them all about his veggie-eating. He got to select fresh fruits and vegetables to bring home in his decorated little brown bag. So cute! We talked about them all tonight, and he wanted to eat them all. We settled on the orange - and he hated it!!!!!! I guess he's never had an orange because that's not something we keep at the house. Luckily there was an apple for backup, so he was a happy kid!

Good Times

Things have been pretty good lately! Beau and Lincoln have been having lots of fun and lots of grandparenting! Minnie, Bubbles and Ally came this weekend so we could celebrate Allyson's birthday. We all enjoyed her cake very much and did lots of laughing. Linc and Minnie:

Beau has decided that he likes Bubbles, after all. Last time they didn't really get along, but it turns out he's a pretty cool guy. Beau did lots of smiling at Bubbles - and lots of spitting up on Bubbles! Sorry!

I'm always taking their picture together, and it never turns out that great! One will do something ok while the other does something crazy. This is the best I got all week - but notice their cute Sesame Street shirts. Nana brought these. Ally also brought them Sesame Street shirts this weekend, and Linc was thrilled.

More Weekend Fun

After the fun but hot morning festivities, I asked Lincoln if he wanted a popsicle. He yelled, "Yay! Popsicle!" I then asked if he wanted red or orange, and he of course wanted both. Being a holiday and all, I granted his wish for both popsicles. Guess how much he ate of them . . . NONE!!! He hates popsicles, but it seems like such a kid thing to do so I keep offering them. He doesn't like the cold I guess. He sure was happy about it though.

Beau pretty much sat around looking cute for the rest of the day. He got to wear a sweet little bubble suit first, then had to "man up" in a baseball t-shirt for the afternoon. Such a cutie!

Fourth of July Parade and Celebration

Of course it's blazin' hot here in Texas, but we braved the heat for our neighborhood July 4th Parade and Party. Lincoln was looking extra long and tall as we headed down the street.

It was 10:00 and time for Beau's morning nap, so he crashed before we even got down the driveway! Somehow he slept through the firetruck, police car, marching band and tons of honking. I wish my tiptoeing down the hall could mimic these sounds . . . I apparently make way more noise!

The parade was fun, and Lincoln enjoyed the horses the most. Oh, and the mardi gras beads and candy he caught too.

Family shot minus the snoozer in the stroller!

We all walked up to the elementary school after the parade for a cookout, games and a cool train. Linc and Daddy took a turn around the lot while Beau and I hung in the shade.

Seriously, when did he get so tall? Linc had lots of fun and had lots to check out all morning.

Beau didn't sleep much after the parade (I guess it got too quiet!), but he just chilled while we walked around.

It was a fun way to spend the morning, and I know Linc and Beau will be riding their decorated bikes in the parade in a few years. One set of brothers had a motorized little Escalade all decked out in streamers. (They weren't the best drivers, and the Mom was chasing them down the street shouting directions. I'm seeing this scenario soon!)

Brotherly Love

Lincoln and Beau have been enjoying each other a lot lately. Beau is always wide-eyed when Linc is around, and he watches every movement his big brother makes. I describe each thing that Lincoln is doing, and Linc loves that I'm constantly talking about him! He's gotten into the habit of talking to Beau all the time and often wants to sit near him and chat.

This morning Lincoln patted Beau on the head and said, "Look cute today, Beau!" How sweet! He also likes to hug and kiss him, which is very sweet and germy if you ask me!

Beau's Bumbo was too enticing for Lincoln not to try it out. Luckily he's pretty skinny so he fit perfectly! Just for laughs, I put Beau in Lincoln's chair! Lincoln thought it was hilarious . . . Beau did not!