Toy Jackpot

I've been thinking that Beau is getting bored with his baby toys lately. He's always more interested in Lincoln's toys, but lots of them have smaller parts that are not approved for baby chewing. I decided it was time for new toys. No, we didn't buy a single new toy . . . this savvy Mommy had an ace up her sleeve. I unloaded one of the storage boxes of Lincoln's old toys and gave everyone a few nights of excitement! Of course Lincoln doesn't remember these "semi-baby" toys, and Beau hasn't ever seen them before. Score! (Yes, Beau does wear clothes most of the time. He'd just spit up on his shirt, so I decided he could go shirtless for the rest of the night. My laundry card was full!)

The toys in question are a stand up/music table, a shape sorter, a barn, an animal train, a ring set, and two spinning tops. I could have sworn it was Christmas morning around here when the box was emptied. Hmmm . . . maybe I should have waited until Christmas morning! They're fighting over them like crazy, and Beau is thrilled that he has things to interest him AND he gets to play with Lincoln at the same time. I definitely call that a toy jackpot!

Hanging with Beau

It is rare that I get to hang out with Beau without running Lincoln interference. Linc was busy bossing around Bubbles and Minnie over the Thanksgiving holiday, and Beau and I had a moment together.

Beau is talking plenty, just not in people words! I'm always trying to get him to say mama, dada, baba, or Lincoln. Nothing yet! He was really trying to say Bubbles this weekend, but he just couldn't make the right sound come out. He looks at me really intently when I'm coaching him, but he just doesn't have it figured out yet. I know Lincoln was already saying mama at this age, so I'm pushing him hard. On the flip side, Beau is a crawling, pulling up, standing, trying to walk machine. He's super strong for an 8 1/2 month old!
Because Beau is never content to lay around, we had to move his crib to the lowest setting already. He's figured out how to pull up and stand in his crib when he wakes up in the morning. I'm not at all happy that he's ready to be picked up at 7:00 am, and we're working through this phase. It was much more fun when he just rolled around in there quietly until I came to get him! I think every day is a new phase for Lincoln or Beau, and we're adjusting as best we can. At this point, I'm sure Beau is a running back in the making, as he bulldozes anything in his way! Does the NFL pay enough for retirement for Mommy and Daddy?!?!

Thanksgiving Recap

This year we have even more to be thankful for . . . our health, our families, our safety, and an extra little man in our lives. Lincoln and Beau are the most wonderful blessings ever, and we should remember to give thanks for them every minute! (Yes, even when they're crying or throwing fits!) Minnie, Bubbles and Ally came to spend the long weekend with us, and Lincoln kept yelling, "I so me-cited!" That's his version of I'm so excited. Too cute! They were busy for three straight days with reading books, working puzzles, hiding, crawling, taking walks, sliding, climbing, shopping, singing, and everything else they could think of.

We also managed a yummy Thanksgiving feast on Thursday. Daddy is still wary of my turkey cooking skills and ordered a fried turkey. (It was very yummy, but I did make a turkey a few years ago that wasn't too shabby.) I made yeast rolls and dressing, and Kev made mashed potato casserole and green bean casserole. For dessert we had cupcakes! I know pie is much more traditional, but everyone loves cupcakes! I had standard yellow with chocolate icing (plain yellow for Linc) and pumpkin with cream cheese icing. It was the perfect dessert! Lincoln ate turkey and rolls (with a few steamed carrots and green beans), and Beau had baby sweet potatoes and puffs!
Thanks to Minnie, Bubbles and Ally for coming to visit. We had so much fun this weekend. My kids got lots of love, and I got lots of time to cook and even shop a little with Ally. It was a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend.

Who's Sick? Not Linc!

Apparently Lincoln is a little under the weather, but you'd never know it. He's the silliest, giggliest, funniest kid ever! We went to see Dr. K today and discovered that Linc has a sore throat and really swollen glands. (We actually went because Lincoln was complaining about something else, but that turned out to be nothing! I was worried he was getting a urinary/bladder infection and took some of his pee to have it tested. No infection there!) Anyway we headed to the Tom Tom Pharmacy and had a little while to play in the store while we waited for our medicine. I had a dancing Santa singing, a Sesame Street music player going, and a Cars toy talking. Needless to say, everyone steered clear of our aisle! To top it off, I put on a Santa hat that bounced around on my head while playing Christmas songs. Lincoln had a blast! He's such a little boy and comes up with totally "boy" things. He discovered that he can suck the cup on his face. He did this a million times and laughed like crazy! Are we really on the way home from getting our antibiotics? He can't really be sick! Each time we ask him how he feels, we get the "I feel good" response.
I'm praying that the medicine helps his throat and glands quickly. I'm also praying that Beau hasn't managed to swallow any of Linc's germs. Dr. K just gave me a "look" when I asked if there was hope that Beau wouldn't get this too. Hey, a mom always has hope! I wash lots of hands, try to keep their toys separate and prevent them from swapping spit. That's all I can do, I guess.

Weekend Recap

This weekend was pretty low key, thankfully. Lincoln, Beau and I played all day Friday, made one Target trip and just had fun! Saturday was gymnastics in the morning, then play all day. The weather was so nice, so we spent lots of time outdoors. We event tried a new Mexican place for dinner. We went to church on Sunday morning then just hung around the house enjoying a little more family time. This is one crazy family . . . I think we're like a circus (or zoo), and there's never one dull moment! Someone is always laughing, crying, pottying, crawling, jumping, chewing, chasing, or eating. It's no surprise we all nap well!

Beau got to spend a little time with Daddy, and they both liked that! The boys took turns laying on Daddy. (They took turns because Lincoln doesn't want Beau that close right now!)

Lincoln is still working on his molars, but he had plenty of silly moments. He worked so hard to get his underwear on his head. I texted this picture to Ally and she said, "Genius in the making?" I'm sure!!!!
Lincoln is more sure than ever that he doesn't want Beau playing with his big boy toys, and Beau is more sure than ever that he wants to play with Lincoln's big boy toys. Because Beau is such a fast crawler, he's on Lincoln in seconds. Oh, it bothers Lincoln so much! He takes his prized possessions into Daddy's office to keep them away from Beau. I guess he thinks they're safe there, but Beau has decided he can crawl in there too! I'm in the Thanksgiving spirit and am so thankful for the family time we had this weekend. It was nothing exciting, just fun family time.

iPhone pics

Because my boys are always on the move, I don't have my fancy camera handy for each cute face. Luckily my phone is never more than an inch away! I caught this priceless shot of Beau in a quick second. (I posted this pic on Facebook and got tons of comments - those blue eyes and that mischievous grin were a hit!)

Lincoln loves the iPhone feature of watching himself on the screen. He won't smile and say cheese for the regular camera right now, but he can't help but cheese out if he's watching himself. Such a stinker!!
I'm quite the iPhone snob these days, though I held out for years. The camera on the iPhone is many mega pixels better than my digital camera from just a few years ago. Whether the pictures come from my fancy Nikon or my trendy iPhone, I love to capture any moment of our lives right now. I only hope that these pictures bring a little joy to everyone who isn't present in the zoo that is the Kuhlman's house!

Bottle Helper

I have finally convinced Beau that he can hold his own bottle! We have been working on this task for a few months, and he's finally willing to do it. It really helps out during meal times, while I'm trying to shove food in Lincoln's mouth (he's totally the slowest eater ever!) and eat my own dinner. I get Beau's fruit or veggie down first then help him hold the bottle for a few minutes. After it gets a little lighter, he's on his own! Way to go, Beau!!!

Beau is 8 Months Old

Beau is 8 months old today, and he is such a big boy! I am sure that he's the smartest, sweetest, strongest 8 month old ever . . . no offense to Lincoln who was also the smartest, sweetest, strongest 8 month old ever! Beau constantly amazes me with his determination. Is that a good sign or a bad sign? I'm trying not to picture what the teen years may behold! Here's what's up with Beau at 8 months.

Weight - 20 lbs - Beau's pretty hefty, in a fat cheek/squeezable kind of way. He's a good eater and has just been introduced to baby Cheetos. Yum! His favorite baby foods are squash, sweet potatoes, bananas, and the apple/pear combo. His teachers have my permission to give him school food to expand his taste buds. All of his recent teething has gotten in the way of this, but I know he'll enjoy it. He went crazy of Goldfish crackers the other day!

Height - no clue - We got out the yard stick this weekend to measure, but Lincoln ended up measuring me instead. Just in case anyone wants to know, he pronounced me 33. (I think he was thinking of my age!)

Crawling - Beau is the fastest 8 month old crawler I've ever seen! I can't leave him anywhere! I get him all set up with toys all around then sneak out to start the laundry/dishes/trash. Before I can get anything done, he's crawled all the way through the house to get to me. He also figured out that he can reach up to the fireplace and pull up to standing. He loves to stand but hasn't mastered holding on!

Teeth - Three teeth broke through in just 9 days! Can we have a teething break? He's gotten much better at dealing with the symptoms, but I'd like him to feel 100% again for awhile. I'd also like a break from the Ibuprofen doses!

Sports - Oh, yes! Beau plays soccer! Lincoln has a soccer goal and a few balls in the front yard. Lincoln assigned me the yellow/green soccer ball yesterday to kick in the net. While holding Beau, I kicked it a few times. Beau loved it and laughed so hard! So I decided Beau should "kick" the soccer ball too, and he went crazy with laughter.

I love every moment I get to spend with Beau, and I can't believe he's growing up so fast. (I say that every month!) He's such a sweetie!

I tried to get a picture of his teeth, but the mouth-open smile wasn't happening. Instead I got two shots that are pure gold!
We love you Beau! Thanks for giving us 8 great months, and we can wait for a million more!

Bath Tub Upgrade

Big Beau has outgrown the baby bath tub, but I've been squeezing him in for the last week or so. I guess I wasn't ready to let another "baby" thing go! Tonight he got the upgrade to the big tub! I don't think I'll mind bathing Linc and Beau together some nights, but I thought he should get to go solo for his first experience. Lincoln was extremely curious when I began filling up the tub after his water went down the drain. It took a while to get his pjs on because he just couldn't quit asking questions about why we needed more water, and why Beau was going to get in HIS tub. Just one more thing to share!! Kevin took Lincoln to read books before bed so we got a little privacy. Beau was ready and he loved it!!!

He stands at the edge of the tub each night while Lincoln bathes and thinks that's pretty cool. I could see the amazement in his eyes when I sat him down in Lincoln's spot! So funny! He got to play with the toys and splash, and he acted like a total pro!

Oh, he's getting so big! Beau will be in heaven when the boys bathe together, but I don't think heaven is what Lincoln will be thinking! Stay tuned . . .

A Happy Day!

Six years ago today, we were married in the shortest and most beautiful ceremony ever! Our family has doubled in size and quadrupled in crazy in those six years. For instance, this morning Beau debuted his THIRD tooth in 9 days. Seriously!!!! Poor kid handled it like a champ though. I guess he's gotten used to this teething thing because there weren't massive spit ups/poops/fevers today. He was pretty smiley and giggly, and he really enjoyed playing outside today. The kids gave us an early Anniversary gift this morning - they slept until 8:30! Lincoln was out in full today! It was pretty warm (but windy) so we got to play outside this afternoon. I think he's wielding that bubble wand like Goofy's Magical Sword. Crazy kid!
As on all of our walks, Beau tries desperately to get a hold of Linc's Jeep. It infuriates Lincoln and entertains Beau to no end.

Kevin and I went out to a yummy dinner to reminisce about our special day - - wait, we actually checked Twitter and the Razorback game on our iPhones at the table. Oh, well. At least we enjoyed it together! We ate so much great food (steak, lobster, three potato dishes and salad) that I couldn't fit in dessert. Don't worry, I still ordered a dessert. I'll be enjoying that tomorrow!

This is one wild and crazy family that's grown moment by moment over the last six years. I can't imagine what the future holds for us, but I hope we continue to have as much fun as we have so far.

Talking Turkey

The excitement of Halloween has faded, though the trick or treat bag still offers the occasional snack! We've moved on to Thanksgiving and turkey talk. I'm working on discussions about being thankful, but mostly Lincoln enjoys turkeys. We did "turkey hands" a few days ago. Mommy, Lincoln and Beau traced their hands so we could color them. Beau had TONS of fun chewing on the markers and colors! I hope those are non-toxic!

Nana brought over a few Pilgrims and Indians for decoration. Linc is getting to know them quite well.
We busted out the glue - Linc's favorite thing - for our construction paper turkey. He's very proud of all the colors and keeps this turkey far away from Beau's grabby hands!

Beau likes getting in on all the action and always finds a chewing companion. This chew toy was from the Sesame Street Doctor Kit - how fitting! He had a good day today, and I'm so happy that he's getting back to normal happy Beau! How many more teeth do we have left???

We have more turkey activities planned, and I'm still working on being thankful. Here's Lincoln's prayer each night:

Dear God, Thank you for Mommy, Beau, Lincoln and Daddy, Minnie, Bubbles and Ally, Nana Kathy Kuhlman, Pops Richard Kuhlman (he totally says their "whole" names!), Mantha Robison, Eric Robison, Miss Syreeta, Miss Harsh, Miss Jasmine, and my school friends. Amen!

Getting Better

I am happy to report we are all much happier than just a few days ago. I hated seeing Beau in pain, and I know teething is the most terrible thing ever! I keep telling Beau that getting more teeth means he can eat more fun stuff, but it's no consolation right now!

Here's a short recap:

Wednesday - first tooth breaks through

Thursday - fussy, first tooth emerging

Friday - massive poops, fussy, first tooth still emerging

Saturday - massive poops, very tired, bright blue eyes a little dark

Sunday - massive poops, very tired, fever, second tooth barely breaks through

Monday - fussy, second tooth fully breaks through, begins to feel better in the evening

Tuesday - much happier, no fever, second tooth emerging, lots of crawling, "talking" and playing

Whew! I don't wish two teeth at the same time on any kid EVER! We had a few weeks break in between all of Lincoln's teeth, so this was especially bad to us. I hope we've turned a corner and are on the road to happiness. We spend a lot of time reading tonight. Lincoln is not always willing to share, or even let Beau touch (or get near) the book we're reading, but we manage. He's got to learn that his brother is always going to be there to see what's going on! Sometimes Beau is happy to just look, but he's pretty grabby and that makes Lincoln crazy!

Bathtime is wild, but everyone enjoys it . . . except the Mommy covered in splashes! Beau still bathes in his baby tub after Linc goes to bed, but he loves to watch Lincoln take a bath/play in the big tub. I snapped a pic after Linc's bath, and they were being silly.
Yes, I know they are both naked (diapers/underwear) in these pictures. Not only are they cute without clothes, but it cuts down on my laundry! We took off our dirty/germy school clothes, and I never made anyone get dressed. I'm pretty sure no one's going to call Child Protective Services on me - I had the heat on, and they both love to be without clothes! Here's to another good day tomorrow!

It's Not Always Sunny

I usually just talk about the funny, silly and cute things that my kids do, but I don't have any of that for this post. Poor Beau has really had a time with teething this weekend. Two teeth have broken through since Wednesday, and it's really taking it's toll. He had three baths today because of crazy (all over the place) poop! I'm beginning to feel like I'm covered in it too! He's been eating ok (just bananas and cereal) and drinking most of his milk, but he's just not himself. Even his amazingly blue eyes aren't as bright right now. He woke up with a fever of 99.2 this morning and it had climbed to 100.3 after his nap. A few doses of medicine seemed to help, but I hate seeing him miserable. Just before bedtime, a whole new Beau showed up. He was as happy as he's been in days. I loved ending the day that way. On a surprising note, we were actually ready early for church this morning. (That's never happened!) I tried to take a few pictures of the boys looking cute. Instead I got Beau, smiling through his teeth pain:

And Lincoln, hiding between the couch and chair being totally two and a half!
Despite all the teething pain and terrible two-ness, we had a nice family weekend. I don't think any of us have laughed this much. Lincoln can be the silliest kid ever, and Beau, Daddy and I just eat it up! I can't imagine how he comes up with the things he does. Amazing kid! It was wonderful to have nothing to do this weekend, except be together. We weathered a few storm clouds, but isn't there always a rainbow to look forward to?

Finally Friday

Now that I'm not working on Fridays, we're having lots of fun on our extra day together! This morning we all slept in . . . thanks boys! After a leisurely breakfast, we headed to Tom Tom for a bit of grocery shopping. Lincoln loves grocery shopping and can never decide what his favorite purchase is. Today's favorite item was an avocado, until we hit the baby aisle. Then he decided baby Puffs were his favorite because he knows Beau will share with him. After lunch we had some arts and crafts time then headed for naps. Everyone slept hard and woke ready to play again. Lincoln helped me with Beau's snack. Notice that he's opening his mouth as he's giving Beau the bottle! So funny! Kevin does that too, as if he's encouraging Beau to do the same!

After it warmed up a bit, we decided to play outside. Lincoln told me he needed his jacket, sunglasses and rain boots for our walk. He's definitely prepared for all types of weather with this outfit! Maybe he's practicing to be a Boy Scout - always prepared!

Oh, and Ernie was "friend of the day" today. Lincoln told Daddy that Ernie wanted to go to Tom Tom, nap in the chair while Lincoln napped, and go outside to play with us. Lucky Ernie! I love not working on Fridays and having a little special time with my favorite kiddos. There's never a dull moment, especially with a chatty Linc and teething Beau. We're suffering from the "teething poops" right now, and Beau is like a geyser. I think we had five outfit changes from poop incidents alone! It never goes in the diaper - out the sides, up the back and even up the front! I did three loads of laundry today! Come on teeth, don't torture us any longer!

The Tooth Fireman

Baby Beau is growing up so fast. It seems like he wasn't a baby for very long! Before I knew it, he was sitting, crawling and even creeping along the furniture. Where's my Baby Beau? To add to his big kid-ness, his first little tooth has broken through! I was prepared for mountains of drool, a fever and incredible fussiness, but Beau's teething experience is different than Lincoln's was. Beau isn't much of a drooler, hasn't had any fever yet and is only fussy when he's left alone with no entertainment. Totally different than Lincoln! I felt the first prick of a tooth popping out on Wednesday afternoon. By Thursday night, the whole top of the tooth has emerged. I can also feel the tooth beside that one about to break through. He's still a happy kid - life is good!

As long as there's something good to chew on, Beau's okay! Tonight it was a fireman. This thing never left him while we had family playtime.

Not only is it awesomely relieving on his gums, the fireman is pretty cool to look at and play with too!

I sensed some aggression in the forceful chewing occasionally. This moment required two hands!

Firemen always save the day - real or plastic! Instead of the Tooth Fairy visiting our house, I think we had a visit from the Tooth (pain-relieving) Fireman!

Lincoln's class just had fire safety week, so we've been talking about that a lot lately. Perhaps Beau picked up on the idea when he chose the fireman as his chew toy this evening. Always learning, I think. Thank you Mr. Fireman for comforting my baby.