More Teeth and New Skills

I should remember to cherish the days when everyone is healthy and happy because we keep getting hit with little illnesses that make everyone sad. Granted we aren't having any serious illnesses, thank goodness, but I hate anything that makes my boys feel bad. Beau is back to teething, and this time he has two teeth breaking through at the same time. I should point out that I think it's easier on him than the last time when three teeth were coming in, but he's not doing so well right now. Friday night was the beginning of tooth number one (top side) beginning to poke through, and Saturday was the beginning of tooth number two (top middle) beginning its descent. Since then we've had low fevers, lots of runny noses, drool, and plenty of neediness. He still tries to have fun, but it's not the same. He can play for a bit on his own, but mostly wants Mommy to be holding him near. I'm hopeful that we're nearing the end of the pain of the "breakthrough" stage, and that the pain lessens as the teeth fully emerge. Is that just wishful thinking? I can't stand to see poor Beau in so much pain!

Lincoln's school has Parent/Teacher Conferences a few times a year to make sure we are working together on the skills Lincoln needs. Of course, I knew he would be off the charts because he's such a smartie, and I wasn't wrong! His teacher had a glowing review and said his communication/verbal skills are way above the 2-3 year old chart. I totally agree! Of the 60 items on the checklist (for small motor skills, large motor skills, physical development, language development, social interaction), we have just four things to work on before he turns three. Picking up small toys with tongs, catching a ball against his body, following/recreating a pattern, and pouring water from cup to cup without spilling. Tonight I handed the kitchen tongs to a super excited Lincoln, and he went to work. This skill involves hand/eye coordination and depth perception. Within seconds, he figured out how to remove shapes from the box with the tongs then moved on to picking up animals from Noah's ark. What a pro! He was so proud, as was his Mommy!
Here's the "I DID IT" cheer!

Yes, I realize that it is 30 degrees in Dallas, and Lincoln has on no pants. He spilled milk on them during dinner, and we hadn't gotten around to getting new ones yet. Believe me - I had the heat on, and we were warm and toasty! Lincoln also mastered pouring water from one cup to another without spilling tonight. I gave him two cups while he was in the tub, and the practice began. He did great! I'm not saying I want to give him cups full of water to play with on the rug, but he didn't spill anything tonight! We're checking off these skills quickly . . . maybe I need a new checklist!!

Lincoln's Favorites

I played a fun game with Lincoln on the way to swimming lessons tonight called "What's Your Favorite?" We've been working on the concept of favorite or best, and we put it to the test. The results:

What's your favorite snack? Banana

What's your favorite drink? Milk

What's your favorite color? Brown (weird, but whatever!)

What's your favorite book? Charlie Brown Christmas

What's your favorite shirt? The red one

What's your favorite shoes? Crocs

What's your favorite Christmas carol? Deck the Halls

I'm anxious to see how these answers change as he gets older and as our life changes. Lincoln is such a smart little guy. He knows everything, and never lets one single thing pass without a comment. Occasionally I think I could get a minute of peace if he would just stop talking, but I remind myself that every sentence/question is his way of learning. I really love that he's so smart and interested in life.

Lincoln watches the traffic lights and tells me when to stop and when to go. He lets me know if I've taken a different (wrong to him) turn on the way home from school. I get an earful if I've forgotten something he asked for. He directs me to the correct aisles in the grocery store because he knows where everything is. He asks a million questions because he's always learning, and he remembers every answer I give. I don't dare make anything up because he'll call me on it later!
Lincoln is so full of life and truly an amazing kid. We had a fun swimming lesson tonight, and he was brave enough to try jumping to me in the pool. He's gotten to be a great swimmer but has been a bit too timid to jump. He realized it was fun tonight! Each day brings new knowledge and experiences, and he soaks in each new adventure. I have to bring my best just to keep up with him, and I know he's going to keep me on my toes for years to come. Beau always looks at Lincoln with amazement and adoration, and I kind of feel the same way. He's a pretty good big brother too, so we're all pretty lucky.

Rainy Entertainment

What's a kid to do on a rainy day? Hide out in a fort, of course! We've had tons of rain over the last three days, and we've stayed pretty close to home this weekend. We visited the Trains at NorthPark on Friday, ventured out for one Target trip on Saturday (which involved Mommy carrying in the bag, cart cover, Lincoln, Beau and an umbrella - it's unimaginable that we all stayed dry!), and and Mommy/Daddy trip to get groceries on Sunday. Lincoln and Beau have been pretty cooped up! Lincoln draped his favorite blanket over the playroom table and hid out in his fort for most of today. He rotates toys, but Beau's new baby toys get lots of play right now. Thanks for sharing, Beau!!!

Occasionally Lincoln invites Beau into the fort to play. Beau is cautiously optimistic as he crawls over because he knows that Linc is pretty fickle. Sometimes Linc thinks he wants Beau around, only to shoo him away when he gets near. Luckily, Lincoln was pretty nice to Beau today. They played for quite awhile in there!
When Lincoln stopped being friendly, Beau decided to bring his toys next to the fort to be near Lincoln. This scenario works well for everyone!!! No sharing needed, but they each can play "together"!

I think Lincoln's eating habits are pretty well documented. He is a good eater but wants things separate. For example, he loves turkey, cheese and bread, but he won't eat a sandwich. They all have to be in individual portions on his plate. He likes all meats, any plain steamed veggies, most fruits, cheese and bread, but no pasta, rice or casserole of any kind. I happened to pick him up from school while they were serving lasagna last week. He immediately told me it was yucky, but I convinced him to have a few bites because his buddies were eating it. He surprised me by saying it was yummy! Tonight's dinner was homemade lasagna, and he actually ate it! I'm so proud of him for taking such a big step!

His first bite of lasagna drew a hearty "Mmmmm"! Success! I don't think he's a pasta/casserole lover after one try, but it was progress. I'm so happy that we all had the same dinner tonight. (That usually only happens when we have pork tenderloin or pork chops and veggies.) Way to go, Lincoln! Beau looked longingly at our plates, and I'm sure he would have loved the lasagna! Beau had two new teeth break through yesterday, so his day was full of ibuprofen and cold chewies. He was a trooper though and played through the pain. I'm hoping for a less rain and less tooth pain in the coming days!

The Trains at NorthPark

One of the neatest Holiday events in Dallas is the Trains at NorthPark exhibit. Lincoln is no stranger to this, but I don't think he remembered from last time. He was so excited and wanted to watch every single train. Luckily they had a few trains in the bottom windows so Beau could see them too! He liked standing and watching with Lincoln.
I made Lincoln stop and give me a pose, but he was way more interested in checking out the trains.

Nana and Lincoln spotted something cool, and I caught a mischievous grin from Beau! He was mostly happy to have lots of people to watch. There were kids everywhere, and lots of Mommies and Nanas chasing them!

After we saw every train (at least 10 times), we hit the mall for a bit! There was a Jr. High band playing Christmas music near the food court, and Lincoln and Nana watched and sang along for a while. He told me about all the instruments he saw and practiced his "directing"! Lincoln got a few ornaments from the Disney store for the playroom Christmas tree, and we browsed in Macy's until Nana spotted a super cute Christmas gift to buy. Ever the helper, Lincoln needed to carry all of our purchases.

Beau was on his best behavior the whole time! He likes riding in the stroller and really likes being a part of the action.

Our NorthPark trip was really fun, and Lincoln is telling everyone about the trains. "All aboard" he shouts! Thanks for taking us on a fun outing, Nana. Are we on for next year???? I think I'll have two train lovers by then!

Happy Night

Happy kids make a happy Mommy! Lincoln and Beau were in great moods today, and I loved getting to laugh with them. Lincoln was a bottomless pit - he tried lasagna (score - he hates pasta and casserole type things, but liked this!), had a big dinner, and two snacks tonight. I couldn't fill him up! Beau got to try sweet potato fries tonight too. His dinner was baby sweet potatoes and cereal, but he got to snag a few of Linc's sweet potato fries. Yummy and no spit up! Another score! Linc hung out on the couch with his Cheerios for a bit, and actually looked at the camera while I took his picture.

Beau was all over the place tonight. He has reverted to Mommy-phase and follows me wherever I go. I can't even sit next to him; he must be ON me all of the time! I backed away quickly to take a cute picture of him. The blue shirt really brings out his amazing eyes!
Of course whatever Lincoln is doing, Beau wants to do too. Linc was looking at a Mickey Christmas book that Beau needed to get in on. He tried to sneak up from behind, but Linc noticed right away.

Beau was fascinated, while Lincoln was kind of tolerant. He informed me that Beau was touching him which still isn't always ok. Those expressions say it all!

For some reason, Lincoln decided to give Beau some love. He hugged him for at least 2 minutes, which is 1 minute and 50 seconds too long for Beau. I praised Lincoln for loving his brother and tried to get Beau to play along. (I would be lying if I said there weren't any tears after this exchange.)

What a fun night with my boys! I am always thankful of the days that we are all healthy and happy!

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.