Lincoln One Year!!!

Lincoln Andreas- what a blessing you have been this past year! It seems like just yesterday  I was counting the days until I could take a pregnancy test to find out if I was pregnant. We wanted you so badly and after two failed pregnancies we feared we would never have you. But, life had something more magical in store then we ever could have imagined. One year ago, after over 1300 lovenox injections, 22 months of waiting, 36 hours of labor and an emergency c-section- there you were!!!

You were born skinny, white and screaming with your fist held high in the air. Your daddy got to hold you first and brought you near my head; I spoke and you turned and looked directly into my eyes. That moment bonded us beyond measure and I have never known or felt such love.

Since that moment we have certainly had our ups and downs. You spent the first four days of your life in the special care nursery. We got to hold you very little and were fearful you would not gain weight. But, despite our fears you grew stronger every day and at the end of your 4th day of life you were able to come home with us.

We settled in and you were sleeping wonderfully at first- 5 hours in a stretch. But, then you starting experiencing reflux and I fought my milk supply and we had a rough couple of months.

But, as quickly as the troubles came they seemed to pass and before we knew it you were three months old, holding your head up and smiling constantly.

Before too long it was Christmas and you stared wide-eyed at the beautiful lights of the season. Then you were six months and sitting on your own. Life became easier now that you could sit and we started to take you to more places. You were, and are, fascinated by other people and you'll spend a good 20 minutes staring at them when we are out and about.

You also started rolling over and life was both easier and harder now that you were mobile. The days of being able to effectively work from home were certainly over. You suffered two ear infections and had difficulty napping (and still do). And we experienced the dreaded sleep regression that lasted an exhausting 7 weeks during your eighth and ninth month- that was aweful!

Soon, you were pulling up on everything and we knew walking was not long off. Your vocabulary grew and grew and you can now  say 6 words. You took to the sippy cup easily and do not seem to  be a picky eater. You were a late teether- with only 4 teeth by one year old.

By 11 months you were walking and we were chasing. You are silly, stubborn, sassy and affectionate. You love applesauce, yogurt, graham crackers, blueberries and tuna fish (yes, tuna fish!). You prefer water in your sippy to about anything else and you love, love, love to test your boundaries with climbing.

In a year you've grown from a scrawny newborn into a young toddler. You are beautiful - with long dark lashes, pouty pink lips and sandy wild hair. Its amazing to look at you and see so many members of our family. My eyes, Daddy's body and hands, Nonna's chin, Grandma's toes and Grandpa's ears. When I was pregnant I used to daydream about what my son would look like. I never could have dreamed you would be as beautiful as you are.

Thank you for blessing us Lincoln. Thank you for being you and giving our lives meaning beyond measure and joy beyond words. And as we venture into toddler-hood I ask you to be gentle on us :)

Happy Birthday my sweet, angel-faced boy. I love you to the moon and back.

Random Summer Fun

Its hard to believe that summer is already half over. In addition to Lincoln growing my the month (or day) and all of the changes that brings, we've been enjoying ourselves as a family and enjoying the summer-time. The older I get the more and more I hate winter. I hate the lack of sunshine! I just like being able to go outside and not have to bundle Lincoln up or being able to go for a walk after dinner.

There is so much more to do and my mood is 1000% better.

June was a celebration of Father's Day. I nabbed this cute photo of Linc and Fred on Father's Day (Fred leaning in for a kiss) and I adore it!

Later in June we visited with Great Grandma Betty, Great Aunt Alicia and of course Mr. Chicken (Lorenzo). The boys have such a great connection and I love to see them love on each other! Here they are holding hands (right after Lincoln tackled Renzo with kisses).

Lincoln also had a very brief ride on a Pony while we were at the park.

While we were at the park I also took some more official three year photos of Mr. Chicken. I CAN NOT believe he is going to be FOUR in January.

There were also some quitter moments, like playing the backyard, captured in this photo below by my friend Rachel.

And finally, before the big birthday party- was the 4th of July. We celebrated early in the day with a BBQ dinner with Nonna and Grandpa and went to bed before the fireworks. And, luckily, our little Independence Boy didn't wake up from the noise :)