Lincoln Ten Months

I am getting so behind on this blog- but for good reason! Summer is a super busy time (for most people) and I've been enjoying quality time with my baby boy and husband. Although the summer hasn't officially begun, we've already been doing a lot. And this little man is doing so much more!!! It's as if after 9 months his development went into over-drive.

Ten months has been a big month for Lincoln in the eating and walking department. He is now eating a lot of different solid foods that he wouldn't eat before. He also took his first steps shortly after turning 10 months!

He still weighs about 20 pounds and is about 27.5 inches long. He's right around the 50th percentile for weight and bit less for height.

He's had many firsts this month. His first time in grass (above) and he's had his first time in sand and swimming during our trip to Grand Rapids and Ludington. Its easy to say he loves the water and is not a huge fan of grass or sand. Although not afraid of it I just don't think he cares too much for the texture. I'm sure that will change soon.

Preparations have already begun for his first birthday party. I'm going way overboard on it but hey- I'm the mom, that's my prerogative right? ;)

My First Mother's Day

Mother's Day week started off fantastic - my dear mother "Nonna" and I took Lincoln to the Zoo for the first time since he was 2 months old! He enjoyed it much more this time. But, of course sitting in the stroller for too long was getting old for little man, so we had to let him out to crawl around a bit!

As you can tell my mother absolutely adores her grandson- but then again who can blame her :)
He is pretty fond of his Nonna as well.

His favorite parts of the Zoo (we went back the following weekend) were the fish tank tube in the Arctic area and the butterfly house. He also loved the peacocks that were so "friendly" they would waddle right on over to the stroller!

Fred took this photo on our deck on Mother's Day and yes I am holding something off camera to get Lincoln to stop pushing off of me so he can get down and crawl! I tell ya, this boy is on the move, move, move!

Fred was awesome for my special day. I awoke (after being allowed to sleep in until 9am) to a gluten-free pancake breakfast, a bouquet of red roses and this beautiful Willow Tree figure. I love my boys so much!

We rounded out the festivities by a trip to a Mexican restaurant for dinner where Lincoln tried guacamole for the first time. He LOVED it!!! Just like his mommy....

Lincoln Nine Months

Pretty soon we'll be watching this little guy dive into his first birthday cake. For some reason the speed at which our little man is growing up was emphasized this month by the milestones he reached with, what seemed like, lightening speed!

First, he has started pulling up on every single thing he can get his hands on! At first it was on things with easy to grip handles, then it was on things he could put his hands on top of to hold on and now, by nine months, he's even pulling up on flat surfaces such as the stove!

Also, about two and a half weeks after starting to pull up Lincoln began to crawl. At eight months he was army crawling and I was nervous he would not "really" crawl at all- but sure enough he's crawling all over now!

Last month he said his first word "mama" and now he says "baba" "dada" and I've heard him say "hi" and "book" once or twice. He has three teeth and can wave bye bye (although he doesn't always do it) and he likes to bounce when he hears music.

He thinks "no" is hilarious and he laughs at more things now and is less serious. He also is pretty sassy when he wants to be (hence the photo below). 

His nine month doctors appointment didn't go so well unfortunately. He lost 10 ounces due to a 3 week long ear infection impacting his appetite and he was having some issues with his "little man" which I won't detail and on top of it he is having major aversion to solid foods and pretty much any food with a texture. We're hoping all of the issues are starting to resolve themselves now but its been a rough month for all of us.

At his nine month appointment he weighed 19lbs 4oz and was 27.5 inches long; almost 10 inches since his birth length. He is bouncing between the 40th and 50th percentile for weight and height.

This month has been rough is so many ways. First, Lincoln being sick and me working unholy work hours for a 6 week period. I have also been sick and Fred is not feeling the greatest either due to one of his medical conditions. So we're all a bit run-down in our household. We're also seeing first hand the exhaustion that comes with a 9 month old. It is a whole new ballgame compared to a 5 or 6 month old. Once he started moving it was all over! I have no idea how people can say this is an easy age. I think it is a more fun age but "easy" um- no. If by easy you mean exhausting! I watch my aunt's 3.5 year old now and its like a vacation! He can entertain himself for a few minutes and I don't have to worry about him bashing his head on or into something every second!

Exhausting as he is these days we are enjoying every day with him. That smile just melts our hearts and I snuggle him and stare at him wondering how, after all our struggles to have a baby, did we get so lucky.

For the first few months of Lincoln's life I couldn't wait to plan baby number 2, but as he gets a little bit older and more active I can see that might be something we put on hold for a little while. I'm not sure how long but I think our feelings on the issue are changing a bit. I don't think a second child is off the table but I think we're coming around to the idea that our children do not have to be the typical two years apart.

In other news I am likely starting a 3rd job in May. Yes, 3 jobs. However, one is 83% time, one is 20% time and another is only 1-2 hours per week. So all and all once the hell of data collection is over in mid-May, I'll be working a typical work week. I was hesitant at first about accepting these other jobs but I can't turn down the extra money. They are not set in stone yet but I should know soon. The raise will be substantial and while I won't get more time at home with Lincoln we will be able to afford good child care and Fred will be able to stay home with him and not take side jobs. So, while I'd love to be the one home with him- as long as he has more time with one of us we can count ourselves lucky. 

Lincoln's First Easter

Lincoln spent his first Easter celebrating with mommy, daddy, grandpa and Nonna. Of course around St. Patrick's Day he had his first visit with the bunny. He was very unimpressed - but at least he didn't cry.

While at Nonna and Grandpa's house he had to show them his latest trick- pulling up on everything possible!

He even wanted to pull up on Grandpa! (I love this picture of them :)

Our family.

Of course Nonna had to get some snuggles in with her boy.

After lunch the boy was tuckered out.

We also visited Grandpa Craig's brother and saw Grandma Jean. All and all it was a very laid-back Easter, which was nice.

Lincoln's first Easter basket. A sand pail for this summer, a nuby food server (which he refused to use lol) a toothbrush for those new teeth and the coolest suction cup toy EVER. This toy he loves!

A Super Photo Shoot

The other day, while taking Easter pictures, my friend had the idea to take comic book pages and put them on her seamless background and take superhero pictures of our little guys. Her husband, my husband and my step-father are all superhero fans. Below are a couple photos I took and three she too- I think they turned out super cute lol! I plan to get prints for Father's Day to give to my hubby and my step-father.

This one cracks me up...look at that smile!

Yes, he was much more interested in trying to tear down the seamless then sit for pictures. The more he moves the harder it gets to take pictures of him. Busy, busy boy!

Lincoln Eight Months

Our baby boy is eight months old and I swear we are enjoying him more and more the older he gets. I am realizing now that I find babies much, much, much more fun once they are a little less helpless and a little more independent and spunky!!!

Don't get me wrong, I've always adored my little man but I am just having more fun with him since he's been about six months old. I just feel like interacting with him is more enjoyable as he's more aware and his personality is developing. It also amazes me to watch him try to figure something out...you can practically see the wheels turning.

I am also super excited he could finally wear the baby Carhartt overalls our friends, the Agustis got for him! How adorable is he?!?! AND with his favorite toy- the HAMMER!

They say 90% of your brain develops in the first three years and it is absolutely mind-blowing to watch how quickly Lincoln learns and takes in information. He watches me play with one of his toys, the block stacker for instance, and he watches me move the block off the peg and down the peg. At first he just slams his hands into the blocks and knocks the tower over. The second time he looks at the tower and tries to take the blocks off by pulling them to the side and that doesn't work so he takes the entire tower and turns it upside down. Then, on the third try  I watch him carefully grab a block, pull up and move it off of the peg. He also carefully grabs the block and puts it back on the peg. Its like you can see the "click" happening in his brain. Amazing.

Well at eight months our little munchkin is almost twenty pounds and about twenty-seven inches long- landing him around the 50th percentile for weight and height. He is sitting on his own with ease and moving from a laying into a sitting position now on his own. He can roll all over the floor and scoot across the floor by pulling himself along with his forearms. He is still not technically crawling however he is starting to pull himself into a standing position in his crib (even though its lowered) and with his toys and today, the couch. So, we're starting to wonder if he is going to skip crawling and going right for trying to walk. God help us!

I love this picture so, so much. I have two of the greatest guys around and I am one lucky girl. They bring immeasurable joy, laughter and love into my life.

My happy baby boy. I hope you know how much I love you and would do absolutely anything to be sure you have the very best life. It was a rough road to parenthood but I am so glad we stuck it out. Our appreciation for the baby we wanted for years and now finally have is only surpassed by our shear and utter disbelief in what a beautiful, joyful and smart child we created. We look at him and realize there is not a single thing we've ever done that was better then making this beautiful boy.

Little Miss Sunshine

I am ecstatic that one of my nearest and dearest cousins, Andrew, recently moved back to Michigan with his wife and daughter Sophia. Sophia and Lincoln were both almost exactly 4 days apart...only four hours shy and they are super adorable together. As I mentioned in my Christmas post you can already tell Lincoln is going to be the serious, thoughtful and mouthy one and Sophia is going to be the laid-back, go-with-the-flow smiley one. So, I nicknamed her- Little Miss Sunshine...or Sunshine for short :)

 I absolutely love seeing them interact and getting a photo-shoot with both of them was the best!

Below are some of my favorites!

This is probably one of my favorite family photos of all time!

What good daddies we have! My cousin is absolutely adorable with Sophie and Fred is amazing with Lincoln. Our kids really lucked-out in the Dad department!!

I can't wait to watch these two adorable kiddos grow up together.