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 :)

Lincoln Eleven Months

Oh my dear, sweet baby boy! One month left until he is a full year old. Seriously it seems like yesterday that we were dealing with one of the hottest summers in recent record and praying for just a 4 hour stretch of sleep. My, my how things have changed!

Lincoln is now walking!!! I swore he was going to walk after a year...but he proved me wrong. Between 10 and 11 months he took his first steps and is now walking most of the time. He still has his tumbles of course but he's getting pretty good at it. At a recent graduation party he was walking up-hill and through grass. 

His vocabulary consists of mama, dada (his favorite word), baba, yeah, kitty kat (kit cat) and most recently, dog. He is sleeping 10- 10.5 hours at night and we've started weaning him off of formula and onto milk. His favorite foods are fruit, yogurt melts and he loves when I break off pieces of popcorn for him to eat. He loves water and is not a fan of juice (which is just fine by us). He has quite the little temper and has started throwing baby tantrums when we take something away. He still thinks "no" is funny- and that is becoming less and less cute.

Very recently he had his first day at daycare and he did really well. We, unfortunately, said good-bye to our friend Nicole as our part-time babysitter. From the beginning we made an agreement for her to watch him for the first year. So, while we're very sad she won't be around as much we also feel it is time for Linc to be around more children and learn socialization skills. She was a fabulous baby-sitter though and she and Linc formed an incredible bond in this first year (as you can tell).

He also won't see "big sister" Mandy as much (Nicole's daughter) but we still plan to get them together to play. Mandy and Linc adore each other. I am so grateful he got the chance to build a bond like they have. Mandy recently told my mom that she loves Lincoln more than "the world!" Adorable.

The big birthday party is right around the corner. On one hand I can't wait and on the other hand I am almost sad. This year has been a whirl-wind! And I have a feeling the next few years will fly even faster. Life keeps on going I guess, but one thing is for sure, this has been the hardest, best and more memorable year of my life. Even though he's only been in our lives for such a short time...it is hard to remember what life was like before him. 

The countdown to the big O-N-E begins!

A Wedding and A Vacation

At the end of May we took a trip to Grand Rapids for my longest and very dear friend's wedding!!! We headed out on Friday night in order to be there for the celebration on Saturday. Here we are at a restaurant on the way to Grand Rapids. Can you see how thrilled Lincoln is to have been in the car for so long? lol!

Once we got to Grand Rapids we got settled into the hotel and put Lincoln down for the night. The next morning (the Wedding day) I got up early to help the Bride and her parents set up the reception space...and took a few photos. 

Here is the beautiful Bride before the wedding.

The wedding was beautiful! It was such a pretty day and the temperature was just right. We had a blast! Its always more fun when you go to a wedding and know so many people there. Since Brit and I have been friends for 25 years (wow- 25 years...old ladies) I know a lot of her family very well and we share some mutual friends. 

Below are some friends and I at the reception.

And the hubby and I getting cute.

Below is me and the brother of the Bride. I've know this guy since he was in diapers (literally). He has grown into such a smart, nice, funny and all around awesome man!

Below - me with Lori and Rachel. 

We took some family photos with Lincoln before my mom took him back to the hotel after dinner. I love this family picture of the three of us.

He looks so mad at me in this picture. He hadn't seen much of me all day and he was making me pay for it. Geez...rip my heart out little man!

He loves Fred so, so much (as you can tell in this picture). As a mother I think we always want to be number one in our kids eyes. But, Fred and I really do split all parenting duties 50/50 - just like the rest of our lives. So, Lincoln is more attached to me in some ways and Fred in others. He takes naps better for Fred and prefers for Fred to hold him. He eats better for me and gives me more kisses and giggles and plays more with me. Lincoln and I are both so lucky that Fred is such a hands-on, involved and loving father. So many children do not get to have a solid, loving fatherly role model in their lives.

Lincoln and his Nonna. He loves her so much!

And Lincoln with the beautiful Bride. Brit is such a great Auntie to Lincoln. She spoils him with presents and makes a huge effort to see him often- and when she can't she always asks how he is and what new things he is doing. I secretly can't wait for her and her new hubby to have a baby. I hope Lincoln and he/she will be best friends! But more importantly I know how badly Brit wants to be a mother and I can't wait for her to experience the absolutely incredible gift that motherhood is. Although she is now the step-mother to two awesome little girls who I adore!

And at the end of the night, although they were exhausted, the Bridge and Groom let me snag a photo with them. Congrats guys- we all had a blast at your wedding and wish you the best in your new life together as Mr. and Mrs.!

On Sunday after the wedding festivities were over, we were off to Ludington. Fred and I fell in love with this city when we visited back in 2011 and we couldn't wait to take Lincoln and my mom there as well. 

On the way we stopped at Silver Lake Sand Dunes and took some photos at the bottom of a dune. This was Lincoln's first time in the sand...he didn't care for it much.

And while we were there he started showing off one of his latest skills- POINTING!!! (and now he points at EVERYTHING) lol!

Once we got to Ludington we explored the Downtown area and went on a Playground. It was too cold to walk the 1/2 mile trek to the Lighthouse with Lincoln so we took him on his first slide ride!

We also put him on a kid swing that he was a little too small for lol!

On our last day of our mini-vacation we went to the Ludington State Park. It is the most beautiful state park in the Mid-West. I wish we lived closer...I think we'd visit that park every weekend if we could.

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....