Eleven Months

My dearest boy, you are such a little nugget.  Truly you are the sweetest and the most stubborn little thing and I love you more than you can ever imagine!  You are almost a year and it still breaks my heart a little, for it seems all too soon that you are an independent toddler.  I'm amazed at what peaks your interest and love seeing you proudly do something on your own.  I'm so glad that I get to be your momma and be a part of your day to day adventures!

No doctors appointment this month, so we are estimating 20 pounds 15 ounces and (still need to get this... oops) inches long

Let's just start off by saying that Lincoln started walking this month!!! Holy cow.  The week that he turned 10 months, he finally got the hang of walking on his own.  When I say walking on his own, I mean not just a few steps, he's all over the house!  Most days he is a rock star and not only navigates toys on the floor, but can also stop mid walk and balance himself.  Some days, whether it's lack of sleep or teeth coming in, he's just off and we have to watch over him more.  We've had some bumps and bruises, but overall it's amazing seeing him walking.  To start walking, he usually has to have something to crawl up.  I've seen him use his hands to push himself up once or twice, but usually if he lands on his butt, he will just do his little scooting/crawl to something pull up on.

We also got the joy of dealing with the time change this past week.  Thankfully Lincoln has adjusted pretty well, since we adjust the actual naps and bedtime around 30 minutes based on how he's sleeping anyways.  There was one day he slept in until 7:40 AM, so he didn't have his morning nap.  Oh boy, that was a rough morning.  We will keep at the 2 nap schedule at least until late in the summer.  He's starting school in the fall with his sister, so we'll want to cut back to one nap before that happens.  He usually gives us a good hour nap.  He still is doing good with singing him one song before we lay him on his belly for a nap.  We do stay in the room and either sing (I sing Itsy Bitsy Spider) or pat his butt.  He won't usually fall asleep right away, but typically within 10 minutes he's asleep.  I am hoping to have him start getting attached to a lovie, but he isn't really interested in one yet. Again, that will be a helpful one when school begins too. 

The nighttime sleeping is hit or miss.  Some nights he sleeps all night and some he wakes up.  Again, something to work on, but we typically will pick him up in the night.  He doesn't stay laying down, so we go in there with him either sitting or standing in his crib.  I hate to let him 'cry it out', since I don't want him to wake his sister.  Thankfully most nights he will go back to sleep pretty quickly, but we had a few rough nights this past month.  We started him on a probiotic and for some reason this is having him poop in the night.  So uncomfortable, but he will usually either have gas or poop in the night when he wakes and then go back to sleep after.  It would be nice if that process didn't take 1-2 hours though. 

Most mornings when he gets up, I nurse him and then he plays a bit before changing his diaper and clothes.  Isla (if she's not already up) will join us and snuggle for a bit.  I haven't been using the changing table much.  I typically get on the floor with him and change his outfit.  He's able to push his arm through when changing and never really fights changing his clothes.  He does love being just in his diaper.  I call him a naked boy and he smiles and runs all around.  After that, we usually go into Isla's room or in the kitchen and see Dad before he leaves for work.  Isla's room is the best.  Lincoln loves her book shelf and has really gotten into reading books now.  He will go find a book and give you a wine to read it for him.  I usually ask him if he wants me to read it and ask him to sit down.  His absolute favorite book is Mother Bruce.  The front cover of the book is a photo of the bear, which he loves to give kisses to.  So after giving Bruce some love, I'll read him the book.  It's adorable.  He also loves Mr. Brown can Moo.

Breakfast typically involves banana oatmeal which he shares with me.  Although if it was his choice he'd eat pancakes everyday.  He will gobble them up!  He also still enjoys eggs, which we have sometimes for breakfast, but mainly for lunch.  He is still nursing 3-4 times a day.  I'm attempting to take away one of the day times, but he still wants it and I'm usually around and still loving it.  He's not quite as crazy/all over the place nursing these days.  He was walking all over me for a time.  He also, as of this last week, thinks it's silly to toot on me while nursing.  Boys, lol.  I'll take the snuggles and nursing as long as I can do it these days!  I typically nurse him right after he wakes up from his nap, so being a little sleepy helps him stay more calm.

Lunch and snacks are really anything and everything these days!  He has finally figured out how to enjoy a pouch by just sucking on it vs us having to serve it in a spoon.  Lincoln won't eat them all the time.  I think he prefers solid foods.  He enjoys ham, turkey and even had some brisket recently.  I think I said this with Isla, but I'm amazed at how much this kid can eat.  Like her, he also has issues with putting too much in his mouth!!  One thing that I need to work on is having him eat more veggies this next month!  We also got a 'new-to-me' collapsible chair to hang off our kitchen island.  Lincoln loves it and it's so easy to just pop him in that seat while I'm prepping food in the kitchen.  Pretty soon he is going to figure out climbing up on things and the kitchen helper will be amazing. 

Lincoln is finally starting to enjoy swim class!  We hadn't been for a while, due to his surgery, so it's been getting him readjusted to the class.  We are going with Isla on Mondays around 3 PM, which is a great time for his schedule.  He has just started going under the water, but I imagine he's going to be going under for a few seconds at a time pretty quickly!   Lincoln is so into other kids these days, it's so cute!  He usually wants to grab or poke them, but he gets excited when he sees other kiddos around.  He loves it at swim class, picking up Isla from school and at the park! 

He has started to be shy, which is just about the cutest thing ever.  He will be standing at my legs and if someone says hi to him, he will smile and then lower his head and turn into my legs.  Melt my heart, omg.  Lincoln also loves to see me off, if I have to leave in my car.  He has been mouthing 'bye' for weeks and finally today said bye!  He also, clear as day, said momma all when I was rushing out the door.  Cutie is trying his hardest to keep me home! 

I'm still not confident in his walking abilities outside, but he does pretty good in our backyard.  I still try and hold his hand when I can and especially in the front yard, which lately he does not appreciate.  He absolutely adores giving the puppies treats and feeding them in the morning and at night.  The kitty food container is the coolest.  He has started copying his sister and standing at her easel and trying to color with her.  We have the egg crayons that he's figured out are pretty neat to write on the paper with.  The Little Tikes farm is one of his favorites, as he loves to walk around holding the baby cow.  He still adores leaves, rocks, sticks and anything that he generally isn't supposed to put in his mouth.  This one, he's going to be trouble!

L's second top tooth did come all the way through this month.  He is still grinding his teeth and it just might be the worst sound in the world.  It's rough and I don't know when he'll stop!  Darrell will give his cheeks a quick squeeze to get him to stop.  Some days he's doing it all the time!

He's started to enjoy and talk more in the car seat.  I think having the bigger car seat, where he is sitting up more has helped!  He even sometimes will babble along with a song.   He favorite time is when we take the kiddos to get bean tacos on Sundays, as he knows he's going to get good food!

Lincoln, I'm so very proud to be your momma!  You have the biggest, most beautiful eyes and your smile just melts away all the worries.  I truly can not imagine a world with out you in it.  We are so thankful for all the joy you bring to our lives.  Love you to the moon and back my love.