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. 


  

Ten Months

My little ham, how your momma loves you so much.  Just thinking of your cuteness makes me smile.  I'm already starting to be in denial that you are getting so close to being a one year old.  If time could stand still, I'd stay at this age with you forever.

No doctor's appointment this month, so we are estimating 20 pounds 8 ounces and 31 inches long

These last 30 days was quite a month.  We had so many firsts and dealt with surgery, teething and sickness.  It was never ending, but we survived!  On the 19th of January, L had surgery to bring down one of his testicles that had yet to descend.  He had to be fully put under and they made two incisions to adjust the placement and fix the hernia that was surrounding it.  Phew.  I was certainly nervous for the surgery, and for him to go under, but it went quickly.  Before I knew it, and with only a few tears shed (on my end), he was back in my arms.  The recovery was surprisingly easy for him, but L caught a respiratory bug from his sister right after which was way worse that the incisions healing.  After a few long days and antibiotics, he finally was feeling himself again.  He couldn't have a bath for a week and we couldn't hold him in a straddle hold, but that was the only changes post surgery.  Thankfully Lincoln didn't get the flu that his sister caught from school.  

He is also getting both top teeth in this month!  He has his left tooth all the way through, but it is still coming down.  The right tooth is starting to poke through, but is taking longer.  Have I mentioned how much I hate the teething phase?!  I'm so ready for them to be all in.  Most days Lincoln is still in good spirits, just puts everything in his mouth.  The worst is really at night, so he's been getting more medicine to help him to stay sleeping while his teeth come in.  Since getting his first top tooth in, he's been grinding his teeth together and it's just the worst sound ever.  It hurts my teeth just hearing it! 

Since he's dealt with so much this past month, his night time sleep is all over the place.  Occasionally he is sleeping all night and other days he's up multiple times.  I've started to have D help me with the night time wakes, so he stops wanting to always nurse back to sleep.  I think it's definitely helped, since I know he's not actually waking up because he's hungry at this stage.  Bedtime is still 6 PM and he generally wakes up between 5:30 and 7 AM.  Usually, even during nap time, if he's not ready to wake up he will stay laying down and be fussy.  We have been tailoring his nap times based on when he wakes up and how long he sleeps (for the 2nd nap).  His morning nap is usually at 8:30 or 9 AM.  Most often he will sleep for a solid hour, but occasionally he'll sleep for 2+ hours. His afternoon nap ranges from 12 to 1 PM.  Lincoln now will wake up, often talk to himself and also sit up and play with his blanket or stand up holding on to the rails of his crib.  

I swore that Lincoln would be walking on his own by now.  He can definitely do it and occasionally will.  He did take 2 steps and re-balance himself on the 23rd of January.  He can fully stand on his own and has used all fours to stand himself up, but he's still too scared to let go.  He used to be better, but now I feel like Lincoln is more hesitant.  He did have a few good falls this past month, which probably isn't helping his confidence.  He is pulling himself up and standing/scaling everything.  He even enjoys standing himself up and holding on to the side of our bath tub.  Lincoln is not hesitant to try and pull himself up on everything, which at times makes me nervous.  He also used Isla's bed and her step stool to pull himself up and then step up on the stool.  Oh my.  

Lincoln has become the best eater this past month.  D has started to call him our little garbage disposal.  He truly gets mad/upset if you are eating something and not offering it to him.  I may just get a baby with some good rolls after all!  His favorite, and the gateway to more food, has been eggs.  He loves eggs and usually eats one a day.  Now mornings are usually either plain baby yogurt or banana oat meal.  He is not a fan of cinnamon.  Lunch is the egg, although he loves beans too.  He's enjoyed banana slices, avocado chunks, pieces of cherries, oranges and some cheese.  He will still eat some packets in the mix and Cheerios are pretty awesome these days.  Feeding schedule hasn't changed from last month.  

L is wearing size 4 diapers, both daytime and nighttime diapers and mainly 9/12 month clothes.  It's been pretty cold here lately, so we have a small space heater now in his room.  Most nights he is nice and toasty!  I also still have him wearing a sleep sack on the nights that it's under 45 degrees.  He finally is fitting into his 12 month jammers, which are the best because at 12 months they finally have the grippers on the feet!

He's been so much fun lately.  L loves to stand on his learning block and even often plays/stands on the Little Tikes farm.  He has really started enjoying reading books.  Some of his little books he will grab and look at himself.  I often read to him a touch and feel animal book, but as of a few days ago really enjoys reading Mother Bruce.  The front of the book looks like Bruce (the bear), which he thinks is just great.  The dogs are still his favorite and he's started being able to give them treats.  Lincoln now knows how to wave, which started with his full arm motion, but now opens and closes his fingers to wave.  He just adores saying hi to people and even watching my car leave and saying bye when I have to take Isla to school or when I head to work.  This past Sunday he waved at another little girl sitting in a shopping cart, the flirt. 

Isla is still Lincoln's favorite.  She is so entertaining and Lincoln mostly wants to do everything that she is does.  Lincoln giggles when she says 'Lincoln where's your nose, nose?  Chinny, chin, chin'.  He will even stop crying in the car when she's talking to him.  Now that Lincoln got moved into a big boy car seat, he can see her better.  We were driving home from swim one day, I look back and see L and Isla holding hands.  OMG.  

My Lincoln love, you will always have my heart.  I love you to the moon and back!

Nine Months

My little Lincoln, today you are nine whole months old!  Words can't quite express how much love you bring our days.  We all just adore your now toothy smile and soak in every cute little sound you babble!  You are so much closer to being one and it's unreal how big, and yet, at times, still so small in my arms.  Nothing warms my heart more than to have you cuddled up to me, which is still one of your favorite places to be.

9 months you were 19 pounds 3 ounces and 28 inches long!

Thankfully this doctor visit coming up has no shots, but I am definitely excited to see where L is on the growth chart!  He is feeling so big lately, I can't stand it.  Even when he's walking all over the place holding my hands, I don't have to fully bend over for him to reach me.  Unreal.  Speaking of walking, I'm almost positive that L will be walking by 10 months.  He is so close already.  In the last few days he has figured out that he can fully stand on his own.  The first day he stood for a few seconds was the 10th of January.  He's gaining confidence each day and even today started to walk on his own, but gets too ahead of himself after he's been standing so I have to be there to catch him.  I'm excited to see him walk, but not sure I'm really ready for it!  He has also mastered the spin while seated and instead of crawling, he scoots with his arms/legs.  He's also mastered sitting up from the belly position, which has been helpful when he is all over the place! 

This month he's been pretty good at sticking with his sleep schedule.  Most days naps are good, at least 1 hour.  However, if one nap is short, he usually will sleep longer on the second.  There has even been some days he'll sleep for over 2 hours, magic!  At night hasn't been as great.  I blame it on teething, which was when he started waking more.  Now, I'm just so tired lately that I just nurse him back to sleep vs attempting to guide him back to sleep any other way.  I know I need to get him sleeping longer stretches and that he's not really hungry, but I figured I'd fix this after his surgery next week.  On the 10th this boy decided to wake up from his nap and sit up in his bed.  He was about to reach for the railing, so we had to finally move the crib down. 

One thing Lincoln has no issues with is eating!  His absolute favorite thing to eat right now is yogurt and I also will mash a banana, mix it with peanut butter and a small amount of cocoa, which he loves.  He even makes yummy sounds with each bite!  On top of all the baby food he's been eating, we started giving him some puffs and a few softer foods.  He's starting to perfect chewing the puffs and I've been amazed at his ability to pick up the small food.  His two bottom teeth that he got this past month have also helped with the chewing!  He tends to make noises when he chews as well, which is adorable. 

This boy just loves playing anything his sister is!  His favorite things to do are still swinging outside, attempting to eat leaves and knocking over block towers.  He enjoys D's remotes, the fridge and oven monitors and trying to get at Isla's humidifier plug above the little piano.  So basically all electronics, including Alexa!  He loves to find and grab small things that are lying around the house and discover what they are.  Isla jumping is still a guarantee to make him laugh.  I'm really amazed at all the toys of his sister's that he plays with.  He loves all the puzzles that he can take the pieces out of, like the Melissa and Doug farm.  We have afternoon dance parties and he has learned to shake (thanks to Grams) and bang things together.  He still chews on almost everything, but water bottles and straws make him the happiest. When in a bad mood, singing the Itsy Bitsy Spider can always get you to smile. 

He's been babbling more than more.  It started when he was eating food, but now he does it all the time.  He also figured out he can blow out with his tongue, which is silly.  While nursing, his favorite is putting his fingers in my mouth and he gets the biggest smile when I say kick (as he's kicking one of this legs).  He really is such a happy boy!  This month we also started bathing him in the big tub.  It took him about a week, but he figured out that he can splash and he can't stop!  The entire time he's in the tub, he's all over the place.   Needless to say he gets water everywhere, but he thinks it's just the most amazing thing!

This past month he grew and developed so much, but we also got to experience his first Christmas and New Years together.  We traveled back to Kansas to visit D's family and L loved being a part of the Trail of Lights.  He saw Santa for the first time and was more interested in pulling his beard than being scared of him, although I was holding L in my lap.  He got completely spoiled at Christmas!  One of his favorite gifts are a letter board from his Auntie Kate and Uncle Kyle.

My littlest love, you are more amazing than I could have ever imagined.  I love you to the moon and back. 

Eight Months

My little Lincs, you are the sweetest boy.  You constantly find new ways to melt my heart and I cherish all the joy you bring to our family.  Your giggle and smile are contagious.  In so many ways, I feel like you are getting too big, too fast, but I'll continue to think of you as my sweet babe for as long as I can.

Today you were 18 pounds 8 ounces and 27.5 inches long

No doctor's appointment this month, so those measurements are estimates again.  Lincoln has had a lot of changes this month!  His first tooth popped through 2 days ago - thank goodness!!! I feel like we've been teething for ages.  It's his bottom right front tooth, but he's still chewing like a mad man and drooling, so I'm thinking we will see another one come through soon.  He also started to pull himself up on November 15th.  We've hit the stage where he is confident in sitting on his own, but not crawling yet.  He fully wants to move and go where he wants, but can't do it on his own.    He also started sleeping on his belly, which definitely has helped in so many ways!  I knew once we let him sleep on his belly once, there was no going back! 

We are getting pretty good at his schedule this past month.  Mainly he's been fighting us less going to sleep and sleeping longer!  Most days he takes one longer nap, at least 1 hour if not 2.  The other tends to be around 30 minutes.  Feedings are when he wakes, 10, 2 and bedtime.  I get some good nights of sleep out of him, but teething has made it less constant.  Thankfully he goes right back to sleep after nursing, but tends to get up at least once.  We even traveled to visit family in Nebraska this past month and he slept good on the trip!  Lincoln has started willingly laying his little head on my shoulder when he's tired.  The first time he did it, I died - cuteness overload! 

His favorites right now involve dropping everything, leaves (all the leaves), and everything his sister is playing with.  Lincoln enjoys grabbing onto the toy containers and pulling things from them himself.  He always loves being tickled and playing peek-a-boo is the silliest.  He doesn't hate being on his tummy, but mainly will move/pull over to me and push himself up into a stance.  Lincoln also has started enjoying reading books more!  He likes a touch and feel book as well as a Highlights book that has 'One ball rolling, go go go!'.  Grammy also got him a pee-a-woo book that he thinks is the silliest and wants to be read to a few times.

The holidays have been so fun with the kids.  Surprisingly L isn't overly interested in the trees, but it's been fun to have him along for the adventures!  Thanksgiving we cheered on his sister in the Turkey trot.   He loves to eat the star on this singing and twirling tree that I got from Target.  We are headed to Kansas this next weekend to visit family and I can't wait to have him a part of all our holiday traditions!!

Seven Months

My little boy, I often find myself wishing all the sweet moments with you would last forever.  I just want to bottle up this time with you, as I know it's quickly gone and won't ever quite be the same.  Some of my favorite times are the quiet snuggles right before I put you to bed.  You're nestled up next to me and your hands softly resting on me.  I can't get enough of your love.  You're smile and eyes light up my life.  It's the best feeling to watch you explore this world. 

Today you were 7 pounds 4 ounces and 27 inches long

No doctor's appointment this month, although it feels like we are just getting over the last round that included a flu shot.  Lincoln gets a slight fever from the shots, but they don't affect him too much.  This past month we did fight off our first real fever.  He woke up one night and had a 103.4 degree fever.  Of course it's in the middle of the night and I couldn't, for the life of me, remember what the cut off point was of being too high.  Well it's 105, we never got there thankfully, it went down with medicine.  He didn't have any other symptoms during that time other than a fever, so I'm not exactly sure what he had.  In the end, after the fever was gone, he did get a body rash.  He was such a trooper.  The worst was that he was more tired, slept more often and it messed up our napping schedule we had been working on.

We are slowly getting that schedule back to where it was, but his naps are not quite as long as I'd like.  Oh and did I mention we also threw in daylight savings time change this month?  Sheesh, it's been quite the month.  Here is where we are right now... 5/6 (usually closer to 5 AM) Awake/feeding, 7 Solids, 9 Nap, 10:30 Feeding, 11:30 Solids, 12/12:30 Nap, 2:30 Feeding, 4/4:30 Solids, 6 Bath/Feeding/Bed.  His naps are solid for the first 30 minutes.  He usually wakes up at that point and we attempt to go back in and get him to go back to sleep.  I need to try and start working on getting him to sleep with out holding him, but we've been battling all those things mentioned above that I didn't want to tackle that quite yet.  At night, he was waking up a ton more, but he's gotten back to waking 1 time around 12/2 to feed.  He'll go right back to bed after he eats most nights.  There was a small stretch where I was exhausted with events and had D go in and hold him/rock back to sleep. 

Oh my goodness, this boy.  He just gets cuter and cuter.  He is the BEST little smoocher!  He will give full open mouth kisses and even turn and grab at you to give you some love.  His sister loves them just as much as I do.  He still thinks Isla is a hoot.  He especially loves her dancing/jumping and even most of her general silliness.  He also likes me to push my nose to his belly while standing on my lap.  He gets a good kick out of that.  Lincoln's new trick he's working on is blowing his lips.  He does a pretty good job, when he takes his thumb out of his mouth.

 

As far as favorite toys, he will sit and play the piano in Isla's room for a good 30 minutes in the morning.  He likes to chew on everything, but especially Isla's eye patch paper (which he totally shouldn't do).  He's started to really enjoy playing with the push behind cart we have and even will pull himself up with it.  He's not quite tall enough to reach it from the floor, but when he sits on my legs he can fully pull himself up on his own.

Lincoln is also mastering sitting on his own.  He has an occasional tumble or two, but he's pretty good at it these days.  Lincoln's love for the outdoors has not changed.  He did realize how great leaves taste (thanks dad!) and enjoys walking on the grass with his bare feet.  L has started to enjoy the little Little People cars and ramp that Isla has.  He basically would play with all of her toys if he could.  When he's not in a good mood, we will go for walks around the block, which always makes him happy, or play beach ball in the driveway which is basically me holding him and Isla and me kicking a beach ball back and forth.  He's been so great at the beginning stages of independent play.  It won't last for long periods, but he is okay for small stretches.  In the mornings he will sit on the kitchen island in his lion chair and watch me make Isla breakfast and her lunch.  Now that he can sit, it's definitely helped!  Tummy time is hit or miss, but he will do it occasionally.  This morning he actually was on his tummy on Isla's bed and pushed his belly all the way off the bed and was on his knees!  Oh boy, this one is going to be moving before we know it!

Lincoln has really enjoyed eating solids this month.  We've really expanded his palette and he absolutely loves baby yogurt!  Sometimes he eats more than he probably should!  I'd say most meals he eats between 3-4 ounces of whatever we are giving him.  He has also started eating the teething wafers.  He wasn't the best at them at first, but he's getting better.  They quickly dissolve, so that's great, but I always watch him as he takes huge bites of the wafer.

He is still in a size 3 diaper and wearing mostly 6 month clothing.  I find the pants are always short and his socks fall off, so he's mostly wearing 9 month pants.  His jammers are also almost all 9 months.  He has a few bigger 6 month ones, but for whatever reason, he grows out of the jammers so much faster. 


This month L has started to have some favoritism towards his momma.  He is relatively good when I'm here working with my mom, but he still ends up finding where I am pretty quickly.  Let's just say that my upper arms are getting pretty strong these days!  I mean if I was a babe, I'd want to be held all the time too!  He also enjoys walking around about as much as being held.  My back isn't quite up to speed with that though!

Another fun first this month with L was his first plane ride!  Isla was thrilled to lead him through it.  He was a great flier for the most part!  We took our birthday trip to Florida and thankfully had a straight flight there.  The flight there was smooth and he really didn't even cry, but he was fighting sleep on the way back which lead to a long last 30 minutes.  Lincoln also hadn't slept in a pack'n'play, which he did very well!  I was a little nervous to have all 4 of us staying in one room, but again, it was great.  Thankfully the beach/sun wears the babes out, giving us more sound sleep!  Lincoln loved the beach.  He didn't hesitate at all to walk on the sand or in the water.  He could have been out there all day if, but I'm pretty sure he would have eaten his weight in sand.  I realized 6 months is a harder age to travel with, since he wants to do so much more than he can.  It's a lot more challenging to travel when you don't have all the neat chairs/seats/bouncers to help occupy him.  We still had the best time with our besties! 

Lincoln, somehow I was lucky enough to be chosen to be your momma and I couldn't be happier to love you to the moon and back. 

Six Months

To my dear baby boy, my love for you is beyond measure Lincoln.  You have such a big part of my heart, yet somehow I fall more in love with you with each new day.  Truly, you are such a ray of sunshine in my life.  I can't believe that you are already six months old.  It's not fair how fast time seems to be going by.   I see less of that little infant that we welcomed into our lives so many weeks ago and more of a sweet little boy ready to explore the world.  Yet, I'm not quite ready for that.  I want to soak in all of your toothless smiles, sweet baby giggles and melt into every snuggle you'll give me.  I love to watch you grow, but I'm not ready for you to change quite so fast.

Today you were 16 pounds 9 ounces and 27 inches long

Lincoln still is holding out on a ton of giggles, but he sure does love things his sister does!  Some of his favorite things that makes him giggle are Isla jumping and dancing, saying 'Pea' and I can always get a giggle out of him by tickling, which he loves.  He's started sitting mostly on his own.  He is still a little wobbly, but if he is leaning forward, he can stay in that position for quite a while.  L constantly wants to stand and walk around most of the time.  That is if he's not being held facing out walking around outside.  He also is doing a great job on his tummy.  He likes to lay on his tummy and play with an assortment of toys for short periods of time.  He will chew on about anything.  Lincoln still enjoys more of his teething toys.  Lately, L's more interested in things Isla plays with vs his own toys.  He especially loves sitting and playing her little piano.  He enjoys jumping on her bed in the mornings with her, laughing at her somersaults.  He does okay in the jumper, if he's in the mood. 

In the last 2 weeks, we have been trying to adjust Lincoln's schedule to get him to nap longer.  Lately, this is what we are hoping for:

5/6 - Dream feed

7 ish - Awake

8:30 - Feed

9:30 - Nap (1/1.5 hours)

11:30 - Feed

1 - Nap (1/1.5 hours)

2:30 - Feed

3:30/4 - Possibly nap (if above wasn't very long)

4:30 - Solids

6 - Bath (every other day) and Bedtime and Feed

7 - Asleep 

Lincoln has still been getting up after 30 minutes napping.  We've made a few adjustments to help him sleep longer.  We are closing the blinds and making it darker in the room.  Once he wakes after 30 minutes, we immediately go in and pick him up/put him back to sleep.  Occasionally he will sleep for a longer stretch on his own, but not often yet.  Hoping the more we do it, the longer we start a pattern for him to sleep longer.  Fingers crossed right!? 

Nighttime depends.  Some nights he sleeps through the night.  Other nights, he wakes around 9:30 and usually one other time in the night, ranging from 12-2 AM.  Thankfully he doesn't stay awake, just feeds and goes right back to sleep.  I haven't really had to do much after the feed, I basically put him back in the crib and go back to bed.  Ha, well that's if he doesn't have to poop.  The last 2 nights he's had to poop (going on 7 days) and he was up way too much. 

Lincoln has enjoyed solids this past month.  We've tried a variety of things, from peas (which he didn't love), pears, mangos, bananas, avocado (he thinks is okay), sweet potatoes, pumpkin, peanut butter (watered down), peaches, and packets from the store of pear/quinoa and cherry/oats.  He usually will eat quite a bit at the 4:30 PM feeding.  We are still just introducing to widen his palette, but I'm excited to get to feed him more in the next few weeks.  Isla also has enjoyed feeding Lincoln a few times.  She thinks it's pretty great and I think it's the cutest thing ever. 

I've been avoiding the cloth diapers this last month.  I've used them a few times, but it's frustrating to have them be less absorbent this time around.  I need to strip them a few times and see if that will help.  Given the solids, L's poop schedule has been around every 5-7 days.  That makes me really avoid cloth diapers when I think it's coming.  It's just easier for everyone that way!   I've been giving him both gas drops as needed and probiotics every night.   He has started wearing size 3 diapers and fitting nicely in most of his 6 month clothes.  Some of his jammers are getting small, so may be moving to 9 month ones soon. 

We've all made it through our first round of sickness, which is never fun.  Isla started with a head cold and we all followed suit.  Thankfully with breastfeeding, L didn't get it as badly, but still sick nonetheless.  We still haven't seen any teeth, but I think those are coming soon.  He's constantly chewing, even more than he was before.  I still haven't fully seen or felt any pop through yet.  

We are still doing bath time in the sink tub, but L has really grown out of it.  It's quite funny, he's now started playing with everything outside of the tub.  D still bathes him and he loves it most days.  Lincoln has really started cooing and talking up a storm when he's having a great time.  That's one of my favorite things he does!  

My little six month old, don't mind your momma over here crying a little.  You are the best thing and I love you to the moon and back!

Five Months

Sweet L, how in the world are you already FIVE months?  It's surreal seeing you grow and become your own person so quickly.   Every day your snuggles warm my heart beyond measure and words will never be able to describe how much joy it brings me to be your momma.  Your sweetness is everything.

No doctor's appointment this month, so I estimated you are at 15 pound and 26.5 inches long

Lincoln has been so much more playful this month.  We've had a lot of firsts lateley and it's been exciting to see the changes in you.   One of my absolute favorite moments was when Lincoln gave us a full on belly laugh.  D was holding him, while Isla and I finished eating.  I saw the giggles starting, so I just happen to start recording the moment.  We started playing peek-a-boo, which got him going and the laughter just kept going.  Oh man, there is truly nothing better!  Isla definitely makes him laugh!  I love seeing their relationship grow.  He also enjoys the puppies running around and being crazy, which will often times give him a laugh.  L's also my ticklish little boy.  I can always get a little giggle out of him by rubbing my nose along his ribs and under his arms.  When he's excited and gets happy, he'll run his feet and of course open his mouth like he's going to 'eat' you.  He also is perfecting his sounds when I run my finger over his mouth, which I call his party tricks.

The jumper has officially become a favorite activity in the last week.  He isn't quite tall enough, but we've put a book at his feet and he loves the lights, sounds and of course running his feet.  It's even better when we bring it out on the patio.  Lincoln also has a good time in both the high chair seat and the little lion seat.  Since he's gotten better at grabbing items and holding on to them, it's allowed him to play on his own a little more.  Basically L loves anything that he can grab and chew on!   His favorites right now include blankets, crinkly books and these little hand teethers.  He'd have his hands/thumb in his mouth most days if I let him.  I am really trying to ensure he doesn't suck on his thumb, but I'm almost positive he does in the night when he wakes. 

I'm pretty sure my little boy is going to be walking way before Isla.   He has such strong legs, which allows him to stand for long periods of time and he already has gotten the walking motion down!  He hasn't been rolling as much as last month, but he enjoys tummy time most days.  We also put him in Isla's swing outside, which he thinks is the coolest thing ever.  Isla adores pushing him and he has the best time.  

L is wearing most of his 6 months clothes right now.  Some are still a little big, but I've taken out all of this 0-3 and some of his 3 month clothes.  He's still in a size 2 diaper and in the first row of snaps on his cloth diapers.  Jammers are all 6 months, which I don't think will last for long.  The little one has quite a closet!  

We've done a better job of getting L on somewhat of a schedule, which I'm happy about!  We still listen to him and some days are off, but at least we are almost there.  Right now this is our typical daily schedule: 6-7 AM Feed, 8 AM Nap, 9 AM Feed, 10/10:30 AM Nap, 12 PM Feed, 1 PM Nap, 3 PM Feed, 2:30/3 PM Nap, 4:30 Feed/Snack and 6 PM Bedtime.  I'm estimating that most feeds he's getting around 5-6 ounces.  I've started working more this month, so he's gotten the bottle a few more times.  He started not liking the original bottle I was using, so we tried an Advent bottle and he's doing much better.  Lincoln's gas has also gotten better this month.  Thank goodness!  I'm not sure if it's his digestive system developing or if the new gas drops have helped, but it's so much better. 

We were excited to start Lincoln on solids this month!  We haven't gone crazy and, of course, they don't eliminate any feedings, but we started with sweet potatoes.  He absolutely loved them!  L had no issues with keeping the food in his mouth and most often he wants more!  He since has tried apples, bananas and pears.  Let's see if I can get some more veggies in the mix! 

Now sleeping has started to be less wonderful... I think L is about ready to drop his first nap and only take 2, maybe 3 longer naps.  With the schedule above, he's only taking 30 minute naps.  It's crazy how he wakes up 30 minutes on the dot.  I'm hoping lessening the number of naps will have him sleeping longer.  I may need to do a few in the car naps to help encourage him sleeping longer.  Fingers crossed next month this is better!   Even during the night, he has been getting up.  I'm not sure if it's because he's growing so much or that he actually is hungry, but he's been getting up at 9:30 PM and at least 1 other time through the night.  Between him and his sister, some nights I'm up every hour - eek!  Thankfully he usually just eats and goes back to sleep.

Lincoln's hair has really started growing in this month.  I know I've said it before, but I love rubbing my hand over his fuzzy little head.  Makes me smile just thinking of it!  I'm sure in the next few months his hair will be longer than Isla had at 12 months!  I'm curious to see if L's will be curly like Isla's.  Although I'm not sure we will let it get so long to find out.  I also noticed L started getting a top tooth in a few weeks ago!  He was biting on my fingers, which he often does, and the gums felt different in that spot.  I of course had to look and I could see the clear/whiteness.  His tooth hasn't fully come in yet, but I'm sure it will be any day now.  If the drool is any indicator, he's going to have a mouth full of teeth soon! 

Lincoln, you are such a joy.   This world is so much better with your sweetness in it.  Your mommy loves you to the moon and back.

Four Months

Four months, my love!  You are becoming such a big boy.  I love seeing your strong personality develop and come to life each and every day.  You still have the most amazing baby smell, and I can never get enough of the little peach fuzz that adorns your head.  You light up our world, sweet boy.

Today you were 14 pounds 4 ounces and 25 inches long!

This babe is growing like a weed.  I should retire the majority of his 3 month outfits, but I've been stretching them a little longer.  He has transitioned to 6 month pajamas and wearing a few of the larger 3 month PJs.  Boys clothes are just so darn cute!  I purchased a really adorable pair of overalls for him to wear!  I must admit that it's way too hot for the added layer, but I've enjoyed seeing him in them a few hours at a time!  His diapers are still on the first snap and we've been rocking cloth diapers about 30-40% of the time.  His cloth diapers needed stripped (basically not getting out all the smells when washing), so I put them on hold for about a week until we got the laundry detergent.  When wearing a normal diaper, he still is in Honest size 2.  L had his first real blow out on July 27th.  I was feeding him on the couch (working his legs, since he still is dealing with a gassy/upset tummy) and I was cheering him on for his toots when I felt it all over me.  Let's just say it was a sight to be seen,  completely filled his diaper and all over my shorts!  Oh the joys of mommyhood!

Our biggest change this month was moving Lincoln to his crib.  I must admit that I was not ready for this change, but we moved Isla at 3 months and L also had outgrown the rock'n'play.  I was pleasantly surprised when he slept the whole night, until 5 AM.  That was on July 13th.  It was the sweetest thing when Isla woke up and joined us that morning on the rocking chair as I was nursing him.  For almost the entire month, L has slept through the night... Unreal.  I swear, I have felt so lucky to get some rest (even though his sister is now getting up, which is a whole separate issue).  He has been going to bed around 6/6:30 PM, depending on the day.  He gets a bath every other night and bedtime routine consists of me nursing him in the rocker until he's asleep.  I've still be swaddling him, but he usually gets out of the swaddle before 9 PM at night.  It doesn't wake him up, or at least he is able to put himself back to sleep.  It's so funny, he full on uses his abs to lift both legs up and then drops them down really hard together.  I'm surprised that move alone doesn't wake him up.  This also has him moving all over the crib.  He often ends up moving half way across the crib at night.  One night he even turned sideways and had his legs hanging out of the poles.  The last two night, he's gotten up more often, but I'm not sure if that's a sleep regression or if it's due to more noise in the house because of visitors.

Now naps during the day are not as good.  Most mornings he gets tired pretty quickly and will go back to sleep within the hour.  Sometimes, if I'm lucky, he goes back to sleep right after nursing.  Isla often wakes him up and he hangs with us as we make breakfast and then goes to sleep again around 8 AM.  I haven't pushed a full schedule yet, although I see him starting to get closer to following one.  He eats when he's hungry and then sleeps 1.5 hours after getting up.  His naps are around 30-45 minutes and occasionally I'll get a longer one. 

Sadly, gas is still an ongoing issue.  Lincoln has been getting a probiotic every night, which does help.  I haven't eaten eggs, beans or anything else that would cause him to be gassy.  I sure hope that he outgrows it, because it's honestly exhausting!  My poor boy will just cry and cry when his tummy hurts.  It breaks my heart.  We use the Windi and gripe water too.  We make it through, but I wish I could take it away for him!   He's taken the bottle a few times this month.  He doesn't hate it, but definitely is still learning how to drink from a bottle.  It's comforting to know he will eat if I am stuck in a meeting or can't make it back, but I prefer to nurse him myself!   L still loves to chew on everything.  Mainly his hand, my hand, my arm, etc.  I'm trying to ensure he doesn't become a full on thumb sucker, but he isn't really attached to any particular pacifier.  The drool hasn't slowed down. He's as drooly as ever! 

On July 29th I heard Lincoln laugh on his own.  Is there anything sweeter?!?   He was looking at the fan, but the giggle was just the cutest.  I can get him to laugh when I lay him on the couch and rub my nose on his belly or under his arms.  He's actually pretty ticklish, but hasn't quite gotten the full on giggle that way.  I'm dying to get him to laugh more often.  It's music to my ears!   I do still think, even with all the gassy days, that he is a happy boy!  He sure loves his mommy, but boy seeing dad gives him the biggest grin!  When he's really smiling at you, he will turn his head in and bring his hand/arm up to his mouth in a shy motion.   Some of his favorite things right now are his green flower teether, the JellyCat animal books with the crinkly paper and recently loving the arms of his elephant pacifier.  Outside is always the right answer for him.  Just like his sister, he could stay outside for days.  He also still thinks that she is the greatest! 

Lincoln is ridiculously strong for his age.  He actually full on stands on his legs/feet, for a crazy amount of time.  He loves it.  He also makes the walking motion when standing, stomping at times and actually moving his feet other times.  He officially can rest on my hip, since his head control is on point and grabs on to my shirt (or hair) most times.  His grip is just as strong.  He finds my hair and also his sisters, when she gives him hugs.  Lincoln also has started enjoying the high chair and lion seat that Grammy got for him.  It's great to have him sitting up and able to see things that are going on.  With his strong leg kicks, he can wiggle his butt down in the bouncy chair and the swings these days.  Needless to say, we now have to buckle him in so he doesn't slide out!  He also doesn't hate tummy time, unless his stomach hurts.  I probably don't do it as often as I should, but he gets a lot of head control when he's held as well.  He has rolled a few times from his front to his back, but not every time.  He did it 4 times in a row on August 2nd.  I'm sure it will start to happen more often this next month. 

I got a used double jogging stroller this month and an infant insert that allows him to go in the standard seat.  Isla loves sitting beside him and he is starting to enjoy the ride.  He also started Bathtime Babies at Emler swim school this month.  This boy, like his sister, loves the water.  It's been fun to have him in class and seems like forever ago that I started Isla.

My boy, my days are brighter with you in them.  Words can't express how much I love you and how happy I am to be your momma.