Christmas for Halloween, anyone?

Short blurb on my absence:
After a two month hiatus, I am challenging myself to catch up on my blog that has been much neglected. Shortly after Lincoln's last update my computer took a little field trip from the table to the floor....(was this my fault or Lincoln's continues to be a hot debate). ;)
After a few weeks I learned everything on my hard drive was not retrievable.....everything. Thousands of pictures, school work, resumes, editing software....gone. I'm now forced to use my husbands computer which is nothing more than a device to check e-mail and write word documents - bleh. So, after scouring my social media sites to save every photo of my baby boy and downloading some basic software to this puppy I am attempting to make a come back.

Enough of my complaining already, huh? You came by to catch up on my handsome little guy, not me. I know, I know.

First up - Halloween.
We went through so many ideas when coming up with Lincoln's costume. At one point we even considered just skipping the dressing up gig....he can't walk, can't eat candy, can't play games. Would it even be worth it? Then my husband had a genius idea (crazy, right?)....to incorporate his walker into the costume. It was a risky move because he isn't always fond of his walker and it meant hauling the thing around all night. While brainstorming I remembered I found an infant Santa outfit at a Just Between Friends sale. Boom! Baby Santa in his sleigh  was born....let the attempt at crafting begin.

Baby Santa Clause - Halloween 2012

It was much easier than I thought & a huge success! We took him to our church's Pumpkin Palooza and the best part was not having to carry him around the whole time (and of course, everyone telling me how absolutely adorable he was). He cruised for almost an hour and loved every minute of it.

 

I had many people asking how I made this. It was honestly very simple. The entire thing is simply a cardboard box and scrap peices covered in duct tape. To cover the food tray on the walker I added a "hood" made from a spare piece of cardboard. Inside the sleigh I attached an envelope to hold an iphone playing Christmas tunes and filled the back with wrapped packages.

 

Now to only top this next year.....might be a toughie!

 

Here is a quick video of Santa in action. :)

One, two....TEN!

Since Lincoln was born it sure seems the months have passed by quicker than ever.... As much I beg time to slow down, there is nothing I enjoy more than watching the new things my little man learns each day. He is now ten months! His monthly checkup was last week and I'm stoked to tell you he gained 19 oz. over the past month.....we're back on the charts, folks! He weighed in at 16lbs 13oz.

Here is this months milestone chart from Babycenter:

Child's Age

Mastered Skills (most kids can do)

Emerging Skills (half of kids can do)

Advanced Skills (a few kids can do)

10 months

Waves goodbye Picks things up with pincer grasp Crawls well, with belly off the ground

Says "mama" or "dada" to the correct parent Indicates wants with gestures

Stands alone for a couple of seconds Puts objects into a container

He's 'meeting' all these goals....with a few exceptions, of course. He's not necessarily waving goodbye, he just waves sporadically, unless you want him to :). And if by 'container' they mean mouth, then he's got that down, too. No, I'm not just talking his mouth (because everything goes in there), he wants to put things in everyones mouth! His items of choice are his wooden blocks. He loves to carry one over in his mouth and transfer it to you, dripping slobber (and occasional banana mush) included.

He still randomaly says 'mama' and 'dada' to anyone and everyone, but he is finally saying 'mama' when I pick him up in the morning. Oh my goodness, this makes waking up such a joy (insert small tear).

10 month Lincoln, everyone. :)

A few other new things this precious boy is up to:
- Turning the page at story time....whether momma is done reading or not. I love watching him turn through the pages, he turns with a bright big smile with each new picture.
- Giving kisses and hugs. Again, not on command, but randomly he comes at us with a big open mouthed smile and lays it on us.
- He also took his first step! This was so exciting, yet terrifying at the same time. One second he's holding onto the couch playing and the next he turns toward us, lets go and takes two falling steps in my direction. I got so excited/emotional I think I scared him :)/:(..... I'm excited for a new chapter in his life, it's just crazy this moment has already arrived. This means a whole new kind of baby proofing, huh? That must be the reason I teared up.

I am so thankful to my husband for convincing me it was OK to follow my heart and stay home with my baby for a few more months. It has honestly been the best decision I have ever made. Never have I felt such pure joy and happiness. Never have I known the capacity for love my heart held. And never have I found such cuteness in a 'poop face'. 
I pray the next two months crawl by. I'm not ready for this fairytale to be over.

Snap, snap....click, click

Growing up I heard those sounds nearly evaryday of my life.....My dad was constantly behind the camera taking our picture. Whether we liked it or not, whether we agreed to smile or insisted on pouting he was going to capture the moment. I used to get so irriatated....Why the heck could he not just put the camera down, who cares that we just crossed the Mexican border or got an A on a math test?? Well, he did......and he knew down the road we would too. Now that I have Lincoln, I completely understand. My dad gave me a great camera and I find myself constantly snapping away. I'm definitley not a professional photographer and half of the photos aren't neccesarily pretty, but I'm determined to nab every last moment I can and save them forever.

So, here are just a few of those photos from the past month.

The weather has been so beautiful the past few weeks. We've taken every oppurtunity to get out and about. Thanks to our neighbor, Barry, we finally have a somewhat decent family photo (for once it's my husband in sweats and not me!).

September 23, 2012. Introducing Lincoln to OU football.

 

 

October 15th, 2012. Pizza pie!

October 1st, 2012. Pancakes!

Lincoln now has 7 teeth!! I've seen near two year olds with less teeth! I've been pretty hesitant feeding him a big vairety of foods due to his previous tummy trouble, but our doctor told me to go ahead and jump in (with a few exceptions, of course)....and because he didn't gain much weight over the past few months he even encouraged bulking up his calories. The words from his mouth were "add some butter and sour cream to those mashed potatos".
Paula Deen style everything?.... I can do that!
So, we added plain pancakes and waffles with butter and he even tried a little pizza! Although certain "someones" have been trying to give him pizza for months! ;)

October 5th, 2012.

This is just one of my favorite outfits and thanks to the overnight dip in weather not long ago he had a chance to wear it before he was too big!
Don't those elbow patches just make ya grin and say 'awww'?

Last Sunday's dinner was spent at Poppa-T and Shanny's house (my husband's grandparents). Linc played with two of his cousins, Amelia (20 mos.) and Abigail (almost 3) and as you can imagine, dinner was more than entertaining. I am so thankful for all the 'grands' and 'greatgrands' he has in his life. 






We spent an afternoon at the pumpkin patch...It was everyones first trip to one! He may be too young to really enjoy anything and was certianly only interested in trying to eat the pumpkins and hay, but I'm still so happy we took the time to go.


October 14th, 2012. Pumpkin patch wagon ride :)

I love my sweet little family. Thank you, Lord, for blessing me with such an amazing husband and happy baby boy.

We Rock.

I love rocking my sweet little guy.

Whether it's for 2 minutes or 20 minutes, it's one of the best parts of my day. Those are the times I clear my mind of everything else going on and just smile and sing to the most precious gift God has given me.

It's hard to believe all the books and women that advised me NOT to rock my baby to sleep. I remember a friend coming over when I was putting Linc to bed.... she said to me, "Do you always rock him to sleep? My husband wouldn't let me do that....you know they become dependent on you rocking them, right?"

I just gave her a smile and said "I'm okay with that".

I mean, I get it. If I spent an hour before bedtime rocking him completely to sleep every night since birth then he might expect that every night. But, telling me not to hold my little guy close and help soothe him for a few minutes before I lay him down? Why not? And, in the future, if he needs me to rock him longer occasionally, I sure won't mind doing so. Some nights I've even gone in when he's already asleep and held him for a while before I go to bed.

Our bedtime routine goes something like this....It's our version of "Leading baby to sleep"....I can't remember which book this was in, but we've used this method for the past 6-7 months and bedtime has been rahter peacful :)
To wind him down we take him into the nursery and dim the lights. We change his diaper and clothes, followed with a warm bottle and bedtime story. Next, we turn on the sound machine, turn off the remaining lights and sing him a song (or three) while rocking him. By this time his eyes start getting heavier and he gets a little squirmy (meaning put me down so I can sleep!). The first 4 months(ish) we waited until he was completly asleep to lay him down, but since then he's been pretty much awake when he goes down. We never had to let him cry it out for half an hour... not even fifteen minutes (I honestly have no idea how people do this!). And he isn't dependent on us rocking him every night, in fact, some nights he just wants us to put him down so he can flop on his belly and pass out.

So, what wackadoo know-it-all convinced all these women that rocking their baby would make them so dependent? Please, tell me why I would want to just lie him down and leave....I mean, I know Big Brother is on, but with TiVo, YouTube, etc....who needs to rush? Maybe I'm missing something, but I don't get it.

Here's what I think. Don't believe everything you read in books and don't listen to all the advice from other moms.  Spend every moment with your precious little baby and soak up every moment that you're able to just hold them. Do what feels right to you.

As for me and my house....we shall rock!

NiNE mOnths!

Oh my how our little guy is growing! Each day his personality shines through a little more. As I'm writing this he is snacking away....with each bite he grins and "mmmmm's"....I must admit it's difficult to focus when you have such a cutie babbling away next to you. :)

Linc was officially nine months on Friday (the 14th). Each month I check out BabyCenter's Milestone Chart just to make sure he's meeting all his developmental milestones. The chart is broken into three categories for each month of the first year.

So for nine months:

Child's Age

Mastered Skills (most kids can do)

Emerging Skills (half of kids can do)

Advanced Skills (a few kids can do)

9 months

Stands while holding onto something Jabbers or combines syllables Understands object permanence

Cruises while holding onto furniture Drinks from a sippy cup Eats with fingers Bangs objects together

Plays patty-cake and peek-a-boo Says "mama" or "dada" to the correct parent

According to this chart we are right on track! First column: Check. He's been jabbering for quite a while now and hiding my phone under the pillow and pretending it disappeared no longer works (its his favorite teether). Second column: Check. He's cruising all over the house for at least a month now and is beginning to let go of things and stay standing. He hasn't necessarily shown any signs of taking steps from there and I haven't focused much on trying to get him to either. I'm excited for him to walk, but I won't mind if he takes his time...he's moving too fast as it is! Next on the list is drinking from a sippy cup. We introduced his 'sippy' at six months. It was more of a teething toy until about eight months when he really got the hang of it. My only hangup now is he will only drink water from it....if I try milk (warm or cold) he's not interested....hmmmm?? Moving along to eating with his fingers. Recently, he would much rather feed himself and is rarely interested in baby food 'mush'. Try feeding him a mashed up banana or pureed green beans, not happening. Slice them up and let him dive in, he'll eat it all! His favorite foods right now appear to be bananas, potatoes and avocados. Third column: half-check? quarter-check? I'm skipping over patty-cake...I'm not sure I even know how to play. He loves peek-a-boo, though (Still reminds me of Up All Night every time). He says 'mama' and 'dada' all the time, but I'm not so sure it counts....sometimes it's to me or my husband, sometimes to the wall, and occasionally to a strange old man behind us at the store (awkward). He's gettin' there :)

A couple other new things he's been up to....
He's begun to understand "no".
He's waving....his little arm flails up and down and his whole body moves with him. So adorable!
He counts to ten in french and can do the worm.


We were out of town on the 14th and my husband has been working late this week so we haven't had a chance to go out for nine month pictures yet, but here's one from this week...Sporting his green gDiaper, which I adore!


Oh, I just love that cute little bum!!


We've been cloth diapering for a while now and it's going great! I remember when I first heard that people still used cloth diapers I thought it was the weirdest thing....Well, now I'm proud to be one of those "weird-o's". Not only are we saving money and doing a little more to help reduce waste, but look at that heiny!! I will definitely be filling you all in on this soon!

Long Overdue Post....

It's been almost 2 months since I have even logged into Blogger, let alone post! I'm not sure how this happened. Shortly after my last visit I worked my last day at the dentist office and was getting everything in line to go back to school. It was only six weeks ago, but so much has taken place since then. I can't wait to get into all of that with you in the next few posts, but for now I just want to fill you in on the happenings of my little man.....that's why I started this thing in the first place, huh ;)

Before Lincoln arrived I would spend hours on Pinterest 'pinning' all the things I was going to do; I'm sure many of you have done or are doing this :) Something I've seen many variations of are weekly/monthly/yearly photos. I found my perfect version and pinned it right to Linc's board. I'm sure you all know how that turned out. I had wonderful intentions, but my weekly photographs of Lincoln in the same position and place didn't quite turn out and soon had been revised to monthly. I decided to take one "professional" shot of Linc on the 14th of each month. Coming from a family of photographers means I've learned (and continue to learn) little tidbits here and there which means I will hopefully never have to hire an actual photographer. Here are August's:

 8 months!!!

 This little guy is really enjoying trying to feed himself lately! He still loves avacado and has really taken to green beans, carrots and bananas. We have a hard time convincing him to eat anything meat related. Surely, once he's had his first medium-rare tenderloin or fried chicken leg he'll change his mind. :)
 He's been pulling himself up for over a month now, but has recently started to let go and stand without assistance for a few seconds at a time. He's also starting to master his 'walker'. Everyone keeps reminding me how close he is to walking on his own....how has this all happened so fast? I'm not ready, bubba, slow down!

 He's so happy and loving! No stranger is denied a charming smile, he absolutely loves to chat and has recently started to try giving kisses (awww....doesn't it just melt your heart?). His blue eyes are so bright and beautiful. They are most definitely an attention grabber....especially since he never closes them! I wonder sometimes if he is having a staring contest with an imaginary baby friend!

We are quickly approaching nine months.....Time, I need you to stand still every now and again.  

Restaurant Possible

Let’s start this post by traveling back in time a few years to “Pre-baby”. My husband and I went out to eat for around 50% of our meals….I love to cook, but let’s be honest it’s pretty nice to have someone else do all the work for you. I never necessarily minded families with kids/babies, but I did always wonder… How do you keep them calm the whole time?? Man, what do you do if they start crying?? Of course, there was always the mom that carried on as if their baby wasn’t screaming their head off or the dad that didn’t hesitate to harshly discipline their children in public, but I certainly didn’t see us adopting either of these methods.

Throughout my pregnancy there was an overwhelming fear every time we went out….

“Oh my gosh. I’m doomed to eat at home for the next 5 years.”

Well, we hit the 7 month milestone and while our pocketbook occasionally screams “better eat at home” we manage to survive a few lunch and dinner outings with friends and family. While the majority of these go on without a glitch, I still find myself sweating the entire meal just waiting for something to go wrong. Yes, I realize this may seem ridiculous….let me share the first of our experiences that led me to enter this state of panic at the mere mention of a family dinner.

Linc was about 7 weeks when we were asked to go out for the first time (when he wasn’t eating well and before he had been prescribed any meds). Regardless of our hesitation we loaded up and prayed for the best. Our plan (yes, we had a plan…do you not know me??) was to keep him in the car seat, eat quickly and hope he stayed asleep. Fail proof, right? Ha. What were thinking? No family allows you to get away without holding your precious new baby!! And who wants to say “No, you can’t hold him right now, he may cry”? Fifteen minutes after getting seated my little Linc was being passed back my way to be calmed down. I felt like the worst new mom in existence. That dinner consisted of no more than 3 bites of salad and maybe a half sip of my water. Needless to say my husband got an earful of, “we are never going back out to eat again” on the drive home.

I was traumatized. Ramen Noodles & Spaghetti here we come. 

It took about a month before our next attempt. Though much smoother, Linc and I still made our rounds outside when he became sleepy and my meal had to be sent home in a box. Luckily, each time out became easier.  I understand now that even if I go in with a plan there will always be that chance of chaos when I have my little one with me. I just try my best to be prepared. Prepared for everyone to try and give him the food I really don’t want him to have. Prepared for those little hands to find their way into my salad dressing and right back to my face. And especially prepared to suck it up when things don’t go just right. After all, whether I get to enjoy every bit of that delicious burger I’d waited all day for or if I have to scarf it down on the ride home….spending time with our families is always worth it.

I know now that it’s not always as easy as taking your baby outside when they cry either. When you have mothers, sisters, friends, etc. telling you they aren’t bothering anyone and insist you stay at the table it’s pretty difficult to go against them. My mom put it this way, “No one cares that he is fussy, Cait. Every baby cries. All we care about is getting to spend time with you guys and loving on Lincoln.”  Every baby cries. Duh. I have to remind myself of this each time we go out. For some reason I had convinced myself that if Lincoln cries in public people will think I’m a bad mother. Why I’ve allowed myself to think this way is beyond me, but I’m starting to recognize just how ridiculous it is. So next time you see me out at Chili’s and I have pit stains….remind me that every baby cries and tell me to chill out. J

And if you’re one to get annoyed and give the evil eye to those who have an upset little one at the table next to you….Go ahead and start sitting in the bar from now on or go eat after 8:00pm. Problem solved. You’re welcome. 

Father's Day

Happy father’s day da-da

Lincoln is extremely blessed to have so many wonderful men in his life. Not only does he have an amazing dad, this little guy has three grandfathers (Papa John, Grandpa H and Papa Mike) and four great grandfathers (Pawpaw, Papa T, Paw and Grandpa R). Wowza. I can spend every last minute of my time loving, nurturing and teaching him, but there are those things that he will need to learn from all these men. Luckily for Linc, he has more than a few great men to look up to.

This is Cameron’s first Father’s Day…well, I guess you could kind of count last year…..anyway...Unfortunately, we didn't have a chance to see everyone, but we have several get togethers and trips lined up for that. Otherwise, it was an awesome weekend :) Last night we had a family cookout at my sisters for my dad. It is SO fun to have the cousins together! Seriously, the entire night we just watched them interact, amazed by the way their sweet personalities connected. Lincoln seems to be the most vocal of the group. He is easily entertained, but easily bored….and not afraid to tell ya so. Gatlin has his vocal spells and seems happy and content with whatever is in front of him (if one of the others snatches his toy, he simply turns his attention to another). Kyle is the quiet one, but you can tell she’s always plotting her next move. She is so sweet and loves those little boys. Without being prompted she would stop what she was doing, walk over and hug them. She wasn’t so sure about sharing her Bumbo, though….what is it with those things? Watching these three grow up together is going to be such a blast!

And my dad….well, he was in absolute Heaven. Almost all his kids and grandkids in one place…I heard him say a few time that’s the only gift he needed. That’s the kind of man he is. All he needs is his family and he’s the happiest man on the planet…(and his camera, of course).

For lunch Lincoln had some awesome bonding time with his Paw. When it comes to my baby, I feel like my heart melts a hundred times a day. This was one of those moments. His paw is such an affectionate, loving, positive man. He’s always got a smile on and you can’t help but want to hug him at least five times before leaving.

Cameron’s Father’s Day I kept pretty low-key. I tried my best to let him sleep in all weekend. This morning we had sausage rolls and after church we went to the park for a walk and photo session. I made baked chicken, sweet potatoes and bacon-wrapped asparagus for dinner and the remainder of the night will be devoted to the Thunder game. I am more than grateful to have such a wonderful husband and fantastic father for Lincoln.

Linc's favorite place to be

Cameron- You are the absolute light of Lincoln and I’s world. I’m not sure whose eyes brighten up more when you come home after work. You have such an amazingly kind heart, strong work ethic and your Bill Cosby impression and original lullabies always have us laughing. Lincoln and I love you so much and are more proud of you every day. 

SiX months...

LINCOLN: SIX MONTHS

Our little man has been up to so much over the past month! He has grown out of almost all his 0-3month clothing and though he's clearly not to a chubby phase, he has the cutest belly that just plops over the top of his pants...I find myself a little jealous, my belly falls over my pants sometimes and it's definitely not cute. He's really found his voice the past few weeks. He babbles nonstop and has even started throwing around some 'da-da-da's'. I love peeking in on him when he wakes up; there he'll lie just talking away to his very best friends...his toes :) He is our sweet, squirmy, lovable little Linc and he continues to change so much from day to day. 

A month ago he was bringing himself to all fours rocking back and forth as if he was about to take off. He has now definitely started to take off, but it resembles more of a military crawl right now. Put either his Sophie or little car in front of him and he will find a way to it. Because he's such a go-getter, we decided to sell the coffee table and invest in a few play mats. Now open: Lincoln Land!

At five months we tried avocado, which he loved! Since then we have also tried carrots, green beans, peas and sweet potato. The sweet potatoes were an instant favorite, while the carrots took a few tries. The green beans and peas....well, he had the same reaction to both: 

The next month will be a big one! This evening we are taking Lincoln for his first swim, tomorrow is Father's Day and in a few weeks he'll experience his first fireworks show. This month I have a feeling he will master the crawl...which means I better get moving on the whole baby-proofing stuff! We'll be working on sitting up and might possibly have a tooth appear. 

Lincster....buddy.....buds.....bubba....little man-

You have brought an unimaginable amount of joy into our lives. You captivate us with your bright eyes and beautiful, big smile. I can't wait for the excitement you have in store for us this month. <3 

Hush Little Lincoln...

One of my favorite times is singing to Lincoln before lying him down. Old worship songs, corny commercial jingles and anything by Ray Lamontagne are the usual. I find myself venturing out to lullabies lately, however. Particularly, ‘Hush Little Baby’. I remember mom always singing it to us and each night the words would be completely different. That’s what I love, it never has to be the same.

I’d like to share with you tonight’s version:

Hush Little Lincoln
Don’t say a word
Mama’s gonna buy you a mockingbird
and if that mockingbird don’t sing
Mama’s gonna buy you a diamond ring
and if that diamond turns to brass
Mama’s gonna buy you a looking glass
and if that looking glass should break
Mama’s gonna buy you a T-bone steak
and if that steak has too much bone
Mama’s gonna buy you the Thunderdome
and when that arena gets boring and old
Mama’s gonna buy you a grill of gold
and if that grill makes your breath stinky
Mama’s gonna buy you a rainbow slinky

Occasionally, my husband joins in and we alternate verses. A few things “Daddy’s gonna buy”? A set of golf clubs and a Can-O-Farts. 

Gee....How had I never thought of Can-o-farts before??

Five Months

Guess who is behind on her blog? Yep, that'd be me. Here is a little update on Linc. :)

Five new somethings about our little guy:

1  Lincoln has been making many new friends. We are so blessed to have found such an amazing woman to watch him while we work. She often sends us updates or pictures during the week to let us know how he’s doing.

2 At his last appointment he weighed 12lbs 10oz and 25 inches. Long & lean! We had been going in for weight checks every week for about a month. Our doctor would have a goal weight each week and always Lincoln would fall short….At one point our goal was simply to get Lincoln back on the growth chart. It was decided if by his four month check-up he wasn’t gaining more they would need to do blood work. By that appointment (16 days later) he had gained 13oz! We are now on the growth chart people….barely, but we’re on there!

3. We have now introduced baby guacamole (avocado+formula)! He loves it!! The rice cereal was a challenge and while he was getting the hang of eating, you could tell he didn't necessarily care for the taste. I wish you could see this boy when he notices the glob of green mush in front of him….he almost nose dives out of his chair for the spoon!

4. He has a few new favorite things. He recently found his feet which instantly became two more things to try and eat....and he also has a new play mat that speaks with an English accent….Heck, I think I enjoy it as much as he does!

5. He sure seems to be thinking about crawling and is on the verge of sitting up! Ok, he only sits for about 10-15 seconds before toppling over and from his belly he’ll find his way to his hands and knees, from there he will rock back and forth a few times and flop back to his belly….we truly find it thoroughly entertaining.

Five somethings that haven’t changed:

1. We are still wearing 0-3 months in anything that doesn’t have feet. He’s gaining weight, but we’re still waiting on his “chubby baby” phase.

2. He’s still Billy Blanks in a white baby boy body. I swear it’s why he doesn’t gain quickly….the boy looks like he is working out all day long….kicking his feet, rolling all over the place, mini pushups….He must think he’s starring in his own baby workout DVD.

3. He still looks just like his daddy. Occasionally, I get a pity “I think he looks like you”, but 95% of the time that boy is  a mirror image of Cameron when he was a baby...and, no worries, I accept that J

4. We’re still up at least once a night. He eats and is back to sleep in about 20 minutes...usually.  A few nights we find ourselves with a smiling, cooing little boy at 2am. And, of course, every now and then we have those nights he wakes to eat twice or just doesn’t want to be left alone until he’s completely asleep. Those nights are crazy tough, but we’ve decided against the ‘cry-it-out stuff’ for now. I've already had another mom tells me it’s spoiling him….’to each their own’ right?

5. Those bright blue eyes and that big toothless grin still light up our world. It’s hard to even remember what life was like before him. Ok, I take that back…..those were the days of sleeping until noon on Saturdays and having extra in the bank, but how boring was that? ;) This little guy has us on our toes on a daily basis. I love sleep, but I sure love waking up to this face way more.

Rice Cereal, Anyone?

A few weeks ago we decided to finally introduce our little man to something other than boring old formula. What more exciting than rice cereal?! Bland, runny, smelly rice cereal. Yeah, Lincoln wasn't too excited either. After all the tummy trouble he'd been having we were more than a little hesitant to try anything other than formula, but when our pediatrician gave us the 'green light' we were all for it....Especially after he mentioned it might help him sleep through the night ;)
It definitely didn't go as we imagined. I knew it'd be messy, but I don't think the boy swallowed a drop! More cereal ended up on Lincoln's face and in my hair than in his mouth. I thought maybe he didn't like the flavor....I mean, have ya smelled that stuff?? So I bought the apple flavor during my next visit to the store. Nope, didn't help. That stuff came running down his chin as quickly as we put it in. It's been an incredibly messy couple of weeks, but pretty darn funny....especially when Linc accidently smacks the spoon right out of Cameron's hand and cereal flies (ok, maybe I'm the only one laughing at the moment hehe).

Stay tuned....Peas & Bananas are soon to follow!

Mommy Brain

Can't find your keys? Forgot about the birthday lunch last Saturday? Wearing your underwear inside out, again? If you have kids or are pregnant you probably use the 'Mommy Brain' excuse all the time. According to this article, even though you feel like you're losing your mind, you've actually become smarter. Mind blowing, right? I know I didn't actually become dumb during my pregnancy or lose half my brain cells since I've had Lincoln, but I sure do feel....well, downright stupid at times....and I won't lie thoug, blaming 'Mommy Brain' sure is easy!

Here are a few incidents I'd like to thank Mommy Brain for:

-I can't ever remember where my phone is. I have found it in my refrigerator, my sock drawer and medicine cabinet. About two weeks ago I needed both hands to carry a giant basket of laundry; I had no pockets so I simply put my phone on top of the pile and headed to the laundry room. Fifteen minutes I found it at the bottom of the wash....sparkling clean and totally destroyed. So maybe I've had this problem since I received my first cell phone, but it's a perfect example of something I can forever blame this 'mommy brain' thing on. :)

-The day after losing my phone I was headed out the door to work, went to lock the door, no keys. Not in the car, not in my purse, nowhere. Oh yeah! I put them in the diaper bag this morning when packing it for Cameron....Too bad that diaper bag was now sitting at daycare and I was at home with no phone! I had to facebook and e-mail frantically to try and find a ride....wow. What a way to start off a morning.

-A few months ago I was trying to build a good milk supply by pumping in between feedings. I probably would've had a freezer full had I put all the bags in the freezer, instead some days I suppose I just felt like putting them in the pantry. It also might have helped had I always remembered to attach a bottle to the breast pump...breast milk in your lap? no bueno.

-This month alone I have made it all the way to the bank twice where I open the tube and have left my deposit at home or at work. The tellers must think I'm just hoping the person in front of me left their money. Embarrassing? Yes.

-And I can't tell you how many times I've actually gotten Lincoln's bottle to my mouth before realizing what I was doing. Or gotten into the shower still half dressed. Or sang a ridiculous commercial jingle as a lullabye because I can't think of anything else (Only Braums gives you more, Only Braums gives you so much more)...Man, I really worry myself sometimes!

Like I said, it's not that I've actually gotten dumber since being pregnant or giving birth. I'm sure it's just I have so many new things going on in this brain that putting on two different earrings or only applying eye shadow to one eye....it's just going to happen sometimes!

Oh well, Lincoln doesn't seem to mind! 

Four Months & A Happy Tummy

 Ok, so I'm a little behind on my blog....Lincoln officially was four months on the 14th and I believe my last post was sometime around his 3 month mark...oops! I'll try my best to catch you up :)

We were able to find an in-home daycare with a friend of mine's mom and we LOVE it! Man, was I happy to get her message the day she found out she would have an opening! Leaving him with someone I had only met a few times just might have been too difficult. It gave me such a peace to know that Lincoln would be with someone I knew......a woman who prayed over me at night when I was little. Plus, she sends him home with these cute little notes: 

He currently loves to wiggle and roll! We have quite the little mover! Every night we lay him down on his back at the top of the crib and when he wakes up he's clear on the other end on his belly. Are sleep habits hereditary?? 

Tummy time is so much fun right now. He mini-push-ups and rolls himself all across the blanket....always a trail of spit-up to show how far he made it! Trust me, it's a pretty incredible five to ten minutes in baby world. I love the very last part when he pushes up on his hands and gives us a big grin.

He loves peek-a-boo and will gum to death anything in reach of his tiny hands. He is talking like crazy and has really started to laugh on a more regular basis lately. I think he even said "Hola" this morning.....just kidding. ;) He has the sweetest little laugh. His whole body scrunches together and squirms. 

It's so good to see him not hurting anymore. He was having a hard time eating and sleeping for awhile. I took him to our pediatrician who decided it was not only infant re-flux, but possibly a milk allergy, as well. He suggested I quit breastfeeding and add anti-acid drops to his bottle. We immediately noticed a change in our little man. He takes a full bottle without crying and arching his back and actually keeps it down. He also sleeps much more peacefully and is working his way to sleeping through the night. Now we just gotta add some chubby to those cheeks!

Up All Night..

I'm assuming most of you have seen or at least heard of the sitcom. Cameron and I just finished the latest episode and even though we are reality TV junkies, this is probably our new favorite. And the name nails it. You may not be up every minute of every night, but you're up a whole lot more than you would like the first few months.

And even though holding this precious boy brings me more joy than anything I've ever been a part of.....being up at midnight/4AM isn't what I call fun. :)

I'd much rather it be Lincoln that were keeping me awake tonight, however. Instead, it's my mind that won't let me sleep. Remember those decisions I mentioned before? Well, this time it's a big one. We've recently had some major changes in the work department. A week before Cameron was to start his new job, I lost mine. In no way were we prepared for this financially, but still I thank God for a blessing in disguise. It not only eliminated a huge source of negativity from our lives, but it also seemed to be the answer to my prayers about being a stay at home mom.

The next day each time Lincoln was napping I was going through our bills trying to put together how we would manage. Pay off some debt with savings, cut cable, start couponing..... before I knew it I was gathering things to sell on Ebay and/or at a garage sale. No matter how I calculated though, we would still be cutting it close if I chose to stay home. Making it, but barely. I started praying and enlisted my family to help. What I really wanted to ask for was a handout, a magical money tree or to finally be chosen as a contestant on Wheel of Fortune (I rock at guessing those phrases). But, instead I asked for guidance......ok, I still prayed to be on Wheel of Fortune, a girl can dream. 

The remainder of that week it seemed I received a phone call or e-mail everyday about jobs I was qualified for. Hesitantly, I applied. Yesterday, I was called and asked to come in for an interview for a job I hadn't even applied for. Are you kidding me, God?!? I was ready for my prayers to be answered by the Prize Patrol from the Clearing House Sweepstakes!

Unfortunately, that's what's keeping me up tonight. This interview tomorrow. I want so badly to be able to stay home, but it's seems as if the answer to my prayers may be to go back to work. While it is going to be so hard to leave my little man once again, it might just be what is best for our family right now. I guess we'll find out soon enough. 

Who knows, maybe they won't offer me the job and Friday Vanna White will call....just sayin.

 Trust in the LORD with all your heart 
   and lean not on your own understanding; 
 in all your ways submit to him, 
   and he will make your paths straight. 

Proverbs 3:5-6

Decisions...Decisions...

  Before we had Lincoln the things we had to make decisions about were pretty simple….how we would spend holidays, would we have joint bank accounts, Blue Moon or Bud Light? Our most difficult decision, by far though, was what we would have for dinner. Seriously.
Boy, did things change on December 14^th. Dinner is whatever is easiest and as long as there is money in the bank, who cares how the accounts are set up! We now have more important decisions to make.

For example…..

  This week we’re confronted with “sleep training”. Lincoln just isn’t great at naptime right now. I lay him down just as he gets tired and as soon as I step out the door he cries. I come back in, he stops. We don’t want to spoil him by always rocking him; it’s just so hard not to do. But, we’ve decided we have to try something. There are so many different methods moms swear by: crying-it-out, patting their belly until they fall asleep, simply standing or sitting in eyesight. This part has been pretty difficult. Any advice, moms?

Speaking of naptime, I was rocking him on Tuesday and just as he had dozed off I realized I was watching some ridiculous soap opera. Definitely not my style, so I reach for the remote…which is, of course, just out of reach. Now what? Do I go for it and risk waking him, or do I wait the fifteen minutes until I know I won’t bother him? Well, I hate soaps. So, I went for it. Not the right choice, Cait. I might’ve gotten away with it had I not clumsily dropped the remote on the wood floor. Fail. Cue wide awake cranky Lincoln.

   And then there’s the pacifier.
They’re a sleep prop. 
It will cause baby’s teeth to grow outward. 
Your baby will become too dependent…. 
Wow. I had no idea it mattered so much…. So I decided we would not be using a pacifier. And we did great. For about four days. The third night home if Lincoln was not “comfort nursing”, he was crying. I’d say pretty much all night. So, thank you, MRMC for sending us home with a pacifier. We now have six. I was either going to lose my hearing or lose a nipple, possibly both. I have no idea why it helps, but it does. Plus, I’m sure his teeth will be just fine.

  

So many new decisions I just didn’t prepare for. Should I try to stay home or work? If I work, what about daycare? What kind of formula do we use? What kind of schedule should we set? Did you know babies had schedules??...Me either!  If someone gives us an OSU onsie, do we just take a picture and pretend he wore it all day?

  So. Many. Decisions.

Do I Have to Go....?

There was never any question about returning to work after I had Lincoln. Unfortunately, I had to. I went over our finances, searched for something I could do from home and thought about selling my husbands kidney on the black market....we all have an extra right? Nothing I found would allow me to stay home.  It. Was. Horrible. The weekend before I went back I would cry just thinking about having to leave him. I mean, who wouldn't be upset leaving this little guy? Look at that face!

We have been extremely blessed, however, to not have to use a traditional daycare. Instead, my sister-in-law, Amy, has volunteered to keep him. She lives a whole half block from us and only about 2 minutes from my work which is extremely conveinent. She even lets me come over at lunch to see him....even if I'm just staring at him sleep. I wait for my lunch break like 1st graders wait for recess.

He even gets bonding time with his cousin, Gatlin! I hear they like to hold hands and have been caught trading off trying to eat one another's fingers on occasion.

Lincoln's first craft! How brave is this woman to use red paint?! L.O.V.E. it!

I can't begin to express how thankful I am that Amy's been able to do this for us. If this blog was on paper, just know it would be a tad soggy. Thank you, Amos. We love you.