A new toy

A few days ago, Lincoln discovered a new toy at Grandpa and Grandma's, and we cracked up. So of course I had to share a video with you! (just please, please, ignore the insane way I'm talking. I have no idea where that came from!!)

Updates!

Lincoln was a trooper at his 6-month checkup today!

Official stats:

Weight: 18 lbs, 2 oz (59th percentile)

Height: 27 inches (68th percentile)

Head circumference: 17.75 inches (81st percentile)

His growth has slowed, which is natural. He is healthy and growing well! Also, according to Marjorie (the nurse practitioner, who we love), Linc has a "good, strong heartbeat." Good to know!

We don't return until October, for the 9-month checkup (and no shots!!).

Food news!!

The day before yesterday, after a few minutes of gagging and spitting out his oatmeal & applesauce, Lincoln suddenly decided he likes to eat from a spoon! He grabbed the spoon & shoved it to his mouth, and for every bite afterward, he lunged at the spoon and/or grabbed it. Apparently I wasn't moving fast enough for him!

I am so excited and relieved. Of course I knew, deep down, that he would eventually adjust and love eating "real" food, but nevertheless, my relief is HUGE. Not that Lincoln will continue eating well every day at every meal, but knowing that he can and will eat is awesome!

I made my first batch of homemade baby food tonight: carrots, zucchini and peaches (all separate, of course!). And I learned at least two things. One: Peaches take a long time to peel and core. Two: Carrots take forever to steam if they are not cut into teeny little pieces.

So, lessons learned for next time. I actually enjoyed the process, although since it was my first experience making baby food, it took well over an hour and a half and wore me out. But I feel great!

Funny food faces

I know we've been feeding Lincoln "solids" for less than a week, and only rice cereal (and today, oatmeal cereal), but he makes the most hysterical faces; I had to share some! Can't wait to see the faces he makes when he tries some fruits & veggies next week.

One of Lincoln's first bites of cereal! 7/20

Same day. Waving to the camera? Looks like it, but no--

trying to grab the camera!

Day 2: still a bit confused about this whole bowl/spoon/cereal thing.

7/24 Grandma got some great photos! Much more successful than Mommy trying to feed & take photos at the same time.

So far, Lincoln doesn't know what to make of eating solids from a spoon. The first couple of days he did well for just getting started (at least he swallowed some of it), the third day he ate GREAT (opened his mouth for the spoon, "chewed" & swallowed)--but the last three days he's mostly been gagging and spitting out every spoonful. Rice, oatmeal: it makes no difference. He acts like it's choking him and can't spit it out of his mouth fast enough.

So now, of course, six days in, I'm worried that he'll have trouble eating solids, that he'll never take to it and want to drink breastmilk the rest of his life, that there's something wrong with his ability to eat: you name it, I'm worried about it (and not just his eating, either, but attempting to list all my worries would make this the post that never ends).

Sigh. Such is mommyhood! But, like you other wonderful mommies out there, I wouldn't change it for the world. Mom-ness is the best experience ever!

The next Ray Charles?

Except that, well, Lincoln is not blind. Or Black. Or playing a piano, but rather a keyboard. Anyway, you get the idea!

Linc LOVES banging on the keyboard!




And I must say, he is ridiculously talented at it. It's amazing! Our boy is a piano prodigy! I've never heard anything so wonderful! We're calling up America's Got Talent as I write this!

Enjoy!

A push-up

On the toes! Linc is way better than Mommy! (who can only do push-ups on her knees)

Getting into position...

and up!

Up more! Look at that bum!

Today was the first time Lincoln has been up on his hands and toes like this. It was hysterical & awesome!

6 months old? That's half a year!

Today is Lincoln's 6-month birthday!

And he is all smiles...

Lincoln had a very busy day with lots of company.
Grandpa and Grandma came over to say hi, since they'd been on vacation and were having Lincoln withdrawal; Daddy, Uncle Z and our friend Russell finished putting new decking on (another post waiting to be done...); and Russell's wife Marcia and baby Mariah came over to play, too!

Here is Lincoln playing with his new sound n' lights ball, supported by Grandpa:


Grandma loves to get Lincoln's toes, and Linc loves to have his toes got! (that sounds awkward, but oh well):


Later, Lincoln attacked Uncle Zack's nose:

Hahahaha! This photo cracks me up.

At 6 months, Lincoln is a big boy!

He wears 9 month & some 12 month clothes.

Checkup is next week, so will have official weight/height stats then.

LOVES:

*Playing on belly

*Scooting slowly backward--hysterical

*Chewing/gnawing/sucking on anything

*Grabbing faces and hair

*Standing up holding onto hands

*Sitting up on own for 3-5 seconds before toppling over

*Playing on Mommy & Daddy's big bed

*Watching Llama cat

*The Jumperoo

*Reading books/trying to grab the pictures (favs: Dr. Seuss and Eric Carle)

*Reaching for toys/remote controls

*Smiling at/talking to/grabbing at the baby in the mirror

*Being outside!

*Grabbing for any food or drink in Mommy's hands

*Grabbing/sucking on toes

*Banging on stuff. New nickname: Bam-Bam

*Sitting in high chair

*Figuring out how to eat from a spoon (perplexing!)

*Playing peek-a-boo. Really! He covers his face with the burp cloth, then yanks it off and looks at us expectantly. :)

DISLIKES:

*Teething (but who can blame him?)

*Being scratched by Llama cat (Llama is lucky to be alive after scratching Linc's forehead; I almost killed him)

*Being messed with too much--he lets us know!

*Getting leg stuck in slat of crib while sleeping

Isn't it exciting that the list of loves is so much longer than the list of dislikes?

TEETH!

Lincoln cut his first tooth yesterday!!

He was gnawing on my knee (a first for him), so I sat him up and gave him my knuckle instead--and immediately thought, "OW! Why does this hurt? What sharp thing does he have in his mouth?" And then as immediately realized that it is a tooth breaking through!

It's so, so exciting that my baby is getting his teeth in! But it also makes me a little sad (wistful, rather?). No, of course I don't want to keep him a baby perpetually, but he will never again be my little toothless wonder. There's no going back to true wee baby--although I know he is still a baby--and next he'll be sitting up on his own (he makes it about 3 seconds before he topples over now), and then creeping more, then crawling, then walking...and my baby will be not a baby anymore!

I will enjoy him in every stage, as I have enjoyed him in every stage thus far: watching him change and discover and grow is the most amazing thing in the world. Guess it's just the thought that he's growing up that's made me all nostalgic--and now I'm laughing, because if nostalgia is hitting when he is only 6 months old and has one tooth barely poking through, what kind of a mess will I be for future life events? :)

Fun with rings

Daddy thought Linc would have more fun wearing the rings than stacking them...or maybe that was Daddy having more fun!

Blog doesn't really do these justice, as they are best viewed in flip-book fashion. But the overall effect is still hilarious.

And finally:

adorable even with a piece of yellow plastic on his head!

hahahahahahaha

This was Lincoln's evening last night, for at least a solid half hour, possibly longer (I was laughing too hard to keep track). Hysterical.

Holy crumbs, kid!

That's actually nothing; Linc can get all five toes in his mouth at once!

Yum, left foot!

And on to the right foot.

Our little roly-poly does the funniest things!

We never stop laughing.

Except when he screams. Then we don't laugh.

Thankfully, this happens less and less often now!

You thought those photos were cute...

...check these out!

OK, crooked mouth. Time to smile.

Now that is a smile!

(Linc definitely has Mommy's mouth)

And that is the real smile (thank goodness!).

Holy nuts, this kid could swallow an elephant!

The most adorable photo ever!

I cried for half an hour+ today

Why? Because we received a change of address photo card from Ivy. You know, my stepdaughter who we haven't seen in almost three years. The tears were due to one of three things. OK, at least four. And not just one, but a combination of them. Anyway:

1. It was a photo card. A recent photo of Ivy, who will be 11 in September, and whom we have not seen since she was seven. She looks great. She is beautiful.

2. The new address is in Benton, Arkansas. Arkansas!

3. This illustrates how completely cut off from her we are: no idea what's going on in her life, what she's doing, where she is. She and her psycho-bitch mom (sorry) moved to another state, and we had no idea. They've lived in Springfield for over six years until this. Something about knowing she was nearby, in the same town, helped me, even though we are cut off from her.

4. George's reaction was lackluster: nothing. "I don't know what to think." Think? THINK?! I'll tell you what to think! You think, "No way she can move my child wherever she wants to without telling me. No way she can take yet another step to remove me from my daughter's life. This is the last straw!"

And then, after thinking that, you do NOT stop there. You GET PISSED and TAKE ACTION: Get a lawyer. Get an agreement on paper (there never has been one). Push for joint custody--at least get set visitation. Introduce your daughter to her little brother. Attempt to explain to her why you have never taken action to get to see her regularly!

Does it sound like I'm a little angry? I am. Does it sound like I'm angry at George? I am. He is the ONLY one who can do anything about this situation and always has been--and he has never done anything. What on earth is the matter with him?!?!

Prepare to laugh...

because this video of Linc talking is hysterical!

Smiles & new stuff

Hello, world! I love to smile!

I'm so strong! And I love to push up on my arms.

I'll be crawling in no time at all.

I LOVE my Jumperoo!

And I haven't even figured out yet that I can bounce in it.

Just wait until I do!

First time sitting in the high chair

Gearing up to start solids later this month!

Trust me, this high chair toy will not last long!

A little perspective. Or a lot.

Now that the most overblown memorial service in the history of the world has taken place, could we please get a grip? Michael Jackson was a man (not a god, even though I realize there is a contingent of the world population that worships him) and--newsflash!--men die. I realize this will come as a shock to some, but everyone, even the rich and famous and powerful, and everything (even radioactive elements that hang around for thousands of years) dies.

I'll admit that I like much of Jackson's music. There, I said it! I'll agree that he had an amazing career and was an incredible performer. I'll even admit that he was one of the most popular performers the world has ever, and possibly will ever, see.

But come on. Is it seriously much of a shock that he died suddenly & quite young? Like many of my students, it was bound to happen: this unexpected death, likely from self-/over-medicating of some sort. That does not make it any less tragic, but perhaps it will give us some perspective.

Jackson's death is a tragedy, for his children and the rest of his family. I'm not sure, though--in fact, I'm positive--that it does not merit the insane amount of media attention and the "stopping of the Internet!" that has been lavished upon it. Can't remember the last time I saw this much over-hype about one human being. Oh WAIT, yes I can: it was just months ago, for the man who is now our president.

I, for one, never understood the obsession people had for Michael Jackson. I listened to his music when it came on the radio and "Thriller" is one of my ringtones, but even when he was in the media's all-seeing eye for whatever reason--tour, tour cancellations, poor health, accusations of pedophilia--the most emotion I ever felt for him was pity. He had a successful music career, a fortune (at one point, anyway), an enormous "ranch"...but mostly what I saw was a man who was not happy with his life or who he was. A man always trying to change who he was to be someone he was not. A man who clutched frantically at anyone and anything he thought would make him happy, only to reach for someone/something else, never finding the content he craved.

Could we please, PLEASE now stop with the headline news, the "Will Jackson memorial stop the world?", the gossip, and get on with our lives? Please. Get some perspective--people die every day. All deaths are tragic. There are other entertainers available to worship if you must needs worship. In a few years, Michael Jackson will be just another blip in social history and will barely merit a mention in future history books--and let the man rest in peace.

Lincoln's first baseball game!

June was a month for firsts: first time Lincoln slept through the night, first time in the Exersaucer (which he loves), first trip to St. Louis, and first baseball game! (in Springfield, not St. Louis. Hoping for that next year!)

On the 18th, we took Lincoln to watch the Springfield Cardinals play...whoever they were playing that night.

All dressed for ball and ready to go!

Have I mentioned how much Lincoln loves the camera? :)

Every time he sees it, he tries to grab it!

Fun family photo outside the ballpark

Since our families are rabid baseball fans, we made it a family affair and invited everyone to witness this most important of firsts.

Janelle, my mom, George & Linc, Zack & my dad (down in front)

It was fun! The game was, anyway. Nursing while sitting on the floor of a stadium bathroom was not so much, but I made it work. :)

Lincoln and Daddy



Lincoln and Mommy

(look at that face...I wasn't torturing him, I swear)

It was a 7:10 game, so Linc was up way past his 8-8:30 bedtime, but he did so well! He seemed a little dazed by all of the sights, sounds and smells (sensory overload, anyone?), but enjoyed looking at everything and playing with everyone.

George and Zack walked around some and showed Linc off to friends: George to former ballpark co-workers and Z to a friend who had way better seats than ours. Zack has decided to use Lincoln to pick up girls--said that he could just walk around and girls will flock to him, via Lincoln ("What a cute baby! Want to go to dinner?").

It was a fun evening! If this child does not love baseball, we're going to have problems. :)

First Father's Day with Lincoln

OK, so I'm a little behind...we'll blame it on the use of the laptop, which is slower than crap and frequently freezes.

George's first Father's Day with Lincoln was fun! Although we didn't get great photos, as we took them late in the day and both boys were tired...


but we did the best we could!

Lincoln made George an awesome card on Shutterfly (it seriously is the cutest thing ever) and got him a bag o' fun stuff that was mostly for Lincoln! Well, for both of them. George got some chocolate, a onesie for Linc that says "Daddy and me," The Very Hungry Caterpillar (we love Eric Carle), a big smooshie baseball and another ball to play catch with Linc, and some bath toys (sports shaped, of course)--told you it was all for Linc!

Lincoln loves his daddy and they are best buddies. I love to watch them play!

1st trip to St. Louis

We came, we saw, we conquered! Lincoln did great to and from St. Louis and did very well the weekend, too--just wouldn't hardly nap and wore out quickly on Saturday, resulting in several freak-outs. Otherwise, he was fantastic!

Linc in the car, ready to set out on his first road trip!

And, of course, he was a big hit! Charmed everyone's socks off with grins, laughs and rolling over.

Lincoln meets his Great-Grandma Mac (McFarland) for the first time

He's so heavy that's he's a bit hard for her to hold, but they got along well!

We stayed with my Aunt Judy, and even though Linc woke up a couple of times in both nights, he never screamed, and went back to sleep pretty quickly. YES!!

Lincoln with his Great Aunt Judy

We saw my dad's cousin's Alan and Carol for a bit on Saturday (I lived with them for 5 months when I did my student teaching in St. Louis), and they had their granddaughter Sophia, so Lincoln got to meet her too!

Lincoln with Cousin Carol and Sophia

All in all, it was a great trip. We're planning to go up again the first weekend of August. Hopefully George can go this time and we'll be able to see even more family!