Friday, December 10, 2010

Updates...


I know it's been forever and I really should be reprimanded. I can't help it! Things are often very crazy around here and it's the best I can do! 
I don't even know where to start.....this is just a VERY short recap of the many, many, mannny things that go on in our crazy life. Right now Lincoln is amazing. Just this week he's started to clap his hands! He thinks when you clap that you're clapping for him! He can now also wave bye-bye. This started about 2 or 3 weeks ago. Now he consistently waves to most everyone. So precious! He has 4 teeth. That last one was a doozey and we were up several nights just being unhappy. He is now crawling on hands and knees all the time and no longer army crawling. He LOVES to play in the refrigerator! I'm not sure what it is, but take that fussy baby and stick him in the floor in front of the fridge and there's no more fuss! It's like magic. 
He's pulling up and standing on everything. He wants to be standing up most of the time. He loves the coffee table (and pulling things off of it) and to stand at the ottoman. Lile is not quite sure what to think about Lincoln's increased mobility. She used to be able to get away from him by jumping on the couch or chair and now that's just not so. They're so cute together. She'll let him play with her toys and most of the time just plays and licks him. Sweet! 
Oh yeah...and as of today he weighs 20 pounds, 13 ounces. He's really started slowing down with his weight gain the last several months. Not that I'm complaining! We've bought a big-boy car seat but we're not using it yet. The carrier and stroller combo work until 22 pounds and it's just sooo handy to take the whole carrier out when he falls asleep in the car (which he almost always does). It won't be much longer until we don't have a choice. 

Here are a few of the things that have been going on lately.

For Mommy's birthday we went to ASU Homecoming. This is one of my favorite pictures from that weekend. Erin bought us this cool onesie before Lincoln was born as a "happy baby" present. They make such cute twins!

Oh these boys! Their age difference is slowly becoming a non-issue. As they get bigger that 3 months won't mean anything at all! Can't wait to see Ian this weekend for our Christmas party!

Lincoln attended his first parade in Boone for homecoming. He really seemed to like it up there on Daddy's shoulders. He seemed to watch what was going on. 

We found an activity spot for kids and Lincoln had his face painted for the very first time with a big A.


This is the little pumpkin he picked out for himself at the pumpkin patch. He's such a sweetie! 

  In Boone with the boys...We love Erin!

So this picture is a few weeks old but it's the latest I've taken of the deck. It's officially built. There is now a pretty brown tin roof that tinkles when it rains. Last weekend Anthony built the stairs. It's really coming along. It's a bummer it's getting so cold lately, it's really hard to work outside like that. We still need hand rails all around and down the stairs.


We got a few of our friends together for a Halloween play date and photo shoot at our friend Anna & Alan's house....he's the bee! It's so sweet to see them play together. They're very interactive and interested in what the others are doing. They watch everything the others do. Toys are very often stolen and lots of drool is shared!
From left to right: Monkey Liam, Pirate Samanthan, Giraffe Lincoln, and Honey Bee Alan.


Lincoln is eating more and more "big boy" food. He's learned to like many different things. Among his favorites are sweet potatoes, squash, carrots and apple sauce. He likes every fruit he's tried, but I think he had an adverse reaction to strawberries. We'll wait a while before trying those again. He's learning to use a sippy cup and has just begun drinking a little bit of apple juice. He sure liked that! We're still nursing about 4 times a day...Mommy and Baby both still enjoy it. I'm hoping to make it to at least a year. 

I know he'll probably  hate me for this later...but who can resist a baby in the bathtub? He loves to sit and play and just splashes....I've had to start covering my legs with a towel while he plays. If I don't I get soaked before I get him out! 

Thanksgiving has come and gone...it's so great to see the whole family together like that. Ma-maw was loving on the boys and we managed to snap this picture. Zane was not interested in sitting still at ALL! He's always on the move...
Papaw Rocky had all the girls and Zane on the 4-wheeler. It was soooo cold! Their noses and toeses were frozen! 


Lincoln even took his first ride! He was a little nervous at first but didn't fuss or cry. He went all the way up and back down the driveway before I snatched him off before he lost his fingers to the cold. I'm sure there will be many many  more rides in the future.


Well..this is my little man now. He's pulling up and cruising around everywhere. He loves to stand and bounce and pull things off tables. Nothing is safe! He's just the most beautiful thing ever and I surely don't remember life without him. What did we do?!


Couldn't you just eat him?! Notice the fancy baby gate above the stairs...that's certainly a necessity these days. He likes to pull up on it and look out. He looks like a prisoner from the other side! 



For my birthday we had our first family pictures made by Orange Cat Photo. Dana is an old friend and they do an amazing job. It was fun and Lincoln was in a pretty good mood for most of the time. We ordered a picture almost like this one on a canvas and have it hanging in th living room. It's just beautiful! 

My sweet baby's first look at a Christmas tree. What a beautiful time of year, and what a wonderful reason to celebrate. We have been truly blessed. This year has been amazing and I am thankful each and every day. People say a baby changes everything. It's so true....in so many ways. Each one of them is wonderful.  

Merry Christmas
Love,
The Vance Family