16 weeks

Here I am at 16 weeks pregnant:

And here is Lincoln, 16 weeks old...for the second time.

It's kind of strange that he has already been 16 weeks old, so in reality Lincoln is 55 weeks old; or about 14 months. How's that food for thought.

 

Anyhow, Lincoln's growing so fast, big surprise. Go figure- that's what babies do.

Scott and I are really starting to feel like we have a kid now...not a little baby. The fact that he's 16 lbs. may or may not have anything to do with that. Lincolns personality is starting to show, laughing and 'talking' more, becoming more mobile and just interacting with the world around him more, in general- watching his mobile, noticing people on TV, using his silky snuggler to soothe himself to sleep. Its so strange how things happen so slowly but yet so fast. I can barely remember the first time he cooed, the first time he smiled. Each new thing he does stands alone, so important and amazing, but yet they all seem to blend together over a matter of just a few weeks, days even. Just in the past week he rolled over onto his stomach like he had done it a million times already.

He had rolled over before, from his tummy to his back, but it took him quite a while and he had to get pretty pissed before he would give enough push to get himself over, and he had only done it a handful of times. Then, about a week ago he was laying on the floor on his back and before my eyes, he rolled right over onto his stomach, propped up on his elbows and looked around like it was no big deal. I, on the other hand, couldn't believe what I had seen. Just to test the waters, I rolled him back over onto his back. Like our cats, annoyed as hell with us when we hold them like babies, quick to upright themselves, Lincoln flipped right over. The next morning brought us to the next step in Lincolns evolution...we found him sleeping soundly on his stomach in his crib. There was no going back, this boy had it down. Slowly, over the next few days, Lincoln went from back to tummy to his back again. Usually Lincoln just laid on his tummy, sucking his hands or fussing, but now he is starting to look around, smile and check out toys we put in front of him on the floor, propped up his elbows, looking almost proud of himself. So, although we may say Lincoln has the whole rolling-over thing down, that activity is built by many tiny events that in time, will fade and take place by a series of events that will most likely go as follows:  Lincoln wriggles around on the floor, Lincoln wriggles himself with the specific goal of getting from point A to point B, Lincoln crawls. And although we will simply say, 'Lincoln is crawling'- know that each milestone is made up of 10 little step stones. It is these step stones that seem to get forgotten the easiest, just as I am starting to forget the way it first sounded when he made a noise that wasn't crying, because now hearing him talk is an everyday occurrence.

Although time stands still at times, but yet moves so fast, it is amazing seeing the changes and watching him grow. So here's to you, Lincoln, our big 4 month-old! May you grow slowly, no matter how fast time goes by.

 

Where has it gone?

The past month has FLOWN by, but I feel like we have come so far in such short time.

In the past 30 days:

Scott and I have grown comfortable with transferring Lincoln back and forth to one another, as well as to family. With our work schedules though, sometimes it seems like that's all we do, but at least Lincoln gets to be with one of us all the time :)

Lincoln found his hands. They are in his mouth most of the time, so much that his fingers get pruney!

nom nom nom

I made it through my busiest time at work. with Lincoln. (and with the help of Scott and my mom!) Lincoln does so well with being around other people he is unfamiliar with, and is a joy to have in the office. People stop by just to see HIM!

I turned 29.And  I've made it another month breastfeeding. Yea me!

Lincoln made his first stage appearance at Common Ground on the Hill Traditions Weeks.

He still is not sleeping through the night every night, but surprises us with a sleep-full night every once in a while.

Lincoln still loves his swing and also really has started to like looking around and taking in his environment.

He loves listening to Scott talk and talks back to him a lot.

Lincoln is very close to rolling over from his back to his stomach. He also holds his head up so well and can sit up when given some support.

Lincoln turned 3 months old!

 

2 months old

Lincoln,

You are two months old now and only getting cuter and cuter by the HOUR! You are 13.3 lbs (80th percentile) and 24 inches long (90th percentile).

You have grown a lot in the past month and I can only imagine where you will be in another month.

Bath time is a favorite time for you (dont mind me putting words in your mouth ;) You upgraded from sink baths to the 'big boy' bathtub. I think you really enjoy sitting in the water and we enjoy the time with you!

You have started smiling a lot and we love trying to get you to show us your adorable grin. You also have begun making cooing noises and other sounds that make us gasp and smile in adortation of you. The other noises you make have not ceased, you still grunt and snore all day long, along with plenty of other loud bodily noises that I will not go into detail about ;)

You are eating VERY well and growing so fast (and big!). Your brain is growing (according to babycenter.com) and will grow 5 cm by then end of your third month. You are following objects with your eyes better and also able to hold your head up without looking like a bobblehead (as much).

I returned to work this month and I am lucky enough to be able to bring you with me! I am so blessed to have an employer that is supportive and allows me to do this. Not many other mothers are as lucky as I am so be able to have their baby at work with them!

We took our first 'road trip' to Salisbury and you got to meet your cousins Noah and Alli and Scott's grandfather and his wife, Grampy Gil and June. You did so well in the car. It was also our first time co-sleeping and you did great :) You continue to love your swing and sometimes will stay awake for quite a while, just swinging and taking in your surroundings, mainly the picture frames on the wall which you will stare at for hours!

 Daddy also celebrated his first Father's Day this month. He is so thankful that you gave him this day :) We love you so much!!!! xoxo

 

Lincoln has brought a lot of changes to our lives, some of them obvious; diapers and baby spit-up are not so unfamiliar to us anymore. I remember how scared we (I) were the first time he threw up, I didn't want to go to sleep but just watch him sleep instead to make sure he was OK. Now it's no big deal. I don't feel like so much of a zombie doing night feedings anymore; night walking and half alseep, I'm getting to be quite a pro at changing diapers in the dark, except the wipe container gets left open a lot :/ I've traded in my purse for a diaper bag and I cannot get dressed without first evaluating how easy it will be to breastfeed in my outfit/top. Getting a close parking space at the grocery store is no concern of mine- I am on the look-out for the space closest to the cart rack! When he comes along, grocery trips are limited to items that can fit in around his carseat or in the front basket/bottom of the cart. I have come to not mind running errands/shopping- just so long as I am somewhere with a dressing room as they make for a quick and easy nursing area! Scott never expected to feel so much excitment in coming home and getting to see his family, and never realized how handy his kindle would come in hand, reading in the dark as he rocks Lincoln to sleep (you can't do that with a regular book, ya know!?). We created new life and he gave us awesome, new lives :)

Here are some other photos from the past month:

 

One month old

Lincoln,

I can't believe that you are 1 month old already! In such a short time, you have given us so much joy.

As your mom, and a new mom, I know that I have had it much easier than some, maybe even most. However, it has not been all smooth sailing. Breastfeeding is hard. Really hard. People make it seem like a  something that comes naturally and easily. Even though I love having that special time with you, it is not as easy as some make it seem, and it is something I have spent many days and nights struggling with, especially at first. It is all-consuming. My nipples bled and got chapped at first (TMI?). I have leaked through many shirts, luckily not in public (yet). There are days when I feel like a milk cow- when I am not feeding you (just about every 2 hours!), I am pumping so that your daddy can feed you some nights and on the weekend. Sometimes you get into a feeding frenzy and throw your hands around, grasping at whatever you can get your little hands on. I have to struggle with you just to get you settled. Most times, along with your grasping hands, you also make growling and grunting noises. During these moments we call you a gremlin because you sound just a little monster! Through the struggles, I simply adore looking down at you, seeing your little chubby cheeks moving with each suck and swallow. You look so peaceful and it is amazing to know that I grew you inside of my body and now am able to nourish you with it too. It is a learning process for both you and I, and we continue to learn every day.

You love me, and I know it. But boy, do you love your daddy. Some nights it takes me forever to get you to sleep and to lay down, and just when I get you to sleep, you are ready to eat again. Just after I lay you in your crib you are so quick to cry and scream until I pick you up (we are working on this!). With him you fall into deep sleep so easily. He must have a very calming affect on you, just like he does with me :) He also sings to you a lot. He makes up silly songs about your pacifiers, or the clothes you are wearing that day or anything else that comes to mind. You love to look and listen to us talk to you, watching so intently, and in turn we love to talk to you and watch you watch us. We could watch you, touch your soft skin and kiss your chubby cheeks all day long. Kisses flow freely in our home every single day.

You are steadily gaining weight and are healthy and generally a happy baby, unless you are hungry or suffering from a bought of gas. Your dark hair is thinning out on just the top of your head, but it seems obvious that you will have dark brown hair. Your grey-blue eyes are also turning into what seems to be brown. Your neck is so strong and you are constantly lifting your head and flailing your arms and hands around. You also like to sleep with one arm up by your face.

You love your swing, getting lotion massaged on your feet and are starting to enjoy baths as well. And boy, do you love your pacifiers, one in particular that your daddy sings to you about- he calls it your green-apple tootie. The cats are slowly, but surely getting used to you but George does not like it when you cry. We have ventured out a few times, to buy daddy's new car (you threw up all over yourself and the carseat at the dealership, of course), we went out to eat with you for our first time together in downtown Frederick (Daddy was nervous you would wake up and start crying at any moment) and we went to the MD Sheep and Wool Festival, which you found extremely boring, as well as visiting a few people's homes and stores. I am getting more comfortable having you out and about, changing and feeding you outside of the comfort of our own home :)

 

You do not like the sun, as we discovered. Once the sun hits your face or your eyes, you get very stiff and stick your arms straight out like a zombie or a mummy. It is hilarious! Your cousin, Camden, LOVES to touch your soft skin and to hold you- she isn't even phased by your crying. Cordelia is a little more aprehensive and will only touch you briefly with one finger, more like a poke.

Our sunshine and the sunshine video

This month we celebrated my very first Mother's Day. I feel so special and blessed to have you as a son and to have a reason as sweet as you to give me cause to celebrate.

 

The evening of Mother's Day you rolled over! You were a few days shy of one month old and you  rolled from your tummy to your back while we were having tummy time. And...you did it again the very next day!

Our first month with you has flown by so fast and we have already made so many memories. We look forward to making so many more with you, our special boy.