Baby Valone!

He's not here yet, but we celebrated his upcoming arrival when Lincoln and I were in Minnesota in July. I kept things simple and had it at a British pub in downtown Minneapolis. They prepared the food and they cleaned up! Easy!

We made an alphabet book and played a little gift bingo. I think the mama to be enjoyed herself!

We had a great turnout and Blair's grandma made it from Virginia too!

I don't predict that she will make it to her September 14th due date. My guess is September 8th (full moon).

Good luck, Blair! Get ready to have your world rocked! (In mostly an amazingly awesome way, but also in a lack of sleep lose your hair lots of poop incredibly crazy kind of way.)

Flying Baby

Lincoln took his first flight at 7 weeks and we've taken several trips in between including one international. The older he got, the harder it's gotten, but this last trip wasn't so bad. He'll finally watch a video for 8 minutes or play with stickers or playdough. My girlfriend compared herself to Mary Poppins while flying with a toddler and I don't think she's too far off!

Lincoln screamed for 20 minutes during our holding/waiting for take off. Then we got our own row of 3 seats. Nice work, buddy. No, I didn't pinch him, but the guy next to me have. (not really).

Occasionally he sleeps. That is glorious.

We tried the baby leash. Hated it at the airport. Loved it at home. Go figure.

Layovers are the worst, but when there is a USO inside of security, it can be tolerable. A room with a door that closes is a novel idea with a curious toddler. I enjoyed the fact that I could sit in a chair and know he couldn't go far. Drink a coffee even. People like him cause he's cute and I don't mind letting them play with him either. :)

The USO at MDW even had toys and computers with access to YouTube. Hooray!

This lasted over an hour. It's going to be tough when he out grows the baby carrier!

Summer Buzz

Lincoln's hair was getting a little crazy and the back of his hair has a different texture that made it always look like he just woke up from a nap so one afternoon we decided to give him a summer buzz. Glenn had just cut his a few weeks earlier.

 He did really well til the end when he got kind of squirmy so we missed a few small patches, but it has grown on me. He looked so much older as soon as we did it!

 

 Just like daddy!

It's only been 5 days

I started this last week, but just like many things these days, it didn't get finished...

This week is officially complete as a SAHM (Stay at home momma) and I really enjoyed it! I will say, it is so much more work than going to work. At work, I could run during lunch to target or the grocery store, but now almost every errand comes with my extra helper. By "helper" I mean not really helpful at all. That is harder, but I also know exactly why he is crabby, if that is the case, at the end of the day, rather than wondering how things went at day care. He is getting longer naps at home and we get to have so much fun together. We went to music class at the library, we went to the botanical gardens and I managed to clean all the window blinds in my house - can't remember the last time that happened! (Has it happened since we bought them?!). I even cooked dinner and went grocery shopping along with my normal house cleaning duties.

I think the biggest change is the role I play in the house. Glenn was always the cook and grocery shopper. I cleaned and helped with the laundry. I have a lot more time during the day now to take care of some of these things and I try to. I'm trying to find my place again as well as have a little time for me.

I went out with a few girlfriends last Thursday and I found myself dragging my feet to get there. Normally I would be rushing out the door, ready to relax after a week at work. Not that my days weren't busy and "work" at times, but I felt less reluctant to enjoy a night with my friends since I hadn't contributed in my normal manner. It's a balance. I still haven't quite found it.

I worry at times that Lincoln isn't in a "learning" environment like he was a day care. I know he's only 18 months, but he was at a place with different topics and units and experiences every day. I'm not a preschool teacher, but it would definitely help at times!

So it's an adjustment, and I'm still figuring it out, but I love being able to lay on the floor in the morning and play with my little man and not have to rush us both out the door to work. I do find myself looking for projects to do so I think there will be more house painting or similar in my future, but I like having a project to do, especially when Glenn is gone. Any one need a piece of furniture painted? Maybe I'll finally get started on my annual scrapbook before the year is complete.

Happy Thursday!

Goat Friends

We met some of Lincoln's friends at the zoo and we made a few new goat friends too. I thought he would be afraid of them, but he loved talking to them and petting them.

 

 Trish and I may have been encouraging the hand holding, but Lincoln walked Gwen around and pointed out the lions to her. It was adorable.

 

  Gwen apparently did not enjoy my picture taking during their time together. ;)

Chicago Wedding

The whole fam flew to Chicago last month to attend the wedding of an old family friend. We lived next door to the Krema family for 13+ years and as it turns out, my brother moved to near Chicago just a few months before. Double whammy- get to see the family and attend the wedding. And best of all- a baby sitter for Lincoln during the wedding festivities! Lincoln had more fun with his cousins that he would have with us anyway.

Jenny is the oldest Krema daughter and she got married last October. We were like sisters growing up and it was so much fun to see her!

 The wedding was at Loyola University and it was a beautiful setting right on the lake!

 The beautiful bride, Ali, and her new hubby Mike.

Lincoln and his cousins at the park enjoying a little sunshine before we headed off to the airport. I got to spend a little bit of the day with my dad on Father's day.

A quick trip to the city- what a fun town!

4th of July

We kept things pretty simple for the 4th this year. With an impending hurricane, we weren't really sure how the weather was going to turn out, but after a rainy morning, the day was beautiful! We spent the long weekend at the beach, bbqing with friends and we even made it to the fire works with Lincoln. It was a relaxed family-fun weekend.