Lincoln the sponge!

Ok, so I am certain I have said many a times that Lincoln's vocabulary is exploding, and once again it is. Now we are in the very fun and exciting phase where he can repeat words that you teach him! I mean yes, it has its down sides as he repeats any words he hears, good + bad. He is starting to use a lot more sentences. He just came to me and said, "Mom, Dad come home soon?" Which a month ago would have been "dad home?"

Lincoln's love of trains has increased as well! He constantly wants to play trains, setting up his little wooden track he got from G+G Dombowsky from IKEA. In the last 2 days he has begun to make his trains talk to each other, and asks me to play "thomas". So we sit on the floor using deep voices and have conversations with the trains. Its very sweet + boring at the same time. He can't hold much of a conversation. But its so cute when he answers everything as himself, ex: (me)"Hey engine, did you have a nap today?" (linc)"Yes" (me)"Hey Rheneas, what do you want to do tonight?" (linc)"See Daddy". Fun stage!

Lincoln continues to be a great big brother, most of the time. Whenever we are going out he always makes sure that Jack is coming up. He has also begun to call him "Jack" instead of brother. Which is bitter sweet for me. He gets rough + frustrated when Jackson crawls over to his track and tries to pull it apart. But we are working on it. The other day both boys got left in Lincoln's room alone for a few minutes. We soon heard Jackson screaming, and Stephen went in to find Lincoln pushing Jackson face into the carpet, with a smile on his face! Let's just say a longer than usual time out quickly followed!

Linc sleeping habits have been going through many phases. He continues to nap in various places, mostly inside his too small toy box. But he has also napped on top of his lego table, on the floor all over his room, and even attempted under the hamper, but that didn't last very long. He also has started sleeping with the blanket over his head. When he does this during his nap he wakes up looking like he just got out of the bath, as his hair is literally soaked.

His manners have begun to develop and it is so darling. After most meals he will say "thanks supper!" And at night when we are laying in his bed together winding down he will list several things through out the day that he enjoyed: "Thanks supper. Thanks car ride. Thanks choo choo".

We are so proud of the incredible little boy he is growing into!

Jackson Boy

Wow I can't believe Jackson is going to be 10 months in one short week! I better start planning a 1st birthday party to end all birthday parties! Here are some of the amazing things Jackson boy (what I affectionately call him) does at almost 10 months:
1.Wave bye - ok this is a big deal, and he just started doing it this last week. I don't remember Lincoln ever really doing it, so it excites me to no end when Jack so eagerly does it!
2. Still army crawls - yup thats right, still! He just does not want to get up on all fours. But you know, its working for him. He can get around like its no body's business. So if its not broke, why fix it?
3. Loves to climb - which delights Stephen to no end! Jackson is going to be our adventurous, probably end up giving me several heart aches, boy. This boy lives on our fireplace mantle, which is about 8 inches off the ground. Up and down all day. Over the bottom of the coffee table, over the legs of his high chair. Yup, this kid loves to climb!
4.Tells tall tales - oh my, Jackson is one animated talker! His little arms get flapping and he furrows that brow and on with the story! He was telling my grandparents a story the other day when they were over, and my grandmother is convinced he is going to be a preacher! Pentecostal for sure the way he was moving those hands!
5. Finally sleeping in his own crib in his own room! Jackson slept with us until earlier this month, so until he was nine months old. I enjoyed every minute of it, but felt that he was starting to wake up more than necessary simply because I was right beside him. So we started to transition him, and he did beautifully! By the second day I could lay him awake in his crib and he would fall asleep on his own for his nap. Nights have been a lot harder, but the last few he has been waking up only once to nurse, so I am thrilled. And very much enjoying having my bed back!
6. Still only 2 teeth. Each time Jack gets cranky or has a hard night I am convinced he is teething, and he could be, but alas no new teeth have popped through in 4 months!
7. Peek-a-boo - Jack is an awesome peek-a-boo player. He probably peeks at a 12 month level.

The richest women in the world

Mothering is the most challenging job that I have ever done. And it definitely has its fair share of hard, sometimes get the better of me days. And I have had a few of those this week alone. But as I lay beside my handsome 2 1/2 year old before nap time this afternoon, and he turns to me and says "close eyes" - poking each one as he does, my heart was over run with goodness, pride, love, affection. "I'm the richest women in the world," I thought to myself, as I secretly watched him through the cracks of my 'closed eyes' as put his arms behind his head as he lay on his back and settle in to nap.