I realize that I've been taking in all of the adorable things Lincoln does and not recording them. I am caught between two worlds--not wanting Lincoln to get any bigger and wanting him to be a big boy that we can take to the zoo and talk to. Regardless, I want to remember who he is now and what we've learned about him so far.
To Lincoln, with love...
Your entrance: April 15, 2012 at 8:19am. 8lbs, 20.5inch
My due date was April 10th. Thankfully I was trying to mentally prepare myself that he'd come late. Many mommies advised me that would be easier than hoping to meet him early. My mom came into town on April 8th (Easter). I didn't lead worship at church because we were worried Lincoln would arrive and I'd stand everyone up; instead it just looked like I'd eaten an enormous Easter egg! Also, too many people were concerned that my water would break on stage, a scenario I desperately wanted to avoid and hoped people would stop talking about it :)
That whole week, I tried to walk that baby out. We went to the strip district in Pittsburgh, the mall, nightly walks and nothing worked. By day four I was completely bored and unsure of how to pass the time. My mom suggested a project! That day we went to Michaels and picked up a wooden rocking horse that I decided to paint in his nursery colors. That night I was in a great mood as I painted the horse grey, white, yellow and navy. I was just starting the accent designs when my water broke! Of course Lincoln, you would come when I was painting the rocking horse! (It's now June 30th and the rocking horse is still partially painted. You can tell I stopped in the middle of adding decorative circles.
We went to Magee Hospital at 10pm and they confirmed I was in labor. I was in the labor suite by midnight and they began pitocin (because I wasn't really contracting before then). I had the epidural at 1:30am and you were born seven hours later.
You had a ton of light hair. Not what we expected! We thought you'd have dark, curly hair like your dad for sure! The doctor, Thomas Kremser, immediately commented on your adorable pudgy cheeks. Your dad was the first the hold you. It was so special to see how enthralled he was by you, he couldn't take his eyes off you. I was next to hold you and then Nana.
Week 1: Welcome home!
I don't think we slept. You stayed in our room in a pack and play because we had to move a month and a half later. I'd never heard your noises before you came home. You had a hard time when you spit up. You didn't know how to breathe through it yet or how not to exhale it. In the hospital, you choked once and turned blue (thankfully the nurse was right there but I was crying I was so scared). With that memory etched in my mind, I was terrified that you would do that on my watch. Every time you made a sound, I was right there with that blue suction ball just in case. I watched you sleep those first few nights, I was so nervous that something would happen. Watching you sleep meant I never did. I'm not going to lie, that snuck up on me really quickly.
- Your days and nights were confused
- You held your head up as soon as we put you on your tummy. We joked that you looked like a turtle without your shell (video below). You hated tummy time then...and now
- You were glowing yellow...the doctors were watching you to see if you needed light therapy. We didn't realize how yellow you were til we looked back at the pictures.
- You met Grandpa, Abuelita & Tia Adrianne. Grandpa wouldn't let you go.
- You peed all over us every time we changed your diaper. We weren't very quick in the beginning but had to learn so that we wouldn't get sprayed!
- You had your hair spiked for the first time. After that, it was the only hairstyle we could keep. We joked that your hair grew in points--a faux hawk and a rat tail (courtesy of your dad). People always comment on your hair and we often get asked if we put product in it (we don't, it just stays naturally!)
- You weren't a big fan of the swaddle at night. You always broke your hands free.
- You had to wear mittens because your nails were so long and you kept scratching yourself
Week 2: Settling in
- You went into "bull mode" when you were really hungry. Your dad had to help me calm you down by applying a straight jacket swaddle
- Starting to slowly change days and nights...very slowly
- You made so many sounds in the night. Every night we joked that you turned into a dragon.
- Your "stump" as we affectionately called it (your umbilical cord) finally fell off. Thank God, it was getting pretty stinky!
- Your first photo shoots. You cried so much during your first one with a friend at home, not your best showing. Then at photo shoot 2, you peed on your dad and pooped on the blankets. That's what we get for keeping you naked
Week 3: Just the three of us
It was finally just us by week three (Lincoln = Mr. Popular)
- You were starting to understand days from nights
- You got to have your first bath and loved it. It was so cute to see you so relaxed
- You went on your first outing with Mommy and met the gang at North Way.
- The napper was your favorite place to sleep because it kept you at an angle
- Bear was wonderful around you from the start but you two were cuddle buddies by week three
- You were eating really well and our favorite face was after you finished eating. You went into a "milk coma" and were sleeping so soundly
Week 4: One month old!
- First smile (on purpose!!) We got your first one out with a lot of funny faces and then you gave them freely to daddy after that!
- You started to really like time on your kick mat where you can stomp on the piano. At around four weeks we started to see so much more interaction.
- You could track things with your eyes and were making a lot more eye contact
- You started to like the baby bjorn and I'd strap you on when you were fussy to calm you down
- First Mother's Day for me and you were dedicated at North Way Oakland by Doug Melder. You did great at the service but gave mommy a hard time at home.
- Your dad loved to freak out mommy by putting you in superman pose and poking your head out around corners...silly daddy
Week 5: Daddy Graduates medical school!
- You met your great Tia Maria and saw Abuelita again
- You attended your dad's medical school graduation
- You cry now with real tears, talk about tearing out your parents hearts!
- You started putting more weight on your feet and liked to "walk" up people when they held you.
You were amazing this week. It was crazy but you were well behaved and flexible to all of the change of scenery
- You met Aunt Brea & Pap-Pap
- Our place was in shambles and then barren but you were awesome through it all (you did make your dragon sounds really loudly though...)
- We stayed with Sandy Weiss and she was an amazing hostess!
- You flew for the first time. You were an angel and slept the whole time. You didn't know it but we moved you half way across the country from Pittsburgh to Denver.
Week 7: You're a Denver boy now
- You slept in your crib and nursery for the first time and did great
- You started sleeping for longer stretches in the night
- You are loving bright colors, especially yellow
- You're amazed at things with eyes and make intense eye contact with them
We hung a little bug toy on the top of your car seat and you just stared at that little bug. I loved it because I call you my little bug
- You (and Bear) started getting used to things at our new place
- You had to get used to lots of sunshine. Every time we took you into the sunshine you grimace and fall asleep (unless you have your shades on of course)
Week 8: Two months old
- You had to get your shots :(
- You started getting very "handsy" when eating and exploring the world around you
- You are loving your reflection in mirrors. You seem pretty vain but really, you just think it's another baby to smile at.
- You smile easily, especially in the mornings
- We haven't been able to dissuade you from sucking on your thumb...or fingers...or fist. It wasn't with a valiant effort. We spent $20 on pacifiers to see if you'd find a favorite. No such luck.
Week 9
- You met Joe's fellow residents and became a fast crowd pleaser. We were so amazed at how flexible you were and how easy-going.
- You recognize your mommy and daddy. When daddy comes home from work he gets lots of big smiles.
- You've discovered your voice and now I hear you just yell and coo just because you can!
- You have a period of grumpiness right before bedtime (which is usually around 7pm). We call you Grumpelstiltskin
- We had to move you up to size two diapers
- We removed the newborn insert in your car seat
- You laughed for the first time!
- Your holding your head up pretty steadily
- You're beginning to understand how to grab. You're starting to have more control to reach out and grab a toy or my jewelry.
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