Hello August

Second week of Joe's hard ICU rotation is complete! Even though he was exhausted, he still managed to be as thoughtful and sweet as ever.  I am such a lucky wife and am reminded every day how blessed we are!  Joe got off of work early on Friday and I came back from the pool to this sweet surprise. I almost think gestures like this mean more as we've been married longer.  In the beginning of the relationship, it's easy to get carried away in the romance but as you settle into building your relationship, daily, you have to work harder to do extra special things to show the other person how much you care.  In fact, you have to intentionally choose to be intentional and that choice means so much!

The sky even gave us a brilliant goodbye (I wish the picture could capture it a bit better)

The view of the mountains from our balcony

This weekend, Joe and I finally got a chance to hike. We went to an area close to our church called Red Rocks Park.  We had a great time taking in the scenery and soaking up the sun.  I found a great website for hiking trails in and around Denver. If you're ever visiting, it's http://www.dayhikesneardenver.com/

According to the website this was an "easy" hike.  Easy for them to say.  I was painfully reminded about how out of shape I am as I carried around a 15lb baby.  I guess I will just continue on the mommy exercise plan: nurse, carry a baby, nurse, carry around a baby plus 15+ extra lbs of baby equipment, repeat. 

This week I got to see some dear friends from Pittsburgh! Kent, Scott, Doug & Amanda were all in Colorado Springs for a conference so Lincoln and I drove down to spend the afternoon with them.   I was so excited that I teared up in the car.  I still feel like I'm in an alternate reality sometimes, like we never really moved from Pittsburgh.  It was so great to see friends that know me...that can read me and know my passions.  I think that's one of the hardest things about moving to new place.  I feel like I'm a pretty easy person to read once you get to know me. If I am happy, you can tell...if I'm sad, you can see that in a second.  When you move to a new place, you don't have the relationships yet that can tell those things. You're still "dating" one another so you feel like you have to ask the right questions and you have to present yourself in the best light.  I get tired of doing that! I know it will come with time but I'm learning that patience is not an attribute I possess much of. Sometimes I just want a friend to give me a real hug, you know? Anyways,  I loved the chance to reconnect with great friends. 

 

Of course I needed to update the blog with all of Lincoln's new tricks!

Lincoln, you're almost 4 months old!

• You hold your ears whenever you're excited
• You're close to rolling over back to front.  I often find you completely on your side while playing or in your crib

still going after that thumb with a vengeance of course!

•  Someone likes to "sit" up (with the help of the Bumbo of course!)

• You had your first trip to the zoo!  It's funny to go on outings with you because it's more for my benefit than for yours. I'm not sure that you locked eyes with one animal but you enjoyed being pushed around in your stroller, especially now that you get to be front facing.  We went with my cousin, Kay, and her three kiddos.  You were a big hit.  Emma and Evan (your third cousins I think?) wanted to teach their names to you.

A big thank you to Kay for snapping these pictures! It's so nice to have photos where I'm in the frame, instead of behind the lense!

• We have officially pushed back bedtime so that you can see your Papi for a few minutes.  Thankfully you get to have a few special moments with Papi AND you slept through the night for the first time!

 I love this little scrubs onsie, you look just like your Papi! The outfit includes scrub booties, a cap and a stethoscope is even printed on the front!

• You are enjoying seeing everything around you. In the stroller, you're spending more time awake because you are mesmerized by the colors around you. When we hold you, you are pushing away so that you can crane your head to see everything. It's amazing to watch you grow stronger. You don't feel quite as fragile anymore.

You're definitely your daddy's son!  I was looking through some baby pictures and couldn't believe the resemblance! Joe's baby picture is on the top, with Lincoln's beneath it

 

They look like so similar here.  They just come in different "flavors"

Joseph Nickolas Hemerka the 5th = Carmel

Joseph Lincoln Hemerka the 6th = Vanilla

I kept saying we were hoping to thwart thumb sucking but it looks like it was in his genes.  I'm pictured above with Lincoln taking cues below

Ok, here is the last of the pictures from this week.  All of a sudden it dawned on me how big he's gotten....not just how old, but how big.  This is one of the few times that being chubby is adorable.  Work it Lincoln!