Sunday, August 12, 2012

4 Months Old!



Heading into a Colorado fall and I can't believe that Lincoln is already 4 months old.  I feel like I am already saying "I remember when..." and know that it's only going to get worse as my baby becomes a little boy.  I know I feel that way about everything though. I still feel like the same wide-eyed high school freshman; the only thing that's changed is that I look older in the mirror.  Ok, so maybe that's not the only thing that's changed but I can't see all of the changes in maturity or physique until I go through old pictures. Every time I do that I'm taken back by how little Lincoln was or how young Joe and I look.
The longest I've ever seen Joe's hair
High School Graduation...yes, we are high school sweet hearts (so crazy!)

The thing that astounds me most is when I think back to how I viewed people older and more mature than me. I used to put them on pedestals and think 'wow, they are so cool and mature and they are hanging out with me?"  Now, I think it's bizarre to think of anyone viewing me in that way because I still feel like that adolescent girl.   I shutter to think of the day that Lincoln realizes that I'm just as clueless and broken as the next person.  I love the fact that right he looks at me with such fascination and I see the love growing in his eyes everyday.  Ah...I'd better just relish the moments I have now and not wish anyone away or wish to go back.  I think that's a good life lesson to take moving forward.

"Ta Dah!"
I'm hooked...
My mom told me about baby & kid consignment sales that happen throughout the country.  Moms come together to get rid of their old gear and to score some great pieces for their families. It was amazing. A whole room full of baby clothes, gear, toys...you name it!  Not only that but the prices are great and it's organized.  You can shop early if you volunteer or you can go the last day and save even more because a lot of items are 50% off.  

I got Linc some of the clothes he needed for the winter and I know that this is how we'll start shopping for his clothes and toys!  I even got to try out the hiking backpack we're hoping to get when he's a little bigger.  

For mom's in Denver, check out the website Denver Bargains for the list of all of the upcoming fall sales in the Denver area.  

I never knew about these types of sales when I lived in Pittsburgh but there is a large one called Just Between Friends coming up in September. They have some pictures of the last year's sale on the website if you need an idea of what it's like.  
Here are some links to a few more in the Pittsburgh area: Little Blessings Dressings, Centsible Moms, Kids Mania.

Go if you need any baby/kid stuff!

Lincoln's Update: 
4 months old
  • Rolly Poley Oley: You can now roll from your back to your belly.  You literally rolled that direction for the first time last night and now any time we set you down on your back, you quickly changes positions to your belly
Rock Star tooshie
"I don't know how I feel about this new trick but I think I'm happy"
  • This was a great sleep week, almost every night you stayed asleep but last night you woke up panicked and when I went to grab you from your crib, you were on your belly with your arm stuck underneath you.  I hope you learn how to stay asleep with your new-found mobility!

  • I can now officially hold you on my hip. 
  • I put away all of your 0-3 month clothes and you're fitting perfectly into 3-6 months. I have a feeling that you will outgrow these clothes before 6 months
  • You are turning into a big flirt, especially at church. You've still been hanging out with us during the service and I'm pretty sure no one behind us can listen because you are giving them your biggest smiles and most adorable faces.  Now that you're front facing in your stroller, you are a show stopper and attract every older woman in the store to you.

  • You are grabbing everything around you with much more accuracy.  In fact, I can't keep up with your fingernails and you are scratching us all up as you gain coordination.  Amanda coined the phrase "falcon" when she was holding you last week in Colorado Springs and I think it's an appropriate term! Hair is now up for grabs (you especially like Papi's) and jewelry is no longer safe.
  • I think you are teething and were in a little bit of pain.  Your ears still fascinate you and any time you're excited, tired or your teeth hurt you grab onto your ears.
  • Aunt Brea came for a visit!  You had fun making faces at her.  She's crazy about you and was sad that her trip had to be cut short.  You are such a lucky boy to have a family that loves you so much.  Just wait til you see Abuelita, Grandpa and Adrianne again---snuggles galore! 
 eating ice cream at Liks
Twins
Brea, amping up the baby talk
  • Nanna couldn't stay away, especially with an $80 round trip non-stop flight from Dallas, the calm before starting a new job, and both of her daughters in the same place.  Even she noticed the difference that a few weeks makes in your development.

 We had a yummy lunch at California Pizza Kitchen and you had a yummy lunch of MILK!

blowing raspberries. It'll be fun when Lincoln can mimick...

Wave hello?! Ok maybe too soon..
"Praise the Lord"
  • You get really quiet when I play the piano or guitar and now I know you'll sit with me and watch my fingers.  I'm hoping that means you'll want to play something when you're bigger.
  •  You still fall asleep when I put you in the bjorn. It's my go to move if you're avoiding a nap.

More updates to come on our little man next week.  He's a huge help when I'm blogging :)

Sunday, August 5, 2012

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!