Toddlerhood

Linc is officially a toddler. Our boy is 18 months old, and boy is he independent! My mom has renamed him "Mr. No No." A most fitting moniker as everything is now answered with a mournful "no,no,no!" Always three times, always in a slightly exasperated/surprised tone. Here is a typical conversation, "Linky, mommy is going to change your diaper." Linc responds, "No,no,no!" As he runs from the room. This is also the response I get to "please sit down", "try your veggies", and even, "do you want to share my yogurt?" He typically hits me with the triple no to this one as he's digging into my fro-yo.

While we get lots of no-nos and sudden "I refuse to walk because I *must* sit in the neighbor's yard and rip out their grass by the handfuls" we also get soooo many giggles, kisses, and "momeeee" and "dadeeees". I swear he literally grows over night, both physically and mentally and emotionally. A few of his latest tricks and stats:

• Linc turned 18 months on September 23. He is 35 inches, 32 lbs, and wears a size 8 shoe. And those are already getting snug on him. He's my giant lovebug.
• He looooves to point out body parts. Particularly my pregnant tummy, and usually when we're out in public. Never satisfied with just pulling my shirt up, he also then tries to wrestle my "tummy panel" down. Good thing motherhood has stripped me of all modesty.
• Linc is super keen on "helping" me with chores...he brushes my hair, open wipes and cleans the kitchen table, and lives for stuffing clothes in the drier and getting to press the power button. He also takes his job of getting the mail each day very seriously.
• Speaking of things the Bear takes seriously - dude loves to march. He lifts those knees up and does a high knee shuffle that would make any band director weep.
• JBB and I are amazed each day at what random new word/animal sound he has picked up. Yesterday it was "happy", after listening to a little Pharrell. Watching your toddler roam around and mutter "happeee" to himself will snap you out of a funk in a hurry.
• Reading is the one thing we can get Linc to do where he will sit still for up to twenty minutes at a time. It is hands down my favorite part of our morning. Each day after breakfast, we sit in the play room and work our way through a stack of books. Current faves include "Planes Go" and "Diggers Go" by Steve Light, "Paddington Goes to Market", and of course, "Little Blue Truck."

I could literally write a book about all the little "Linc-isms" that make our boy Linc. But I won't, partly because I'm typing this on my IPad, and well, I'm tired of hunting and pecking. Suffice to say, like all parents,we're madly in love with our baby (he'll *always* be a baby to me) and we just continue to be amazed at him. At his ability to laugh so hard he hiccups, at the way he will sprint across the room to get to his stuffed animals and give them a hug, at the way he pats my hand and brings it up to his face. All those "no, no, nos" are more than made up for with the full tackle hugs, post-nap snuggles, and gleeful "Momeeees!" 

Mommy loves you Linky Lou. More than you'll ever know.

A Year End Review - by the Numbers

So...it's been a while. As in, the last time I blogged Linc was 11 weeks old! And now he's walking. Whoops! It's weird, I just don't quite have the time for this like I used to. Huh. Wonder why that is.

I've been wanting to write a blog to commemorate Linc turning one, and I've stopped and started 100 times, but nothing was coming out quite how I wanted it to. It's kind of impossible to put into words the mountain of feelings, milestones, emotions, and just stuff that has happened since having Linc. There have been huge, life-changing things like resigning from my job, and other, subtler things that are just as important in their own ways, like the first roll, the first dada, and the first sleeping through the night.

Rather than try to capture everything (because who wants to read that besides maybe my mom and Jason's mom?) I've decided to hit some of the highlights of the first year...

A Year in Numbers...

3.23.13 - the day that Lincoln Lambert Blythe was born. At 8:10 pm, to be precise. I honestly can't remember my life without him, yet at the same time, it seems like yesterday.

1 - the number of times Linc has been out of the country. Our little traveler went on the annual Lambert Family vacation to northern Ontario at the ripe old age of 3.5 months. He was a champ! 0 - the number of fish he caught. Slay 'em this year, Linc!

What a difference a year makes!

14 - the number of consecutive hours he rode in the car (one-way) to get to the great north. Aside from the impromptu picnic in the Burger King "lawn", it was a very uneventful car ride.

4 - the number of nights I've spent away from Linc. Thanks to JBB for pushing me to go on girls' trips - Nashville, Chicago, and Brown County - it was fun! Until we meet again...

31 - Linc's height in inches at his 12 month well-baby visit. That's 10 inches taller than he was at birth!

4.5 million - approximate number of trips we have made to Target.

139.50 - speaking of Target...the amount in dollars I have saved since downloading their Cartwheel app in August. I don't know if I should be proud of or ashamed of that fact.

3 - how many double ear infections Linc has had in the past year. One more and he'd have had tubes. Knock on wood, he seems to have outgrown them!

30 - number of nights that we had to do breathing treatments to clear up Linc's bronchial infection. To quote JBB, "Oh Lord, that was horrible."

7 - Linc's age in weeks when he went to his first Gymboree class. Best decision we ever made - the friendships Linc and I have made through Gymboree have made this first year infinitely better! Between Christmas, Halloween and Valentine's Day parties, to play dates at the parks, everything has been more fun with buddies! For mama and Linc.

1 - the number of haircuts I've had since Linc's birth. My hair is sorely neglected these days. 0 - the number of haircuts Linc has had. JBB and I are going to be those parents who don't cut their kids hair forever, and it's going to be all wild and curled up around his ears.

95 - the percentile in which Linc falls for weight. He came out weighing 8 lb 10 oz, and is now 26 lbs 14 oz. My arms have never been more sore.

Oh yes, I'm a' walkin'!!

2 - number of times we've gone "fruit-picking" in the past year. Strawberry pickin' in Noblesville and apple pickin' in Michigan.

1 - the number of times Linc has pooped in the tub. Also the number of panic attacks I've had since his birth. (One didn't cause the other, but I can see why you'd think that!) :)

1 - number of minivans that now sits in our driveway!

50 - the number of Honda Odyssey minivans in the parking lot of the library on any given day.

3 - number of silver Honda Odyssey minivans in the extended Lambert family. Krissi, Steph and I roll in style.

3 - number of words in Linc's repertoire. "Dada", "Mama", and "baba".

7:30 - the time that Linc goes to bed each night.

4:00 - 7:30 pm - my favorite hours of the day. JBB gets home from work, and our little family of three packs a lot into those three hours. Park, dinner, books, dance party, and snuggle time in bed.

5 - the number of movies I've seen in the last year. 25 - the number of movies I saw a year pre-Linc.

20 - the number of family and friends who celebrated Lincoln turning 1. Such a happy day surrounded by my favorite people!

5(w) - the size of Linc's chubby little Fred Flinstone feet.

3 - the number of smash cakes JBB and I made in preparation for Linc's birthday party.

1 - the number of times a month I hereby vow to update this blog!

Happy birthday, Bubby!!

Thanks for stopping by!