{ Already?!? }

I can hardly believe it, Lincoln is one month old today!  Time has just flown by.  He has grown and changed so much in such a short time.  He gets bigger, stronger, and has more hair every single day.  He is just getting more and more interactive and fun, too.  We've tried tickling him in the past and he just kind of blankly stares at us.  This morning, though, Casey tried tickling him and he just smiled and smiled.  It was pretty much the most adorable thing I've ever seen.  Even more adorable than this:





Now that was pretty adorable - but our kid is even more adorable.  And cuter.  And smarter  =)  I could have stared at him smiling all day long.  Maybe tomorrow I will...

It may not seem like a big deal to some, but another big milestone today was Lincoln being able to hold his bink (pacifier) in his mouth all by himself for about 10 minutes.  Normally if he's upset and wants to suck we pop that baby in and he settles right down.  But he hadn't quite figured out how to keep it in so we were always having to either hold it in or constantly put it back in.  You can imagine how challenging this is when I'm by myself with him in the car.  Today though I popped it in his mouth at a stoplight and he was able to hold it in all by himself!  Driving in the car is so much more pleasant when he's not screaming =)

I just can't explain how much we love our lil guy.  He is an absolute joy to parent.  It's amazing to watch him discover himself and discover the world - I have a feeling that will never get old.

He is just the best thing ever!  Happy one month birthday Lincoln!!!

P.S.  Actual video of our smiley boy coming soon!!!

{ Sweet Baby Lincoln }

I haven't been as good lately about updating the blog as I'd like to.  I know people are looking here because I can see our counter increasing =)  Don't give up on us - we'll keep posting, I promise!  Here is a smattering of pics and a video of the lil bubs from the last week or so.  Enjoy!



Visiting Daddy at work



Almost a smile!



Snoozin'



Tummy time!



Wide awake

 

Aren't baby feet the cutest thing ever?


We had Father's Day Lunch/Dinner/Linner out at the Babendure Farm-ish.  A good time was had by all =)



Daddy and Lincoln snoozing



Hangin' with Aunt Kassi, showing off his new 'My Aunt Digs Me' onesie with a pail and shovel on it =)



Uncle Rick swingin'



What farm is complete without chickens?

 

And a cow!

 

He's cute even when he's mad.

 

Spending time with Grandma.



Three generations of Babendure boys



Handsome boy!

Gym time.
Yeah, he works out.

So as you can see, we're all still hanging in there and doing well.  We've at least managed to keep Lincoln alive for four whole weeks and I think he even likes us!  Mommy and Daddy got to go on a real date last week too.  Link stayed with Grandma Giesler while we went to dinner and a movie.  I think it was probably harder on us than it was on him.  I know it's healthy and good for us to have some grown up time though so we're going to try to make it a regular occurrence.  Anyone wanna babysit?

{ Happy Father's Day! }

There are so many wonderful fathers in my life and I am incredibly grateful for each of them and all the ways they enrich both my life and my son's life!

My dad

My Papa

My step dad



My father-in-law.

Sorry you're sideways Harv - Blogger is just not cooperating tonight!



{ Three Weeks }

I can't believe our baby boy is three weeks old already! In some ways it feels like a whole new life we're leading and in some ways it seems like he has blended right into our world.  We are just so in love.

Lincoln is getting so big and strong. He has always been great at holding his head up but he is able to do it for longer stretches of time now. He has been accidentally smiling for a week or two now but they seem to be coming more frequently and sometimes intentionally! He put on quite the show for Casey and me this morning. Those little gummy grins just make my heart melt. Lincoln has also just about perfected his nursing skills. This boy loves to eat – he’s definitely got some Richner genes in him! I love that when he’s nursing his hands are usually right up by his face or clinging to me as if to say “Hey Mom, you’re not going anywhere until I’m done.” He likes to stick his pinky out while he eats too - such a refined young man.

He is a great little snuggler and loves to snooze in the crook of your arm or on your chest. He doesn’t mind being swaddled as long as he has his arms free so that he can put them by his face. He always has his hands up by his face – it must be how he was positioned in utero because he is not comfortable unless his hands are there. His legs on the other hand, he loves to stretch out. I joke that he is loving all this space in first class after being stuck in coach for nine months.  He is also beginning to interact with the world.  Link loves to stare at faces and if you stick out and wiggle your tongue he'll try to mimic you by sticking out his tongue (sometimes).  If you put a toy up to the side of his head and jiggle it he'll turn toward the sound.  He is just getting more and more fun every day.

Life with a newborn is of course not all rainbows and sunshine.  There are lots of diapers, lots of spit up, and lots of crying.  The nights are short and sometimes it seems that all I do is breastfeed, change diapers, repeat.  But he is so so so worth it.  The good outweighs the bad (I wouldn't even call it bad, more like the "not so fun stuff") exponentially.

He is just the best thing ever =)



{ Grandpa Time! }

My Dad came to visit Lincoln us this past weekend and we all had a great time.  Lincoln and Grandpa did lots of chillin' and snugglin' - this gave Mommy and Daddy a chance to have a super awesome afternoon "date" to Lowe's.  We held hands while walking down the fence/pavers aisle and cranked the radio up way too loud on the way home.  I know I know, so romantic!  Actually it was really fun to have some grown up alone time.

I'm so glad my dad was able to come down to visit.  We had a nice relaxing weekend and my dad and my son got to spend some quality time together.  It's so fun seeing my dad as a grandpa =)