Nursery to toddler room. Already?

Well I guess we didn't waste anytime giving Lincoln's room a mini make-over to transform it more to a todder room (sad, sad!). And this transformation might have happened earlier if I hadn't committed 12 months ago to keep up those block pictures of him every week in that chair with the tree on the wall in the background. Once the last month picture was taken (tear) it was time to change over the room to give Lincoln a designated area for his toys. The only (but major) change we made was to take out the rocking chair/recliner and put in its place a shelf with some fabric drawers and a little rug to designate the area.

Here was the room with the chair still in there

And here is the room now with our super cool new shelf that Lincoln got from Papa and Gigi for Christmas.

I think Lincoln approves. He couldn't even stay out of the area for me to get some pictures! It has been nice to have a place for him to "play." He will wonder off to his room and have a good time in there, but he won't stay too long before he comes to find me and make sure I am not having the time of my life without him. :) He is just a growin' up!

And in case you are wondering...The chair found a new home in the living room to replace THE chair.

THE chair.

When my brother and I were growing up my grandparents had a certain chair that I vividly remember at their house. It was a carmel-colored leather rocking chair with wooden arms. I always enjoyed sitting in it and rocking it back and forth. And it was the chair that was always the backdrop for pictures. Its fun to think that once my brother and I could both fit in it at the same time!

When my grandparents moved into a nursing home THE chair was entrusted to my care -- probably around 2004. I felt honored that I was given the privilege to take care of the chair on behalf of my family. It was in my room during grad school and then moved to the living room of mine and Cory's duplex when we first got married. THE chair even made the trek 3 hours north when Cory and I moved 3.5 years ago. Through all of its travels the chair has begun to show its wear and tear. In order for us to transform Lincoln's room we had to move out the rocking chair we bought when he was born. Thus, THE chair had to leave in order to make room. My parents took it back with them after a visit in January. I wanted to be sure and capture a picture of Lincoln in THE chair before it left our home.

If chairs could talk then I know this one would have wonderful things to say which knowing my grandparents it would include sayings from my grandmother like "Why don't you kids go outside and play" or stories that started like "When David was little one time we went and picked him up from school b/c he was sick and..." or "Cari was so glad we picked her up from school b/c she wouldn't have to take a nap but she was asleep in the backseat before we got home." It would chat about the hours of laughter it witnessed and the pitter-patter of little feet that it enjoyed watching. Above all though, I know THE chair would talk about the amount of scripture that was read and prayed in its midst and the hymns that filled the air around it over the many years that my grandparents possessed it. Its definitely more than a chair to me; it represents my Christian heritage.

One year check-up.

Today was Lincoln's one year check-up. He weighed in at 22.10 lbs. (50 percentile) with a length of 30 inches (50 percentile). He has always been in the 50 percentile for both height and weight since they day he was born. Very interesting! Dr. A said he is walking great, had great gestures and signs and developing seems right on track!

FUNNY STORY: Lincoln has been grinding his teeth lately while awake so I asked her what I should do. She said there is not much you can do but touch his mouth and say "no, no, no." Lincoln looked at her, shook his head back and forth and said "na, na, na." One of the only times him mocking the doctor will be accepted as cute!

We are extremely grateful for a healthy baby boy!!

Here are some of my favorite iPhone pics of him lately.

Driving the Home Depot race car buggy.




Checking out the carwash for the first time.



Swinging with mommy at the park.



Cheesin it up!


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Lincoln's Loot.

After a bath to clean off the birthday boy he was ready to open up his loot. As any good kids birthday party goes, he had lots of little helpers. Here is Brodie showing him the ropes on how the baseball machine works.

Brooklyn showing Lincoln how his new swing from Mimi works.

Showing Lincoln his new tickle-me Elmo from Pop-pa.


Lincoln giving Elmo a hug.


Taking a ride in his new wagon from Papa and Gigi.



Lincoln again giving Elmo a hug. He does not give sugars, only hugs.




Opening up presents is hard work.

After presents, the party continued outside with the kids jumping outside in the bounce house as well as taking turns trying to break open the parrot pinata. In the midst of the craziness I have no pictures to show for the those events. The party was a hit and the last person left about 4 hours after the party started.

We wrapped up the day with photo opts with his grandparents -- Mimi and Poppy

Papa and Gigi with the birthday boy.

Proud parents!

Hope you enjoyed your first birthday, Lincoln. We love you!

Smash Cake.

For his birthday party, Lincoln sported this very fun shirt that I ordered for him off of etsy. I wanted to be sure and get a picture of him wearing it before the smash cake event began.


Ok, back to the fun, classic, tradition that who knows where it started of letting a one year old tear into a cake.



On Friday afternoon, we met up with Lindsey to take Lincoln's one year pictures which you can view here. We did a smash cake for the pictures so it gave Lincoln a trial run. So on Saturday he seemed to understand a little bit more that cake is not only good for playing with it but it also tastes good. He started off a little apprehensive but with some coaxing he caught on and ate it up.

"Mom, this stuff is yummy! Why have you been holding out on me for a WHOLE year?"

Fun memories in the making.

Come back soon to see all of Lincoln's loot from the party!

Shiver me timbers, It's a p-arrr-ty!

On Saturday, February 12th we celebrated Lincoln 1st birthday at my parent's house. We decided on a pirate-theme simply because it sounded like a fun idea.

Here are the banners that Erin Conner at Simply Shabby Designs custom made me banners to help decorate for the big event.

And the picture display of the month-by-month block picture!

What else would be more fitting for a pirate meal then catfish, hush puppies, fries and all the fixins'. But for some reason I did not get a picture of the spread. It was delicious. Thanks Pop-pa and Mimi for scrumptious food. Here is the one picture I managed to snap of the crew eating the yummy food.

With the help of Papa and Gigi we searched high and low to find someone to make us a cake for the big event. I had envisioned in my mind what I was wanting ::pirate ship shaped cake with a sailor/captain on top with an overall very kidish take on it:: We found a local lady who was willing to take on the task and she did a phenominal job.

Thank you Nana's Cookies-N-More in Benton, AR! We were extremely pleased with the outcome! We highly recommend their bakery!

Stay tuned to see what Lincoln thought about his smash cake!

Love grows.

Last year Lincoln was only 3 days old.

And this year he doesn't even hardly resemble that 3 day old baby.

I am a lucky lady to have two fella's to call my Valentine!

And tons of family and friends that I love very dearly and chose to love me back!

HAVE A HAPPY "HEART" DAY!

Block Pics in Review.