It’s summer!

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Happy Mother’s Day, internet! I planted my traditional flower pots and vegetables. The flowers will traditionally look beautiful on the front steps and the vegetables will traditionally die before I ever see a single tomato or eggplant. But I wouldn’t want to stop planting them. It’s tradition.

Sunday:

Super sunny soccer game

I told them not to try chasing it.

So happy to be OUTSIDE

Bonus Sunday picture: Caroline goes “LOOK, ITS BABY LINC!”

Monday:

Playing Star Wars…

Watching Star Wars…

Wearing Star Wars. May the Fourth!

Tuesday:

Still recovering from doing ALL THE THINGS over the weekend

We are becoming experts at this back wrapping thing

This is the face he makes when he sees Caroline get off the bus

Wednesday:

These are my ridiculous new pants. I love them. I wore them to the dentist.

Sweaty nap head

Taking a walk down by the river

Thursday:

Doesn’t everyone eat their cheerios in the doorway?

Clingy McClingerson

The filthiest child

Friday:

Sleepy snuggles

She wasn’t happy about the bib, but that was already her third outfit of the day

The family that slides together, ends up in a big pile of crying children together.

Saturday:

You can’t tell, but he’s crying. Because some of his Cheerios fell on the floor. Because he threw them there.

Somehow, she did not fall in.

That is not the face of a healthy child. Poor baby had fifths disease (we think) but once you get the rash you’re not contagious anymore.

I really wanted to get a picture of myself with the kids for Mother’s Day, but that didn’t happen. There were too many meltdowns, too many dirty faces, too many things to do, too many kids to wrangle. But while we were making s’mores for dinner both Evan and Caroline said THEY were having the best day ever, so at least the kids enjoyed their day. If that’s not basically what motherhood breaks down to then I don’t know what it.

I started and ended my week with beautiful photo sessions where everyone wore short sleeves. The heat in my house is still kicking on most nights but I am almost confident I can put away my winter coat. Which is good, because today starts soccer GAMES in addition to practices so we’ll be spending even more time outside…

Sunday:

My new favorite beach spot for photos

Another week, another goat

After a very full day we still managed to grocery shop thanks to a happy back wrapped baby

Monday:

OUTSIIIIIIIIIIIDE

She’s such a pro

Catching up on Scandal (ugh, why do I bother?) while editing

Tuesday:

This wrap is called Arendelle’s Meadow and I HAVE to own it (I’m just borrowing it right now)

Her happy place

Evan was complaing it was too sunny to see the iPad screen so he put my jacket over his head. Kids these days.

Wednesday:

Let me oooooouuuuuut

I had to pin him down with my foot and then pull it out of the picture really quick

Swinger

Thursday:

BEST wrap meet-up ever

Practicing

Love soccer practice because of the dirt-eating opportunities

Friday:

This face was temporary…

…because this is what he wanted

Mommy, I’m a koala!

Saturday:

BFFs

Cheese, guacamole, bacon, and chipotle sauce from The Whey Station

Perfect evening for some photos

Today we went OUT OUT OUT to enjoy the 75 degree weather and now we are all tired tired tired. We just at dinner (it’s 4 pm) and I’m counting on a 6:30 pm bedtime for everyone – probably including me. 12 hours of sleep (even interrupted sleep) sounds amazing. The only family member who isn’t tired is Linc, who is currently out on the porch screeching at anyone who walks by and shoving push-cars around. I WISH he was in here nursing to sleep in my lap – because that’s always a nice excuse to sit on the couch instead of clean stuff – but he has an endless amount of energy. I’m actually looking forward to him walking so I can wear him out more.

I’m almost a full week late with this and I feel really guilty about it. Between the big kid activities, mom friend dates and photography stuff Linc has been a little neglected. Not like, sitting in dirty diapers all day and not fed enough neglected. Just real nap schedule and therefore no happy, peaceful daylight hours at home to take pictures neglected. I think he’ll survive.

If anything is going to kill him it’s gravity. He refuses to accept that flinging himself off of things or out of my arms could end poorly and has the bumps on his head to show for it. He’s started trying to climb UP things as well, so I’m sure the bruises will get worse before they get better. I am trying very hard to be patient with him as he learns how to human but I’m looking forward to the day when he stops the flinging.

Despite this update being late he hasn’t had his 9 month check up yet so I’m not sure how big he actually is, so let’s just go with “big”. He’s at least as heavy as some of his 18 month old baby friends and almost as tall too. Thank God I’m obsessed with the baby wearing stuff – I can work out my back and core and legs without making my wrists super sore. I always forget I have such weak wrists until the baby needs to be held for an hour.

There hasn’t been a lot of sleeping through the night for the last month. Or sleeping during the day for that matter. He’s obviously hitting a ton of milestones right now so I’m not surprised…but I am tired. Co-sleeping is keeping me from being too exhausted to function but sleeping with a baby attached to you is just not the same as sleeping alone. And waking up 4 times a night is still waking up, even if it’s only long enough to roll over. My current favorite fantasy involves a huge glass of wine, some Tylenol PM and sleeping for 18 hours alone in a huge soft bed.

But waking up next to my smiley, cuddly baby is only going to happen for a little while longer so I’ll take it while I can.

Linc’s current likes include swinging, baths, cats, dogs, Caroline, Evan, tickles, being upside down, getting dirty, grass, rocks, sand, bare feet, standing, crawling, cruising, bouncing, pushing, being carried, being worn, the front porch, people who smile at him, being nosey, nursing, clawing my face, pulling my hair,

Dislikes are mommy being out of sight, mommy putting him down when he doesn’t feel like being down, mommy taking a shower, not getting nursies fast enough and falling on his head.

We will title this month’s photos: Can’t Hold Him Down

9 Month Milestones (from Caroline’s 9 month post)

Mastered Skills (most kids can do)
Stands while holding onto something – Very good at standing and has started letting go. Sometimes when I put him down I forget and just leave him standing in the middle of the room.
Jabbers or combines syllables – He definitely thinks we’re having conversations.
Understands object permanence – Ah yes, the “never pee alone” stage.

Emerging Skills (half of kids can do)
Cruises while holding onto furniture – He’s an excellent cruiser. He also uses a couple of walkers and the chairs to the kid-sized table to get places the permanent furniture doesn’t connect to.
Drinks from a sippy cup – Eh. I give him some water sometimes, he’s mostly uninterested.
Eats with fingers – He can definitely get food into his face with his hands.
Bangs objects together – I’m not actually sure I’ve seen him do that. There go my hopes he’s a prodigy on the cymbals.

Advanced Skills (a few kids can do)
Plays patty-cake and peek-a-boo – He doesn’t have that much control over his hands yet.
Says “mama” or “dada” to the correct parent – No, he still mostly refers to me with a high pitched screeching.

I am apparently allergic to everything that is blooming/growing at the moment. I ran through all the OTC drugs I had and I’m afraid to buy anything else in case the cops show up to look for my meth lab. Plus I can’t take any GOOD stuff because I’m nursing. If spring is going to kick my ass this much I would really appreciate it being warm enough to actually BE OUTSIDE.

Sunday:

Those are actually suck pads for my Tula, not elbow decorations, but don’t tell her.

I’m not exactly sure WHY Anna and Elsa were at the horse farm, but Caroline enjoyed it

Stop being a jerk, Zebra-Donkey

Monday:

He’s pleased with himself

She said she’s building a fairy house

Swim girl

Tuesday:

How does a baby who can’t dress himself lose so many shoes?

Look at the little fox with the camera!

First day of soccer

Wednesday:

I did a LOT of babywearing this week

It was not actually as warm as it looks. He just really wanted to touch the grass.

He nurses like this every time.

Thursday:

It SNOWED while we were outside

Evan switched to the U8 soccer team instead of the beginners, so we’re at soccer for 2 hours. Which is NOT FUN when it’s SNOWING.

Sight words today, learning about copyright infrigement tomorrow

Friday:

Practicing

Happy baby

Unimpressed with the outlet mall

Saturday:

Helping me with the seasonal clothing switch

Very excited about Moe’s

THIS BRUSH IS DELICIOUS

This is our second week with our new very busy schedule. I really hope the baby and my allergies let me sleep enough to survive it. I would give almost anything for 12 hours of uninterrupted sleep. It’s amazing how quickly a few bad nights catch up with you. I should in fact be sleeping right now but I was a) finishing this post and b) watching episodes of Call the Midwife I didn’t realize were new and my DVR was kindly recording for me.