Once again I DID a lot more stuff than my photos show. When I have my big girl camera with me I have a hard time remembering to use my phone to also take photos so you get a lot of babywearing selfies in this post.

Sunday:

When you are a grumpy mess by 7 am, you get to hold your blankie even when you’re wrapped

Monkey see, monkey do

Caroline looks like she’s about to fly right off that swing

Monday:

Airplane watching

He rode the whole way in the stroller, but is too tired to walk 10 steps to the car

They have a case of the Monday’s

Tuesday:

That’s a really brave fishing spot

Little boy in the big woods

He really, really loves my wallet?

Wednesday:

His first time ever in the mall playground, poor deprived child

WATCH OUT IT’S A BOUNTY HUNTER

We’ve been eating a lot of pasta salad

Thursday:

He’s not a huge selfie fan

STILL NOT A FAN

Sqeeeeeezing out one more beach day

Friday:

He loves traffic

Editing is fun again, because I get to do it kid-free during nap time

AND I can edit while watching EXCELLENT MOVIES

Saturday:

He kept trying to play peek-a-boo behind the chain link.

OH GOODY WE’RE DOING SOCCER AGAIN

She wouldn’t even let me wash it off before bed

This week is our first full week with EVERYTHING: Judo, ballet, swim and soccer. It’s good and bad. I like keeping the kids really busy even in after-school hours because if they’re doing an activity then they’re not staring at the ipad or the tv. But when they get really tired they’re walking time bombs of tears and disappointment. We’re still working on the balance, especially because our weekends have also been really full. Maybe once the weather isn’t so fantastic we’ll stay inside and all take naps on Saturdays.

This week Lincoln turned 1 and I started freaking out because summer feels almost over.

Sunday:

Target is easier when you can tie one kid to your back and bribe the other two with Icees.

All the kids love the Boppy

Lake Baby

Monday:

Sunflowers for Wishes is beauitful

Caroline dressed up for our wagon ride

I made the mistake of asking them to take a nice picture.

Tuesday:

Party planning

We have a LOT of clicky things from Wendy’s kids’ meals now.

This might have been the last time he napped nicely.

Wednesday:

If you look closely you can see my baby playing with his new 7 year old BFF.

Baby’s first deli cheese

It turns out clean and shopping is pretty good exercise

Thursday:

OK, I’M ONE NOW, I’M GOING SWIMMING

Birthday’s are exhausting

Bumpa will read you alllllll the books

Friday:

The bones of The Australia at Mystic Seaport

Figureheads

Using my camera to check and see if Linc is asleep yet. NOPE.

Saturday:

I’m proud that all my party guests noticed my sling matched the decor

He had a really good day

He has sad eyes because he tried to eat the lit candle, but eating an entire mini-cake cheered him up.

Linc’s first birthday party is over and it was SUCH a success. We were completely done and ready for our guests before they arrived (this never happens) and I got to relax and drink champagne while the kids screamed their heads off on the bounce house. My parents and E’s parents were both here which meant we had TWO grown ups per child – not to mention all the dads that Linc conned into picking him up and carrying him around. He’s really good with dads.

We’ve got some vacation coming up and I cannot waaaaaait. But first I have to get all those party photos sorted and posted, or they’ll end up in the file with the rest of this month’s fun activities and no one will ever see them. What good is a cool party theme without a blog post?!

So, I’m not actually sure how this happened. I was totally fine with Lincoln being 10 months old. I love 10 months. 10 month olds are still babies, but they’re interactive babies who can express love and make you realize that all your hard work is totally worth it because you’re keeping this tiny baby alive.

But 11 MONTHS is basically a toddler. I didn’t ask for a toddler. He insists on toddling almost all the time now. He toddles even in PUBLIC, which means it’s only a matter of time before he isn’t on board with all my babywearing. Don’t tell him that’s an option though, he has no idea.

At 11 months old, Linc likes to take 2 naps a day – one short one in my lap/in the car/wrapped in the morning and one long one in his crib in the afternoon. Because he has two siblings who hve schedules and friends and plans those naps don’t always happen when and where he would like. Maybe 2 days out of 7 he gets his ideal naps. Most of the time a few short naps or an extra car nap will hold him over until he can just hang out on the couch with me and relax. And by relax I mean nurse, because he has suddenly decided that is his favorite thing in the whole world. I was starting to maybe sort of kind of think about trying to night wean him right around his first birthday, but I’m pretty sure that would be too much of a nightmare for all of us. I want to get MORE sleep, not less.

At his 9 month check-up (which happened at about 10 1/2 months), Linc was 22 lbs 3 oz, 29 inches tall and his head is 48.8 cm around. I bought him a pair of real shoes finally, in a size 5.5 (he hates them, but they fit). He’s wearing mostly 12-18 month clothes, although really his drawers have stuff from 9 months – 24 months and most of it fits…fine? Baby clothes are weird.

Likes include mama, daddy, anyone who smiles at him, screeching, waving his arms, shouting, grabbing things, flinging himself backwards, walking, climbing, the cat, the dog, music, tickles, the water, being worn, necklaces, pulling my hair, brother, sissy, yogurt raisins, Cheerios, and eating things off the floor.

Dislikes include the shower, being tired, the word NO, and not getting exactly what he wants immediately.

^^^^DO YOU SEE THIS? He’s trying to climb out of the crib. Good thing he hardly ever sleeps in it.

11 Month Milestones (from Caroline’s 11 month post, please also see Evan’s 11 month post here)

Mastered Skills (most kids can do)
Says “mama” or “dada” to the correct parent – E still thinks he says Dada. Mostly he says “Do!” to the dog or “Dat!” for “That!” when he points. Still no mama.
Plays patty-cake and peek-a-boo – Pretty good at peek-a-boo with a blanket
Stands alone for a couple of seconds – Walks.
Cruises – Walks.

Emerging Skills (half of kids can do)
Understands “no” and simple instructions – Understands no, does not obey no.
Puts objects into a container – Yyyyyyyyyes? Not when I TELL him to, but he can.

Advanced Skills (a few kids can do)
Says one word besides “mama” or “dada” – Do and Dat, if those count.
Stoops from standing position – Walks. Squats. Leans. Climbs.

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.