Buds

As much as I would like to go into my sons' room right now and clobber both of them, I won't. It is nap time and they are supposed to be laying quietly in their beds falling asleep. Instead, (as I watch and listen via video baby monitor) they are having back and forth screaming sessions and then giggling hysterically until they quite literally fall over--Henry at least will lose his footing while holding on his crib rails and peeking over watching Lincoln. They have been becoming greater and greater buds over the last couple of weeks. It is so fun to see the dynamic of the two of them while Avery is away at school. With "issay" gone, Lincoln takes on the older sibling role, helping Henry out, bringing him toys and including him in our games. When school is out and Ave is home, Lincoln again becomes her buddy and only has a little space for Henry. The differences in how they all interact are awesome....how will we ever stop having kids? :)

Henry....
he is so grown up, so big, I can't believe that before I know it this first year of being a baby will be over! He crawls to, pulls up, climbs, cruises and tries letting go and staying standing on EVERYTHING. He can now get himself into a standing position from something as low to the ground as a book! All this growing independence has caused a lot of bumps and bruises lately and it is such a hard line as his mommy to know when to protect him and when he needs to learn and practice all of his growing skills. Still, hate to see those bumps on the forhead, and bruises on the knees :(

he has also developed a nickname...we planned on calling him his whole name, Henry, and possibly Hank as he grew and we got to know him, but that is not the names that stuck. Granted we do still use Henry a lot, but more times we just say Hen. Not a nickname he will love as a growing boy, but to us, his family he is our little Hen.

bath toys...just as much fun outside of the bath as they are inside!!

 

 my little thumb sucker...you are SO cute!

 

 here's the tooth update...the front two are started to come in better and take away that crazy vampire grin that Henry's had for the past month

 

 an early birthday present...is it for Lincoln or Daddy?

 

they both LOVE racing cars, can't believe my Lincy is going to be 3 years old in just 1 1/2 weeks!

Henry clapping

pumpkin carving, take one

we took the big kids out last night to "carve" pumpkins. they each got to pick out a carving kit from Target and we hollowed out the insides, scraped out all the guts and decorated our pumpkins...I'm doing Henry's today, its a dinosaur. we all had lots of fun, but were freezing! I guess I always feel like it needs to be chilly outside for pumpkin carving, but we definitely were ready to come inside at the end!

we have yet to carve our real pumpkins for the season...so more to come with spookier designs (Kevin is obsessed with carving pumpkins so we always have to do ones the kids can help with and a couple that only daddy can touch!!)

More fall fun

we raked up our first giant pile of leaves this season...we have MUCH better trees for leaf jumping at this house...in OP our big tree was a walnut which loses its leaves in small groups on branches and of course drops a million walnuts. Happy Fall!

 "bury me Lincoln and I'll jump out and surprise you"

Henry didn't participate in the leaf pile (he was already asleep for the night), but he has his own new fun game that he has been playing A LOT lately...pull the books off the shelf anyone?

who me? yeah I did it!

 

***in the shower last night Avery and Lincoln started holding hands and dancing together and this is how the conversation went...

"Mom, I think I'm going to marry Lincoln"

"Issay, I be the prince and you be the princess...(singing) I know you I walked with you once upon a dream"

"Now we kiss bud and you give me my diamond ring"

"okay, I love you issay"

"I love you too buddy"

needless to say I almost started crying, so priceless!

Pumpkin Party and Parade

This morning at Lincoln's school he and the other kids got to participate in a Halloween parade. They all wore their costumes to school, marched around the gym in a parade and then sang a few songs...too cute! After that they had some games and a "haunted" maze set up in the fellowship hall followed by treats and a party in their classroom. It was SO much fun! His teachers pulled me aside and said that they truly LOVE to have Lincoln in class and wish they could have 10 more just like him...SO PROUD!

 There's Batman walking in the parade with Daddy!

 getting ready to sing his songs...he did great!

 all the kids together...toddler class, preschool (3s) and pre-k (4s)

 haunted house, complete with pumpkin lights, spooky spiders, and a bubble machine (the flash of the camera ruined the effect, but it was really dark inside)

 the game room, there were 7 or 8 stations with games they could play and win more treats!

 cheese!

 of course Henry got in on the action...

eating snacks with friends...we were the last ones to leave as Lincoln felt it necissary to finish every bite of every treat he was given (no lunch today mom!)

fall is definitely here

we have some truly beautiful views from our home, and fall has finally arrived!

 some fall decorations...love having a front porch

 so fun to have trees and open space all around us

 our beautiful new grass! it's growing so well

 

our SUPER spooky Halloween window decoration! you should see her at night

 



Avery has been working really hard in Kindergarten and is doing a super job! She had her first progress report and her teacher only had wonderful things to say about her...and of course talked a lot about her reading :) here is a paper she brought home today...her handwriting is better than mine!

Henry with his Great-Grandma...80 years and 8 months...quite the age gap!

Henry's 8 months old

Can't believe he's 8 months already...
still working on pulling up on everything and trying to practiice walking with anyone willing to hold his hands
can clap
has 6 teeth (those notoriously missing front top two are coming in!)
needs a hair cut
LOVES to eat big people food at the table...especially likes anything he can pick up and "chew"
LOVES to be outside
Avery can get him to laugh harder than anyone else
definitely a momma's boy :)
18 1/2 lbs
28 inches
size 12-18 month clothes

 yes, my hair is still redder than ever!