Lincoln's First Christmas

It was exactly 17 weeks ago today that Lincoln was born.  I still think of him in weeks old even though everyone counts months at this point.  In only a few short days he will officially be 4 months old.  It seems like just yesterday we brought Lincoln home and our life began as a family.  All Christmas season we've been getting cards for "The Schultz Family".  I've been tempted to write "Return to Sender" a few times! 

We were looking forward to Lincoln's first Christmas all the while knowing it would probably be much more exciting for us and everyone else than for him.  We love Christmas and seeing our families and sharing in our traditions, but by last night, poor Lincoln was whipped!  After two days off his routine, I think he was happy to have a day at home.

We always spend Christmas Eve with Kirk's family.  The day is always full of fun, food and a lot of gift opening.  Kirk's nieces and nephew went wild and crazy opening gifts and throwing wrapping paper everywhere!  They are at a fun age and it makes the holiday that much more special to experience Christmas through a child's eyes.  (From L to R: Sophia, Noah, Linc and Olivia.)

Noah, Olivia and Sophia all love Lincoln.  In fact, the first thing Noah said to me when they walked in the door was "where's Linc?"  Lincoln did really well and got his fair share of gifts.

On Christmas, we made the trip to Grand Rapids to spend the day with my family.  We were a little worried about the weather, but Mother Nature held out for us and the trip was just fine.  Lincoln did so well and was in a great mood when we got there, but by the end of the day, I think all the excitement of the two days caught up to him and his was miserable!  Poor thing.

Lincoln, again, made out like a bandit!  And he got on some major bonding time with his cousins.  Quin played so well with Lincoln and the babies were in good spirits.  Easton and Lincoln even managed a little play time together.  It didn't last long, but we were able to catch a picture.

I love seeing my family, holiday or no holiday.  This Christmas was much different for my family than last year.  Last year, Joelee was in the hospital on bedrest.  It was great to have everyone together again.  Hard to believe that a year ago there was only one little one there at the family Christmas. This year there were 5!  (From L to R: Ellery, Joelee, Easton and Gianna...sorry, Jo, it's the only picture with all three babies!)

Santa did make a quick trip to our house.  He only left Lincoln with a couple small gifts.  Linc had a great time playing with his new toys, but it wasn't long before he had had enough.

A year ago, we didn't even know we were pregnant.  Here we are one year later celebrating one of life's greatest gifts.  Each Christmas with Lincoln will only get more and more special.  I can't wait until the day he's waking us up at 5 a.m. telling us Santa Claus has been here!

Happy Holidays everyone!

A Weekend of Firsts

What an eventful weekend around our house!  It was a weekend of first for Lincoln.  I know there will be many firsts along the way, but he was a busy little bee this weekend!

On two seperate occasions, Lincoln has rolled over from his back to his stomach.  The first when he was only a couple weeks old (I consider it a fluke!) and the second time a couple weeks ago when he was mad while I was changing his diaper.  On Friday, with Kirk and I cheering him on, he rolled from his stomach to his back.  He hasn't stopped since! 

He also has discovered his thumb.  We've busted him on several occasions with his thumb in his mouth.  The ladies at day care said it seemed he was really trying to find it one day last week.  Sure enough: yesterday morning Kirk went to check on him while he was napping and there he was sucking his thumb.  Kirk was finally able to capture a picture tonight.

There are always fun little events happening around Howell.  Yesterday, "Charles Dickens Christmas" was going on all day downtown (or "uptown" as the locals call it).  Linc had his first meeting with Santa Claus.  We were excited, but it was totally uneventful!  I guess he's a little too young to be afraid him yet.  I'm sure next year will be a different story.  (Note Santa's nice backdrop.  Nothing says the North Pole like a fake tree with lights on it and cubicals!)

Oh, and the laughs he gave us this weekend!  There is nothing sweeter than the sound of a baby's laugh.  It's not the belly laugh we're waiting for but he's laughing more.  I can't wait until he has that first real belly laugh. 

Did I mention he also his first little cold?  And he's managed to give it to Kirk and I!  He's actually had it since last weekend but he has the saddest little cough now.  Kirk says he doesn't think he got it from day care because he was sick by his third day there.  He seems to be getting better while Kirk and I are getting worse.  Better now than later, I suppose.  Oh well...

Kirk and I can't help but to say to each other almost everyday: "what do you think next year will be like?"  It's gonna be a riot!  Can't wait to have a little toddler running around here!

Hope you all are enjoying this holiday season.  Thanks for checking in with our little family!

'Tis the Season!

We had a really good first week at daycare.  The ladies at daycare love Lincoln and cannot believe how mellow and laid back he is.  They are amazed at how well he adjusted to his new surroundings.  I'm so happy he seems to be doing well and the ladies can't get enough of him.  I love that each day brings something new.  Everyday he smiles a little more, giggles a little more and recognizes us a little more.  I love it.

I loved bringing the Christmas tree home when  I was growing up and putting on the ornaments.  One year, we walked to the lot up the street and dragged the tree home.  There may have been some caroling involved, if I'm not mistaken.  Jo?  Nate?  Mom?  Pop?  Anyone remember?  We always had the best tree and Mom always has had the greatest ornaments.  I find myself looking for a new Christmas ornament everytime we travel to a new place.  I love the non-traditional ones.  

The past couple of years we have gone to a local tree farm to cut down our Christmas tree. I think it'll be a great tradition and something fun to do with Lincoln each year. The last couple years we've gone to get our tree it's been a snowy mess.  It was weird walking around and not trapsing through a foot of snow!  We weeded through lots of trees before finding the perfect one.  I'm so happy we were able to get the lights up and decorate the tree this evening.  It's the perfect little tree.  I'm looking forward to smelling pine for the next month.  No holiday smells as good as Christmas.  Love it.

We hope you all are enjoying this holiday season as much as we are here with our new addition.  I'm looking forward to the Christmas when Lincoln will understand this magical time of year. 

We survived!

And by "we" I actually mean Kirk and I. Lincoln, of course, was fine. It was Kirk and I who had a hard time today.

I knew it'd be hard dropping Linc off at daycare, but I didn't think I'd be crying so hard when I got there I wouldn't be able to see the monitor to check him in! The whole dropping off business didn't even seem to phase Lincoln. He fell asleep in his car seat on the way there and was completely calm with everything.

I only checked in on him once...I didn't want to be the OCD mom who is obsessed with her baby! Kirk and I picked Linc up a little early and he was happy to see us. Susan, his teacher, told us he did great. He didn't do a ton of sleeping being that it was a new place and there were screaming babies, but they couldn't say enough great things about how laid back he is and how happy they are to have him.

Thank you, everyone, for being so supportive! I know it'll get easier.

As for me, I'm back into the swing of things at work. I was happy to only work 3 days last week. This will be my first full week back. I wish all my work weeks were 3 days! It'd make Monday mornings so much easier!

It's hard to believe there are only 24 more days until Christmas!! I know the days will fly, as they always do. I should probably start shopping! We're going to get our tree this weekend. Having a baby will bring along a bit of a challenge as we chop down a tree! We've had an adventure every year (ok, by every year I mean the past 2 years) so I can't wait to see what adventure awaits us at the tree farm this year. I'm sure there will be pictures. Lots of pictures. :)