The frustrations of cup stacking

Aunt Ali gave Lincoln stacking cups for his First Birthday. He loves them. They’re one of his favorite toys and can keep him occupied for impressive time-spans. However lately I’ve started building towers for him and while he loves the final product he hates it when they fall over or when he can’t balance the top cup on top. He gets really frustrated and the following is the result. It kinda freaked me out the first time…but now I just think it’s pretty cute.

Focused, concentrating, building the tower.

So happy and proud of himself when it’s complete.

But when the tower falls….watch out. Lincoln gets very upset.

Lake Erie

Last Saturday several families from the ward were headed up to Lake Erie for the day and so we decided to join them. It was a long drive but Lincoln did awesome in the car (slept the whole way up and watched movies of himself the whole way back) and we had a good time with everyone once we got there. We’ve already meet so many cool, fun people and feel really lucky.

And he’s just cute in this picture.

Water Baby

The Boy loves to swim. Maybe he’ll be a swimmer. I so miss having easy access to nice pools. We’ve been checking out the local public pools to try and combat the heat and because it’s one of Lincoln’s favorite things to do. Yesterday we found one that was alright. I guess I’ve been spoiled in the past. I’m not used to having to pay every time, sit on on the cement (no lawn chairs) and feel afraid to use the bathrooms. It was so fun in C-ville to have a nice pool right outside our apartment.

What else occupies our time? Practicing walking and throwing balls.

Yikes, Less than a month!

Wow…the final days are approaching before baby Harris #2 arrives.  Words cannot express how completely different things have been this time around.  Lincoln’s pregnancy dragged and seemed like an eternity.  I had a count-down started on my calendar over a hundred days before my due date.  This one has come and gone in the blink of an eye -  understandably so given the two opposite pregnancy circumstances.  With Lincoln I’d been trying to get pregnant and stay pregnant for years.  This time it was a surprise after having a baby 3 months earlier and still recovering and adjusting to that.  Since then I’ve had Lincoln occupying me this whole pregnancy, so I’ve hardly given Baby 2 a second thought.  Do I feel guilty about this?  Yes.  Although I feel like this is normal.  Baby 2 is getting the short end of the stick in a lot of ways.  He’ll be in a pack and play rather than a lush crib like Lincoln.  His room’s smaller and not nearly as decorated.  He’ll have to share my attention with Lincoln.  The list goes on and on.  However, I am the second child in my family, but I still feel loved and think I turned out alright, so I’m not too worried about it.  I know I’ll love him just as much and he’ll have a big brother to entertain him everyday.  That’s something Lincoln hasn’t had this year.

Do I feel ready?  Materials wise…yes, just need to buy diapers and get out the newborn clothes.  Mentally, physically, emotionally?  Not-so-much.  I’m pretty nervous about the whole thing.  Lincoln’s quite demanding – he doesn’t even walk yet and won’t hold his own bottle - and Ryan’s very busy.  I was pretty much a stress case the first few months with Lincoln and was at home with the help of my mom and family until he was 3 months old.  I’m petrified of nursing and of getting mastitis from hell again. I don’t even really want to try it but feel like I should.  These are my feelings.  Do I feel guilty for not being over the moon excited like I was with Lincoln?  Yes.  Am I grateful that I at least I am having another successful pregnancy because for the longest time that’s all I wished and prayed for?  Yes.   

Another example of the differences in pregnancies…documentation.  With Lincoln I had my sister take a ton of maternity pictures of me about half way through my pregnancy and then my good friend Emily take

these more professional pictures the week of my delivery.  And I had monthly pics my husband would snap of my growing belly.  This pregnancy…..zero pictures!  I’m really fine with it and over the whole pregnant picture thing, but for those of you who have been asking for it and in an attempt to be somewhat fair to baby #2 (not that I really think he’ll care. Do any of you care if you do or don’t have pictures of your mom when she was pregnant with you?) here I am….37 weeks along.

Holy Heat!

I honestly don’t know how the pioneers did it.  I’m about to complain about the insane heat wave that took over Pittsburgh and how awful it’s been making life, yet I have a semi-adequate window unit air conditioner, and I don’t have to wear dresses and petty-coats all day.  I would have died.  I would have wished death upon myself.  I’m so glad I live now and not then. 

It’s been hot.  Really hot.  Back in the day in high school and college this would have been fine.  I would have loved going to the pool and lake all day everyday.  But when your nine months pregnant, have a one-year old who you constantly worry is becoming dehydrated and sunburned, and have no pool it’s just pretty much miserable . 

For this reason we haven’t gone out much during the day, however the other day we did attempt a walk with a new friend down-town on the boardwalk by the river.  It was a beautiful walk, but oh the heat.  Poor Lincoln.  I felt like an abusive parent.  I kept squirting him with water and making him drink, yet by the end of the walk this was the result….hot, sweaty, tired and adorable.

I know I’ll be kicking myself when winter comes and wish it was summer.  I just want a happy medium.  70 degrees would be nice for a little while.  At least I’m not a pioneer.

Lincoln’s Favorite Things

If only we could all find such joy in the things that Lincoln does.  What would life be like if all you had to do to be blissfully happy was….

Take baths

 

Practice walking

     

Throw Balls

 

Swing

And of course, watch movies of yourself…which I don’t have a picture of but is probably the thing that brings him the most joy in life.  These are the things that make him blissfully happy.  He is the thing that makes me blissfully happy.

I can't believe my little baby is one year old! Man has the past year flown by. Is this how they will all be? Over before I know it? It has been so fun watching him transform before my eyes the past 12 months. Good thing I get to start all over with a new little baby boy in six weeks! (I'm actually petrified for the new baby to come...Lincoln can't even walk yet!)

Lincoln had two little celebrations for his birthday. The first one was in Utah 3 days before his birthday with a whole lot of his cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents and great-grandparents....but unfortunately not his Dad. His second party was yesterday on his actual Birthday with Ryan, me, and Wendy, grandma and Anderson via web cam.

Pittsburgh Party

He got "scout" the talking dog from Aunt Wendy, and sports center from me and Ryan.

I think he is a little afraid of Fire. He didn't quit know what to think.

Utah Party

Lincoln's great grandma Jean shares a birthday with him and turns 80 this year! She is awesome and you'd never guess that was her age. She acts and seems more like 50 or 60. We made her a 80 cake too.

A bunch of Lincoln's cousins on the Harris side made it to the celebration!

It was great to see some of my sister-in-laws Liz and Cherie. We rarely see them so it was really fun that they were there.

The Birthday boy with his beloved Balls. The kid loves nothing more. Okay maybe he loves Baths and watching movies of himself just as much. I love you Birthday Boy!!

The other highlight of my trip to Utah was meeting this little lady!

She's my new niece Hannah! Ali had her back in May and it was so fun to hold and love her in person. Yay Ali, she's so perfect!