Lincoln the way your eyes light up when I walk into the room, or your gaze when dad sings to you is almost more than I can take. You are becoming so animated as you interact with the world around you. I told your dad last night that you are perfectly fit for our family. I know sometimes I complain that you struggle to slow down and cuddle with me, but you remind me of what your dad and I strive for most in life... to really be living the moments you are given. Literally you legs and arms don't ever stop moving.
I love the way you want to interact with faces. One of your favorite things right now is to pull in one of your favorite faces and feel/grab cheeks, noses, hair, and give an occasional suck on the nose.
When you are finished nursing you have started to pull off every 5 to 10 seconds to look up into my eyes and smile. You will do it over and over and over. You love that I think you're hilarious so you just keep it coming.
On Sundays if we don't get you to sleep before sacrament meeting you want to stare at the people sitting behind us. You are busy smiling and cooing at everyone around us. When the sacrament is passed your gaze follows the deacons up and down the isles as they pass the sacrament.
You take a couple naps a day now, and all are on your tummy. I think it's your favorite way to sleep now. When you are calm I can just lay you down, and just pat your back till you doze off. Sometimes I'll lay beside you and you'll stare into my eyes till you start to drift off.
This past month you've mastered rolling over. You are trying so hard to crawl that sometimes you will try that for as long as your energy will allow, and when you are finished trying to scoot forward you will eventually roll yourself around. Your arms are getting so strong, and of course your legs are as strong as ever. Sometimes I prop you up against the couch and you stand there for a couple of minutes.
Your favorite toy is your ball. You've figured out how to use your feet to bring it forward to your hands. I could watch you trying to eat it for hours on end. It's adorable.
You are sleeping a little better, and on a good night we can get about 5 hours straight. You and I usually hang out every night around 3-3:30.
My favorite moments lately have been just laying on the bed with you. There are moments where you'll be content to stare into my face for over an hour. We'll blow bubbles at each other, I'll tell you stories, and you chime in as if you already know what I'm about to say. Your grin is constant. All I have to do is smile at you. I really can't get over the way your gummy smile melts my heart. If I could I would keep you this size forever.
Dad took you on the biggest slide at the park last week and you cried and cried and cried. I had to take you in my arms to calm you down. I love being your safe place. I hope to always be that for you.
You love the swings, and usually they will keep you smiling for a good 5 minutes before the back and forth begins to lull you to sleep.
We take you into the mountains a couple times a week, and you cry when we turn you away from the fire. Being outside is probably your favorite thing.
You love hair. You can't stop grabbing my hair with your hands and your toes. You love to grab onto uncle durgs beard (auburn beauty), and you will stroke grandpas arm hair over and over and give it a tug at the end of every stroke. Grandpa says it hurts, but he lets you do it anyway.
Grandma Lizzy comes to play every Tuesday with you while I work. You love bath time with grandma, and for your naps she never puts you down. She just cuddles you like crazy. You love the songs she sings you, and she always gives you cold things to help with your teething.
Great Grandma G. comes over every time she sees our car at grandmas house. She will fight anyone who comes in her way to hold you. Your great aunts love you so much, and Deanna cries almost every time she sees you because of how quickly you are growing.
Aunt Whit and Uncle Durgs started calling you linky bear. The nick name has stuck. Those two are just buying their first home, and Uncle Durgs promised a guest bedroom set up for you to have sleepovers.
Crosby held you a lot when they came to visit, and you wouldn't stop smiling at him. I can already tell you two will be friends.
Nathan and Benjamin call you baby yincoln. Most of the time you stare at them in amazement as they run around the house, but occasionally the kid noises are too much and you screech at them or throw a little tantrum because of the noise.
You gave your first high five to Jack at the beginning of the month, and he is obsessed with making sure you are okay. While at the park every time you cried he would come running wanting to hold you and make sure you were okay. He loves to ask you star wars questions and wait to hear if you coo at all for your answers.
I love to smother you in kisses. You are getting so ticklish. Your thighs are just starting to get rolls, and when I eat or squeeze those rolls your mouth opens into the biggest grin. Sometimes I tickle you too much and you give me your stare, and if I still don't stop you'll start to cry.
We love to give you little licks of popsicles, and watch your face try to figure out if you like it or not.
I love how selective you are about your smile, mainly because when you're with just me and dad you don't stop smiling. I love that you share a little bit more of that piece of yourself with us. We were beginning to wonder if you thought we were crazy with all those scowls and raised eye brows. They are still around, but most the time your eyes dance to be with just us. Being a family with you feels like magic.
I love you Lincoln. I can't believe the way time is flying, and in the same moment it feels like I've always known you. Thank you for letting me be your mom. Spending my days with you makes me happier than I've ever been.
