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Friday, December 31, 2010

And there will be... JOY.

It's 9:31, and therefore on the East Coast they've already rung in the new year and have delved into 2011. Their futures. This new year's is hitting me hard and making me reflect. This past year was what Ritchie and I call a "transitional" year. It was great, sure. But not much happened. We lived, we loved and what more can you ask for, really? Ritchie moved jobs (but that happens like every other month, so what's new - haha!) but it wasn't the move his soul had been searching for. Max grew and learned and became so... BIG. I continued my journey of being a stay at home mom, for better or worse. But, there wasn't a significant happening this year. But, oh, in 2011 you better believe there will be.

Let me start off by doing a quicky recap of our Christmas. It blew. Ritchie and I both got the flu about 16 hours apart from one another on Christmas day and Max was just too young to get the whole sit down and open presents thing. He was much more interested in the dog's new toys. Oh well, what are you going to do? Some years will go like that I suppose. Christmas eve was nice. We had family and love and laughter so I will always remember that on the crappy Christmas of the flu, at least there was a wonderful Christmas eve and preceded it.
And the holiday season was wonderful for many, many reasons, but mostly because the whole Lincoln family got the best early Christmas gift we could have ever received.
That's right! I'm hesitant to blog openly about it since I'm only 8 weeks this Sunday but it's what I'm feeling so I'm going with it. If the worst happens and we lose this little life inside I'm sure I'll need love and support through blogging anyway. So, for now, I'm just happy in my pregnant state. Happy and scared and feeling a bit rocked to my core sometimes with the whole idea of parenting children. Because as much as I love Max, he's not easy to raise. He takes work and commitment and endless love and patience. Will I have it in me to stretch all of that out to another whole human being? I'm sure. But, I would be lying if I said I wasn't scared. Scared, and effing HUGE. Who knew you got SO big, so fast with your second? It takes courage, my friends, to post this next picture as you can see I am not only braless (and low hanging thanks to 14 months of breastfeeding) but also mighty large for the ripe old 7 weeks 5 days that I am pregnant. Let's just all send singleton thoughts out into the universe for me, okay? If I have twins, I don't think I'll ever recover.
So, yes. As we enter this new year there are many changes ahead. Challenges that will push me to evolve into this stronger, more patient mother and wife. In addition to being pregnant (and exhausted!!), Ritchie begins a new job on Monday. A job that he is excited about and that will require things from him that he hasn't had to give before. Time away from us being one of them. I will be challenged to be supportive of this because I know he needs this. Not just for his career, but for his own personal satisfaction and growth. I will need to run the household and mother often without help and find satisfaction in that.

As much as I wouldn't trade staying home with Max, it's hard. It can be lonely and boring and frustrating. I will dig deep and find renewed love for being home all day and watching Max grow into this incredible little being that he is fast becoming. I will take joy in quiet time with my boy because I know that all too soon, our moments alone will be gone. Our days of just us will be a thing of the past as we welcome in his brother or sister and learn to fill our days just the three of us. So I will revel in this time with him and in being home and I will be happy for Ritchie and hope that he finds fulfillment in his job. Because this is our journey. And I'm out to enjoy it, difficult or not.

Max rung in the new year with his favorite meal of spaghetti and made quite a mess at the restaurant. We actually had to strip him down in the restroom and change his shirt afterwards. But, it was worth it to see this face.

We've enjoyed having Ritchie home SO much this week and I'm feeling a bit depressed at the thought of him being gone again next week. But, like I said, being positive and soaking it UP! We went to Monterey and took our boy to the aquarium. It was packed and he was tired so it wasn't the best experience ever, but it was wonderful to get away for a day and enjoy the sea-kissed air.
I hope that you are all enjoying your new year's eve and, of course, being safe. I'm not sure how much safer you can get than indoors blogging and eating frozen grapes so you don't have to worry about us Lincolns :) We do new year's up right! Have a glass of champagne for me tonight and cheers to all my dear friends and their families. May next year bring us all joy.

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Ritchie-isms

Ritchie is always saying the funniest things. Wonderful nuggets of wisdom to teach Maxton, justifications for why he does the things he does, and many other humorous anecdotes. I'm going to start keeping track of them for your blogging pleasure.

While trying to make armpit farting noises and failing miserably Ritchie proclaims, "Hmm... I must be too muscular now."


Sunday, November 28, 2010

The Kickoff to the Holiday Season!

The weekend after Thanksgiving always marks the kickoff to the holiday season. We celebrate this kickoff with our annual Christmas tree cutting event. This is a favorite in our household.

Andrew donning a festive hat for the activities.
Soon all the boys joined in the hat fun.
Papa, those aren't for playing with.
It was such a gorgeous day. A bit chilly (which we enjoyed), but perfectly clear skies and sunny. Soon after arriving (and after a bit of goofing around - which you saw in the above pictures) we began the hunt for the perfect tree.

Of course we stopped for a few pictures in a gorgeous little clearing.
Then we scouted out and found the perfect little Charlie Brown tree. Our own Lincoln tradition.
Ritchie's a skilled lumberjack.
Max was very excited about having found the perfect tree.
Very, very excited.
The whole gang enjoying a final picture before going home to dress
the tree with twinkling lights and sacred ornaments.

It was, as always, a fabulous kickoff.

A Peek Inside

I was going to do a Thankful post. And while I'm SO truly thankful this year for many, many things I'm feeling the need to just blurt out what's going on in this head of mine instead. So, here goes... (randomly and in no particular order)

  • How did I go 28 (almost 29) years without Hummus? It's seriously the most delicious thing I've ever had in my entire life.
  • It's so damn cold!! Brrrr
  • How on Earth am I going to crochet 11 more hats and potentially 2 scarves in just over 25 days?
  • I hope Ritchie gets this job, I hope Ritchie gets this job...
  • (may sound mean here) I am so happy that our roommate is moving out. We love him dearly as a friend, but I'm thrilled to have the space, the storage, and to not have to worry about Max being woken up from his nap anymore.
  • I've got to start being nicer to Gracie... poor pup has been cast aside.
  • Max must be the cutest kid on the planet. He's simply amazing.
  • I hope all of those teeth cut through soon so he stops being so fussy.
  • How do I raise a child to be confident, considerate, and grounded without religion? Must read to find out...
  • I want at least 50 presents under our tree this year. Why this is important to me is something I also must search into. But, for now, I guess I better get crocheting.
  • So excited to cleanse my body of chemicals and artificial ingredients in January. I need that.
  • I love love love my house sometimes. I don't particularly enjoy the ever circulating infestation of rodents and insects, but we're getting that under control.
  • Can't wait to plant a vegetable/herb garden in our backyard this spring.
  • Baby fever is in full effect for us here in the Lincoln house. I blame anyone on FB who has recently had a child and posted pictures of them. Darn you and your precious babies who make my uterus ache.
  • I need to figure out a way to stop spending money. Like, NOW.
  • Ritchie and I will have been together for 8 years on Friday. Feels like it's been so much longer in some ways and yet I also can't believe it's already been 8 years. I love this man with every fiber of my being. Don't know how I got so lucky.
  • Speaking of how not to spend money, I need to grocery shop for game night tonight.
  • I hate how far away my friends live. I hate that I don't have close friends here.
  • I wish I were a more outgoing/likeable person. Maybe then I'd have close friends here?
  • What kind of Christmas cookies should I make this year? Really, they are all so delicious.
  • I want to see that Paul Rudd, Reese Witherspoon, Jack Nicholson, Owen Wilson movie so badly!
  • My 30th birthday will be fabulous. I know, I know - it's a year away. What kind of self absorbed person plans their birthday over a year in advance?
  • We must begin rolling our coins from our Christmas jar so we can go shop for the tots! It's beginning to be one of my favorite Holiday traditions. It feels good to give.
  • I hope Max takes a good long nap today.
  • I hope I won one of the Silhoutte machines out of the three I entered to win.
  • I love all of my family. I'm a lucky girl and I hope they know how much I love them.
Whew! Okay, I think that's it. I also think I hear Max waking from a not-so-long nap. Oh well, you can't win em' all.

Thursday, November 25, 2010

A Day of Thanks in Pictures

Today was everything that Thanksgiving should be. Words fail me right now as I'm in my tryptophan turkey coma. I'll leave you with some pictures that capture our beautiful day and a brief captions because that's all I can manage tonight. I'll be back tomorrow with a more detailed summary of my many thanks as well as pictures from Christmas tree cutting!!

My day started with a heavenly dutch baby. Yummm.
We bundled up and headed to the park for a long walk and some play time.
Someone's got some new kicks!
The trail was just breathtaking today. We are so lucky to have this right down the street. Oh, and who says California doesn't have seasons? Hello, gorgeous fall colors!

A hilarious series of Maxton enjoying his favorite activity at the park, the slide.





At the end he just lies there like a slug, like he's so overwhelmed
by the fun that he just can't move.

Another series that shows off someone's newest skill ;)







Yup, he's mastered getting up all by himself!
Grandma Rieger and Uncle Andrew cooking away in the kitchen.

Max all gussied up playing happily.

Gracie taking a turkey day snooze.











Happy Thanksgiving from the Lincolns!
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