Cousin Day and Phoenix's Birthday Party - March 10, 2012

Today was a busy, fun day for us.  First we had a cousin day.  Emma and Aspen came over for the morning.  This is Emma giving Lincoln a shoulder-ride; until Lincoln pulled her hair.

We painted pictures and painted birthday greetings for Opa.  We even took a special picture of the three Utah cousins to send along in his birthday card. Emma (9), Lincoln (6 mo) and Aspen (6).

Then we walked to the store to pick up the print of Opa's special picture (the girls took turns pushing Lincoln's stroller) and then to the Post Office.  This wagon is on Holladay Boulevard along our route.

There was a Grand Opening at a pharmacy on Holladay Boulevard, so after we sent off our mail, we met James and Uncle Clay and Aunt Kristen at the pharmacy for the free lunch. Mmmm BBQ meatballs and croissant sandwiches.

In the evening, we went to Phoenix's First Birthday Party!

Gage (4 mo), Uncle Glen and Lincoln (6 mo). 

Grandma-Great, Granddad-Great, Lincoln and a plastic cup.  (Notice Erin in the background?)

Another picture of Lincoln and his Grandma-Great.  LOVE this one!

A picture with the birthday boy: Jessi and Lincoln, Chad and Phoenix. (Notice JB and Erin's boys: Kyan and Brayden in the background?)  Happy Birthday Phoenix!

This was a rock-n-roll themed birthday party and Kelley organized a talent show.  Erin and her three boys (wish I'd gotten a group picture instead of just catching them in the background, oh well.) were all dressed up and did a lipsync. So fun!

James and Lincoln were one of the first acts to perform.  They did AMAZING BABY TRICKS!!! for Lincoln's first ever stage performance.  I took a video of it, but I was standing in the wrong spot....

So I had James and Lincoln do an impromptu encore performance and the video is much better!

Kelley LOVES to take photos, so I snagged a couple of good ones from her. Great Party Kelley!

James, Lincoln and Jessi McCalvy

Lincoln with Aunt Karen and Uncle Sal.  They bicker over who gets to hold Lincoln.  I needed to do something that required two hands, so I took Lincoln over to Uncle Sal.  But before I could hand Linc over, Aunt Karen just snatched him up.  Better luck next time Uncle Sal!

Happy Birthday Phoenix!

6 months old today! March 9, 2012

WARNING *** CUTE BABY *** CUTENESS OVERLOAD *** THE URGE TO KISS HIS CHEEKS MAY BE OVERWHELMING *** WARNING

Videos of the Little Bandito - March 3, 2012

Lincoln is beginning to be very aware of our phones.  He'll be laughing and cute and then he'll hear the recording start and Linc will turn to look for the camera.  No more laughing.  Here's a couple of examples:
Feb 16, 2012 (:20) Playing peek-a-boo with James (5 months)

Feb 23, 2012 (:32) Sitting on couch, distracted by camera (5 months)

Feb 27, 2012 (:29) Flying (5 months) - in this video, Lincoln does a classic "Bounce McCalvy" move.  Right at the beginning, he is lying on the bed.  James gives Lincoln his thumbs and helps him stand up.  As soon as Linc gets upright, he lets go of James' hands and sort of flings his arms out to the sides. He expects (and gets) James to grab him under the armpits and help Lincoln bounce and fly.

Sometimes, we can sneak the camera in and get the action without distracting the baby.  Here are some great noises!
Feb 16, 2012 (:45) Peek-a-boo with James (5 months)

Feb 24, 2012 (:26) Helping Mommy do crunches (5 months)

March 3, 2012 (1:02) Lincoln in the exersaucer and laughing at James (5 months)

Sometimes James and Lincoln "wrestle"
Feb 16, 2012 (:26) Wrestling / "Pinned Ya!" (5 months)

A new noise that Lincoln is making is "Maaaa, mummmm, mum, mam, mammmm" etc.  I caught it on camera!
March 3, 2012 (1:16) Who loves you? (5 months)

5-months-old is so adorable!

Sitting Up - February 28, 2012

2/13/12 Video (:39) of a 5-month-old sitting by himself:

2/15/12 Lincoln is practicing sitting up in the corner of the couch.

2/18/12 He's helping Mommy do laundry while sitting in the orange chair.

VIDEOS - 2/27/12
(:16) How a 5 1/2 month old sits by himself

(:49) Lincoln's two new skills, sitting by himself and answering to his name

(:29) 9 seconds!!

(:44) More sitting practice

2/28/12 - 5 months old - sitting by himself for seconds at a time. (I love the little tongue!)

Skiing and a visit from Oma and Opa - February 16-18, 2012

Opa had continuing education classes in Salt Lake this weekend, so we got to host Oma and Opa for the weekend.  Yay!

Oma is always great for taking walks - we found this festive fellow near the Murray Holladay Cemetery.

Opa and Lincoln getting reacquainted

Oma is a great place to take a nap.

Wow! The view is great from up here!

Opa and Lincoln watch Aspen and Emma play checkers.

Aspen and Lincoln and Lincoln's first ride in a cart as a 'big boy' at Ikea.

 This is a familiar picture!

On Saturday afternoon we went skiing!  James rode the bus up to Brighton and hiked and skied over the mountain to meet us at Alta.  Lincoln and Oma stayed at our apartment to play.  Opa and I bought $10 beginner lift tickets and skied with Kristen's family.  An hour and a half of skiing is perfect for my first day of the season - long enough to be fun and not long enough to completely turn my legs to jello.  Here's a picture with my Backcountry Skier - safe at Alta!

And Aspen decided to try out the exersaucer - she fits, but I don't think she'll get much exercise in there!

That was fun!  Come again!

Lincoln's first 360 - February 16, 2012

At five months old, Lincoln has done his first 360 - check out this video!  I just love Lincoln's big gummy grin at the end.

Adventures with Oma - February 2-4, 2012

We got a quick visit with Oma this weekend. My Uncle Andy's funeral was Thursday, so we got Oma from Wednesday through Saturday. Yay!

Weds 2/1/12 - Lincoln in his car seat - just because it is a cute picture of our cute boy!

Thursday 2/2/12 - Wake up Aspen!  Aspen spent the night so she could come with us to the funeral and all the surrounding events.

Hanging out at the Salt Lake Cemetery.  We had to change cars at one point, so Lincoln and all his stuff are sitting curbside, waiting for his next ride.

Lincoln's first balloon - at the cemetery, they released orange balloons - one for each of Uncle Andy's birthdays.  So I suppose the orange balloon was Lincoln's first balloon.  Then at the luncheon, they were blowing up the balloons of other colors.  Lincoln's second balloon was yellow.  It is currently up on the gym ceiling.  So this blue balloon is technically his third balloon and it is the one that made it home with us.

Gage (2 mo), Aunt Karen, Aunt Barb, Aunt Janeal, Lincoln (4 mo), Aunt Lynette, Uncle Glen, Aunt Arlie and Oma.  These are all of Mom's sisters and her oldest brother.  Her two younger brothers were on a business trip.  I love Lincoln's bright striped pajama pants!

Friday 2/3/12 - I had to work in the morning and James had class in the afternoon.  Taking a nap with Daddy is a wonderful morning activity.

Helping Oma on the computer and trying to get out of getting dressed.

Saturday 2/4/12 - James went to a concealed weapons permit class at my cousins' fire station in Morgan while Oma and I went up to Ogden to go walking - Oma, Aunt Lynnette and Thor, Donna and Justice.

Aunt Lynnette, Oma and Justice, Mommy and Lincoln.  Lincoln did REALLY, REALLY well for a chilly, windy morning.  Our walk back to the car put the wind into his face.  So I turned him around, covered him with a blanket and he fell asleep. 

Oma, we're sad to see you go.  Come back again!