St Patrick's Day Hike in the Rain - March 17, 2012

Happy St.Patrick's Day!  Grandma and Grandpa McCalvy sent us a St.Patricks Day card with some fun stickers:

St. Patrick's day was pretty mild so we went for a drive up to Brighton and on the way down, decided to go for a hike.  James knows of a low elevation hike (meaning free of snow) in Big Cottonwood Canyon across from the Ledgemere Campground.  When we parked, we realized that Jessi needed better shoes, James wanted the baby carrier and Lincoln was napping.  We drove home (about 5 miles) and collected the stuff we needed and changed a major diaper blow out and finally returned for our hike.

Here are my boys in green!

Just as we started hiking, we realized that the clouds were threatening to rain on our hike.

So we put on whatever protection we had (a hoodie for James, a blanket for Lincoln and a jacket for me).

And put on our happy faces and went for a hike in the sprinkling rain.

We stopped at the overlook for just long enough to take a family photo.

Then turned around and hiked back down.

There was only one tricky spot.

Where having a baby strapped to your tummy might be a bit of an inconvenience.

We lived!  We were soggy and a Lincoln's nose was very red, but it was fun!  We saw a rainbow, but no gold and no Leprechauns.  Maybe next year!

6 mo Dr Visit, Screeching and Solids! March 16, 2012

Six-Month-Old Stats:
•15.5 pounds - 12% for weight
•26 inches - 30% for height
•17.5 inches - 69% for head circumference

Dr. K says Lincoln is healthy and growing, but she's a little concerned that he dropped from the 24% for weight down to the 12% for weight.  She says to start solids ASAP and three times a day.  I'm not certain Lincoln is ready yet, but it is mostly for practice, right?   His eczema is essentially gone, yay!

Lincoln did cry when he got his shots.  James wasn't there to hold him, so I had to hold my baby while the MA poked him.   Sorry Linc!   We brought our own band-aids this time.  They're from Disney's CARS movie.  Way more fun than the boring plain band-aids. And Lincoln pulled them off his own legs before the end of the night.  No shots at the 9 month appointment!  YAY!!

Video (:27) of "Screech" in the exersaucer. Not bad for the same day as having shots! (You can hear me making a "suprised" noise, several times in the video.  This is how I try to play peek-a-boo with Lincoln.  He laughs at my "surprised" face and noises, so I keep doing them!)

We started solids (oatmeal cereal) tonight; I don't think he swallowed much this time!

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!