Funny Quirks and Embarrassing Moments

Lincoln has this funny thing he does. He likes to put small objects into tight spaces. We first realized this when he would take a bunch of fake credit cards and slide them ever-so-carefully into the tiny crack between cupboards. I have had many occasions where I open the cupboards in the kitchen, and a bunch of credit cards spill out. He likes to put them in...one at a time...just right...and then wait to hear the "plunk" that it has fallen to the bottom of the cupboard before putting in the next one. Silly boy.







Link just got 3 "choo choos" - little wooden 'Thomas and Friends' trains.

He LOVES them! (I can definitely see what an obsession these trains can be - there are probably hundreds of trains, sets, tracks, people, etc. We are trying not to get roped in by it all - well, not yet at least.) He rolls them along the floor and the furniture saying "choo choo, choo choo" over and over. He takes them everywhere we go. He even tried to "feed" one of them his oatmeal one morning when I neglected to think that giving an 18 month old toys and food at the same time would be a bad idea.

Well, the other day the choo choos went missing. Not just one, but all three. Ryan and I looked all over the house for those things - in drawers, under couches, behind pillows - but they were nowhere to be found! I was getting worried thinking about Lincoln's reaction to not having his "choo choos". So I had to think "If I were Link, where would I put the choo choos?" Thinking about the "small things in tight spaces" quirk I finally looked behind the small space between the TV stand and the wall, and sure enough, this is what I found:

Lincoln found just the 'perfect' spot that the trains would squeeze into, and put them all there together.


On to the embarrassing moment:
This last weekend we had dinner at Chili's. This is actually a rare treat because where we live is so urban that we usually go to little restaurants or order out; so a "chain restaurant" is considered fancy to us. We were enjoying our meal in a comfy booth with Lincoln in a high chair at the end of the table. We were just finishing up dessert

(molten chocolate cake - yum!) and Ryan was paying the bill. A waitress was taking the couple's order at the booth across from us - standing just behind Lincoln's high chair. Let's just say this waitress had, um, a rather large rear end and tight jeans on. Then we see Link turn around in his chair and with a big grin on his face give the waitress a few pats on her bottom! He saw another couple at a different table watching and laughing, so he decided to do it again! It wasn't until the third time that the waitress finally turned around to see what was going on. Needless to say, WE were embarrassed, but Link thought it was just funny! Oh dear.

Mail Call!

Everyone likes to get a package in the mail, right? Well, Link is no exception! His Nana sent him a very fun "tractor" themed package - complete with 2 tractor books and lots of John Deere fruit snacks - two of Lincoln's favorite things! He was so excited to open the package, that he showered himself with the contents!

(This picture is NOT posed! Lincoln is naturally very silly and quite a ham for his audience)


He then proceeded to try and eat every package of fruit snacks ("treats" as Link calls them).

Figuring out the New Camera

Ryan gave me a cute new camera for my birthday. It's little, it's light, and most importantly, it's pink!


It has taken me a while to figure out all the functions and how to upload my pictures to the computer - luckily, I have Lincoln to help me out.

He got a little frustrated at the computer too.

Yep, he is 18 months old and already knows how to use a mouse. Kids these days...

Doesn't he look like such a big boy?!

We Bought a Jeep!

...and here it is!


Okay, so it is the Jeep Overland Limited Jogging Stroller not the Jeep Wrangler that I have wanted since I was 15, but still pretty cool! I decided to return to running after a 18+ month hiatus. I am not signing up for any fun runs or marathons, but I just figure "it's good for me" so I better do it. Plus, I get to run along overlooking New York City - so that's not too shabby.

Lincoln is THRILLED with the new stroller! He was so excited when the box was delivered - like it was Christmas morning! He thinks it is his own indoor jungle-gym, however. As a result he climbed all the way to the top of it to check out the odometer feature on the handlebar and tipped it right over, hitting his head in the process. He is now sporting a lovely bump and scrape right on his forehead. Luckily not too many people have told me what an abusive mother I must be.

Now I just need to stay motivated and keep running!

Toys for a Tot?

I am trying to think of some fun toys that Lincoln would like for now/Christmas - any ideas? It seems like he mostly has "baby toys" or little cars that I can never find except when I trip over them inadvertently. He would REALLY like to have this tractor, but alas, we don't live on a farm (or have a backyard for that matter!).

Why potty-training can wait

When we were visiting my parents Lincoln had a pretty bad diaper rash, so I decided to let him "air out" in the backyard. The next day when we were out shopping my mom found some cute "big boy underwear" and bought it for Lincoln so he would be a little more covered up while he was airing out. So we put on the underwear, sent him out in the backyard...yada yada yada, (sparing you the messy details)...he ended up needing a spray-down. He loved the hose and probably drank about a gallon of water.


I didn't learn my lesson and the whole process repeated itself the next day. Looks like I won't be trying to potty-train this little guy any time soon!

Fun at the Farmstead

Lincoln and I spent a fantastic week in Kansas visiting with my family. I didn't realize what a city boy Link is until I saw how excited he was to play in grass. Most of the parks around here have rubber floors by the playgrounds and when we go for walks it is on pavement, so I guess he hasn't had much opportunity to be in grass! He loved the open space and got a big kick out of running down the hill in my parents backyard as fast as he could so he would fall down, and just laugh and laugh.

We also visited a little petting zoo called Deanna Rose Farmstead. Link had no qualms about going right up to the big goats and feeding them a pellet right into their mouths.

He did the same with the chickens, and didn't even mind when a chicken took a nibble of his finger. I was more scared than he was!

Lincoln also learned how to say "tractor" while in Kansas (fitting, isn't it?), but now everything with wheels is a "tractor". Sorry Link, there aren't very many real tractors here in New Jersey.