Brannin/Riddell Look Alikes?

I am absolutely loving using http://fotoflexer.com/!  It is so easy to manipulate photos.  Here are some photo comparisons. Who do you think the kids most look like?  

Brooklyn 5 Months

Brooklyn is 5 months old now.  I am so excited to continue watching her grow and change.  Her personality is beginning to bud and watching her is like reading a really good book that you couldn't possibly put down even though your eyes are burning with exhaustion (which isn't far from the truth when you are a parent...)  Constantly I fin myself on the edge of my seat awaiting the next milestone.  It is fun comparing where she is at and where Lincoln was at the same age.  Making a habit of comparing them I foresee as not being the best thing, but until she is a toddler I think it's ok, right? :-)

Things I've learned about Brooklyn this month...

• She has 2 teeth, both of which are on the bottom (Lincoln got his first tooth at 6 and 1/2 months)
• She loves her tummy time
• She has started babbling letter sounds versus just making high pitched noises
• She can grab her toys with much more ease
• She weighs 15lbs 5oz  
• She is 29in long  
• She is a wiggle worm just like her brother was/is

Mother's Day

Becoming a mom has bee the most fascinating and indescribable thing that has happened in my life.  Watching my kids play, laugh, grow, and reach new milestones is breathtaking.  I have also never been more exhausted!  Life most likely won't slow down any time soon though.  School, clubs, sporting events, and sleepovers are just around the corner...  Ahhh!  :-)  


We spent the morning at church then had breakfast with my parents and Josh's mom at I-HOP.  It of course was delicious.  We then headed over to the market to walk around as the day was beautiful.  Everyone in Olympia had the same idea about visiting the market so finding parking was quite a challenge.  we then headed home because Lincoln was in need of a nap. Little did we know that we would be reaping the effects of his lack of sleep for the next three horrible days...  I recall thinking that I couldn't quite understand how mom's could be wishing for long periods of time away from their "monsters."  Well, let me tell you, three days of non stop whining, pushing buttons and flat out refusing to do anything you ask will put you there really quick.  Luckily it was only three days.  I love him to death, but wow, sleep and routine is soooo important, as is discipline and consistency.  


This year I got the best present from the kids ever!  At daycare they made me (well more accurately, Angie and Mary made me) a Mother's Day t-shirt.  It's me new favorite shirt for sure and I wear it nearly every weekend.  

Lincoln

Watching Lincoln's personality blossom has been quite an adventure thus far.  I can only imagine what is yet to come.  There are so many mannerisms in which I see Josh and myself.  The things that he comes up with crack me up.  The other morning I woke up to find him sleeping on the dog pillow with Morgan while Thor was away for the night at the vet.  The pet bed was naturally covered in dog hair and needed to be washed before I would have allowed him to sleep on it, but it was adorable none the less.

That same morning I came out into the kitchen to find that he had made himself breakfast...  He had gotten the cereal and poured himself a bowl.  

Lincoln has a stuffed Rex from Toy Story and a couple weeks ago one of the dogs (Thor I'm sure...) took it from his room and managed to sneak it outside.  I came home from work, took the kids outside to enjoy the weather and noticed stuffing all over the back yard...  Just as I was realizing what it was Lincoln wandered over to find Rex's dismembered headless body.  I thought he was going to break out into tears as he stuttered Rex's name.  We picked up the stuffing and I took it to the garbage.  Lincoln insisted that we "fix" Rex and not throw him away so Josh went online and ordered a replica on eBay.  It arrived in the mail and Lincoln was so happy that Rex was "fixed" and looking much better!  Phew!  The other night he was being stubborn about brushing his teeth so we brought Rex in and he brushed his teeth.  Rex now has a toothbrush in the bathroom.  Kids are so much fun!  Especially when they are all caught up on sleep :-)

Jessica's Baby Shower

Baby Cooper is coming soon!  We celebrated with Jessica this past Sunday at her baby shower.  The Tenino crew (Caitlin, Sondra, Yvonne, Tasha, and myself) carpooled up to Jessica's mom's house in Bothell.  It was a beautiful day and her mom's house was gorgeous.  Baby Cooper received many wonderful gifts and a great time was had by all in attendance.  I was excited to give Adrian and Jessica a scrapbook to keep track of Cooper's first year.  A friend made me one for Lincoln's first year and it was so nice to just add photos to a completed scrapbook.  Congrats you guys!  Can't wait to meet him!

   

Puzzles?

When I returned home after a week away from my kiddos, Lincoln really wanted to do puzzles.  It started Friday night when I got home with me patiently (this was somewhat difficult as I was exhausted from a week of less that 5 hours of sleep per night...) helping him put his puzzles together.  By Saturday he was able to get his 12 piece puzzles together mostly on his own.  Sunday he was completing his 24 piece Thomas puzzles by himself in about 10 minutes!  He would do every puzzle we had over and over and over again.  He even came in our room in the morning on several occasions to wake us up with his puzzle in his hand, ready to get the day started.  It amazes me how rapidly his brain is growing and he is learning new things.  He can now recognize the shape of a triangle as well. 

The First Bout of Summer Sun

It has been so nice to have the warm weather back!  The pacific northwest may not be the driest of places, but when the sun comes out I believe nothing beats it!  It is beautiful.  We have had a few opportunities now to venture out into the sunshine and enjoy our yard.  Lincoln absolutely loves to play outside and when we have the opportunity to get outside for an hour or so after work bedtime is so much easier because he is exhausted by the time his head hits the pillow.  Brooklyn enjoys just hanging out in the stroller while Lincoln plays. 



For whatever reason Lincoln decided to pile all of his toys in the fire pit...

We bought Lincoln his first Mariners hat.  He and Josh have matching ones and as you can see he is still getting use to wearing it...  Lol

One of Lincoln's new favorite things is "grilling" with Daddy.  He is obsessed with going out on the deck and "checking" on the bbq regardless if Josh is home or there is anything on it.

Just the other day Josh was checking the irrigation system to see if any of the sprinkler heads needed replaced and what not. Needless to say Lincoln and the dogs took advantage of the water...

 

 

Dinner with The Brannin's

Kelly and Danette made a wonderful dinner of prime rib the night before Kelly headed off to South Dakota to find work for a couple months.  It was nice to relax and visit with everyone and of course Lincoln had a blast being the center of attention...  We hadn't gotten to aee Aunt Jessi in awhile either.  I'm sure Lincoln will be visiting Grandma Danette quite a bit while Papa Kelly is gone :-)