California!

There were a lot of firsts this past weekend.  

First plane ride for Lincoln:

He didn't sleep on the plane even though I tried to keep him awake beforehand.  A very kind couple from Luxembourg carried my backpack while I carried my 25 pound sleeping toddler through bag claim and security.  He woke up each time before boarding the plane. This lovely woman read to my son and let him sit on her lap to gaze out the window.  Lincoln was loud and full of energy, but thankfully we avoided tantrums and explosive diapers during both 1 hr and 10 minute flights. I don't know how parents fly with multiple children on longer trips!



My mom and brother Evan drove to Sacramento as well, so that we could all meet up with my grandparents and my aunts.  It's the first time in 9 years that they were all together again, and also the first time for Lincoln to meet my Aunt Sue, cousin Nico and Grandpa Brown.

                                                                                         Aunt Sue is my mom's older sister.  Aunt Sheila is the youngest, which of course leaves my mother as the middle child.

Lincoln was pretty cool chilling with all these new relatives!  And my Grandpa got a kick out of the little guy.

We went swimming at our hotel to escape the heat.  There was a marked difference between us Utahns and the Californians.  I have a horrifying farmers tan.  And my baby brother and baby son are both angelically pale.  Ha ha!

My grandma, meanwhile, was not at all concerned about perfecting her own tan.  In fact she made every effort to find any square inch of shade available!  

We took our turns posing with Linc...

  

... and had a couple bathtub races, refereed by my Mom.  I bragged that I had won before we even began.  Big mistake.  Pride does indeed come before a fall!

Aunt Sheila was the uncontested winner, and Aunt Sue was a decided second.

Evan and I gave up in the face of obvious defeat!  For shame.  Maybe it was the hairy legs that put me at a disadvantage?

 

Yeah... that's it.  I really should have shaved. He he!

My cousin Nico has a son now, and I got to meet the 3-week old for the first time.  Nathaniel looks just like his father!  Lincoln was a little confused by this younger child who stole the limelight, but then he took a closer look and saw what all the fuss was about.  CUTE!

Here are some pictures of everyone at our picnic:

Aunt Sheila, her baby grandson Nathaniel, Nico and Laura.  This young family is so cute and friendly!  I wanted to hang out with them more, but I'm lucky to have met them.

Reaching for... some patience?  Lincoln got tired and slightly fussy toward the end of this thing.  

Nico, you're a great dad!  I love your little family!  Isn't it great to be three?

Speaking of threes, it was cool to hang out with my mom and brother a lot, since I don't live at home anymore and even though we see each other often, it's different being on a trip together.  My mom was a great example to me to go with the flow and enjoy things.  And Evan made me laugh a lot.  One time Lincoln shut his fingers in the hotel dresser drawer, and instead of me, he reached out to Evan for comfort!  

I took a picture of Evan taking a picture.  :-)

Here is me with my son and grandparents, the morning of our flight back home.  Tired but happy.

This trip was also the longest Lincoln and I have ever spent away from Tyler.  I missed him very much, not only because I just like his company, but also because I depend on him quite a bit for help with Lincoln.  I tried to rein myself in sometimes and let other people (mom) take care of him at times during this trip, but really I knew he was my son so therefore my responsibility.  Which is why I have no problem handing the little guy off to his father when I need a break, because it's HIS kid, too.  :-)  And I'm lucky enough to have a husband that takes his fatherhood seriously, so he never complains.  It was a huge relief to see my man standing near bag claim in SLC airport, a bouquet of roses in hand and his signature, warm smile lighting up his face.  I love my family, both immediate and extended!  And I'm glad to be home.

Marriage Month

Two years ago Tyler and I stood here.  

And kissed.

And now we've got a new little man in our life.  

Life happens fast, so take the plunge!

And don't be afraid to get your feet wet.

Belated recap of a really fun visit

    My grandma came to visit last month..  It was the first time she met my husband and son.  It was also the first time she came to stay at MY house instead of just MY PARENTS house.  Family visits have always taken place at my home while I was living with Mom, Dad and my brother Evan, and so it was quite a novel thing to have her as my very own guest.  We ate banana bread, drank mochas, took walks, sat on the balcony, and visited a few of my favorite places in Salt Lake.  Lincoln was very comfortable with her right from the beginning, which I found adorable.  She's my ideal house guest because she's comfortably chatty, with a lot of intriguing stories to tell, but also asks the right questions to get me telling my own.  Plus I never really had to worry about whether she was enjoying herself, because it was obvious she was!  So all my hostess anxieties were put to rest.

   I really wanted her to meet Tyler's family, so we all went hiking to Timpanogos Caves the day after Grandma flew in.  The trail was really steep, but everyone handled it quite well, even Mr. Linc.  He refused to ride in the Baby Bjorn I brought (which, I know, is ridiculous for his size, but technically he's at the very end of the weight limit.)  Instead the little guy marched up that hill like it was nothing.  Going down was a little less fun; he kept turning around and hiking back up the trail!  Easier on the knees, I guess.  I loved the friendly vibes we had going in our group.  Our families are awesome!

   Here are some pictures:

Four Generations!  Out of age order, but as pictured here's Lincoln, my mama, my grandmama, and me!  I think we all have similar smiles.  And I KNOW we all have similar sweet tooths.  :-)

Unfortunately Dad wasn't able to come along, but here's my husband Tyler (love that man!), cute mama again, Evan  who I thought was looking especially handsome that day, me and Linc, and of course his Great Grandma Brown.

And the Metcalfs posed, too!  My father-in-law Bill (probably the friendliest, funniest guy I know), Kaitlyn-- the girl I pray my own daughter will be like, mama-in-law Lori who runs marathons and was actually recovering from knee surgery during this hike (but you wouldn't know it!), us three, and Nic, who might as well be Lincoln's personal court jester.  Just the sight of him makes Lincoln burst into giggles.  

The inside of the caves are really cool, and this picture hardly does them justice.  A tour guide is required.  Ours was a little goofy, but nice.

Seeing pictures of our little family always makes me think of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.  

"Could be

we three

get along so famously cuz

you two

have me

and I have you two, too!"

Grumpy Face!  Really, he liked Grandma holding him and carrying him down the steps, but I just didn't capture the right expression.  This is at Memory Grove.  I wanted to show my grandma where Tyler and I were married, and happily it's a pleasant walk from our apartment.  I go there often and stand in the exact spot I stood as a bride.  Having traveled a lot during my childhood, I find it special to be able to point out a meaningful landmark and say that it's a party of my own history.

Lincoln only chooses to be couch buddies with really super-duper cool people.  And I guess Great Grandma Brown fit the bill.  He sat there for quite a while, too, close and comfy!

I'm wishing that big pile of laundry wasn't there, but if you excuse the eyesore, you can sense the relaxing, sunshiney mood of our balcony.  

Thanks for the visit, Grandma!

Lovey Dovey

Look at these two.  I used to babysit a little lady named Iris, and when her mom and I met for coffee the other day, our chillins were quite taken with each other.  A lot of hugging, fawning, gazing and general impossible-to-capture-by-camera cuteness.

Ba

Lincoln has taken his sweet time with talking.  But he most definitely says "ba" now, for ball.  He will walk up to one, point, and name it.  When he did that at Costco this weekend, Tyler was so proud he bought the ball.

New bedding!

I love my new duvet cover and sheets.

And so does Lincoln.

I made a ruffled bed skirt to match!

And I think it's divine.  

The Graduate

I finished up my last classes at the University of Utah in December and have already received my diploma in the mail, but I decided to walk in the graduation ceremony this spring anyway.  I'm so glad that I did!  It was a really fun departure from normal, everyday mommy/baby life.  My mother-in-law, mom, dad and husband all took the day off work to celebrate with me.  I felt so loved and special.

We went out to eat afterward and my best friend was able to meet up with us.  Liz's ceremony was unfortunately at the same time as mine, but in different buildings.  So I didn't see her walk, but we got to hang out the rest of the day.  She and I began this college journey together, rooming in the dorms together our first year.  Even though the journey involved multiple part time/ full time jobs, summers off/on, pregnancy, marriage (for me at least!), degree changes, etc., we still ended up graduating the same semester.  How cool is that?

Thank you Mom and Dad, for this wonderful dinner.  We had a GREAT time chatting it up and enjoying good food.  And look who else showed up to join in the fun?  Oh Danny, you're a riot!  ha ha.

Such a happy day.