LINCOLN's FIRST BIRTHDAY, almost 1.5 Months late :(

It's true...I've been home for over 2 weeks and so in theory I have no good excuse for not having posted about all of our adventures since late April. There is so much that life requires and in complete honesty I have been overwhelmed by that task of going through and organizing photos, but alas I have found a moment (or at least I am taking a moment to start the catch-up process) I will begin with a very momentous time for all of us...LINCOLN"S FIRST BIRTHDAY!!!

This is the Handsome Birthday Boy at Daffodil. What a little stud!

 

Some of the honored Party guests. We were lucky to have Mema and Papa with us!

 

All of his cards from family and friends. He is well loved!

 

How many presents does a 1 year old need???

 

Should I say spoiled!

 

A little slide for outside in the back yard to keep him away from the big ones...here's to hoping!

Vienna being the big helper and gladly opening all of his gifts for him! He got a sweet instrument set!

We love music time!

His yummy B-day cupcakes.

He ate the whole thing

And the floor ate about half of it. What can I say, he is a good sharer!

Playing on the newly assembled Birthday gift. 

Our little Linc's man has brought such a fun dynamic to our family and we have enjoyed having him around so much this past year. His little personality is really starting to shine through and it's only going to get brighter. Despite not being as vocal as his sister was at this age he is way more motor functionally advanced. He has great balance and climbing skills. It is clearly a right brain, left brain thing. He understands so much and definitely has some words; ball, bubble, balloon, Mama and Dada sometimes. He still communicates really well with gestures and noises. He has some of the funniest faces and quite the sense of humor. Right now he loves to eat, take baths, be outside, go for walks in his little car, play with balloons and balls. He knows the car sound and drives cars all around (how does he know that, we never taught him???) climbing on things and being a boy. He sure loves him Mama and likes to be with me. He also loves his sister tons! (I know its 1.5 Months since his B-day so I am only writing the things he did at that time and not his other milestones)

WE LOVE YOU LINCOLN!

The Zoo and the past few weeks!

Going to the Zoo in early April can apparently be dangerous. The weather is quite unpredictable. It was sunny (which is wonderful) but it was cold! We had a nice time despite the chilly air.

Little Lincoln did really well. I put my gloves on him as he wouldn't keep his blankets on and Mike's scarf. It was an adventure for sure!

Vienna with Daddy on the the wolf.

What a darling little girl!

Me and my little lady!

Vienna went on a quick trip to the library with her Daddy and this is where he found her??? What a silly girl!

This big bear (kindly named Mulan by Vienna - even though she has never seen it.) became a member of our Family on Easter Sunday. We were on a Sunday afternoon stroll and a neighbor at the end of our street asked us to wait a minute and then brought this bear out and asked if Vienna would like it. Brand new! So now we have a giant stuffed animal.

This looks great...we are good parent eh!

With this goofy face it really looks bad, but he is so adorable!

Life doesn't allow for much time to blog but little snippets here and there are much better than nothing. With summer on its way, I'm sure its going to get more time challenging. Lincoln turns 1 tomorrow. I can't even believe it! He is walking all alone for about a week and a half. It's so cute!

Our Little Vienna is now 3

It has been 3 years! 3 years since I had my first baby and our lives changed forever in ways we couldn't have imagined. Life has never been more fulfilling for sure. We have grown so much individually but mostly together as a couple and mother and father. Vienna is such a sweet, friendly, social little girl and continues to impress, surprise and teach me each day. Having a party for her was so much fun. She really understood it and talked about it for at least a week before it happened and every day since she confirms with me by saying, "Am I still 3?" or I'm still this many today right Mommy?" (while holding up 3 fingers). Yesterday she asked me "when will I be this many?" (4 fingers were up) I told her not for a long time.

We opened presents from us and Mema and Papa while skyping. She got this cool card that were also silly glasses. We gave her an official repunzel dress and her first real Barbie Doll.

(For some reason these didn't show up in order, sorry for the randomness)

This is the invite I emailed to all her friends. She ended up having 12 friends come of the 15 that were invited and we were lucky enough to have 2 princes. 

Some of the decorations and preparations

She got her princess bike and a dress and a Belle barbie from Mema and Papa (my folks)

The goody bags and blow-outs

I re-arranged the whole house to prepare it for 13 3 year old and it was perfect!

Here is the little right before the first guest arrived.

The craft with glitter paint, stamps and jewels was a big hit and kinda messy but o so fun!

Elliott got into it too after doing much running around, but I couldn't convince James, our other prince to join in. Which was fine, Pepper didn't want to stop, so she did James page for him.

We had every princess represented, except Aurora. (Belle, Ariel, Snow white, Repunzel, Cinderella)

All hanging out on the couch while each other models their outfit!

Ice cream cake was a big hit for most of our guests. the 3 candle came from my 30th B-day!

It took Vienna quite a while to blow out her 3 candles and the girls closest to her (Sophie and Macy) were so patient and didn't try to help but just waited patiently. It was so cute!

This is my favorite picture. It really captures everyone, as much as possible at one place in time, which is the best I could do. Sorry Macy, I only have the back of your head.

This was after dinner, eating more of the cake, it was super yummy!

caught dirty faced!

We also skyped Grandma and Grandpa to open her gifts from them (all 12 of them) and she got some great things. 2 new dresses with matching shoes (blue and pink size 8), a make your own Little Golden Book set, a princess CD, an Jasmine mini princess with an outfit change, and the entire Repunzel wedding set including  pascal, Eugene and Maximus the horse, princess candy land and a princess plate with a picture of her on it in a princess dress. Everything was all wrapped in Princess paper. I think Peggy should have thrown the party, she would have decorated much better than me (or at least had been able/willing to spend the money on everything princess)

We had such a couple of days! The best part was that Mike had some mandatory personal days he had to take off before the end of the semester so we were able to go to the zoo together and have her party on her actual Birthday. Lincoln's B-day is on its way and Mema and Papa will be here to celebrate!

We love you so much miss Vienna Princess!