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Lincoln is a talker.  This can be a blessing or a curse, and can go one of 2 ways:

1)  He's talking, but it's so low, you can't hear him.  This is usually the case in the car.  We continually ask him to speak up, but often times, still can't understand him.

This scenario has found it's way into our everyday life.  When he wants the volume turned up on things, he asks us to "speak it up" - whether it's the TV or the radio.  It's totally cute. 

2)  He talks continuously, driving Brian and I crazy asking questions and jabbering.  This afternoon for instance:  first, there was an accident out near the entrance to our development.  We could see all the lights and hear the sirens.  He stood at the front door watching what was going on - telling us what was happening, and asking questions.  He was very concerned that the road was hurt from the accident, and that he wouldn't be able to go to school tomorrow.  Then, we were making apple crisp and Lincoln was helping us - and his mouth never stopped for a full half hour.  He helped Brian take the stems off the apples, then gave me grief because I picked an apple up and peeled it without him giving it to me.  Then he babbled about how he doesn't like red apples - only green ones, but then changed his tune quickly when I said he wouldn't like the apple crisp then since we were using red apples.  Then he would go into the living room to see if Jackson was still sleeping. 

It's so fun to hear him talk and tell stories - but it's also exhausting.  I told Brian maybe I should stay the 3rd night at the hospital and just enjoy the peace and quiet.  Brian contemplated staying at the hospital with me.  :-)

We love our boys...and would never trade them.  But some afternoons, we really look forward to nap time - because we need a rest!

My due date

Today was my due date. 
Back in January, I thought this day would never come.  Now it is here, and we are still awaiting the arrival of our little one.  Still feeling very blessed to be a mom again....but getting very tired too.  The past few weeks have been busy with cleaning, organizing, and preparing for a new life to join our family.  Sitting here writing my "to-do" list for the next few days, and prioritizing between what NEEDS to be done and what would be nice if it was done.  Energy will dictate how many of those "nice to haves" get done.
Looking forward to having visitors in the house.  Lyn and Nash will be arriving on Wednesday to help Brian with the boys while I am away at the hospital.  RJ, Lylah and Knox will join them on Friday, as well as my parents.  It will be a full house for the weekend, and I'm hoping that the baby and I can be home to spend time with everyone on Friday night as well.
From the looks of things, we won't go hungry.  Rod came to visit today, despite no baby.  Mom sent food with him for us - a few casseroles, chili, a pork roast, and chicken pot pie.  I have white chicken chili, broccoli cheese soup, meatloaf, enchiladas, and chicken tetrazzini in the freezer as well.  I know Lyn has been cooking for us as well - definitely won't need to cook for a little bit!
Can't believe how fast this year has went, but know that the next few months will go equally as fast.  Hoping we can enjoy and soak in more moments this time around since we'll only have one tiny, depending human being - but we also have 2 almost 4 year olds who still need our love and attention.
Starting to count the days down - 3 at most till we meet our new little boy or girl! 

Flashback: Shrimp

I promised I'd share more stories.  :-)

Yesterday morning around 3:40, I heard Lincoln fussing.  Usually I let him go until he calls out for me, but he's been fighting allergies and has been all stuffed up, so I went to check on him.  I quickly figured out what was bothering him - Jackson was in his twin bed with him!  Of course, they weren't laying end to end like you should - they were flipped sideways.  Evidently, Jackson was laying too close to Lincoln or laying on his blanket or something and Lincoln was not liking his space invaded. 

Before I scooped Jackson up and took him back to his own bed, I just stood over them.  I instantly went back to when they were babies.  They always slept in the exact same position - heads tilted at the same angle, all curled up.  It's still the same - they were both laying on their right side, legs tucked up, chin tucked under.  Then I went back even further - to one of our first ultrasound pictures - because how they were laying, the shape of their bodies reminded me of a shrimp.  And that's what they looked like in their first ultrasound! 

It was totally precious - but no, I didn't take a picture.  It was 3:40 in the morning!  So, I simply put Jackson back in his bed, snuggled both of them up in a blanket, and went back to bed, anxious to see if this next baby follows in its brothers tendencies, or if it blazes its own trail.  Only time will tell.

Are the boys ready for the baby?

A week ago, we bought the boys twin beds, and moved them into their new bedroom (the old guestroom).  It has beautiful sky blue walls, navy blue sheets, and sports themed comforters.  A perfect room for 2 little boys.

The boys helped me put their names on the wall over their beds one afternoon last week, THEN it was their room.  That night, after their baths, they found their carpet that they play matchbox cars on, and brought it to their room.  It was finally THEIR room.

Last night, Brian took down one of the boys toddler beds, and turned the other bed back into a crib.  The yellow room is no longer the boys room - its the baby's room.  The boys asked questions about what daddy was doing, partly understanding, partly not.

However, it wasn't until 11:15 last night when I wondered if my little guys were REALLY ready for all the changes coming their way.  If they were really ready for twin beds, a new room, and a new baby brother or sister.  See, at 11:15 last night, I heard a THUD.  Lincoln fell out of his bed.  For the second time in just over a week.  My fears were calmed though as he never cried, never even made a fuss when Brian scooped him back up, and put him back in his bed.  He never even woke up. 

So you see, the boys are ready for all of this....because even when they fall down, mom and dad will be there to pick them back up.  We'll always be there to support them.  We are just adding more love to our family.
 

Things boys say....

Each day, something comes out of one of the boys mouths that makes me smile.  Somedays, it makes me shake my head.  Other days, I just burst out laughing. 

A few weeks ago, I shared a Jackson quote with some people:  "Lincoln, if I pour syrup on you, you would be a pancake."   I'm still hearing that people think about this and chuckle. 

Lincoln lately has been calling Brian "papa" instead of "daddy".  Not sure where he picked that up from, but we've went with it.  Even the other morning when I asked Lincoln if he wanted a daddy sandwich, and he emphatically told me, "No - I want a papa sandwich!"  We roll with the punches.

I need to be better about sharing stories about the boys.  I've gotten out of the habit the past few months, but I'm going to try harder.

A few things to celebrate in July....

Birthdays

• July 1 - Denny Brunswick turns 80
• July 6 - Great Aunt Jean Muehlfeld turns 54
• July 17 - cousin Addison Young turns 15
• July 19 - Jeff Hart turns 48
• July 20 - cousin Andrea Haas turns 20
• July 21 - Kate Hart turns 39
• July 22 - Pat Brocki turns 49
• July 24 - Great Uncle John Hart turns 65
• July 28 - Great Aunt Shirley Maier turns 66;  Baby Nash Willinger turns 2
• July 29 - cousin Wes Maier turns 42

Anniversaries

•  July 2 - We remember the anniversary of Grandma and Grandpa Hart. It would have been 47 years
• July 5 - Brian and I celebrate the 11th anniversary of our first date
• July 9 - Great Uncle Shorty and Great Aunt Eileen Bruns celebrate their 64th wedding anniversary
• July 12 - Nick and Monica Wappes celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary
• July 25 - Seth and Angie Coles celebrate their 4th wedding anniversary

June celebrations

Birthdays:• June 3 - Parker Muehlfeld turns 4
• June 9 - Eli Burkholder turns 26
• June 18 - Grandma Emmie turns 85
• June 21 - Seth O'Connor turns 7
• June 22 - Uncle Ken Gels turns 82 and Aunt Lois Ann Brunswich turns 79
• June 23 - Brian turns 43
• June 25 - Grandpa Joe Hart would have turned 69
• June 30 - Brody Wyldes turns 4

Anniversaries:
• June 2 - Dave and Ruth Wappes celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary
• June 4 - Clifford and Shirley Simon celebrate their 23rd wedding anniversary; Steve and Jennifer Ginter celebrate their 19th wedding anniversary
• June 8 - Jerry and Lisa Haas celebrate their 22nd wedding anniversary
• June 11 - Jason and Maria Hart celebrate their 8th wedding anniversary
• June 14 - Wes and Jen Maier celebrate their 16th wedding anniversary
• June 23 - Lori and Tyler Lentz celebrate their first wedding anniversary
June 26 - Derek and Marcy Wyldes celebrate their 9th wedding anniversary

Other dates to note:
Happy Father's Day to all the amazing dads/grandpas' out there on June 16th.