Rhyme Time

We were eating sandwiches and playing with words.
I felt like a great mom as my 5 year old continued to come up with rhyming words on his own. I thought in my mind, "Wow, he is so smart, it is great that he spontaneously thinks of these words."

Word: Plane
My answers: drain, strain, rain, insane
Griffin's answers: vane, Dane, train,cane,

Word: man
Answers me: , Tan, Can, Ran
Griff: Fan,Van
Griffin makes a sentence: "I am playing an awesome van rock song."

Word: sandwich
Me: Sand ditch
Griff: Sand Bi...
Well, I think you get the idea.
At first I tried to move along, and within a couple more examples the Sand B reemerged.
I was forced to explain "This was a word we don't use, it is a yucky word. Do not say it again."

Word: shut
Me: nut
Griff: cut
Lincoln: Butt.
This answer was followed by many little Lincoln giggles.
I took this as a sign. We can rhyme.
Rhyming time over.

Garbage Mans Don't Have Moms

Today's fight began when Lincoln said, "I want to be a Garbage Man." Griffin urgently replied, "Garbage mans do not have moms! Lincoln you do NOT want to be a garbage man!"
Griffin was greatly perplexed that Lincoln should want to be a garbage man, this was a surprising revelation.

I asked Griffin, "How do you know Garbage men don't have moms?"
"We never see their moms in the garbage trucks," was his reply.
To which I replied, "Isn't that because they are at home?"
"Oh no, definitely not, they do not have moms," was his answer.

I tried explaining that my mom doesn't follow me to the hospital when I am at work, yet I have a mom. I suggested this is likely true for garbage men too. He quickly dismissed this logic.

This was of no reassurance to him. He continued to insist that a life in the waste management
business was motherless, and therefore, was the bleakest of futures! He could not stop until Lincoln was convinced.

This whole fight fell on slightly distracted ears. The more distressing the tones, the more
attention mom paid to the situation. Lincoln was not derailed by Griffin's protests.

In fact, Lincoln was a bit of an instigator, the more determined Griffin became about the subject the more resoundingly Lincoln opposed. Lincoln was now fully and delightedly committed to his new career path.

As things began to reach a feverish pitch, I discovered this great argument erupted over some small circle stickers depicting children performing various tasks. Lincoln was looking at a small boy carrying a large garbage bag and was inspired.

Soon Lincoln threatened to place the "garbage man" sticker on Griffin's bed, a fate worse
than death. As we were running late, the argument screeched to a halt, to be resolved later.

At Circle K there was a man driving a large silver gasoline refueling truck. He began connecting large hoses to holes in the ground to reload the pumps with gas. I pointed this out to Griffin who was very interested. Then I asked if he thought that man, who drives a huge truck, has a mom. He wrinkled his nose and said, "I don't know. I don't fink so." To which I replied, "Do you think we should ask him?" Quickly Griffin walked over and sought an answer to this question. The man got a big grin and replied, "Yep. I sure do. I have a mom just like you do!" Griffin was quite pleased by his answer.

As we pulled away from the station Griffin said, "That guy has the awesomest job ever. I want to be that guy."

My Super Hero

My Little Baby is getting all grown up.
Little Bri calls him "Captain Underpants"

How about this picture
Does it scream Austin Powers
or Steve Urkel?

I know you wish you had a Stealth Ninja like mine.
His glasses are so cool and he could kill you from behind.
Probably wouldn't but still,
He could make you laugh to death.

Sending Love from
My 3 Men of Mystery
Hope you had an Excellent Easter!

2 Cute

Lincoln embodies everything that is too cute about being 2.

Fun
Happy
Spunky
Delightful
Expressive
Determined
Mood swings
Occasional biting
Frustrated whacking
Slightly temperamental
Inopportune meltdowns
Whispered sweet nothings
Cherished toys and movies
Language explosion
Beloved pacifiers
Special blanket
Spontaneous
Exuberance
Playfulness
Wet kisses
Snuggles
Silliness
Love
Joy

Easy to Please

Lincoln's Birthday was a full day of fun.

I believe basketball is intricately woven through the Daw DNA.

What better way to start off the birthday boy than lunch and games at Peter Piper Pizza?

Lincoln and Brian had a great time shooting hoops.

I look forward to planning an elaborate birthday party in the future. In case you didn't catch the subliminal message in the previous statement, thus far the procrastinator within has prevented me from all out birthday extravaganzas.

Luckily, my small children do not know the difference between party extraordinare and cupcakes at the park with family! Griffin was quite impressed by the rings lovingly placed on the cupcakes by Fry's Bakery.

Lincoln had hair raising fun whooshing down the slide and consuming cupcakes. Papa was his best friend for giving him a 3rd cupcake! Thanks Papa!

Blue frosting never tasted so good, nor made such a mess!

My favorite thing about 2 year olds? One present is more than enough. If it weren't for brothers and cousins, the night may never have ended!

The Man and Baby Lincoln

Kim posted a picture Tag. I usually don't do these, but my camera took a swim, and I just worked 72hours in the last 7 days, so I figured what the heck! My Pictures, folder 6, picture 6. I adore this picture, Brian looks extra rugged and handsome, and Lincoln is making a hysterical face!

I love this man! He's a leap year baby. I married him when he was 5 years old. He is the ultimate dad. Not many dad's have been home for 6-12 weeks to help care for newborns. He used to work for Chase Bank and had 12 weeks paid paternity leave with our 1st child. He to sacrificed and had just 6 weeks fully paid to stay home with Griffin. By the time Lincoln rolled in He was self employed and was home for 3 full months with him.

This man knows how to care for babies, make bottles, not waste breast milk, rumble with boys, give a mean foot massage. Yeah, he is the man. He has a fun, playful, easy going nature. He doesn't yell, he rarely gets angry, and he is very supportive of my favorites: movies, girls nights, shopping and scrapbooking.

Happy Birthday Brian!

What a Wonderful World

Everyone loves babies! I just went to the movies with my sister-in-law and held her precious little baby. He let out these hysterical laughs that even had neighboring movie goers chuckling. I was again impressed by the love that pours out of babies that envelopes you. When a tiny baby stares up into your eyes with such wonder, you realize the incredible magnitude of the human experience.

With our first child, I was the one with the look of wonder.

I wonder how I will survive.

I wonder what this baby wants.

I wonder if he will ever sleep through the night.

I wonder how I can be trusted with such a tiny and needy person.

Once I had fully recovered, 3.5 years later, I was thrilled to welcome Griffin to our family.

Now it was his looks of wonder that amazed me.

He was very thoughtful and expressive. In just the first few weeks of life he looked around his new world with such awe and intrigue. He really seemed to soak up each experience.

Griffin was such an easy baby that we were ready to embrace the new life cycle again after just one short year. When Lincoln was born I was again filled with wonder.

I wonder if this baby will ever stop crying!!!!

He cried almost continuously for the first 20 minutes of life. I had to wonder if he still remembered heaven, and was crying because he wanted to go back.

Amazingly, he came to realize he was stuck with us and he has hardly cried since.

There is just something about an infant's smile that makes you wonder how you ever lived without them. Everything stops and all you feel is the warmth of their love. My children have opened my eyes to the bounteous joys found in life's simple pleasures.

Hugs. Books. Laughter. Tickles. Jumping. Singing. Talking. Snuggling.

I am blessed to share in this wonderful world that they create.