Y'all have probably heard this girl before, but I just recently found her on youtube. Her name is Esmee & she's 18 years old. She's got a voice that kicks, & her rendition of "No One" just might be better than Alicia's. Check it out:
xo
Well friends, here's the new & improved blog o'mine in all her glory. Cool, right?! Here's a shout-out to my friend Jennisa for giving me the lift. Her link is at the bottom of my screen on the right side if you want to check out her website/blog. She can do some amazing things, so if you're in the business of needing a make-over, Jennisa can do it.
I just got back from singing in a wedding in Clearwater Beach, Florida over the weekend. Ben's mom was supposed to come take care of the boys so Ben & I could have a little time away from the kids & have a mini-vacation. But unfortunately, Sherry got pneumonia & was highly contagious so she couldn't come. Which meant that Ben had to tend to the boys all by himself for 4 whole days while I flew to Florida & laid out by the pool. Poor Ben. Good thing: he got a taste of what I do every day with all the sweet moments interspersed with all the nightmare-ish moments. Bad thing: we couldn't spend the weekend together & I missed my boys like crazy. The wedding was beautiful & the food was unreal good. But I'm super happy to be back home.
Here's something we can talk about right quick. Two shows that I'm addicted to: a) Hopkins; and b) Intervention. Hopkins is a six-part documentary telling the stories of Johns Hopkins University medical staff. I cry at every single episode. It comes on Thursday nights at 9pm. Try & catch one if you can.
And Intervention, OMG! My friend Melissa Snider got me hooked on it, which ironically, is a show about addiction. Which I'm addicted to. Ben loves it too, & we managed to watch 4 episodes in 24 hours last weekend. It's heart-breaking, hopeful, disastrous, victorious & devastating. That's a glowing review, I know. Watching addicts walk daily with their addictions, confronting their fears & family, & then making the decision to get help. Or not making the decision to get help, depending on which episode you're watching. You're gonna wanna set your DVRs to record the next one.
You guys have a good week; I'll be posting pictures of the family soon.
I'm out--
Here's the cupcake sitting up! OK, ok, it's a little weeble-wobbley, but it's still sitting up, nevertheless. I had to get him set up with my legs around him first, then I took away my legs from him & he was able to sit up a little bit on his own before tipping over. I got this all on my camera, so here we go. I'll narrate it for you:
He starts out in between my feet:
TA-DA!! 
Hey, hey, hey! Look at me! I'm sittin up by myself!
Ruh-Roh! I'm getting a little shaky...
Hello...someone...anyone...help please...
Oh, here I go, I'm a goner...
...and...on my belly again! This is my favorite position anyway...
Thought y'all might like that play-by-play. Lincoln thought it was hilarious. We had a big time cheering L-Train on. Lincoln kept saying, "Yea, L-Train! Good job L-Train!" That's Lincoln's nickname for Levi, BTW. So cute.
Talk to you guys soon.
Thanks to the people who posted comments on my last post. I got a lot of good advice! We have quickly realized that ignoring Lincoln's meltdown phrases, "I can't want to!", "No shoes!", "No talking!" is the way to go. He says these things & then immediately looks at me, wondering what sort of reaction I will have. So when I don't say anything or react to it, he goes on about his business. It's a slippery slope, I tell ya. When is it too much, when is it not enough? Who knows? But I do know that every day is a new day. It's a comforting & peaceful feeling knowing that the morning brings new things. If the day sucks, then I just look ahead to the next day to try something else with it. So it's a new day & a new idea.
Levi is doing wonderfully, sleeping & eating like a champ. He sat up on his own for approximately 5 seconds yesterday. He started laughing & then fell over. Mmm, I wonder where he gets that from? (me)
Lincoln is doing great too. Today is the last day of his swim lessons this week & then next week we'll start again. He is loving it & also loving his teacher, Ryan. I think it's very helpful for him to have a male teacher, too. He has been doing better every single day with learning how to swim!
That's all for now, friends. Hope y'all have a good weekend & I'll try to post new pics of the boys soon.
xoxo
I believe Lincoln is realizing that Levi is here to stay. The past 2 weeks have been sort of a train wreck. I don't know if it's because Lincoln is nearly 3 1/2 years old, or if he is wanting Levi to go back to the hospital...but whatever it is, it's a hard place around our home. He is always wanting to do the very opposite of what I say. Do you want lunch? No lunch! Do you want a movie? No movie! We have been reacting to his outbursts of "No!" with time-outs & occasional spankings. However, I am beginning to think that ignoring it may be the best course of action at this point. I think Lincoln is seeing Levi's personality come alive, seeing Levi laugh, & seeing me & Ben smile because of these developments. This, I believe, is making Lincoln feel jealous & somewhat lesser of a son. It is so emotionally draining for me to be consistent with every sort of disciplinary action I take with him. If I don't follow through with something I say, then he picks up on it & remembers it. This causes a lot of pressure on me as a mom. The good thing in this situation is the fact that Lincoln is not being mean or harmful to Levi in any way. He still loves on him, still plays with him, & still loves being around him & talking to him. It is me & Ben that he is being defiant with. Please pray for me that I will not lose it during my days with Lincoln, that I will take each moment as it comes, & that I will know how to handle this phase.
I read this psalm today & thought of the difficult place I'm in. Maybe it will help you too, if you are in a hard place:
"Hear my voice when I call, O Lord;
be merciful to me and answer me.
My heart says of you, "Seek his face!"
Your face, Lord, I will seek.
You have been my helper."
--Psalm 27:7-10
Better days to come,
xoxo
Happy Birthday, America! Those were Lincoln's words the entire day of the 4th. He carried a balloon around with the American flag on it, singing the Happy Birthday song. What a cutie. We had a parade around our neighborhood in McKay's Mill where all the kiddos decorated their bikes, scooters, power wheels, & rode around the neighborhood behind the local fire engine. Unfortunately, it rained the entire time but it was fun nevertheless! Lincoln thought the fire truck was super cool as the ladder went all the way up. Levi squealed the entire way through the parade, feeling the rain drip down on him & seeing all the people. We grilled out later that afternoon & then had some friends over to the house. Here are some pictures of our 4th:
Getting ready to leave for the parade in the hood:
Here Lincoln is with Ben, excited for the parade to begin...he also has his vote in for the new Sheriff (see political sticker). 
Here he is, enjoying his Power Wheels decorated with American flag fans...what a hoot. 
We hope your July 4th was just as festive & fun as ours was. We had a blast being a family of four & doing the all-American thing. Parades & grilling out...how much more American can you get?!?
until we talk again...
