7 months (& 3 days) old

Now, some of you are thinking, "Didn't they just get Lincoln's pictures done not too long ago?"...the answer is "Yup! One month ago!". We got Noah's pictures done every month during his first year, so I swore that I'd do that for each of my kids. It's definitely more of an endeavor to keep that up with having more than one kiddo, but so far so good! I splurged on his newborn & 6 month photos, but other than that I've spent hardly anything on photos because I've been able to score some really great deals! This photographer was advertising on ksl.com asking for babies & kids to model so she can increase her portfolio - so, for super cheap I got the photo session and a CD with all the edited pictures (over 100 of them). Sweet, huh? Anyone with kids (locally) that wants her info just email me & I'll pass it on - she's still looking for baby/kid models & her studio is in North Salt Lake.

Mark's mom hand-made this adorable quilt for Lincoln, and we just love it. Her mom (so, Linc's great-grandma) even hand stitched a square on the back. When he's not rolling across the room, he likes to lay on it and look at all the cute animals. As for this photo, I love how square his face looks in this picture with those big cheeks!

Our little cowboy.
Howdy.

This soft blanky is the one Lincoln sleeps with at night. Noah's sweet birthmother sent it to Lincoln after he was born. He was enjoying playing with it during the photo session. I love how he's peeking from behind it in this shot...how I adore his gorgeous eyes & lashes!
That's our smiley guy.


As you can see, we don't starve our little sweet pea. He eats really well & hasn't rejected anything that we've offered him, although now that he's got a more expanded repertoire he seems to not prefer green beans as much. Anyway, his current weight now is a solid 22 pounds, 13 ounces! Don't you just love the rolls on his arms?! He's such a sweet, happy, cuddly ball of chub and we love him so much. Happy seven months, Lincoln.

My Guy

I have been "tagged" by two different people & have yet to post a response yet (sorry Leslie & Amber!). One tag was a list of things about me, and the other was questions about my hubby. So! I've decided that since Mark's birthday was two days ago, and Father's Day is tomorrow...that I'll kinda meld the two together and do a combination of the two on Mark!
First, here's a picture of Mark fishing today...
Since Mark just turned thirty-one, here are 31 gee-whiz facts about Mark:
1.He was born in Long Beach, California & moved from there to small town Morgan, Utah when he was 3 years old. 2.When he was a little boy he had a make believe friend (a bull) named "Wipeout". 3.Mark can juggle. 4.He is mildly claustrophobic (due to an incident being trapped behind a couch as a kid). 5.He served a mission for our church in Holland & still speaks pretty good Dutch! 6.His undergraduate degree is in Zoology. 7.He learned woodworking from his grandfather, and fishing from his father. He loves both, and hopes to make more time for doing both in the coming years. 8.He couldn't burp until about a year & a half ago. Seriously. 9.He's a huge tease. Even as a tiny kid, he'd wait hiding behind the counter for someone to walk in the room to jump out and scare them. 10.He loves watching documentaries and discovery channel shows. 11.He loves to cook new things - and is really good at it (lucky me)! 12.He graduated medical school (podiatry program) from Des Moines University. 13.He is very competitive - whether it's cards, croquet, soccer, racquetball, fencing, or any other sport. In fact, he blew his ACL out 3 years ago while playing indoor soccer (his mind remembered how to play like he was 17 years old, but his body didn't), and having it replaced was his first major surgery. 14.He was just on the radio for the first time 3 days ago. 15.He is great at fixing things. 16.He made me several pieces of jewelry when we were in high school. They all got stolen when our apartment was robbed 4 years ago. 17.He enjoys playing backgammon & chess. 18.After knowing each other for 6 years, Mark proposed to me under a windmill in the Dutch countryside at sunset (yes, he can be very romantic). 19.He totaled a car on the autobahn in Germany. And, since we're on the topic of driving...he got a ticket once on Thanksgiving Day driving in Missouri, and another time when coming home from Illinois. On the latter he complimented the officer (sincerely) for being "full service" when he provided Mark with an envelope to mail in payment for his ticket. Mark is actually a really good driver though, I swear. 20.He is quite proud of his unattached earlobes. 21.He loves Henry Weinhard's Root Beer. 22.He enjoys yard work & gardening (must've gotten that from his dad), and can often be found toting Noah around in a backpack while he works outside. 23.He likes hiking & enjoys an annual hike with two good friends from high school where they hike a high point in a different state each year. One tradition he started with that hike is to brush his teeth once they reach the peak (it must be refreshing?). 24.He has sung a song in Dutch to Noah at night since he was a new baby. 25.He enjoys golfing, and worked part time as a valet at a country club (during med school) so that he could get free golfing. 26.He also worked a construction job & a job as a phlebotomist at a hospital during med school, as well as having worked at two different hospitals with crazy hours during undergrad. So, even though his schedule during residency has been hectic at times, he's not a stranger to being busy or working hard. 27.He is such a great, hands-on dad with our two boys! He is always helps out with feeding, bathing, diapers, etc. and often takes them with him on errands. He loves reading to Noah, and wrestling with him. And Lincoln's face lights up when Mark walks in the room. 28.When on a long road trip Mark stays awake by eating baby carrots and drinking Coke. 29.He is quite particular about the way things are organized in the kitchen cupboards - not that that's a bad thing! 30.He has quite a sweet tooth & enjoys anything sweet, but his favorite candy is Junior Mints, and if he has chocolate he prefers dark. 31.He laughs at me if I ever call him by his full (first, middle & last) name when I'm mad/frustrated at him...cause he says that not even his mom ever did that.
Mark - I love you so much. And, I am so grateful for every part of the last 31 years that made you into who you are today. You are such a wonderful husband and daddy and I'm so blessed to have you in my life. Happy Birthday & Happy Father's Day, sweetheart!

The Worth of Soles...

Some months ago I was moved by an organization called Shoe4Africa. There are so many good causes out there to donate your time and money to, but some just particularly speak to you and drive you to action. This was one of those for me. Maybe it's that I'm the wife of a foot doctor...more likely though, I think what drew me to it was the simple, easy way that anyone could make a difference with very little time or money. Just like I said a few months ago during my post on cord blood - it's just a matter of awareness.

So! I have started putting together a shoe drive for shoe4africa to send used shoes (particularly running shoes) to Kibera - Africa's second largest slum. Partners in Medicine, a nonprofit organization that I sit on the board for, has generously agreed to sponsor this philanthropy project - and they will be paying to ship all shoes that I can get my hands on! This is where YOU come in! Yes, you. If you are reading this, you can help.

I am accepting donations, large or small, of used running shoes - and they can either be dropped off at my house, mailed to me, or I can arrange a pick up if you live relatively close to me. You can email me at holly@utahpim.com. And, if you feel particularly moved by this cause, then organize a simple shoe drive in your neighborhood, church, workplace, etc! Most people have old running shoes (which will end up in a landfill somewhere) that could help drastically improve the quality of someone's life!

Please take 2 minutes and watch this short video clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBQcMbU3Z6w

Since you are still reading this post, I'll assume that your interested. So here's some more information on the project: Shoe4Africa is “dedicated to promoting social empowerment, health initiatives and AIDS awareness”. They do most of this by sponsoring running races & soccer leagues where donated shoes/cleats are provided to participants, and have thereby reached communities otherwise resistant to traditional HIV/AIDS initiatives. The organization has been very popular in Africa and highly successful at accomplishing its initiatives. They recently have even begun collecting donations to build a children's hospital there! (feel free to read details about that on their website)

Another goal of the organization is hookworm reduction (which they state 92% of students age 8-20 have). The intestinal worms enter the body through the feet and affect everything from a child’s cognitive development to a woman’s ability to carry a child full-term (and, yes, that really is a picture of a hookworm parasite). The Kibera slums have an incredibly high mortality rate. Your donated shoes could help decrease the rate of diseases spread through the foot, as well as drastically improve someone's overall health, happiness, and perhaps even length of life. So please, consider donating a pair of used running shoes or cleats.

If you are interested in hearing more about how the shoe4africa organization started, and what it's developed into (and would like to see some footage, pun intended, of the people benefiting from it) here is another you tube clip for you:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZ5pXKfd9AQ&feature=related

And, lastly, don't forget that Uncle Sam has given us the incentive to give charitable contributions. Yes, this counts as a tax deduction if you itemize on your taxes. So, even though I'm sure you'd be donating shoes for humanitarian reasons, there's certainly nothing wrong with giving yourself a little tax break along the way, right? Now, I'm certainly no tax guru, but I did a quick search and this link includes pretty easy to understand information on when/how to do that.

I am planning on sending off the shipment of shoes in September, but the sooner you can get shoes to me (and start your own shoe drive if you feel so inclined) the better! Thanks for reading this post, and may we all be more grateful for the comfortable, sanitary conditions that we are able to enjoy each day.

Perfect Zoo Day

Just wanted to include a few pictures from our trip to the zoo yesterday. The weather was absolutely perfect & the boys were great. We went with my friend Claire and her boys Drew & Michael. Noah thinks Michael (pronounced "Geikol" by Noah) is pretty cool stuff, and Michael (who's about 16 months older) is really cute with Noah too. Here they are holding hands while walking around the zoo...

Linc did a pretty good job just chillin' in the stroller.

Lunch time! Everything is better with "sauce"!

This picture looks like Michael is attacking his pizza! Cute :) And don't you just love his curls?

A Popsicle Progression

Not much narration necessary on this one. After enjoying a picnic in the backyard, I snapped these pictures between licks of my own chilly treat. Enjoy these 6 photos of Noah savoring his chocolate popsicle. Teeth marks. Smirky smirk. Tongue licks. Chocolate drips.

Visitors x 3!!!

Alright! I'm only a couple of posts away from finally being caught up on my blogging :) This one is about the three fun visits that we've had recently. First of all...
Rachel, Ryan & Henry
Mark's sister, her husband, and their son Henry came from Denver. So, all of Mark's family got together at the zoo! It was so fun to see the three of them & we could hardly get over how big Henry has gotten. This picture is Ryan and cute little Henry.

Noah walking with uncle Dave.
Time to ride the train!



Noah was not ready to be done with the train...or the zoo.

Lincoln and grammy.

Gaurav & Swati
The next fun visit we had was from some good friends of ours that we met while living in Iowa. Swati & Gaurav were able to stop in for an evening during their journey from Iowa to California, where they are moving to San Jose for Gaurav's job. We've missed them so much & it was so good to just have something to eat and visit together. We hope that all goes well with settling in, you two!

Chelsey & Audrey
And - last, but not least...my beautiful sister-in-law Chelsey and our adorable niece Audrey! We were able to conspire with them to surprise my parents with their visit, so that was a lot of fun. Boy were they ever shocked! Here are several pictures - mostly of Audrey for two reasons: because she's so dang cute that I couldn't help myself, and also for my brother Chris who wasn't able to join them on the trip out (he's still back in Boston).




Chelsey holding Lincoln. He's gotten quite a bit bigger since she saw him last!
Doesn't she have a sweet profile?

I was really set on getting a picture of the three grandkids together, but Lincoln went down for a nap, it was past Audrey's bedtime (with a 2 hour time change) & Noah really didn't want to do pictures, or to be strapped into a stroller. Better luck next time maybe?

Congrats to our Grad!

Congratulations, Josh! My little (can you say that when he's 6 feet tall?) brother just graduated from highschool! So, I'm going to take some time to brag on/embarrass him.

Josh has always really excelled academically. He pulled fantastic grades (usually perfect) while taking mostly AP and honors courses & doing early college - as well as working and being involved in marching band. He graduated with high honors and two college scholarships. While I'm so proud of him for all of that, I'm even more proud of the person that he is. He is thoughtful, considerate, honest and kind. He's a great uncle, a hard worker, and lots of fun to be around. All of these things taken into consideration...he'll still somehow always feel like my baby brother (cut me some slack though, he's 12 & 1/2 years younger than me!). We love you, Josh!


Here's Lincoln with my mom at Josh's graduation ceremony.

The commencement ceremony was held at Weber State University (where Mark & I both did our undergrad), so it was fun to go back there. We have fond memories of that time in our life and those first couple years of our marriage. Anyway! Noah was fascinated with the 'wildcat' statue out front. Here is Noah with his great-grandpa, talking about the scary cat with claws...
...it didn't scare Noah though. Here he is sticking his hand in the big cat's mouth :)

And here's my dad holding Noah while Josh puts his graduation cap on him. We have a long, long time until my baby will put on a graduation cap, right? Let's see...we're more than 1/9th of the way there? What?!

And here's our family with the grad!

Under-doggy!

Ready, mommy?

I'm not too sure exactly why doing an under-doggy is so thrilling, but I still remember it from when I was a little girl...and it sure elicits squeals of delight from Noah. So, we spend a decent amount of time with the blue swing hanging from our chestnut tree. This particular day felt extra special for some reason. Maybe it was the way the light was bouncing off his hair, or the blossoms littering the lawn, or seeing bare little toes again after so long...I dunno, but we spent extra time doing under-doggies that day.

Barefooted bliss.

And for those of you that would enjoy a video clip, here you go! Of course I couldn't do an under-doggy while filming, but Noah does enjoy touching the camera with his toe. I love the way he says "funny mommy" :)

Raspberries & Soggy Bottom

So, I just had to post a clip of Lincoln doing some funny raspberries. I had been giggling at him for a while before grabbing my camera so this is just the tail end of things, but it's still pretty good.
Take a gander:


Now let me preface this part by saying that Noah has never made the slightest attempt to get out of the bath on his own. He loves bath time and will play until the water is cold. So it caught us very off guard when he jumped out of the bath and streaked (yes, pun intended) into the living room the other day. It took us a couple of tries to catch him since we were laughing so much, but once we did we decided bath time was over anyway and we dried him off and put his diaper on. After we were finished with that Noah promptly stood up and ran into the bathroom and jumped back into the bath tub (with the new diaper on, of course). *sigh* So, we grabbed the camera to document his silliness. Here he is swimming like a turtle:

We just love these two sweet boys.