Yay! A post!!

Wow, a lot has happened since I last posted. I've probably lost a few fans in the past several days. Posting is hard work, ya know? All you non-bloggers, you. Especially with a ton of pictures to share. The uploading of the following pictures took almost an hour from start to finish. Jeeez...

First and foremost, I have two very special announcements...

1.) My beautiful sister-in-law is ENGAGED!!! Congratulations Leah and Greg. We'll be flying down to Myrtle Beach at the beginning of October for her wedding. I, being the best sister-in-law (or only, in this case) a girl could ask for, will be standing as Matron of Honor, and the famous Linc-meister will be the ring bearer. Let's just hope the poor boy decides to start walking in the next 5 weeks, otherwise the flower girl will be pulling him in a wagon. We're so very happy for you Leah!! I can't believe you're moving away from Ontario, but Myrtle Beach certainly isn't a bad spot to have family :)

2.) My sweet, too-dang-litte-to-be-going-off-to-college brother Grayson left for UNC Chapel Hill on Saturday. I really can't believe it. I'm still shocked he has his license. But, he's gone. Mom and Dad kicked him outta here early Saturday morning, and I was there to witness it...


I'm so proud of you little (I mean, grown-up) buddy. You coulda sprung for Duke, but I guess this will do :)

Lincoln has been doing lots of fun stuff...

Although he doesn't consider it 'fun,' I find his eating of Cheerios for breakfast QUITE entertaining...

We found my brother's old red wagon and Lincoln has been putting it to good use...

We took Lincoln to one of those Bounce places the other day...We left about 5 minutes after we got there...He was NOT a fan.

These two smiles came in the first minute and a half and then quickly faded to the paranoid/worried look you saw above...

Shawn and Dad have been grillin' up a STORM since we got here, and it's been oh so delicious...

Even Lincoln was excited about it...

Oh wait, that was about popcorn...Go figure.
Lincoln and I met up with some friends on Friday for some park play...

Here are the boys throwing bread to the ducks. Avery and Jackson look so into it. Check out Lincoln. REAL enthused...

Let's get a close-up of that face...

Not only was he a party-pooper during duck-feeding time...He broke into their cooler for some drinks...

I haven't looked forward to the mall in a LONG time. I typically avoid it in Toronto...The mass crowds are just not my thing. I may be more apt to combat them if Chick-fil-A was my reward. Alas, Chick-fil-A remains strictly in the States. Yum.

Lincoln played in the germ-infested play area at the mall...And yes, he's learned to climb stairs. And loves it...

And last but not least, the mall trip wouldn't be complete without a ride on the carousel...He liked it a little better this time, compared to March...

My sister, the American Idol

Some local auditions (more like a contest) was held in Raleigh, NC last week, just down the road from where my sister, Haven, and her husband live. We've been telling her for YEARS to try out, but she's never really cared for the fame...Oh, humble, humble Haven. Anyway, since it was just down the street, and her and Jon were free that day, they decided to do it...

The contest promised one lucky winner a guaranteed audition in front of producers next week in New Jersey. No waiting in line. No random judges that may or may not put you through. Just a walk-in audition with the American Idol producers.

Lots of people came out that day, but only 200 people were able to try out...

And Haven got the call this morning. SHE WON!!

She's leaving Monday for New Jersey for her chance at fame...I mean, errr...chance to save the world...umm...experience of a lifetime...

WAAAHOOOEEEE!! Congratulations Haven!!!

Here's the new article...

Things I miss about the South Part 2

On Friday night, Shawn and I decided to walk to Myra's Ice Cream Shop for a chocolate dipped cone. It's only a block or two away to the downtown from my parent's house...We were met with this madness...

Saturday was the big festival in town, and little did we know that the night before was a time for pre-festival activities, including a cruise-in car show, a live band, and a motorcycle gathering...


These pictures are for Grumps (Shawn's Dad)...He used to drive a '69 Camaro. We couldn't find a '69, but we did find this pretty '68...


The next day was the big day. The festival started early and went into the afternoon. It was hot, but it was fun...Here are some pictures of the Southern goodness...

Here's the crew, minus Dad (aka Papa), and of course, Haven, who hasn't graced us with her presence yet (She'll be here Saturday)...I was having a large plate of fries and Mom was drinking a drink that she decided was the most disgusting thing she'd ever tasted...

And here's a close-up of my delicious ribbon-cut fries...

Lincoln enjoyed the umbrella that came with Amma's pina colada disaster...

Picture posing in front of the town fountain with Amma and Uncle Grayson...

There were bocce ball tournaments...

And the town tour on the back of a tractor was a must...

Shawn had a bit of culture shock but enjoyed himself...

There were deeeelicious pork skins...

Lincoln picked a duck for a $4 monkey...

Lincoln is doing great here...He's learned where everything is and is busy opening and closing doors most hours of the day. He has slept well, every night, for about 13 hours, and takes a couple of hours every afternoon to take a well deserved nap.

Shawn and I are taking advantage of having babysitters nearby. Yesterday afternoon, we cooled off from the festival at the $2 theater in Hickory. We saw The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian and had a big ole' popcorn and two drinks, all for the ridiculous price of $11. Yes, that's right folks of Toronto...$11, including the tickets. Yeah so it is an old movie...New to us though :) It's been AGES since we'd been to the theater...

Lincoln's eating is going well. Here he is with a Ritz cracker...

And he still loves popcorn, especially sitting in Papa's lap...

And when he's not eating, he's busy throwing blocks over the side of the porch into the rocks...

Things I miss about the South Part 1

I love how big the front porches are down here. My parents' home was built in the late 1800's and their porch is just amazing. Lincoln seems to think so too. He's spent most of his time out there since we arrived yesterday...

He's only inside in this picture because he's opening the door to go the porch...

Here is the porch in all it's fabulousness...

And yes, in the previous picture, that is a day bed :) My Mom put it out there recently so that she could take naps on the porch in the afternoon...

Here is a picture of the front of the house...

Lincoln spent about an hour pushing this toy off of the porch and down the stairs...

Going...

Going...

Gone...

"Can someone bring that back up here please? I wanna do it again."

We are HERE!

I decided to keep a LIVE journal during our trip yesterday...

6:40 PM – Pull out of driveway.

6:42 PM – “Crap, do we have the directions?”

6:48 PM – Pull out of driveway again.

7:30 PM – It’s raining HARD. I remind Shawn that he is the one who decided to leave a day early and it’s his fault that we’re driving in this nasty weather. Shawn reminds me that I have the luxury of sitting in the passenger seat with a laptop watching Gilmore Girls and playing Solitaire and he’d more than happy to switch places with me. I shut up.

8:15 PM – Cross the border with minimal questioning. (Last time we drove through, I had my breast pump in the front seat and the man looked at Lincoln’s passport picture and saw the nasal cannula that he had on and asked if my breast pump was an oxygen tank. He gets points for trying to put it all together. When Shawn told him what it really was, he quickly passed our paperwork back to us and told us to have a good night. Poor guy.)

9:15 PM – As we approach the Pennsylvania line…

Shawn: Wanna swing by Jon and Kate plus 8’s place while we’re here?
Bree: Sure!
Shawn: I can’t remember what town they’re from exactly.
Bree: What kind of fan are you? Nestle, PA. Jeez.
Shawn: Is that near Hershey, PA?
Bree: Craaap.

10:15 PM – A quick stop for gas and Shawn and I switch places. Lincoln slept for most of the previous 3 ½ hours. For the next 4, while I drove, he was awake, but happy. Shawn napped for a couple of those hours and counted deer for the others.

2:30 AM – Stop for more gas and a stretch break. (What are you Americans complaining about? 3.85/gallon for gas? Just because the signs in Canada say 1.26 doesn’t mean you can assume it’s cheaper. Some math is involved, as we measure in liters – or errm – litres, as they’d spell it – I mean errm, WE’D spell it. Let’s see…4 litres in a gallon. 1.26 x 4 = “Hey Shawn, what’s 1.26 x 4?” Ah yes, 5.04/gallon. Yeah. No complaining anymore, Americans.)

2:40 AM – Back in the car. Lincoln is wide awake, so he watches Baby Einstein for an hour.

3:47 AM – Lincoln is still awake, but glaring at the computer screen right now, as I type, willing Baby Einstein to come back on. Shawn thinks it was keeping him awake…Maybe. It was certainly keeping me awake, but then again so is this blogging adventure I’ve embarked on. I’ve yet to sleep this trip, but we’re only a few hours away, and I think Hardee’s opens around 5:30 AM, and I’m seriously craving one of their big fluffy biscuits with some butter and strawberry jelly. It’s one of the things I’ve missed IMMENSELY since I’ve been away from the South.

6:30 AM - Arrive in Valdese, safe and sound...

5:08 PM - Shawn has had one hour of sleep and I've had NONE. Lincoln caught up nicely with a 3 hour nap. He's been playing on the front porch and loving life in the South today...

Adios Bloggeritaville!

Okay, so not for good :)

Hopefully not even for as long as the last stint that I was gone. I'm so sorry I've been so horrible lately. Things have been pretty busy around here, and FINALLY, not in a 'Puking/Hospital/Feeding problems/Surgery/Appointments' kind of way. Lincoln has been doing so well that we've been living a somewhat NORMAL life, and it's been great!!!

On Saturday, our friends Ryan and Melinda came to town and Melinda and I went to see Dirty Dancing on stage. It was FABULOUS!! I would recommend it to anyone that happens to be in Toronto in the next little bit. Shawn and Ryan were MORE than happy to babysit, and I'm sure Shawn is wondering if he should have even let me go. I came home determined that I was going to take lessons and try out for So You Think You Can Dance next year. You'll see, folks. Just wait. Nigel will be saying "Bree has the best legs we've seen all season."

Ryan will be a Daddy soon, and he is going to make SUCH a good one...Lincoln took to him immediately and Ryan is so good with him...

Melinda, thanks for the afternoon out!! I had a fabulous time! We hope to see you guys again before you pop, Melinda.

Lincoln had his first dentist appointment this morning and he did so very well! The pediatric dentist is fabulous and the layout and service is just amazing. Lincoln watched Dora while he waited in the chair and opened his mouth WIDE for the dentist.

All looks well. It was just a general first appointment, to get him in the system. We'll go back in 6 months, but they don't think he'll need a cleaning for another year or so. He has 12 teeth with 2 on the way. A mouth full, I tell ya...

But anyway, about saying 'Adios...' We're leaving tonight for North Carolina for an entire MONTH!! Yaaay! Anyone who is in town can swing on by my parents! I'd love to see any and everyone, so let me know when you're available. Shawn will be there too, but he'll be studying every day for 8-9 hours, so I'm especially interested in lunch dates :)

I'll update from NC, while I'm drinking sweet tea and eating pork rinds.

Ever wrapped a Bumbo??

Our friends are having a baby...What was on their registry?? A Bumbo, of course! Who doesn't?! So I got one...and another gift...but then today, I was faced with the challenge of wrapping the thing. Really?!! What were the Bumbo people thinking?! The box could EASILY be square...It could. But here it is. This 'perfect' shape with six sides (what is that, anyway? A hectagon?) This took me, FOR.EV.ER!

M and R, you better appreciate this wrapping job...I mean, really...Look at those corners. Professional, I tell ya.

Also, for those who follow...(and care about Lincoln instead of a funny shaped box enclosing a foam seat that a child may/may not sit in)...

Lincoln had an appointment this morning with his Neurosurgeon to discuss the CT scan preformed last Friday. Everything was the same as the previous, so Lincoln was told NEVER TO COME BACK!!! :) YAY!!

He has officially been discharged from Neurosurgery at Sick Kids. The surgeon said that he isn't COMPLETELY out of the woods, but that we would notice symptoms first, if anything were to develop. As Lincoln grows, we're to look for increased vomiting, fatigue, and complaints of headaches (as Lincoln can communicate such)...

We're VERY happy with this news...

"My Mom sucks at blogging"

Lincoln has started taking his pants off at night and throwing them over the crib railing...


At the park, I really DO try to take pictures for the blog...

Lauren: "Should we look at the camera??"

Lincoln: " No. Absolutely not. Let her think we don't even notice her."

Lincoln: "QUICK!! Seperate! You go that way..."

Lauren: "Mason?!!? Where are you going?! Lincoln's Mom is trying to take pictures of us at the park!!!"

Mason : "Pictures are for wussies!"

No explanation needed :)

Private property

So Lincoln has his ultrasound and CT scan yesterday, for two totally different issues. The CT was for his head and the ultrasound...well, that's private...at least that's what Shawn says anyway. Although from this picture, you may be able to discern what it was for :)

And if you figured it out, this is how 'Lincoln of the future' (and Shawn) feels about that...

We'll have the results of both by next Friday, and I'll be sure to fill everyone in if something is terribly wrong.

We've had a fairly uneventful weekend. We did go to Sugar Mountain today...Shawn's absolutely favorite store ever opened...

His family has a thing for black licorice. I, myself, can't understand the fascination. It smells like pipe tobacco, which smells fabulous if it's in a pipe and someone is smoking it (shout out to Uncle Bo) but just horrible if it's in candy form and you're supposed to eat it. Ick. Nevertheless, this store has mounds of the stuff and Shawn adores it, so we frequent it often.

I can't complain. It's one of the few places I've found in Toronto that carries my childhood favorite, Sparkle Laffy Taffy. Don't hate. Appreciate.

And if we didn't know it before (but I mean really...look at that head...how could we not) Lincoln is Shawn's son. We found out today that not only has Lincoln inherited Shawn's cranium, but also his love for these horrid candies...