2 years + 5 months

As his verbal skills improve, Lincoln's personality continues to shine brighter everyday.  He can be every bit of "two" with an emphatic, "Nnnnnnnno!" but is also a silly goof-ball.  He tends to talk in longer phrases and is getting close to actually being able to have a conversation.  Some of his common phrases these days are, "He-yah" (here) every time he is done with something and wants to give it to you; "Do it 'gain" (do it again) nearly every time you reach the end of a book; "Dare you go" (there you go) after he hands you something.  My favorite is the way he prefaces every opinion or choice with "How 'bout...?"  As in, "How 'bout a piece of bread?" or "How 'bout go 'side (outside)?" or when offered a monster bar for dessert today he said, "How 'bout choc chip [cookie]?"

Eating is always interesting with Lincoln.  He is definitely the "muffin man".  I usually pull out a few mini muffins or a mini loaf of some kind of bread out of the freezer the night before for his breakfast.  He'll occasionally eat Chocolate Mini-Wheats like Emily, but that's about it for cereal.  Lunch is always a toss-up.  He might start off eating great, but after four bites suddenly put down his silverware, run to his room and say "Take a nap!" and stand there until you put him in his crib.  It is completely unpredictable.  He might want to take a nap before he has even started or he might go strong an hour after you're finished eating.  That's why we usually start getting lunch out by 11:15am.  Because of erratic eating patterns earlier in the day, supper is usually his best meal.  However, he might eat nothing but fruit before running off to play again.  At the rate he's going he's never going to fit into any of his pants! (Although he does love candy corn like his mama!)

Lincoln has been enjoying Toddler Storytime at the library this fall.  We usually try to alternate each week with the Preschool Storytime for Emily.  Lincoln is sad when he can't go in with Emily, but also enjoys playing with the train table and other toys at the library.  Some of his favorite finger plays and action games are "This Little Piggy", "Round and Round the Garden" and "Ring Around the Rosie".  He can be found doing any of these to and by himself and giggling just as much as with a group of people.  He also loves all the bouncing rhymes.

As evidenced in previous posts, Lincoln absolutely LOVES playing outside in the leaves.  It has been terrific fall weather to enjoy many hours outside.  However, the weather has turned cooler lately. and Lincoln is having a hard time keeping a coat on.  He wants to take it off before we even get inside our destination and is not cooperative about putting it back on when we have to leave.  When playing outside he usually has it ripped off in less than 5 minutes.  The other day he spent an hour happily playing in 55 degree weather with a brisk north wind wearing just a hoodie shirt.  I tried but soon gave up.  It might be a long winter.  We haven't even gotten to hat & mitten weather yet, but based on the "try-on" session of last year's winter gear, it's not going to be pretty.  Sigh...