New Beginnings...

Blog gap once again, so sorry.

Update on Lincoln's nose:
We went back to the doctor on Monday the 15th and Dr. Mary sent us over to a Plastic surgeon to look at Lincolns nose. Dr. Wennen said that he needed to stitch it up and since there was no way to hold Lincoln still enough for the procedure they would need to put him under anesthesia to do it. So we stayed the night in town that night and early the next morning went over to the hospital for Lincoln to get his nose fixed. He couldn't eat anything for 4 hours before the surgery and usually eats every 2 hrs so he was pretty grump. They put a thing on his toe, we put him in the hospital gown and then they took him from me. :( The anesthesiologist said they probably wouldn't need an IV for the meds because it would be really quick but it took longer than they thought so they used an IV in his foot. Dr. Wennen cut off the edge of the nose that was hanging off to smooth it out and reattached it to his nose with 4 stitches. From the time they took him from me to when I got him back was about an hour. He woke up from the meds super super mad. I could here him coming a long ways away. (they said all kids wake up mad because their brains aren't developed enough to understand what is going on and why they are feeling so weird.) Anyways so as soon as they gave him to me I fed him and he ate a lot (thank goodness my boobs were about to explode). He threw up once , like they said he probably would from the meds, and once we left the hospital and he was in the car he slept the rest of the day.
He had to wear these arms deals so he couldn't touch his nose and injure it while it was healing. That was a long 2 1/2 weeks.
So now his nose is pretty much healed. it still pink and you can see where the stitches were and it has kinda puckered up in some spots but his its way better how it is now so we are happy with it.

More new, Brian and I have move to Anchorage! Brian started attending University of Alaska Anchorage on Monday Aug. 29th in the Aviation Program to become a Professional Pilot. We are so excited! He absolutely loves to fly and now he will be pursuing the dream of becoming a Professional Pilot. We are still moving into our place but we love it. We have running water we can drink and a bath tub to bathe Lincoln in and its just awesome. Its a 1200sq 2 bedroom apartment in a four plex. It has bran-new carpet too!!! I am so loving that! Anyways I will post pictures soon of the place.

Lincoln update:
He turned 5 months old yesterday on Aug. 31st. We picked up the high chair Brian's grandparents gave us for our Baby Shower ages ago and Lincoln had his first experience with Rice Cereal and he loved it! He was grabbing my hand to shove the food in his mouth! I am so excited for him and so happy I didn't have to fight him on it one bit. :)

Ashley's News:
I have lost all my baby weight plus 12lbs and I just bought a pair of pants 2 sizes smaller than the size I have been for the last 8 years! I don't really know how I am doing it. My whole life I was super active and was never able to lose weight. Now that I am not active I try and watch what I eat as far as portion sizes and I try to cut out some sugar and fatty foods like breads. Yes, I Ashley have been cutting out some breads. Mostly just white bread and I figure if its wheat I can eat however much I want. :) So the only thing I think is really helping me is my little man. He is a big eater so my body has to turn all the food I eat into food for him. I am not complaining at all. Its using energy and the food I eat so my body is doing me a double service. Thank you little man. ;)

First Fall at 4 months

Well on Monday August 8th Lincoln took hi first fall :(

I was cleaning and he was hungry and tired but I was almost done so I put him down in the middle of the bed for one or two minutes. I was right next to the bed the whole time and I was about to go pick him up and right then I heard a thud.

He rolled off the bed.

I ran over to him and picked him up and found his mouth full of blood from a cut of his lip and from part chunk of his nose cut open. It wasn't good. I just kept saying "Mommy's sorry, Mommy's sorry, I'm so sorry." and yes I cried. In that moment all I could think about is how I wished there was a way I could go back in time and make the decision to stop the cleaning and take care of my baby boy who is way more important then having a vacuumed floor. It was awful to say the least.

So today, august 11th Daddy and Mommy flew little Lincoln in to the doctors for his 4 month check up and so they culd look at his nose. Right away Doctor Mary said it didn't look good and probably had a staff infection. (I tried keeping it clean with neosporin on it but little man likes to shove toys in his face and rub his face against his blanket when going to sleep so its quit hard.) So Dr. Mary cleaned it up good and took a culture of it and sent us home with two prescriptions for it. Other than meds there isn't much we can do. She said he will definitely have a scar but hopefully it will heal quickly.


I feel so so bad. Lincoln hardly ever if at all rolls so I wasn't worried about putting him in the middle of the bed for just a min. or two. Guess I was wrong. From now on he only gets left on the floor or in his crib. ** Note, when I put Lincoln on his tummy on the floor he still doesn't love it and hardly ever rolls over (hence why I thought it was ok to leave him in the center of the bed for a min). He likes to play with his toys for a little bit but then get frustrated and just starts chewing on his hands. Hopefully tummy time will become more enjoyable soon :)

Lincoln is doing pretty good though. At his 4 month check up today his stats were:

Weight: 15lbs 15oz 65%

Height: 25 1/4 " 70%

Head: 30%

He's is a growing boy. He drools like crazy, loves to blow bubbles and loves to put anything and everything in his mouth. He has kinda learned to jump. It's so cute. One of my very favorite things he has started doing since he turned 4 months is rubbing his eyes. It's so adorable to see him rub his eyes when he is tired. I just love it!

I love watching him learn and discover new things all the time. He is doing so good and is just the light of my life.

Lincoln, Mommy and Daddy love you so much! You are such a blessing in our life and we are so happy to know we get to be with you for all eternity! Thanks for being our little boy.

Mommy's favorite things...

Things mommy loves about Lincoln at 4 months old.

I love how you smile and stick your tongue out at the same time

I love how your dimple on your right cheek is so much deeper than the one on your left.

I love that you're starting to laugh....like really laugh.

I love that you know your mom and dad and when you see your dad walk by you just start smiling.

You love mirrors and its fun to watch you laugh at yourself.

I love that when I pick you up from your crib when you wake up your butt is all pushed out with your back arched from stretching.

I love that when you're done eating you will just look up at me and start talking to me.

I love that you love your diaper being changed and usually start laughing when I take your diaper off. The other night you were laughing really hard while I was wiping your bum. Mom and dad were laugh at you.

I love the shy smiles you get some times.

I love your little snake tongue.

I love how expressive your eyes and eyebrows are.

I love that you have huge hands, feet and ears (just so you know little man all those qualities come from your fathers side of the family so you can blame him when you are older)

I think its funny and frustrating how picky of an eater you are already at this age.

I love how when you're eating and there is a noise you will stop and raise your eyebrows and look around for what was going on.

You're not great at rolling over yet but you can do it. I just think you forget how to because you get mad when you're on your tummy for too long.

I love that you love to stand up. Ever since you were 2 months old that is all you want to do. You have gotten better at being ok when you sit and lay down though.

You are obsessed with eating your hands. I am pretty sure you think they will make everything better even though they haven't given you any food yet.

You really love to grab at faces now. Every time you are close to any ones face you put both hands out and lean toward them trying to grab at any part you can get your hands on.

Today you were sitting with Aunt Megan and she was sitting a little in front of mom and you kept turning around just to stare at me. It was so fun to watch you smile and stare at me and that you took so much effort to turn around just to do so.

I think its funny how much time you spend under the table in the kitchen. You love your exersaucer and we put you in it to play but there isn't much room so most of the time you are half way under the table, but you can still see us so you are ok.

You hate bath time. You have screamed during every bath except three or so since you were born. Hopefully some day you will like them.

I love your many cute smiles and laughs. Dad and I are pretty sure you are the cutest little man that has ever been born.

Your dad loves to rub your head. He loves that you are bald and thinks that you should stay that way forever. Mom tries to stop him from rubbing any existing hair that you might have off so you aren't completely bald.

Mommy and Daddy love you so much. You have changed their life forever but you have changed it for the better. You are our whole world and we are so blessed to have you.

Catching Up

OK I am so far behind so here is a quick update and some things I want to make sure I don't forget.
***When I sat down to write this I really did mean for it to be a quick update but I guess considering how much has happened it is a brief update of our lives over the past few months.***

-Around father's day after Lincoln had turned 2 months old he rolled over! Doesn't do it often but is capable of it.

-The day Lincoln turned three months old he got two cuts on his fingers. (Mom has no clue how it happened. She picked you up and handed you to your Uncle and then walked away and saw blood on her arm. I looked at your fingers and saw you were bleeding on your middle finger and your thumb. You didn't care at all. I guess it didn't hurt :))

- Shortly after Lincoln turned three months old he was too big for his baby bath so he got his first bath in the kitchen sink. He stood up the whole time. They kids doesn't love to sit down at all really. He also screams the whole time during most baths.

-When Lincoln was three and a half months old we took our first family vacation to Idaho/Utah for a Harry family reunion.

-The first flight Lincoln was ok. Not great but ok. He screamed a couple different times because he was grumpy and didn't want to eat but was hungry and tiered. (not a good combination) The second flight (the short flight might I add) Lincoln slept the whole way! Thank you Lincoln.

-The trip to Idaho to see family was amazing to say the least. Lincoln was able to see his grandparents again and met a lot of new people. Lots of Aunts and Uncles that were dying to meet him and cousins too. It was so fun to be there with all the kids. The first night we were there Dallon wanted me to play with the chalk with him, He laid on the floor and watched me paint my toe nails, and he was just so fun to be with. I can't wait for Lincoln to be that age so we can play. :)

-I also got to see my best friend Robin and my second mom Anna while I was home. It was amazing! I love those too so much. Every time I see them it makes me so happy and remember so many good times growing up together. I can't wait to see them again.

-I also got to see my friend Rachel! Man that was nice. I haven't seen her in so long. We were always missing each other when we were able to be home because we were both so busy and then I went and moved to Alaska so it really made seeing each other hard. But it was really good to see her and chat and catch up with what's going on in our lives.

-After a few days in my hometown (which I love despite husbands dislike for it's "Ghettoness"), we drove to Bear Lake and went camping with Laura, Payden, Jake, Heather, all their kids, and my parents for a night before the actual reunion started. That was so much fun! I haven't been camping in a long time (even though I debate weather my everyday life is an extended camping trip) it was still fun. I just loved seeing my sis and her little kiddos and my bro and his kids. What fun it is to have so many little smiling faces around. I am so glad our family is growing and we get to enjoy all the wonderful things kids bring to life. Brian, Lincoln and I slept with Laura, Payden, Braylie and Treatyn in their camp trailer that night. It was fun all of us being together.

-The next day the family reunion started and I got to see my sister Kim for the first time in a year and a half! That is a long time people! The last time I saw her was a month after I was married. From being married to then having a child it was a long time in between seeing each other and we were so happy to be together. I really just loved being with all my family. It was a total blast.

-We celebrated my grandmas birthday while the whole family was together and I just have to say that she is the sweetest lady in this whole world. I love my grandma so much. I wish I was closer to her so I could spend more time with her so she could share her wisdom of life with me.

-My grandma started crying a couple times when she was expressing her love for he family and I couldn't help but cry. I can't see he cry and not cry. It also made me stop and think about how in a few short years I will be in her place with Lincoln and all my other kids all grown up with kids and grand kids of their own. I can't believe it but I know that when I get there I will be so grateful, just as my grandmother is, for my children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and for all the joy and love they will bring in my life. It is truly a miracle and a blessing that Heavenly Father has given to all of us to be blessed with family.

-**Side Note** I have been thinking a lot lately about family and being a mother. It is really amazing. I am so blessed that I was able to carry my child for 9 months and during that time he was able to progress from being a little speck of an organism into being a little human being completely functional and absolutely perfect. That alone is a miracle. Then after that I get to raise this sweet angle Heavenly Father has blessed me with. I get to see him discover new things, and learn and grow and change with each new day. It is amazing and I thank Heavenly Father every day that he has blessed me with this most precious gift.


-Ok so after the reunion we came back to AK. WOW was that a journey. We left Utah at 1pm to drive to Boise get on our flight at 9pm. We got to AK at 2:30 am. Slept in the car til 5am. Then flew to camp and got here at 7am. Then my amazing husband went straight to work and worked till 9pm that day! He amazes me, really. Lincoln screamed for about 15 min straight (it felt so much longer) on the first plane while we were just sitting in the plane waiting to take off. FINALLY I got him to go to sleep right before take off and he slept that whole plane ride. He didn't even wake up when we landed. He woke up for about an hour while we were getting food in Seattle and then when we got on the next plane and I put his jammies on he fell asleep and only woke up to eat the rest of the trip (Like all the way to camp...that's a long time people! he did great)

So as far as whats been going on since we have been back from vacation.....

-Lincoln is now 4 months old!!! So crazy! month 3 flew by really fast.

-Lincoln is sick :( He started with just being congested but now he is congested and has a cough. His dad is also sick and between the two of them blowing their noses (ok I suck the boogies out of Lincolns nose but you get the point. There are lots of boogies everywhere!) and coughing up stuff, I am so surprised I haven't gotten it. Lets hope it stays that way and the boys get better soon. Lincoln's Doc wants to see him in a couple days but I'm not sure we will be able to get into town. We'll see.

-Don't know if I have mentioned this yet but we are being filmed for a tv show that is coming out in December about Alaska gold Mining and so it has made things interesting this season. It was totally weird at first but now we have gotten use to having extra people around and a camera showing up in your face at a moment notice. They said they want to interview me in the next couple days...not looking forward to it. I mean I have been video taped doing things around camp and taking the lunches out to the guys but I really don't need them to just point the camera at me and ask me lots of questions. No thank you. But it will be happening anyway, unless they forget...lets hope they forget.

-We found a place to live! Oh man am I excited! It is a nice 2 bedroom 1 bath place that has been remodeled. I am so excited. I am really looking forward to moving in somewhere and knowing we will be there for a while. We have only ever stayed at a place for 2 months so thinking we will stay at this place at least for a year if not 4 years is amazing! I am so happy I will be able to unpack everything and know I wont be needing the boxes back right away.

-I am so happy for my hub to be starting school! He has always wanted to further his education but we never knew when that day would come. We have thought really hard about it and change our plans many time (ask my family) but we are very excited that he will be starting his schooling this month to become a Professional Pilot and get his Bachelor degree in Aviation Management. The boy loves the sky so that's where he'll be for a long time :) I am so happy to see him happy and excited to take on this new adventure :)

Ok so that it for now. No photos because of the internet problems we have here but at least I have internet right?!

2 Months Strong

Ok so I wrote this blog post about a month and a half ago so forgive me for not posting it. Since we are living in the bush right now I can't upload pictures to blogger so I haven't been motivated to blog much. It has been so long though that I figured I mine as well post something with out pictures so here you go. :)

Lincoln just had his 2 month check up and along with that he had his shots. He did pretty well I thought. Of course he screamed during them and was upset but right after it was all done he just went to sleep. What a good baby considering he spent that whole day and night in his car seat. (Thank you Lincoln for loving your car seat. If you didn't it would be a miserable time for you and mom.)

Anyways the stats from his doctor appointment are:
Weight: 12lbs 15oz, 75%
Hieght: 23.5in 60%
Head: 30%

The doctor said he is doing very well developmentally wise and is probably a little above average!!! YAY for you Lincoln!!
Also we discussed his poor eating habits and throwing up constantly with the doctor and she said that since he is gaining weight well that it wasn't too much of a concern but to continue to keep him propped up and don't lay him down flat plus give him gas drops 4 times a day. It seems to be helping and I hope he grows out of this fast because I go through a lot of burp cloths in a place where its not always easy to do laundry.
Over all though she said he is doing great! He is a healthy happy boy :)


We flew into town for Lincoln's doctor appointment and it was his first flight. He did great, slept the whole way.