The Kohlmans

A long, long time ago (maybe two years?), I saw a cool growth chart on Pinterest . So I pinned it, not knowing when I'd need to make one. Fast forward to now, with this little guy growing like a weed... I've been keeping track of his measurements on the blog, but I wanted a visual reminder of how he's grown as well. We had a board that I'd asked Brad to pick up for this very reason, so yesterday during nap time, we cut, sanded, traced, painted, then later stained. We both love the way it turned out. It's much simpler than the one I pinned, but that fits us. Now all that's left to do is start marking how fast this kid is growing!

For a long while, Lincoln hasn't been at all interested in sitting still to read a book. So, we just read to him while he plays. Just the last week or so, though, he has sat through a few (very short) books. It started with  My Mom Loves Me  on Mother's Day, which I think was my gift from him (the sitting still part. I know he "picked out" the book for me). {I know some of these pictures are completely out of focus, but I don't even care. They're too precious not to share.} It continued when we found a good dog at the library; he's also sat still for Brown Bear, Brown Bear and a few of his Highlights Hello magazines as well. I may have said, during this time, that "this is the best day ever." I have to admit, it does my heart good to get to snuggle my little boy for the three minutes it takes to read one of these little books.

We finally got some much-needed rain here yesterday (almost 3 inches)! When I went to pick Lincoln up at Penny's, he was sitting on the front porch enjoying the storm with all the kids and Penny's family. When we got home, we had to spend some time watching the rain, both inside and out! We even went out to the curb and splashed in the water there. Lincoln wasn't too sure about it at first, but once he figured it out, it was fun!

Almost every day, I have a moment that I think, I want to remember this. This is what makes life beautiful. Like how Lincoln is so engrossed in whatever fruit or breakfast food is on Penny's counter that he forgets I exist. Silly, hungry boy. Like how happy this little boy is to just be outside. Like the sound of his silly giggle and how he pants (yes, like a dog) when he's excited and happy. Like how he runs to me, arms outstretched, when I pick him up at the end of the day. Like how, sometimes, I am enough for him - just me as I am. Like how, while we were at the supper table tonight, the moving truck in the neighbor's driveway pulled away and Lincoln started waving, calling out, "Bye! Bye-bye! Bye!" Like how on the way to Penny's this morning, he insisted on having his dog book so he could "read" for the three minute drive. Like how he giggles and climbs on me when I do abs or planks in the living room, how he hand...

Today while Brad was making supper, I made Lincoln his first blanket fort. It wasn't very elaborate, but it's a good start to build on in the future. I think he liked it!

I have not been taking nearly enough pictures the past few weeks! I'm going to have to pick it up over the summer... Lincoln loves dogs. A while back, he figured out that we have the DVD Marley and Me. He will now go to the TV stand, open the door, and pull out all the DVDs until he finds Marley. Then it carries it around, declaring, "dog. dog. dog." We got a book from the library about dogs, and he sat next to me on the couch for the entire story, which never happens! I'm going to have to find some more nonfiction with photographs of dogs. One day he came home from Penny's with a tattoo! He's had a couple bad spills on the concrete. The first was when I was picking him up at daycare. He stubbed his toe on the step (trying to go up) and banged his forehead on the concrete porch. Ouch! (The picture above is from that day.) A week later, he was running to daddy in the driveway and fell, face first. Thankfully he didn't have any serious side...

{pictures from November 2013} "...These things--the air, the water, the scenery and we who fill these scenes--hold many and many a man to Kansas when money would tempt him away...Here are the still waters, here are the green pastures. Here, the fairest of the world's habitations." -William Allen White, circa 1912

We are gearing up for a crazy political year, at least here in Kansas. I have a feeling that this gubernatorial race will be, far and away, the most hotly contested in my memory. It won't be long, either, before our next presidential campaign is up and running as well. And, as the politics continue to escalate, I have just a little Public Service Announcement for you from your friendly Library Media Specialist. Think . Please think . As you read that article or share that link, stop for just a minute and think. Who is presenting this information? What are their biases? Is it the teachers' union? Anti-tax corporations? Religious groups? A political candidate? As humans, we are all consumers of information. Information is created and disseminated by other humans, by organizations, and by corporations (both of which are run by.... humans!). Humans, organizations, and corporations all have bias. We each see the world through the lens of our own experiences and belie...