What we've been up to

The past few weeks have gone by so quickly as Jon and I are enjoying our time with Finnegan while we try to squeeze in visits with family and friends. Right now we are dealing with the trying process of purchasing a refrigerator as ours went with little to no warning and we woke up to mostly spoiled food two mornings ago. I think today is the day we will make our first adult appliance purchase though neither of us is looking forward to spending the money.

In other updates of our summer, Carmen and I went to see Cyndi Lauper a few weeks ago at Look Park and it was a lot of fun. Cyndi disappointed a bit as she played blues for nearly the entire night and mostly other people's stuff which I don't have as much respect for. I like B.B. King and many other blues artists, but if you are a well-established artist and people are paying to see you in concert, play your own music. She ended up with only four of her own songs, as the blues music is technically on her new album but I don't believe any of them are originally her own songs. "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" didn't even sound like her and the audience was better at singing the right notes than she was. I was also hoping for "Good Enough" only to again be disappointed as she skipped over a cult classic. I wouldn't see her again, but I'm glad I went.

Finnegan is getting so big and has so many new skills. It's rather astounding for a rookie parent such as myself. He is getting three teeth in all at the same time, though the top one is definitely in the lead even though one of the bottom ones made an appearance first. He can also crawl, sometimes on his knees, but mostly with some knee action and the appearance of a wounded soldier. Though he doesn't stick his butt in the air, he uses his toes to grip on and really move himself. He's had a little blister on the bottom side of one of the big ones twice already from crawling. He has also learned to pull himself up and prefers to stand to play with toys now, though he can't "cruise" anywhere other than his crib sides a little. Our leather furniture isn't great for learning this skill and we moved out the coffee table that may have helped him. It just has too many pointy corners and an over hang that is perfect for smacking your head on. We also recently had his 9 month pictures taken by Calli. She does such a wonderful job and really captures the innocence or glee in his emotions. I am grateful to her for working with us to capture his childhood in a way that I cannot. Jon was in Boston at a conference the week we had his pictures taken and so we don't have any family shots this time, but I really like this one of Finnegan and I. I wish my hair wasn't flopped over quite so much, but I like that he is looking right at the camera and isn't necessarily hamming it up. He's so serious sometimes and we rarely capture those moments on camera as it seems more second nature to reach for it during smiles and giggles. It's such a special experience to be his mom. I can't even describe how incredibly lucky and teary/sappy I feel at times that I am blessed with this little boy to love. He is so sweet and bright. I love the way he will play by himself for so long and then suddenly look up and smile before crawling over to climb into my lap for a snuggle or a story. I love the way he tenderly touches my eyebrows and strokes the small hair at the nape of my neck as I carry him. I love that he says mama now, though I'd love it even more if it wasn't always when he is trying to get me to take him out of his crib so he can miss out on nap time. What a lucky person I am in so many ways.

A bit of this and that...

A while back I posted a picture on Facebook of Finn standing on The Complete Collection of Cartoons from The New Yorker. He couldn't quite reach the floor in his Jump-a-roo without it. These days we are ready to raise it up to the next level. :)

I took Finnegan to the Easthampton 225th parade on Saturday and while there he had a photo shoot with his friends Anny and Drew; they are very cute and all within a few weeks of each other in age. Unfortunately, I didn't ask their moms permission to post their pictures and so here's one of just Finnegan with part of Anny's arm as he steals her toy and grins a look of pure glee.
Jen, a friend from work, and I found this place in Springfield and had to stop for a picture. She actually nearly got her car stuck in an abandoned lot in her efforts to pull over and get a picture. I didn't even know what she was doing initially as she had spotted it first. We decided Finnegan should celebrate his 21st here. I'll let you know if it pans out. :)

First time in the water

On Father's Day we took Finnegan to Musante Beach for his first beach and picnic experience and he seemed to enjoy himself quite a bit. We don't have any beach toys so we brought along some measuring cups and as Finnegan wasn't quite ready for the black bean salad, a few puffs and peaches.

It's so close I can taste it...

Yes, I have a few more days to go, and yes I have more than a few more research papers to go, but I am posting pictures of what is on my mind 24/7 each and every day. Who knew that one person could be so incredibly everything? I can't wait to have no where to rush to, to let him sleep as late as he wants in the morning, to not worry quite so much if bed time is a little late because I won't have to get my guy out of the house uber-early the next day. The part time gig and the money we need will come, for now nothing gets to get in the way of this feeling. :)

Do we really have to wear these dorky hats, Mama? Yes, my love, your father is a BIG fan.
Whole wheat blueberry pancakes and The Very Hungry Caterpillar, what could be better?

Rolly-Polly Finny

Hurray! Finnegan rolled over quite deliberately yesterday. At first we thought it might be a fluke as he sometimes rolls over by "accident." However, he rolled over to his left, was set back on his tummy and did it again and then again another time. It's the three-roll-rule. If it happens three times, you must be a master. We didn't get pictures of the rolls--we were too busy enjoying them, but I do have a few greatest hits from our recent moments with my boy.Finnegan knows how to rock faux Chuck Taylors like no other. These days Finnegan is in the midst of a love affair with his feet. Oh how he loves those two new toys! He will grab at them any chance he gets, stare them down when in an upright position, and try to put them into his mouth. He is absolutely delighted if you put one in his mouth for him. He also grabs on to his pant legs and pulls them towards him in an effort to see his footsies better. Such a silly boy. Finnegan is hanging old school style...

This is Lola's debut on blogger. Finnegan is fairly certain he likes her and he knows for sure that he loves to chomp on her ear. He just isn't sure he needs her in his life all of the time yet. We have been trying to introduce a "lovey" so he will have some comfort when he is sleeping on his own and at day care. So far Lola mostly substitutes as a fluffy chew toy, but hey, she'll take what she can get. Mom slept with that lovey down her shirt for two nights so it would smell like her, so she's personally hoping Lola gets promoted some day soon.

Why, oh why, must you always take my picture, Momma? I'm trying to read here!

Razz-Matazz

What? Do you just read your books? I fully enjoy all parts of mine!

It took four months and now I am nearly too long for it, but I finally like my swing!

Finnegan is an official razzing-machine! I was a bit sad when Jon told me he had heard Finnegan razzing this morning while I got in a cat nap, but I was happy again when he razzed in the afternoon as we were playing and I was able to see it first-hand. He looks so cute when he does it and of course now that he has discovered this amazing new ability, he did it all evening long. He also razzed in my ear as I was trying to get burp him in an effort to get him snoozy and off to dream land in his cradle. I had to laugh out loud as I had thought he was asleep, but no, he was waiting for the perfect moment to blow some raspberries against mom's cheek and in her ear.

This week was also important for Jon and I as we stumbled for a moment in our resolve and then picked ourselves back up again. We had already decided when we would start solid foods and Finnegan sleeping in his own room. Alas, on the 10th his doctor insisted he was ready for solid foods and so we began them. For five days we did what his doctor thought was right before we discussed it and essentially remembered, hey we decide what's right! We have since discontinued solid foods! We also toyed a lot with the idea of putting him in his own room for sleep because of what someone at my parents' group said, but we quickly remembered that we had already made up our minds on the topic and that we need to stick with what we know is best. I think it is so hard to remember that you know what is best as a parent when everyone ALWAYS wants to give you their opinion and tell you what you should be doing. Still, we are back on track with our sweet little boy and enjoying all of our moments together.

Happy Valentine's Day from the boy in the red sweater

Fantastic Mr. Finnegan

I love my boy and therefore he most certainly is fantastic, but I am not loving this past week of waking up every hour or so at night. I don't know what stage/phase we're in, but we want out! Last night it was more like every forty minutes or so and that makes for one tired mama! The Fantastic Mr. Finnegan has been napping and/or grumpy all day and every time he fusses, I find new patches of patience as I know he's just expressing aloud what Jon and I are both feeling inside--utter fatigue! :) Still, since he's so stinkin' cute we'll forgive him his nighttime indiscretions as he forgives us our rookie parenting moments.
These two pictures were taken during his three month shoot from a friend's older sister and we are in love with nearly all of the photos. It's hard to decide which ones to put on our wall.
Today we had a small birthday dinner with my mom's side of the family for Jon's 33rd birthday and all of the cousins got together for their first official photo. My nephews Judson and Walker are getting so big and it's hard to believe they are twins at this point. They look and act so very different. Ardis is getting pretty big herself and is pleased to no longer be "the baby" in the family. Finnegan was a good sport and let everyone hold him and give him plenty of kisses. He is getting to be such a big guy! I was all prepared to wait for solid foods but he's so long and already 15 pounds...I am thinking it might be time to try him out with some cereal.