You are the best thing that's ever been mine.

Plenty to be thankful for

I've got plenty to be thankful for
I haven't got [a] great big yacht
To sail from shore to shore
Still I've got plenty to be thankful for

I've got plenty to be thankful for
No private car, no caviar
No carpet on my floor
Still I've got plenty to be thankful for

I've got eyes to see with, ears to hear with
Arms to hug with, lips to kiss with,
Someone to adore

How could anybody ask for more?
My needs are small, I buy 'em all
At the five and ten cent store
Oh, I've got plenty to be thankful for

I've got eyes to see with, ears to hear with
Arms to hug with, lips to kiss with,
Someone to adore

How could anybody ask for more?
My needs are small, I buy 'em all
At the five and ten cent store
Oh, I've got plenty to be thankful for

The blue zip back hoodie

Ta da! Here it finally is!

Last night I finished the zipper on Finnegan's hoodie and this morning we had a fashion show over the top of his pajamas. An odd glare from the drool in his mouth, but still stinking cute.
Okay, so it is a little big, but with a layer underneath it will be perfect and next year it should work too. I made the 18-24 month size so that we could get two years out of it.
Jodi and Finnegan are all about the i-phone.

I drool, therefore I am.
A cute shot other than the string of saliva, alas we are hardcore teething in these parts. Love Finn, love his drool. He is also quite the little Casanova with his kisses lately. They involve a bit of a lick at the end. Signature style.

Through the year...

All through the first year of Finnegan's life, Jon and I took pictures each month so that we could track his growth and see how much he had changed. I just hadn't uploaded them all, but here they finally are starting with me the day my contractions started (two weeks overdue, two days before Finn was born). I am at my niece's Halloween-themed birthday party. Jon thought I should go as a pumpkin...I acquiesced, but felt you really had to own such an outfit if you were going to wear it out in public. :)

10 on 10 (sort of...my first so I have 12) :)

The 1st birthday cake!

Jackie's idea; Jonny's creation.

a quick lunch before nap

fresh off the press--the all-important shirt

I love how this turned out. I think it needs a new place of honor in his room.

So cute!

The Hungry Caterpillar has clearly been here to make a hole in every slice!

These would not have been finished on time without Jonny's help.

The birthday boy with his crown!

The "after party" when Finn actually looked like he was having fun. He was overwhelmed and clingy most of the day at his actual party.

Dad and Finnegan post-party run around the yard to induce smiles and squeals. :)

Finnegan's first Rosh Hashanah

My first attempt at challah bread--surprisingly it didn't turn out all that badly.
This is Finnegan's personal round loaf of challah. Apparently you are supposed to have a round loaf of it for Rosh Hashanah. The people at PJ Libraries are definitely getting their money's worth as they are teaching both Finnegan and me about Jewish culture! :)

This is Finnegan and Jon having a special Rosh Hashanah dancing moment--as far as I can tell this isn't a proper tradition, but it may need to become one in our house. Finnegan loves being danced, waltzed especially, all around the house. Giggles generally ensue.

We didn't have apples and honey for the new year because a) Finnegan can't have honey yet and b) Finnegan hates apples (unless they are being eaten by mama or daddy in which case he wants to bite and drool on them). Finnegan did make a few new year's cards and they are quite cute. Here is what he was up to earlier in the day:

"Oh Mama, I see you're putting away the bowls and your back is turned for 15 seconds. Let's see what I can do."
"You don't mind if I throw dishes on the floor, do you? I think it's faster than putting them back into the cabinet and besides, I need to make room for my copy of The Hungry Caterpillar (see bottom rack of dishwasher)."
"What, why are you looking at me like that? I'm just trying to help. Who knew I could climb up on the dishwasher door and then jiggle the top shelf like some type of monkey?"

Here, there, and everywhere!

Finnegan is quite the explorer these days and he is interested in anything and everything. One very important part of his day is going to our stairs with ugly blue carpet and picking out the carpet fibers to try to eat them. When we first moved in we made the mistake of allowing one of our cats to scratch the stairs because we thought the carpet was ugly anyway. Unfortunately, she favored (and still does) the bottom stair and so, at any given time, Finnegan enjoys picking fibers off of the stair. He is very sneaky about turning his back on you in the living room and first waving his hand in the air as though he is only going to play with it before stealthily (and casually at the same time!) trying to pop it into his mouth.

Today was day three of my new "job" and I must say I am loving it. The finances, the wonderment of others, etc they matter so very little. I am doing the best possible thing I can think of in the world and everyday I am paid in smiles, giggles, and my personal favorite, snuggles of his head against my shoulder and his cheek smooshed against mine.