April 5, 2014

DSC_0739We started the week by heading to Menard’s on a sunny Sunday. It was the first time Finn got out of his stroller and walked through a store, as opposed to being carried! He was quite proud of himself, gauging by the huge smile on his face, and loved pushing the stroller about. And he expended quite a bit of energy!

IMG_20140330_145148826

The weather is finally beginning to get a little bit warmer and my work is slowly picking up the pace, but I was able to get home one night early enough that we went out to eat together at Liberty Tavern. There was live music which we all enjoyed, but Finn especially, as he bounced around in his high chair.  DSC_0596 DSC_0594 DSC_0590

Finn is growing by leaps and bounds and continues to babble and say new words all the time. He says things like more, uh oh, down, duck, daddy, dada, momma, doggie, dog dog, and nana (for banana) as a start. He’s very good at mimicking sounds and words and mocking noises.  And when he spies you smiling at his cuteness, he often scrunches his nose and does his snorting trick – kinda like, yeah, I’m cute! We absolutely love having Debbie and Sammy come each day. Debbie has been teaching Finn things like shaking his head yes and no, where is your belly, hair, eyes, ears, nose, mouth, etc. He has the shaking his head no and pointing to his belly and hair mastered already :0). She often has a theme for the week, which is so fun to come home to art projects of painting, coloring, and so on. This week they made easter eggs and painted with their feet!

IMG_20140402_220547419photo-2 photo (1)-2This weekend was a busy one, as I’ve begun working at Millcreek on the weekend and Kevin helped his brother Brett, and Missy, move into their new house! What fun (and a lot of work!). He had a good time and while he was away, Finn and I went to our friend Audrey’s 4th birthday party. It was loads of fun on a nice and sunny afternoon that we spent outside, and with his cuzzies to boot! Andy and I took the role of paparazzi and snapped lots of photos. Finn enjoyed chocolate cake and came home exhausted!IMG_20140405_161458232 IMG_20140405_161614722 IMG_20140405_161557217 IMG_20140405_161058626 IMG_20140405_161655522 IMG_20140405_161657822 IMG_20140405_161707228 IMG_20140405_155830204 IMG_20140405_160431961 IMG_20140405_160441318 IMG_20140405_171449406Kevin ended up spending the night in Enon, so Finn and I had a mommy and son weekend. We enjoyed some cuddles, Sesame Street, and play time with the “doggies!”.DSC_0743 DSC_0742 DSC_0736 DSC_0733 DSC_0729 DSC_0727 DSC_0726 DSC_0725 DSC_0699 DSC_0697 DSC_0693 DSC_0691 DSC_0681 DSC_0672 DSC_0668 DSC_0663 DSC_0659

I’m excited that we are planning a fruit and veggie garden this year! We plan on planting a raised bed in the backyard, so while at Menard’s we bought some seeds and starter soil and on Wednesday night (4/2) we planted our seeds! We have started watermelon, cantaloupe, cucumber, zucchini, cherry tomatoes, butternut squash, peppers and in our window greenhouse we’ve planted chives, cilantro, and basil.  Yummers! As of today, Sunday 4/6 they have all begun to germinate!IMG_20140402_214331644 IMG_20140331_212540096 DSC_0751 DSC_0755 DSC_0757 DSC_0761

 

March 29, 2014

DSC_0159

We are on the move around here! Forgive the somewhat fuzzy pictures, but lately it’s hard for me to take a photo that is in focus! A combination of Finn’s speed and my lack of camera skills. In any case, it’s pretty representative of our days around here. We’ve posted a couple of videos this week too so you can see Finn’s full personality.


My work is beginning to pick up and I think once (if ?) the weather ever actually breaks we are going to get slammed beyond belief.  I’ve been enjoying Finn’s schedule in the evenings lately as he’s asleep when I leave in the morning.  It’s been working out that he wakes up from his late afternoon nap sometimes as late as 6:30 or 7, so I get in some fun play time and cuddles before I put him down for bed. And he’s so cute at bed time. He is sleepy, yet happy, and cuddles and babbles quite a bit.  Warms my heart.

Lots of photos on the go this week.  Finn still crawls and cruises to get around, but he definitely is walking more and more with every day. And, what I hope, is the last pictures of the yard looking like winter through the windows! Hoping to use these shades outside soon! IMG_20140324_210252287 IMG_20140324_210305353 IMG_20140324_210318190014032695184641 DSC_0007 DSC_0023 DSC_0060 DSC_0077 DSC_0080 DSC_0094 DSC_0107 DSC_0123 DSC_0125 DSC_0126 DSC_0127 DSC_0151 DSC_0157DSC_0178 DSC_0187 DSC_0198 DSC_0201 DSC_0203 DSC_0207 DSC_0210 DSC_0213 DSC_0221 DSC_0227 DSC_0231 DSC_0233 DSC_0237 DSC_0238 DSC_0240 DSC_0241 DSC_0246 DSC_0247 DSC_0255 DSC_0257 DSC_0260

 

Saturday morning we went to the Columbus Museum of Art where we met Amy to have a family photo shoot. We’re excited to see those photos! There was far more children’s activities and interactive exhibits than I had ever imagined. That evening Finn and I enjoyed some momma and son time while Kevin was out with friends. We enjoyed dinner together followed by Sesame Street. He just loves to watch that show!IMG_20140329_173101547

March 22, 2014

DSC_1123Finn is taking more and more consecutive steps with every day. He is pretty much “almost” walking! Sometimes I look at him and then turn my back and start to do something and when I turn back around to look for him he’s in a totally different place! He can move pretty quietly when he walks so I find him in surprising places!

We started off this week by going to the pediatrician on St. Patrick’s Day for Finn’s 12 month checkup. He was a happy boy that morning, we put on his green shirt and gave him the lucky bear. He is really loving cuddling with soft animals and blankets lately. He checked in at 19 lb 11 oz (24th percentile), 28.75″ (12th percentile), and his head circumference was 46.5 cm (63rd percentile). He was still on antibiotics for his ear infection (through Thursday 3/20). His weight was down 4 ounces from a week ago (at his ear infection appointment), and it was down 4 ounces at that appointment from the previous couple of weeks. So I’m a bit nervous about that, but I asked the doctor and he said since he’s been sick with the ear infection he isn’t concerned right now. He said we’d let him get over the ear infection, and would want to maintain or increase his weight once he’s kicked that. He definitely hasn’t had his full appetite for bottles or finger foods. He’s also getting in his 7th tooth so that could be some of his lesser appetite too. His mood has definitely gotten better since he’s gone on the antibiotics for his ear infection. Poor little guy got a finger prick to check his hemoglobin (which was great), two shots in the arm (measels and chickenpox) and one shot in his leg (Prevnar).  He was worn out for the afternoon and the next day – he got in some extra sleep!

DSC_0979Thursday we went over to Aunt Amy and Uncle Andy’s to celebrate with dessert for Amy’s big 40th birthday! On the ride over Finn and I had some fun in the back seat playing high-five. He loves to give high-five’s when you ask him to 🙂  The kiddos had fun playing and we all enjoyed a nice strawberry cake made by Andy and the boys. DSC_0988 DSC_0994 DSC_0995 DSC_0998 DSC_1000 DSC_1008 DSC_1012 DSC_1016 DSC_1028 DSC_1038 DSC_1045 DSC_1049 DSC_1063 DSC_1068 DSC_1070

This week at Millcreek we nearly completed our office renovations, which include a new office for me! I feel rather spoiled, as my new digs are quite spacious and very nice. The server rack will be moved out, but for now it is in my office. Here is before I moved in and after! I still am working on getting everything in its new place and laying everything out, but it’s a start!IMG_20140318_141943919_HDR IMG_20140318_195837301

Friday after work we headed to Mansfield. My parents were gracious to watch Finn for his first official overnight without momma or daddy! Kevin gave me tickets to a David Nail concert in Medina, OH. So we took Finn, Cammie, and Lily to mom and dad’s and had a nice dinner with them. Then we left Finn to play with Grandma and Grandpa while we headed to the concert. We had a fun time and at the end I got an autographed t-shirt and cd (which I really haven’t ever done, but I figured, hey, why not? It was a small venue and was a short wait!). We arrived back at mom and dad’s Saturday morning, just after Finn got up. Our little man slept so well they woke him up around 9:15 (he’s usually up by 8) so dad could see him for a bit before he went to a church work day (and he hadn’t made a peep so they were getting nervous, I think! I do the same thing when he gets up much later than normal!).IMG_20140321_221318075 IMG_20140321_222408986 IMG_20140321_224204524 IMG_20140322_242534310MG950321-2DSC_1078 DSC_1104 DSC_1116 DSC_1119

Saturday we headed back to Columbus and had a family dinner with Mom, Dad, Amy, Andy, Graham, Rowan, Greta, Kevin, Finn and myself to celebrate Amy’s and my birthdays. We went to a Japanese Steakhouse, which turned out to be tons of fun for the kids as they could watch our chef’s skills with his utensils and tricks! Mom crafted another lovely birthday cake that we enjoyed afterwards back at our house.  Then everyone went home and it was lights out – it was a busy week and weekend and we were beat!DSC_1128 DSC_1135 DSC_1170 DSC_1172 DSC_1176 DSC_1184 DSC_1187 DSC_1199 DSC_1201 DSC_1202 DSC_1220 DSC_1227Kevin and I are enjoying our shakes and making some headway on our weight loss. My parents brought us back these lovely Tervis coolers from their trip to Florida. Now each day I take two shakes to work in these nice travel coolers. Can you guess which is mine and which is Kevin’s?IMG_20140316_101400991Finn and Sam continue to have fun together and this week they’ve enjoyed playing with so many new toys. Here they are playing with Finn’s new Mega Block wagon – pretty cute, eh? Sam’s a strong boy!photo-3 photo-2