Finn and the Sprinkler

Can you believe these photos chronicle Finn's first time playing with a sprinkler? It occurred to me one day that he had yet to have his first experience with one. I remember back to my childhood and how much fun my friends and I had with this simple little contraption. Clearly, it's still cool.

Snack break.

A Work of Art

Here is Finn making his first work of art with paint. That tray of Crayola watercolour paints brought me back to my childhood. They haven't changed a bit!

 

Ta Daaa!

Big Haircut

Ah, the first haircut. It doesn't seem like much to many people, but moms know the significance. It's a point when your baby becomes a little boy, and is no longer mistaken for being an adorable little girl that happens to wear boy clothes. For the rest of the day after Finn got his first haircut, I chased him around with our camera, snapping photos of what felt like our newly grown up little boy. Am I weird for thinking this? Maybe...but I don't think I'm alone here! ...am I...?

Sitting good for Aunty Jenna!

A reward for his hard work...

Lunch time, and suddenly four years old.

Walker, Texas Ranger

It has begun. We have a little walker on our hands. Since this video was taken, which was last week, he has come even further and is more confident about walking. He even walks backwards. I know, genius. I'm going to train him to do the Thriller dance for Halloween. (I have to say, please excuse the mess. In my defense, I DO have a toddler...)

Here's a few photos from the past little while that I hope will bring sunshine, rainbows, and maybe even a few dew drops to your day.

Hard core kid.

He's on the blockwatch committee.

Did you know I can fit my fist in my mouth?

Post-nap hair and post-nap 'tude.

Happiness.

He Turns One.

It was here, now it's gone: the first birthday! It was definitely a whirlwind of parties, cake, toys, pictures and balloons. I'm not sure how many cupcakes I have consumed this week. I thought it better not to keep track...plus, our son's first birthday only comes once. Live it up, right? We began the festivities by throwing Finn a 'family' party. We found this fitting because Finn has eleven grandparents, four great grandparents, one great great grandparent, six uncles, two aunts, several great uncles and great aunts, and just two parents. Although some were not able to make it due to not living anywhere close to the lower mainland, it was quite the shindig!

Five generations!

The boys.

Finn and his great great grandma.

The amazing cake by Karynn's Kupcakes!
Loved this thing.
The fare.
Got used to the cake thing pretty quick.

Then, a whole week later (and his actual birthday in between) we had a friends party, where there were actually other children present. It was almost what you would expect - eight children ranging from six months to four years old running around high on cupcakes and pure adrenaline. It was great. Great, even though I was far less organized for this soiree than the week before. I totally forgot about a cake, so I picked up cupcakes at a local store and my best friend's mother in law (where the party was held) offered to 'whip up' some cupcakes and chocolate icing, complete with piping bag. Wow. I felt like a tool but grateful at the same time, and all ended well. Finn opened more prezzies, ate another cupcake (his last for a long time), got cranky, and fell asleep right after his bath and a book when we got home. And so ends Year One. No more counting by months or weeks, no more nursing, no more formula, no more baby food. I actually have tears in my eyes after writing that sentence. Everyone tells you how fast it goes by, but nobody can prepare you for it. It seems like time slows down when you're in the middle of 3am feedings, exploding diapers and 45 minute nursing sessions, but then all of a sudden you're singing Happy Birthday to a one year old that is almost walking and plays with trucks and eats meatballs.

Well, as this year closes, another one begins. We look forward to it with a brave face and anticipate many more firsts. I heard somewhere once (Okay, it was a TV show. But I'm not telling you which one. Okay fine, it was Alley McBeal) that if you can't look back on the past year and cry at the memories made, it might be considered wasted. This year definitely was not wasted. I don't cry often. But I am. It's been the best year of my entire life.

Love you Finn. We are so glad to be your parents.

Mom and Dad xo

Eleven Months.

Here he is, one month shy of one year old, stacking cups. He is no longer the little blob of baby that laid on the floor looking up at a little blue elephant, concentrating so hard wondering how to touch it. Now he concentrates so intently on how to accurately get the smaller cup in to the bigger cup, and I love to watch the gears turn in his head. I love how when he's done, he's done, too.

Standing Tall.

"Hi, I'm now standing up on things and getting in to stuff and you can no longer leave anything of value anywhere." -Finn

Fathers Day.

Finn, his dad, and the Dad Mug. 

Yesterday was Father's Day. Chris's first! We woke up in the morning and Finn gave him his first gift - a mug with glasses and a mustache that says 'Dad' and a card. Oh, and a little pan Chris has been wanting to get. Kind of a random Father's Day gift, I know, but he had been wanting a little tiny pan to make perfect over-easy eggs in. So he got it. Boom. There was ONE more part of the gift that was supposed to come in the mail but is currently LATE (not pleased) so you'll have to see that later. Chris is bugging me to tell him what it is, but I ain't budging.

The day started out kind of lame after Chris left for church with the McGee's - I lugged a playpen, a tray full of cupcakes, blankets, a diaper bag full of things plus Finn in the car seat in one load down to the car. That wasn't even the lame part. (My shoulders hurt right now and I smell like Rub-A535). Then I realized I forgot Finn's bottle, so I stopped at a pharmacy but they had no bottles under $8. I stopped at Safeway, found one, but then Finn was not satisfied with that bottle so he didn't eat for six hours. Plus we were late for church. SO, after church we ended up going BACK home anyway to get Finn's bottle, feed him and then headed out to Chris's dad's house for Father's Day celebrations. SIGH. Crazy morning, fantastic afternoon and evening. Dinner was great, the conversation full of laughs, and the sun even came out. No matter how your day starts, it's all about how it ends! Happy fathers day to all the dad's. Hope your day was great. :)
 

Us in our swim attire.

Dan and Christine!