Finn: Nine + TEN months

SO much has been going on these past couple of months it's been difficult to keep up! Finn is growing at a rate that I totally cannot fathom. I swear he wakes up each morning a new baby! Literally afraid to blink. And my (s)mothering is in full-swing because I just do not want to miss a beat! I love everything about being this boys' momma. <3 

 

 At NINE months 

Developmental Milestones:

Two front teeth plus two bottom sprouting in.

Walking around/scaling furniture.

Very controlled fine motor movements.

So curious with everything he has, will analyze and turn a toy/object around in his hands for a solid 5 minutes before playing with it.

Still TONS of babbling, but no words.

Eating: A bottomless pit this one is. Wants to sample anything mom and dad have, and is eating 3 solid "meals" a day plus snacks. We know he doesn't like something if he dramatically gags the moment it touches his tongue. Still drinking down 7 oz. of milk every 3-4 hours. Introduced some formula as my supply is dwindling, though, still gets as much breast milk as possible.

Weight: 21. 9 lbs.

Height: 28 3/4

Hair: Strawberry blonde and getting the sweetest little curls in the back!! Swoon.  

Play: Is literally attached to his breast pump hose, and now also a toothbrush. Loves to get chased by mom and dad (he will crawl super fast but then turn and crouch/laugh really hard in anticipation of us catching him!). Loves to attack his pets...particularly our cat Jappetto, who is the only one that will just lay there and be tortured. Loves being outside and playing next to the front door where he can watch whats going on outside.

{{Weekend Mornings}}



 

A slow, easy-going, Sunday morning. It truly is ironic how I never really was a morning person until our little came along. Now, mornings are our absolute favorite. Most mornings we bring Finn into bed with us until we're all ready (or if we're talking a week day, forced) to get up. He's always the happiest, snuggliest little bub first thing in the morning and I dread the day that he is no longer.   

As a boy that's constantly on he move, we literally have to dress him as he's in motion.

{{Gratitude}}

Gratitude. What does having gratitude, being gracious, even mean? I typically live my life thinking and feeling as though I'm a grateful human being. Which I am, truly; I think. But how much of being grateful is that of me just saying I'm grateful and how much is that of me actually being grateful? I'm mind-screwing myself right now, I realize that. But every once and awhile I feel as though a reality check is owed to myself. A time to process my life, my intentions, my thoughts...it's necessary. And maybe by processing them on this little corner of the web, I can help others process their own thoughts and bouts of "feelings," like the ones I'm about to spill all over.

I pray every day, and I count my blessings. That I do. I have a great job, a loving husband, a beautiful baby boy, an adorable little home, a generally positive attitude, food to nourish myself with every day, and family and friends I wouldn't trade for anything...and I'm thankful for that. But being grateful goes so much beyond that, doesn't it? It's sick and it's twisted...but posts like these, and mindsets like these where I question my level of gratitude are typically a consequence of tragedy. Not even personal tragedy...but tragedy that I happen to come across  while reading headlines in the news, for instance. Terrorism, animal abuse, prejudice...this time in particular, my husband and I came across the story of Joey and Rory Feek. Joey is a young, beautiful women who happens to have cervical cancer. She and her husband Rory also happen to have a gorgeous baby girl with down syndrome. Joey is at home in hospice, and is at peace with what is happening to her.

{{8 Months Old; What?}}

I'm a little late in getting to this, but some time, some how, our little man turned 8 months old on us. This month has been a big one with regard to developmental milestones, and amongst other fun things. His looks, what he's capable of doing, so much has changed in the last month and it just blows my mind and rocks my world all in the same.

 

 

Developmental Milestones:

 

Crawling anywhere and everywhere.

 

Pulling self to standing on almost anything and attempting to take steps. (Though his wobbly little legs just aren't ready for that yet, resulting in many crashes and a bruised up little melon).

 

First 2 teeth are in!

 

No words yet, but lots of babbling.

 

Facial expressions are out of control and absolutely hilarious! Mimics our expressions.

 

 

 

Eating: Still at about 5 to 8 oz. every 2.5 hours. Two solid meals a day. Recently started offering more "solid" solid foods and bits + pieces of what mom and dad are having for dinner. Also introduced a little bit of cottage cheese, which was his first encounter with dairy. He typically eats whatever we offer him, but gags when given peas. I think its the chalky texture that gets him there.

 

Weight: 21. 2 lbs.

 

Height: 28 1/2

 

Hair: Ugh the prettiest, strawberry blonde hair.

 

 

Play: Loves to roll balls back and forth, his interactive "chair," stackers, and really anything that makes noise. Fine motor skills are getting so great too and you can really see that in his play! Anything you give him he'll analyze and look over with the most serious face for a few minutes before really playing. Loves his fur brothers and sisters...especially capturing all of their tails. He's been testing his limits too lately and going after "no-no's" like plugs/cords and the fireplace. Also, this kiddo loovess shoe laces and rummaging through the diaper bag.The breast-pump hose, however, continues to be his ultimate favorite thing to gnaw on/play with.

{{Finn is 7 Months!}}

Time has flown yet again and our little bubs is now a 7 month old. I must say I've absolutely adored each and every stage of our Finn man, but, I think this might be my favorite age yet! He is just so interactive, so intrigued by all that's around him. I love watching him learn and he's developing such a funny little character! Here are some of this months' goodness:

Developmental Milestones:

His first 2 teeth are cutting in! And wouldn't ya know it, it's his top two teeth. My little beaver. <3 (7 months, 10 days).

Officially started crawling at 7 months, 12 days.

Pulling himself to standing.

Eating some non-pureed solids, such as teeny pieces of banana and organic teething wafers.

Actually turns pages of books- rather than holding and shaking the book like a little maniac.

Holding own bottle.

Eating: 5-7 oz. every 2.5 hours plus 2 pureed meals of a fruit/veggie, single grain oatmeal, and small, chopped up solids.

Weighs: 20.1 lbs.

Inches: 28 1/4

Play: Oh this boy is definitely demonstrating his curiosity for new things and moving around constantly. Especially now that he's crawling, that's a green light for him to take off the instant he sees something remotely interesting (or something he'd like to put into his mouth). His favorite things right now are an interactive, talking chair he got from his Aunt B., reading books, riding his sweet Christmas cruisers, and chewing on the hose to momma's breast pump (ha).

Sleep: Sleeping decently. Typically up at 1am and 5 am for feedings.

Size: 9-12 and some 12-18 month clothes. Size 4 diapers.


What He Loves: 

Chewing on momma's phone, the remote, etc.

Sid the Science Kid

Bath time and splashing around in water

Swimming!

His newfound independence from learning to crawl (sobbing)

What he DOES NOT love:

Teething.

The snot-sucker. Bloody.murder.screams. when the nose sucker comes out. The poor child has been scarred for life after a nasty cold and having that thing in his face 24/7. 

{{A Laskowski Christmas}}

Our first Christmas as a family of three has come and gone, already! I was totally in the Christmas and holiday spirit early on this year. All I could think about was how much joy this time of year would bring to Finn from here on out. That notion in itself was enough for me to dig into our holiday décor early November and flood the homestead with some good ole' "cheer;" and naturally, Home Alone, Christmas Vacation, and Rudolph were on blast mode in the background since the day after Thanksgiving...actually...since Thanksgiving night. No shame here. The sounds and smells of this time of year are so comforting and cozy and I just couldn't get enough of it!

Our little bubba came down with a nasty cold the week prior to Christmas, and was at the tail-end of it by the time Christmas morning came; thus, a snot-covered, miserable, snuggly little man is what we had. Despite, he had so much fun ripping into his presents (and we were totally shocked at those fine motor skills in doing so!). Our hearts were spilling over, and I was a blubbery mommy mess. Oh the joy, oh my heart.

Snippets from our Christmas:

{{6 Months of Finn }}

Another month has gone by and this one is a biggy. We are officially at the half of a year old mark. Six months old, six months young, six months of pure sugar, six of the best months we've ever had in our lives.

  

Developmental Milestones:

Eating two "meals" of puree a day.

Wiggling all around on the floor to get where/what he wants.

Sitting up unassisted for about a minute before toppling over

Grabbing ANYTHING and EVERYTHING he is interested in (and then putting it in his mouth).

Has officially outgrown one of his swings. :(

Reaching for momma, daddy, gramma, and his papa.

Cooing and babbling up a storm.

Throwing things on the floor and then watching them on the ground until someone is able to come pick it up, in which he then throws it on the ground again. :)

Looks Like: Daddy mostly, but again starting to see more of myself in his face around his little mouth.

Eating: 5-7 oz. every 2.5 hours plus 2 pureed meals of a fruit/veggie and single grain oatmeal.

Weighs: 18.9 lbs.

Inches: 27 1/2

Play: Is really interested in anything he can reach out for and actually accomplish grabbing, mainly, interested in things that are not his toys (remote, phones, I-pad). Loves his exersaucer, playing with toys on his belly, and anything that allows him to be in motion.

Sleep: Still some nights of struggle, but for the most part he's back to only getting up once in the middle of the night for a feeding (typically 2am).

Size: 6-9  to 9 month clothes. Size 3 diapers.

Hair: Blondie. More and more each day. It's so soft I just rub my cheeks all over that fuzz.

Eyes: BLUE. <3

What He Loves: 

Putting all things in his mouth

Reading (chewing on) books

The movie "Home"

Bath time

Dancing with momma

Avocados

Currently obsessed with our kitty Jappetto

Grabbing cheeks and pulling us in for wet smooches