Finn's First Bash!

 

A few photos from Finn's 1st Birthday Bash!

 

 

We love you sweet, sweet bubba.

ELEVEN + TWELVE Months

Oh time, an ugly beast it can be. Another two months have passed and here I am writing about Finn's 11th and 12th month! Baby boy is officially a one-year-old and not so much my little baby anymore. I swear to you he woke up on his 1st birthday looking like he was ready to start preschool. Anyway, I still go back and look through this thing at how much he changed each month (I am SO happy I decided to start this blog and document our ham), so I want to finish out with going through the whole year with him! From here on out format will look a little different as I won't be doing "month to months;" rather, weekend adventures, fun new things he's trying, etc.

 

 At ELEVEN months 

Developmental Milestones:

Took his first unassisted steps.

Points, waves, and says "hello, momma, daddy, kitty kitty, and ohhhh."

Began weaning from breastfeeding. :(

Favorite Foods: Mac n' cheese and ANY fruit he can get his hands on.

Weight: 23.6 lbs.

Height: 29 3/4

Play: We had a sneak peak of warm weather this month so boyfriend was loving being outside and helping momma garden! He thinks it's hilarious to be chased after and anticipates being "captured" in the cutest way. Has upgraded from wanting to carry around the breast pump hose, to now a spatula. Loves "reading" books and also eating them; and loves to be worn in a baby carrier.

Finn's Cake S M A S H

Well the time is here, folks. Our little babe is on the brink of turning O N E. How it's possible I do not know, but it's happening! Without a doubt the most beautiful, fun, exhausting, magnificent, and exciting year of our lives. We are so blessed and beyond for being able to parent this mini human who just has so much personality! Watching him grow has been, and will continue to be, a dream come true.  Here are some photos of his cake smash (and by smash I mean gently pick apart, rub in dirt, and then eat) taken by my lovely cousin once again (danagphoto.com)!

 Nature baby here was so intrigued by all the dirt/leaves/Earth he could get into that it took some coaxing from momma to even go near the cake at first. 

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.