wee baby boi : Finnley Alan Miller Blogged

Long Hair

2012-02-07T19:17:00.000-08:00

So...Finn is obsessed with "pretty girls" with long hair. So much so, that he wears his blanket on his head and pretends it's his long hair. He also has an alter ego named "Cassie". I'm not to the point of concern, but it is silly odd behavior. All in all, though...he cracks me up!

Missing Finn

2011-12-20T20:07:00.001-08:00

So, the little guy is off in Atlanta this year for Christmas. He will be back in 10 days! I am counting down the time and I will post so much more when he comes back. I miss the heck out of that little face!

Finn and Lukas

2011-06-01T20:30:00.000-07:00

Just a quick snapshot of Finn and his adorable little cousin, Lukas at Easter. They are too cute together...I know Finn is ready for Lukas to play with him!

screenprints

2011-03-26T07:43:00.000-07:00

I took a workshop at work and spent the entire day screenprinting. I made Finn this cute little t-shirt that he LOVES and won't take off...

I also made some tea towels for my home...

I think they turned out nice...I had a lot of fun!

Just a random...

2011-03-15T12:44:00.001-07:00

because i love this boy so much :)

I've started a design blog...

2011-02-19T13:59:00.000-08:00

I have been blogging about things other than Finn...go check it out here and start following me!

Happenings...

2011-02-09T18:57:00.000-08:00

Ok, ok. My 2011 resolve to be better about posting hasn't been going well, seeing as it is February and I haven't even posted the Christmas pics, yet. Let me begin by saying that we've had some crazy weather here...

A blizzard came through, leaving us stuck indoors. But, the next day we tried to bundle up and build a snowman...we lasted maybe 5 minutes and didn't really get too far on the building part. Finn was cold and wanted to come back in.

I've been working on some home improvement. I have to share my new wallpaper that I am so excited and happy with! My friend, Kristine, came over and helped me put it up over the Christmas vacation. I LOVE IT!

...and some other little things. A few accents...

...and a new bookshelf from Crate & Barrel . LOVE.

and here are some fun pictures from Christmas morning...

...and the best news (saved the best for last). Cindy and Tom adopted a baby boy and they brought him home from Arizona on Christmas Eve. Finn is so excited to have a baby cousin, although he has told me "I just want him to walk and talk!" Welcome Lukas to our family. We love him!

3 years old!

2010-12-12T12:44:00.001-08:00

Today is Finn's 3rd Birthday! We celebrated with Aunt Cindy and Uncle Tom yesterday. We had a great time at Little Monkey Bizness, lunch, and then back home for cake and presents! Finn is one lucky little guy, so many new toys! He is the happiest kid I know! Happy Birthday, Finn!

trick or treat.

2010-10-31T20:06:00.001-07:00

Happy Halloween! Finn and I had a great time spending Halloween with Cindy. Again, her neighborhood is awesome! So many kids and fun things to see. Finn enjoyed giving out candy more than he did receiving! Here are a few pictures:

Want some popcorn?

2010-10-30T18:35:00.000-07:00

Finn and I checked out the Disney movie "Tangled" in 3D this morning. We had a blast and he enjoyed going to the movie! I'm excited that we now get to do things that require a little more attention span.

Rockin' Out

2010-09-26T18:33:00.000-07:00

Finn and I went to see a local kid's band called the "Doo Dads" on Friday night. He was a little shy at first, but soon got in to the music. It was pretty funny and he was the life of the party! At one point he picked up his glass and told me to "cheers" him! Here's some short videos of him rocking out...

Here are some randoms...

2010-09-01T07:34:00.001-07:00

These are pictures from the day Finn left about 4 weeks ago to visit David in Georgia...I miss him!

Little tuxedo man

2010-09-01T07:29:00.001-07:00

I know I've been horrible at posting lately, Finn and I are still adjusting, but my new resolution is to be better :) Here are some pictures from my cousin Alison's wedding, Finn was a ring bearer and wore a little tuxedo, which was adorable! We had a really good time in Indiana, where he got to hang out on the farm, feed baby calves, see the cows, and visit with family. Finn is in Georgia now, visiting his Dad and I just miss his little face! Here are the pics:

dinosaurs!

2010-06-08T17:55:00.000-07:00

My sister and I took Finn to see the dinosaur exhibit at Union Station this past weekend. I only had my cell phone with me, so these pictures aren't the greatest, but they'll do. He was pretty fascinated with all of the fossils, but got a little scared when the dinosaurs came to life.

Finn instructed me to take this photo.

Also, they had a huge model train exhibit, and you can guess who was in heaven at this. We probably could have skipped the entire dinosaur exhibit and stayed with the trains all day.

hope you all had a happy easter!

2010-04-05T19:35:00.000-07:00

iowa.

2010-03-07T18:11:00.001-08:00

Finn and I took a road trip to Iowa this weekend to visit our good friends Marcy and Jairus and their little girl Payton. Finn and Payton were very happy to see each other! I didn't take too many pictures, but here are a few of the highlights, including a very sweet hug caught on camera (there were many this weekend). We had so much fun getting to see our friends again, and just getting away for the weekend. I hope we get to travel that way again soon :)

random silliness

2010-02-28T18:30:00.000-08:00

back up and running.

2010-02-19T18:24:00.000-08:00

Ok, so now that we are settled and adjusted to our new life, I promise I will start posting more. Finn and I have been keeping busy doing lots of fun things. Here's some recent snapshots I took tonight. He got a haircut last weekend :)

Christmas

2010-01-01T15:21:00.000-08:00

We had a really wonderful Christmas this year. Finn must have been a very good boy because he was very spoiled! We are so lucky that my mom came to stay with us and spend a couple of weeks here. We also had a white (very white) Christmas with about 12" + snow. Here are some highlights of the day:

The train and train table were the biggest hit. As soon as he saw this he kept screaming "cool!"

After a nice morning of opening presents, we went to my sister and brother-in-law's house for dinner and some karaoke. Finn provided the beat on the drum.

It really was a great day! We hope you all had a very happy holiday and wish you a very happy new year!

Lucky Boy

2009-12-13T17:45:00.000-08:00

We had such a blast for Finn's 2nd birthday party. We went to the kidz zone at powerplay, which is specifically for toddlers. We started off on the slides, which was particularly funny, because David had to climb up a jungle gym and through tubes to take Finn down the big slide, several times :)

Next, we did a little driving...vroom! vroom!

And then a little bouncing (which, Finn was fearless in the bouncy house)

Finally, it was time to ride around the track....many, many times.

Finn is one lucky boy, because they also had a buffet, which included his favorite...an unlimited icee bar.

We headed back to the house after dinner to open presents and eat monkey cake. I'd say this was one of Finn's best birthday's ever :)

2009-11-25T08:49:00.000-08:00

halloween

2009-11-08T07:35:00.000-08:00

Here are the pictures from Halloween last weekend. My little monkey had an absolute blast! He got the hang of trick-or-treating quite quickly! He also enjoyed passing out candy to all of the kids in my sister's driveway. He implemented the "one for you 2 for me" policy. :) We will definitely go back to her neighborhood next year! Thanks for inviting us!

pumpkins and family time

2009-10-16T17:48:00.000-07:00

Today I took the day off of work so that we could spend time together. It seems like we don't get much time together since we are both working, and David works weekends so he can stay home a couple of days with Finn. so, we decided to pack up, head to Liberty, MO and hit the most awesome pumpkin patch around- Carolyn's Country Cousins Pumpkin Patch. It's really neat, they have tractor hayrides, pig races, train rides, playgrounds, a petting zoo, a corn maze, and more. Besides being super cold, and Finn was a little tired as you'll see in the pics, we had a great time. He picked his own pumpkin off of the vine out in the patch. He's been carrying it around the house all day saying "punkin". We had a great time!

light the night

2009-10-01T07:28:00.000-07:00

We participated in the night the light event for the leukemia and lymphoma society last Saturday. Our team helped raise about $500! It was such a neat event, and so many supporters. Before the 3 mile walk, they held kind of a carnival with music, food, and games. Finn had a blast and stayed awake for the entire time (until 10 p.m.)! The walk was in the dark and every balloon had a light inside it. Very neat, Finn was amazed!

Circus.

2009-09-24T11:24:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday we had tickets to go and see the circus. David wasn't feeling well, so my sister and I took Finn. We had such a great time :) I'm amazed that Finn sat through the entire thing, with the exception of about 10-15 minutes were he needed to release some energy. His favorites were the elephants, motrocycles and trapeze-ists (is that a word?) When they were swinging back and forth he kept saying "weeeeee!" Also, he kept saying "bye bye" to every act that was leaving the stage :) So cute!

Here are some highights, I had a hard time getting quality photos just because of the lighting...

A little bonding time...

2009-08-25T18:06:00.000-07:00

Finn and I have spent the past 3 days together while David has been working hard. I took Monday off per Gail, our daycare lady's, request. I really enjoyed our time together and was sad to go back to work this morning. We went to the playground, the pool, the grocery store, and hung around the house. Finn is learning "please" and "thank you" and it is the cutest thing to hear him ask "peeeease" for something he wants. He's learned quickly it gets him what he wants :) We had a little trouble when he decided to dump the dog's water bowl everywhere. i couldn't resist a quick picture since he was being ultra silly and running around with his winter hat on.

Also, I'm noticing that Finn has about 50 "loveys" that he needs to feel secure. Particularly blankets of any kind and his yo gabba stuffed toys...and a pacifier. It's hard to get out the door these days when you have to carry a baby and all of this stuff. He will scream and cry if they can't tag along...

swimmin' man

2009-07-20T18:21:00.000-07:00

Finn is so in love with going to the pool. We've been a lot already this summer. He even says "pool" whenever he sees water. I ask him if he wants to go swimming and he shakes his head "yes" and his eyes get really big and excited...so cute!

Union Station Saturday

2009-06-13T11:34:00.000-07:00

Finn and I went to Union Station this morning. After living here for 5 years and never actually going there, I figured it was time.

They had a fantastic exhibit from the Chronicles of Narnia movies. I couldn't take pictures in the exhibit, but I must let you know that Finn thouroughly enjoyed it. You can check out the link above and see more information. It was pretty cool stuff! Actual props from the movie, storylines, etc. After we finished the exhibit, we sat down for a snack at a super neat diner in the main lobby. Finn loved the architecture in the giant building.

Next, we headed to Science City. What a cool place! I didn't get too many pictures, but here a few. The place is 3 stories of fun, interactive games and visuals. Finn had an absolute blast. I think his favorites were petting a bunny and these little hydrants that shot bubbles out.

And finally, we are home. Nap time for us both...we are exhausted!

this is what happens...

2009-06-13T11:28:00.000-07:00

when David dresses Finn. I picked him up from daycare the other day to find him in this very fashion-forward ensemble. Yes, that is the pajama top he slept in the night before. Too funny...I guess the colors coordinate.

buh-bye high chair

2009-06-07T16:52:00.000-07:00

We've retired the high-chair and moved into a booster seat. Tonight we ate dinner at the table as a family. Here's Finn looking very studious, trying out his new seat this afternoon. Can you believe what a little person he is becoming?

parenthood.

2009-06-07T16:32:00.000-07:00

In the past 2 weeks, both David and my sister Cindy have said to me "he's only like this when you're around". Referring to Finn's over-emotional, clingy, whiny disposition. I can walk into the room where David and Finn are happily getting on, and one look at me and he is bawling his eyes out.

I've also noticed how easy it comes to David. He's able to let Finn "cry it out" a lot easier than I am. I CAN do this, but it takes every ounce of will power to not snatch him up in my arms and comfort him. David is constantly reminding me "he's fine", "he's not going to starve if he doesn't eat his peas", etc.

I'm not a maniac mom, either. I take pride in that fact that I don't freak out about every bump and scratch, and I have a pretty laid back attitude about parenting. But, listening to Cindy and David has me thinking. What is it about me that brings out this behavior? Am I nurturing the behavior?

The only conclusion I can come to is this: I'm mommy. I know when I was younger and not feeling great, or needed some emotional comfort, it was a hug from mom or a little extra attention that got me through. It's tough...and how crazy is that to say. Because 98% of the time he's choosing me to come to in these times. And it's not always convenient, but I wouldn't trade it for the world.

And I'm lucky to have David to balance things out. I defintely couldn't do this without him. He keeps me from being the pushover as we tread into new waters with Finn. It's amazing that he has all of these emotions, and the best we both can do is to provide him the best way we both know how.

I'm not gonna lie...sometimes, it secretly makes me feel good when Finn picks me over David. Just don't tell David I said that ;)

such a silly boy

2009-06-01T17:40:00.000-07:00

Today, Finn wanted (ahem...demanded) that I put one flip-flop on him. I kept trying to take it off and he was very upset (ahem...temper tantrum). Here he is cracking up and enjoying his one-shoed evening. It was pretty funny watching him limp around the house. Hey, whatever makes you laugh this way little guy! (also, please ignore my dirty floor in this picture...I was just getting to sweeping and moping) :)

I have to say Finn is just getting sillier and sillier. We've discovered a new way to get him to eat his green beans. We have to present them as a snack. Put them on his plate and they are headed straight to the floor. Here he is enjoying a "snack" of beans on the kitchen floor. Go figure?

Finn's 1st bike

2009-05-15T17:40:00.000-07:00

Thanks to my sister, Cindy, I am now totally addicted to Craig's list. I picked up this little tricycle for $10...that's right...what a bargain! I've been looking for some outdoor toys, but they are kind of pricey! I was very excited to find this and snatch it up before someone else discovered it. It's raining today, so we took it for a test drive in the house. As soon as Finn sat on it he started making "vroom vroom" noises and walking around the house. He doesn't quite get the peddle aspect, but we'll keep working on it. Hope for sunnier days soon!

He can see again!

2009-05-15T17:37:00.000-07:00

Finally, we took Finn to get another haircut. It was way long and in his eyes, I think he's probably happy to have it shorter.

babysitters, bike rides, and a big mess...

2009-05-04T18:00:00.000-07:00

Sorry I haven't posted in a while, things have been busy around here! We hired a babysitter on Saturday night. Her name is Amanda and she's in 8th grade. She is super nice and loves kids. Finn LOVED her, but he pretty much went to bed soon after they met. He was very upset about this! Also, this weekend we took a family bike ride to the park. Finn had a blast sliding down the slide and swinging. I wish I had taken my camera with me. Next time I will be more prepared!

Here's the little guy having a good time with some value pack coupons...

Easter

2009-04-14T19:18:00.000-07:00

What a great day! Finn had such a blast checking out his basket on Easter morning. We spent the afternoon and evening at Cindy and Tom's. Tom's daughter, Maddie, hid a bunch of eggs with fruit snacks in them and Finn did a great job finding them and putting them in his basket. He loved it!

wonderscope

2009-04-09T17:52:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, we visited Wonderscope. It is one of the children's museums here in Kansas. Finn had a blast and we enjoyed watching him play with everything around him. I think it's safe to say that we will be frequenting this place. Aunt Cindy came with us and we all had a really great time. It was hard to capture moments because Finn was so busy and didn't really stay in one place! But here are a few from our day.

Another snow day...booooo!

2009-03-28T12:26:00.000-07:00

When will it end? Finn and I are playing indoors today because it is snowing like crazy...and we've all been sick for the last week with the flu. :( David and I missed about 4 days of work, but David is back to work today. I think we are all feeling a little better and definitely ready for spring!

cirque du finnley

2009-03-25T12:36:00.000-07:00

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN...introducing the daring and entertaining....FINNLEY ALAN MILLER! Finn has been keeping us entertained lately with his newest obsession: headstands. Well, sort of. He likes to put his head on the ground and lift his arms up...waving them around as if to say "ta-dah, look! No hands!" It is very funny to watch. And, since we have now moved into a time of temper-tantrums and frustration, it's nice to be entertained. He keeps us laughing!

mmmm...yogurt

2009-03-14T09:40:00.001-07:00

We've been letting Finn explore using utensils now for about 4-5 months. He seems to have the fork down pretty well, but the spoon and liquidy foods is another story. Here he is enoying some vanilla yogurt. What a mess!

A break from the cold.

2009-03-07T09:10:00.000-08:00

This week has been amazing, weather-wize! We had snow earlier in the week, but by the end of the week it's been 70 degrees! David had a chance to try out his Christmas present...and Finn is so in love with going for rides. he cries when we take him out of the seat. He sees the bike outside the window and cries because he wants to get on it so badly! Too bad snow is heading this way next week :(

The king in his throne

2009-03-07T09:08:00.001-08:00

Check out this adorable faux leather seat that Finn's Nani bought for him. He loves this thing. He just chills and watches his yo gabba in it. I've been telling people that all he needs is a beer and a remote!

Here we are!

2009-02-08T14:17:00.000-08:00

You probably thought we weren't around, didn't you? Well, it's been crazy, but I thought it was time to get some posts up here for your enjoyment! Finn has been walking now for about 2-3 weeks. What a whirlwind! Today we went to the store to invest in some much needed cabinet baby proofing equipment. I've been putting it off, but after an exhausting day of putting pots back where they belong, I decided it was time. Let's see...what else is going on? Well, we officially weened the little guy off of formula and bottles. It's whole milk, water, and juice only for this dude. Also, Finn has been learning to eat with a fork! He's gotten really good at it and actually prefers it. He also got a new bean-bag that he jumps on and just yesterday he climbed down from the couch all by himself. Yes, he is growing so fast! We are up to 11 teeth (as far as I know...I'm too scared to stick my finger in his mouth b/c he seems to enjoying biting these days). But, to get to the good stuff...here are some random photos from the week:

SUPER-little-MAN

2009-01-04T16:43:00.000-08:00

Finn got some new pjs. They are complete with cape and all. David couldn't resit flying him around the house and taking him for a little ride.

Christmas!

2008-12-28T09:57:00.000-08:00

Christmas Eve

2008-12-27T15:39:00.000-08:00

What a great night we had! We went to dinner with Cindy, Tom, and Tom's 2 daughters, Tayler and Maddie. They love Finn and it was nice to have 2 babysitters so we could enjoy our meal!

Notice any similarities?

2008-12-23T10:07:00.000-08:00

We were watching PBS this morning and I swear I saw a familiar face...

AND...they both love bananas and getting into things they aren't supposed to...go figure!

you scared us little guy!

2008-12-22T17:32:00.001-08:00

We're home now after a couple of days at the children's hospital. Finn caught the stomach flu and just couldn't seem to kick it, so we took him to the urgent care center at the children's hospital here. Turns out, he needed a little TLC at the hospital for a few days, some fluids via IV, and some rest. He was dehydrated amongst a few other ailments and now seems to be exhausted, but on the up-swing. AND very happy to be home. David and I are both now recovering from the stomach flu, but we're a happy family otherwise. :) Here's Finn watching Yo Gabba Gabba and enjoying his first meal of cheerios at the hospital...he was very entertained! Yo Gabba always makes him feel good!

Naughty or Nice?

2008-12-18T12:52:00.001-08:00

Nice, of course! Looks like someone is waiting for this giant santa stocking to be full...sorry, Finn, but you have one more week to wait! My mom sent this very...ah, large...stocking for Finn. He loves the santa face and points at it and hugs it as he makes his many trips around the house and down the hall.

hee hee hee...happy wednesday

2008-12-10T21:19:00.000-08:00

Birthday Party Pics

2008-12-06T18:41:00.000-08:00

The party was so much fun! Finn enjoyed opening his presents and eating his cake. He was a little cranky around cake time, but we kept him up past his bedtime. The cakes that Holly made are crazy amazing...I can't thank her enough. Finn loves his new toys, I had to put him to bed with his yo gabba gabba guitar (because he wouldn't let it out of his grip) and he played for about an hour with it (trust me, we heard it through the monitor)...and then woke up and played with it all day...(yes, we are already annoyed by it)...but, as long as he loves it, we will tolerate it! Happy early birthday, Finn.

you missed a spot...

2008-12-02T20:09:00.001-08:00

With Christmas around the corner, I've been checking out tons of toy catalogs. It really drives me crazy that all of the "domestic" toys (kitchens, irons, washing machines, vacuum cleaners, etc.) are pictured with little girls in action. Imagine my delight that Finn has a new set of favorite play items...the swiffer, broom, and mop! He absolutely LOVES getting these out and actually pushing them back and forth. What a proud mommy I am! Why do only the girls learn housework through play??? Not this little guy, he's a hard worker.

It's starting...

2008-12-01T18:22:00.001-08:00

The 1st snow has fallen...what is a cripple to do? I had to use my crutch to dig out my car...bleh. Luckily, no ice. I wouldn't even leave the house for fear that I would slip and do more damage!

Silly little boy couldn't move his arms in his winter coat...totally cracking me up. Yes, his new car seat is facing forward...don't tell anyone...he's almost a year (shhhhhhhh).

mmmm...delicious

2008-11-29T18:15:00.001-08:00

We had a great Thanksgiving and Finn was especially fond of the sweet potato casserole!

2008-11-26T19:28:00.001-08:00

December 12th is just around the corner...

2008-11-22T12:34:00.000-08:00

We've already planned a small party for Finn's 1st Birthday!

hiatus

2008-11-21T20:39:00.000-08:00

Ok, ok...after receiving an e-mail from David's mom stating "there has been no blog activity since Nov. 5th" I realize that I have been slacking. Reasons:

1. Photos from the couch can only be captured in one perspective

2. I have returned to work this week and am pretty achey and tired at the end of the day.

3. I don't leave the house, except work and rehab.

and finally-

4. I have returned to work this week and am pretty achey and tired at the end of the day. Ha!

No, seriously, I will be back to posting regularly. I am just adjusting to this busy schedule and getting the camera isn't the easiest since it is kept in a drawer not within arms reach! Hope no one was too worried about us. We are doing as well as we can!

3 years and counting!

2008-11-05T16:56:00.000-08:00

Well, today is our 3 year wedding anniversary. Time has really flown by. David and Finn left for Atlanta this morning and my mom and I are both sad without them :( I've already talked to them 3 times since they left! David surprised me with a pretty bouquet of flowers yesterday. I thought that was really thoughtful and sweet since we aren't able to properly celebrate. I've been getting through physical therapy, which is pretty painful, but hopefully worth it. So, I should be up and walking in about 2 weeks...seems like soooooooo long, but I know it's really not. I had my stitches removed yesterday and my Dr. says things are looking really good! My next Therapy session is in the pool, which I think will be interesting. No idea how they do that! I'm looking forward to something different!

Barnyard

2008-11-01T18:31:00.000-07:00

Halloween has already come and gone, can you believe it? Finn had a really great time...David took him out to trick-or-treat (or just show his cuteness off to the neighbors). Payton came over to join him! Aren't thy the cutest together?

Also, today was the Florida/Georgia game and since we are a house divided, David thought he'd be funny and dress Finn this afternoon (no fair since I can't walk and do it myself!) That's ok, I taught Finn the Gator chomp all afternoon. Go Gators!

Phew! After the Gators SLAUGHTERED the Bulldogs, Finn was quite relieved to get those ugly pants off.

And now he can relax and practice his chomp.

Look who came to visit me...

2008-10-31T08:23:00.001-07:00

on my bed/couch/office/prison...

he has definitely kept me entertained.

NEW Brobee Sweatshirt!

2008-10-28T17:08:00.000-07:00

Look who got one of his birthday presents early! It's been cold and Finn needed a sweatshirt...so we had to dip into the Birthday pile already. Isn't it cute? (Also, I'm about to shower! YAY!)

Monday night update

2008-10-27T22:31:00.000-07:00

phew...what a day. I went to see my dr. today and what a total bummer. Well, let me start from the beginning. My post-op appt. was supposed to be on Tuesday, but I went in early b/c my toes were numb and cold, so he wanted me to come in and do a sonogram to check for blood clots...no clots (thank goodness)...but there was another surprise. Apparently, when he did my surgery, the damage was much more extensive than previously diagnosed...booooooo! So, basically....no walking or leaving the couch for 3 more weeks!

I have to tell you, I thought I was going to be able to walk out of his office, but not the case. And what bad timing for work...we are crazy busy right now! I am working from home for now, but I miss my routine and I am soooo tired of the price is right already! O well...there's not much I can do, but I miss picking Finn up and playing on the floor with him. AND I think he prefers my mom over me now since she'd been feeding and tending to him :( Dr. Key did unlock my brace which allows me to somewhat bend my knee but it is sooooo painful, and I will be starting my physical therapy this week...that won't be pleasant (maybe I should stop typing since I am not in the most positive mood).

Needless to say, I have been sad about this news...(ask David, I got a little frustrated this afternoon and took it out on him..sorry, David).

I will also not be going on our trip to Atlanta in a few weeks, The boys will be traveling alone (sob). My next challenge is figuring things out...my mom was only planning to stay until next Sunday bc I was supossed to be going back to work in 1 week..bleh...if anyone wants to come stay and take care of me you are very welcome...we have a guest room!

Good night...back to sleep on the couch...yuck!

Update on what's happening in the Miller House

2008-10-24T15:10:00.000-07:00

Ok, so surgery went as planned and I'm sorry I haven't responded to the numerous e-mails and voicemails I have received. I really do appreciate that you all have been thinking about me! Today I am feeling a little better...I've spent the past few days napping and resting. I got to take a shower this afternoon, which I thought would feel fantastic, but it was quite a difficult process. I took my bandages off to reveal swelling and stitching, and various colors of the rainbow. So, I am now back on the couch and this is what I see:

Finn has kept me very entertained practicing his walking. I think he went back and forth between my mom and David about 20 times. He was having a blast!

After practicing walking, I watched David give Finn a ride. They chased Duncan (who got newly groomed this morning) all over the living room. Duncan wasn't a big fan of that game, but Finn was.

David is doing such an amazing job keeping Finn entertained and taking care of me, and thank goodness my mom is here. It's been sooo helpful. I even watched David vacuum the living room, and my mom just brings me meals. I would say that this is the life, but the pain isn't the best! Anyway, I'll post more this weekend if I can. I'm sure I'll be looking for something to do!

Fun with "Dadda"

2008-10-19T17:06:00.000-07:00

Look how much fun these guys had this afternoon. They were playing up a storm! And check out Finn's brand new Yo Gabba Gabba PJs...I found a whole section at WalMart and bought one of everything. Finn pretty much had a heart attack when he saw them and grabbed for them. I let him hold them up to the register and he snuggled the clothes the whole way there! I think I'm saving them for his Birthday.

Also, Knee Injury update. Not good, if you haven't heard already. I tore my ACL and meniscus. Surgery on Tuesday to repair and rebuild. I'll be stuck on the couch for about 10 days and recovery takes about 4 months. So, feel free to call or e-mail b/c I'm sure I'll be bored. My mom's coming out tomorrow night, so I'll put her on camera duty to update the blog!

I'm a little behind...

2008-10-12T17:05:00.000-07:00

on my blog posts. So, while I listen to David read to Finn in the baby monitor, and while I lay here with an ice pack on my knee (no word on the extent of the damage until tomorrow...and yes, I am going to try and make it through a day at work) I thought I would catch you all up on last weekend. My mom and my niece, Sophie, were here to visit. We had such a great time! But, Sophie sure loved her little cousin "Baby Finn". She says she is going to come back to visit "again, and again, and again." :)

The only noteworthy event that took place this weekend was my very first pumpkin carving. It's really difficult to take a good picture of a lit carved pumpkin...who knew? But you can kind of see the results...mine is the 2 little zombie kids all the way to the right:

Uh-Oh!

2008-10-10T13:45:00.000-07:00

I have injured my knee! Arggggghhhh! Just got back from an MRI and I'll get the results on Monday. For now, I am stuck on the couch. This just has not been my year :( Keep your fingers crossed that it's just a minor injury and I'll be up and running in no time.

These are the shots I ordered.

2008-09-28T08:14:00.001-07:00

A sampling of the photo shoot

2008-09-28T08:10:00.000-07:00

No idea why they like to put him in a basket. They did that last time, too. These are some of the shots that I didn't order, but wish I had...there were way too many cute pictures to choose from, I had a hard time.

All's quiet on the homefront

2008-09-27T17:37:00.000-07:00

Not much to report so far this week. Today, we are pretty tired. Finn woke up at 1a.m. very upset and unwilling to go back to sleep for 45 minutes! Also, we went and had Finn's pictures taken this afternoon and let me tell you, they are adorable! I will be slipping them in the mail soon! Here's a picture of my 2 boys relaxing...awwwwww....

Lil' Pumpkin

2008-09-20T16:49:00.001-07:00

Fall is absolutely my most favorite time of year (besides the fact that it leads to winter). And Fall in the Midwest is amazing, I can't wait!

Although it was 75 degrees out this morning, we decided to go ahead and kick off the season by visiting the Louisburg Cider Mill and pumpkin patch. In true Kansas fashion, there were hayrides, a corn maze, and tons of other activities.

We watched how apple cider was made and I highly recommend the apple cider doughnuts! Yum!

Finn picked out his first pumpkin!

David and Jairus attempted the corn maze while Finn and I checked out the pot-bellied pigs and baby goats. I wasn't about to push the stroller though a giant maze!

We had a really great time on the hayride. Finn loved checking out the sights!

It was a great day! If you live in the Kansas area, I highly recommend it. And the next 2 weekends are the cider fest (we went a week early, darn). There will be pony rides, crafts, food, bouncy fun, etc. The price wasn't bad either...$5 for the maze, animals, and hayride (of course, Finn was free) and only $2 for Finn's pumpkin! Welcome Fall!!!!

Sushi!

2008-09-20T16:44:00.000-07:00

Yum! My very talented huband made this delicious meal for our friends and I thought it was so delicious! I had to share the finished results with you all because he worked so hard!

ticker

2008-09-18T18:40:00.001-07:00

Check out the ticker I added if you scroll all the way to the bottom of Finn's blog. Now you can enjoy the countdown with us!

Guess who's helping me with the laundry?

2008-09-14T17:49:00.001-07:00

No, it's not David (although, it should be)...it's Brobee and Finn!

On a side note...Finn fell from his crib this morning. We woke to a thump and lots of crying. He was okay, but we were scared. David lowered the mattress all the way down...hopefully, no more accidents.

Conquering some new skills...

2008-09-13T16:09:00.000-07:00

We've been working on getting Finn to hold his own bottle. For some reason, he can't quite grasp it, but he does real well with the sippy cup. Next, I think I'll teach him to empty out the diaper genie.

9 months and 1 day!

2008-09-13T16:02:00.000-07:00

Can you belive it? Here are the stats from Finn's check-up:

Weight: 19 lbs. 2 oz. (feels like 50)
Height: 28"

We've been a little worried about his left eye b/c it's been a little red for a while. But, we were assured that it is just dryness and should resolve itself. You can see it in some of the pictures. Otherwise, Finn is doing great and closer to 12 months!

I know I'm a bit obsessed,

2008-09-13T15:53:00.001-07:00

but Target now has a line of Yo Gabba Gabba toys! The show is a magic baby soother, and whenever Finn hears the intro, he is immediately captured and occupied for quite a while. The toys are no different. He saw those things in the store and was quite excited. We brought home this little "Brobee" doll and Finn cuddles him nonstop. I think I know what Finn is getting for his birthday!

Let's talk meat sticks...

2008-09-13T15:30:00.001-07:00

I have to say that I have stayed away from the meat sticks in the baby food aisle. They sort of freak me out, but the pediatrician recomended them and I had a coupon, so we gave them a try. There are several other good uses for meat sticks, besides nutritional value...

Hair Gel.

Pet Food.

A Spa Facial.

And making a hungry boy happy...what a meat-stick-mess!

He's okay!

2008-09-13T15:28:00.001-07:00

Well, it turns out that finn was having a difficult time cutting 2 new teeth. Can you believe teeth can cause a fever that high? He now has 6 teeth! Makes it easier to chew those meat sticks (see above post).

YIKES!

2008-09-07T18:27:00.001-07:00

103 degree temperature = a very miserable but cuddley baby. Stay tuned...

project basement

2008-09-01T15:44:00.001-07:00

I wanted to show you all what Holly and I came up with for the chalkboard wall. I was going to wait until all of our projects were finished to do a grand reveal, but I am so excited about the outcome, I just couldn't resist sharing it. Here's the final product (it was really hard to get a good picture, but I think you get an idea).

Now we just need to teach Finn to write so he can use it. Thanks, Holly, for working on this with me...it's already making a huge difference!

labor day weekend...is over :(

2008-09-01T15:22:00.001-07:00

For labor day weekend, we decided to kick back, take it easy, and enjoy the free time. The weekend went as follows:

SATURDAY

Holly came over first thing on Saturday to work on some ideas for the basement. She left in the early afternoon and Finn and I decided to stay in for the day. It pretty much went like this:
Finn-crawling all over the place, playing with air vents...

Me- chasing after Finn and acting as a live baby gate against the stairs. (we probably need to invest in some real gates, this can't last forever).

Finally, it was bedtime and I got to work on the basement (see above post)

SUNDAY

Finn woke up miserable....BAD diaper rash. He had so many dirty diapers and every time I changed and wiped his toosh, he cried so hard :( It was a rough day, but he was so exhausted from the trauma of the day he went to bed super early. We decided to do a special dinner with Marcy and Jairus to celebrate the weekend. CRAB LEGS!

Ah, they were so delicious! I miss the South! It was quite a feast!

MONDAY

Finn and I slept in until 10 a.m. Excellent for Mommie, horrible for the diaper rash. Another day of misery. We went to CVS and (with the suggestion from Sara) bought some pricier cream. I think it's working very well! Someone seems happier.

Thanks, Sara! I hope it's cleared up in the morning for Daddy. Oh, and Finn is starting to pull himself up to a standing position. He'll be cruising in no time. And, that's our weekend. Pretty boring, but so eventful! Now, it's back to work. Boo.

And just some cute pics

2008-08-21T16:58:00.000-07:00

He's finally as big as his lion!

bath time fun

2008-08-21T16:52:00.000-07:00

Look who's ready for a bath...

and look who's sitting in the tub like a big boy! Man, he is just growing so fast!

*splish splash*

Remember These?

2008-08-21T16:16:00.000-07:00

David's mom won this jack-in-the-box on ebay for Finn. She said that David had the same one when he was little. I can't believe it! I had it too. Must have been a popular model. The trademark date is 1979. It's in great condition and Finn seems to really love it.

I also joined paperback swap last month and it's an awesome website! You can swap your books with other members and all you have to pay is the shipping fees, which, for media mail is dirt cheap. Anyway, there are plenty of kids books posted and I just had to get this one for Finn because it was a favorite of mine back in the day.

I wonder what other vintage articles I can collect for Finn?

park playdate

2008-08-16T13:53:00.001-07:00

Here are the pics from our afternoon at the park with Jairus and Payton. It feels great outside since the weather is in the 80s. It's finally cooled off! Jairus and I may have mastered the art of throwing a frisbee, and I think we may have worn them both out since they both slept soundly in the car (a task worthy of a gold medal). I noticed something while we were playing at the park...tooth number 4 has decided to make a debut!

ah, the milestones

2008-08-16T11:46:00.000-07:00

First noise..awww! First smile...hooray! First tooth...ouch! Crawling....Arghhhhhh! Serenity now! Well, not that bad. But, after chasing Finn around for 2 hours and trying to do chores at the same time while relentlesly screaming, "NO! We don't play with cords! Where are you going? No! Plastic bags are not for playing!" I decided to strap little boy into the chair. Not what he had in mind. But, YO GABBA GABBA to the rescue!

And, ah...sweet relief...Jairus just called and we are going to take the kids to the park. When I get back I'd better mop the kitchen tile...Finn is black from crawling all over the dirt...

Here he goes...get ready...

2008-08-11T18:03:00.000-07:00

Green Thumb

2008-08-10T13:05:00.000-07:00

I've been working on our patio for sometime, trying to make a tranquil environment. I still have a lot of work to do, but I am proud to say, I haven't killed any of my plants yet! Which, I think is quite a feat considering the temperatures have been over 100 degrees, and, I usually kill them before they even have a chance to grow. Here are some shots I took this afternoon...

Create a Hallmark Card...

2008-08-09T18:46:00.000-07:00

Some of you have been asking about this, and I know that you all are awesomely creative (Sara, Linda, Pam, Joanna...I'm addressing you). So, I wanted to go ahead and post the details, it's pretty cool... You can enter your ideas for Hallmark cards and people vote on the website. Then, if you are a finalist, your cards are printed and sold in Hallmark Gold Crown Stores. There are some pretty clever ones, as well as really neat illustrations and such....check out the website:

http://www.hallmarkcontests.com/index.cfm

and, here is the next contest and the deadlines:

Taking back the living room...

2008-08-03T12:44:00.000-07:00

Since our basement has been sitting empty, and we are FINALLY getting the flooding under control, we decided that it was time to take back our living room. Things were getting a little crowded up there with baby stuff. Anyway, there is lots of work to do to getting it up to my standards, but in the meantime, it's a good area for us to hang out with Finn.

Ok, so the futton is about 8 years old (i had it in college, believe it or not), and it is covered in a lovely floral comforter. I'm working on looking for something a little more stylish and maybe a coffee table as well.

Yes, there are still boxes everywhere (even though in September we'll have lived here a year). Like I said, it's been pretty empty down here for a while. I'd like to get a cute little kids table and chairs to put in the back and we're going to paint the wall with chalkboard paint so that Finn can doodle all over it.

I'm working on the desk area. We've been pretty lazy with the computer. The laptop just sits in the living room and we use it on the couch, so I'm working on ideas for this area. I'm also going to get some shelving units with cubbies to store all of the stuff. These folding tables are pretty ghetto, but serve the purpose at the moment.

As you can see, there is loads of work to be done, which is probably why we waited so long to tackle it. And, I feel like I'm still working on the rest of the house! But, this little guy seems happy to have more space.

There's great area for him to work on his crawling...he's not quite got it yet, but he's working pretty hard!

Crazy cousin Tori, first cold, and a new tooth...

2008-07-28T16:34:00.000-07:00

Up until now, 7 1/2 months after his birth, I was thinking that Finn was a genius baby, immune to any germs and super bionic. After all, mothers have told me that 1st colds and ear infections had occured instantly for their babies. But, alas...this week we are experiencing a summer cold. Not bad, besides the constant yellow snot dripping from his nose. I wasn't concerned until he woke up one morning, dried crusty snot all over his face, bubbles coming out of his nostrils, gasping to breathe while he tried to eat his oatmeal.

So, like any crazy psycho mother experiencing her 1st baby ailment, I ran him up to the pediatrician. I think maybe I was hoping he would tell me that poor little Finn was way to sick to go to daycare and I would have to stay home from work, cuddle with him, and catch up on all the reality t.v. I've been missing since his birth (selfish mommy moment, I know, but I think I deserve those every now and then).

He just checked his ears and nose and looked at me with a narrow brow and said..."Is this the 1st time he's been sick?" Of course, making me feel like a complete idiot and insinuating that I'm a complete dork for even taking the time to bring him in. Then he told me to take him to daycare and go to work. Some nerve! Anyway, Finn doesn't even seem bothered by the stuffy nose. So, maybe we can't even consider this is first illness...yes, still a bionic genius, I think so.

Anyway, several saline squirts later, Finn has sprung another tooth up top. It's really not as cute as I was thinking. I like him with just the 2 bottom teeth and it's such a reminder that he's getting closer and closer to a grown adult. He'll be chewing gum and eating steak in no time!

On a lighter note, My mom and niece, Tori have been in town this week. Tori is 6 (almost 7) and seriously a crazy little girl. So much energy. I'm reconsidering more children after this visit... She adores "Baby Finn", as she calls him. And he just thinks she is fascinating and hilarious. She asks him questions that she expects responses to. Such as, "what toy do you want, Baby Finn?" or she'll talk to him as if he understands saying "stay right there, Baby Finn, I'm just going to get some popcorn and I'll be right back". It's pretty cute. We had a fun weekend...

We went to T. Rex for lunch one day. Such a neat themed restaurant for kids.

Nani and Finn outside T. Rex.

Isn't this the cutest? Here they are watching Yo Gabba Gabba together, a family favorite.

hEllO CuTie!

2008-07-27T13:37:00.000-07:00

unusual news...

2008-07-24T08:44:00.001-07:00

I know I usually post only about Finn, but I found this article very peculiar and wanted to share. What the heck are these parents thinking?

Judge: Girl's name, Talula Does The Hula, won't do

Thu Jul 24, 5:41 AM ET

WELLINGTON, New Zealand - A family court judge in New Zealand has had enough with parents giving their children bizarre names here, and did something about it.
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Just ask Talula Does The Hula From Hawaii. He had her renamed.

Judge Rob Murfitt made the 9-year-old girl a ward of the court so that her name could be changed, he said in a ruling made public Thursday. The girl was involved in a custody battle, he said.

The new name was not made public to protect the girl's privacy.

"The court is profoundly concerned about the very poor judgment which this child's parents have shown in choosing this name," he wrote. "It makes a fool of the child and sets her up with a social disability and handicap, unnecessarily."

The girl had been so embarrassed at the name that she had never told her closest friends what it was. She told people to call her "K" instead, the girl's lawyer, Colleen MacLeod, told the court.

In his ruling, Murfitt cited a list of the unfortunate names.

Registration officials blocked some names, including Fish and Chips, Yeah Detroit, Keenan Got Lucy and Sex Fruit, he said. But others were allowed, including Number 16 Bus Shelter "and tragically, Violence," he said.

New Zealand law does not allow names that would cause offense to a reasonable person, among other conditions, said Brian Clarke, the registrar general of Births, Deaths and Marriages.

Clarke said officials usually talked to parents who proposed unusual names to convince them about the potential for embarrassment.

saturday at the petting zoo

2008-07-19T14:09:00.001-07:00

We spent the afternoon at the petting zoo. What a fun place and the best part is that it is FREE! Finnley had fun looking at all the animals, feeding the fish and ducks, going into an indian teepee and checking out the milk house. It was very very HOT!

Move over turtle!

2008-07-19T14:04:00.000-07:00

Frog is the new BFF.

The great swaddle debate

2008-07-14T16:04:00.000-07:00

We are still (yes, still) swaddling Finn. He really likes it and can't get to sleep without it. I think maybe it is his trigger to know that it is time to go to bed. He usually works his way out and frees the arms. But, I'm hoping he'll grow out of it eventually. Anyone have any suggestions on how to maybe wean him of this habit?

It's about time...

2008-07-14T16:00:00.000-07:00

Finally, I went through my closet and loaded up all of my maternity clothes. (I guess 7 months later isn't too bad). I then realized that I needed to go on a shopping spree, STAT. I have been recycling the same old pre-pregnancy clothes for months now! Siyanara spandex stretchy waist pants *sob* I will miss you and all of your comfortable glory!

tupperware + Finn = very happy boy!

2008-07-14T15:54:00.000-07:00

Look at Finn playing with his newest favorite toy! And yes, he is sitting on his own now. He's been working on that for quite a while. Now he's working on the crawling thing. He scooches around backwards and rolls all around!

2008-07-05T15:00:00.000-07:00

The passing of my father has been an emotional and trying time for me. In fact, I feel like every day has been a struggle. It's like taking one step forward and then going back 3 spaces. But, it's been getting a little less painful. A lot of that has to do with all of the prayers and support from friends and family...and for that I am grateful. I couldn't get through this without you all. I look at these cards every day and am reminded of all of you who care about me and are grieving with me. Thank you.

Happy 4th!

2008-07-05T14:46:00.000-07:00

We left Thursday for the Lake of the Ozarks and just got home this afternoon. We had so much fun fishing, setting off fireworks, and just relaxing. Here are some pics from the trip:

Gangsta Finn:

Jairus and Payton:

Marcy with Finn: