Christmas 2010

Finn's third Christmas proved to be his most efficient. I think he has taken the painfully slow process of last year's tiny strip by strip method and combined it with all that he has learned this year to become a yellow-belt present opener. He still lacks the reckless tearing of paper and packages that black-belt pros have but then again that level of prowess often leaves a bigger mess and damaged gift packaging. So we are happy with the progress.

Thanks to the thoughtfulness of everyone who loves Finn we spread the gift opening into three phases so as to not end up opening one gift, tossing it aside and asking, "Next!"
Christmas eve we opened a few gifts and the put reindeer food outside in a shallow bowl Finn made in the snow. As we all know this glitter and oatmeal combination is touted as delicious "candy" by the reindeer community.
We then put a couple cookies out for Santa but Finn was really not liking the fact that Santa Claus would be creeping around our house after we all went to bed.
We also did a Christmas morning gfit opening and an afternoon opening too. With Finn jumping from toy to toy and the parents trying to keep on top of the wrapping paper and boxes.

Christmas work bench

Finn the talker

Finn continues to keep us very busy and put smiles on our faces every day. He amazes us with all the words he is saying and what he picks up on. We have needed to start to spell out words in front of him for those things we aren't really wanting him to hear.
Recently he has been saying "REALLY?" in such a way that you think he thinks you have just told him the most amazing thing ever.
When Finn wants to be carried I had been jokingly saying to him, "what, are you legs broken?". This seems to have back fired on me as he now beats me to the punch line coming up to me saying, "Mama, my legs broken, uppy please".
He also has been telling us that he "lubs" (loves) us...which is very adorable.
We enjoyed a Thanksgiving meal with our friends Mary Beth and Bob. Finn was the only child at their house and got lots of attention. He has been wearing his turkey hat, made at daycare basically non stop (except for sleeping) since he came home from daycare the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. It is in pretty sad shape currently as it is made out of construction paper. I think we will need to retire it soon!

Aunt Katie's and Uncle Jason's wedding trip

Finn with Mommy and Daddy

Finn showing his disco moves!

Uncle Jarad, Aunt Joy, Cousins Jett, Jackson, Jaylyn and Juli

Grandpa Ken, Grandma Terri and Auntie Ann

Fall 2010 pics

Finn visits new baby cousin Lilah and cousins Faythe and Macy


Finn had a love/hate relationship with the boat ride at Arnold's Park




Finn snuggles with piggy


Finn and Daddy were hard at work this fall working on the new walkway.




Mommy and Daddy's birthdays.




Annual trip to apple and pumpkin farm...

This pumpkin was heavy!

Halloween 2010

Updates...

The summer has flown by and now it seems we are well on our way through the fall. Finn continues to change daily and continues to put a smile on my face daily.

Finn has moved up into the 2 year old room after his birthday this summer. The biting continues in the big boy room as he has now been bitten twice since the move up. The interesting thing is that now Finn can call out who has bitten him. For the last two weeks we intermittently hear how Lucas bit Finn. I initially said to Finn, that wasn't very nice, was it? "No mommy", then I asked Finn if he took a toy from Lucas? "Yes mommy". I really appreciate the honesty of a 2 year old!

Finn has also taken a liking to the word only. When I told Finn we were going to make a birthday cake for daddy, he was quite adamant that birthday cakes were for mommy only. When I grab the laptop, I hear, "no mommy, daddy puter only". We hear "only" numerous times a day. It is odd the things that kids pick up on.

Finn is a constant destructor. Just as soon as you pick up a bin of toys and move on to the next, Finn is dumping out the last. Usually not to play with, perhaps just to see mommy's frustration!

Finn is also very into talking about mommies, daddies and babies. This is reference to his trucks all the way to talking about the newly planted grass out front, known at our house as "baby grass".
Finn loves his daddy and wants to do all things just like daddy. A couple days ago daddy was moving some rock around with a shovel and yard cart. Finn immediately needed to get out his shovel and wagon and begin "helping daddy". It was pretty cute.

Finn met his new baby cousin Lilah Louise and refers to her as Lilah Lou. At their first meeting Finn took a kleenex and very gently went up to Lilah and wiped her nose. It was pretty cute how slow, deliberate and delicate he was. During this same trip to see the Beall family, we went to Arnold's Park, a small theme park in the Okiboji area. Finn rode his first ride...boats going round and round and round. He seemed to like it. The next ride was a very small roller coaster and his very nice older cousin Faythe rode with him and ended up trying to console him the entire time as he was freaking out.

We enjoyed our annual trip to the apple orchard and pumpkin farm. This year the challenge was convincing Finn not to eat the apples on the ground.