Boxes really do make the bes toys. Even pizza boxes.Saturday, May 17, 2008
Tight Squeeze
More close quarters hunting for the little man. Check it out. The best part is the squinty-eyed-screaming-with-joy look on his face. Priceless.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Keeping up with the Toddler
So, Finn has lots of new tricks and I've been bad about documenting them all because I have been so busy studying and helping out friends, and Tom has been working so much.... you know, I got lost in life for a bit.
But now that I have a moment, here we go.
Finn can sign: wash hands, diaper, eat, drink, hat, coat, shoes, dog, fish, and wash (for bath or shower).
Finn can tell you where: his belly is, his nose is, his ears are, where 'Finny' is, and where the dogs are. at all times. If we're not at home, he points at the door to leave.
We don't have any words yet (he spends most of his time exploring his world with his hands) but his comprehension is good, and he understands who most people are (that we see frequently), what it means to go outside, go for a ride, watch 'Snook' or 'Word World' on PBS (thank heaven for Tivo). He also responds to questions by pointing and grunting a lot.
He has four molars, four top teeth, and three bottom teeth, and god help us, the ones that are bothering him come in soon-- he's been miserable for a week solid! He won't let me look, so I can't tell you what is next, but will let you know when it comes.
He's very vocal with his nonsense words, and he thinks he is talking to me. He is very expressive and it is very cute. He also climbs EVERYTHING all day. He spends most of his days at home on the coffee table throwing toys at the dogs. The poor dogs. He even climbs on poor old Bromo when he is sitting down. But he's a good sport about it and often shows his affection with a good old fashioned face cleaning.
Finn's hair is still a bit thin (like Sammy's), but is getting long in the back with adorable sandy blonde curls. His eyes are still big and blue like mine, and he looks (and acts) just like me. As you can see from the previous videos, he has no trouble with his motor skills like Tom did, and we're glad for that. We will enroll him in soccer, karate, and tumbling as soon as he is old enough, though, just in case.
He's still a bit small (still in 9 month pants and 12 month tops), but proportionate and his next appointment is in June. People often comment that he is so small to be walking, and I laugh, because he's been walking for almost as long as he wasn't by now! He walked at 9 months, so they should have seen how small he looked then! Looks like all those 18 month outfits for his birthday really will come in handy next fall and Christmas! Hah!
He's full of life, stubborn, determined, playful, and FULL of energy. He will keep my hands full, and makes me worry about caring for him and another little one when the time comes... though my mom is asking for the next one, so I guess I'm doing okay as a mom!
I'm almost done studying to get my La Leche League Peer Counselor certification, and in June am taking my Doula workshop. Then in September I am taking my Bradley Childbirth Educator seminar and test, and from there I need to go to some births, write some reports, and start teaching and helping women deliver babies! It's all very exciting. Somewhere in there I've gotta get in shape, and have another baby, too, but all in good time. Finn was so difficult, I'll definitely need rally my troops once I conceive, so that if I get that sick again, I have all the support I need.
Well, enough rambling on for now. Finn is up and smearing lunch all over the floor. Time to go to the park!
But now that I have a moment, here we go.
Finn can sign: wash hands, diaper, eat, drink, hat, coat, shoes, dog, fish, and wash (for bath or shower).
Finn can tell you where: his belly is, his nose is, his ears are, where 'Finny' is, and where the dogs are. at all times. If we're not at home, he points at the door to leave.
We don't have any words yet (he spends most of his time exploring his world with his hands) but his comprehension is good, and he understands who most people are (that we see frequently), what it means to go outside, go for a ride, watch 'Snook' or 'Word World' on PBS (thank heaven for Tivo). He also responds to questions by pointing and grunting a lot.
He has four molars, four top teeth, and three bottom teeth, and god help us, the ones that are bothering him come in soon-- he's been miserable for a week solid! He won't let me look, so I can't tell you what is next, but will let you know when it comes.
He's very vocal with his nonsense words, and he thinks he is talking to me. He is very expressive and it is very cute. He also climbs EVERYTHING all day. He spends most of his days at home on the coffee table throwing toys at the dogs. The poor dogs. He even climbs on poor old Bromo when he is sitting down. But he's a good sport about it and often shows his affection with a good old fashioned face cleaning.
Finn's hair is still a bit thin (like Sammy's), but is getting long in the back with adorable sandy blonde curls. His eyes are still big and blue like mine, and he looks (and acts) just like me. As you can see from the previous videos, he has no trouble with his motor skills like Tom did, and we're glad for that. We will enroll him in soccer, karate, and tumbling as soon as he is old enough, though, just in case.
He's still a bit small (still in 9 month pants and 12 month tops), but proportionate and his next appointment is in June. People often comment that he is so small to be walking, and I laugh, because he's been walking for almost as long as he wasn't by now! He walked at 9 months, so they should have seen how small he looked then! Looks like all those 18 month outfits for his birthday really will come in handy next fall and Christmas! Hah!
He's full of life, stubborn, determined, playful, and FULL of energy. He will keep my hands full, and makes me worry about caring for him and another little one when the time comes... though my mom is asking for the next one, so I guess I'm doing okay as a mom!
I'm almost done studying to get my La Leche League Peer Counselor certification, and in June am taking my Doula workshop. Then in September I am taking my Bradley Childbirth Educator seminar and test, and from there I need to go to some births, write some reports, and start teaching and helping women deliver babies! It's all very exciting. Somewhere in there I've gotta get in shape, and have another baby, too, but all in good time. Finn was so difficult, I'll definitely need rally my troops once I conceive, so that if I get that sick again, I have all the support I need.
Well, enough rambling on for now. Finn is up and smearing lunch all over the floor. Time to go to the park!
Monday, May 12, 2008
High Chair Olympics
No one better blow the torch out on this one. My little acrobat has an awesome human rights record, though he's not so good at sharing yet.
I never would have believed this if I hadn't seen it myself, and was happy to have caught it on film!
I never would have believed this if I hadn't seen it myself, and was happy to have caught it on film!
Here he looks ravenous as he eats his foot.
Poetry Bomb
Tom took part in the 2008 Poetry Bomb a few weeks ago. It was an event to bring poetry and poets out of the bars and the city, and to the suburbs and more accessible locations. Tom was a feature with Esteban (one of the coordinators) at the Borders Cafe in Matteson.
There was a nice turn out, and it was nice to hear him read, as I usually can't get into the city on time on a weeknight without Finn.
Here are some pics and some of the people that read. I'm always so proud of Tom for wanting more out of life than he has time for-- he's very busy, but works hard to find balance in what needs to be done for the family (working, and fixing the house), and what he wants for himself out of life (poetry, art projects, zombie blog, etc).
A lot of people with his work schedule would tap out after week after week of such hard work, but I'm proud that Tom wants more out of life than his work, and that he works so hard to get what he wants. What an amazing example to set for Finn.
For more videos of the event (since I only inlcuded Tom's), check out my youtube page, or just do a search for Matteson poetry bomb 2008.
These last two are videos of Tom reading. Sorry for the finn distractions and the such...
There was a nice turn out, and it was nice to hear him read, as I usually can't get into the city on time on a weeknight without Finn.
Here are some pics and some of the people that read. I'm always so proud of Tom for wanting more out of life than he has time for-- he's very busy, but works hard to find balance in what needs to be done for the family (working, and fixing the house), and what he wants for himself out of life (poetry, art projects, zombie blog, etc).
A lot of people with his work schedule would tap out after week after week of such hard work, but I'm proud that Tom wants more out of life than his work, and that he works so hard to get what he wants. What an amazing example to set for Finn.
For more videos of the event (since I only inlcuded Tom's), check out my youtube page, or just do a search for Matteson poetry bomb 2008.
These last two are videos of Tom reading. Sorry for the finn distractions and the such...Mommy's Time Out
In light of Mother's day, and my lagging posts this month, here are some pics of girl's night out at my house last month. Erin bought me some wine called 'Mommy's Time Out' featuring a rocking chair and table with wine on it in the corner. It's really funny. Here I am showcasing it in all my matronly glory.
And here is the PMS pizza we made for Cassie that evening.
And here is Erin's face BEFORE she showed us all her ass. Two of us dropped trou that night. We are truly shameless.
Friday, April 18, 2008
Hold me closer, toilet dancer.
Finn climbed the toilet and shredded three rolls of toilet paper while I was mopping the floor.
He did so without a sound, and when I noticed the silence I knew I needed to find him immediately.
When he saw me, he smiled and danced to show me his newest project and how proud he was of it.
There are no pictures because now we do time outs and talk about what he did wrong instead of taking pictures.
It's more consistent and doesn't reinforce the behavior, no matter how cute he is when he does it.
I hate discipline, but it is necessary, and I'm a bit behind.... so enjoy the story without the pictures.
He did so without a sound, and when I noticed the silence I knew I needed to find him immediately.
When he saw me, he smiled and danced to show me his newest project and how proud he was of it.
There are no pictures because now we do time outs and talk about what he did wrong instead of taking pictures.
It's more consistent and doesn't reinforce the behavior, no matter how cute he is when he does it.
I hate discipline, but it is necessary, and I'm a bit behind.... so enjoy the story without the pictures.
Stacking Blocks
This kid is amazing. He does something new every day and I can't even believe it. I'm constantly surprised that he can learn faster than I can adapt. Just tonight I said something about my glasses, and in response snatched them right off my face, with purpose, and pride! I didn't know he knew what that word meant! Clearly his nonverbal vocabulary is quite large, and once he starts talking, I think I'm in for a dose of what I put my mom through. He's a quick one, both on his feet and with his wit, and I'd better get ready, because those twos are coming!
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