Happy Holidays!!!

Our 2012 Holiday card (front) 

(back)

A Week in the Life (v.5.3)

 Our little snow princess (minus the snow)

I'm not sure where her tear came from, but I reminded me of the 70's environmental commercial with the Native American with the tear.

Lots of eating photos this week.  We were learning how to use our spoon with some strawberry mousse.  Obviously, we have some work to do...

We also ate 3/4 of a whole banana -- and created quite the mess.

I swear that's not a booger -- it's a piece of banana as evidenced by the amount also on her chest.

But you can vaguely see her two bottom teeth!  First photo evidence of those suckers!!!!!

I'm not sure how she gets food in places where it doesn't belong.  See that orange chunk on her left temple?  Yep -- saving a yogurt bite for later.

This is her new pose when she wants to be cute.  She flops her head to the side and smiles.  

I think that she succeeds.

Granny Murphy is here for a visit!

And so is Grumpy Murphy!

This girl has a serious obsession with the duck song.  I tried to take multiple videos of her dancing to the song.  She only dances during certain parts of the song and I couldn't figure out how to edit the video without  permanently cutting out the whole video.  This will have to be enough for now.

Makin' a List and Checkin' It Twice...

Last weekend was a mad dash of making our lists and checking them twice.  E & I both made lengthy chore lists and challenged each other to mark everything off of our lists.  There may even have been a few arguments over someone crossing something off of the other person's list when the other person completed the task.  There's just something exhilarating about striking that pen through an item on a to-do list.  I think that he won, but I think that he had more things on his list and didn't have a little 10-month old crawling after him all day.  One of the things that was on my list was to take photos of each room in our house.  Yeah, didn't get done.  I think that the house photos are going to wait until the new year when there isn't so much holiday'ing going on -- but you do get photos of our house doing it's holiday jig.

I'm not even sure if it's safe, but our Christmas trees and garland lights have been on constantly for the last week & a half.  And my radio has been tuned to our holiday station and the radio is turned on the moment I walk in the door from work.  I'm sure that E can't wait for Christmas to be over with -- but I had the thought last night that I wish that Christmas was actually in January.  I always get down after Christmas is over.  The festiveness fades out of the air and then you are just waiting for April to arrive and with it, spring.  It's the dreaded holiday hangover.

Another thing that I'm going to miss after Christmas a nice cup of cheer.  This weekend I realized the amazingness of that frosty Christmas ale in a new way -- sprinkled with cinnamon!  As I took that first sip, I could hear Burl Ives singing about "Silver & Gold" while I imagined myself sledding down a snow covered hill, whizzing by snow-covered fir trees lit with colored Christmas lights.  Mmmmm, delightful.

Our first big holiday memory as a family of three was made this past weekend.  Finn met Santa for the first time.  And I'm proud to say that Santa had a real beard!  It didn't go well, but it went better than expected.  We went out to eat early as a family and would hit the mall after.  We got to the mall at about 5:40pm and with Santa taking an hour long break at 5pm, we decided to get in the relatively short line (maybe 10-15 families long) and wait for Santa to appear.  (sidebar: Sister did really well for not having a nap that afternoon.  She had taken a LONG morning nap (an hour & half) and we went shopping.  I tried to get her to cat nap at around 2pm -- but she wasn't having it.)  I was waiting for the epic meltdown to ensue while waiting for Santa.  There would be no such meltdown.  I will unabashedly admit that when we were the second family in line, I became very nervous.  I had counted on her crying, so I'm not sure why I had the feeling that I was slowly climbing the tallest incline on the rollercoaster.  Within the past month, "stranger danger" has arrived.  If you pass her off to a stranger (or someone who she doesn't see often), the big crocodile tears are flowing.  If you hold her and a stranger starts talking to her and smiling, she will coyly put her head down on her chest and look at the stranger and smile.

Well, when our time finally came to meet the big guy, I handed her over and quickly stood behind the camera, trying desperate to get her to smile (or not cry, depending on how you want to take it).  Surprisingly, she didn't cry a single tear.  She would look at me with fear in her eyes, look up at Santa, and then back at me, as if to say "Who is this guy and why are you standing WAY over there?!?!?!?"  So we didn't get the tears that I had anticipated, but she definitely wasn't excited to see the fat man.  I made E sit on the one side of him and I on the other for a family photo with Santa.  As you can see in the photo, the minute that I sat next to her, she started trying to grab my arm to get off of his lap.  But although no smile, no tears either.

While we were exiting, Eain grabbed a peppermint lollipop from Santa's big red bag.  He thought it was only fitting to give her her first taste of peppermint after being so good for Santa.  Instead of a single taste, she had other ideas...  We had to pry that sucker out of her sticky hands and face as we were leaving the mall.  The screaming was minimal as we whisked her into the chilly darkness outside -- the cold air stealing her breath away.  She fell asleep before we were out of the mall parking lot.  I mean, afterall, meeting Santa Claus for the first time is seriously exhausting...

A Week in the Life (v.5.2)

On Monday, I picked her up and we both looked like we just got out of jail.
E dressed her without knowing what I had put on for work that day.
And Munk -- well, he was just howling excited that we had unknowingly dressed the same.

Trying to get Finorah excited about being dressed alike was pretty difficult.

Hmmm, yogurt melt or maple wheel... Decisions, decisions...

We went to Joann's and had a fashion show in the headband section.

 Saturday we went out to eat at a big-people's restaurant.  We got there a little before 4pm and were told that we had to be out before 6pm.  She was a perfect angel the waitress said.

Saturday night was also the big night.

We met Santa for the first time!  Here she is patiently waiting in line.

The nerves started to get to her as we got closer.  She began chomping at the bit!

The only thing that I can think of when I see this photo is

"Here's Johnny!!!!" Only it should be "Here's Santa!!!" without the axe.

The excitement of seeing the big guy in the red suit.

So even E & I sat on Santa's lap -- photos later this week.

But E got a lollypop for being so good.  We decided to let her have a taste of peppermint. 

Hmmmm, this taste is called peppermint??? 

I'll take that lolly!

 Yummy peppermint!

By the time that we left the mall, lady had most of the lollipop gone.

Most enough to start to make Mommy nervous and we took it away from her.

She has a strange fascination with the rocking chair -- always getting directly underneath it. 

The rotating tree was entertainment.  As she would wait for the ornaments to go by within her reach and try to pull them down -- thereby stopping the tree and causing it to click.

"C" is for cookie...

Okay, so my mom wasn't out this week or last.  These photos are technically two weeks old.  It may be annoying -- my rule, but we all know it (I don't like using week old photos, let alone two week old ones).  And yes, I realize that they are almost identical photos to the self-portrait ones in her 41-week update post.  Tough.  We have a computer issue at home.  We bought a new Mac and can't figure out how to put my photo editing program onto the new computer.  So we currently look really techy and have two computers set up on our desk.  I am still putting my photos on our old computer, but in seeing how great the new computer screen is -- I abhor putting the pictures onto the old matted screen & I'm also just lazy, knowing that I'm going to have to transfer the photos once the new computer is up and running.  We will be bringing the Mac to the Apple store this weekend, so hopefully I'll be back in business with my new computer next week.

Finn's second tooth has officially came through.  So we now have two teeth on the bottom.  She is no longer Finorah the Frightful and it's wonderful.  There is still a little disruption in her sleep, but that is due now more to gas than anything (which confuses the crap out of me).  Last weekend, E was away being the master of ceremonies for his old mentor's emeritus dinner (sounds super fancy, amirght?).  So the girls tried to find things to entertain ourselves.

Friday was pretty low-key, basically keeping to our normal routine: home, play, nap, eat, play, eat, bath, sleep.  Saturday was filled with LOTS of shopping and errand running.  We went to six, yes -- SIX different places in the span of 2.5 hours.  She was a very good girl and was awarded a toy from Target.  I finally had this super-duper great idea.  Why not make her enjoy her carseat by giving her a toy that stays in the car...  When she starts crying as you place her in her carseat, you throw this toy at her and she is quiet for a short time.  Huh?  Huh???  It only took me 42 weeks to figure that one out.  (Sidebar: I told E that I need to start reading textbooks again, so I can regain the brains that Finn stole from me.  His response:  "Regain? Ha!")  So, we all know how much I love B. Toys -- I thought it fitting to buy her car keys, since she always wants mine.  They are great because the actual keys feel almost identical to real keys and there are four noise buttons that keep her entertained.  Anywho, she was an angel and we spent way too much money on essentials and holiday gifts.

I didn't want to ruin the surprise (because technically it's a phone photo which belongs in a Monday post)...  But we got our first bad report card from daycare and it was quite hilarious.  I get a daily report from daycare when I pick her up each day, telling me when she ate and napped and so on.  Okay, I'll totally spill -- my poor girl is a thief...  A cookie thief...  I was told that they found her sitting underneath one of the play tables with an Oreo mustache chomping away on the stolen cookie!  It seems that she has gotten my sweet tooth.  Oy vey...

This is usually shared on Mondays, but I couldn't wait...

Forewarning...  As this blog's original purpose was serving as a time-capsule of sorts for Finorah -- next week there will be back-to-back posts that might be boring to everyone else.  Next week's going to our home invasion.  I'll be posting lots of photos of our house and what it looked like when she was born.  I am always intrigued to see baby photos of myself to see what was going on in the background with the house that I was born in.  Since I was born, that house has seen many, many renovations and many, many decorating-revamps.  I thought it nice to document our house so when we tell her stories about her infancy, she can imagine the rooms just as they were.  But being that I haven't taken some of the room photos, it will also document the festiveness of our house for her first Christmas.

Also, in the next week or two, there will be a holiday bombardment.  From an Xmas card reveil to holiday crafts to a secret surprise...  Merry Monkeyshines for all!!!!  (Totally just learned that word today -- monkeyshine = mischievous behaviors)

A Week in the Life (v.5.1)

Again with the Mickey Mouse scooter.  We have graduated to not having to keep her steady and can focus on speed, SPEED, SPEED!  (Just kidding -- I can't move too fast anyways)

She takes after her mother.  This photo doesn't look like my kid at all (at least in my opinion).  I do that in photos as well -- I will wait until the minute the photo is taken to make the most obscure face (unintentionally) and then not look like myself.

PS -- Loving the wild hair...

Speaking of wild hair -- it's so fine and now long enough to get some serious static going.

As you can tell -- we are obsessed with her sleeping habits...

Speaking of obsession -- just a video of her waking up.

Remember when I said that sister loves to dance?  Video proof.

Just more proof because I couldn't decide which one I liked more.

Quite possible my favorite video to date.

I love how when she finally wakes up at mark :38 seconds (patience, friends -- it takes a while) the first thing she does is raise her head and say "Ahpppft" in a whisper.

Our Saturday was spent running errands.  I was so pleased with her that we were able to hit 6 different locations before the cranks set in.

New weekend development?  "Uh-Oh..."

Of course, she said it repeatedly while I wasn't videoing -- but the minute that she hears that "beep" she no longer does what I want her to do.

Extreme closeup -- resulted from trying to take a photo of her in mid crawl.  I'm not fast enough.

We had our first pancakes this weekend.  The reviews were mixed.

We also had our first viewing of Charlie Brown's Christmas.  It was a big hit!

Munching on some apples. 

Look closely.  Finn is sitting right below Lucy.  Lucy decides that she doesn't want her grabbing her feet.  So she moves... 

See how far she moved? 2 inches...  She is going to have to wise up soon.

Happy 41 weeks to my no-longer-toothless lady!

Alright, alright...  This post is a week late -- in the four week segments, I should have done a 40 week update.  In my defense, the 40-week Thursday (she was born on a Thursday) fell on Thanksgiving Day.  Not in my defense, I remember on Monday or Tuesday, thinking that I would just take the photo in Iowa.  But as holidays go, you live in the moment and completely forget things that you don't normally do (i.e. take a 40-week update photo and also call my best-friend/psuedo-sister on her birthday -- Sorry, Tara!  I was too busy huffing on Thanksgiving fumes)...

• Scientifically, Finorah is weighing in at 21.6 pounds.  And she is 29.5 inches long.  (We had a doctor's appointment on Wednesday.)  It looks like she basically stayed completely the same as her 36-week update.
• She is currently in size three diapers -- no change coming there.
• We are moved into 12 month clothes.  I find that this size is pretty confusing.  There are things that are labeled 12 months and most are labeled 12-18 months.  The majority of the 12-18 month tops are WAY too big for her.  But she is too chunky to be fitting into the 6-9 month tops.  I'm not really sure why they aren't making a 9-12 month size.  So I think that we will be hanging out in (12)12-18 months size for quite a while.

•  We are still breastfeeding.  But I discuss at her 9-month checkup at the doctor's how to go about weaning her (insert super sad face here).  It really makes me sad that by her next doctor's appointment, I'll be actively trying to wean her.  Our breastfeeding journey hasn't been the smoothest, but it worked best for us.  My initial aim was 6 months, which turned into 12 months.  I'm so thankful that we have been able to get this far and we still aim for 12 months.  I think that I'm going to be one of those weepy moms when she finally stops.

• We have moved away from the purees for her dinner with us for the most part.  She is actively eating whatever it is that we eat, which makes me more conscious of how healthy my food is.  She really loves eating -- let's hope that continues.
• One of the two super-big developments of the past five weeks?  She got her first tooth and is pushing through her second!  Her first tooth arrived the first week of November.  And holy moly was that an event.  For an entire week, she was a grumpy bear.  She also ended up with her first ear infection, which didn't help the teething pain.  Thankfully, her second tooth hasn't been as severe as the first.  She has definitely had her grumpy moments, but most of the time, she hasn't turned into Finorah the Frightful.  In fact, my parents were the first to alert me to her second tooth coming over Thanksgiving, then confirmed by the doctor on Wednesday.
• Her second super-big development?  We have become Finorah the Fast One.  She was scooting for a couple of weeks and started full-on crawling on the 14th, the day before E's birthday.  Last night was the first night that she actively tried to crawl away from me.  She usually sticks pretty close to me -- crawling short distances for toys.  Last night, she actually crawled out of my sight.  Definitely time for the baby gates!

 

• She is also pulling herself up to her knees on things, much to my chagrin.  And when placed in the standing position next to something, she can stand for quite a while.  She isn't the sturdiest yet -- lots of wobbling all over the place.  She hasn't really bonked herself on the coffee table yet, which is her favorite thing to try to see over top of.  I have a plan in mind for that -- we bought a super-cheap oval coffee table at Goodwill.  I am going to turn that sucker into an ottoman-type coffee table, so she can't bonk herself.  Yes, I realize that she will be bonking herself at some point.  But why not at least try to minimize the bruises as she is learning to steady herself.
• She is also a mimicker now.  She will copy what you say (if it's in her vocabulary which isn't that big yet).  She will now say "mama" after I say "mama".  Our conversations are limited to "baba", "dada", "mama" and hers and my personal favorite "ahppppft".  I keep pointing to myself and saying "mama" hoping that her first word is to me.  I'm sure it's going to be something like "Meow" or "Arf".
• She has gotten really good at using her outside voice inside.  When you take something out of her reach, she will let out of a screech, furrow her brow and then look at you as if to say "Seriously.  Give that back."  She doesn't cry -- just lets out a screechy whine and gives you the evil eye.
• She is a big dancer and will dance when she hears music.  It's the cutest.  She swings her arms and rocks back and forth to the beat.  She also loves to "waltz" around the house.  I'll take her hand and we will dip and skip around.  She is so happy at that point.  Makes this mama excited about our future dance parties.

 

• We are still working on our sleep.  She doesn't sleep through the night and it was pretty frustrating to Eain.  When I talked with the doctor and she said that the reason that she isn't sleeping through the night is because she needs that night feeding to ensure that she is getting enough fluids.  She doesn't drink a lot at daycare.  In fact, I've cut back her afternoon bottle.  The ladies at daycare were telling me that she didn't finish her afternoon 5 oz and they would have to dump my breastmilk down the drain.  So instead of dumping, I cut back.  She takes 5 oz in the am and 3 oz in the pm.  She nurses at about 5:30 and then again at 8:30 right before bedtime.  The doctor said that it's a good thing that she is still waking up to get that third feeding in.  I'm trying to push the night feeding to as close to my alarm as possible.  So it's like her morning breakfast and then she will sleep in her crib longer -- in fact, we had one night this week where she went to sleep at 9pm and didn't wake up until I got her at 4:30am and then slept again until 9:15am!  But we only have to work on the night feeding for another 2.5 months.  Then Daddy can feed her a bottle in the morning before daycare.
• Her hair is also really starting to grow quickly.  We are in the in-between phase right now.  It's not short anymore, but it's not long enough to lay down properly.  It's also really fine.  That leads to LOTS of static and rooster-tails all over the place.  It looks in the back that it might end up not being stick straight (which would make sense as both Eain and I have naturally wavy/curly hair).