A week in the life (v.2.2)

Trying to show her sitting up -- but she looked away.  At least it's a nice shoot of all the hair that is starting to come in up top!

She is infatuated with seeing herself.  She now wants to put the phone in her mouth everytime that she sees herself.  I like to think that she wants to give herself a big fat kiss -- but it's just "That looks nice!  I want to put it in my mouth!"

The shirt says it all. (Busy Bee)

She is starting to scoot!  It looks like she is dancing.  AH-dorable.

Playing with cousins Syd & Lena's learning center.  If I sing "Reeeeedddd, Yellllllooowww, Greeeeennnnn, Bllllluuuuuee" one more time (it sings the color of the keys as you press them).

"L" is for love, not loser.

We have almost outgrown our carseat.  :(

And this is how Finn reacts to getting three shots at the doctor's office.

Mama's favorite time -- rocking before nap time.

Somebody got to try tea biscuits this week.

And who loved them?  It's obvious.

Mommy bought a set of rose clips on Zulilly.  We ALMOST have enough hair to wear them.

Sooommmmee day, my hair will grow (to the tune of "Some day my prince will come")....

We have an early bird on our hands!  Now if only she could go out and bring back coffee along with that worm...

This is what our Sunday morning looked like.  Pajamas, coffee, the news, and the kitchen floor...

They might turn into BFFs yet...

A question in the back?

Having conversations with Cow and Mommy's Baby Pillow

Bath time!

Proud to be a Hawkeye!

Okay, so her Mama is proud to be a Hawkeye and that means that she is going to be stuck being a Hawkeye.  Hopefully she is proud of it at some point in her life.

I was born and raised in Iowa.  I didn't step foot outside of states that borders Iowa until I was 23 years old beyond a school sponsored trip to CO my sophomore year in high school and a college spring break to Florida to stay with my friend's grandparents in Naples.  At 23, I met E and took my first plane trip alone to visit him when he lived in NYC one month before September 2001.  I was the quintessential Iowa farmer's daughter with caveats.  Though we didn't own a farm, I helped my dad with my fair share of farm chores on others' farms & while growing up, it was my dad's dream to own his own farm.

Growing up, there was never a question of who's your favorite sports team.  I like to say that I was born an Iowa Hawkeye fan.  I don't remember cheering for any other team.  My first Hawkeye memories weren't of the '86 Rose Bowl team, but of being allowed to stay up late on a school night to watch the Twin Towers of Michael Payne & Greg Stokes (Twin Towers has a completely different meaning now), Roy Marble & BJ Armstrong of Iowa basketball!  My mom was working second shift, so Dad would let me sit on the couch and cheer on the Hawks.  In the early and mid 80's, the Hawkeye basketball team was pretty darn good, making a trip to the Final Four in 1980 (which I don't remember as I was 2) and multiple trips to the NCAA tournament, with back-to-back years of March Madness success (Elite Eight '87 & Sweet Sixteen '88 appearances) under Marble & Armstrong.

I also remember the hype of the '86 Rose Bowl.  Back in the day, when we were able to get Pizza Hut carryout, it was a highlight of the month and they sold a '45 (remember those?) for the Hawkeyes' trip to the Rose Bowl.  It was sung by the Fabulous Fryers, in reference to our coach Hayden Fry -- side A was "Bringin' Home the Roses" where we were going to "bring them ole' Huskies down" and side B was the "Hawkeye Hut Hut" which was a disco-esque song about cheering on Iowa.  I can't even remember how many times I would replay that '45 on my little Barbie recorder player.  Unfortunately, the '86 Rose Bowl wasn't much of a game and we weren't on the happy end of the stick.  But that didn't dampen my love for Iowa football.

In my younger years, I would set up my own little tailgater in my living room on a Saturday afternoon.  I would grab my bean-bag, a bowl of popcorn and a couple of Pepsi's in a cooler of ice and watch the Hawks.  I would usually be disappointed as after those late 80's teams, there wasn't much to cheer about for a while.  But I would still set up, optimistically thinking this would be the game where we were come away the victors.

When I entered into high school and it was time to start thinking about college, I didn't even need to think.  I didn't go on a campus visit.  I didn't look into any other colleges.  I only applied to one.  Thankfully, the University of Iowa would take me.  The first time I stepped foot on campus was in July of 1996 during my orientation weekend when I enrolled for my fall classes.  I was a true Hawkeye!  I will openly admit that I didn't choose Iowa for academic reasons.  I finally wanted to be a part of Hawkeye football & basketball in person.

My first two years of college, my friends and I didn't miss a football game.  I even found a friend that knew "Bringin' Home the Roses"!  We wouldn't leave the student section until the final buzzer sounded, regardless of the score or the weather.  After those initial two years, tailgating seemed to occupy more of my time and I stopped buying season tickets -- growing pains, I guess.  I also went to a couple of basketball games.  They usually happened during the week and it was hard to get away with all of the "studying" I was doing.  Eventually life caught up with me and I dropped out of Iowa.

Then I met a boy, moved to Jersey, and lost my zest for the Hawks.  I didn't lose just that -- it's easy to lose yourself in the fast-paced East Coast way of living.  I was always proud to tell people that I was from a small town in Iowa, but I didn't HAVE to watch every football game -- in fact, I couldn't watch ANY football games that first fall as we didn't have a tv and even when we stole our cable, no Big Ten network.  It's such a shame because that first season away was 2002 -- a historic season for Iowa football.

In fact, during my time in Jersey, I missed the 2005 CapitalOne bowl.  I missed "The Catch" because I was in the Catskill mountains, spending New Years with my husband and his friends.  But I did get back-to-back calls from my mother and my brother (within seconds of each other).  Both conversations didn't even start with a hello -- I'm not kidding when I say that both mother and brother said immediately upon my answering shouted into the phone "Did you see that catch?!?!?!?!?"

When I found out we were moving to Cleveland for E's job, excitement doesn't begin to describe the feeling.  Back in BIG TEN COUNTRY!  More correctly, I live in Buckeye country, which is sometimes insufferable   But I'm back among my own -- people that love their college sports team.  Let's face it...  The Browns, Indians, & Cavs aren't a whole lot to brag about.  And my first season back, the 2009 football season was enough to bring back my fanaticism for Iowa sports-- talk about a crazy, amazing season!  Love it or leave it -- USA #1! (Had to throw in a little of my man Stanzi...)

In moving back to Cleveland, by chance, we found the Northeast Ohio Iowa Alumni Association.  Our first two seasons here, I didn't miss a watch party.  And I was able to attended three games (one in Ann Arbor, two in Kinnick) with a fourth coming this year on Black Friday back in Iowa City.  The NEO club is also where I found my two closest friends in Cleveland, SaraBeth & SherriBeth.  They have been my rocks and the Hawkeyes led me to them.  We may all be going our separate ways, but we will always have Mario's.

And now that little Finn has arrived, I want my love of the Hawkeyes to filter down.  Now despite all the teasing that goes on about how she was born in Buckeye country and is therefore a Buckeye, please know that there is black-&-gold blood pumping through that little girls' veins -- because Mommy said so.

There is an Ohio fan-call (kind of like a bird-call) where one fan will yell out "O-H" and the rest of the fans will complete it with "I-O".  I use my knowledge gained from going to college well and yell "I-O" and finish it with a "WAAAAA" complete with the old college cheer motions.  Trust me when I say this, I WILL teach her how to correctly finish the "O-H" with an Iowan twist before she can speak full sentences.

And when she grows up and decides which college that she wants to attend, I will let her freely choose where she wants to go (but if she doesn't choose Iowa, I'll kick her heiny!  just kidding...)

I hope that she will remember our game day traditions as fondly as I remember staying up late with my Dad watching Hawks hoops.  Autumn Saturdays are always going to be black and gold Saturdays, even if we aren't watching the game.  Her first cheerleading costume will be black and gold.  And maybe, just maybe, her first choreographed dance will be to "Hawkeye Hut Hut".

Opa!

No, not the Greek exclamation, but the German word "Opa" meaning grandfather.  We had a visit from E's parents and one of his nieces this past weekend.  They flew in on Thursday evening and left early on Sunday morning.  The last time that they had seen Finn, she was four weeks old.  Boy, has she changed since then!

They couldn't get over her pudgy legs and her rolls.  I mean, who can?  She gained over 10 pounds since they last saw her, which is a dramatic change.  She took to them quickly (despite the photo above -- I couldn't resist and I don't have any "cute" photos of her cranky face).  We didn't do much in their stay, eating in their first two nights here and going to a football watch party their last day here.  But it was wonderful to see them bond with Finn.

I seriously need a new computer -- our matted screen at home isn't doing the trick.  I had to change the exposure to E in this photo and it completely washed him out (which I couldn't tell on my computer at home).  I'm going to re-edit this photo this evening and swap it out -- so if you see this before it's done, sorry for the exposure mishap (it will be corrected)!

E's niece, Neave, was especially taken.  Neave had been staying with E's parents in New York for a week or two before school started the following week in Oklahoma.  I was told that Finn was a good behavioral tool for her as if she started doing something naughty or not listening, Granny or Opa would simply ask her if she wanted to go and see the baby.  Once those words were voiced, Neave straightened right now as she was super excited to come and see her baby cousin.

 

From the moment that Neave arrived, Finn was smitten.  They sat on the floor and Neave started spinning tales of Finn's toys and Finn couldn't keep her eyes off of Neave.  There were princess fairy wands and cats & dogs opening doors.  Seeing a peek into the imaginary world of a little girl made me super excited for the next couple of years.

 

I do think that Munk is growing accustomed to Finn.  I'm not sure if he is really showing affection or just wants to lick either the snot or the food off of her face and hands.  Speaking of snot, Finn came down with a nasty cold on Wednesday.  SaraBeth had taken her to the daycare on Monday and on Wednesday for 30 minutes each day.  By Wednesday night, Finn was so clogged up that we had to get out the vaporizer, the blue snot sucker & Vicks as well as putting her bed at an incline so she could sleep better (note she didn't sleep well, just better).

We had a girls' only session on Saturday morning while Granny & Mommy drank tea & coffee and the little girls played together on the iPad.  Granny braided Neave's hair while Finn & I played peekaboo with barnyard animals.  In looking through my photos, I realized too late that I didn't get any photos with Granny and Finn -- so that'll will be for their next trip out.

A pajama'ed Finn showed Neave how to play with Magic Piano.  And Neave gave us a roaring rendition of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" that even Mozart would be impressed with.  The Magic Piano app contained play along songs that included "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star".  It was a big hit on a lazy Saturday morning.

A week in the life (v. 2.1)

Feeling refreshed after bath-time in the kitchen sink.

Always on the move (and she isn't even crawling yet -- boy, are we in for it)

The first thing that most parents stick on their kid's head are Christmas bows.  Not us, we stick warning labels on our child.

Daddy and the big girl.

Prepping for her first Iowa this past Saturday.  The fight song is playing in the background and sister almost yells "Iowa" on cue.

At her first Iowa watch-party in Cleveland -- (don't worry, there will be a Hawkeye post coming later this week).

Practicing to be the first female wide receiver at Iowa.  She's a natural!

I think that she is her own best friend right now.  She just sits and babbles to herself constantly.

Speaking of being her own best friend, E says that I'm making her into a narcissist by letting her talk to herself on my phone all the time.

This is what Sunday mornings look like in our house.  Bed head, jammies, and breakfast.

Pretty lady at SaraBeth's going away party.

At her first day at daycare.  Mommy didn't have the heart to drop her off, so Daddy and SaraBeth did.  Seems like a success (we'll see when I pick her up tonight.)

Happy 28 weeks old, my magnificent lady!

• According to my unscientific weighing and measurements, Finn is weighing in at a whopping 20  pounds!!  And she is measuring in at 27.75 inches.  The length was a difficult one to measure as she wouldn't STOP moving.  Her doctor's appointment that was scheduled for yesterday was rescheduled due to an out-of-the-country emergency by her pediatrician.  So I'll update you next week on her official weight & height.
• Lady is sporting size 3 diapers!  We moved over to the size three about two days ago.  Her poor little chub was just spilling over the legs of the size 2's.

• She is currently wearing 3-6 month clothes, but that's only because I want to get the savor the last bit of 3-6.  She has some clothes that will carry over into the 6-9 month clothing swap-out -- mostly clothing that is labeled "6 months".  I really need to get out the 6-9 month bin and make sure that we have clothes in there!  Because the switch is coming in the next two weeks and I don't want my baby to be without clothes.
• We are still breastfeeding.  My goal upon her arrival was to make it to six months, anything beyond was bonus.  Well, we are in the bonus.  I really see us continuing until she is a  year old when she can start to have cow's milk.  Right now, it's super easy, she is very efficient and doesn't waste time, and it's also very comforting for both her and I.  I really enjoy it and am going to be sad when we are weaning.

• We are officially eating solids, lots of solids.  Our list of fruits are bananas, apples, pears, peaches, mangoes, & plums.  And our list of vegetables are sweet potatoes, acorn squash, green beans, peas, & carrots.  We are not a green beans or peas lover at all.  Those two are usually combined with a more favored veggie (i.e. the other three).  She actually enjoys eating the sweet potatoes, squash, & carrots.  She usually gets rice cereal and a cube of fruit in the morning and a cube or two (if combining veggies) of veggies & a cube of fruit in the evening -- so about 4-5 oz of food a day.  I haven't started the finger foods yet as she doesn't have the pincer grasp quite down yet.  The minute I see that, it's on with the finger foods.  I have read that it's actually a myth that she has to have any teeth to eat finger foods -- as long as they are soft and mashable.
• Speaking of teeth, there are none to speak of.  I think that I feel bumps, but there is no whites on her lower gums.  So no signs of teeth yet.
• She is still rolling all over the place.  When we lay her on the ground, she doesn't stay on her back long.  She is starting to bring her knees up underneath of her with her face planted in the ground.  Tuesday night, she also started trying to scoot to get to the puppy who was out of reach.  She made slow progress, but her legs were kicking and kicking, trying to get a little forward motion.
• She is sitting up like a big girl!!!  She loves sitting up!  When laying down, I'll do a count of "1-2-3" and pull her up on three, her eyes will get really big and she will start to smile every single time that she is pulled into a sitting position and left to sit on her own.  She is also pretty stable in her sit.  I haven't tried sitting her on the ground without pillows around her though.  We have hard wood floors and tiled floors.  So there are always lots of pillows.
• We are still enamored with the pets.  There are lots of giggles, squeals and arm waves.  She loves the cats more than the dogs right now.  But I think that's because the cats are more aloof.  The pups will come up to her face and lick her or come up to us when she on my lap.  The cats generally will not.  There are moments when the curiosity of the cats will win out and they will come close.  But most times not.

 

• Something that is relatively knew -- when she gets mad, she will say "Mmmmmmmmammmma" in between whines.  Now I'm no fool.  I know that she isn't calling for me...  Yet.  I always reinforce it with repeating back to her "Mama... Mama..." and coming in and swooping her away.
• And at the age of seven months, sister knows how to play on my iPad.  We have three apps that she enjoys.  One is called, unsurprising, "Baby Rattle".  This is a sun that bounces around on a changing-color background, playing a note every time it hits a wall.  It goes faster if you touch it and changes directions if you touch the screen away from the sun, but your touch leaves a temporary animal complete with animal noise where you touched.  The second is called "Magic Piano".  It's an app that contains three variation of a piano keyboard.  You can also play songs by touching the screen, but that is way to advanced for her at this point.  She just likes to hit her hand against the screen and pound on the keys.  But her favorite, by far, is called "Peekaboo Barn".  It's an app that contains a barn that has a hidden animal behind the door.  When you touch the barn, the doors open and you see the animal.  The barnyard animal makes noise (i.e. cow moos) and a little kid says what the animal is.  There are 17 different animals.  She can open and shut the barn doors like a pro.  I like this app the best as well, because the kids that say the animal names sound so darn cute.
• After posting for the past four months that we are transitioning her into her crib, it's official.  She is in her crib now.  We have our routine.  Sometimes she doesn't sleep through the night, but the co-sleeping through the entire night is over.  (insert sad face here.)  Last week, I move her into her crib and she slept until 5am when I had to wake her to feed her because I was in pain from her lack of midnight feedings.  This happened for the first four days in a row.  Then there were a couple of hiccups, but we are back to having the entire night in her crib.  (More on the sleeping transition in a separate post later.)
• Another HUGE transition coming next week?  Daycare.  Ugh.  This is our last week with SaraBeth and daycare begins next week.  SaraBeth has brought her to the daycare on Monday to acclimatize her to her new surroundings.  SaraBeth even left her on the floor and stepped back to let her play with the other babies and toys.  Finn didn't even know that she was gone.  I think that her transition to daycare will be smoother than I anticipated, but think of me on Tuesday morning, as I'm probably sitting at my desk, anxious, teary-eyed, and counting the seconds until 3:30pm.

A week in the life (v.1.3)

We had friends in town very briefly and we went out to eat with them.  Finn passed out, clutching her links & her lamb. 

Who doesn't look cute with a bear head on their head? 

E likes to dress her up in the mornings -- this is his "Real Housewives of New Jersey" look. 

 Rings on her fingers, rings on her toes...

I replenished her baby food this weekend.  We started mangos, plums, & carrots last week. 

Videoing with Grammy -- we also got to talk with Uncle Cory and Cousin Owen (who is walking all over the place nowadays!  He is only five months older than Finn.) 

We have a bar fly already!

E found a back-organizer for the bar downstairs.  We spent Sunday, sitting at the bar watching him & our neighbor Bob do all the hard work.