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Halloween 2009

We had a fun Halloween this year, with Finley just starting to walk and able to walk up to people’s doorsteps for candy-getting… he wore the same costume Brie wore when she was almost one, so we were constantly comparing how the two of them looked in it.  They do look surprisingly alike!  I got pumpkin carving pics but didn’t get pictures of the pumpkins finished, and not too many of the kids in costume.  Josh’s mom did get a lot more pictures so hopefully I can get hers soon.  I’ve posted the pics in an album, but have decided to start limiting my photos to my network.  I’ve added everyone I can now, but if you want to be added, just let me know.

 

A wonderful parenting/birth book list

http://drmomma.blogspot.com/2009/06/best-pregnancybirth-baby-books.html

Pumpkin Picking

I’m going to post the pictures from our pumpkin picking in Wilcox in an album, because there are so many…

 

Brianna Swimming (Underwater!)

Also from our Tucson trip… great fun!

 

 

 

 

Finley is walking!!!

Well, I guess he’s more toddling around.  But he’s doing great.  Think we need to get some video, haven’t gotten any in quite a while.  Here are some pictures from Tucson two weeks ago when we went down to go pumpkin picking…

 

        

Goodbye to Owen.

The world lost a good, sweet, man over the weekend.  A friend from high school, Owen Shelksohn, passed away on friday, unexpectedly.  While I hadn’t spoken to him in quite some time, he was never forgotten.  He was always such a wonderful, caring person, always there to help others.  And with a great sense of humor.  It’s amazing the outpouring of love that I’ve seen for him on Facebook from those who also knew him from high school.  I hope he knew how many people he had touched.  I will be setting up an account to collect money for his wife and family.  Please feel free to donate what you find appropriate.  I’m sure every little bit will help.  How tragic to lose someone so young, just at the beginning of his life.  I will post more info on the account after it’s set up.

 

If you have a few extra dollars…

I can’t even remember when I first heard about this organization, but I’m sure it was some time ago.  Then I kept hearing the name, and each time I thought "I should check that out."  Never got around to it until today.  I couldn’t even remember what it was called – thank goodness for Google.  I went on and searched for something like "Give small loan company africa" or something similar.  Ha ha.  Anyway, if you have a few dollars lying around, it’s amazing what good it can do.  Check out Kiva at http://www.kiva.org/app.php.  Their website says that "Kiva lets you lend to a specific entrepreneur, empowering them to lift themselves out of poverty."  You can invest as little as $25, and you do get paid back over time.  Today I lent $100 and gave a donation of $15.  Not much.  I challenge you to do the same.

The Teeth have arrived…

Yes folks, Finley almost has his first two teeth.  I know you are as excited as I am.  Just like I’m ready for him to walk so I no longer have to carry him for my entire life, I’m excited for him to get teeth so that he can start actually chewing things rather than just gumming.  I can feel and barely see both bottom middle teeth, so they are working on coming out.  He is surprisingly good-natured about the whole thing.  I was wondering if maybe teething feels like when you got your braces tightened when you were a kid…. remember that feeling of not wanting to eat because it hurt to chew?

 

We had a fun weekend… Saturday Brie’s friend Jade from her last school had a party at a bounce place, which was great fun.  Then the kids went straight from there to grandma and grandpa’s house to spend the night.  I had a fun girls’ wine party and Josh went out with a friend… first time I had thrown a "theme" party – complete with party games, tons of appy’s, and decorations.  I’m usually not into that sort of thing but I thought it was fun, and hopefully everyone else had fun, too.  Who knows, I might get more into "theme" parties now.  It’s kind of a lot of work, tho!

 

Today we went to help Katie move out of her place in Scottsdale and back to Fountain Hills.  After that we hung out at the ‘rents for a while with all the family (J’s parents, grandparents, kids, Katie, etc).  It was good and it’s soooo nice that the weather is finally cool so we can go outdoors.  What a lovely change.  We also not only got a night away from the kids, but apparently get gifts for letting the grandparents watch them (LOL)… grandma had been shopping again and sent us home with a big bag of clothes for both kids.  I realized today that I’m very lucky that she has good taste… while my kids don’t need all the stuff she buys them, it definitely saves me having to shop (whew!), and the stuff she gets is really cute.  I imagine that some people have grandparents that like to shop but buy hideous things, so at least we love the stuff she buys them.  Even though it’s a bit in excess.  And Brianna, at least, really loves the stuff.  Who knows, Finley might be a fashionista when he gets a bit older.  You never know…

Finley at 9 mo

Finley’s progression to a 9 month old crawling, babbling, getting-into-everything infant…

 

Height: 28 1/4" (50%)

Weight: 23 lb 3 oz (80%)

Head: 18 3/4" (95%)

 

Obviously his brain is HUGE and his height growth is not keeping up with his weight.  Surprisingly, he is the same height as Brie at this age, but the percentile seems lower.  Guess that’s because he’s a boy. I ‘m also surprised that his weight is only 80% – he seems HUGE to me.  Ah well.

 

Some things about him:

– No teeth yet!

– Still eating and drinking pretty much everything, he does pretty well for someone with no teeth!

– Just weaned, mom needed her boobs back

– Crawls "properly" everywhere now

– Pulls up and cruises

– Can let go and balance, standing

– Can let go and transfer to another piece of furniture not within arm’s reach

– Sleeps through the night (needed a little prodding on this but now can do it consistently)

– Had to switch carseats to a convertible back to front-facing, he got way too big for the infant carseat

– Loves bike rides and stroller strolls.  Is pretty much happy to do anything with Brianna

– Loves attention and likes to pretend he’s shy (plays peek-aboo with new people by hiding his head in my shirt and then peeking out)

– Took his first camping trip a couple of weeks ago

– Is starting to like to hit/pull, especially on his sister.  We are trying to nip this in the bud.

 

Some things about Brianna:

– Couldn’t leave her out!

– Is now in preschool 3x/week

– Can write "Brie" on her own

– Knows her colors, shapes, and some letters

– Loves to draw people.  They’re really quite good

– Loves her baby brother and generally plays very well with him

– Is very active, currently doing ballet, swimming, tumbling, and itty bitty sports. We have to get the energy out somehow!

– Just got a new 16" bike and is practicing with training wheels.  She would like them off soon!

– Loves to help with anything.

– Is very social.  Especially loves her girlfriends from her previous school, Stori and Amber.  Also loves our friends’ kids, Ashley and Jessica.