HUGS!!!

No, it's not the new Toddler Wrestling League! This is actually one of the sweetest moments ever captured on camera. Trust me, you just had to be there. It started with your buddy Abby tickling your toes, which you found quite hilarious. Then it moved to Abby laying on her back and lifting her toes up for you to tickle hers. That too was pretty fun.

Then Abby stayed on her back, and I can't recall exactly what happened but next thing you know the two of you were in the sweetest most loving embrace. You hugged each other so gently and then you kissed Abby. By the time Emily got the camera you two looked more like this! Wrestling around, but actually there was no wrestling, just some cuddling. So adorable it could make me cry!

Flowers For Mummy

We've been having a blast playing in the backyard every morning. Each day you seem to introduce a new element to the games. It started simply with pouring water back and forth in a cup. Then it graduated to include rocks. Then it escalated to include the cheesy frog planter on the opposite side of the back deck, and it took part in the rock and water gathering. Leaves were eventually introduced, and now flowers!

You take all the items back and forth across the yard creating piles and marvelling at them. Then moving the piles to another area and marvelling at them there. I like the new introduction of flowers, because you actually DO take time to stop and smell the flowers, which I love. And it reminds me too to not just stop and smell the flowers per se, but just stop and take it all in. 'It' being life. It's important for me to do that every once in a while, so thank you for reminding me of that and teaching me new lessons every day.

SNOW!!!

Nope, we're not back in Jackson Hole...but in Palm Springs! We went up the tram this past Wednesday and had such a great family day! The actual tram part was not your favorite experience (you take after your dad there I guess, definitely not your mum) but playing with the snow and walking in the backpack you definitely enjoyed! It was super slippery walking in the snow and after your first wipe out you pretty much refused to stand on the stuff again! But you had a blast yelling "ICE!" and making snowball piles. You can make a pile out of anything I guess! It really is your favorite pastime. You kept a lot of the tourists amused every time you carefully selected where to put your next snowball, and then exclaimed "WOW!!" Fun fun.

We had a great day. The weather was gorgeous and sunny and your dad and I felt really out of shape walking back up to the tram after walking in the snow for two hours! You got super tired, and actually managed to fall asleep while bouncing around in the backpack! It was so funny!

We enjoyed a nice lunch and a beautiful view, and a ride back down the mountain full of "No, no, no, no!" but you braved through it. A nice tram operator offered you a snickers to make it all better. Sorry kid, in this household banana makes it all better :)

A Quick Visit with Mimi

Your Mimi came for a visit this weekend with 'Grandaddy Sam.' We had a ton of fun, even though it was short. You kept them extremely entertained playing with water and bringing rocks from one end of the yard to the other. Your water and rock obsession is still going strong!

Mimi was amazed by how smiley you are, and how much your vocabulary has improved. Each night she read you books before bed, gave you a bath and fed you your breakfast and dinner. We went out for dinner one night and you entertained us all with your silly dance moves in the high chair.

I even got some time off to run errands on my own and they took you and Maddie out for a neighborhood wagon stroll where I understand you walked holding their hands for quite a bit! And you put your hat in the mailbox! With me all you do is insist on eating, but I won't complain, I know it's more interesting to be with new people than boring ol' mum! ;-)

This beautiful weekend was just what we needed though. We both feel great, our infections seem to be gone and we are ready to get back into some playdate action!! Hallelujah!

Another Trip to the Zoo

This week we've been quarantined and unable to play with our friends. It leaves us with little to do except play in the yard and go to the zoo! So off we went to the Living Desert.

You really know that place because as soon as we park the car you say "Animals!!" It's amazing how your memory is. In fact, we went to the doctor this week (you hadn't been there in 2 and a half months) and to be quite honest I don't think we told you we were going there. It was evening time, and dark. But as soon as we parked the car and I came to get you from your carseat you said and signed "Fish!!" Indeed there is a giant fish tank in the waiting room, and you somehow remembered that...so many months later.

Anyhow, our trip to the zoo was fun. You seem pretty into the train, which I think is super cool. And also the water table/play area. You played there a looong time and got completely drenched! You just love your water...

We went to the petting zoo too this time and although you were attached to me 99% of the time, with a bit of fear in your eyes...you did manage to pose real nice with this one goat. Although truth be told the second after I took the shot you ran at me yelling "UP!!!"

That's ok, at least we got the shot. When we look back at the photos in 50 years my failing and senile memory will tell you "Oh Finley, how you loved that goat! You couldn't stop petting him and brushing his hair!" ;-) Let this blog be proof and truth about our trip to the petting zoo.

We have a Virus and Bacteria :(

Well, sorry for not writing for a while, this will be short. Aside from you having a sinus infection and an ear infection (your first ever), plus me having a sinus infection, we also have a virus, computer virus that is! Everytime I want to write on your blog I get booted off. We'll figure it out soon enough, but in the meantime just wanted to post you a little note to thank you for being such a champ while you are sick. It's been over two weeks of sickipoo, which also means we haven't been on a playdate in that long, and I thought we would both be going stir crazy by now..but to be quite honest we are not only in good spirits despite being sick, but we're also having a lot of fun...even if most of it is at home!

By staying home so much we've been able to focus on playing with certain things over and over again. You've learned all your shapes pretty much, and can name Circle, Triangle, Square, Oval, Moon and Cross (they certainly don' sound like that, but I get it) and it seems you've learned a few letters, including Y, I, E and N. They are all part of Finley :)

We went to the Date Festival this past week and the Living Desert Zoo...and once my computer is cleaned up and we're all better I'll try to post some pictures and write a bit to capture those days as well. Love you.

Lunching like a big girl

Today we never left the house except to go in the backyard and a short walk. We're on sick day number who knows what (feels like forever!) and we actually had a pretty enjoyable morning and afternoon!

We spent much of the morning in the backyard playing with the water and rocks. I even got to do a little bit of rearranging on the back deck to make it more Finley friendly, which was nice.

You wanted to eat and I told you we would have to go inside to your highchair, but instead you pointed at the deck chair and told me you wanted to eat there. Then you pointed to the chair next to it and told me that I would sit there. So...off I went and got your lunch and there you have it...your first real meal sans high chair (and not in my lap or in a park etc). You loved it and so did I.

I learned something very important about you today...you are a girl of conviction!! I took your diaper off this morning to give you a little 'breathing' time and decided since we weren't leaving the house all day to just leave you like that. I kept asking if you needed to go potty every time you squirmed and you said no. You were right, you didn't. You didn't after your milk, or after breakfast, or after water, or a snack, or lunch, or more water. Huh!!!??? Five hours passed, and you never peed. Not once. Heck, we were playing WITH water all morning and the pool in the backyard had the spa spillover on and all we could hear was the sound of a water fall...but nope, nothing! Can't say the same for mummy!

Finally I realized that you must be afraid to do it without your diaper on...so I put on a diaper, and sure enough, within a few minutes I changed you into a clean one. Wow, who knew a one and a half year old could hold it!!?? I sure could have used that iron bladder when I was pregnant with you! ;-) (Am I allowed to write this stuff on my own blog?) :)

Direct Line to Abby

There's a lot of Abby Love going on in this house. Abby is one of your best gal pals, an adorable 23 month old who always makes you smile. The new ritual these days is you ask to call her on your pretend cell phone every night before bed (and often before naps as well). You'll yell out "Amby!!!" and point to the phone and insist I call her, stat.

It's not ok for me to just call and say "Hi Abby, Finley wants to say Lilah Tov (good night)...no no no....we need to tell her about our day, and what we ate, and where we went, and we need to do all that, even if you two spent the day together!

And it doesn't end there. When my neck finally starts killing me from reading a book and craning my neck to keep Abby on the phone (that's right, if I put the phone down you freak out and yell "Amby!!!!" all over again) I then tell you Abby went Lilah Tov. You wave goodbye to her and then say "Emellay!!!", who is my dear friend Emily, Abby's mum (well, I guess she's her Mom, not Mum ;) Anyhow, we then continue the conversation with 'Emellay' until she too, miraculously goes Lilah Tov.
You'd think it would end there, right? Nuh-uh. You guessed it...you now ask for "Ryruu!!!" being Ryan, Abby's Daddy. I cannot believe it, it's so funny! So I spend the entire evening with a crick in my neck, reading you books, and reading their whole Abby family books as well.

When Dad puts you to bed (which is most nights, except lately while you are sick and insist on being a Mama's Girl) he must do the same routine. He and Ryan occasionally speak guy talk...but I think for the most part it's "Abby, did you see how pretty Finley's hair looked today?" and "Abby, did you see the giraffes at the zoo?" and "Ryan, aren't our girls just so adorable?"

OK, maybe the last one he didn't say...I'm embellishing. :) But I wanted to document this adorable (yet slightly painful) new routine of yours. What I think is so sweet about it is just how much you are able to show your love for others.

Happy Valentines Day

I'm glad I got this picture of you today...because the heart shirt didn't last long between the huge amounts of teething drool coupled with the throw up of the day (day two) :( Yup, you are sick...again! But we still got some good love in and danced together and read books and snuggled. Amidst that there was a lot of nose and chin wiping, and trying to unstick your hair from your face. Pretty picture, eh? But it was all done with love. :)

Happy Valentines baby, love from your mummy and daddy. We love and adore you, sickipoo snot and all.

Having a Ball

Yesterday after music class we went to the park to meet with a friend who was in town from Orange County. She turned it into an awesome Valentines playdate and had balls for each of the kids to play with. Most of the kids were playing on the slides etc for at least an hour, while you sat on my lap and ate lunch.

But then all of a sudden, you took an interest in the balls, that were there the entire time...and went nutty chasing and kicking them and throwing it to me! You couldn't get enough of it! Your wicked little giggle came out full force (lately you've had this crazy giggle that is really low and long and sounds a teeny weeny bit evil!!) Haha....it cracks me up! You had the same giggle in class when we danced and you had the other ladies laughing too!

Anyhow, after the playdate and nap you saw the ball in the house and got all excited again and played again and again with it. Lots of fun. I actually didn't think you would be into it...but you surprised me!

Get on Board (Choo! Choo!) the Potty Train!!

Well, this picture sure looks successful, but to be truthful, you have never ever peed in your potty to date! I recently bought a Potty Training kit by Baby Signs since you love to sign, and thought that might be a fun way to incorporate potty training into our lives. We're not technically potty training, but potty familiarizing at this point.

The kit came with a video teaching signs for Potty (you are doing the sign in the picture) and other helpful signs, and a catchy little song that includes the line "If you want to wear a pair of big kid underwear, get on board (choo choo) the potty train! If you want to learn to pee on the potty just like me, get on board (choo choo) the potty train!!" You get the drift. I only type it all out because I haven't gotten the song out of my head for days!!

Anyhow, I know you have no idea when you are peeing, or wet or whatever, so I thought to just have you enjoy the time and have interest in your new potty. You don't seem to mind it, but you certainly have no idea what it's for...considering you stood up after sitting on the thing for ten minutes, and then peed standing up a few feet from the potty! And you didn't even notice! It was funny. This will be a loooong process! But that's fine...we've got plenty of time!

You have been enjoying though playing without a diaper on...which makes my heart rate rocket so I'll have to figure out how to incorporate your new found love of going au naturel with the beige carpets and persian rugs! I think it's so healthy for you, so I certainly want to encourage it. It would suck having to wear a diaper all day and night long...especially when you have such sensitive skin, as you do.

Anyhow, this is probably TMI (Too Much Information) for you, but one day when I am an old lady you'll be talking about buying me diapers and you'll see that I did it for you and it's your child responsibility to your crazy old mama. What goes around comes around...let's hope you have hardwood floors when you have to take care of me!! ;-)

Music to my ears...

We started taking Music Classes! Since you love to dance and groove at home I thought this might be something fun for us to do on Saturdays while Dad is working. The good thing about this class is you can sit on my lap the whole time and it doesn't feel like we are throwing away our money like it did when we went to My Gym (because sitting on my lap at My Gym is counter productive to the class experience, whereas in this class it's set up that way). So far you seem to like it!

The demo class we went to I thought was totally lame and was not prepared to sit through an hour of it once a week...we were even told not to talk like normal people in class to one another but use our "Siiiingiiing voiiiiices" (sounds like a cult when you are there!!). But throughout the class you seemed to feel comfortable and relaxed. The teacher plays guitar and we sing fun songs, and she brings out silk scarves that we dance with, or a big bucket full of instruments that you get to bang and clang on. All in all pretty fun stuff. The hour goes by super fast and we leave happy.

You always reenact the class a few hours or days later by telling me "GOL!" (meaning 'girl') and then you start to sway, clap, and dance. That is how you reenact music class. Sometimes you also point to yourself and say "Ninley" (for Finley) and then point to me and say "Mama" (that one's obvious, no translation needed) and then you go into the swaying routine again. Meaning we were both there and we both clapped and danced. It's so funny. You only reenact good things. (Oy, we've been reliving Chuck E Cheese for 3 days now with your fine reenactments!! It's actually the same routine but instead of saying "GOL!" you say "MACK" for mouse, and sign mouse at the same time). Actually, sometimes you will reenact a fall by saying "Bonk" and bumping your head on whatever it is you bumped on.

You would make a terrific baby witness or TV dramatization baby actress in your reenacting abilities! I wonder if there is a market for that.....? :)

A little Chuck and a little Cheese makes Finley a Happy Girl!

Today we went to Chuck E Cheese with some friends. You would think the main attraction is not the pizza (it shouldn't be), nor the big screen TV, nor the creepy giant mouse spinning vinyl (or so I imagine-oh, I can just imagine you reading this in 15 years saying "Mum, what is VINYL???"). But once again, I digress...

You would think the main attraction is what they make all their money on...the GAMES! There's a ton of them, geared for all ages, including a carousel ride, and cars, and ducks, and frogs, trains etc! Wow, don't they look like fun!!

Nope, all you wanted to do was watch the giant mouse. And hold a lemon. you did put down your lemon for a brief moment or two to clap for the big mouse. What's a mum to do but join in? :)

Wawwuuu!!!

It's all I hear from your mouth these days! You are truly water (Wawwuu, for those of you who do not speak Finley-Speak) obsessed. It's become a true (I mean real bad!) obsession. You wake up yelling Wawwuu, you go to sleep saying it, you ask for it in the car, in the stroller etc. And not for consumption, I should mention. Purely for pleasure.

I keep half full water bottles all over the house and car so that you can shake them around. I put your Learning Tower up by the sink so that you can fill up cups and pour them back out. Dad lets you help him fill the frog humidifier in your room with water. We fill the pitcher and let you pour it into the bathtub. The list goes on and on. So yesterday I bought you the best gift ever! A water activity table!!!

Your face lit up when I told you I had a surprise for you this morning. I told you we had to dress warm and get your crocs on and that it had something to do with water! Oh you couldn't follow me fast enough to the back yard! Lo and behold it was a great gift and kept you busy for 45 minutes this morning (I had to pry your shaking, wet and crying body away from it so that we could have breakfast before heading out to meet friends!!). You were like a little chemist, pouring water here and there, over and over and over again, and giggling away at the bubbles you made by pressing some buttons. Fun Fun Fun! Even Maddie loved it and considered it a gift to herself as well; a brand new giant water dish!

After nap, well, you know the drill, "Wawwuu" was the call from your crib! But I wanted to get Maddie out on a walk first so we got in the wagon and went for a walk first but all you could ask was when were we going home and playing with the water? (well, that's my version of what you were saying. What came out of your mouth was screeches of "Wawwuu!!! Wawwuu!! Wawwuu!!" and when I would say "Do you want to play with the water when we come home" your little body jumped up and down (as much as you could with your seatbelt) saying "YEAH!! YEAH!!" Very fun.

So back to the house we went...as the temperatures dropped and you were drenched and cold and it was dark out, you still didn't want to let go of the table, and once again, I brought a crying, wet and cold baby inside. Took all your wet clothes off and you refused to wear anything at all. So now I'm shopping for an oilcloth apron for you!! Perhaps I'll pretend it's mine and then you'll be sure to wear it! ;-)

Another new outfit!

I bought a new shirt a few days ago. I guess you get to wear it before I do! I always thought that would happen one day, but in like 12 years from now!! Your dress up play is definitely coming out. By the time you are two I just may have to make my first real visit to (gasp) the Disney Store. Sigh, I'm just not ready.

But funnily enough when I pull out a pair of pants or pretty shirt of yours to wear you refuse me many times! Go figure...the grass is always greener! The lousy thing is YOUR clothes are cuter and more expensive than mine...and I can't fit into yours!!! ;-)

An afternoon with Daddy

Yesterday we visited Dad at work and had lunch together at his office. He took you for a fun little ride in the golf cart, and you loved it. He drove you up to the gate where he showed you off to security (he often shows you off you should know. In fact, you know how I always write how much I love you and am proud of you? Well, just know that Dad, although not the blog type, feels the same way. We both look at you sometimes and marvel at the fact that you are OUR kid. The swaddled, bitty baby of past is now walking, talking and full of personality. But again, I digress...).

Anyhow, we had a nice afternoon with dad, and after the cart ride we sat and had lunch at the conference table, where you called your first official meeting to order. It was very important stuff that you needed to discuss, including how much you wanted to eat apples with your lunch, if Janet, the receptionist wanted to come and see Dawg (the dog doll pictured) and there was a vote and eating Turkey burger was voted in, and eating Tofu was voted out.

A very productive day indeed.

Well my oh my, it's not a Choking Hazard!

I remember when you got these Little People. You got it from Grandaddy Sam for your first birthday. I was terrified. Could you get one of these little gals in your mouth and choke?? Dad even named the ladies. There is Mrs. Johanssen (who is in your left hand), The Pilot (yes, that's her name, and that is her in your mouth) and the third lady, the touristy looking one carrying a cell phone, whose name escapes me at the moment.

Well, turns out they are NOT a choking hazard, as you so deftly proved to me the other day. Why thank you for putting my mind to rest finally.

I recall wondering when you would really 'play' with these Little People. At first all you liked to do was chew on them and hold them. You love to hold things. Especially in your stroller. You don't like your hands empty, it's kind of interesting.

Then you progressed to taking the Little People out of the airplane, and then back in. That was oodles of fun. So was the stage when you would set them out on your rug and marvel at them in the center of each flower.

Now, nearly 8 months later, you actually play the way they are intended. Well, almost. You 'walk' the ladies to the plane (by bouncing them up and down on the ground) and you open the door and shove them in head first. Then you pick up the plane and hand it to me to fly it, or you roll it along the ground. What a concept!

Soon enough, they will all have voices and personalities.

I know it seems pretty banal to discuss the use of Little People, but it actually is so very interesting to me to see how a simple toy like this has evolved with your newfound skills. One day you'll read this and be like "Mum, are you seriously dedicating an entire blog entry to the Little People??" Yup Finley, I find the banal. when it comes to you, so very interesting.

We now welcome the slide into our world!

What a terrific thing! You've loved playing at the park for months now, but you shy away from almost all the park playsets other than the swing and occasionally the rocking toys. I'm not sure if it's the climbing part that intimidates you, or the fact that all the other kids are on it, or what...but something about it makes you nervous, so I don't push it.

The other day when you were sick I took you to our new favorite park. It's super quiet and there are rarely lots of kids playing. That day we were the only ones there! I guess this made you feel more comfortable because you climbed up the playset and went down the slide at least four times! Each time you went down you exclaimed "Whheeeee!" so I know you were having fun! It was so incredible to watch, and we'll see what happens next time we go and there are other kids playing too.

I must say though that we have a lot of work to do on your climbing skills! I'm not sure if it's the klutz in me that you get this from, but you seem to have absolutely no concept when it comes to climbing, and then what to do with steps. If it were up to you, you would walk right off a high canopy thinking there was soft ground inches under each of your feet. It's so frightening to watch you try to learn how to maneuver on the playset, and I nearly had a heart attack when you were barely paying attention and walked down a step as though you were walking on flat ground. Needless to say I did not end up having a heart attack, but you have a lovely circle on your forehead which is the imprint of the cut out circles in the play set so sand and dirt can fall through. Whoops!

But all in all, it was a blast to watch you play and explore in ways you've resisted in the past. I'm so very proud of you honey. You are an incredible slider now. Only a mum could be so proud of something so insignificant. Love you.

Sickipoo

Well, you've got the sickipoo. It's your first cold of the season, and it's been dubbed Snot Fest 2008 by dear Emily (Abby is sick as well). In fact, it is so snotty that I devised a llittle trick to keep your hair off your face. I got you to wear this headband (which again, you love and Say "Pretty" when you see your reflection) because you have long bangs, and long story short is snot plus hair equals glue. Basically your bangs were glued to your cheeks all day from getting stuck in your, well, I'll say it again, snot! So headband it is! You look so grown up in it...like my little 10 year old! Well, not quite, but you sure look older than your 20 months! (Hmm, I can barely believe you are 20 months!).

Anyhow, this little bug is pretty sad, because your voice is all congested and raspy, and your little cough is so sad to hear. But you are doing really well through it, and although you've been clingier than usual, you've also been more focused than usual. I bought you a new shape sorter the other day and I'm sure we've played with it for at least 5 hours over the last two sickipoo days! You've really enjoyed taking your time with it, which is not your typical way of play...so this is a good thing! You've even learned a few shapes, and I'm pretty sure you are saying Circle and Triangle. Although not entirely positive. I know you have Star and Heart and Moon (for a half circle) in your shapes repertoire, and I think we can add Circle as well. Maybe Triangle was a fluke.

They say to take lots of Vitamin C when you are sick. You are not very tolerant to citrus, so rather than eating vitamin C you are still just toting it around with you. We don't go anywhere without an orange or grapefuit (in your words"Anmo" for orange and "Ahpoo" for grapefruit) clutched in your little hands. After nap yesterday I asked you if you wanted to go in the car and go shopping. Your usual answer is "Yes!" but you weren't in the mood. I asked if you wanted to go shopping to buy new oranges and your eyes lit up and then I heard your great big "YES!" and you couldn't run to the garage door fast enough! I bought you three new oranges, and you were over the moon! Thank goodness for Vitamin C during sickipoo! :)

My little Martha Stewart

(I'm a bit behind on posting to the blog so I'll be doing several today.)

I wonder, when you are an adult reading back on this, will you know who Martha Stewart is? Will it be like so passe to talk about Martha Stewart? Wait, it might already be, heck, it's 2008!!

Two days ago you decided that the furniture needed rearranging! It was so funny, because you typically aren't so bold in your decision making...but you were determined to get the chairs from your coloring table in the kitchen area to your room! Pronto! You hoisted them in the air and pushed them along the back hallway to your room. When you got them just to the right spot, you exclaimed "WOW!" and seemed satisfied. You then accessorized by adding some toys on top of each chair. "WOW!"

And add to that girliness...

The other day when I tried to get you dressed you refused absolutely everything in your closet. Nothing seemed quite good enough to you (and let me tell you babe, you have a beautiful wardrobe!) but I pulled out this black onesie with faux pearls printed on it and your eyes absolutely sparkled! You imediately bobbed your head up and down saying "YES!" So cute! The funny thing is, I bought the onesie in San Fransisco last summer and it was supposed to be for under your flapper Halloween costume in case the weather was cold. But is was so hot this past October there was no way you were going to wear it under your costume (which, by the way was a huge hit...I'll post a picture of it here since I started your blog well past Halloween).

Anyhow, you loved this onesie and you stared at yourself in it a ton, saying "Pretty" and feeling like a ballerina :) I see these little girly ways about you spring up every day now and it's so cute to watch. For some reason I didn't expect it! I thought you would be more tomboy-ish! But this is adorable. Including yesterday when you snagged my red leather purse and filled it with fruits and wandered all over the house. Oh how I love my girly girl.