Jared, Alice, etc.: February 2010

My favorite part of the day

My favorite part of the day is getting Finn up from his nap. He usually is in the squealing with delight and thumping around and giggling. Every once in a while he'll cry and I'll go in a swoop him up and we'll rock in great-great-grandmother's rocking chair and snuggle. It's been especially fun since he started pulling himself up a few weeks ago.

After waking up he usually has to say hello to his fish friends and nibble on them for a moment.

Finn has A LOT to say

Since the 2nd week Finn was born, we kicked him out of our room. He was NOISY! He continued to grunt, talk, giggle, squirm and thump in his sleep. During the day he talks...A LOT! He even sings...often while I'm playing the piano.

He started out with "blah blah blah." Seriously, he said "BLAH." It's kind of a "dada" sometimes. He also goes "wa wa and ra ra." Or he's just go "buh buh buh." As if he's about to spill out the word...buh buh BALLOON!

Bedtime Stories

Finn loves his bedtime stories from Jared before he goes to sleep.

Eating

Finn's turning out to be a pretty good eater...when he gets to feed himself. He likes things with lots of flavor. He loved all of the soups I've been making, butternut squash/pumpkin, potato leek and chicken. He also LOVES my sweet potato lasagna and the latest barley with sauteed onions, peppers and mushrooms. I've been grinding some of this in a Kidco food mill that a friend told me about. It's the greatest. In the morning we make him some oatmeal and he eats that (and makes a huge mess) while we try to finish our workouts. Yesterday he even offered me some of his food. I declined.

Finn's also learning how to wave. It's pretty cute. It's just this long straight armed wave like her were on a float in a parade. He waves goodbye to my mom when we're video chatting and waved to Jared while sitting in his high chair eating. We're still working on waving goodbye to Jared before he goes to work. I can't wait for the little hand opening and closing waves that some babies do.

Waiting for the train

Hanging out at the train station with cousin James waiting for the train to go by! (James was a little more excited than Finn.)

Lights Out

On Wednesday the entire city was without power due to a small plane crash. Anyhow, they were trying to get the power back on by 6 pm...but it was getting dark and time to feed Finn his dinner. So I lit candles all around and happened upon this glow stick in the "everything drawer." I think my mother (the queen of preparedness) must have passed it along to me at some point in time. It kept Finn entertained while I got his dinner ready hoping the power would come on to heat up his food....and his room to sleep in...which it did...just in the nick of time.

Lounging

Just kickin' back while mom pushes me around.

Finn's first time at the beach

When Jared and I were talking about "doing stuff." I said, Finn's never been to the beach. So on Jared's day off we headed to Half Moon Bay. I just love the beach in the winter, all of the different blues and grays. Plus it's just fun to get bundled up and be cozy in the sand.

It took Finn a little while to get used to the idea of being at the beach.

Jared helping him discover the elements.

I'd say he warmed up to the idea of being there by the time we left.

Lets do stuff

Last week when I realized Jared had a 3-day weekend I said, "Lets do stuff." Our weekends are usually filled with chores and working out. So Saturday Jared let me sleep in a little bit and I came out to find this...he had built little forts for Finn to crawl through. Finn has really enjoyed exploring the house and trying to crawl through tight places...even between my legs when he gets the chance.

Then we headed to Windy Hill for a quick hike. We couldn't find Jared's kite so we just hung out for a bit and showed Finn the ocean and a helicopter and rabbits. So far we had only been using the backpack to walk around the neighborhood. It's working out nicely.

My boys!

Of course I brought along the tri-pod and my remote and got camera happy. I'm still working on trying to be discreet with my hand placement.

And then we stopped by Alice's Restaurant for a yummy lunch. I hadn't been there since my Dad was alive. We used to go hiking and then he'd take me here for a meal.

A Heavenly Birthday

I went to sleep a happy woman on my birthday. Why you ask? Well, I got two pairs of incredible shoes from the one I love, and I was taken out to a fancy dinner. We stared into each others eyes over zucchini cakes, grape leaf wraps, sea bream (Jared) and lamb (me) while we chatted about our past, present and future. These conversations are usually in bed before we drift off to sleep and are often not so coherent. Dates are so much more valuable now that we have a child. I love my babe but it's nice to get out in a dress that I haven't been able to wear because I can't nurse in it.

Photo shoot of me on my 31st birthday. It's fun to get dressed up when you know there won't be an evening of drool or spit up happening to you.

I love love LOVE this man:)

See how I'm kicking my heal...that's because it was a splendid evening!

And then I was 31

On Monday I turned 31. Well I officially into my 30's. I didn't want to make a big deal out of it. However, I had been wanting to make this for a really long time. It only served 8, so I decided to invite a couple of close friends/relatives who lived within a 1 mile radius on Sunday evening to delight in its deliciousness. (Amanda didn't count because no one lives near her...she lives in the woods and my birthday wouldn't have existed without her.)

Anyhow here is a photo of the Caramelized Winter Fruit Custards. Oh they were delicious. And now I have an entire bottle of Applejacks that I need to find more recipes to use it for. I also made a little chocolate cake.

Getting ready to cut the cake.

Oh I love this man!

Here I got a little remote happy. Jared, me, Maddy (cousin), Emily (another cousin) Amanda (lifelong friend) and Emily (another lifelong friend.)

Finn does somersaults

On Sunday I was in the kitchen cooking when I hear all of this giggling from Finn. I asked Jared what was going on and he said, "Finn is doing somersaults." Or course I rush into the other room to see what mischief these two were up to. And then on top of that Jared taught Finn how to get down off of the couch by himself.

What Finn has been up to

When Finn was born my sister said only make a list each of one thing to get done. Well, after a while I was being more productive...shopping, working out, washing my hair, cooking dinner, laundry and such all in one day. Now I know what she's talking about. Since Finn's been on the move...nothing gets done. I just play with him. I follow his path of destruction. Jared will come and see...wow we have been up to A LOT!

Just doing some light reading.

Wanting to play some music.

Playing with this really cool top that I got from a German store downtown. HE LOVES IT! (I babysat a girl in Switzerland who had one and thought it was so cool.)

Looking cute in his jeans.

Climbing on mom.

Just looking cute:)

Treating almost everything like a ball.

Climbing mom SOME MORE!

Helping mom unpack the groceries.

Pulling up in his crib.

Video chatting with Grandma.

Walking along the couch.

Discovering the DVD shelf.

Helping mom fold laundry while she talks on the phone with Grandma!

It was a Wolf Moon

The other day Jared informed me that Saturday night there would be a Wolf Moon and we are lucky to be in possession of my Dad's MONSTER telescope. I said, great lets make a date of it in our backyard. So I made some hocho (term coined by my friend EmCox for 'hot chocolate') while Jared set up the telescope.

This was also a great opportunity to play with my camera and remote and capture the moonlit night.

Moonlit sky...shutterspeed 20secs...f-stop 4.

The moon was so bright and BIG, it filled the entire view through the telescope...plus I kept saying to Jared, "Oh I must keep bumping the telescope because the moon keeps going out of frame." He told me it was the moon moving....how cool is that. We could see craters and the edge of the moon curving into darkness.