15 months and counting

Finley turned 15 months old a few weeks ago!

This little man is really thinning out these days.

Here are his stats from the Doc:

Weight: 20 lbs 10 ounces

Length: 29 1/2 inches

Head Circumference: 18 3/4 inches

Our little man is growing by leaps and bounds! He is so much fun to play with now and his smile and laugh just melt my heart. He is a happy, easy going baby (or should I say toddler now?) and has a mouth full of teeth (11 with one more on the way). He is really starting to communicate to us using his signs or through speech. He can say cheese, shoes, bubbles, dog, dada, keys, pa pa (my dad), ELMO, boo, moo, ball, ice, and ba ba (instead of mama). For some reason he has stopped using his Ms. Plus he knows about 20+ signs. He is on the verge of going down to just 1 nap a day, even though I am not ready for it!

Here are some of his latest accomplishments:

Finley can climb onto objects now as he demonstrated at David's soccer game the other night. I guess when you are ready to leave, not even a fence will get in your way.

He surprised us by 'jumping' in this bouncer at a friend's birthday party. When you ask him to jump normally, he bends his knees and then straightens them. It is too cute. He also enjoys spinning in circles, walking backwards, playing ring around the Rosie, running, and kicking a soccer ball around the house.

Finley loves all animals! But he doesn't know boundaries yet. He will just walk right up to any animal and try to touch it. Here he is trying to step on a turtle.

And reaching out for a duck. Every time we go feed the ducks he inevitably gets bitten by one on the hand. Luckily Finley isn't phased by it. He keeps trying to reach out and grab them!

Bath time and pool time are still favorites! This kid can't get enough of the water.

He also loves watching Signing Time! and Sesame Street. Here he is with his second cousin Claire enjoying a post nap show and snack. Could life be any sweeter?

One of my favorite new things that Finley has learned to do is show affection. He gives hugs, kisses, and will even blow kisses when you leave. It is such a great feeling to get a slobbery kiss, even if you have to prompt him to get one.

One of Finley's least favorite things is when he gets his diaper changed. He wiggles, squirms, flips, and pitches a fit. So we use anything and everything to try and distract him. Here he is reading a book while having his diaper changed. Finley loves books and will read book after book all day long!

Other dislikes include bee stings (at least he isn't allergic), getting cleaned up after eating, and when I cook without his help.

I am amazed by what a little person he is these days. How he has his own desires, opinions, and seeing his little personality develop. It is so much fun being Finley's proud mom.

Here are some bonus pics:

Let's Get Ready to Rhizome!

Ultimate Gardening

Carrie vs. David

A few months ago, Carrie Bigger made a blog post detailing her gardening prowess and sending a thinly veiled challenge my direction. Well, all I've got to say is:

"Let's get ready to Rhizome!"

I will admit, our lot is not ideally suited to gardening. The only vegetable that we decided to put in the "good earth" this year were snap peas . . . and you are looking at the only snap pea that we got all Summer! Point . . . Carrie.

Due to our lack of a suitable garden plot, we decided to go full gusto with container gardening this year! Here we have our zuccini, peppers, tomatoes, and assorted herbs. It is my understanding that Carrie has an equally "impressive" container Garden of Eden on her porch . . . draw.

Here are the few tomatoes that have ripened so far this year. Rumor has it that Carrie has a bit better luck with the tomatoes, so . . . point Carrie. (Yikes, it is Carrie 2, David 0)

The bell peppers have not really taken off yet, but I have quite a few buds. Carrie, in a sportsmanlike manner, has admitted that she doesn't have very many peppers budding on her plants, so finally . . . point David!

But, here is my secret weapon (a.k.a. the constant gardener).

While I am at work, he is watering away!

So, here's where I step up my game. We planted a pear tree last year and some blueberry bushes a couple of years ago, and they are both starting to pay dividends. The pear tree is literally bending under the weight of all the pears! I just hope that they all ripen (and that no branches break off!). In any case, last I checked, no fruit trees/bushes at Carrie's house. Point . . . . David (Bring it!).

In the end, all I (and my little waterer) have to say is . . .





All right, Carrie, the ball's in your court in this garden off!

Now & Then

This was just too cute not to share.

Finley pictured below at 5 months old:

And here he is again in the same outfit at 15 months old:

He has really thinned out and grown up over the last 10 months!

But he is still my baby.

Moooo

Yesterday was another exciting adventure as our fun Friday field trip took us to the Homeland Creamery in Julian.





We started off the morning with a hay ride tour of the farm.







Finley was excited about the tractor pulling us around and I swear he started mooing for the first time today as well!

What does a cow say? Mooooo!




Our tour guide taught us lots of fun facts about their farm. I was most impressed by the fact that their cows produce 8 gallons of milk a day! And that their milk goes from the cow to the store within 24 hrs! Now that is some fresh milk.
On site the creamery produces milk, ice cream, and butter.

Here is where they store corn to feed the cows.

They had other kinds of animals there too including a lama, chickens, a roster, and turkeys!

Here is where the cows come to get milked twice a day.

Each cow gets hooked up to a computer that knows how much that cow usually produces and whether or not to save some of the milk for her baby calf.

It will also dump all the milk if the cow is sick and on antibiotics.

Even though the creamery isn't officially certified organic - everything they produce is organic.

After our hay ride we were able to visit a baby calf.

Finley knows no fear when it comes to animals - he walked right up and tried to pet him!

In Finley's defense the calf was super cute and cuddly looking.





Then each child got to take a turn giving the calf her breakfast.
Man could she throw it back!



Addie decided to she was going to try her hand at being a milk maid.



Finley wasn't very interested in the fake cow, but we loved the real ones!
MOOOOO!
After the tour we each got to sample some of their homemade ice cream.
It was to die for! Vanilla ice cream has never tasted so good.
I just wish we lived closer so that we could enjoy it everyday.

Red, White, & Blue

I was feeling a little patriotic this past weekend with it being the 4th of July and recently reading 1776, so we decided to head downtown to see the annual 4th of July parade.

David made fun of me for coordinating our outfits, but I think we look cute all decked out in red, white and blue. Finley was very excited that he got to wave a flag and play with the windmill his Mimi bought him this past week.

We arrived downtown a little early, met up with some friends, and found a nice shady spot towards the beginning of the parade route.

Finley was just mesmerized by the parade.

It started off with some gentlemen dressed in authentic period clothes and playing drums and fifes (which Amber was able to identify for us because David and I couldn't remember what they were called).

Then came the soldiers with their guns.

And next up a man on stilts!

So, just the beginning of the parade had to do with the 4th of July. Everything else was just kind of a mix of local groups and bands.

Finley was really interested in this super tall guy though.

And these roller derby girls were cracking me up.

One wiped out as they were passing by and so they all went down on one knee in her honor.

I could so be a derby girl.

Can't you just see it? I would be ruthless!

Finley loved waving to people, clapping his hands, and bopping to the beat of the drums.

I thought the bagpipes were a nice addition too.

Andrea - do you think your neighbor is in this group of kilts?

Only real men can wear skirts and make it look so manly.

And then there was this group....We actually walked behind them on the way to the parade and overheard them talking about joining the parade. Apparently you can just insert yourself into the mix and get away with it!

Next time we are so doing that!

And last but not least there was a band from Canada bringing up the rear.

Apparently they wanted to celebrate our Independence as well.

Finley's first ever parade was a success! The loud music and even the scary men who were in the parade (not pictured because they were dressed in horrifying Halloween costumes) didn't seem to bother him one bit.

Happy 4th of July!