guess what this is

No, it's not a small animal. It's Matthew's hair from a haircut I recently gave him. He has never grown his hair this long, in his life. It was long! I cut his hair having a little fun with it. I started by shaving the sides and left a Mohawk that I thought was hilarious. He didn't. I then started cutting the top and realized, when it was too late, that I was using the wrong attachment for the top of his head--too short. I thought it was a little funny. He didn't. I thought, "It will grow back." He didn't. He said it was the worst haircut that he's ever had in his life. I thought, "I wouldn't go that far." I said, "maybe you'll set the new trend." He didn't respond. =)

Last night at youth group, he kept his hat on the whole time (except when he prayed and I sneaked a peak). As soon as he said "amen" the hat was on its way back to the top of his head. I really don't think it looks that bad but he was so unimpressed that he didn't even let me take a picture of his new haircut for the blog.

the new things

There are a few new things that Finley has started doing recently. First, he started saying "he is" for "there he is". We play hide and seek a couple times a day and now right when he pulls the blanket down, instead of waiting for me to say "there he is", he says "he is" with a big grin on his face!

He also started saying "tickle, tickle" for when I'm tickling him. He says it over and over after I've tickled him.

Tonight while I was sitting on the floor he walked up behind me and put the remote in my face and laughed. When I went to ask for it, he pulled it away and took off running. He knew he wasn't supposed to have it, but wanted to tease me before getting away with it.

This was taken a few days ago at the farm. Grandpa Morken asked Finn if he wanted a ride on the tractor. That was all it took. Finn was practically jumping out of my arms for a ride.


All tired out from the farm.




Tonight we were playing a game where Finn would grab my phone and run off and I would chase him trying to get it. When I got him, I would run away and he would chase after me.


He was chasing me this time.



Finn's new friend, the frog. We found him in the yard and played with him a little bit before giving him to the neighbor boys. Who knows what happened to him after that....

show off...

Finn has such a huge personality. Wherever he goes, he shows off his new skills by talking, smiling and laughing at everyone. Tonight we went to a church staff party and Finn was the life of the party again, although he shared the spotlight with Lance and Sarah's 4-month-old twin boys, Mason and Micah who are adorable. Finn asked nicely for food, barked at the dog (all night long) and mooed for everyone. He also discovered a TV that was at his height. I think his favorite thing to do was to walk up close to it and then freeze. I saw him freeze mid stride, legs bent just to be able to stand and watch the TV up close.

I wanted to get some pictures of Finn while he was outside so I asked him if he wanted some grapes. He immediately looked toward the neighbor's yard (where the grapes are) and then took off. In this picture he was showing me an insulator for fencing at the farm. It's one of the old glass ones so it was pretty fun to play with.


Looking for some grapes. I'll pull the branches back and try to point out the grapes. When he sees them he will point and make sure that I see them. =)


Just a cute picture.


I love, love, love this picture of him. Such a sweetie.

my little indian boy

Finn had his 1-year appointment yesterday. He weighs 22 pounds and is 29-1/2 inches tall. He was 50th percentile and again, Dr. Bell said that he was perfect (who knows, she may say this to everyone who comes in). We started going over his development and she asked if he had started making noises for certain things. I said yes, but didn't elaborate any. She asked, "Well, does he at least have a name for you and Matt like Mama or Dada?" That's when I told her that he had 15 words so far. She looked surprised, but a minute later when Finn wanted a snack I took out his plastic bag of raisins and he started saying "deese?" She also heard him say "book". He seems to be right on track with his development. We also went over how to handle temper tantrums and in general how to discipline.

Finn has started looking for lost things. I'll find him lying on his stomach looking under the couches for hidden toys. If he finds something he wants, he will try to get it on his own, grunting and groaning trying to reach it. If he can't, he will either come and get me and point to it or he will start calling for me. Once I get there he will point and say "deese". I love this new communication between us.

Tonight we went out to the farm to celebrate the September birthdays. Finn wore his Indian outfit and it was, again, a hit. He even has the Indian dance down, although I still have not gotten it on video. He danced a little bit tonight, but when he saw everyone else laughing, he started laughing so hard that he had to stop. We never saw the Indian dance again after that. =(

Playing on the floor. He had fun again with the girls. Meg was sick with croup so she didn't stay very long.


Sitting like Grandma Stabley driving his tractor.


More sitting like Grandma Stabley.


Anna was in such a cuddly mood tonight. She said I was the bestest Aunt in the world and then she pressed her face up against mine and said, "Uncle Matt should take a picture of us like this". We held the pose until he took the picture. =)


Anna and Finn.

the birthday boy!

Finn’s first birthday. It sounds weird to say that. I think to myself, “He shouldn’t be one”. He should be little…a baby. He should be 5 days old asleep in Matthew’s arms. He should be smiling at us for the first time. He should be rolling over for the first time, sitting up without falling over. He should be crawling across the room learning how to hold his head up, moving his arms and legs at the same time. He should be lying in the living room window with all the snow in the background letting me take pictures of him. He should be eating rice cereal for the first time. He should be spitting out mommy’s pureed carrots yet loving Gerber’s pureed carrots. He should be pulling himself up to stand and then walking around furniture. He should be toddling with toys and then letting go for the first time. He should be talking and attempting new words.

Then I think about how much he has learned and think to myself, “He should be one”. He has accomplished so much in his little life. He is smart, inquisitive, expressive, funny and just a neat little boy to be around. He has good manners and knows when to use them and shares even his favorite toys with you if you say please. Thinking back, I love the smile that started when he was 3 weeks old and has grown to a toothy grin. I love the noises that started as little grunts but have developed into yelling “Daddy” out the window and “Deese” when he wants something. I love how he started out crying when he needed me, and then went to crawling to me and then walking to me with a book in hand.

If I were totally honest I would tell you that I secretly dreaded this day. I would also tell you that when I went in to get Finn this morning, he reached up for me and I stood there and held him close a little longer than usual. I treasured the ‘baby’ things today that he still does because I can see that they are fading. He reaches for his sippy cup instead of a bottle. He doesn’t know what a pacifier is anymore (I gave him one last week and he thought it was a pretty cool toy to shake around). When asked if he needs his diaper changed, he will sometimes point down there. =)

There are no words to say how much of a joy and a blessing that Finn has been this past year and I’m sure that next year at this time I’ll be remembering another 12 months gone by and thinking back to the time when he turned one and seemed so little.

Here are pictures from his first birthday. (The party pictures will be up this Saturday.) Standing outside eating his daily apple. Yes, he's wearing long sleeves and thick pants. It was chilly all day today. Didn't get out of the 50s.


Got a little too cold standing outside so we came in to finish the apple.


Must be rough...


Aunt Deah sent Finn an Indian hat and moccasins.


Here he is in the window having fun with them on.


Grandma and Grandpa Morken got Finn a truck to ride on for his birthday. He had fun figuring out the noises and how to drive it. I'm sure we'll be working on that some more tomorrow.




Reading the "Dump Truck, Sam" book from Bama and Paka. If you know Finn at all, you know how much he loves books and his birthday books were no exception. He got the dump truck book from Bama and Paka, an interactive Cheerios book (fill in the holes with Cheerios) and Little School of Fish (The fish light up and count to 5) from Grandma and Grandpa Stabley and By the Light of the Silvery Moon from Aunt Holly (the moon glows up in the corner). Whenever I was sitting down today he brought these books to me to read with him today. I'll get more videos of all of the books, but I can't take videos of myself when we're reading. =)

This is what Matthew and I got Finn for his birthday. It's a wagon filled with mega Lego's. We knew he would like it because he picked it out while we were shopping. (Isn't that horrible?) He didn't care about the blocks at first. As soon as he saw the wheels turning, he figured out what he needed to do, got up and took off. For the rest of the day he went back and forth. He did eventually play with the blocks but still not as interested in them as running around the house with the wagon.

Ha! This cracks me up. This present was from Grandma and Grandpa Stabley. First of all, what you don't see is Matthew starting to open the gift for Finn. Matthew sees the magic color...John Deere green! Matthew's face lights up. Then he finishes opening it up for Finn because he's so excited to see what inside...Matthew, that is. When he sees that it's a John Deere tin tool box he starts to get really excited! He then opens it up and sees that there are play tools in there. He gets more and more excited as he pulls more and more tools out. Sorry, Matthew, they're for Finn. Then, after the video is over, Finn starts to use the hammer on the John Deere tool box. Apparently, that is not what Finn should be doing with his new hammer and tool box. Matthew picked up the tool box, held it to his chest and said, "We should put this up high so he can't ruin it". It then went on our dresser....uh yeah, Finn won't be able to reach that until he's 15! So, we now are decorating our room with Finn's John Deere stuff! =)

the curly hair?

Okay, I'm sorry for all of these hair pictures but I wanted you to see how long and curly it is getting!

See the curl in the front?


Curls in the back...


More curls on the other side...long hair hanging over his ear.


More curls in the back...


Curls in the front and back...


Matthew and Finn built their first fort together last night. Finn didn't really get it, but it was still cute. =)

more catching up

Mattea and Finn on Thursday. They had a little bit of Oreo blizzards...that's what the brown stuff around Finn's mouth is. He spent about 5 minutes straight saying "deese" over and over trying to get more blizzard.





Daddy and Finn playing with Johnny Tractor (J.T.) and Corey Combine on the floor. Wow, I didn't realize how bad Finn's farmer's tan had gotten.




Finn sharing Johnny Tractor with Daddy.





Matthew put tape on Finn's cheek. For the first few minutes he couldn't figure out where it was or how to get it off. I think this video is cute because he keeps touching his mouth after Matthew takes the tape off.

Walking around eating his apple.

Sitting on his car eating his apple. I have a feeling it may have been a little sour from the expression on his face.

Matthew and Finn playing on the floor. Matthew was trying to teach Finn that Corey Combine goes through the field first and then Johnny Tractor (J.T.) goes through with the disk after the combine. Finley didn't understand and kept wanting to take whatever tractor Matthew had. I guess Matthew made it look more fun. Towards the end Matthew says "You're too young, aren't you?". Matthew can't wait for them to be able to play with the tractors 'the real way' although he realizes that just getting on the floor and talking to Finn about it is really good for him.

I think this video is so sweet with Matthew and Finn playing together. Finn is really watching Matthew driving J.T. and the disk and he also talks. Sometimes he says stuff and then looks at me like I should know what he's saying. I love his baby talk, but can't wait to know what he's actually saying.