scooting

I know he's still slow and it's painful to watch but I'm so proud of him for getting this far so soon.

snoring

like father like son...

how do i look?

Sometimes I think he's wondering, "How many more of these pictures do we have to take?"


Just waking up from a nap.

In front of the Christmas tree right before we took it down. He didn't really care about the tree, but next year....well that will be a different story.

NO MORE PAMPERS!!!

I haven't been a mom that long, but I do know that there are a few things you learn fairly quickly with regard to changing diapers. First, if you think you smell something--YOU DO. Change it now or you'll be sorry later! Second, keep your head up and your mouth shut when the diaper is off. This is not the time to get up close and personal with your baby boy. Get the diaper off and get the diaper on...FAST! Third, Pampers DO NOT WORK!

This afternoon I was holding Finny when I not only smelled something, I felt something too...something warm and squishy. I quickly layed him down on his changing table to see the damage. It was there on the back of his sleeper...and on my sleeve...my white sleeve may I add. I was mad that I had to change his whole outfit yet again because of Pampers (we don't have this problem with Huggies), but like a good mom I didn't show my anger. I just decided to start chanting, "NO MORE PAMPERS" and "WE WANT HUGGIES", and this is what we got. Turns out, Finley didn't mind being changed again at all.

Sorry about the shadows. I finally got a clue in the middle of the video and fixed the problem. Here is Finley talking to Matthew. The 'cheeks' that Matthew is talking about are not the cheeks on his face. He is laying on his changing table and had just been changed. This is probably one of his favorite places to be (surprisingly). There is a mirror that he lays beside though and he loves to look at himself in the mirror. I hear that is what Matthew liked to do when he was little too.

Finley likes to lay on our bed and talk. He was really trying to say something this day. Towards the middle I swear he says something like "mom". I love to hear him talk. Sometimes Matthew will say something to Finley and it sounds exactly like he is answering him.

We usually rock Finley to sleep but last night we were having trouble getting him to stay asleep, so we just put him down on his back in his crib. We usually lay him down on his stomach. When we went in to check on him a few minutes later, this is what we found. Finley had fallen asleep trying to roll over.

Last night we had him on his blanket on his stomach making him scoot and he rolled to his back. We were surprised because he made it look so easy; however, he never did it again for us.

New pictures

Finn this morning. He is feeling better as you can see.

Finley opening a present. The paper noise scared him and then he wanted to suck on the paper.

Out at the farm Christmas Eve. He was wearing his Vikings outfit.

Aunt Heidi and Finn.

Aunt Robbyn and Finn

Daddy and Finn hanging out on the couch. He lights up now when Matthew talks to him. He talks and giggles at pretty much anything Matthew says to him.

Christmas #1

Last Thursday, we had Christmas at the farm for Steve, Melissa, Allie (6), Anna (4) and Meg (almost 1) who are spending Christmas with Melissa's family.


Meg loves cameras and will pose with a big smile, but for some reason she didn't like our camera that night.

Allie and Anna tried on a sweater that Steve got.

After they opened their gifts they sang some of their songs from their Christmas program.

Matthew's family has a tradition that you have to at least try lutefisk. Melissa was excited to try something new, but I think the texture is what bothered her the most. Unfortunately for me Darlene forgot that I had already tried it before (in 1999...I remember that day well) and gave me more...even though I reminded her that I'd already tasted it before. I think Matthew was the only one that didn't have to eat it. I don't know how he got off so easily. Must try his tactic next time.....

some new stories and faces

I put Finley on the floor today and one of his colorful animals at the other end of the blanket. With some help he was able to get to the other end and touch the animal. Another thing that I noticed today is that when I whistle to him, he spits drool out of his mouth. He has done it almost every time I whistled to him. I'm going to get a video of it and post it (for the skeptics). What can I say, he is a genius. Apparently he got his daddy's genes!




He sleeps so peacefully.


This is the cow that Sumner got Finley when he was born. It took awhile to get this picture, but it shows how big the cow is. We have gotten a lot of complements on it and Finley likes to suck on the tufts of 'fur' sticking out.



He smiles so much now. It makes my day every time I see it. I love his dimple!




He was laughing in this picture. This was the first picture I was able to get of him sitting up on his own. He will pull himself up now and try to lean on something to stay up. The first time he did this, he was laying on our bed and I saw his arms and legs shoot out in front of him and he just grunted and groaned until he was upright and then toppled over.





More laughing. He's so happy to be wearing this onesie...haha






He still loves his giraffe.

Another one that I love.

Chipmunk. He could store enough acorns for a Minnesota winter in those cheeks.

reaching for the camera

He got to see Katie again. He smiled a lot for her.

christmas makes me cry...

Below is a song that has become my favorite Christmas song this year. Thinking of Matthew's brother-in-law, Phil dying suddenly, this song really hits home. The first line of the song is "I think of loved ones who have passed away and I pray they are resting in a better place." We know that Phil is resting in a better place but those are my tears of sadness that he is no longer here and that Robbyn and Ryan and Trevor are going to have their first Christmas, first Valentine's Day, first birthdays, first Father's Day without him.

My tears of thankfullness and tears of joy are for Matthew and Finley and for our families. It's amazing that little Finn has brought so much happiness to our lives already.

There is a long intro to the song, but matthew west explains why he wrote the song.

I cry tears of thankfullness, tears of hope, I cry tears of joy at Christmas because I know there is peace on earth for every heart to find, and sometimes Christamas makes me cry. Click on the link below.

YouTube - My Favorites

The MOVE...

Well, our friends Josh and Denae Stocks moved down to Fargo today. Josh is a pilot and was offered an internship/job and Denae was offered a job at Merit Care Hospital in Medical Records. They have been in our small group for almost a year and a half. We have really gotten to know them well over the past 6 or so months. Josh as of tonight is now dubbed "The baby whisperer". Finley just loves him! They more recently started working with the Jr. High on Wednesday nights, and are just a great couple.

We got to Fargo and started helping unpack at about 2:30. Let me tell you, I have never seen so much stuff get into a house that fast! The guys were in dropping off boxes and right back outside grabbing more faster than the girls could move and unload. There were 5 men hauling boxes and 6 women trying to keep up! There were several times when we would just stop and laugh at the hurriedness of it all. It was CRAZY! We did have a lot of fun though. Anytime 3 babies get in the same room together, there is bound to be a little bit of fun.

Denae was so busy running around trying to keep up with guys that when asked where she wanted some kitchen stuff, she said she didn't care. Well Danae (Holm), Michelle and I took that to mean that we could put it ANYWHERE! She now has pots and pans above the sink in a really high cabinet. I think her whole silverware drawer got put in an upper cabinet too. Maybe, just maybe when she does finally find these things later, she will think of her friends and laugh...or maybe not.

We will miss Josh and Denae being in our small group, but hey, it gives us even more reason to go to the Olive Garden!

Another giggling video

More giggling from Finn. He seems to give it freely now in the morning; however, come late afternoon or evening, you better be doing something hilarious to get him to crack a smile...This video also has a lot better lighting in it. We just love his giggle and hope you will too.

whistling video from this morning

I started whistling for Finn and he loved it. I have really enjoyed seeing the different expressions on his face as he gets older.

giggling movie

The lighting is not very good, but this is the first video we got of him giggling. I think this was taken 3 days ago. Sarah (aunt Deah) got him these pajamas. They were so soft. I loved to snuggle with him when he wore them. That night was the last time he wore them because he is too big for them now. =(

more pictures...including 'the rolls'

Here are the rolls. If he straightens his legs, he has two dimples in his knees and more rolls.

In his defense, he had just eaten.

Matthew put him in the box. He kept trying to eat the peanuts.

Playing on his boppy pillow. He likes to jump and try to push himself out of it.

More fun in the boppy.

Scooting on the floor. He is getting his knees up and under his body more, but still not able to push with his hands. He has fun though.

I love this picture. His eyes are now hazel...just like Matthews except a little more blue around the edges. I keep saying that they are hazel on their way to brown.

He likes the camera and sometimes will try to touch it.

Funny face. We took out the padding in his bouncy seat and his carseat the other day. It was sad to put those away because it means he is getting bigger.

Bama and Paka (great-grandma and great-grandpa

Bama and Paka with their great-grandchildren, Holland, Ethan, and Finley. Holland is almost 2. Ethan and Finley are 3 months, born 5 hours apart.















Bama got Finley and Ethan these matching outfits. They were so cute together. Finley was not happy but it's still a sweet picture.















Finley on the left, Ethan on the right...they kept trying to hold hands/arms, but never got it right.




















Paka with Ethan on the left and Finley on the right.


















Finley and Bama. We went up to grandma and grandpa's house to spend the night on Sunday. We had a good time talking and eating great food. Thanks grandma! (Bama)

Here we are...

Well, I've actually done this blog thing. I never thought I would, but wanted to share photos and videos with family and friends. So, I hope you enjoy the pictures and updates on our family...especially Finley.

A week ago we got back from my parent's house in Charlotte. We had an awesome time with my family there and a great Thanksgiving dinner at Sarah's (aunt Deah) house. Finley got to meet Sarah, Becky (aunt B), and Gma (Bama) and Gpa (Paka---not the South American rodent) for the first time. He also had a nice reunion with aunt Holly, Nana and Grandpa. What a special time it was. He also got to meet his cousin, Ethan, born 5 hours before him.

I'll explain all the names and post pictures later. Bye for now...