a peaceful drive?

Matthew is in Minneapolis this weekend for a conference with the pastoral staff, so Finn and I went to GF this evening to a friend's house. While I was driving there, Finn, of course started fussing and crying. When he starts getting mad in the car, sometimes I try to talk to him, other times I make crazy faces at him, and sometimes I just turn around and tell him "No" and "Stop screaming". If any of these work, it's not for very long. You would think that after a year, we would know 'the thing' that works to calm him down. Well, tonight I figured it out. I was trying to get his attention through all of the screaming, so I reached back and I put my hand on his foot and started rubbing it and told him to settle down. Almost instantly he calmed down. I removed my hand and when he started getting mad again, I put my hand back on his foot again and started rubbing it. It worked!

This really shouldn't be a surprise to me. He has always liked his feet tickled and rubbed. Sometimes, if he is sitting with me on the couch, he will put my hands on his feet to tickle them and play with them. Other times when I go in to get him up from his naps, he will lie down in his crib and put his feet up so I can play with them before I pick him up. Why didn't I think of this before? I attribute this to when I nurse him. I have always played with his feet while he was nursing, so it only makes sense that this would be a very soothing and calming thing for him.

And before you think that it was a fluke, when we were coming home tonight and he started crying, I put my hand on his foot and he instantly stopped crying and fell asleep. Wow, a peaceful drive!!!

tootsie rolls and terrorizing the cat

Finn likes to go out to the mailbox with me to check the mail because he knows he's going to get a treat from the mailman. Every day the mailman, John, leaves a tootsie roll for Finn. His face lights up when we walk out to the street and closer and closer to the mailbox. When he got his tootsie roll the other day, he said "deese" and I opened it up for him and gave him half of it. He usually eats the first half and then asks for the rest of it. Well, that day he had to keep taking it out out of his mouth and looking at the half eaten, slobbery piece of candy. Of course, every time he took it out of his mouth, a big drop of brown slobber would come out with it and land on the floor or his shirt. So, I told him not to take it out of his mouth. He understood what this meant because when I turned to walk away, I quickly looked at him to see that he had his hand at his mouth again getting ready to pull the candy out. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw that I was watching him and he just froze. I didn't move but just looked at him with half of his tootsie roll hanging out of his mouth and his hand almost touching it. His eyes darted to the side and when he saw that I was still looking at him he gave a little giggle. I couldn't keep from laughing at him so there was no point in punishing him. He just didn't get the other half of tootsie roll that day.

Playing in the living room.


Wanting the camera.


Don't know why I like this one so much. He just looks so calm and sweet.


Another sweet and calm picture.


Finn showing Zodie his horse. She's not impressed with the horse or the fact that it's coming from Finn.


Eating the horse.


Zodie finally had enough and decided to leave.



Mattea and Jeramy were playing the piano and Finn was dancing.

More terrorizing of Zodie. I don't know why she hasn't just keeled over and died from a heart attack. I would if someone twice my size was running after me while yelling and screaming all the time

talking, climbing and a speedwagon

Finn has really taken off with his talking. We read a farm book about Frank, the farmer probably 5 times a day. On Wednesday, he said "Frank" for the first time. He is also saying "Deah", "B" and "Ollie" for his aunts Sarah, Becky and Holly. All three of these names came rather naturally to him. I started trying to get him to say Deah when he was 5 or 6 months old when Aunt Deah came to visit so he's heard that one the longest. "B" came easily because of the books that we read and several have pictures of bees on them. That's a pretty easy sound to make. "Ollie" was a little different. His word that he says over and over as he's walking and running through the house is "loddie". It took a little switching around of the sounds and letters, but he finally got "Ollie" down (sometimes it comes out as Oddie. That's okay though, Holly is a little odd sometimes).


I walked into the living room the other day to find Finn climbing.


He was so proud of himself for climbing up onto our cable box.


He would have climbed further, but I put a stop to that. I'm sure Daddy wouldn't appreciate Finn playing with his PS2 controller.


We went to Cabelas Wednesday evening and Finn walked right over to this display of ducks. It had a mirror behind and Finn was so fascinated with them. He didn't know what they were at first since they don't look anything like his rubber ducks or the ducks in his books at home.


He hit his head more than a few times trying to get closer and touch them. When we left this display, he had a red circle on his forehead. =) Great job cleaning the glass, Cabelas.


At Cabelas watching the fish in the huge tank that they have.


I was sitting at the computer on Wednesday and I looked up to see a grinning boy staring me in the face...eye level. He had climbed on a box of school books that I have next to the desk.


Having fun being tall like Mommy...at least he thinks Mommy is tall. I give him 8 or 9 years until he's taller than me.


Wow, his teeth are getting big!


Finn got up on the couch all by himself using his truck. He's lucky it didn't move out from under him while he was standing on it.



So proud of himself.


Playing with his truck. As a side note to anyone who has given Finn books, please don't be offended if you ever see your book or books on the floor. It only means that he is using them and enjoying them. They are picked up before each nap and before bed at night.


What a happy boy.


This past Saturday, we had another Small Town Saturday in our town. There was a bike, hike, run race and then games for kids and booths selling all kinds of things. The Fire Department put on a lunch and a pork BBQ dinner (so good--you don't get BBQ here very often). All day the Department gives rides around town on the 1937 Speedwagon. It's the first fire truck our town had and is kept in the county museum. Here are Matthew and Finn riding on the back of it.



Sitting in the front seat ringing the bell--boy was that annoying. =)


In this video, Finn started out playing with his car on the box. He then climbed on top of it and forgot about the car.

Talking and yelling. He starts off by singing "Oddie" softly and then get loud really fast.

More talking and the nose...

books, books and more books...

Finn has been feeling better and looks good. For the last few days he has wanted to lie around a little more and has been looking at and wanting to read books like crazy. This afternoon after we played outside for a little bit he sat and listened to 8 books. He would bring one to me, sit on my lap and listen and then climb off and get another book. We repeated that 8 times!

Here is the little bookworm looking at "Elliot the Elephant"--it's about an elephant that has lost his voice and can only squeak--then you press the elephant on the book and he squeaks.





Finn now knows how to put Matthew's sock away. Awesome!!! I like how he crawls in the almost empty basket to get that last sock. =)

Telling Zodie that she's "ba" (bad).

Eating a banana after getting up from a nap. Check out the bedhead!

chickenpox

I'm pretty sure that's what Finn has...and it makes sense considering he just had his immunization for it. They said that one of the side effects was him getting a very mild case. He has maybe 25 spots on his whole body and he's not scratching at all. He is a little more clingy and fussy than usual, though. It they are bothering him, he isn't showing it much.

He learned how to say "bad" today and uses it with Zodie. Finn will walk up to Zodie, throw his hand out toward her and say "Ba" like he's really angry.

Finn wearing Daddy's hat, but more importantly...Matthew's haircut! =)


Jeramy, Danae and Mattea came over to our house last night. Finn and Mattea had fun playing together with books and tractors. They also chased each other a little....mostly Mattea chasing Finn, but it won't be long until Finn is the one chasing! Mattea sitting in Finn's book box.

Matthew came home one afternoon just as Finn was waking up and they got to play together a little. Finn had on Matthew's had playing peek-a-boo.

Matthew and Finn still playing together. I love watching them play together. Finn just loves his time with Daddy.

More roughhousing...

Mommy sneaking up on Finn.

More sneaking up on Finn. He has such a sweet smile in this one.

Last night when Jeramy, Danae, Mattea and Jeramy's brother and his fiancee came over Jeramy and Matthew had to try something out that they had recently seen on Mythbusters. Apparently, if you weave two phone books together, then you can't pull them apart. It worked. After a loooooong time of them weaving the phone books together one page at a time they couldn't pull it apart.

making cookies

These next three videos are from making cookies. I couldn't put them all together, so they are separate posts.

Yesterday, Finn and I made cookies together. I put him up on a chair and opened a drawer on one side of him and then stood on the other side so he couldn't fall out. I gave him a spatula to play with so he wouldn't keep grabbing at the bowl of cookie dough. He soon saw the plums and used the spatula to try and get them. Don't you want to just reach in and help him get it? He was pretty proud of himself when he got the apple and when the plum rolled down, I was silently cheering that it would fall out and roll to him. I really wanted to help him, but I recently read that 'everything that you do for your kids is one less thing that they can try to do on their own'. I'd say he did a good job of trying this on his own. I love how he licks his lips when he wants more cookie dough...and I love that he asked nicely. =)

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! =)