Hiking Season

Sean and Finn started off the hiking season with the family this weekend. Here are a few fun shots:

"My get wet, Mama!"

Finn is an outdoors man through and through. I am a big fan myself, but he really takes after his Dad in his need to explore streams. We are all happier when we get outside during the day. Luckily, I have discovered we can walk across the street to a private road with almost no traffic and Finn can run to his heart's content. The folks who live on the road also have several trails through their woods and they said they don't mind if we walk them. This has been really nice to get some of Finn's energy out while being easy on me as I waddle around. However, the streams are running and Finn can't help but jump right in and see where they lead. This has led to some tough times this week as I have had to run after him through the brush only to carry back a sopping wet and very upset toddler. I love his need to explore and admire his enthusiasm, but he also won't listen and stay in a specified area. I am not sure how to get him to recognize some boundaries while still enjoying our time outside. Today, I decided, if I couldn't stop him, then I might as well take pictures. Here he is having a blast in what is quite chilly water. It doesn't seem to faze him in the least. For what its worth, I did have mittens for him and we went right home and warmed up when he had his fill.



We always take "monster truck" on our walks these days:

Okay, now we are headed home and Finn is taking the most complicated route:

Gardening Prep

Last week, we had a few really nice days that really put us in the mood for spring. We went and got all of our seeds for the planting season. We want to be really organized this year because we will have a newborn when plants need to start going in. Sean started digging more garden plots and Finn helped by assessing the soil and worm situation:

34 Weeks

Oh, one of these days, I will actually do my hair and try to look presentable for a belly shot. Plus, Finn took this one, so the angle isn't exactly the most flattering. But, who said pregnancy was glamorous? Here I am with just 6 weeks to go!
Really, nothing new to report. I had my check up yesterday. Finn enjoys hearing the heartbeat when we go. It was in the 160s and Peapod was kicking around the whole time. Still head down and ready to go. I have recently had two friends give birth at 38 weeks. Alternatively, I have had friends go after 41 weeks. So, it is crazy to think I could have anywhere from 3 weeks to 8 weeks left. I would be happy with a due date baby. We still have done nothing to prepare and I really feel like I need more time to get so much done.

Finn's Sensitive Side

We all know Finn is a "manly man" with trucks and motorcycles and dirt and mud, but he is more than secure to rock his sensitive girly side too....particularly with the help of his princess-loving cousin!

He REALLY NEEDS to NAP!

Ever since the big paci removal, we have been hit or miss with naps. Yet, Finn still really needs that rest! He turns into an overtired, maniacal, destructive, tantrum-prone little boy without it. Yesterday, after two failed attempts to get him to lay down and sleep, I was at my wits' end around 4pm. I broke down and turned on a cartoon so I could breathe and regroup a minute. I went back in to check on him after 15 minutes and this is what I found! Poor kid needs to sleep! I let him go for another 10 minutes, but then had to wake him up lest we never get him to bed. On the upside, we got him to bed by 7:15 and he slept til 5:45! Here's hoping for a nap today...for both of us!

Sweet Potato

Finn has been doing almost weekly playdates with his cousin Annalise so that I can get some work done during the weekday. Kate took this picture of them playing Mr. Potato Head together.

32 Weeks

Oh boy, still 8 weeks to go? I am afraid I have a slew of complaints at this point. The 3rd trimester exhaustion has hit me with full force. Sooooooo tired! And, my poor body could just fall apart at any moment. Seriously, my pelvis is hanging on by threads at this point. Too much activity makes it hurt, but being stagnant for too long makes it hurt. Sleeping in any position for too long makes it hurt. OUCH! And, generally, I am a whale and all movements are becoming very awkward. Finn wants me to crawl around pushing trucks or jump up and down and pick him up, but then bend down to get toys. It is so hard to tell him I just can't do some things right now! Okay, I guess that will do for the venting for the time being.

Honestly, other than the above, I am doing quite well. I had my 32 week check up on Monday and it was short and sweet as everything is looking great. Peapod was quite active while the midwife was measuring my belly and checking his/her heartrate. My midwife thinks s/he is head down now and although it is possible s/he could turn back at this point, it is most likely that s/he will stay down, which is great news!

Finnbar has two baby books that we read regularly. We purchased one called "What Baby Needs" by the Dr. Sears library and he really likes that one. I like it a lot too because it features breastfeeding, cosleeping, and babywearing, all of which we did with Finn and play to do with Peapod. We also got a book at the library called, "Hello, Baby!" and he loves that one for some reason. I thought it was maybe geared to older children because it shows the baby developing in the womb and talks about the umbilical cord, but he seems to dig it. It also shows a little boy going to the doctor with him mom to listen to the baby's heartbeat and talks about what will happen when the baby comes home. It is really nice.

Finn has been acting out a lot family stuff with his playdough characters. We cut out a Mama, Daddy, Finnbar and Baby. He then likes to make a couch or rocking chair and have Mama hold the baby and Daddy hold Finnbar. He has even talked about the baby having mama milk. It is all really endearing to watch him work this stuff out. Then, of course, he smashes it all and says we should go play trucks :)

He is still convinced the baby is residing in my belly button and tries to peer into it to see.

Yesterday morning, I was changing Finn's diaper and told him he had such a cute bottom, he then pointed and me and told me I had a big bottom. Wonderful for the self esteem right now.

I am starting to get the nesting itch. I want to do one heck of a spring cleaning and then organize the attic and get the baby stuff out. Who knows when we will find the time to do it.

Hormones are raging right now. When ever I need a break from work, I will go find a birth story to read, only to start crying. I also found myself crying because a woman that I know in my mom's group had her dog pass away suddenly. I actually don't know this woman very well and I had never met her dog, but I found myself sobbing to Lily.

My citrus cravings are still in full force. I took a break from oranges and really hit the grapefruits hard for a couple of weeks, but then I got a bag of oranges this week and am really wondering why I didn't get five! I have also gotten a hold of some girl scout cookies that are rocking my world right now! I am starting to get that squished stomach feeling though and my appetite really varies throughout the day.

Hmm, okay, I guess that is all the random pregnancy news I can think of for now.

Even More Ice Fishing

Weekend ice fishing is becoming a bit of a tradition. I haven't actually gone because I am trying to work on that dreaded dissertation which I will update you all on one of these days. But, Sean and Finn meet the whole gang at Jenness Pond and have a good time. And this time, they actually got a bunch of fish! Here is Sean with the big bass:


Lily loves ice fishing:

All the little ones tuckered out after a day on the ice:

Here is some super cute cuddle time after with Finn's littlest cousin, Jackson:

Spiderman Rules

Finn got to spend the morning with his big cousin, Liam. They played a lot of trucks and Liam taught him all about Spiderman. Here is a photo from Carrie: