Growing, growing, gone!

February 14, 2011

Finlay is two months old today!  And he has really grown!  I'm sorry to say this (Nans), but he has outgrown many of his newborn clothes and is already wearing three-month things.  He feels heavier, although we haven't weighed him in a while, and he is making more eye contact and engaging more when we play. It felt weird to be packing away his little clothes so soon.  Every morning we wake up to a bigger and older Fin and, although many changes are exciting, it's a little sad to see some of those newborn aspects disappear into memory.

One of our new changes is bottle feeding.  Tyler was feeding Fin milk with a little spoon but, being a baby, he didn't quite get how to swallow.  I bought a pump and a bottle to give Fin some more space, me some time outside the home without a baby strapped to me, and Tyler a little back-up when alone with the baby.

 Here is a picture of Tyler giving Finlay one of his first bottles.  Some breastfed babies don't understand the bottle, some reject it all together, but Finlay was right into it right away.  He looks up into Tyler's eyes with such affection and drinks the whole thing!

 In the morning, Fin and I have playtime on my yoga mat.  I sing songs and do some yoga and then we have a little photo-shoot where I try and catch a smile.

 Look at those baby cheeks!  He was really looking at the camera on this day.

 I put up this funny face because I know I've seen a picture of Tyler as a kid somewhere making this exact expression.  So cute!

 Finlay and I had a really nice morning the other day, lots of smiles, giggles and funny faces.  You can see how big he is getting!  He is wearing one of his newer outfits (thanks Siham) that I was shocked to realize fit him!  Not for long, I'm sure.

 This is the face he makes right before a big grin.  It's like he's getting ready to spring one on you!

I almost caught the grin this time - not a great shot but still captures something about this little boy.

Yay for two months old!  We have all learned so much and grown a ton.  Still taking each day one at a time but loving it all!

lyndze

Finlay's Voice

February 9, 2011

Finlay is making lots of sounds (other than crying) and new ones every day!  I caught him on video this morning and, because I am typing with one hand, I'll let Finlay do the talking.  Check it out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euWM2PDDImI

lyndze & Finlay

I Heart Finlay

February 7, 2011

Today has been excellent!  Fin and I got up after a wonderful night's sleep and we got him changed and dressed and then opened each of the three blinds in the main room together (he loves this) and greeted the world.  He was cooing and smiling from that moment on!  Fin was agreeable to sitting in his bouncer while I ate my cereal and made some tea.  As we waited for the water to boil, he sat there looking into my eyes and studying my face.  We talked - I said words and he grinned and waved his arms and kicked his legs while cooing and making his noises.  It was like having a little conversation.  I was tempted to go get the camera and try to video the whole thing (which went on for some time) but I was having too much fun getting to know him in this new way.  It was like having a real conversation and he appeared to be as excited about it as I was.  So, alas, no video... yet!

He ate and I enjoyed my tea.  We danced to some of his favourite songs.  I did a little yoga while he lay on my mat.  We folded laundry together and this involved lots of talking again and some games of peek-a-boo.

Fin was looking bigger to me today so I decided to try him in his Bumbo (a special chair for young babes, a gift from his Nans & Gramps).  He is still too little for it but he sat there holding his head up and looking at me for a minute and then smiles and cooed.  His head slowly sunk to the side and I rescued him.  Too cute!  A couple more weeks and I think it will be one of his favourite things!  He is so independent already!

Fin ate some more and fell asleep and we cuddled for a while.  Eventually we ventured out to meet Tyler (daddy) and went for a bit to eat.  Fin fell asleep and has been napping happily since (so I have time to post!).

Here are a few pics from a few days ago.

 We just think it is the cutest thing that Finlay will fall asleep and look so cute!  Look at those cheeks!

 After a bath the other night, we put Fin in his nightie and he stood on his dad's lap and danced and cooed and smiled for a while. His hair was all funny from the bath and I had to take some pictures!

 I kept just missing the smiles with the camera.  I'll have to get better at this!

 He is fascinated by a few things in the living room.  He loves the aloe plant beside our nursing chair.  Sometimes he'll just stare at it, like in the above picture, and start smiling and cooing as though the plant is an old friend telling funny jokes.

There you go!  More to come!

lyndze

Baby Groups

February 6, 2011

I've been to several baby groups - all different.  I'm looking for the right one.  This ideal baby group would have:
1) other babies
2) other parents
3) parents that some similar values
4) facilitators that treat the parents like the experts they are (with their own babes)
5) facilitators that offer some creativity in discussion topics, activities, and guest speakers

Each baby group I have been to serves the purpose of getting out of the house and having some interaction with other adults but I haven't found a group that I really enjoy.  Most of them involve sitting in a circle and taking turns complaining.  I went to one where Fin was the only baby!  I went to another where the facilitator read her introduction from notes (including her introduction of herself).  I guess I have pretty high expectations.  Perhaps I should start my own group?

Each group has had a little glimmer of hope.  One has an excellent facilitator who really knows her stuff and shares similar parenting values with Tyler and I.  Another had really great discussion questions about the mythes of motherhood which really opened my eyes and made me feel better about my shortcomings.  Another promises guest speakers.  And one showed us a couple videos (posted below) that really opened my eyes (and made me cry).

Reflections of Breastfeeding (made by some folks in Victoria)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axUEYbf_K8k

Reflections of Motherhood
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taDqKWWPDAY

Sort of cheesy, but some messages really hit home.  Also, the first video has an excellent song which has led me to my new favourite musicians.  Renee & Jeremy produce children's music that adults can enjoy.  Finlay and I are loving their lullaby album "It's a Big World".  You can listen to it online!

http://reneeandjeremy.com/

Please enjoy the links!  Another post with pictures is on its way!

lyndze