Crafty

I won't lie. I find it very challenging to fill our days with things that won't turn your brain to mush. There are games – board and online, dancing, tv (which I feel guilty about the amount we watch), dress-up and role-playing (in which I am usually Freddie from iCarly), but I think the indoor activity we both most enjoy is crafting.

Unfortunately, your attention span is short so I usually spend most of my time preparing and finishing the craft. It's not like school where all the kids are participating so in that environment, you don't feel the need to run away before it's done. At home, we have to choose things you can do quickly or come and go from. (Well, we started a papier maché balloon almost a month ago, but that's still sitting there...and not even because we're afraid of this one exploding like our first one. That's another story.)


The above painting is a present for your cousin Isabella who we are visiting next week in Winnipeg. Painting is quick, but we barely got done this one before it deteriorated into you painting your hands and arms, then rubbing your hands into the paint on the palette until everything is that mucky brown colour.

Below is a birthday card for a party you are at right now. Stickers and markers are pretty quick and you've really taken a shining to drawing rainbows. (I layed out the markers in the correct rainbow order and you executed it. A mixed-up rainbow is a huge pet peeve of mine... Hey, we all have our hang-ups.)


This is a painting with blue highlighter details on top. We were learning about hatching, cross-hatching and pointillism that day. It's similar to the Father's Day artwork you did with paints and Sharpie on top, but this one is so intricate because the tv was on so you could sit for longer at the counter...


And finally, at least for now, this (below) is a craft you picked out of one of your princess magazines. It's a sea anemone crown. I spent a good half and hour making those anenomes, then the crown. You spent less than a minute putting two stamps and a sticker on (not shown). "Now I want to make the Cinderella hand muff," you said, from a different princess magazine. Uh, no. "I'm a little crafted-out," I told you. Perhaps I will have to learn to jump on the trampoline with Finn in his carrier.

What a difference two months makes

Today you are two months old. We can't even remember what life was like before you came. But thankfully you are here because who would we afflict our constant kisses on? (Lily is the only one who literally takes your breath away by sucking the air out of your mouth and actually Dad sucks the boogies out of your nose a few times daily, so whether one is better or worse, I don't know...)

You continually amaze us your baby accomplishments. A couple weeks ago, you quite purposefully rubbed your eye with the back of your hand when you were tired. I was so impressed. A couple days ago, you saw your toy and you grabbed it. That, my boy, is your mind controlling those previously flailing hands. Your mind gets quite the workout, too, studying all your colourful toys when you sit in your bouncy chair or lay on a blanket or change table.


Yesterday, I put you in the bouncy chair in the bathroom while I showered. When I peeked out, you were sitting completely still staring quietly at a pile of clothes. Then I said, "Hi Sweetie!" and you got so excited, kicking your feet, throwing up your arms and smiling those enormous grins at me. Yes, that is exactly the kind of reaction I was looking for. Finally – validation!

Another reason I'm feeling quite validated is your hugeness. Oh my. We went to a breastfeeding support clinic at the hospital this afternoon. While there, we had you weighed. In the past two months, you've gained six pounds! That's alot for someone for small. You now weigh 13 lbs, 8 oz. Wow! I knew you were growing, I just didn't know how much.


A reason for that girth may be your tendency to nap as much as possible and you do not like being awake for much more than an hour at a time. Kids grow in their sleep, physically and developmentally. Of course, it helps that I have you wrapped against my body most of the day. It's so much easier for me to accomplish anything with Lily – inside or out – so we don't have to leave you, especially when choking on large balls of phlegm. (Besides, you don't sleep for more than half an hour when we put you down. You startle awake and you just don't fall back asleep... I much prefer those two, three or four hour naps you've had.) It's become so normal for you to be there, Lily often asks, "Where's Finn?" and your Dad doesn't even notice I'm wearing you anymore. Then at night, we usually go to bed between 7 and 8:30 p.m. Once asleep, you've slept as much as six hours in a row. Last night, you were out until 2 a.m. This is a big treat from Lily who, like cousin Keira now, ate every couple hours around the clock. I really appreciate this so feel free to keep it up or improve.


Anyway, it's been nice getting to know you and as that little, joyous personality develops, I'm sure it will get nicer and nicer.

Is it over yet?

This cold is kicking these kid's butts. Really. Three weeks later. Lily has developed a nasty cough and Finn was awake all night with a giant phlegm ball in his throat that gradually comes out by way of sneezing. Yes, it's that lovely. We've had the vapourizer running so much that the floors all feel sticky, but the water isn't dripping down the walls...yet.

But they can still be pretty cute. Notice I only have one of the kids below? Thankfully I have a target for my photos that can't run away...yet.

Happy Father's Day

Here's Chris keeping his patience while Lily aggressively hugs Finn (who is losing his patience).

Finn woke up at about 5:45 this morning. He was laying there, eyes wide open, when Lily woke up about five minutes later and said, "Oh, hi Finn. I want to see the tramp."

Last evening/night, Chris set up a brand new trampoline (that actually looks good) to help pass those endless summer days. Lily and Chris were out there by 6:15 a.m. trying it out while Finn and I layed in bed and watched them. When they came in 45 minutes later, we had breakfast before Lily finished a mixed media painting we started for her Dad last night. We presented him with that and a set of water guns for Father's Day.

The next hour was spent playing Little Big Planet on the Playstation, followed by a bath to try out their new water guns – and this is all before 10 a.m.

None of this would have happened a year ago. Lily would have screamed, "Mama come, too!" And while she still does on occasion, Dad has become a pretty good guy on his own.

Graduation Day

Today you graduated from preschool and it was a pretty big deal. Apparently they even make preschool graduation cards because Nana got you and Brynn grad cards and gifts. (You got Hello Kitty sunglasses and necklace.)

We made cookies the day before for the party. You wore your new(ish) dress and even requested a special hairdo – ribbon braids. We went to Fabricland to get the specific-coloured ribbons while Nana babysat Finn. You sat for over twenty minutes without complaint while I actually got your hair done.


Dad took the afternoon off and took you early. I arrived with Finn just in time for everything to start. You did a drumming performance and a play called Grow, Flower, Grow.


After that, you donned the grad caps you had made and everyone received their scrolls.



The after-party was full of hugs and snacks and silliness.



You're sure going to miss these guys.

Infinitely cuter

Isn't it funny just how much more wonderful they can be when they're smiling?

Siblings

While Finn is only (almost) seven weeks old, the best thing about having two adorable children is watching how they interact. Sure, it's a little one-sided now, but Finn reacts and Lily still can't stop kissing him.

First day of kindergarten...kinda

On Friday morning, we got you dressed, brushed your hair and your teeth, put Finn in his carrier and walked two houses away to school. We were there a couple weeks ago for registration and signed you up for one of the morning tours. I think I was initially more excited because I actually knew how awesome it would be; you just knew school was fun.

So we took off our rubber boots, put on our inside shoes and made our way down to the office to wait for Madame to come. There were lots of hyper little girls and boys running around – and lots of big kids coming in for recess. Finally, Madame lead a group of her current Kindergarten students down the long hall. When she got to us, she explained that you would be reading a story, doing a craft to take home and getting time to play and that we, the parents, could go or wait there, meeting you back there in an hour. You looked up at me and said, "Go home, okay." All right, Miss Independence.

Anyway, each child held a name tag; a girl named Mesa had yours, stuck it to your chest, then she took your hand and you walked back down the hall to the classroom. I have to admit, I was gushing with pride. And I could tell you were pretty pumped, too.

So Finn and I went home. We came back, just in time as the kids lead you all back down the hallway. As soon as you saw me you said, "Mom, I forgot all about you!" Which is good. Great, even. As we walked down the hall, and then down the wet sidewalk, you excitedly showed me your craft, a lovely ladybug whose wings moved, and told me about the ladybug story you'd heard (which was in French). And now you have something to look forward to all summer.

Second cousins

Last time we got together, Finn and Keira didn't actually hang out. This time, however, they busted a few moves on the floor before I had to relieve Finn of his poopy bum.





They are practically the same size. Keira was about 11 pounds and when Finn got weighed at his doctor's appointment yesterday afternoon, he was 11 pounds, 12 ounces and 56.9 cm long (up from 11 pounds, 7.5 ounces on Tuesday at my doctor's appointment).

When I was growing up, I had lots of cousins around my age. Kim and I are three weeks apart, Nigel and Heather are two weeks apart. Thank god for them and their desire to procreate or else my kids wouldn't have any cousins at all!

Transformation

Remember this?


It turned into this:

Awww, babies are so cute. Little Keira Lindholm made her appearance six days after Finn was born. How nice it will be to watch them grow up together.

Nepal

Auntie Sharon was in Nepal when you were born. She was also there when my dad died. She sent an email the other day so I thought I'd share some of it...just in case I forget to print it out and include it in your baby book, which I also haven't actually bought yet.

"I received your message that Finn was born while I was in Nepal. I told the group about him and about my family and we drank to his being born. It was very exciting. We talked about Peter too as he died when I was in Nepal. I laid stones on the Buddha Chortens as a good luck gesture for Finn. I have pictures. So, for me Peter and Finn are deeply embedded in Nepal."

How incredibly thoughtful.

Respite

Yesterday was the first day I spent alone with Finn.

Having gone from the relative calm of the office for the last four years, the last five weeks at home have felt overly chaotic. And we're all having a hard time adapting, mostly due to lack of sleep. Earlier in the week, I asked the old babysitter if she'd like to take Lily for the day so we could all have a break and she kindly agreed. So Finn spent the day without any napping interruptions and Lily spent the day playing with other kids and I spent the day relaxed and in a better position to take on the next little while.

Some days, we all feel like this:

Other days we can all be rather charming:

Labels and name changes

FYI - I've begun labeling posts to differentiate the voice I use. When writing to Lily, it will be labeled at the bottom as "To Lily" (duh). And when it's to Finn, obviously it will be "To Finn". Otherwise, it's "generally speaking."

And despite not being able to change the url of the site, the new name is "And then there were four..." which needs a new masthead. It's in my head and needs to be designed...when there's time. Someday.

Is there anything worse...

...than a sick four-year-old girl, a sick 5-week-old boy and a sick 32-year-old dad? Not yet, but a tired mommy who isn't sleeping because little Finn man coughs and cries (squeals) all night because he can't breathe out his stuffy nose is almost as miserable as an entire sick family. Ugggh.