HAPPY HALLOWEEN

I finally convinced Brad to dress up this year! Apparently the trick is to suggest a costume idea that he finds humorous. So he was Cap N Crunch, Finley was Wonder Woman, and since I spent all my energy making their costumes I was a witch. Finley didn't do any trick or treating but we did take her to our church Halloween party where her costume was a big hit. Yesterday we had one of Brad's school friends take our picture so all the credit goes to him for our family portraits. That might have to be a family tradition.

FINLEY'S LULLABIES

So it turns out I'm one of those crazy singing moms. We have a song for waking up, eating, bathing, tummy time, diaper changing... it's ridiculous. In a way that I actually love. It's only natural then that Finley seems to enjoy music even more when performed by actual professionals. I read that if you want your children to enjoy the music you listen to you should expose them to it early on - I'm guessing that's why I like Fleetwood Mac and Steven Winwood. So I have a specific play list that we listen to regularly when napping or it's time to calm down ect. I'm hoping she fondly remembers these songs someday - and let's be honest, so she'll have a decent taste in music. And by "decent" I mean the exact same taste as me.

This is the list that I've slowly added to since her birth which will probably keep growing.

The Beach Boys - Don't Worry Baby
Billy Joel - She's Got a Way
Dixie Chicks - Godspeed
James Taylor - Sweet Baby James
Dave Matthews - Baby
Adele - Hometown Glory
The Format - On Your Porch
Alexi Murdoch - Orange Sky
Ingrid Michaelson - Highway
Florence + The Machine - Cosmic Love
Joe Cocker - Bye Bye Blackbird
Traffic Control - Running Out of Time
Pink - Glitter In The Air
Sara Bareilles - Stormy
Sia - Breathe Me
The Weepies - Can't Go Back Now
Sufjan Stevens - For The Widows
The Temper Trap - Sweet Disposition
Sara Bareilles & Ingrid Michaelson - Winter Song
Phoenix Foundation - Buffalo
Azure Ray - Sleep

I want to make a series of CDs for her and put them with her keepsakes as another reminder of her babyhood. And I'm guessing these songs will be a memory trigger for me as well since they'll be linked to all the blurred days of early motherhood.

* Confession #1, we love dancing to Justin Bieber's "Baby," and Demi Lovato's "Catch Me."

** Confession #2, I sometimes sing "California Gurls" to her. It's not my fault that it's ALWAYS stuck in my head. Don't worry, I edit it so it's baby appropriate. I just hope I haven't done any lasting damage.

WEEKEND WITH GRANDPA

My dad came to visit last weekend to come and see Finley. It was good timing because she smiles, isn't wary of strangers and stays awake more than 20 minutes a day. We had a good time - turns out babies are a huge fun distraction. My dad even offered to babysit one night so Brad and I could go on a date! We went and saw The Social Network (we both really liked it) but after realizing that our favorite theater jacked the prices from $7.50 to $10 we probably won't be going to many more movies. But we had a good time and I'm really glad we got to go out.

She loves these sunglasses. As soon as we put them on her she looks all around and just chills. She's the coolest baby around.

We went to Pere Marquette to hike up the bluffs and do some bird watching. It was an incredibly beautiful day. BUT YIKES. I knew I was white but we are looking a bit vampirific. I heard when you have a summer baby and stay inside everyday your skin won't turn darker shades. I think they call it a tan?

Case in point - my dad makes us look especially pasty. I guess I'm still trying to embrace my inner midwesterner.

Finley also loves exploring which to her is chewing on everything and anything. Apparently the Baby Bjorn is especially tasty.

We ate outside at a restaurant in Grafton which had some delicious food. Finley had a bit of a blowout so she was changed into her spare clothes - which happened to be her jammies. And once again we were in place that did not have a changing station in the bathroom - she has a real talent for that. So the waitress said we could use the upstairs of the restaurant (it's a converted old house) which happened to be a antique store. Luckily there were no customers otherwise they would have caught something they probably weren't shopping for - a nakey and rather stinky Finners.

Proof that babyhood is not all sunshine and rainbows. I think she's adorable when she cries, it makes it hard not to smile just a little. But even though I think it's cute we are still conscientious that other people might not think so. Don't worry this bit of crying didn't last too long, she just wanted to be held by someone who was standing. Who do we think we are making her be held while we sit? THE NERVE.

Finley loves Grandpa's Ipad. She "played" the piano and watched Carrie Underwood music videos. You know, a normal day for a fourth month old.

She's nakey! Actually she had a diaper on. After going through four outfits in the same day I decided clothes just weren't meant to be that day. So while we ate dinner Finley hung out in the Bumbo, doesn't it make her look so grown up?

THE HAPPS

Not a whole lot has been going on around here but it feels like I haven't blogged thoroughly in forever... so here's the general happenings:

- Finley can roll from stomach to back. Which isn't really that helpful because I have to keep flipping her back on her stomach during tummy time. I guess she gets tired of holding that huge noggin.

- Finley is full of energy these days and loves kicking her legs and arms around like a wild person. She's definitely not what one would you would call "mellow."


- She is also starting to grab fiercely at things that catch her fancy - so we've started lessons of "Finley's Things!" Which incidentally does not include diet coke cans, tv remotes, hair, all manner of clothing, skin, or cameras.


- Finley is turning into quite the vain little baby. She LOVES looking in mirrors. She can be in an all out cry fest but if she catches herself in the mirror all of a sudden she's like, "MAN I'm cute and also quite hilarious." I'm just glad it's an easy source of entertainment for now.


- And she finally found her thumb. Although she's not very consistent about it - for which I'm grateful. More often than not she'll stick as much of both hands as she can into her mouth.


- And the best news of all, she sleeps pretty consistently for about 8 hours straight every night. Hallelujah! This makes mom and baby VERY happy.

And for the rest of the family (we aren't as exciting):

- Watch out Southern Illinois! Brad is in full swing in the dental clinic. You know - actually doing dental work on real live humans. He casually mentioned yesterday "If you come to the clinic you could potentially be my patient. We are allowed to work on family members." Oh really!? Thanks for the info. I'm so thrilled to have someone around constantly reminding me of how many cavities I have. Great. He's class president and has a host of other craziness that keeps him running around at all times. There doesn't seem to be an end in site so we've decided we need to get used to this new normal.

- I've adjusted well to stay at home life. I'm working on getting a better routine down. As I've explained to many people, the biggest shock about motherhood to me was learning to lower your expectations about what you can get done in a day. I'm learning that getting Finley and I bathed, fed and dressed before noon is an accomplishment (that might be an exaggeration - kind of). Otherwise, I'm looking forward to making Finley's Halloween costume. As you all know Brad is the worst Halloween husband - he refuses to dress up. So I'm excited to finally have a buddy to share the fun with. I have a few ideas but I haven't officially decided yet. Did I mention that I had a dream that I dressed up Finley as a T-Bone steak? This was pre-GaGa's meat dress. It was made out of felt and wire. Oh and the best part? In my dream Brad and I were debating on whether to dress as butchers or chefs. Ha!

FOUR MONTHS

Finners. Fin. Finnigan.
She's 4 months old. How did that happen?