FIVE MONTHS

Our little chicken is five months old now! Can you believe it? In the past week I've really started to notice how big she's gotten since she's outgrown her second set of clothes. She's still in the 75th percentile for length and the 50th percentile for weight so her pants are getting a little short. She's finally getting some hair on top and it looks like it's coming in a light brown shade... who knows though, it seems hair color changes drastically in some babies. She's very vocal these days both in the cooing and crying department. Unfortunately she's found a new octave of crying so instead of sounding cute it's now a bit heart wrenching. We've had some regression in the bedtime department and she has given up entirely on any sense of a night time sleeping schedule. We thought that she was teething which would explain the extreme slobbering, fussiness, and refusing to eat but so far it's been over two weeks and nothing has appeared. So we are trying to get by on little sleep right now. I figured out that she likes her feet propped up when she sleeps so we use a rolled up blanket in her crib. So high maintenance. Our friends let us borrow their swing which has helped Finley with a few naps and she seems to enjoy being more upright. Honestly, it almost feels like week 1 again. I just keep telling myself that it's just a phase and it will pass. So if you see me running errands with my slippers on blame it on the fact that I've lost my mind.

But, even with the lack of sleep Finley still manages every day to convince us to keep her. She smiles when she meets new people and especially when Brad comes home. She hears his voice and lights up before he gets into the room. We decided she's a daddy's girl right now but prefers mom when she's cranky or sleepy (or maybe Brad has just convince me of that so he gets off easy). She likes playing with her toys Monsieur Chicken and Waspy. They both make that crinkly noise which seems to be her favorite. She's also quite the mover - I'm always amazed at how far kicking her legs takes her. Also, she's full on holding stuff now. Yesterday Brad was carrying his dinner plate in one hand and Finley in the other and since there were no more hands Finley carried a bottle of BBQ sauce to the kitchen. It's about time she started earning her keep. Where ever we go Finley is constantly adored. I'm telling you, if you want to make everyone's day happier just take a baby somewhere. More than once people have said how they were having a bad day but just seeing a baby smile at them put them in a good mood.

We are now getting ready for the holidays - even if we have been enjoying 80 degree weather here. Thanksgiving is just two weeks away and then it always seems like Christmas is two seconds later. My crafting goals seem to have gotten out of hand. I'm determined to make our Christmas stockings and an advent calendar by December 1st... plus a slew of Christmas gifts for Finley, nieces, and nephews. Yikes... I've barely begun! Even if Finley will only be about 7 months at Christmas I'm looking forward to enjoying it with a child. After all you only have one 1st Christmas!

*** I realize these photos are a little indulgent and the amount is overboard, just remember we don't live very close to any of her Grandparents.

CONFESSION

You know how crazy people supposedly don't know their crazy? I legitimately didn't realize how many striped articles of clothing I own. And what's worse is I'm passing it on to Finley. I bought a new shirt the other day thinking "Oh stripes! What a fun way to jazz up my wardrobe." Oh wait! Turns out every third item I own in my closet has stripes. Who knew? Apparently everyone but me. My name is Bridget and I'm a stripes-aholic. It's a serious problem and a cure is not yet known.

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?