Wonderful weekend

I am excited to post photos and stories of Finn's b-day and festivities! I have been SO busy this weekend and we just got home from our last family party. Tomorrow Finn has his one year check up and S&I go see One Republic in concert in the evening. I have photo appts on Weds and one of our work computers crashed (we seem to have the worst luck w/ anything IT) so I really have to make that a priority to fix before posting blogs (which I love!). Needless to say, sorry for the delay, but I will touch base later this week with birthday updates! Thanks!

Election Day

My mom voted the day before (she's so smart) so she came up to watch Finn on Election day so I could vote. My nieces/nephews were off school so she had them over for a slumber party and we all went to the park when I was done. Madi, Sydney and Ian were with us...it was fun! One of the last nice days we had...

Here is Madi on the merry-go-round, showing off. ;)
OK, so you'll see below that Finn loves to swing. The girls decided to swing w/ him so you can see them squeezing into baby chairs in some of these photos. Lol. Here is Syd.
My ONLY photo of I-pie. Sorry little man!

Madi in the baby seat.

Here's a shot of the scene...it was so funny.

Sydney was the queen of this 'castle' for a while and was singing/dancing. It was so cute.

Finn started getting fancy with his feet.

Yeah...he thought this would be fun!

Then tried this foot...

Then the other...

Finally decided to just recline and enjoy...

Thank you, mom, for the unexpected, fun afternoon!

Shane's Birthday - Nov 1st

Once again, late as ever on my posts...

Shane's birthday fell on a Sat this year. The same day my dad hosted his annual Halloween party for the kids. So we were there and had a great time! These photos are from my brother, Kevin...I haven't had time to upload/edit mine. So there may be more later...but these are great!

Bare with me on this...my dad is remarried and I have step-siblings w/ kids. I will share who everyone is, but it may get a little confusing! Below is my step sister, Jen (left) and my step sister in law, Marisa.

This is my brother Dave's wife, Julie.
This is my brother Kevin's wife, Melissa.

Here is my gorgeous hubby & my little guy...he was a monkey for this party. :)

Finn with Uncle Tom (my brother...yes, I have three!).

The kids lined up sharing their best 'pose'.

From left to right....Sydney (Kevin's), Isabella (Dave's), Austin (Dave's), Ian (Tom's), Brice (Jen's), Hudson (ours).

Madison (Tom's)

Me with my nephew Kaden (Kevin's latest and greatest).

Ok, so this is my step sister in law (Marisa) little girl, Alyssa. So she is my step brother's step daughter. Lol. I told you it was crazy...

Me...

Joyce...thank you for everything!!

Brice (step-nephew) and Ian (Tom's)

Ian again

Austin (Dave's)

Hudson - ours

Ian again..

Brice again...

Hudson again...

Isabella & Grandpa Larry (my dad). Thank you, Dad, for everything! We had a great time!!

What I'm thankful for...

Tonight is the eve of Finn's first birthday. I remember how nervous I was this time, last year. I would have a c-section the next day and all the unknowns were nerve racking. Here we are...time has flown by and I just cannot get my head around the idea that my 'baby' is now 1.

Since we quit nursing he's had a hard time sleeping and it's been really hard on both of us. I don't do well making him 'cry it out' and since I did force myself to do that a few nights, he was beside himself, insecure, not napping, not sleeping, etc. I finally called the pediatrician for ideas and I could go back and kiss the nurse. It was so simple...yet I totally missed it. He needed a new 'comfort' to sleep with since I had been taken away. So he now sleeps w/ his best buddy, Curious George. It is one of the sweetest things I've ever seen. He cuddles up with him and goes right to sleep. Last night was WONDERFUL and today he napped 2 1/2 hours...ahhh. Thank you, George!!

Crazy thing is I am thrilled that we made this transition as I know HE's ready. I don't know that I'm ready. As liberating as it is to be done nursing, I miss that time. As much as I'm thrilled he is easier to put to bed now (especially for nights we'd like to go out) I am a little sad that he is less dependent on me. Crazy...I know. But I love my kiddo so much and these steps...as small or silly as they may seem, have been monumental for me. I have cried several times over the last few days...in joy. Watching my little guy walk around and realizing how big he really is.

Happy birthday baby boy! I love you so very much and always will. You have made this year the BEST year of my life. My life has so much more purpose now that you're in it. Thank you. Thank you for the sloppy, open-mouth kisses too. I never knew I'd like those so much.

So the other day we were at my mom's and she had a Telly-tubby book. We don't watch that cartoon here (can never find it) so it was new for him. He was really taken by it. The 'noo-noo' is in there which looks to me like a canister vacuum cleaner. He says 'slurp-slurp' and my mom would tickle Finn's belly when she read that page. After a few times of reading the book, he decided to read it on his own. You can see him 'tickle' his belly himself when he looks at the 'noo-noo'. Not only does this blow my mind...but it is so stinking cute!!! I love you, Finn. Happiest, sweetest, best birthday!!!

Here is the other video I have to share... We were at my mom's another day and she has all kinds of little bears and dolls around in little chairs...at heights the kids can reach. Every grandchild has grown up to know and love her 'friends'. Here you see Finn find one of my old baby dolls, Emily. Finn liked her...and gave her 'love.' Too sweet!!

Tonight is also the eve of Thanksgiving. I have so much to be thankful for!

I thank the Lord for my husband every day. He compliments me better than anyone. He grounds me, he makes me laugh. He still makes me tingle when we kiss. He hums music in my ear and slow dances with me in the kitchen. He is my best friend. I am so very thankful for my gorgeous honey, Shane.

I am thankful for Finn. I wrote about him above some and I just want to add that I stand in awe of this little man...and that God would bring him in MY life. I don't know why I deserve him...and I can only pray I raise him the way God wants me to...but I am ever so grateful to have him. I cherish my days with him. I cherish my time at home with him. I cherish his smile, personality, bright eyes, laughter, hugs, kisses, conversation and I am amazed at his love for me. He is the greatest gift I've ever received. Thank you, Lord.

I am thankful for Hudson. My step-son has been both a joy and as most of you know, a challenge. It is hard to blend families, yet we have a bond that will last us a lifetime and I am thankful for his sweet spirit in my life. I am thankful for the ways he pushes me to be more. I try my hardest every day to be a positive, bright spot in his life. Even on the days I fail...I know I will be stronger, better and wiser b/c of him. Thank you, Hudson, for loving me...even when I don't deserve it.

I am also thankful for being home. I love the time I have with Finn. I could not imagine taking him to day care every day and missing all of the wonderful, sweet moments I cherish and keeps me going. I know so many friends who do not have the luxury of being home and I am ever so grateful to be able to be here. I love getting Finn out of bed. I love feeding him cheesy eggs for breakfast. I love rocking him before his naps, I love reading books together. I love when he helps me empty the dishwasher and do laundry. :) I love taking him out for errands...he is so much fun and full of wonder. I love watching him learn/grow each day. Thank you, Lord, Thank you, Shane, for giving me one of the best gifts ever.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! May God bless you and your families abundantly.

Photos to share....

Finn will be one on Thanksgiving day and Christmas is just around the corner. So I had the boys in the studio this week to get some new photos. Here is my favorite from Finn's birthday pics.

Please visit my photography site to view all of Finn's birthday photos along w/ the Christmas photos of both Finn & Hudson. Enjoy!!!

www.CelebratingLifesMiracles.com

Pumpkin Patch

Dussell's Farm has a corn maze and pumpkin patch every year. I've never been and to be brutally honest, I wasn't overly impressed. It was fun, but I heard there is a much better place (Kingsway) about another 20 min south in Hartville. So next year we'll be making the extra treck south to get the good stuff...like the oversized pit of corn kernels that is like a big sandbox for the kids to play in. :) Maybe it's best we didn't do that this year...Finn would probably just try to eat them. :)

Vonnie & Liv came with us and it was so much fun. We had lunch together and then drove down. The kids are just 3 months apart...so the gap is closing as they get older and they're so much fun! They play well together.

Can you see Liv peeking in the corner here...too funny. She loved peeking around this thing. It was super cute. : )

Finn got in on the action. Only difference...Liv can walk! Finn was hanging on for dear life. Haha. He's walking now though!! I'll have to post pics of that soon.

I just love this photo...

On the look out!

I think this was an old milk container. Goes to show how much I know. But it was cute w/ Finn on it! ; )

The witches brew

Finn has been 'posing' in this stance recently. It totally cracks me up b/c his one leg is straight, the other bent...like he's GQ, hanging out! It makes me laugh. Especially when he has jeans on. Such a little man.

Liv is so sweet! She was giggling b/c her mommy was holding her up for these shots.

So every parent has 'that' moment. The one where you realize your kiddo is just another kiddo...and will terrorize other children. Finn would not leave Liv alone! We had to seperate them b/c he stole her binky...

Then took her hat.

Needless to say, this cute picture of them together...it didn't last long.

It was fun, though...Thank you Vonnie& Liv for coming with us!