Let It Snow?

That's right, it snowed today. And as you can see below, we're not talking about a few little flurries flying around. Massive amounts of snow . . . out of nowhere. When I took Finn to his gymboree class, it was pouring down rain. We we came out, this is what it looked like. It was really strange seeing our Halloween pumpkin covered in snow and ice. I only hope this doesn't mean were in for a long winter. Because I can think of a lot of things I would rather do than spend all winter  inside with a 1-year old . . . sawing off my arm with a butter knife, for one.

 

Flurries through the glass

All bundled up 

"Pretty please can we go outside to play in the snow?

We promise we won't get wet or dirty, and I'll stop eating my toys."

"Mom, check out that white stuff. It's calling my name."

Coming to get me

Rockabye Sweet Baby Jane

Our good friends, Alisha and Jack Slye, welcomed Samantha Jane Slye into the world on September 14, 2008. They live in Baltimore, MD, which is only about a 2.5 hour drive from NJ. Since this is one of the few weekends that Mark wasn't traveling for work, he offered to keep Finn so I could pay them a visit. Samantha is 6 weeks old today, so it was past time that she met her faux aunt Robin. Samantha is your typical new baby . . . sweet, precious, beautiful, and loves to be held. And bounced. And rocked, and walked and never put down. She can be sound asleep while you're walking around the house and the minute you try and ease into the chair . . . her eyes pop open and you are back to square one. I think she can sense the change in altitude? But for the record, Alisha is such a trouper and doing a fantastic job with her. Even though it was only 10 months ago that I going through the exact same thing taking care of a newborn Finn, it feels like a lifetime ago. And you can be sure that I have no desire to revisit that stage and experience those all-nighters any time soon.  It was great visiting with Alisha and just getting to know Samantha and spend time with her.  Alisha and I even managed to sneak out for a girl's night out on the town, just like old times in Philly. Samantha will make a perfect girlfriend for Finn . . . when I let him date . . . at 40.  

Although I had a great weekend, is was equally great coming home to my little family that I missed so much (as well as a clean house and laundry--thanks Mark!) Even though it had only been two days, it felt like a week since I had seen Finn. And after holding an 8lb baby girl for so long, Finn seemed like a toddler. Just for comparison . . . at 6 weeks old, Samantha weighed less than what Finn weighed when he was BORN.  So without further adieu,  

Pretty in pink

2 fabulous moms (even though we don't look it)

"aunt" Robin

Proud papa Jack

Sweet baby Samantha Jane

Future heartbreaker

Forgotten Moments

I broke my cell phone a few months ago. While trying to balance a jammed-full diaper bag and a 24lb man-child, I dropped . . . no threw, my cell phone across the cement driveway, for probably the 4th time. The screen was demolished, but the phone still worked, so I did what most of you would do--continued using it. Even though I had to hold the phone away from my face so not to get glass shards in my ear. Sad, I know.  If you've ever been without a cell phone (in the last five years), you will know that your life basically comes to a screeching halt, especially if you didn't take the time to write anyone's phone number down. I probably would have continued using it this way except that it stopped working, completely, before I had a chance to save or copy any contacts, photos, etc. While, I might add, Mark was out of town, leaving me with no way to get in touch with ANYONE. 

Anyway, I went out the next day and bought a new one. Decided to treat myself to the new iPhone, as payback for all of my trouble. The guy at the store just plugged my old phone into my new phone, waved his magic wand, and ta-dah, everything from my old phone appeared on my new phone, pictures, phone numbers, and all. When I got home, I immediately backed everything up. While I was doing this, I came across these photos that I had taken with my cell phone just a few days after Finn was born. I swear at the time it seemed like he NEVER slept. But as I look through these pictures, I can't help but notice that he's sleeping in all of them. Maybe my memory was tainted by the intense sleep deprivation or sheer insanity and exhaustion of taking care of a newborn, but most likely, the only time I had a free hand to use a camera was when he was sleeping. Still, he looks so small and helpless in these pictures. Quite a different little person than the one I know today (thank goodness). 

How his arms didn't fall asleep in this position, I'll never know

What a little angel 

Lily: "Hmmm, maybe if I snuggle the baby and act like I like him, 

they will continue to let me sleep on the bed with them."

Guy Love, Extended Cut

Recently, our dear friends Kriya and Wade Benich made the trip to visit us in NJ . . . all the way from Marietta, GA. Which doesn't seem like that far away, but is, especially when you're flying solo with a 6-month old for the first time. Both of our hubbies were out of town, so it seemed like a great time for us to visit and get the boys together. Finn and Wade are 3 months apart . . . to the day, so we decided a long time ago that they would be as good of friends as we are. So, we're doing our best to hold up our end of the deal. 

I have to pause here and tell a quick story, only because it is central to understanding the title of this post. One of my favorite tv shows is Scrubs, and I especially two of the main characters Turk and JD. And Kriya also shares the Scrubs love. We used to joke when we were both pregnant that our boys would be BFF like Turk and JD from the show. Then the Scrubs Musical episode aired. The funniest part about it is that Finn was born almost completely bald, just like his Scrubs alter-ego, Turk. And Wade? Well, he was born with a head full of hair that would make grown men weep (a la JD). Finn and I went to visit baby Wade when he was 3-months old and thus the Guy Love "bromance" was born. Here's the video that started it all . . . you can just picture Finn and Wade singing this song.

So anyway, Kriya and Wade came to visit and we had a great time. We went to the park, lunched in Princeton, did a little shopping, had a picnic on the farm and visited a pumpkin patch. Oh, and there were also alpacas involved. It was a lot of work carting 2 babies around and by the end of the day we were more than ready to indulge in a glass of wine or 3, but it was worth it to watch them play together and enjoy themselves as they so obviously did. Kriya and I even managed to sneak away for a nice dinner ALONE (Lily said she wouldn't mind watching them). Here are some photos that Kriya took. I wasn't able to post comments, but this will give you an idea of the insanity. By the way, the matching scrubs were Kriya's idea. We'll only make them pose for pictures like this until they are 15, maybe 16. 

Picnic in the Park

Fall is definitely in the air around here. The leaves are starting to turn and the air is getting cool. We've been trying to take advantage of the wonderful weather since we know it won't last long. Winter, snowsuits, coats, gloves, hats, shoes (Finn hasn't worn any yet!), snow, ice and the infamous "wintry mix" will be here before we know it.

We took a picnic lunch to Cranbury lake and spent the afternoon playing around outside. Mark was home this weekend, so it was nice to have everyone together. I know when you hear "picnic" you think nice, relaxing lunch spent lounging on a blanket in the warm sun. Well not exactly, it's more like  . . . Mark and I take turns eating, while trying to keep Finn from sticking his hand in our coleslaw, or baked beans, or drink, or stuffing his mouth full of leaves, or mulch, or grass, or Lily's tennis ball or from crawling off into the wild blue yonder WHILE simultaneously throwing the ball for Lily to keep her away from our chicken. But the sun was definitely warm. 

The leaves, they are a changing

Always on the move---even his hair

I love to swing!

And swing some more. It never gets old.

Pausing to smile for the camera . . . then more swinging

Eye on the prize . . . Lily's tennis ball

Finn's personal jungle gym--Lily

Pumpkin Picking

I haven't been very good about posting lately. We've all been sick for the past week. Thankfully(?), Mark and I have had it worse than Finn. Some of you have probably been there . . . you just want to hack up your lungs in peace, lying on the couch at death's door, while maybe catching some Baby Story re-runs on TLC. But no, SOME ONE wants to learn to crawl up and down stairs, explore the bathroom toilet, steal the dog's toys and food, while changing his mind every 5 seconds about what he feels like eating for lunch. But you don't really want to hear about that . . .

We have had some gorgeous fall weather lately, so despite feeling less than our best, we took Finn on a trip to the pumpkin patch. He loved getting to ride in the wagon, and crawling around exploring all of the pumpkins. At one point, he's sitting there in the middle of all these pumpkins and we kind of had a "where's waldo" moment. Maybe it's his round belly, or slightly reddish hair, or the orange tint of his skin due to his preference for orange foods . . . Anyway, he had fun and took home the best-looking pumpkin in the patch. Or maybe that was us.