GOOFY MOMMY AND FINLEY

Spending an entire weekend inside, while both mommy and Finley nursed colds, led to some goofy, stir crazy antics such as the 

classic making funny faces in the mirror game. 

#warriors

CHILLING

On weekends, Finley loves chilling with her baby friends. What better way to chill than in a track suit, courtesy of Uncle Shady!

Finley, quite the showboat on this particular afternoon, appreciated the applause from the other moms (and moms clapping their babies' hands) when she rolled from tummy to back. Here she is gearing up to perform her famous "tumble over."

Encore! Encore! #warriors

DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES

#warriors

MOMMY'S FAVORITE ONESIE

I simply love this onesie. Also, Finley is happy to report that I can finally tell the difference among a onesie, sleeper, sack, and swaddle. 

#warriors

WALL OF FAME

At my New Mom's Coffee Group, the amazing facilitator, Kathy McGraff, often states that Grandparents either belong on the Wall of Shame or the Wall of Fame. Finley's Grandparents are Wall of Famers. Finley and I are so lucky.

YES, IT IS FINLEY'S FIRST HALLOWEEN

And these aren't even all of the Halloween outfits...

TRIVIA: Finley's favorite Halloween songs are Thriller and The Monster Mash

THROW BACK THURSDAY, ELLIPTICAL BABY

Yet more evidence of possibly why Finley likes to move all the time.

#warriors

OUR SWEET, SICK FINNY

Readers, we are in the midst of Finley's first cold so you are about to see images that you would never see if Finley were not under the weather. Feel better soon, sweet girl.

SHE PERSISTED

'

Finley and Summer, Summer and Finley...two Geminis who have found one another. Here they are sharing their love for the outdoors. Summer had Finley laughing so hard that we had to sneak in a nap (and a wardrobe change). This nap is known as the "Christmas tree decoration" nap.

After the nap, Finley was recharged and determined to do whatever the big girls were doing.

#warriors

THROW BACK THURSDAY, TOILET

(Pic taken 4/17/17)

(Pic taken 8/14/17)

Towards the end of my pregnancy, I could not sleep, so I purchased this bizarre pillow contraption, which I oddly nicknamed the "toilet." Although it did not really help me sleep, it felt like I was sleeping in a little nest, which I liked. Turns out that, yet again, Finley and I have something in common; she likes lying in a nest as well. Take note, not much sleeping is going on in Finley's nest either. #warriors

(Pic taken 7/14/17)

NOT A CARE IN THE WORLD

Finley taking it all in, on a crisp fall day, while lying on a colorful quilt.

#warriors

JUST THE TWO OF US

There is no doubt that Finley and I have been blessed with an incredible "village;" however, there are times when it is just the two of us. Some days the two of us are perfectly in sync like the time Finley's nap lasted just long enough for me to work-out. Here we are post-nap, post-work-out. 

We've got this, Finley.

#synchronicity #warriors

MAN DOWN

Saturday strolls with other new moms and new babies have become part of our Saturday routine. More often than not, Finley, is the first baby who cries and wants to be carried. We new moms refer to this jokingly and lovingly as "man down." After a Saturday stroll, Finley and I often explore something new together. For example, Finley touched grass for the first time and loved it but not as much as mommy loved watching her touch grass for the first time. 

#warriors

YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE, MY ONLY SUNSHINE

(Pic taken 8/18/17)

You are my Finny, my only Finny...

#warriors

MARCO POLO

Guz, Guz, Guz...I love you, friend. There are too many memories to capture in one post, but when I think of my childhood, I think of summer days at the Wimmerton pool with you, Cass, and Mindy. I have never felt so free and alive. When we reconnected this summer, after more than a decade, it was one of the highlights of my maternity leave to spend time with you and your special, sweet boys, Rowan and Caleb. Maybe someday Cass, Mindy, you, and I can all return to the Wimmerton pool with our kids. I wonder who would win at tom-tom-pool-away...

(Pic taken 7/29/17)

(The entrance has changed!)

THROWBACK THURSDAY, ON THE MOVE

(Pic taken 3/25/17)

There has been much speculation as to why Finley had to be constantly moving for the first 3 and 1/2 months of her life. Some say it was because I worked out my entire pregnancy. Here's a picture of me after a run (more like a "wobble") when I was 7 months pregnant. 
#warriors

LIONS AND TIGERS AND GRAPES

Kimmy P and Dena have what I'd like to call a "Finley sense." They seem to know exactly what Finley needs and when she needs it. Here is just a small sampling.

                                                                         LIONS...

                                                                       AND TIGERS...

                                                              AND GRAPES, OH MY!

KEEP YOUR PIGS WARM, FINLEY

On February 18, 2016, Mary Waskowicz, my Grandma and Finley's Great Grandma passed away. My Grandma and I talked about everything including me trying for years to have a baby. I cannot help but think that she had something to do with Finley:) Towards the end of her life, we'd talk on the phone every night...and she'd always tell me to "keep my pigs warm" just as she had when I was a child. Aunt Judy/Finley's Great Aunt Judy thank you so much for the pink, pig socks. Finley wears them all the time, and I cannot help but smile to think of how happy Finley's Great Grandma would be to know that Finley's pigs are indeed warm. I love you forever, Grandma...

(Pic taken 11/2007) (Great Grandma with Cousin Miles)