visit with Santa

This year's visit with Santa didn't go as well as last year. I think Finn was freaked out by Santa's fake beard - last year's was real. Luckily Andrew is a quick thinker and plunked down on his knee near Santa and a surprise visit from a dog puppet ensured a successful photo.

I'm 17 Months Old

My new favourite words are:

Mine
Mine
Mine
Mine
NO
Hat (see previous post)
Pea-Yeah - This is my polite response - a Finnism for Yes Please!
Tall
All dee (All done)
Tea (for ET and the hot drink Mummy has each morning)
Do (short for bread, flour, dough or anything that has to do with the bread maker as well as the first words to Doe a dear)
Hot (now also means lunch or dinner as well as stove)

And they called him bald...

We're getting Finn ready for his Hard Core Logo II audition.

Everything's Coming up Hats

Finn is now obsessed with things being hats. Today he wore his toque, Dad's toque and Mom's toque. He woke up and told me that Elmo was a hat (and demonstrated), the frog was a hat (and demonstrated), his sippy cup was a hat... Maybe I should just make a list. Things Finn wore as a hat today:

Clean diapers (fortunately not dirty ones)
a spoon
a slice of bread
several books
a truck
shoes
slippers
cat toys
wash cloths
mittens
pillows
a magazine
kleenex
a bowl of yogurt
his bib
a solitary bran flake
stacking blocks
a pair of pants (with help)
a tupperware bowl
bath boats
and most magnificent of all: the tupperware bowl with boats stacked on top!


Tomorrow: Fur trimmed bonnet a la Loco?

Ear Tubes

After almost a year of fluid in the middle ear, countless ear infections and mild hearing loss we made the difficult decision to have ear tubes placed in both Finn's ears. Finn was a champion - as always - the nurses even asked how we prepared him for the experience he was so well behaved. While awaiting the anesthesiologist, Finn bonded with a plastic toy truck which he brought into the OR with him, to the recovery room after and refused to relinquish it even while I nursed him post surgery (yes the truck did have sharp corners- ouch!). Luckily we were able to distract him long enough to pull a bait and switch prior to leaving the hospital. Finn is recovering well and has quickly returned to his energetic self.

Santa Claus Parade

We caught the tail end of the Guelph Santa Claus parade. Finn loved the marching band and the big 18 wheeler that Santa arrived on. Not sure if he even noticed the big guy.

I'm 16 months old

I have had a word explosion! Words I use:

Hi
Bye
NoNoNo - a toddler classic
Yeah
Mama
Dada
Nana
Baby
Momo (Elmo)
Mo (More)
Ap-pul (Apple and any other round fruit or veggie)
Beh (Bread)
Pease,Pease,Pease?- always said rather quietly (Please)
Bowh- Bowl
Tuh (Truck)
Tuhtuh (Tractor)
Bah (Bus)
Hot (also stove)
Happy
Hat
Boo (Boots)
Up
Dow - sometimes DIE (Down)
Bahhl (Ball)
Bubuhl (Bubble - also sphere)
Peepee
Poopoo
uh-oh & ouch (both often & often inappropriately)
Bee (hymenoptera and other such things)
Eye (said while poking Mummy in said body part)
Buh (book)

I love to talk and sing. I can do the signs for "sleeping bunnies", little red wagon, if you're happy and you know it and ring around a rosie.

I love to kick my ball and can "throw" it. My uncle Bryan says I throw just like my Dad (is that a compliment?)

I can run and jump (well I can assume the jump pose - but get no air). I like to dance on my tippy-toes.

At my 15 month checkup I was 25 lbs 9 oz and 32 inches tall.

Yard Work

Finn is finally earning his keep. Next up: snow shoveling. Andrew and I are far too old to be doing all this upkeep - we have our backs and hearts to worry about. Finn on the other hand is nice and young!

Fall in the Park

Hallowe'en

Finn's second Halloween went off with out a hitch - Finn decided that he wanted to be a puppy this year. Trick or treating started early and didn't last too long. Zoe and I felt kind of strange knocking on doors to beg for candy that our child obviously wasn't going to eat... so we only went to a few houses of neighbours that we know (and of one that we wanted to see the inside of their house - but they weren't home).

Read to me!

Finn's love of books continues (reading, flipping through, chewing on, throwing, and carrying around). He convinced almost every adult to read to him (Bryan's illiterate, but he just told Finn about the pictures).

Hugs

Finn discovered hugging recently. Like most new discoveries, he's really really really into it.
Finn hugs Samarra
Finn hugs Ishani

Zoe and Finn visited with our friends Kristina, Chris & Will. Finn obviously thought Will was hug-worthy.

Thanksgiving

We made the trip to Perth for Thanksgiving - and Zoe and Finn stayed on for a week afterward while I took the bus home - had my comprehensive exam (passed) - and returned to Perth for the following weekend.

I spent a bunch of time entertaining the kids (okay myself) with the photobooth application on the laptop.

An example of the product:


Gramps reads to the grandkids

Ishani!

Playing with the cousins

:
Samarra & Finn: Always a good time

Dance Dance Revolution

Finn has developed a love of dancing - here are a few movies highlighting his ability to cut a rug:

Finn loves TV - especially the Backyardigans - but we don't let him watch it (often).


At Thanksgiving Finn also discovered a love of hugging - good thing Ramona is such a patient dog.


Dance party at Karl & Caryn's:

I'm 14 Months Old

I love to walk. I giggle so much I fall down.

I love to read books. If you ask me I will bring you over one I want you to read to me- over and over.

I am a communicator. I can say “baby”, “ball”, and “peas” (although I whisper it “pea-pea” – not sure why Mummy and Daddy chuckle at that?). I can sign “book”, “ball”, “hat”, “fan” ,“more” – also used for eat , “telephone”- which is used for all electronic devices especially those with buttons and “all done”. I make noises that signify cat (an anguished meow sound), doggy (panting), fish (sucking in of cheeks – also used for water/thirsty) and most recently a popping sound for bird. I am a great believer in the power of pointing. When I really want something I point for it….or at it. For instance, when I want fruit I point at the painting of fruit hanging on the wall in the dining room.

I love the park. I love going down the slide head first which sets a bad example for the other kids and occasionally gives me a red belly (when my shirt comes up). Come to think of it I really love to do most things head first including jumping into ball pits, under tables etc- luckily my head seems to be able to take all the bumps and scrapes I get it into.

I love playgroup – meeting lots of new “babies” and pushing big cars around. I love watching the big boys play.

I love animals. I especially love doggies! I don’t even mind if they knock me over and lick me!

I love music. Put on some good jazz flute and watch me wiggle. I also enjoy reggae, country songs and world beat. Mum and Dad don’t know where my taste in music comes from.

Outtakes

There's a reason we didn't do a "I'm thirteen months old." As Finn gets older he is less cooperative in the staying still department. This month took us two mornings and most of a memory card to get the one happy photo with the frog... Here are some of the other photos.

Happy Birthday Zoe

Presents on birthday morning. Finn is now getting into the whole present giving and opening thing (not so good at wrapping though).



Mum reading Finn the book he gave her.



Birthday dinner. Finn tried the duck (without the chipotle orange sauce), ate two pieces but decided to stick with his dinner.



Zoe's egg-free birthday cake: mmmmmmm dense. Happy X2nd birthday Zoe!

The Donkey Sanctuary

The Donkey Sanctuary of Canada, just 10 minutes outside of town, is dedicated to the rescue and rehab of donkeys, hinnies (Donkey Mum x Horse Dad), and mules (vice versa) - think Ligers and Tigons.

The donkeys practically ooze serenity and as long as you remember not to approach them from behind, love to be brushed and petted. Zoe wants to get one for home... but I think maybe we'll just have to come back to visit these donkeys instead.


Here we are meeting Summer - a 37 year old jill.



Finn and Dad petting Danny (Zoe's favorite - but he made too much noise when we were trying to fit him in the trunk).

First steps

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Not exactly Finn's first steps, but from the first day that he was standing up on his own and walking. He found the whole thing all too hilarious to manage it for very long.