let's be friends

a few weeks ago, josh brought home a parking ticket from purdue. first off, i don't see how it's cool for someone to have to pay a yearly fee to park at their work and then get tickets if there are no appropriate parking spots left. secondly, if you are going to be a jerk and give him a ticket, please do not try to bond with him over his love of the indianapolis colts (notice the corner of the ticket). it's like, "hey, i'm sticking you with a $20 fine, but i like your license plate. go blue!" parking attendant, you want to come over to our house for the game sunday? we really want to hang out, but sorry, it's $20 to park on our street.

going out.

just a couple photos of some recent eats. this boy definitely enjoys his dinner (and mine as well).

walk on, walk on, with hope in your heart

this weekend, finn and i ventured down to the ovarian cancer run & walk to support my grandma delores. the day was beautiful and i got to see my grandma pull from her amazing strength and walk the entire mile. we all were a little tempted to cut down one of the side streets like the group behind us (cheaters), but delo said, "hell no." ... well, no, she didn't say that, but she quietly insisted that we complete the entire mile. she is such a fighter.

the jazzercize warm-up that only my family participated in

walking around the circle

beth, delores, chris, and dianeproof that i was there

family time

we're finally beginning to relax in this house. we have most everything unpacked and figured out, as long as you don't venture into the living room which is now a box holding facility. this past week, we even had some of the landscaping taken care of, which really meant chopping down most of the bushes and trees because they were wild and unruly. now we have a wide open front yard and a huge backyard. i can't wait to get the fence in, so we can enjoy the backyard without brody needing to be tied up.

maybe he thinks it's a lightsaber.

in our nearly completed office/play room, there are more toys than i think necessary for a 9 month old, but alas, we keep buying more and more. i'm really glad we have loaded up, considering that for the last 30 minutes, my baby finn has been dragging around a 3 foot long wrapping paper cardboard roll. seriously, the lights and bells don't pull him in, but give him cardboard and wham! he's the most entertained he's been in weeks.

22 on 22

happy birthday josh! we love you!

our retirement plan

according to josh, finn is going to be a football player. the way i see it, if i am putting my child in harm's way, he better be the best! so, a few years down the road, you may be seeing sweet baby finn tear the other team apart for the colts. or maybe, just maybe, my dreams will come true and he'll be the punter. hey, just because they don't bash people and try to rip their heads off doesn't make punters any less than football players.

splurge or save

i have been longing for a pair of ray-ban sunglasses for the longest time, but the $139 price tag has been keeping me at bay, and rightfully so. however, target has started carrying knock-offs at only $12.99, which is more my style (no pun intended). the fact that target carries them means this fad will be over before next weekend. for 13 bucks though, i too can be trendy, if only for a few short moments.

macy

i have never told you how much i love my niece. after each time i see her, i ache the next week because i miss her so much and crave sneaking in more moments together. she is just the most adorable, petite little thing that ever did walk the face of this earth. she is getting to that amazing stage of running and giggling and talking up a storm. and though the exact words are indecipherable, she says them with such attitude that i get her. she is spectacular.

i'm awake.

finn has now decided that someone should be waiting to pluck him from his crib the instant he opens his eyes. immediately after rising from his afternoon slumber, he wiggles his way to the edge of the crib closest to the door and screams, apparently thinking his stares and clambering will make his mother instantaneously appear. i love the look on his eyes the second i crack the door. it's that same amazed look i give david copperfield when he makes an elephant appear out of nowhere. it's like that door reveals something magical to him every single time, bringing a smile and laughter that makes me completely fall in love with him over and over and over again.

refried beans

after my grandfather's viewing on friday, my family needed some time to unwind. we headed out to "the mexican restaurant" as my immediate family calls it, which we found out is actually called mi camino real. well, they have fantastic margaritas and we got a large table where most of my extended family got to come and just relax after a long night at the funeral home. midway through the meal, my aunt patty offered some beans to finn. i gave him a few bites, which he loved. big surprise, this kid eats anything. regretfully i offered him the rest of the plate to play and eat and do as he wished. bad move. the remainder of the night into the wee hours of the morning, there was astonishingly loud moaning coming from this tiny little baby, with a rumbling in his stomach that gave warning of excitement to come. at about 3, slight relief came, as this sweet little boy belched directly into my face with a stench that made my eyes water. the rest of the excitement didn't show up until morning. no more frijoles refritos...ever!

self-punishment

brody knows better. he isn't one of those dogs who is too stupid to understand the concept of pooping outside. this morning, i saw him run as fast as he could out of the living room and into his crate in the family room. instantly, i began my detective work. sure enough, two amazing piles of poo were in the living room with their fresh aroma filling my entire house like a tear-gas grenade. i bent down to grab it with a tissue and it slipped. instead of letting it drop on the already disgusting carpet, my stupid instincts kicked in and i caught it in my bare hand. it took about 3 seconds before i realized i was holding extremely warm poo in my hands.

my grandfather was a very honorable, loving, oh-so-cute good christian man. the last time i saw him, i couldn't help but be overwhelmed by the amazing capacity of one person on the lives of many. this one man and his wife created such an amazing (and large) family, gifting each one of us with their selflessness and love. i was amazed at the joy of family and of life that he felt even in his last days. today, his life on earth ended, but he remains alive in the hearts of each of us that are here because of him. thank you for all of your prayers and concerns. grandpa harold is now with God in heaven.

how to get free stuff

apparently, if you casually mention to my mother or mother-in-law that 1) you're shopping because your child outgrew his clothes, 2) your child is out of puffs, or 3) ask your sister-in-law for a single baby wipe to clean your hands, you can get free stuff. those things (1, 2, & 3) translate to a grandmother that your child is naked, starving, and in need of a serious butt wiping. voila! new clothes, wipes, and 4 bottles of baby cereal. it's like magic!

i wanna go fast

finn is one crazy monkey now, learning to crawl faster and faster with each day. i just can't believe how grown up he is getting. he is starting to get a little attitude, too. yesterday i was trying to teach him to not lick the xbox controller. i know what you're thinking, why wouldn't i want him to lick it. i mean it's so much fun to lick everything you come into contact with, yet i'm a mean old mom. i would squeak "no" whenever he got close (squeak, because it's more alarming). he would startle, then put it quickly to his mouth. i would be okay with him not learning 'no', except that he gave me a quick glance out of the corner of his eye with a smirk on his face while doing it. he totally knows he's pushing the boundaries, and i'm loving every second of his attitude.

number six

#6...check. josh shaved his head! well, i shaved his head, while laughing hysterically!

off center of attention

oh how often he tries to get between me and finn

domestic adult

tonight, i whipped up some brownies (from a box) just before company arrived. at about 9:30, i got my pajamas on to prepare for bed. first though, i had to put a load of laundry in, so i would have a clean pair of pants to wear tomorrow at work. then, i got finn's food ready for the morning, so josh wouldn't have to. now, i've just finished doing the dishes. who is this person that is inhabiting my body? i, ladies and gentleman, am a wife.

in small group a couple weeks ago, elizabeth challenged us to think of something that we would be willing to commit to for the next 4 weeks. this could be something spiritual or something that just would improve our lives in some way. well, 2 weeks in, i finally have decided what i want to commit to. 1. turn off the tv more during the day (and night) so i have time to do the things that need to get done. 2. be nicer to josh. both are remarkably difficult. in regards to 2, i just take a lot out on josh, because some days he is the only person i talk to. he gets the culmination of everything that has gone wrong with the day thrown upon him when he walks in the door. to quote a song i am currently obsessed with, "sometimes i forget to love you like i should." i think i just need to show more love, without the noise of "jon & kate + 8" in the background.

the picture is of finn's home-made baby food. it is so much more vibrant and delicious than the pre-packaged variety, and i don't gag whenever i get a whiff.