Tuesday, January 29, 2008

It's the Small Things

I am feeling a little worn out.
There has been a lot going on with my family, work, everything.

We made a trip up to WI to spend time with my grandpa who is ending his battle with cancer.

There was an amazing party for him, to recognize and thank him for the 53 years of driving school bus, I will certainly be blogging about that soon. He is just really starting to suffer, and you just want so badly for the pain to be over for him.

Work is nuts. I am currently trying to mastermind an event where I am coordinating close to 200 volunteers for 2 days, in 2 locations to move 100K books through the city of Chicago from 10 storage units to across town and then moved into our new warehouse on Super Bowl Weekend.

They all need to be fed! And followed up with, confirmed! Then there is all the media to contact to let them know we are even doing this....whew!

So I was reminded by a simple scene at my house when I got home from the gym yesterday morning, that things are okay. And that family is what matters most and to really remember to appreciate the small things.

Here is what I came home to; my two boys, all snuggled in bed. And you can guess that I promptly jumped into bed to join in on the reading of "Chocolate Chippo Hippo" one of the new favorites.

Thursday, January 24, 2008

The Book of Questions



This book was dropped off at Open Books the other day and it caught my eye. Flipping through it I thought these questions may spark some interesting blog posts.

Ironic really that I choose to get all philosophical when I am running on about 2 hours of sleep, am super crabby and overwhelmed at work, but hey! Why not.

So I am going to post some of these questions, every week or so, and if you feel like answering them too...feel free. Happy FRIGID Thursday everyone!


QUESTION #1
For a person you loved deeply, would you be willing to move to a distant country knowing there would be little chance of seeing your friends or family again?
Well this question really isn't that tough for me...the answer is no. My friends and family are too important to me than any person I may deeply love. It is hard enought being a handful of hours away from my family. I think it is just another one of those choices you make, whether it is a completely concious choice or not, but I don't think there would really be anyone, no matter how in love I was, that could make me want to go without seeing my family and friends.

Monday, January 21, 2008

Firsts!

I gladly bring to you:
Finnegan's First Swim

Looking dapper in his red Speedo swimsuit, covered in colorful cartoon crabs...Thank goodness Nick was willing to don a bathing suit and splish splash around. Finn loved it! I think he would have stayed in for hours.




The best part was when Finn would hit the water and splash himself, and Daddy in the face. He seemed startled every time, amazed that he could bang on the water and it would send water flying. He kept doing it though! He thought it was awesome. He was clinging to the railing...not wanting to get out! Think we will be in for a fun time taking this little Sea Monkey swimming this summer!

Thursday, January 17, 2008

Happy 8 Month Birthday Finnegan!


Doctor's Appointment today!
20 lbs. 10 oz.
27.5 inches long
Holding steady at 65% on the charts for both...

I remember, when I didn't have any children, thinking that 8 month old babies were SO cute! And now I have my own and I can definitively say that this is a great stage. Here is the full Finnegan 8 month report. (Format and content ideas courtesy of my dear friend Emily, of beingbugsie.com)
Finnegan eats:
A lot! Cereal, Fruits and Veggies are the usual suspects these days!
He LOVES: Oatmeal, Pears, Prunes, Peaches, Peas, Squash, Sweet Potatoes
He DOESN'T LIKE: Green Beens (that is the only one we really know he hates)
He is less and less interested in a bottle. He MUCH prefers food. So a bottle in the morning and at night and that is about it! Otherwise he is all food all the time.
Finnegan speaks:
There has been plenty of babbling for some time now, but he has started to make certain sounds regularly. Da Da Da and even Da Di are gracing the scene almost daily now. He squeals when he is playing. Grunts and huffs and snorts like a pig when he is either frustrated OR happy. He knows that Mama is me, Daddy is Nick and Doggie is Wallace. If you say these words, he will look, for either Me, Nick or Wallace. He was in the tub last night and we were playing with the Rubber Duck and I had totally forgotten that Nick always sings this Ducky Duck Duck song with him...and Finn said "Duh" but no, "CK", to remind me that there is a bathtime song to be sung. It was precious.
Finnegan sleeps:
A LOT. When I was gone to drill last month Nick called to tell me Finn had slept 13 HOURS straight! Now that is not typical, but this kid really is a sleeper. Lucky for us this has really always been the case. He has now been sleeping in his big crib in his room for about 2 months. And the transition was smooth...he goes down around 8 pm and will sometimes fuss around 2:30 or 3 am but I just usually peek in, find his pacifier, which he is throwing out of the crib these days, and a kiss goodnight and he's out until 7 am. He is napping still some for Nick during the day. An hour here and there. Some days two hour naps.
Finnegan moves:
Or doesn't rather! We asked Dr. McDermott today about Finnegan's lack of wanting to move around. He can still beautifully by himself, and stand strong holding on to something, but we are putting him in those positions. He rarely rolls over, doesn't scoot, push or make much movement of any kind! Dr. Anne took one look at the size of his legs and his big head and said, "If you were this big would you want to move around?" and I thought, (heh! I can relate to that!) But seriously, she told us not to worry...some kids are late to crawl, and late to walk. And she also said that he is so content and laid back, with no other siblings running around, he is just chill to stay put. We are going to keep an eye on it and keep working with him on it, and as many people with small kids have said, "Don't wish it away! You'll be chasing after him before you know it!"

Finnegan looks:
Like Nick still! Daddy's genes totally won this time, I must say. He really does look like his Daddy. The random person EVERY now and then MAY say he looks like me in the eyes, but they usually keep it vague and brief as to not hurt my feelings when inside I'm sure they are thinking, MAN that kids looks JUST like his Dad!

These past 8 months have gone so fast. It's really nuts! I look at him sometimes and I'm like, "How did you get here again?" I am loving all of his changes, but also cherishing them, as it won't be long before my baby isn't such a baby anymore.

Website of Lists of 2007 Best Lists

So this is pretty cool....
I totally get sucked into this kind of thing...
Any year end wrap up, "best of" lists, etc.

This site has compiled the best of those lists.
Swoon....
Especially the BOOK Lists.
And the FILM Lists!
And the MUSIC Lists!

Greta they have a BEST CANDY list!
Check it!
FIMOCULOUS

Monday, January 14, 2008

FOOD FACES

INTRODUCING!
The PRUNE GOATEE'
(Sure to be gracing the covers of GQ and runways everywhere)

Last Week!

Nana Keaty celebrated her birthday on the 9th!
We all had a nice dinner at Moe and Jim's.


Neil was off of work for a change, so it was really nice to see him. He reported that all of the wedding plans are coming along nicely, and that "Erin is doing a great job." Good answer Neil!

We went out for a Happy New Year dinner with the Open Books Gang.
A DELICIOUS meal at Fogo de Chao.....Nick was hilarious, he ate SO much meat it was agonizing to watch. It was a very good meal. I loved the salad bar....have been dreaming about it actually. Wouldn't it be great...to just have a fully stocked salad bar in your home?

Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Remember that New Years Eve When?

We ended the Holiday Season with a wonderful New Years evening with friends.

A party and overnight with the Romanyshyns....
Always the gracious hosts, they opened their lovely home for the following exciting events.

There was the eating of amazing appetizers. Deep fried, blue cheese stuffed green olives anyone? Shrimp spring rolls, taco dip, 4 cheese phyllo dough wraps, and the best cookies and cereral, chocolate, pretzel bar thingys.
Thank goodness I have been hitting the gym hard these last two weeks.

And DRINKS....beer (tons of it), wine, champagne, Jameson for the boys, Chambord champagne cocktails, for the girls.
There was the drinking...
And then some photo taking...

Some more drinking...
Then some Dancing....
More Drinking.....Then Drink Dropping
EVEN More Drinking...and then just general Dropping
AND Cookie Snatching


And of course some smooching....


NOTE: You can look at pictures like these and take a pretty good guess that a night like this can't end well for everyone. Well that is right, and unfortunately the innocent victim from this evening was my BRAND NEW awesome overnight bag, that I got for CHRISTMAS! Which, er, um, was filled in the middle of the night with a substance that just can't quite be easily removed.
NOT GOOD. But hey! I look at it as a reason to get to shop for a new bag!
Hope you all had as much fun as we did!
Happy New Years everybody!

Thursday, January 3, 2008

Eye Almost Forgot!

I am sure many of you have been EAGERLY awaiting the photo of Nick's new EYE GLASSES.
Well this was certainly our Christmas Miracle this year!
Nick is enjoying looking more scholarly...and can be heard around the house saying,


"Well I don't know if that is a chore a man with GLASSES would do..."
"Of course I know the answer to that question...I wear GLASSES...'

(I think you get the idea)

Wednesday, January 2, 2008

HOLIDAYS! VOLUME 2


Phew!
Okay! So 7 hours later...we were showered and off to Nick's Mom and Dad's for Christmas Day fun.

Finnegan was the star of the show and again received many wonderful gifts.

The Grandma's must have been thinking alike, as Finn got a monogrammed suitcase from Nana Keaty!
He also got some fantastic hats, a sled, some great books and toys to boot!

We enjoyed a leisurely evening and delicious meal.






Papa Keaty wanted to make sure that Finn wasn't just getting spoiled in the treat department by Auntie Greta. He sat Finn right up to the table for some ice cream after dinner.




Enjoy the photos.




HOLIDAYS! VOLUME 1

Here is the low down on our Holiday Extravaganza.
Our first Christmas as a family of 3!
We spent the beginning of the holiday season in Viroqua.

We started out by heading to the Liberty Store (aka the awesome dive bar in the middle of no where that my Dad frequents for cold Old Style and to "get in a game") The store, is a corner in the bar, featuring the week of Christmas: laundry detergent, picked ham hocks, and Ring Pops.

We got home just in time because the weather got nasty. I think we got around a foot of snow overnight, which prompted two days of nothing but watching TV, sleeping, eating and NOT showering.




Greta let Finn open a gift one night early! We were so excited to see him open them up that we just couldn't wait.
BONUS BABY TRICK: Finn learned how to clap 2 days prior to these photos so that made gift opening extra enjoyable.

CHRISTMAS EVE!

Finnegan opened his gifts, he got so many really nice things. A very special gift was a DRUM SET from Great Grandpa. Wow. We were super excited about that gift. I am already looking forward to some jam sessions as soon as he can hang on to those sticks.






Then the adults had a chance to open some of their gifts.


We woke up early the next morning, indulged ourself in the offerings left from Santa, and then packed the whole crew up Christmas morning, heading for Chicago. It was a nice, snowy and relaxing time at home.