..party time..

we were on our cruise on finn's actual birthday, but of course that didn't stop us from having a party for him when we got home. we couldn't pass up an opportunity for his friend's and family to shower him with love, now could we? :)

for some odd reason i scheduled the party for april 15th - two days after we were to arrive home from our vacation. not sure what i was thinking! haha it actually ended up being a smart move, believe it or not. i was so worried that i wouldn't have time to get things together when we got back, so i had almost everything completely ready before we left. it's amazing what planning ahead does for a usually stressed-out, chicken-with-her-head-cut-off party hostess! the day of his party i experienced things i've never experienced on the day of a party - i wasn't stressed at all! i sat around the house trying to find things to do. it was miraculous!! ;)

i spent a lot of time on pinterest trying to come up with ideas for finn's 2nd birthday party. his first birthday party turned out kind of, well, lame. i had all these ideas about having a "finn mcmissile" race-car themed party. and some of the ideas came together, others, not so much. this time around, i wanted to get it right. the plan was to have it out on the patio, so i made all these cute decorations and had it all laid out in my mind. well, as luck would have it, mother nature had a different plan the day of the party - it was freezing cold so we had to bring things inside. it all ended up being really cute, though. i was surprisingly okay with how it all turned out. 

really the only creative part of the party was the "candy buffet." i ordered the cute tags and the sign on etsy, bought some cute ribbon, borrowed the jars from my aunt and voila! we had ourselves a darling little candy buffet. too bad no one ate any candy! ;) i'm serious though. i think maybe 1/10 of it was gone by the end of the night. 

i am so grateful to the people who showed up to make finn's party so special. it really isn't about the toys, or the food or decorations....we are just so grateful to have so much love and support from our friends and family. and even though finn had no idea that this was a celebration honoring him, i like to think that years from now he'll look back on the pictures, and these blog posts, and realize how many people have loved him from the get-go.

finn came down with something during the party. i'm serious, he like actually got sick during the party. it was weird and really sad, and that's the reason he doesn't look very happy in any of the pictures. :) 

oh, and before i forget, can we talk about how finn knew how to blow out the candles?! i was seriously shocked that he even knew how to do that. way to go, bud!!

happy birthday mr. finn!! i still can't believe you are two! 

..cruisin' with mickey..

we just returned from an {almost} week-long vacay - a disney cruise, to be precise. it was an unforgettable trip, and something i'm so grateful we could experience as a family.

as you could expect, traveling with young kids is a lot of work - just like every day life at home is a lot of work. :) they are very demanding of time and attention, and when you are like me - a schedule nazi ;) - you have to learn how to let go of the reins, and relinquish some of that control if you ever want to go on a vacation with babies. my need to get out of the house and away from the frigid-cold temperatures we were plagued with all winter, far surpassed any fear i had of taking two young kids on a vacation. so we booked a 5-night western caribbean DISNEY cruise that set sail april 8th. it was incredible!

i have been on quite a few cruises before - carnival, princess, and royal caribbean - and i enjoyed all of them. as far as food, entertainment, quality of the ship, etc...they all received two thumbs up from me. because disney's reputation for quality and excellence far precedes itself, my expectations for this cruise were set pretty high. and after a week on the disney wonder, i can say 100% truthfully that they met, and even surpassed, all those expectations.

the ship was beautiful and very clean. it wasn't "in your face" disney, like i expected it to be. there were subtle hints all over, but nothing like what i thought, and i have to say, it was quite nice. the food was okay - i wouldn't rave about it, but it wasn't disgusting, by any means. plus i didn't want to go on this vacation and gain 5 pounds, so i was sort of glad that it wasn't to die for. ;) like any cruise i've ever been on - the staff and service was wonderful. we fell in love with our waiter and his assistant - they took care of us remarkably, especially considering we had two little hellians come 5:45 every night (seriously, finn and sam were awful at dinner, every single night!!). the entertainment was unmatched. i am writing this nearly a month after our cruise, and i still think about one of the shows onboard - it was amazing!! i have always loved everything disney - disney movies and music, etc - so the fact that there was always classic disney music playing onboard, as well as all the classic disney movies playing in our stateroom, made me very happy. i almost felt like a kid again. ;) perhaps my favorite part of the entire cruise was the characters. they were out and about all the time! i knew there would be character appearances throughout the week, because i read it online, but i had no idea just how often they would be available for meet-and-greet's. every day, multiple times a day, you could stand in line to say hi to mickey, minnie, donald, daisy and goofy. and throughout the week, there were special appearances from a slew of other disney characters, like pluto, a few of the princesses (snow white, belle), peter pan, captain hook, mr smee, captain jack sparrow, lilo, chip & dale and i am probably forgetting some. it was so fun to just sit and watch them interact with kids, and adults, alike. from the way they move and dance to the way they treat all the little kids who admire and look up to them, i was so impressed by all the characters. for that reason alone, i would go on another cruise.

it was so fun to watch finn with all the different characters. he sort of knew who mickey was before we went, but when he first met all of them, he was very skeptical and a little scared. he wouldn't let them hold him and he wouldn't let one of us out of arms reach. but as the week progressed, he warmed up to them, and by the end he was giving them all hugs and kisses. it seriously melted my heart, and so many people would comment when they saw finn giving mickey and his friends kisses. it was too cute! i think finn's favorite characters were mickey, daisy and pluto. he was totally smitten by daisy, and maybe it's because he met pluto on the very last day, but he was hilarious with him. it was so fun to watch!

finn turned two while we were on the cruise!! it was so fun to celebrate his birthday in a different setting. he wore this "it's my birthday" mickey-ears hat all day, and received many different "happy birthday's" from complete strangers. a band was performing out by one of the pools that day, and the singer saw finn in his hat and started singing happy birthday to him. it was so cute! and at dinner, a gang of waiters/assistants/guests sang happy birthday to him and he got to enjoy a little piece of cake (bc what is a birthday without a little cake, right?). we took him to the gift shop and let him pick out a couple of toys - one from us and one from grandma cindy. even though he still doesn't understand that it was his birthday, i like to think that he had a good day and that he'll look back on the pictures and realize what a lucky little 2-year-old he was. :)

both finn and sam did pretty good throughout the whole week, especially when you take into account how sleep-deprived and off-schedule they both were. ;) sam got little naps in here and there, but didn't nap anywhere close to his "normal" amount. finn took maybe a 1 1/2 - 2 hour nap each day, but considering we didn't go to sleep until around 10 o'clock each night (and he'd wake up bright and early at 7 am) he was pretty dang tired! let's be honest, we all were. ;) we sent them to the nursery a couple times while onboard - it cost $10/hr, but was totally worth it for a little r&r for me, lance, and grandma. :) we peeked in on them a few different times, and every time, finn was sitting next to sam. i don't think he left his side. such a good big brother! we don't leave them with people very often, so i think poor finn was a bit traumatized. it's good for him, though. right??

one night on board was a pirate theme - pirates in the caribbean! it was so much fun. all of the staff and characters were dressed up in their pirate gear, and many of the guests were as well. we bought finn a pirate gun and sam some pirate mickey ears, so they wouldn't be totally left out. ha, like either of them could care. ;) out on the deck that night there was a deck party, with live music, dancing and even fireworks. disney is the only cruise line that does fireworks at sea. it was super fun!

finn loved playing in the pool every day, even though he, technically, wasn't supposed to get in. ;) long story short, we found out about two months after we booked this cruise, that kids have to be fully potty-trained in order to go in the pool! no swim diapers allowed. can you believe that? well there was no way we could stop finn from getting in - the kid loves the water - and we didn't pay what we did to come on a cruise and not get in the swimming pool. i think finn looks old enough that he could possibly pass for being potty-trained, so we took our chances and lucky for us, didn't get caught! ;) there was a little splash area that kids in diapers could play in, so we set sammy boy down in there one day, and he loved it! grandma cindy, sherree and i, as well as lance and finn, loved lounging by the pool, enjoying the sun, warm temps and live music. finn loved these strawberry smoothies - i'm pretty sure he two a day!

the very last night onboard, our ship had to "rescue" a raft full of cubans that were just floating in the middle of the atlantic. ;) it was kind of cool to watch, and to see this raft they were on - it was completely homemade. everyone wondered how they made it as far as they did. i guess our boat was closest to it, so we picked them up and then handed them off to the coast guard. the sunset was gorgeous that night, so as we were all standing outside watching the "hand off" we didn't miss the opportunity to take some group pictures. :)

i want sam to be at least 3 years old by the time we go on our next cruise, so that he and finn will be old enough to do all the kids club activities. i have a feeling time will pass in the blink of an eye, and before we know it we'll be back onboard (perhaps with another baby even?) setting sail on another wonderful disney cruise. :)

..sam is 6 months..

dear sammy boy,

6 months old already! geez louise, can we just press pause?! i probably say the same thing every month, but it's because time just has this way of creeping up on us. while it's strange to think you are already six months old, it's also as if i can't remember what our family was like before you came here. it seems like you've always been a part of us, so in some ways it feels like you've been here longer than six months. probably the fact that you are huge makes you seem older too. seriously kid, you are a chubb. and i love it. :)

as you grow each day, we start to see more and more of your personality coming out, and i love it. you are for sure a little sweetheart, with a very tender side. you love to know that we are near by, and when unfamiliar faces are in front of you, you still get really nervous. you adore your big bro, but you still get that look on your face when you hear or see him. it's like, "uh oh...he's coming. what's he gonna do to me this time?!" lol seriously so funny! you can also be sort of dramatic from time to time. for instance, when finn takes a toy from you that you've been playing with, you scream bloody murder. just protecting your territory early on, i guess. ;)

a few things i want to remember about you as a six-month-old:

- you're sitting up very well, and i think it is your preferred method these days (rather than lying on your back or your tummy.)
-speaking of preferred methods, you hate - and i mean HATE - tummy time. you start whining after about 30 seconds, then the whine turns into crying after about 2 minutes.
-you are drooling like crazy!! i thought for sure you'd have a tooth ready to cut through, but the dr says you're not close. :( boo. we hate teething!
- as stated above, you're afraid of people you don't know
- you laugh at finn when he plays peek-a-boo with you or on those rare occasions he gets in your face and doesn't hit, pinch, bite or push you. ;) you also laugh at the dogs when they start barking hysterically.
- you laugh hysterically when playing peek-a-boo. sometimes i'll hide and jump out so you can see, rather than just covering my face. that is when the laughs really start to come!
- you make funny faces with your mouth. i think you must be playing with your tongue!
- you're sooo close to rolling from your back to your stomach.
- you are pretty tempermental when it comes to a schedule, i.e. if we don't follow it you are fussy all day.
- we gave you a taste of yogurt and you loved it!
- started babbling dadadadadadadada. you do this a lot!

because we had our cruise planned, i decided not to start feeding you baby food until we got back, because that would just be one more thing to pack. i know, i know, i'm lazy. but we're gonna start real soon here, i promise!

at your 6 month dr appointment, the doctor said you are pretty much right on track. you should technically be rolling by now, but the dr. reese didn't seem too concerned. he said in the next few months you'll be moving around like crazy. it's weird to think that by this age, finn was crawling, and at 7 months he was standing and crawling up the stairs! i'm actually kind of glad you aren't there yet - it's just one more thing to worry about. ;) but i know it will happen in time and we'll be glad when it does.

6-month stats:
weight: 18lbs 3oz - 60th percentile
height: 27 1/2 inches - 82nd percentile
head circ: 43 cm - 26th percentile

i love watching you grow each day. as sad as it is to see you growing up, there is also nothing better in the entire world. you are just so innocent, sweet, and precious, and we love having you a part of our family.

love,
mom

..finn is TWO..

dear finn,

me oh my, you are TWO years old! i find myself wondering how on earth that happened. wasn't it just yesterday that we headed to the hospital and began the greatest adventure we've ever been on?  to think that one of the happiest days of my life was two years ago - it blows my mind. i can't help but shed a few tears as i sit here thinking back on it all. and while a part of me yearns to mourn the loss of you as my sweet baby boy - the one who introduced me to motherhood and the many blessings that come along with it - there is a bigger part of me that loves watching you learn and grow and become a bigger boy, each and every day. i only fear that i'll blink and you'll be on a mission, for time seems to fly that fast.

a few things i want to remember about you as a new 2-year-old:
-you say "thank you" after almost everything. and you wait for a, "you're welcome." if we don't say it, you keep saying "thank you." it's so sweet!
-can climb up the rock wall on your swing set.
-saying more words each and every day, and they are beginning to sound like the actual word, rather than gibberish. :) i think you'll be talking our ear off any day now!
-some of my favorite words to hear you say are: abby (dyreng's dog), becky, lowee (chloe. it used to be lo-lo), sucka (sucker), elmo, iPahh (iPad), all done, more, all gone, manyah (sandwich), nak (fruit snack), eese (cheese), daddee, babee, du (duke), nowing (snowing), ah yah (thank you), baf (bath) and i'm sure the list could go on!
-you love love LOVE elmo. you seriously light up when "elmo's word" comes on sesame street.
-you associate certain things with certain people. for example, one day we were driving up to grandma cindy's house, and almost the instant we drove into parley's canyon, you said "mama (grandma), lolo (chloe).
-you learned that my name is becky, and i often hear you in another room, calling out, "becky, becky." it is one of the few words you can say perfectly. go figure, the one word you'll never have to use! ;)
-you can get into the fridge, pick out a snack (such as cheese or yogurt), open it up and begin eating it. astonishing!
-you can count to three. the 3 comes out "wheee" so we're not sure if you are saying "1, 2, whee" or "1, 2, 3" haha either way it's adorable.
-you don't like being left with many people, but you do love your babysitter, madison. any time we leave you with her, we come home and you're happy as can be. :)
-you're no longer a fan of the high chair. and by that, i mean you will not sit in it. when we go out to eat you last about 10 minutes in a booster seat, then it's onto a regular chair or booth you go. you also have decided you don't like sitting in the stroller. as a result, we don't really go anywhere anymore! ;)

you are getting smarter and more coordinated by the day (and that is saying something, because you've been pretty dang coordinated from the start!). it's much easier to help you during tantrums, or when you're frustrated, now that you can talk a little.

speaking of tantrums, oh my! it's as if something came and bit you in the but the day you turned 2 (or maybe a little before). i never thought your tantrums would be too bad, because you're such an easy going kid. i was wrong! you can throw one just like any other two year old and it is frustrating for your momma and dad. oh well, i suppose we must pay our dues, and i hear it's either the terrible two's or terrible three's.

you got the stomach flu for the first time this past month, and that was no fun at all. you threw up four or five times...trust me, it was gross. and so sad to see you so miserable. fingers crossed it doesn't happen again for a while!

at your 2-year well child check, dr reese asked us a few questions about your development. he asked if you've started to run. started to run? i told him you've been running pretty much ever since you learned to walk. ;) he also asked us if you're a picky eater (apparently it's a commonality among two-year-olds), to which dad and i responded, yes, you are. he said his rule is, "what's fixed is what's fixed is what's fixed." if i make a meal, and you won't eat it, you don't eat until the next meal. no more makin' you special dinners! ;) he said that teaches you that what's fixed is what's fixed, and more importantly, that dad and i are in charge. :) i was worried that you're a bit behind, because by now you should be putting 3-4 word sentences together, and you only very rarely do that. but dr reese said he isn't at all concerned, because you are so advanced in the motor skills department. he says that isn't uncommon among boys your age. phew! no need to worry. you are on track developmentally, and a healthy little boy. :)

your stats at two-years-old:
weight: 27lbs 8 oz - 47th percentile
height: 34 inches - 47th percentile
head circ: 49cm - 59th percentile

anyway mr finn, i just want you to know how much i love you. i wish you wouldn't grow up so fast, however i suppose that's just the way it is. i cherish each day i get to spend watching you grow and learn and experiencing the world through your eyes. you are the cutest big brother and one amazing little man and i just don't know what i'd ever do without you.

love,
mom