We’ve decided that Finn is going to be a serious runner. He loves to move his legs really fast and because he’s uber smart and already knows how to alternate them (right, left, right, left). We think he’ll skip crawling and walking, and go straight to running. (BTW that’s a great book name…I copyright it right now! “Skips Crawling and Walking” LOL) Scroll to see some cute pics and some videos of him kicking, running, splashing and even playing the piano. LOL

Here’s Finn and his cute cousin Maddux. Maddux is a couple month’s older than Finn. Sorry Julie, I like the pic below because Finn is smiling. I just had to post it. (Download 4×6 pics for printing here)

Finn loves his Dad and every time I show him a picture of Clark and say, “who’s that?” he smiles and then when I say, “Dad!” he smiles even bigger. I’m so glad he loves his Dad, cause he is such an awesome father and husband. I had to take advantage of these cute smiles and laughs from the “Dad” picture show. Thanks Clark, sorry you didn’t get to see us in person, but just know that we were both thinking of you when we took these.

Here’s Finn running up the wall. I think he’ll be one of those guys who has to go for a nightly run just before bedtime because he runs like crazy just before his bedtime now. LOL

He was splish splashing in the tub. He loves the water just like his Dad. Seriously this boy is “fidjiti” cause he can wiggle, run and kick forever.

Grandma “Ma” made him a new white shirt so he can wear all the fun ties that Great Grandma “Mamama” made. This time she had to make it just a little bit bigger so he could grow into it and wear it more than 4 weeks. WOW! He just keeps looking like a little man and growing so fast. I love that Clark is smiling too. He just loves him to pieces. I love watching Clark stare at him. I could do it all day long.

5 Month Old Stats at exactly 5 months old:

• 16.4lbs in 55% (all those sweets are paying off, LOL)
• 26.5″ Tall in 78.8% (he’s tall just like his Dad)
• 17″ Head Circumference in 54% (His head shape is perfect, just line Clark’s head shape. I always did love Clark’s head shape, I know that’s weird, but then again there isn’t anything I don’t love about Clark.)
• Didn’t even cry that much when he got poked

This video is of grandma “ma” holding him while playing the piano with his feet, this boy is talented!

I’m uber thankful to Heavenly Father for…

• Vaccines which protect my son from weird illnesses that I can’t pronounce.
• Vacation time coming up to spend with my 2 fave guys.
• Clark liking his Job at OverstockDrugstore.com
• Hidalgo which saves us cash on gas and Clark’s willingness to endure the ride (a must read).
• Eyes, so that I can see my blessings everyday.

So… as you all have noticed and some even mentioned (it’s okay we weren’t offended that you’d mention it, we just thought that you’d volunteer if it really bugged you, cause we don’t claim to be “the barber shop.” LOL) Anyway, Finn’s gone from having a lot of dark brown hair when he was born to having almost no light brown/blond hair in less than 5 months. We’d been doing the baby comb-over for several weeks now and it got to the point where we didn’t really have much more hair to comb over. LOL So, we finally decided to cut his hair. [We can hear everyone cheering] We thought if we cut it a wee bit shorter, it would give him that even look. We had kind of a dilemma though, we didn’t know which option to choose, scissors or clippers: (mainly because of the suggestions)

Cons about using Scissors:

• No good hair cutting scissors.
• Possibly cut his ear.
• May poke in the head with the tip.
• Definitely uneven hairs all over.
• Would take forever!!!
• Would not be still long enough to cut whole head of hair.

Cons about using the electric Clippers (w/ level 1 attachment):

• Really scary!
• Tons of crying
• Won’t be still long enough because will be crying and wiggling.

…so after reviewing the cons from each (took us all of 1 min), we decided to go with clippers because there were less cons and less risk of injury. We didn’t list pros because we felt it was obvious that the pro for each would be; shorter, neater, more even and super cute hair.

Here’s are a couple before pics:

Here’s some after pics:

DARLING!!! We think he looks sooooooo cute! Doesn’t he look like a little man? He doesn’t even look like the same little baby anymore. He’s growing up so fast. I think he starts kindergarten in August. LOL Its funny to actually say that. He’s 4 1/2 months old!

Just click on the pictures to order the 4×6 prints.

I am thankful for:

1. Big smiles that melt my heart.
2. Sweet wipe dispenser.
3. Coupons for free chocolate.
4. Church callings to use and stretch our talents.
5. Fruit Fridays. (when Clark gets us a new fruit to try, I love the “mousse de maracuja” he made us, it was amazing! I’ll post a recipe and pic in the future.)

I can’t even believe 4 whole months have gone by. So amazingly weird! Everyday brings new challenges and new adventures, not that we do anything extravagant, but just the small things are way fun when we can do them together. I love the quote from Mother Teresa which Elder Dallin H. Oaks quoted during our recent LDS General Conference. “We can do no great things, only small things with great love.” It’s seriously so perfect because it’s true! Anyways, we just love getting to know our little guy and he teaches us so much. We’ll never be tiered of saying that we’ve been so blessed by his little spirit and that we’re thankful for him everyday.

4 Months Old! Wow, can you see how much hair he’s losing. LOL

I have the most handsomest boys! And when you see them together…it’s even better! My Mom & Grandmother have made Clark & Finn an even cuter combo (if that’s even possible) by making them some matching ties to wear to Church. This level of cuteness should be illegal! Yes, that’s Finn in a white shirt and tie. I just want to instill the importance of wearing a white shirt and tie on Sundays and especially while attending Church while he’s little so when he gets older it will be a normal and natural thing for him to do. (And so he won’t fight with me (as much) about not wanting to wear it when he starts talking.) After all, it’s the Sabbath day and we need to keep it holy by wearing a appropriate, and yet super cute, white shirt and tie. We’ll move up to wearing suits soon. Here’s some pics of my matching, super cute and handsome boys.

April 26 2009 - Finn @ 14 weeks

May 3, 2009 - Finn @ 15 weeks

May 10, 2009 - Finn @ 16 weeks

I need to remember to take pictures of them before Church so that Finn isn’t so hungry and mad. LOLCan you tell Finn’s hair is getting lighter? He’s even losing some of it.

Oh and lets not forget the first blue tie, Finn wore for his blessing and every other Sunday until my Mom and Grandmother made him the new ties. Thanks for those beautiful ties, Ma & Mamama! Yes, we may start selling those cute ties, so let me know if you want one.

Life with Finn is great! He is such a happy boy and from what we can tell loves life, even if I just leave him to play by himself sometimes (but not unattended!). There are those cute, yet RARE, moments when he gets sad and lets us know it by pouting his lip. I think all babies know exactly how to to get what they want, or maybe it’s just Finn. LOL Ever since he was born he’s had this amazing ability to pout his lip whenever he’s really sad or wants us to hold him. No one has ever showed him how to do this, he doesn’t watch TV and we don’t spend time practicing this with him, so it’s got to be built in. It is really awesome how he just knows how to do this. Anyways, he knows that when he uses his little pouty lip we will just pick him up and try to make him feel better, and who wouldn’t? (No…we don’t care if he is being spoiled, thank you very much!) Here’s a picture of him while being really sad and pouty and me trying to imitate him. I’ve had years of practice and I still haven’t mastered it as well as he has. Look at that lip, awe…just makes you want to give him a hug.

15 weeks old (3.5 months)

Happy 8th year Anniversary Clark! I’ve now been with Clark almost a 1/3rd of my whole life. That’s pretty crazy and awesome! We’ve been together for so long I can’t remember what it was like without him, nor do I need to. Seems like we’ve been there for each other all of our lives. I am so gr-8-ful for the good times and the gr-8 times we’ve had together. He is my dream guy (seriously!), my prince charming (yes, it’s true), my sweet husband, my best friend, the best father to our child and especially my eternal companion. I think we’re perfect together, even if I don’t like peanut butter or basketball. Although, I think he thinks I’m starting to like peanut butter, I keep telling him that if it has chocolate I’ll eat it. I have to…it’s got chocolate! LOL Anyways…I found this song a while back and was saving it for our anniversary. I just love the lyrics (nope I am not a fan of country, no…Miley Cyrus doesn’t count as country, or folk music). I think it’s because, in my case, the lyrics apply.

“The Day Before You” by RASCAL FLATTS
Click here to listen to it on YouTube.

I had all but given up on finding
The one that I could fall into
On the day before you
I was ready to settle for
Less than love and not much more
There was no such thing as a dream come true
Oh, but that was all the day before you

Now you’re here and everything’s changing
Suddenly life means so much
I can’t wait to wake up tomorrow
And find out this promise is true
I will never have to go back to
The day before you

In your eyes I see forever
Makes me wish that my life never knew
The day before you

Oh, but Heaven knows those years without you
Were shaping my heart for the that day I found you
If you’re the reason for all that I’ve been through
Then I’m thankful for the day before you

Now you’re here and everything’s changing
Suddenly life means so much
I can’t wait to wake up tomorrow
And find out this promise is true
I will never have to go back to
The day before you

Was the last day that I ever needed alone
And I’m never going back
No I’m never going back

Now you’re here and everything’s changing
Suddenly life means so much
I can’t wait to wake up tomorrow
And find out this promise is true
No I’m never going back
I will never have to go back to
The day before you

Happy Anniversary Clark! Thanks for giving me, you. I heart you!

P.S. I photoshopped the graduation pics, so no…unfortunately we didn’t go to the same High School. That would have been funny cause remember, I used to wear baggie clothes.

Finn’s hair feels like little feathers. It’s very fine and super soft but it’s out of control and needed to be cut. So last Sunday the 19th we decided it was time to trim up the sides and back. He liked it until we turned on the clippers and then he got really upset and started crying. Poor guy! So we ended up only trimming up the sides. So don’t look at the back. LOL

Before: (Look at his hair just going over his little ears, still soooo cute.)

After: (he looks so serious and sad because he really did hate the clippers.)

Hey don’t make fun of my hair cutting skills. At least it was free!

Click here to order the 4×6 pics.

BTW (I love backposting, LOL)

Finn is a great sleeper! But today for some reason I had the feeling to read up on SIDS and I have been reading a ton of sad stories about parents who no longer have their little babies because they died in their sleep. Breaks my heart. If you remember in this most recent General Conference there were also a few stories shared of babies who have died. It could have been to help those through their trials but I feel it was a warning too. Yes, I know I am crazy for making myself cry from just thinking about what could happen to my little Finny if I don’t take good care of him. But I just felt like I needed to read more about it and become really aware of the dangers of how they sleep. We as parents are entrusted with these little sweethearts who can not do for themselves just yet. So, we have to protect them and give them lots of loving. Here’s a list where you can read stories for yourself if you need a little help being just a bit more safe and a bit more careful with your babies. I’m also posting it for myself so that I can be reminded to be a better mom. Read the stories if you’re not a “text book, and stats” kind of person.

• SIDS Network - Lots of stories.
• First Candle - Great instruction and documents on what to do to be safe. Their Forum has some seriously sad things too, but the moms tell you how guilty they feel.
• Create a Safe Sleep Zone

Now…lets get something straight, I know that those babies who have passed, are safe and with Heavenly Father right now. And if their families do what is right and were sealed in the Temple they will all be reunited one day. Personally, I feel that those babies were too special to remain here on Earth and they have a higher calling and therefore just needed to come down and receive their mortal bodies to pass this portion of their test.

I want to point out that this is in no way trying to make mothers feel guilty. If your child’s time is cut short here on earth it would make it much easier to cope with the loss if you knew you did everything to prevent it. That is the reason why I am posting about this because I read that so many mothers feel the guilt really badly. Do all that you can to prevent it and if you did do all that you could and your baby still passes, then you won’t feel as guilty. Sure, any mother or parent would feel guilty, but not the the same degree. I just ache for those families who have lost their little ones temporarily and if this ever happens to us…I’ll have to remind myself of these personal truths and try really hard not to feel guilty. I can’t even imagine!

Boppy:

I am definitely guilty of letting Finn sleep on the Boppy. We’ve been lucky enough not to have had any bad experiences with this, however they don’t put the “may cause death” on the tag for nothing. It’s there to help us keep our babies safe, not to keep us from our sanity. So, I am no longer letting him sleep on his boppy. Here’s the link where you can read proof of this.

Blankies:

Finn loves to sleep with a ton of blankets and until today I have had probably 4 blankets (1 used to swaddle him, 2 on either side, one over the top of him) in his bed while he sleeps. NOT GOOD!!! He could have for sure gotten heat stroke or something. I have sometimes found him under his top blanket. I am the worst mom ever! You know the attitude I had was, “well if it helps him sleep better then I’ll do it cause then it’ll help me sleep better.” But I am pretty sure I would never be able to sleep again if something bad happened to him because I “needed” my sleep. I just watch him all day anyways…who cares if I lose sleep, right! It’s worth it to keep him alive and gurgling!

Back Sleeper:

Infant deaths related to SIDS have been reduced by 50% since they came out with the idea of sleeping on the back. Everybody says they keep going back and forth but I bet you’d feel even guiltier if you didn’t do what “they” said you needed to do during that time. If they change it again, it’s for a reason! So, I always put Finn on his back at night, every night until they tell me to switch, but he sure loves his side and on the boppy for naps. I guess they say side sleep is bad cause they could accidentally roll onto their stomach. So 2 no-nos. Wow…really, I promise I am trying to be a good Mom but I guess you just end up doing things if they “work.” So no more, boppy sleeping and no more sleeping on his side. Poor Finn he’s going to be sad, but it’s okay, cause at least he’ll be here with me and I can make him happy.

Crib or Grown up Bed:

Seriously, I know this is hard. Especially if you’re breastfeeding. It’s so tempting when you’re half asleep to just bring your little baby into the gown up bed. I mean…you’ll take even better care of your baby if they are closer to you right? Well, these parents thought it was perfectly safe but their little babies are no longer with them. So Sad!!! I am so thankful that he is still safe. I only brought Finn into our bed once for a nap because I was so tired. I didn’t even get to nap, because I was afraid something bad would happen. It’s just better to be safe! Put your baby in their crib or bassinet to sleep or nap, after all that’s why you got those things in the first place. Yes, the couch is also bad.

• Julian Jaamal Alexander
  Simon Jeffry Hunsberger
  Alexis Claire Martin
  James

Seriously, all of us Moms have to help each other out. Just read the sad stories and you’ll know that nothing is worth it. It’s always better to be safe than sorry. They all say they wished they could start over. Just do what you can to keep your child safe and if they are taken from us before we are ready, (I don’t think we’ll ever be “ready”) then at least we will not feel as guilty. Because we all know that we will be super hard on ourselves if anything were to happen, this will just help us feel more at peace and others will also know that we did our very very best.

So, to my family members, I’m sorry I didn’t really know I was putting our little Finn at risk everyday, but now I know and so he’ll be safer and I’ll sleep better knowing that I am not putting him at risk. But I must also put here that I know it’s not my will but The Lord’s will which will be done.

Oh and I don’t know the conference talks which talked about the babies but feel free to comment and let me know specifically which ones they were.

We never tire of looking at his little angel face. He has such a cute face and as he’s gotten older he’s been able to show more emotion. Not sure what I ever did to deserve my 2 favorite guys. It’s gonna take forever and a few more days to pay this all back. I better start yesterday!

Order pics of Finn here.

• I’m thankful for my eyes.
• I’m thankful for my working camera.
• I’m thankful for sunshine.
• I’m thankful for dreams.
• I’m thankful for a home.

Happy 3 Months! I love you more today than yesterday! (isn’t that a line in a song? It’s so true!) I can’t believe we’ve seen his little face and been with him now for 3 whole months. And we haven’t even gotten tired of looking at it. (Like we ever could.) Time flies! I remember way back (LOL feels so long ago, but my body doesn’t think so) when I was prego and we were just really anxious to see him, anxious to meet him, anxious to hold him. Now, we get to see him, hold him, snuggle him, kiss him, bathe him, talk to him, listen to him, dress him, change him, wipe him, watch him, stare at him, play with him, smile at him, laugh at him and just love him. It’s so wonderful! Sure…I loved those days when I could fold and hang up 1 load of laundry in 10 min or less. Who cares if it takes a couple days now, right? (Not even kidding) It’s soooo worth it. Soon, he’ll be able to help, but for now we’ll get to do all those other things with/for him and enjoy every bit of it all while the loads of laundry pile up on the floor. Hey, at least they’re clean!

Here’s a few pics of our cute little Finn. Oh and Yes! I finally planted something and it grew. (Probably, because Clark helped me.) We’re so proud of “my” Tulips! Because, after all they are mine cause he got them for me, but now we can all enjoy them.

Finn looks like a big kid, just chillin with Mom. He loved being outside for a total of 10 min. Oh, and there’s a pic of him in the middle of a sneeze. So cute! Bless you son.

I wonder what he’s thinking about. Any ideas?

Order pics of Finn here.

• I’m thankful for Jesus Christ.
• I’m thankful for my family.
• I’m thankful for a helpful husband.
• I’m thankful for flowers, especially Tulips.
• I’m thankful for a friends who make time.