America!

Apologies for the very long silence, Finn and I just got back from two weeks in America.  I didn't mention it because it was a surprise for my Dad's 60th birthday, which was loads of fun!
Overall it was an amazing trip that went perfectly.  In fact the only thing remotely amiss was the freak heat-wave (it got up to 88 degrees F, 31 degrees C!!) and Finn's growth spurt which combined meant that Finn didn't have much that fit and what fit was too warm... but all was ok after a bit of shopping and a few (pink hehehe) Caitlin hand-me-downs.  It was brilliant and I have loads to say, but I thought today I would hand the keyboard over to Finn...


Hello!  Mum has said I need to learn the art of gratitude from an early age.  So I want to write a thank you note because I had a really fun time visiting my Philips Family...

Dear Pea-Pa,
Thank you for turning 60 so I had an excuse to come and visit you!  I'm sorry I cried when everyone cheered - it was a bit loud!  But after that I was really happy to see you and all the other people at your party.  Thank you for letting me stay with you as well.  We did lots of fun things together!  Like playing piano and going to the park (my first swing! I loved it!)

Thanks for being so great, Pea-Pa.

Love, Finn


Dear Grandma,
We had so much fun together! So much so that Mummy often forgot to take pictures of it (or she was sleeping...).  But thank you for taking me so many places and playing so many games.  I'll miss seeing your smile in the mornings - it was a happy way to start the day!  Thank you also for carrying me around everywhere, I know I'm pretty heavy.

Love, Finn


Dear Great-Grandma and Great-Grandpa,
I'm so glad I got to see you so many times!  Thank you for thinking I'm something special - it makes me so happy.  Thank you also for letting me take a bath in your sink - I think it was one of my best baths ever!

Love, Finn


Dear Cousin Caitlin,
Thank you for sharing your clothes with me.  I'm not sure pink is my colour but my mum thought it was funny.  Thank you also for sharing your toys with me...

even when you weren't sure you wanted to...

I was happy to share with you too.  Things like my foot, or some funny stories...

I'm so so happy we got to spend so much time together. And what a difference 4 months makes!
Love, Finn


Dear Cousin Dakota,
Thank you for inviting me to your birthday!  I can't believe you are FOUR!  That's so old!

Thank you also for helping with bathtime.  I thought it was fun to share a sink with Caitlin and play with you.

Love, Finn


Dear Aunt Jaimie,
Thank you for coming to stay with me at Grandma and Pea-Pa's house!  And thank you especially for bringing my cousins!  I love them!  it must have been hard work for you but I thought it was a lot of fun.
Also, I think you are hilarious!

Thank you also for showing me the science museum - I especially loved the water area.

Love, Finn


Dear Aunt Casey,
Thank you so much for coming to stay as well!  I know it was a really long trip for you and you did it twice - that's incredible!  I'm so glad you did though, I think you're pretty cool.  Thank you especially for showing me so many cool things...

Love, Finn


Dear Muncle Matthew,
You didn't go on your holiday so you could spend time at home as well - that made me so happy!  Thank you for that.  And thank you for letting me try your motorcycle!

I felt like such a dude!

Until they let Caitlin drive...

Love, Finn


I had such an amazing time hanging out with everyone and am so thankful that we all got to be there at once.  I think we made quite a mess in the crowded house, but it was so worth it and I know Mum thought it was an incredible thing having all her family in one place.
Thank you to everyone for such fun times...

Sorry for the splashing!

I really loved it.

and I love you all!  See you again soon!

Lots and lots of love,
Finn

5 months old!

Apologies for going over a week with no update or pictures or anything.  There's been a stomach bug making the rounds and both James and I have not been too well the past few days.  Seem to be over the worst of it now, though still scared to try something other than toast and oatmeal... In related news, here are some things that I have learnt:
1) taking care of a baby when you are not feeling well is awful
2) as much as you think it will make you feel better, mulligatawny soup is a BAD idea and will make everything worse
3) there's nothing quite like being laughed at while you're puking... even if it is a baby doing the laughing

While I'm on the subject, I thought I would have a quick British translation lesson for my American friends.
One of my favourite UK-isms is the word "sick" because it holds an interesting place in language here.  In the UK (unlike in the US, for my UK readers) you don't really say "I am sick."  Instead it is I am unwell, ill, or (my favourite) poorly.  (side note: I LOVE the term poorly.  It's just such a nice word!).
That's because the word 'sick' is reserved for the actual act of "being sick" ie: puking.  It is far too crass to say "I just puked" and still slightly too impolite to mention 'vomiting.' And don't go anywhere near 'spewing' in polite society.  Instead, you 'were sick.'  As in:
'You don't look too well - are you poorly?'
'Yes, I must have eaten something funny'
'Oh no! Were you sick?'
'Five times!'

Which is why I find it so linguistically interesting.  You can never say "I am sick" because it just doesn't make sense.  It is always either "I was sick (in your pool)" or "I'm going to be sick (after seeing you dance)" or if, for some odd reason you are actually currently in the present process, I suppose "I am being sick (at this bluugh exact arrrrglle moment uuwwwwuh)" is ok.
But it gets weirder:
The word is also used as the noun.  In the same way that you vomit vomit, you are sick with sick.  So you can unknowingly have "sick on your shirt" or "careful! don't step in the sick."

I find it all a bit odd.

BUT ANYWAY!
Back to the task at hand.
"I don't care anymore!" I hear you shout.
"Give me a picture of Finn!  Now!"

alright, alright, already.
March 2nd meant that Finn turned 5 months old!  Here's his new picture (it's not the best because I was really not in the mood for picture taking on March 2nd - but I hope that's forgivable) next to his old one.

4 months old

5 months old

Other updates you might care to know about:

• He now weighs 16 lbs 8 oz
• He's still sleeping like a demon child
• He's still screeching all day long like he's in need of an exorcism
• He's been to the swimming pool and loved it
• He can now get his feet into his mouth (as long as he doesn't have a nappy on)
• He's discovered his penis and likes to grab a hold of it and pull when he's being changed (is this normal!? It looks so painful!)
• He still hasn't figured out that last millimetre of push needed to roll over (he gets soooo close) from his back to front
• What little hair he has is still of an indeterminate colour
• His eyes are most definitely blue (like James) 

Can't think of anything else really... and I wish I had more pictures to share... but this week has been blurred by a haze of sick (ewww!) so there's not much.  I will leave you with a couple that I put up on facebook though, because they're funny.  If you're on facebook, they're worth seeing again and if you're not, enjoy them for the first time. 
The first one I just think is really funny and the second is James' idea of a "good outfit" because it "all matches" ...

Bring me an espresso! I've got a lot of not sleeping to do!

Finn, the baby barcode