Beach Baby

Hello everyone!
Firstly, apologies for letting a whole week go by without putting up the brilliant pictures that I promised (it's been even longer since I started this post!  Sorry!).  It's been one of those weeks that feels so so busy and then you look back and can't understand why because nothing seemed to get done... I did put some pictures up on facebook though, and I'm going to try not to duplicate them here - but if you haven't seen my facebook album, you can link to it here after you read the blog for just a few more pics: Antigua Album


But anyway!  Antigua!  The beach!  Finn in a bathing suit (or swimming costume as it's called here)!

Before I get to the pictures, I will just say that it was a fantastic trip.  It was very hot and humid but so lovely to get to hang out with so much of James' family.  And I really liked the beach and our little paradise - except for the sand.  Sand is... well... I best not put into words how I felt about sand by the end of the trip... this is a family blog after all.  Finn likes it though:

So what did we get up to?
Well Finn handled the flights well, as always.  It's a bit harder now that he wants to be rolling about but we were able to distract/entertain for the most part without any meltdowns.

And the overnight flight back he actually slept!  I don't know how, with the time difference and everything - but it meant that he was a lot less jet-lagged on return as James and I were! He was certainly on the wrong time when we got there though - so James and I (and then just James while I slept) got to see lots of Caribbean sunrises!

Finn loved all things to do with the water, splashing especially.  

The heat meant that he slept a LOT (which I was totally ok with)... so here are a series of pictures of Finn asleep in different places...

There were lots of fun activities to do like sailing, kayaking, ping pong etc. These two pictures are of Oliver and I in a kayak.

And we all had fun, even when it rained. Here are Finn's cousins having a blast.  Including Cousin Jake who I hear is a big fan of the blog!  Hi Jake!

And when it did rain, it was a very quick downpour that dumped loads of water and then was done.  This was no big deal - you were usually already wet, and the rain was lovely and cooling.  There was only once that it was a problem...

Most of the restaurants there were open air at the sides with a roof over top, including the tiered place where the wedding reception was held.  During dinner, Finn fell asleep so we laid him down on some towels on the next tier down (so he was away from the noise but we could keep him in view while we ate).  About 30 minutes later the skies opened up with a torrential downpour - at which point we realised that the lower tier was NOT under a roof.  You've never seen two people leap from a table faster.  We ran to get him but by the time we got to him he was a) awake b) wet and c) ANGRY.  He calmed down very quickly but was not about to fall asleep again.  And obviously word got round the reception (as you would expect when two people run out at the first sound of rain) that we were the couple who left the baby in the rain.  OOOOOOOPS :)

We took a trip out to see a bit more of Antigua than the resort - it was pretty cool (though, again, very hot!).

And of course there was the wedding which was gorgeous! As were all of us :)

It was also my birthday, and James gave me an amazing present.  Remember my old blog Bump and Beyond ? Well James spent ages copying, pasting, formatting, adjusting etc and had it printed out in a book!  It's incredible!  I love holding it - it may be the only copy but it makes me feel like a proper published author :) I love the internet and all, but there's something very satisfying about holding all your words in your hand in the form of a hefty hardcover. And over the holiday I re-read the whole thing.  I haven't looked back on it much since Finn was born so it was really interesting to go through it all again.  Anyway, it is fantastic and I will treasure it for a long time.  Here're a few pics:

I think that's all the description of the trip... but there are still a few pictures of Finn that I LOVE.  So I'll just stick them all here if that's alright.  And if you want more, don't forget to have a look at the album link above.

7 months old!

As of May 2nd, Finn is now 7 months old!
So I thought it was time for a general update post.

Firstly, here is his new picture next to last month's. Every month I take the picture I don't think he's changed that much. And then I see them side-by-side and I'm amazed. So here they are:

6 months old

7 months old

He currently weighs:
8.5 kilos
or 18 lbs 11 oz
or 1 stone 4 lbs
depending on your preference.
I simply go with 'heavy'
as always this is smack bang on the line for 50th percentile.

His length has caught up a bit and levelled out to 67.5 cm (26.5 inches) which is 25th percentile.  Most importantly, he now looks a lot more in proportion.
Here he is in the new 'formal wear' I made for him:

He rolls all over the place and is getting very good at getting where he wants to go, sometimes by 'creeping' (which I'm told is the official term for being on your tummy and using your arms to turn/pull/otherwise move about... I think it's a funny term though!).  Usually this is used to get himself into places he shouldn't be...

He can also (finally!) sit up unsupported.. though he does still need you (or pillows) right next to him as he's very unsteady....

(This is him in an AWFUL hat that I made for him, but that James seems to like making him wear... probably just to make me cringe in shame... but the "things-I've-made" post, fails and otherwise, is for another time...)

What else?
He's got 3 teeth fully now and his 4th is S.L.O.W.L.Y. making it's way through - just in time for our transatlantic flight on Saturday. Fun.
I'm loving his current snaggle-tooth look though - hilarious.

His eyes are still beautifully blue, and his hair is sometimes dark, sometimes blond and sometimes red

(and his grin is still cheeky and infectious!)

I should explain all the naked shots... something he ate gave him a nasty nappy rash so we cranked the heat up and spent a couple days keeping Finn naked/nappy-free as much as possible.  Had to wash a few blankets/scrub some carpet spots but the rash disappeared super quick.

So what does he like and what does he like to do?
Well he obviously still loves 'his' bowl... it's definitely HIS bowl now.
He also loves things that make noise.  He's got a piano thing that I should get a video of him playing with because it's quite cute. He can also listen to James play guitar for ages, though every now and then he wants to have a go himself.  And the radio is a winner. But really anything that makes noise is fun.

 I think this is also why he loves the laptop so much.  If I'm trying to get something done, I will play him a music video on youtube and he will watch that while I'm working... most of the time... sometimes his 'Baby Smash' mode kicks in.

He also really likes STUFF.  He loves to hold new things and look at them.  Currently he's gotten into seeing what happens when you play with two things at once - bang one against the other etc.  Or, he likes to get a toy then roll under the coffee table and scrape it along the underside to see what noise it makes.  So we've got a box of "stuff" for him that we will scatter around the living room and he rolls around and sees what he can find.  He loves it because it's fun and I love it because it is SO easy!

SIDE NOTE: I just realised how many of these pictures are Finn in his pajamas!  That's because we take a lot of pictures in natural light and that happens to be best in the morning... just thought I would clarify and reassure that Finn does have real clothes that he wears... sometimes... when I can be bothered... :)


That's all I can really think of at the moment... give me a comment if I've forgotten something.  I haven't mentioned sleep because that's a WHOLE other post!

I guess I'll finish with my current two favourite things that he does -
1) when he's eating something he enjoys he wiggles his feet up and down
2) he laughs at himself after he burps

We're all off to Antigua ( www.antigua-barbuda.org ) for an exciting beach holiday on Saturday so you won't hear from me for a little over a week - but when we get back I will have LOADS of pictures to share, I'm sure - including Finn in his brand new fantastic swimsuit :o)

Till then!

Bonus video!

My sister just gave me this brilliant video of Finn and his cousins in the pool. It's from when we were in America and it was so hot (in March!!!) that we had bathtime outside. They loved it and Finn loved splashing!! Enjoy:

And while I'm on the subject of my sister and her kids, let me share this story she told me from her oldest (at 4) daughter, Dakota:

Today Dakota was eating chicken nuggets in the car and after a few minutes of quiet munching she shouts out...Cori! Cori is Finn's mommy right? We said yes and then tried to question why she thought of you. She said chicken nuggets. I asked if it made her think of eating chicken nuggets while you were here. She replied, "Nooo" like it was the most ridiculous question ever...and then followed up with, "I bited my chicken nuggets and then it just looked like Cori!". I laughed for quite a while, and it still makes me chuckle to think about it.
Just thought you would want to know your niece was thinking of you today

That just makes me laugh a lot and I don't think it will EVER get old!

Focused Finn, Happy Finn, Grumpy Finn, Sad Finn

As I was looking back over the pictures from the past couple of posts (yeah, I do that... even with Finn in front of me I like to look at pictures of him... sad, I know) I noticed that he's not really smiling in most of them.  It gives the impression that he is a very serious baby.

This is NOT true!  He is an ornery, happy, laughy baby... the thing is, when he's concentrating or trying something new, he gets this very serious "focus face."  And, often, we think to take pictures when he's concentrating and trying something new.  So you see the problem in representation!  So this blog will redress that balance with lots of what Finn looks like most of the day (I actually specifically kept the camera out to get some "normal day" shots).

But FIRST! Some more focus face for you - to show you how good he's getting at his new skills!  He's always a bit behind on his gross motor skills - so he still can't sit up on his own or anything - but he's very very in control of his hands.  Here are some videos of us giving him some weird things for him to explore.  It may not look too impressive, but trust me that his hand control is above and beyond :o)




He also is a big fan of playing with the computer. My Mom gave me a link to something called 'Baby Smash' which is a program that locks your computer from any harm being done and instead every key reads out a letter or a shape. Finn LOVES it - which means he can be entertained easily, but also that he thinks he can bang on my laptop whenever he wants... not sure how I feel about that, but here's him having a go:



So that's Focus-Face-Finn.
And as promised here is some happy Finn!

He likes being scared...

And is quite ticklish...


And, just for good measure, here's him laughing in the swing in America...


So he is happy most of the time, but he can also get himself into some proper grumps - particularly if you do something he doesn't want you to do...
This is a video of him rolling, the one major skill that he CAN do.  He can roll over all different directions.  And uses this to get into all sorts of trouble and move into exactly the place I don't want him to go to.  But if you try and make him do it on camera by taking away one of his favourite toys (the amazingly high tech plastic bowl) he gets a bit grumpy....




But what about sad Finn?  Well, we obviously don't often take pictures and videos when he's unhappy.  But I do have one - this is a video of him crying in his sleep.  I don't know what he was dreaming about but it was certainly unhappy!
Please ignore my frizzy hair by the way - it was early in the morning.  Please also ignore my convulsions as I try very very hard not to laugh.  It shouldn't have been funny, but it really was!

Food... part 2

I take it all back.

I don't care how much he likes it, Finn doesn't get any more solid food until he is either
a) potty-trained
or
b) able to change his own nappy


Solid food nappies are disgusting.
Especially since the change has resulted in Finn not pooing for a couple days and then having one enormous, squeezing out every gap, gut-wrenchingly gross, stink out the building, head for the hills poo.

The other day it was so bad I had to turn the shower on and take him in to undress him... then wash the poo off him... then wash the poo off me... then wash the poo off his clothes... then wash the poo off the bathtub.



It was traumatic.  I think I'm scarred for life.

Food, glorious food (6 months old)

April 2nd meant that Finn turned 6 months old!  That's half a year!!  So here is his monthly comparison picture:

5 months old

6 months old

As you might be able to tell he has gotten bigger!  By bigger I mostly mean fatter - he's gaining weight steadily but his length isn't keeping pace.  I think there might be some errors in measurement though because he's supposedly a centimetre shorter than he was two months ago... so either he is shrinking or he was measured wrong.  But this month's (possibly wrong) measurement has him on the 9th percentile for length - a big drop from the 91st percentile measurement of two months ago (which was probably also wrong) and not close to the 75th percentile of his birth and 2 month check (which he held a lot stiller for so I'm going to assume were correct.  Anyway, I stood him up next to another 6 month old baby and they weren't drastically different so I'm going to wait to worry until his next month's measurements to see what is going on...
But his weight is always textbook 50th percentile, right on the line, exactly where he should be, gaining about a pound a month.
Which puts him currently at 17 lbs 9 oz!
This is exactly 10 lbs over his birth weight - which I find amazing seeing as he has had nothing but breastmilk since he was born (what's in that stuff!?)...
until NOW!

The biggest update is that Finn now eats food!
It used to be that you were told to start babies on solids at 4 months.  But in 2003 the World Health Organisation  found that it was healthier to wait until 6 months and the official UK and US recommended age changed accordingly.  Health issues aside, one of the bonuses of waiting until 6 months is that this is also the age when babies are developing the dexterity to bring things to their mouth - meaning they can feed themselves!  Here this is called Baby Led Weaning. Weaning has a different meaning in the UK, here it just means adding solids, not dropping milk feeds. The Baby Led bit is just that - you let the baby decide what they want to eat and how much.  I won't get into all the details here - so if you're curious to know more, have a look at the wikipedia page ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baby-led_weaning ) which is quite good or this person's site ( http://www.babyledweaning.com/ ) which has some great pictures.
Basically the idea behind baby led weaning is as follows:
1) the baby is in charge of what/how much they eat
2) they eat the same thing as everyone else, just in sizes that are easier for them to hold (and without salt)
3) you don't put anything into their mouth for them (we cheat on this a bit - if what we're having is really liquidy, like soup, we help him out... but if it's a bit stickier, like humus, we put it on a spoon and let him put the spoon in his mouth)

There are, of course, other options for weaning but this one seemed to fit best with us and so far it has been going very well.
By very well, I mean very VERY well.

Finn.
Loves.
Food.

At first I think he just liked the fun of putting things in his mouth.  But now (a few weeks into it) he is definitely chewing and swallowing and will show a preference for some foods over others. When we put they tray on his chair he gets very excited.  The only problem is that it can be MESSY! so we have taken to eating in the kitchen because it has the easiest to clean floor.  It's a bit odd, the three of us sitting on the kitchen floor munching our food - but it's quite fun as well.  It really feels like family time and Finn is doing his own thing with us rather than us doing things for him.
So obviously I am now going to do the trademark first-time-parent thing of presenting you all with the glorious Lots of Pictures of the Exact Same Thing!

The first thing Finn ate was broccoli.  Weeeell - to be more precise my parents actually gave him a strawberry and some watermelon first... but that doesn't count because it wasn't 'official' lets-sit-down-and-eat time.  To be fair, I gave him food in that way too... and the first broccoli he had was at a restaurant where he wouldn't stop trying to grab my food so I gave him broccoli to gnaw on... again, we're going to say that doesn't count :)

So we sit Finn down, give him broccoli, and he LOOOOOOVES it.  And loves that we're finally letting him do what he's wanted to do for ages.... but we're so intent on the "OMG look at him eat!" thing that we forgot to take pictures until the end and the lighting etc is awful... (almost all the pics from our kitchen are like that... sorry) but here's his first food and the outcome

He now eats loads of different things...
Cucumber

Broccoli

Melon

Avocado... Oranges

Hummus (sometimes he's better with the spoon than others...)

No matter what, eating gets him very excited

It's also worth noting that his first impressions don't mean anything long term.  He loves tomatoes now.  But here is the saga of his first one...

It was quite funny I think you'll agree!!
But as I mentioned, he now LOVES tomatoes.
So what does he like? What doesn't he?
WELL -
Loves: carrots, cucumber, tomato, beef, turkey, hummus, melon, rice cakes, pea soup
Likes: chicken, pork, parsnips, pears, butternut squash, broccoli, apple, banana, toast, oranges, avocado
Doesn't like: mashed potatoes, stuffing, scrambled eggs, turnips

That's all I can think of at the moment - quite a range already and I can't wait to continue to watch him explore more!

And on that note - it's dinnertime!