Our Favorite Christmas Present...

Merry Christmas!

What a year it has been! We welcomed our little Finn into the world in March and have had the most challenging and yet the most joyful times since. All of it has made us even more grateful for our wonderful family and friends. We are so lucky to have each and every one of you in our lives!

Have a great holiday season!

Wayne, Sarah and Finn

Fun around the house

Checking out the mobile in his crib. Aren't the overalls cute? :)

We recently bought a new humidifier for Finn's bedroom. Apparently it tastes good.

Trying on one of Daddy's Irish hats...

...and one that is more Finn-sized. :)

Wearing a cool new Star Wars shirt from Grandma Bette!

Food time and fun time

A few recent photos from mealtime and afterwards...

Finn practicing using a spoon. So far I only give it to him when there is no food on it. :)

He seems to be getting the idea that you smile when the camera comes out (at least sometimes!). Here is one of many Finn smiling pics I took that day. The best part was that each time I showed him his picture in the camera he smiled at himself. :)

More self-feeding practice---Finn's first teething biscuit! He was one messy little boy when he was done, but he seemed to enjoy it!

And last but not least....I had run out of the room for a minute to go do something, and when I got back Finn was reading a magazine. What a bright little boy we have!

For the record, he really did get into that position on his own---there was no mommy-directed posing involved. And in case you were wondering, he was looking at a picture of John Lennon in People magazine. :)

Eight months old!

Finn is eight months old today! My, how time flies!

Smiling cute for mommy

Sitting on a bigger-than-Finn doggy

Finn and Daddy in their matching Sunday morning t-shirts and sweats

Cooler weather...

Finn shows off his cool fall vest and hat. He's looking more and more like a little boy and less like a baby every day!

Happy Halloween!

Finn was pretty excited about his first Halloween and so he decided to dress up as a cute little cow baby. I bet all of the kids at daycare were jealous of his cool costume!

A slightly blurry picture with a little pumpkin Mommy bought for her little pumpkin.

Full body shot. Finn looks excited.

Oh, those eyes!

Smiley little moo cow! :)

More sitting practice...

Still a folding in half a little, and not so thrilled to have his picture taken, but doesn't he look cute in his little boy clothes? :)

Now he's smiling for the camera!

Apparently he doesn't like to sit back in his rocking chair anymore---he's a big boy now!

A cute perspective picture---our little boy and his jungle play gym. :)

Fall Fun at the Pumpkin Patch

Finn and Mommy took a trip to a local pumpkin patch with Finn's girlfriend Ali, Ali's Mommy Jamie, and family friend (and Ali's Auntie!) Catharine. What a gorgeous fall day we had for some pumpkin-finding fun!

Ali sits nicely checking out the pumpkin, while Finn was more interested in the pumpkin vines and dirt. The differences between boys and girls are already becoming clear...

Playing with the pumpkin vine...

...pausing long enough to look at Mommy and the camera...

...and then deciding the vines are more fun (and tastey!). Yum!

A Mommy/Finn moment (after Mommy cleaned the dirt off of Finn's mouth!). :)

Sitting up!

Finn has recently been sitting up all by himself! Here he is practicing.

(Yes, I know the chair is helping him here, but he really can do it on his own too. More pics to come!)

Sitting up is fun!

Why is there a doggie on my head?

(Mommy and Daddy were having fun one tired morning after a sleepless night.) :)

Vegetables!

Our first day with carrots. Finn's not looking too thrilled.

A mommy's-eye-view of the deliciousness Finn gets to eat.
Day 2 or 3....and still not liking it very much! Auntie Melissa used to make this same face when she tasted wine! :)

As an exciting side note, Finn is starting to get his second tooth this week! The first one started coming in 2 weeks ago and is still working its way up, while the second just broke through yesterday. And they're darn sharp!

"Solid" food!

Finn had his first taste of solid food this weekend! And by solid, we mean a tiny bit of rice cereal mixed in with a whole lot of formula. But still.....we think he liked it! Our little boy is growing up! :)

More bath time fun!

He's going to hate us for posting this one someday... :)

Beers, baths, and bed

Trying to steal a drink from Daddy's beer

"Mom, why are you taking my picture in the bathtub??"

Our little boy sleeping in his hammock

5 and a half months!

Trying on a baby cowboy hat at Babies 'R Us.

Sitting in Grandpa Bill's fancy car at the Manitowoc car show.


Smiling during tummy time??

...and creeping toward the camera...

Concentrating hard on a cool new toy from Grandma Connie.

More play time

Wrapping paper is fun---who needs real toys? :)

Bath time and play time

A Mommy/Finn post-bath cuddle

A very tired little boy :)

Snuggling with his lamb

Smiling on his playmat

Who needs toys when you have feet?