15 Month Update

Dear FIN,

On Friday last, you turned 15 months. Again, asking myself, where did the time go?! I took you to the doctor yesterday for your 15 month appointment, and I ended up lying to you - I seriously didn't know you had to get a shot. Be forewarned, you'll get 2 shots at 18 months. Your stats are:

Height: 32.5 inches - 90th percentile

Weight: 27.1 lbs - 80th percentile

Head circum.: 80th percentile

This month you have become more calm, yet more busy... if that is possible. You are predictable in what trouble you like to get into, but you are more intense with your play time. You will play with something for a half hour straight. You still are not interested in TV, which I guess is a good thing. For Christmas, Santa brought you a Jack in the Box, some puzzles, and a connector lego set. All in all it was a great Christmas. Grandpa Dahlke made you a toy box with your name on it, and the back folds down into a desk. You LOVE it! You love to sit on it properly and bang on the toy key board. Here you are on the box and with Grandpa.

Love your mama.

14 Months plus

Dear FIN,
I'm getting a late start on celebrating your 14 month mark. Its not because I haven't thought about it, I think about you every second of every day, but lets face it, this isn't about me, this is about you. You keep me very busy, as well as work these days, so I'm just now, a week and a half late getting to typing out your 14 month update.
You have started running, not metaphorically, seriously running. I got you a membership to the Betty Brinn children's museum - or indoor park, as I call it. You are a mad man there. Even though it might as well be called a giant bouncy room, you still managed to trip, fall, and get a nice scraped up cheek. The same cheek that you scraped up a week earlier when visiting your Aunt Sara & Uncle Henry in Phoenix. I should also tell you that you made your first trip to Las Vegas. You lost money. But you made friends, so its a lose/win, which in the end balances out.
I'm told by Leanie at Daycare, you can sign for more, and sign all done. You also like to play with playdough, but I'm not brave enough to have you play with that at home, mostly because either the dog or your dad might end up eating it.
You are still hanging out with 6 teeth, you swing your arms... a lot, and you are starting to understand the word "no", however, that doesn't mean you stop going after what you want that has a "no" attached to it. Good thing Leanie takes pictures of you, because I haven't been good at doing so. Here is a picture of you outside in the snow. You are so tall. My heart continues to grow with you. I love you baby.
Love your mama.

A line to remember

Just heard at Target:
little girl: "Mom, I want a credit card"
Mom: "You don't need a credit card at age 4".

Future replica of grandpa

We have taken FIN to the children's museum, Betty Brinn a few times. Its more of an indoor mad house where kids can touch, play with, destroy, lick all the things that they are usually told not to, when they are adult size. This place has all kinds of stuff, kid sized. Here is a picture of FIN next to a Snap-on tool box, just like the one his grandpa has. It is so much fun to watch him go nuts at this park. He can go on slides, push around lawn mowers, and bang on crap as loud as he wants. And guess what, he didn't cry once. He was having too much fun! Nope, it wasn't my baby running around with a snotty nose crying, with gum stuck in their hair. First of all, he doesn't have that much hair, and secondly, he needed somewhere to put his gum.

We know who really has it together in this family

This photo was taken on Oct 19 (I remember because its the mama's birthday), and for those of you who understand my logic, I also remember what I wore on my birthday... so I digress. I think of any picture we try to get as a family, there takes some preparation, perspiration, and alcohol. Seems the dog was sitting there pose ready, while the rest of us got our act together. It wouldn't have occurred to me to re-look at this picture, but Francisco did, and said it depicts us well - me trying to keep FINs head on, Francisco making him sit up, and the dog telling us to get our stuff together.

Its Official

My baby is walking.

13 Months

Dear FIN,
You made it to 13 months, and I would've been able to say, "you made it this far completely content with crawling" but yesterday, on your 13 month milestone, you busted out the walking like a mad man. Its like you just got it in your head that you wanted to walk. And you worked really hard at it too. You still like to crawl around, but you definately split your time between crawling, and sending me and your dad into a frenzy baby proofing everything.
I spend a lot of time trying to figure out your next move, but as usual, you are one step ahead of me. You have been eating really well, and just when I think i'm making your favorite meal, you decide that you hate it and toss it on the floor. Which brings me to the next point, Winston is plain ol' getting fat. If we reduce his dog food intake, I'm pretty sure you'd sense it and feed him everything on your plate. You love Winston... most of the time... when you realize he is there. You play so hard with everything, and are so inquisitive on how things work. I just wonder what you are analyzing in that sweet head of yours.This has been a fun month. Just this morning your dad remarked at how some people think that age one is worse than the terrible 2's. Where I like to think, I enjoy everything with you, every day. I like how you just lay on your back and hold a toy above you and just stare at it, for 2 minutes. Its 2 minutes of not chasing you. 

I know you will continue to grow wickedly fast... I take great pleasure in holding and squeezing you when I can - mostly against your will, but its my will against yours to keep you my baby as long as possible.
love - mama.

A day at the park

Daddy said the light was perfect. So we posed.

Baby you can drive my car... round and round and backwards

Once again FIN, here you go proving that day care is way awesome! You get to drive a car without a proper license. I doubt your passport will get you out of a ticket. However, if a cop sees you maneuver a car like you do in this video, he might just let you off with a warning... mostly because he'll be too dizzy from watching you spin round and round to want to write out a ticket.

12 month stats

weight: 26 lbs 3 oz - 90%
height: 31 inches - 90%
Got MMR, Flu, Chicken pox, Hepatitis vaccines.
**the same height and weight at 15 months, drops him to the 50 percentile.

12 Months - A Successful First Birthday

Dear FIN -
You did it! Ok, we did it! We got you to the 1 year mark alive! I didn't have much doubt in my mind, but by the scream you let out at the hotel room over the weekend when you hit your head, one would've questioned "did we screw up big time?!". So for your birthday, me, you, and your dad went to Blue Harbor Resort in Sheboygan that has an indoor water park. What better fun than to take you to a water park to play in a big pool - you love the water. Except since you still haven't grasped the switcheroo from crawling to walking, they don't let little critters like you do too much except be held by your parents in the water. But we rented the humungo room with lots of room for you to push your stroller around, and get really frustrated when it doesn't go your way. The giant bed was all kinds of fun to play on till you, me, your dad missed that little gap in between the bed and foot board, and your hand went down the crack, and you bumped the side of your head. So much for a non-crying all kinds of non-stop fun birthday - atleast you are still too young to scream at me "Why did you take me to the polka capital for my birthday? I hate you guys".
For your birthday party, I made a bunch of cup cakes, and let you eat an entire one. Lets just say, you will never be allowed to eat sugar again. You got plenty of presents, of course you liked the boxes the best. You had a lot of people show up to support you (us too). I sang you happy birthday, held the cupcake in front of you with a lit candle - mostly a bad idea, but no fires ensued - and even though no one could tell, I fought back some tears as I sang to you - and no, its not because I can't totally carry a tune - I can't believe you are one already.
I love you baby.
-your mama

Halloween in September

Sorry FIN, I am that mom that makes your Halloween costumes. I have to say, I'm rather proud of myself for this costume. Up until now, I just made quilts - I'm more proud of this outfit than I am of my quilts - mostly because you left it on your body for a whole 5 minutes. I can't even say you'll cuddle in a quilt for that long. But I made this 100% on my own. OK, I'm done talking about how awesome I am and will move on to you. Look how cute you are in this costume I made you :-)

I was going to dress you up as a cowboy, and then borrow Karmen, the neighbor's Grey Hound/Golden Retriever mix (big dog) and put a fake saddle on her, but since you don't walk yet, you are much more believable as a monkey - some could argue - what we've evolved from. Oh yeah, I'd so put one of those Darwinian symbols on the mini-van, but then I would be marring the general beauty of the Odyssey (in the list of things I've learned from my dad - don't stick things to your vehicle).

Well baby boy - now its up to you to attempt to walk by Halloween. Less than 3 days until you turn 1. Then I can start telling you about the day of your birth on every birthday - how daddy went out for dinner while mommy was in labor and didn't bother bringing her back that martini he promised. In other words, life can be full of disappointment... Unless you take those lemons and mix them with tequilla - i'll teach you about that in a few more years.

I love you baby boy.

-mama

The voices in my head

Growing up, my mom used to say some remarkable statements that stick with me today. One of them comes to mind when I see these pictures taken over the weekend of FIN eating breakfast. I look at him and just think, my baby my baby my baby - except I hear Pam's voice to the statement. Yes, he is as sweet as these pictures make him out to be. I'm sure my mother would be proud to know that I wasn't going to say "Goddammit Becky", oddly enough, I hear my dad's voice with that remark.

So Big (take 2)

Yeah, so we always have the camera handy when FIN is eating. Here FIN is demonstrating, yet again, how big he is. Maybe because he knows the good stuff he is eating is making him grow - or more importantly, he is such a big boy, he is growing 4 of his upper teeth at teh same time. Poor buddy. I'll remind him one day about that night (Sunday to be precise) when he screamed bloody murder for 20 minutes for what seemed to us, no reason. The next morning, I noticed his very swollen gums and 4 pockets in his mouth. My big strong boy!

Poser

This past weekend FINs auntie Ana Nunez became Ana Argueta. It was a packed weekend of festivities and family. FIN got to meet the ENTIRE Nunez clan - "hola everyone in Mexico - it was great to see you all again and for Francisco Isaac to finally meet you" - five bucks to the first person that leaves a comment and translates that into spanish for me!
So FIN has always loved to get his picture taken. Who knew that he even understands what the heck a camera is. All I had to do to get this picture, was take out a camera.

11 Months and counting

Fin-e,

So you are closing in the big 1st birthday. This went so damn fast! You turned 11 months yesterday, and we celebrated as usual, got a babysitter, and me and your dad went out drinking. Ok, so we didn't. You dad is working hard in Philly, and I had an appointment to get a hair cut, so your auntie Jess came over to watch you for 2 hours. Then we gave auntie Jess and you a treat - PIZZA.

This month you learned to LOVE pizza. I had no idea until one night I sat down with a slice and you came barreling towards me, stood up, and put your hand smack down on top of the piece of pizza. It was a proud moment. You are also learning to feed yourself more. Anytime I go to feed you with a spoon, I have to have 2 spoons out. One that you play with and fling food with, and one with that I actually get food into your mouth.

You are starting to make some sounds that are close to words. Just this morning, you said "Done", to tell me you were done with breakfast. I wasn't sure I really heard what I thought I heard, but you pushed your tray away after you said it, so you really did say it. And last night you said "Up" to Jess and raised your arms to be picked up.

Another thing that you do is you make car noises when you play with your toy car. You make a car out of everything - shoes, water bottles, the dogs toys. Bottom line is, you are so smart. You absolutely melt my heart. I continue to believe I am the luckiest mom alive.

Did I mention how quick you are and how you don't like to sit still? Here are some pictures I took trying to get you to hold still.

I love you baby boy.

-mama

I'm not ready for him to be vertical

The lovely daycare lady, Leenie sent me this video of him walking. He was just this little guy not so long ago, and here he is freaking walking already. Its not right.

Raging Saturday night

So the other night we had dinner w/ the newly married Wes and Jess. They busted out the brand new china, not new everday ware, but china for a delicious meal of home prepared indian tikka masala, and veggie curry. The video doesn't encapsulate the full couple minutes of Wes making FIN laugh, but you get the general idea. Wes (aka FINs manny - but we decided it wasn't a great use of his Ph.D.) was blowing on the back of FINs neck, and he'd laugh hysterically. But then FIN started to anticipate what was going to happen and would just buckle at the knees and start laughing more. I know Jess got a better video, so if I get that from her, i'll replace this one taken with my cell phone.

Dinner was followed-up by dessert, prepared ala Becky style, Kopps custard, flavors of the day, Baihly's Irish Cream Coffee and Chocolate chip cookie dough. We are so happy for Wes and Jess - Congrats guys. Cheers to a long happy life together.

FIN UPDATE -

He is finally taking naps without me having to rock him. We had such a fantastic weekend with him. He's always been wonderful, but we are hitting an period that I am in love with. He isn't quite walking yet, but he is working so hard at it. He is also playing very hard. He plays by himself and with others. Its amazing to watch him turn anything into a toy vehicle. I don't know if he knows what a vehicle is, but this morning I caught him making motor noises to a water bottle and then, with Francisco's shoe. Its great.

He is getting over the flu that he had a week ago. He is starting to eat more foods by himself, and he is even sleeping better. I am so lucky I get to brag about my family and friends.

A moment I'll always remember

Ok, so most of you may not appreciate this - whoever most of you are (i'm finding there are always people lurking and finding me - with random parenting advice - you know who you are), but for those of you who are of sound mind - either pharmaceutically enhanced or not, whatever, I don't judge, you may appreciate why this means so much to me. In the past 2 months, to change FIN, I believe it should be submitted as an olympic sport, its quite a task. The little bugger squirms and slaps the wall, grabs the dirty diaper before I do, I'm sweating a little by the time I'm done. He crawls faster than the dog walks to a full bowl of dog food - and the dog is usually pretty hungry. In the moments of quiet, I find FIN just looking and taking in his surroundings. This is a fine example of FINs discovery of a new room. We didn't get his clothes back on after a diaper change - but thats ok, this picture makes my heart melt.
Don't even think of posting a comment about using disposable vs. cloth diapers here - or I'll mail you a used one of FINs :-)

WEEEEEE!

The simple pleasures. As of about 2 weeks ago, he stopped doing his SO BIG game, and instead, he just cuts to the chase and cheers himself on by clapping.

Generations

J. Francisco Nunez IV and Francisco Isaac Nunez VI. Though he didn't say it, I think he really enjoyed this moment with his grandson. (Taken 8/2/08)

10 Months Old

Yesterday, my beloved FIN turned 10 months old. We celebrated mostly by saying, "hey, guess who's 10 months old today?!", then we gave him his first beer. You'd agree with our logic, I mean after all, he IS SO BIG!

Dear FIN,

Every month I say to myself, I can't believe you are x number of months old. I try to put it into perspective with different analogies:

1. You are as old as the number of months I carried you
2. You are older than the amount of time spent in a school grade

This past month was a big month for you. You learn things so fast now - I tell ya, you figured out how to grow that first tooth, and then there ya go and grew another right away. You learned how to clap, wave goodbye, and hello, and can play the "So Big" game. I'm pretty sure you say "hi" and "what", but that's up to interpretation of anyone else that hears you say it... so I'll just include that in your list of 10 month leaps and bounds. You finally figured out how to do the pincher grab with your first finger and thumb, though you still have an interesting way to put cereal in your mouth. You will wrap your pointer finger around a piece of Kix cereal, and then roll it up and down your face till it lands in your mouth.

The new game that the dog has learned, is that as soon as you wake up, means that he can eat - and let me tell you, fatty is hungry. He shouldn't be since you also figured out that if you drop your food on the ground, it mysteriously disappears - hence Winston being on light dog food. So I digress, what Winston has figured out, is that if he goes into your room as soon as you start moving around in the morning, he'll lick your head through your crib bars, and then you are instantly up. Once you are up, we are all up. At 5 AM no less. I bought you room darkening shades this week - this did nothing to help your 5 AM wake up calls.

Next weekend your manny Wes and his hot-stuff woman Jess are getting married. We aren't taking you with us to the festivities because mommy and daddy need to get their drink on - er, a break, doh, I mean you need to spend time with your aunt Ana and soon to be uncle Carlos. Don't get all upset, besides day care, I have only had someone baby sit you 5 times in 10 months. That's how much I love you.

Love,

Your mama

Feed Me!

At daycare on Tuesday, Helene (day care provider) decided to have some fun with FIN and just hold the spoon in front of him.

Eaten by a frog

Here is a picture of FIN in the frog pool at Day care. Yet another argument that he'll make later in life that his toys at day care are WAY better than his ones at home. In response to that argument, I'll be left to say "well I told your babysitter to put you in water because you had a really bad diaper rash". Or I could take the really low road and tell him his daddy needed the toy money to buy booze, because his crying makes him drink - oh who am I kidding, FIN doesn't cry.

2 Teef

So whats new in my life - well 2 teef! This past week was a rough one, my mom says equally on her too. I got over my double ear infection, then I got the coxsackie virus (aka hand-foot-and-mouth disease), all the while, I cut my second toof. Mom stayed home with me during this tough time juggling me and work. It was quite the circus act.

Coming up next weekend, people keep saying I'm going to be dunked. I don't know what that means, but I guess its like a ritual bathing in front of a group of people. Baptism? Whatever, but theres going to be a party for me!

Heres a picture of me, and you can almost see both of my teeth.

Peas and carrots. YUM!

Video of FIN feeding himself and babbling.

9 month stats

So last night mom took me to see the doctor. I was all worried about getting shots, but there wasn't any this time. Mom kept saying "they're gonna stick a thermometer up your butt", but I really think she is regressing back to the days of her childhood. Odd that at 9 months I have down the concept of regression and the fact that my mother was a child once too. Anyhoo, so here it is:

• 25lbs - 4oz. - 95 percentile for weight


• 30 inches tall - 90 - 95 percentile for height


• 90 percentile for head size


• Double ear infection

So I'm back on the antibiotics again. On the wagon, off the wagon. Good thing its a wagon and not a horse, I hear they are way more stable. Oh thats right its a horse when its booze related... I get it now.

Here's a picture of me eating my cheerios this morning. By the looks of it, you'd think someone pissed in them.

Sweetie Whole Pie

In my life, there are a few things that I'm sure of... how I remember random things by colors and objects, or things that I have worn or others have worn, how I can make lists upon lists for organization in my mind, or even how I can work through most things by thinking of them as a process. One thing is certain, my brain cannot process the feeling I get in my favorite moments with FIN by a list, or color, or process as I get here. I guess the word to describe it is "whole". Not the prettiest of words, and not as succinct as complete. I guess the way I think of it is a whole pie. It may not be a complete pie, but then you can't put more into a complete pie, but you can add more to a whole pie. I dare you to try and not envision a pie that continues to get larger and more stuffed - if you do, then you know how this picture makes me feel... like a stuffed pie - see "whole" just works better.

Happy 9 Months... I'm exhausted

Dear FIN,
In 3 days you will be 9 months old. In the past month you traveled to Phoenix to visit your Aunt Sara & Uncle Henry, you pulled out the full on crawling mode, you can pull yourself to a standing position, and *this brings a tear to my eye*, you are finally getting your first tooth - I mean I can feel the top of it and everything. You have taught yourself so many things in the past month, my only question is, aren't you exhausted? I know I am!
From crawling, to standing, to growing teeth (mostly at night, by the way), I'm left to ponder - you now the have ability to fully figure out all the toys we have bought you. So why dear FIN, o' why do you insist on chewing on only the dogs toys?
This picture was taken on 6/20, your daddy's birthday. You are wearing an England soccer outfit given to you by Sally Strand, a friend of your auntie Sara whom is from England.
You have your 9 month doctor check up in a few days, so I'll be able to give an update on height/weight and all those good stats. But I have to say, all this crawling is giving you one mean physique. Your doughy belly is now this tough guy tummy. While all these changes are exciting, I hope the sheer rapidness slows at some point. You are growing so fast the changes are almost hard to enjoy... with exception of that tooth.
Love mama (now say it, MA-MA - maybe next month)

Flipping Remote

FIN and the flipping remote... oh yeah, he crawls like a champ too.

Vrooom

Over the past weekend Mom, Grandma, and I traveled to see Aunt Sara in Arizona. Sadly, this is the only picture my mom took of me with Aunt Sara. Of course being the fabulous aunt she is, Sara has more pictures. In the mean time, check out the Beemer my Aunt bought me. Awesome huh. Don't tell her that I left a poopy diaper in the back.

8 Months old

Dear FIN,
You are now 8 months old. You astound me with how much you keep insisting on growing. Last week at your ear re-check you weighed in at 24lbs and 28.5 inches tall - and your ears were dry (i.e. no infection). It also amazes me that you still have no teeth, but the fact that you love to wake me up every night, I just tell myself that its your teeth bothering you and you need me to come in and confirm that its just your teeth and not the monster under your crib that scares you awake... every night... at 2:30am.
You are doing a full out crawl these days. I've made the investment in baby gates, outlet plugs, and cupboard locks to keep you safe from stairs, electric shock, and whatever lurks in the cupboards - but boy, you are on your own with the sharp corners of the walls and tables, should the wood floor give you a splinter, or you pull something off a table and it falls on your head.
You still refuse to hold your own bottle of milk, but your are very entertaining with water in your sippy cup and water bottles. You make a great face - mouth gaping open telling me to put something in your "pie hole" (as your father lovingly refers to your mouth). You love to casually eat crackers. You inspect new toys as if they are being considered for awards. You are such a wonderful loving happy guy.
This month you are going to try edamamae, much to your dismay, and you will get your tooth. You will also learn to walk the dog and wash your own dishes. Look forward to potty training in month 9.
love,
your mama

Almost there...

This video is pretty much obsolete. I took it before I left to go see my girlfriends in Minneapolis on Friday, May 23rd and left FIN with his grandparents (sweet sweet freedom!). Nonetheless, here is FIN so close to crawling - I can tell you with 100% certainty, he crawls no problem now.

Mover and Shaker

Does watching this make you tired? Have you ever tried laying on your belly with all your limbs in the air? I dare you to try and move like this boy moves all the while keeping this chubbly bubbly physique.

Art work

FIN Art for Mother's Day.

Mama's Day

For Mother's Day, I made my mama a hand painting that I did while at day care. Lenie (aka my day care provider) helped direct my artistic skills with bright colored paints and then matted and framed my work of art for Mom. Mom said that a Picasso wouldn't mean as much to her. We managed to get in a walk on this gloomy day - here I am with a biter bar enjoying the stroll. I can't help but wonder when my hair will grown in?!

Look at me grow

Some posts ago, there was a view of FIN in his high chair (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rldnunez/2208955717/). Look at him now...

Come to think of it, the other day Winston was barking at something, and we deduced that it was FIN growing. We had to have the conversation with FIN to stop growing because of how expensive it is getting with all the new clothes and bigger car seats. I'm not 100% sure, but when he said "dadadadada" after that, I figured out that he was telling me that his dad made him do it. I'm sure thats not the last time I'll hear that excuse.

7 Months 2 Weeks

Dear FIN,
Although I have meant to write you notes from day 1, it just occurred to me that I haven't kept up my mental promise I made to myself... so here it goes. You are now 7 months and 2 weeks old. You have led a very busy 7 months. I have mentally noted the milestones you have made, and of course some I even blogged about.

• 6 weeks you smiled
• 8 weeks you babbled
• 14 weeks you rolled over
• 16 weeks went on first plane ride to Portland
• 4 months first ear infection
• 5 months second ear infection
• 6 months third ear infection (are you starting to see a trend here?)
• 7 months got a stamp in your passport to Maya Riviera, Mexico

There were several others in there as well, but the important thing to note is you are making leaps and bounds every day. You are such a happy-amicable baby. Today, you love the dog, your bouncy seat, anything that jingles with a ping, not a rattle, and paper - you love to crinkle and chew it. You are so close to crawling. What you do is almost crawling, but is mostly scooting and turning on your belly. I expect you to be doing a full out crawl by the end of the month. Speaking of which, I should probably start baby proofing the house, which is no small task considering its a 2 story house built in the 1930s. I should just put you in a bouncy room full of colorful objects.

I am excited about who you are now and who you will become some day. All your dad and I have said from the beginning is that we want you to be a healthy, happy, good person. We will support you in whatever you want - with the caveat that you show conviction and work for those dreams. The kid down the street from us has jumped on that damn pogo stick for 3 summers now - this summer maybe different as I am plotting to steal that loud piece of crap and make him find a new hobby. So the caveat should be you have to work for your dreams and make sure the people plotting against you don't win. Anyway we love you and I look forward to being able to tell you more about yourself at 8 or 9 months.

Love - your mama (now if you would only say "mama". Only dadadada comes out of your mouth)

Grrr, get the kitty

Its hard to deny myself the little smiles I get from thinking about 'some day'... "Some day I'll be cheering on FIN as he tackles his opponent on the Tigers team", or "Some day he'll be inspired to rock out to Eye of the Tiger", or, and lets hope this isn't the case, "Some day FIN will be beating up the other school's mascot of a Tiger".
***FIN wasn't wearing this outfit when he left the house this morning which means he must've had an accident. Like the header line says, he'll blame me later for ruining his life :-)

The picture is dark & fuzzy, but thats a laughing baby

This is what happens when you have an empty water bottle and you squeeze it in FINs face. Listening is about all you get to do on this one, but its F-U-N-N-Y!

Confession

Its important to note that this entry is my equivalent to going to the therapist office, and for those of you that can't relate - church, to confess what has been plaguing me all day. This morning FIN took a slo-mo nose dive off the bed. I play it over and over in my head, as I turn around from having my back to him for a minute, watching this chubby hand reach forward for the ground that just wasn't there, land on his head and flip on his back. To say "I lost it" doesn't give the moment justice. Francisco, in heroic form, calmly said as I hold onto the wimpering baby, and me screaming a scream that stemmed from my toes, to give him the baby. Long story short, FIN is ok. I'm pretty sure the daycare lady has turned her phone off because I have called every hour on the hour, wanting to know if, I don't know, FIN is spewing pea soup from his ears.

Work has been reassuring. Other people have come out of the wood work with confessions of their parental mishaps of momentary backs to babies. My favorite, however, was my dad recounting the many times my sister took diggers off the kitchen table, went down the stairs in her baby-walker, almost bit her tongue off... I'm thinking that he must still feel a little bad, but don't worry dad, you've been vindicated. Sara is doing fine, that bitch is on a cruise as I type. ;-)

Random pics and thoughts

If FIN could talk, I'm certain he would say,

"So my mom got a new phone, with lots more buttons. For some reason she thinks I would still like to play with the old one, but I know better. I know that one can't make outgoing calls. How am I supposed to make the necessary calls to do stuff like, I don't know, hire Bobo the clown?! Anyway, I wasn't about to sit still for pictures with the new phone, so you are all stuck looking at semi-blurring photos of me. Haha, that will teach you all. **sniff**sniff**, does something smell funny?"

6 Month Update

When the doc came into the exam room today and saw FIN, his response was "Whoa, you're a big'en", I think that was short for big one. But rightfully so, his stats are:

21lbs 2oz - 90 to 95th percentile

28 inches tall - 90 to 95th percentile

80th percentile for head size

As a new parent, I marvel in how much he can do, how much he has grown, and just how ding dang cute he is. He is just so happy, and prove it, he pulled off having a double ear infection, unbeknownst to me or his father. I blame his father for not noticing, because when we signed our parental agreement forms, mine stated to birth, feed, clothe, love, hug, diaper, and so on and so forth. His form was - to notice all ailments and to drink beer with when he gets older... clearly he failed :-)

You vote on this...

Does this kid even look like me?

Goodies

For Easter, Auntie Sara & Uncle Henry Yu sent FIN an array of goodies. Ya know, the usual stuff for babies, cute pjs, a vibrating egg that lights up, a card of some guy with a wedgie with $20 (in the card, not in the wedgie), chocolate and more chocolate. Since he finished all the chocolate and spent the $20 on his favorite bottle of whiskey, here's a picture of him in his cute pjs with his daddy.

Giggly

This video is a result of squeezing chubbly bubbly baby thighs and making weird noises.

Happy Easter

FIN all dud'd up in his Ralph Lauren outfit from Aunt Fanny and Uncle Tono. We went out for Dim Sum and FIN slept. I guess the chinese put him to sleep or he was tired from working on that first tooth, I just don't know. All I can get out of him is dadadadada.

Loving daycare...

Why is it that it breaks my heart that he likes day care this much. What, you don't love your mama? I'll have to guilt him with this later on... when he understands guilt or doesn't crap his own pants anymore.

Order of business

***Note if you are looking for a FIN update, this is not it. This is a Nunez update.

So I start back to work on Monday. Kiko's first order of business was hiring a mexican cleaning lady. She starts Monday too. He was too afraid to ask her on the phone if she cooks, fear of overwhelming her. So whats my first order of business... ordering a new vaccum. Fear of being embarassed in front of our new cleaning lady of my current vaccum... with duct tape on it.

Sweet child o'mine

Normally I won't add pictures of myself to the blog dedicated to my little man, but I thought this was a sweet one and dammit, some days I deserve props for all the poopiness that goes along with being a mama.

Soap Poisoning

We all know the movie "A Christmas Story". This picture so reminds me of a line from the movie, right about the time Ralphie is caught saying "Oh Fudge", and his mother asking him where he learned that word. His mother made him sit with soap in his mouth till he fessed up and blamed his friend... "Ralphie, tell us, what caused you to go blind!", Ralphie replies "It t'was, SOAP POISONING".
In all actuality, these glasses are to protect his sweet little eyes from the sun when we go to Orlando and Mexico next month.

Laughing

In the past month FINs laughing has become very animated, along with his babbling. I tried to capture it in a video, but its more evident that I'm trying to make him laugh. Also, I'm a little distracted by the horizontal stripes, and wait, are those his pants unbuttoned? What the... All I have to say is, some days, pants just don't want to button. I've been there.

My Velour Sweatsuit

For Christmas, Auntie Saralyn sent me (her li'l Homie) a brown velour "All Pro" outfit. All morning long, as I sip off of my bottle, I can't help but hum to myself, "Rolling down the street, smokin' endo, sippin' on gin n' juice. Laid back, with my mind on ma money and ma money on ma mind." Thanks Snoop.
By the way, 5 months old today!!!

Bububububu-Baby

If FIN is in a bad mood, this will correct it every time. Very strange.

The babysitter

Here is our new best friend the babysitter... Or jumper... or just check it out yourself.

Oh why'o why'o Ohio

Airplane ride. Check.

Road trip. Check.

(long list of other things to check off...)

FIN and I (mom) went with Francisco (dad) to his Beam Modeling course. Of course we did't go to class with him, we hung out in the hotel, made the shopping rounds of Beachwood, OH, went to the Rock n' Roll hall of fame/Museum. We had a great time. After the week away, we loaded up the family truckster and headed back to Chicago. There Grandma Nunez bought FIN a new toy.

Ah, exhausted after playing so hard.

Here is a picture of FIN sleeping in a onesie purchased before he was born. Francisco and I bought this in Las Vegas in March 07. The elephant on it was designed by a boy with autism. By purchasing this onesie, we donated to the fund to research autism.

Visit my Flickr stream http://www.flickr.com/photos/22897327@N00/

4 Months Old!

Yesterday FIN went in for his 4 month check-up. He weighed 16lbs 13oz, 26 inches long. He is in the 85th percentile for height and weight, and 75th for head size. Hw has mastered all the developmental markers for following objects with his eyes, coo'ing, giggling, bearing his own weight, but the real kicker is that he can roll from back to front and front to back.
He took all his shots like a big boy, but is suffering the fever today. I think today we'll hang out in our pj's while he is on the mend.

Food for thought

Yesterday when I got to sit in my SVAN high seat, my mom thought it would be a great idea to feed me REAL FOOD! I tried some single grain rice cereal. My mom thought it would make me sleep through the night... boy did I show her ;-)

New Stuffs

Since last writing, FIN has become a traveler! He flew out to Portland to visit auntie Saralyn and Uncle Dave. While there he got to accompany the ladies out for some much needed shopping time. From FINs perspective: "Auntie Saralyn was suprised at how many people stop to adore me... what thats not normal? We also went to downtown Portland where my mom got to go into this store called Title9. I don't know whats so special about it... seemed like a good place to fill my pants, like any other place. We also visited the Goonies house in Astoria, OR and I saw the Pacific Ocean. It was a great time. When Auntie Saralyn had to work on Monday, I got to go to my first movie with mom. We saw Juno. It was about some girl having a baby. All I know, is the kid won't be as cute as me :-) Here I am:

Another new stuffs is that my Grandma/pa Nunez bought me a SVAN high chair. I'm super excited to be vertical and playing with toys. I also figured out how to roll over. Super exciting. People cheered me on as I rolled and rolled. Winston told me he has been rolling over for ages and that my trick is a has been... whatever!"

14 weeks old today

And looking hung over from new years... What was in that milk? Happy 2008 everyone!

Don't Worry...

Here is one of the more sweeter moments in our house, when Francisco sings to FIN. Normally he coos more, but you get the general idea. Notice FINs new favorite onesie "B is for Bob". Ok, so its more our favorite than his, he has no idea what he's crapping in most days.