Finley's Name is "Fiddy"

A short video from Saturday where Finley tells relates many of the things she's learned. Some of them you may or may not understand right away (like baby monkey's scratch under their arms or that when the dogs get hot ("hot dogs"), they pant with their tongues sticking out), but they are all little games we play with her.

You can also tell she starts to get a little bored with me, too. She is taking after her mother pretty quickly.

Finley on the Trampoline

As promised, more baby gym video from Finley -- this one is her on the trampoline with the green monkey she grabs every week from the baby "high bar" in the classroom. In it, you'll see her working on her jumping, which she does on the ground, too, but with the effort she makes, you'd think she would be jumping 2 feet off the ground; she'll get there, though.

OK, this is a cute video, but also one that shows that while Finley is adorable in pictures, she has some edges we need to work out. Like all toddlers, she seems to think EVERYTHING belongs to her, as you will see her at baby gym. I know the video is pretty small, but pay attention to her face when another little girl dares to try to play on the same piece of equipment (you can hear her yelling, "my slide, my slide"). It is so bad at this point that she yells at the dogs with they lay on the dog beds, because she thinks they are for her, too.

Take a look:

As promised, I am posting some videos individually this week, so I can get new material up without dropping it all at once. This is not the gymnastics video, but rather a cute one last night -- Finely rediscovered her maracas at the bottom of her toy basket. You'll also notice my creative vision be interrupted by Finley's mother -- Speilberg never has to deal with this, I bet.

Finley @ the Zoo (and Baby Gym)

As promised, another post this weekend (two in a week -- don't get used to it). These pictures are from three weeks ago when we took Finley to the Milwaukee Zoo, as well as from yesterday's Baby Gym class. I have some video from Baby Gym that I'll post over the course of the week.

In other exciting news, Finley has "pee-peed in the potty" three times now at day care in the last week. We bought Finley her own little potty, but she hasn't been as interested in it yet -- she mostly tries to stand in the bowl with both feet, while at school they have really toddler-sized toilets for the babies to use. We'll keep you updated, but I don't plan on any potty videos -- you know my bathroom issues.


Here is Finely on the little train that runs around the Milwaukee Zoo; I don't know why it isn't down with the other zoo pictures.
Finley climbing over an obstacle at gymnastics.

Finley climbing through one of the toys at gymnastics -- please note the Notre Dame dress (2-1!!!)

Another action photo:

Finley and Shelley watching the lions. . ."ROAR" is what the lions say if you ask Finley.

She loved the penguins.

Just a random topless photo.

NO PICTURES (great pigtails).

Musical Finley

We took some video today at baby gym, but I thought I would post this one for your first. I need to start parsing out stuff so I can post more often, so here is a video of Finley playing her alligator -- you'll see.

Poor Monty (our first baby). . . oh yeah, plus some Finley

We've been bad about taking pictures lately, but I continue to resolve to get better. We went to the Milwaukee Zoo last weekend, so I'll get those pictures up from the camera tonight (most of these pictures come from my Blackberry). Perhaps we just haven't done much exciting.

In exciting news, poor Monty had to have knee surgery last week -- she tore up the knee ligaments in her right back knee (as you can see from the picture below).
Last June, however, Monty had the same surgery, for the same issue, on her back LEFT leg (picture below). Monty hurt it the first time chasing a squirrel, but we didn't see how she hurt it this time. She is recovering more rapidly, however, and should be back to herself in no time, or at least after the next 12 weeks of PT she'll need to have.

On to Finley -- please ignore the Cubs outfit . . . things are dire in that regard. However, she is starting to try to brush her own teeth. Mostly she just sucks the training toothpaste off of the brush, but she is scrubbing a bit.

Finley at the swimming pool a couple of weeks ago. She is definitely getting into her terrible twos. You can tell from the look on her face she is about to go into Cruella da Ville mode as we call it; her little nose gets all wrinkled upand she gives the dirtiest look I've ever seen -- and I know dirty looks. Like her mother, she certainly wants what she wants when she wants it!!!

Finely, Fin had her 18 month doctors appointment, at which time she was just under 22 pounds (10%tile for babies born at 35 weeks), 31 inches (50%tile) and while I cannot remember her head size, it is still at the 75%tile -- again, that must come from the Hoschek side.