Finley, Child of God

April 29th, Finley's Baptism. What an exciting weekend! Our church does a really cool ceremony for baptism. Because we baptize by immersion, Finn was supposed to be just in her diaper and onesie and, naturally, RIGHT before we were supposed to go to the font, Finley pooped all over, so Cam and my mom went to change her diaper. I had to go get them and tell them we were needed and Pastor Mary had to start without us. Then, Finley cried through the whole thing - and not just a little wimper, but a FULL ON WAIL! After she got dunked, we walked up to the front and dressed her in her baptismal gown, which was the one I wore at my baptism. She was still crying. Right after we sat down, we realized we had to perform. It was definitely not one of our better performances. Finn finally fell asleep and then church ended and Finn pooped about 5 times and, naturally, had a blow out on the baptismal gown. Oh well. It was washable :) We got a beautiful day, though, and it was so nice to have (most of) the family over to celebrate with us. Sponsors, Uncle Josh, Auntie Hannah, and Auntie Megan were there. Auntie Elizabeth and Uncle Andy were there, as well. Grandma and Grandpa Bernhardt, Grandma and Grandpa Peterson, Great Grandma's B., Tud, Joyce, and Laven and Great Grandpa's Bud and Laven, cousin Sadie, Jill, and Pastor Mary all enjoyed the wonderful food that I had nothing to do with (thank you!). We missed Auntie Annie and Uncle Luke and Grandma Julie, though. Finn could tell you weren't there because she continued to cry all day! I almost thought I'd have to stay home from school with her and take her to the doctor, but instead she calmed down and Grandma Brenda took her to Waseca with them. Now, we are alone, not knowing what to do with our time. All in all, though, it was a great day and now Finn is a child of God, member of LCCR.

Tummy Time

It's a rare occasion when Finn is on her stomach long enough to get a picture, but now that she's discovered her fist, I think that might be changing.

Sunday Best

I thought Outfit V was the last new one, but I forgot about the sweetest little blue dress that I bought earlier. I got confused by the sizes and got her a 0-3 monther so it's not going to fit her for long. I might have to go back and buy her a 3-6 month in it so she can keep wearing it all summer long. It looks so good with her blue eyes (I still can't believe they're blue!).

Well, Finn has had two very good nights. Now that Cam stays home with her during the week, I have to get up with her on the weekends. I was worried I'd be going back to work on Monday exhausted, but she went to bed by 11:00 each night and only fussed a little around 5 in the morning. Each time, I pulled her into bed with us and nursed her and she fell right back to sleep. Essentially, she slept until 8:30 both days. This morning, she had a bit of a rude awakening when Cam rolled over in his sleep and bonked her on the head. She cried and cried, but then she fell asleep again and slept all through church. We're not happy about her pain, but yay!

P.S. Auntie Megan says over and over again how much Finn reminds her of Auntie Annie. Even when she talks and cries, Megan thinks she sounds just like her.

New Outfit V

Here is the final installment of the new outfits. She looks just like one of my middleschoolers with the words on her butt :)

Our Kinesthetically Gifted Child

As you all know, our daughter is 3 months ahead in her rolling over skills, having been a front-to-backer for weeks now. She also has vigilantly been working on her new trick, the "back-to-front," for the past week. It won't be long...

Here's a picture of Finley in a sweater that a friend of mine at work made for her. It is absolutely gorgeous!

New Outfit IV

I forgot to post this picture of Finley in another of her new outfits. Once again, she's smiling up a storm in the pic. She is so darn cute - and photogenic! She must get that from her mother ;)

Back to Work for Mama

Yes, I am writing this while at work. No, I'm not supposed to be doing so. Yesterday was my first day back at work in 8 weeks. Everyone said it would be hard, and I have to say, I didn't really think it'd be that bad, but Sunday night came and the tears started flowing. Luckily, I am busy enough at work to keep my mind off things, but I can't wait to get home at the end of the day. I just talked to Cam to see how he's holding down the fort and he said he's actually getting work done! Amazing since I never got anything done when I was home. Anyway, the picture is thanks to Great Grandma and Grandpa Laven, who visited us on Sunday. She's getting so big!!

The Worst Day Ever!

There are no pictures to commemorate this day and that's fine with me because it was the saddest day for all of us - Finley got her first set of shots. I really think it took me longer to get over it than it did Finley or dad, and I'm already dreading the next round. The poor thing got so red and was crying so hard she didn't even make a sound. I had given her some tylenol before we went and I think it made her sleepy because she fell right asleep after we comforted her for about 10 minutes. She slept for 4 hours and then woke up crying just as hard. She's better now, but I keep seeing her little red, sad face in my mind and it brings tears to my eyes. On a good note, though, she's growing very well. She's now 10 pounds 13.5 ounces and 23 inches long. She's very tall and right where she should be, Dr. Noll said.

Outfit IV

And, I forgot to add this adorable picture in another new outfit. The outfit's not nearly as special as the big smile on her face with her adoring Daddy by her side.

Finley's First Easter

Finley celebrated her first holiday with the Peterson clan in Trimont on Sunday. Great Auntie Pam and cousin Kirsten came from Nebraska and met Finley Saturday night. She was introduced to the Waverly family at the Easter Sunday service before we headed to Tom and LuAnn's for dinner. January's daughter Maya used Finley to prepare for her little brother, who is arriving in June or July. Finn wore her Easter best, a complete ensemble Grandma Brenda bought for her at our favorite store in the world, Gymboree. As Great Grandma Tud pointed out, it wasn't pink, but it sure was cute!! I can't wait for her to get her pictures taken with her cousin in Sadie's coordinating outfit.

Another milestone in Finn's life happened this weekend - she rolled over from her front to her back! Grandma Brenda saw her do it and told Grandpa Kevin, who didn't believe her. Grandma put her on her stomach and she did it again. Grandma got it on video today so we know it's not a fluke accident. She's a strong one - and growing so fast!!

It is Spring!!

It may not feel like it, but this was outside our window this morning so I think it might be spring :)

New Outfit III

Here's an outfit that isn't pink or ruffly.

New Outfit II

Here's her next new outfit. As you can see, we liked pink ruffles. Weird since I'm not really a pink ruffle kind of girl but we can't deny that she just looks so good in pink. And I finally see a little bit of me in her. I've been feeling a little left out ;)

New Outfit

Here's the first of Finley's new outfits. Already, I don't think it will fit her long. And, doesn't she look like Hannah!!

Also, I forgot to mention the sit-com-like adventure Cam and I had when we got home from South Dakota Sunday night. Cam was changing Finn's diaper and I told him to leave her diaper off since I'd give her a bath as soon as I got the stuff ready. He closed up her onesie without a diaper (only a dad would do it!) and naturally, Finley decided she had to go. She pooped all over her onesie. This is a normal event in the life of Finn so we weren't concerned at all...until we realized we had no way to get her onesie off without getting the poop all over her. The solution: Cam got a scissors and cut off the bottom of the onesie! Thankfully, it wasn't a waste since it was already way to small for her anyway. Wish we had a picture of that one!

Busy Weekend!

Finley was busy as a bee this weekend as she met many extended family members for the first time. Most importantly, though, she was finally introduced to Trimont! We stayed with Grandpa Tim and Grandma Belva and on Saturday, we drove into town to visit Great Grandma B. We ended up going to Great Aunt Angie's house to visit with cousins and she was held by more people in one day than she has been in her entire life! Later that night, she met Great Aunt LuAnn and Great Uncle Tom while mom and dad went to the Bergen Bar for a big old steak dinner. Thanks to breastfeeding, I was able to eat an entire salad, half of a 14 oz. steak, a twice baked potato, 3 jumbo shrimp, and a few drinks without even feeling the least bit full! It truly is an exciting culinary experience when your stomach is a bottomless pit. On Sunday, Grandpa Kevin, Grandma Brenda, Auntie Megan and Auntie Hannah traveled to Sioux Falls, SD, to celebrate Easter with the Skancke's. Finley met her Great Grandma Joyce and Great Grandpa Bud, as well as her crazy Great Aunt Gloria and more cousins. Maybe the best part of the entire weekend (at least to her exhausted mother!) was when she slept the entire 4 1/2 hours home, then slept from 11 pm until 5:30 am.

Today, I was able to get away for a short while to enjoy a much needed massage. Grandma Brenda helped her smile and try to coo while I was gone. Since Finley has grown so much in the last couple weeks, many of her newborn clothes don't fit her anymore, so we decided she needed to go shopping when I got back. We bought many new adorable outfits and mom made me promise I'd take a picture of Finn in each new outfit to post on the blog. Be on the lookout for a virtual fashion show in the coming days :)