Christmas Mischief

As Mommy has been wrapping presents and hanging Christmas lights, Finley has been doing her part, too! She is so funny when I get the camera out. She closes her eyes like it's painful to look at the flash before it even goes off (which is what is happening in the picture where she's eating the magazine!). I have to trick her by pushing the button halfway so the flash lights up but doesn't blink until she opens her eyes again. Then, I let it rip and capture that gorgeous smile. She even waved for me - a trick she learned at daycare. She's finally back on her normal schedule after her week of being spoiled at Grandma and Grandpa's...just in time for Grandma and Grandpa Bernhardt to come home from Mexico to spoil her some more and get her off track again! We can't wait to show them how she can take steps all by herself! She's still not completely confident in her walking abilities, but she gets better every day and I know it's coming soon...I'm sure we'll really be in for it, then!

9 Months

We missed Finley's 9 month birthday while we were in Mexico, so here are a couple of pictures to commemorate her at this lovely age. In the first picture, she is playing with the maraca we brought back from Mexico for her. She LOVES it! In the second picture, she is waiting for mom to get ready for church. Could she be any cuter in all her winter gear?!

Viva Mexico!

OK, so I know this is Finley's blog, but I'm guessing the people who care to check about Finley's life are probably also interested in hearing about Cam's and my vacation to Aculpoco. We had a wonderful time with my parents and sister, Megan, and her boyfriend, Phil (aka Felipe). Every day was spent poolside, which also happened to be oceanside. We took naps, read books, played football on the beach, had water competitions, played water volleyball, practiced the Dirty Dancing lift, collected shells, watched the dolphins surf the waves, drank numerous Coronas, daiquiris, margaritas, and Dirty Bananas, and made friends with our server, Pilar. The boys rented boogie boards a couple of times, although neither Felipe or Cam were all that lucky at catching any waves. The guys also golfed twice, so on one of those occasions, we girls got massages and relaxed in the spa. We went to town two nights and ate in beautiful restaurants overlooking the hills of the city. Since we kept ourselves so busy during the day, we all managed to end up in bed asleep before midnight every night! Although we had tons of fun, both Cam and I were very ready and excited to see our little Finners when we got back. She seemed so much bigger when we saw her and she stands all by herself now with no wobbles for extended periods of time. She dances without holding onto her favorite Leapfrog Music Maker, and Sandra and Cam both claim to have seen her take a couple of steps! She must have had lots of fun with Grandma and Grandpa and the rest of the family because she has been treating us to a little bit of an adjustment period - which means we can tell she was VERY spoiled for the week we were gone :) Despite her extra need for attention, I'm proud to say I still managed to decorate the house for Christmas today! I am my mother's daughter :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

The Bernhardt family celebrated Thanksgiving a couple of weeks early since we'll really be spending it in Mexico!! Ay Ay Ay! It was AWESOME to be able to eat that big old turkey (that Finley helped Grandma win at Bingo the night before), stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, brocolli, and two kinds of cranberries when it wasn't really even time yet. And, now, none of us have to feel guilty eating enchiladas and having margaritas on the actual day of Thanksgiving - as if any of us really would ;) We are, of course, going to miss our little Finners while we're away, though. She has taken some big steps in the last week - literally! She spent a long time pushing the little car around the basement at Grandma and Grandpa's all by herself. Neither Cam nor I will be surprised if we come back from Aculpoco and find her walking without any help. She's also showing a real interest in big people food and can get VERY messy from her teething biscuits AND from her cousin/sister, Sadie, feeding her. All the more reason to take a nice bath in the kitchen sink!

Random Picks to Tide You Over

I just had to show off my little Finner's cute cuffed jeans and motorcycle boots. She already outgrew her 9 month jeans so I had to get her some new 12 monthers. The motorcyle boots are from a shopping trip with Grandma Brenda and Great-Grandma Joyce to the outlet mall. We really haven't had a whole lot of action here, which is why we haven't blogged anything in awhile. We got a "new" used piano on Tuesday night, so now Finley is having a great time pulling herself up on it to tickle the ivories. It's not in the best shape, but it is fun to have it here. Finners LOVES music. Last weekend, Grandma Julie came and sang with Finley. Whenever Julie sang, Finley did, too - which really means she sang "Ahhhhhhhh" as long as Julie was singing. Tonight, I played "Mary Had a Little Lamb" on the piano and Finley bopped up and down and pointed like she was doing a disco. This is something she picked up at daycare. She also has learned how to wave hello and goodbye. She learns so many things at daycare. I really think it's so good for her to be with all those other kids - even if she does get the snottiest nose in the world and rubs it all over me and the furniture! And the teachers at daycare said she has a new boyfriend, Logan. Is that surprising, considering how beautiful she is?