Teething

That's right - Finn is teething!! I hope that his teeth come in soon, because it's not the funnest thing in the world.

He's drooling all over the place, chewing on his hands, being really fussy...and the worst part (for me) is that he isn't sleeping through the night anymore!!

I can handle a fussy baby during the day, if they sleep during the night. But lately he's been waking up around midnight, and again at 130-230 and then again anytime from 530am. Usually after 630am he doesn't really go back to sleep. He fusses in his crib and I have to keep giving him his soother. Conor got him to sleep for his nap this morning so I was happy to sleep!

Anyways, that's what's happening these days.

Shedding my winter coat

Apparently, because of hormones and such, pregnant women find that their hair changes (along with other things, like nails [my nails got pretty brittle during pregnancy]). They say that your hair will get thicker and such, but I never noticed. Well I guess mine did get thicker, because in the last month I've started "shedding" it all! I take out all my hair from the shower drain everytime I shower, and I don't think it's tooo much more than I was loosing before I was pregnant, but it's definately more than I was loosing WHILE I was pregnanct. Pretty gross...anyways, on to something else! haha

Ever baby is different...some are cuddly, some are not, some are a little of both. Since Finn was maybe 2ish months old he stopped being so "cuddly". I used to be able to bring him into bed and lie him on my chest on his tummy, and he was fall asleep like that...now all he wants to do is stand up!

I took this picture when he was sick with a cold, it's the closest I've got to a cuddle in awhile, so I charished it! My mom got a little cuddle from his yesterday after he woke up from a nap, I think she liked it!

Here he is standing...when he's on my lap I try to get him to sit down, but he almost always straightens up! haha

This is Finn attempting some "tummy time". He won't lie right on his tummy, but hopefully if I get him used to this, then as he gets stronger he will enjoy it more!

I realized I don't have very many pics of me and Finn (well, especially not with me in regular clothes, hair and makeup done!) So here's one from today.

Finn and his Daddy! hehe

I caught a video of something really cute that Finn does! Lately when I change him he starts smiling and laughing when I take his arms out of his clothes (he cries when I put him IN clothes though!)

Most times when I try to take a video of him, I have to do it a few times because he doesn't always "perform" the first time...but this was take 1 and he laughed even more than he usually does!!

Oh yeah, and can you believe this is the second Friday the 13th in a row! Weird! I didn't leave the house, so I don't know if everyone was extra crazy or not.

And also, I was going to add about the Travel post...my favorite vacation ever was when Conor and I went to Sydney with my brother Dan for the 07/08 New Years. I don't know why, but I was just extra relaxed and really really enjoyed myself!

Random #5 - Travel

I would say that in general I am a homebody. I prefer to just stay at home (not necessarily my own home) or if I go out, so somewhere I am comfortable (local coffee shop, etc.)

I definitely wouldn't say that I'm a big traveller...and if you had asked me 4 years ago if I would ever move from Abbotsford, I probably would have said "why?"

Then in 2005, when Conor and I were almost engaged and looking into moving to Washington DC or Australia for Conor's masters I decided to go and visit my brother Kevin and his family in Madagascar. They had been there for a number of years and were planning on moving back to Canada in the next couple years, so I thought that if Conor and I did move away, I would only get to see them at our Wedding (if they were able to make it) and then we would be gone. I had never travelled alone, let alone flown that far...and I had also never been outside of North America.

It's sort of surreal to think that I actually went there! I never would have done something like that if I didn't know someone who lived there (partly because of my picky eating, which will someday be a random post) Anyways, I went and I survived...but it definitely wasn't the same as MOVING out of the country.

Then a week or so after I got back to Canada, Conor proposed and we started seriously deciding where we were going to go for Conor's schooling. He knew he wanted to get his masters in Theology at the John Paul II institute. The main Institute is in Rome, but also have institutes in
Washington DC, Melbourne , and a few other places. Anyways, originally we looked into Washington, because it's so much closer, but realized that it would be near impossible for me to get any type or work visa, and we just couldn't afford for me not to work. So we settled on Australia. I had always wanted to go there, but never imagined I would move there!

It was the hardest thing I have ever done - and I never would have been able to do it on my own. But it was also VERY rewarding! (Now that I think about it, giving birth was the hardest! haha, but oh well) We met some amazing people, and I learned soo much more about the Catholic Church then I even knew there WAS to learn.

Well now it seems as though our journey hasn't ended. It looks as though we will be moving again - this time to Rome, where Conor will study for his doctorate at the John Paul II Institute there...and then back to Melbourne!

I'm pretty much terrified of moving to a country where I don't speak the language. And even more so now that we'll be bringing a baby with us. But with the end result being that we move back to Melbourne, I am VERY excited.

Also, as God normally seems to do in my life, whenever I start to get really worried about it, someone emails, or sends me a letter to tell me that THEY are moving there! haha...we have had two good friends tell us that they will be moving to Rome in 2010 and I can't wait now to go there so that I can see them again!!

We have a little monkey on our hands!

Do you see the resemblance! haha
He loves his monkey :)

All of Finn's presents at the shower

Haha - like father like son! (that was Conor's monkey)

Date night

For Conor's birthday, his parents had given him a gift card for Earls and said that we could go out one night for dinner for a couple hours and they would watch Finnian. Well we finally went out on Monday! It was nice to get out with him without the baby...usually if people are going out to Tim Hortons or something, we take turns and the other stays at home...so this time we both got to go out! The food was really good!

The time change has been weird. I really WANT Finn to go to bed at 8pm like he was doing, but he's just not having it! But that's okay, eventually we'll get there...I hope! He has been sleeping better during the day though. Not usually in his crib though, either after I'm done feeding him he falls asleep on my bed...or else I put him in his little rocking chair and rock him until he falls asleep. Unfortunately with that, if I stop rocking he usually wakes up, but yesterday he slept for over a half hour after I stopped rocking him.

On Sunday Conor's mom threw me a baby shower...well, threw Finn a baby shower! All of the aunts on the Sweeney side came, as well as some cousins and my mom. Finn got some great clothes! I can't wait until he can fit into them. He also got a little monkey from Conor's mom, it's really cute, and it reminded Conor of all his monkeys he had as a kid. So he found them and Finn has been greatly enjoying them. One specifically Conor put on the cross bars of his play mat and Finn just lay there laughing at it! Very cute.

I think he has a bit of a cold right now. He was coughing alot last night, but he still slept well and ate well. Then we got up at 8 this morning, and I fed him at 9 and he fell asleep for 2.5 hours! It was good because I was tired, so I got to sleep and read some of my book! haha

Okay, he's fussing! I'll write more later...

3 months old!

Just Chillin'

Wow - I can't believe he's 3 months old already! But on the other hand I can't imagine that 3 months ago he wasn't around!

For Finn's "birthday" we took him to Science World for a big party! Just joking...well we did go to Science World, but it wasn't because it was his birthday.

They were having a Lego exhibit, and Conor's younger brothers wanted to see it. So them, myself and Finn, and Conor's parents went into Vancouver. It was the first time I had gone out that far with him...I was a little worried, but he did sooo well! He slept pretty much the whole way into the city, he was lying down or sitting up in his stroller as we walked around Science World - and only fussed a couple of times, so I would take him out and just walk with him.

I was most apprehensive about going to the omnimax theater (we saw a documentary on the Grand Canyon - a little cheesy, but some great scenic shots) because I didn't want him to cry and disturb people. When we just got in there, I decided to go up to the back and try to feed him while it was starting, but that was a bad idea and he got pretty upset. Then I could see this lady kept looking back and glaring my way, so I got up and walked around with him to the other side. There weren't as many people sitting there, and the people who were sitting there were probably about 7 years old, so I didn't think that a crying baby would distract them anymore than their classmates! He cried a bit, and I sat down and eventually he fell asleep, so I got to enjoy the whole show!!

That place was a GONG SHOW with all those kids. We tried to check out the Lego before we went to the omnimax, but it was too crowded so we didn't stay there long. When we went back after the show it was MUCH better, and we got to look at the exhibit alot easier.

Mommy's caught me in her legs!!

Anyways, back to Finn, I was telling Conor my thoughts on motherhood the other day :)

I half expected myself to be one of those really anxious mothers, but I'm so glad that I'm not! I think I enjoy this all so much more because I enjoy seeing other people hold Finn and interact with him, and I don't think it would be the same if I kept him all to myself.

Also, it still seems somewhat surreal to me that he's MY child! I don't feel as though I'm just babysitting him for someone else or anything, but I guess it just doesn't feel the way I thought it would feel - not that I'm complaining!

His "soft" smile

Sometimes I get frustrated, feeling like the majority of the "parenting" falls on me. When it came time for vaccinations and I wasn't sure if I should have him vaccinated or not, Conor said "whatever you want to do". I don't want to have to make all the decisions!! It's alot of pressure. But, other than the vaccination decision, most of it falls on me because I'm the mother and I choose to breastfeed. I wouldn't have it any other way, but it can be overwhelming at times!

Hello to my friends in Australia

Actually the more I think about it, I don't think it would bother me as much if Conor was out all day long and I was alone with the baby. But since he's home most of the time (other than when he goes to Latin and Italian) working on his thesis, I get upset that he doesn't voluntarily do more things...but I understand :)

Anyways, it is a full time job, but I love it :) I love going to his crib at 5 in the morning for his feeding, and him recognizing me and giving me a big gummy grin!! I love it when he "talks" to me. I love watching him smiling for his grandparents, aunties and uncles...and even sometimes the ladies at the bank! haha

Finn tried out the jolly-jumper for the first time today, but I think he was more interested in his hands!

The next three months will probably be completely different than these last three, and I can't wait!

GIrls Night!

On Tuesday night we (me, Julie, Sylvia, Catherine and Diana) had our girls night. I decided to feed Finn and leave him at home with Conor while I went out! Especially since we were going out to eat.

It was really nice, and I missed him, but I wasn't sitting there thinking of him the whole time or anything. I really enjoyed the evening :)

Awww, Finn misses Australia!!

Things are going really well...I'm still amazed at how good of a night sleeper he is. And he's also starting to sleep a bit more regularly during the day. I usually just sit back and relax while he sleeps during the day, but I guess I could get stuff done! (well right now I'm doing this, so that's something, right??) Anyways, I think the fact that he's getting more regular sleep during the day is also attributing to better moods on his part!

He hasn't been getting nearly as fussy, which is nice! I think it's also that he's just getting older, and can stay awake for longer before he starts getting tired, or overtired.

I've borrowed this Bumbo and an exersaucer from Conor's cousin Nicki, I don't think he's quite ready yet, but soon!

Haha, this looks kind of funny. I had started changing him (thus the bottom part of his sleepers are off), but he was really playful, so we played!

He fell back asleep after his morning feeding, so I wedged him between two pillows so I could get up!

In the exersaucer...I hope he loves it!

What are these things???

Well my little man has discovered his hands!

Although, he doesn't look at them yet, he just chews and slobber on them (primarily the right hand...does that mean he'll be right handed??)

It's quite cute. Last night I went to check on him in bed and he was just chewing away! It's really loud, so I replaced his hand with his soother, so that it would be quieter!

Random #4 - Kids Say the Darndest Things

I've always found it interesting the way parents answer their kids questions, especially the more awkward questions like "where do babies come from?" Obviously the answer will depend on the kids age and ability to handle the answer. But I don't really like it when parents lie just to save themselves. Do some parents actually tell their kids that babies come from storks?? Where did that even come from?

Anyways, I was on the tram in Melbourne once and overheard a "funny" conversation. Two little kids, I'm guessing aged 7 (boy) and 5 (girl), were sitting in the seats all dressed up, with their parents standing by them. I'm guessing they were going to a wedding, or coming back from one. This is the conversation I heard:

Girl : I think we should get married (to the boy)

Boy: Brothers and sisters aren't allowed to get married

Girl: Why not?

Boy: I don't know. Mom, why aren't we allowed to get married?

Mom: (short pause) Because your kids might turn out funny

Boy: (to girl) Yeah, our kids will be funny

Haha! I love it. On a side note, apparently I used to want to marry my brother Dan. I was the flower girl in my cousin Theresa's wedding, and I guess during the rehearsal or something I made some comment about how maybe someday Dan and I would walk down the aisle!! Haha :)