just another day at home...

and I guess there are people who would hate doing this, but I truly love it.
We wore our jammies today. Isaac took them off when it was time to eat, but the rest of the time, he was jammed up too!
Phin soothed his brother when he heard him making sounds. A little Phin hand on his belly and the sound of Phin saying "shhh" is all it took to calm him down.



Phin enjoyed his daily reading...


Baby brother is currently still rocking the blue eyes.

what a cute guy!

Daddy had an event to go to tonight. Mommy and Phin tagged along. See Phin in his fleecie overalls and a wonderful mohawk! Tonight will be a fun night!

THANK YOU Uncle David!

Uncle David used one of his many talents to make a swing set for Phin. It was ready last fall but we didn't get a chance to get it up here from the farm before it got cold outside. When Grandma Susie came to visit on her birthday weekend, she brought the swing set along and we got it all set up!

Grandma Susie and I stained and sealed the bench swing while Phin was napping.





Daddy worked hard to get the swing set put together.


After fetching, Maggie decided to relax.


Phin got the FIRST try on the swing!

Phin's new swing!

Happy Birthday Grandma Susie!

Phin wanted in on Grandma's Fiesta Birthday Picture!


How nice that Daddy was willing to share his fiesta hat with Phin!

Grandma and Mommy had our hats too!

Inside

The Grandparents Allen!!!

Dan was very excited to ride Grandmother Allen's bike (after Great Grandpa Allen rode it.) Phin did NOT ride the bike - although he did pose for a picture or two...


Dan also showed Phin a little about safety with the helmet!


Phin also posed with the musical frogs (with Daddy's help.)


We also got a new (4) generation picture of the Allen/Routier family.

Ya, so I used to groom dogs...

and I thought, it can't be THAT much harder to cut boy hair. Right?
So, I watched Dan get his last haircut and then last night while Grandmother Allen played with Phin, Mommy went after Daddy's hairs like he was a naughty little Mini Schnauzer. For the first time ever, it went okay. I am sure it'll take less time and less mirror checks by daddy in the future. I tell you, it's a BLAST being a member of this family. Phin gets fish oil squeezed into his mouth (via a dropper) daily and now, daddy get's "home haircuts"! Woohoo!

Sunday Night Family Fun!

Phin's Friday!

He had a nap (or three) to get ready for his big night!


He flew (with Daddy engine power) to his bedroom to get changed for his night out.


And this is a picture of me - with actual clothes on and my hair somewhat "done."
See, I don't do myself up every day - so anytime I do, you will see it!
It's almost time for another haircut!

Phin's second sweater from Great Great Grandma.

I love this sweater too. (Under it is a shirt from Auntie Nicki. You can see the shirt in the carrot eating video.)


This face looks like ME!

Who would have known?

Dan's GREAT GREAT GRANDMA sat and knitted sweaters for Dan to wear when he was a little boy. I am sure the never though that thirty some odd years later, those same sweaters would be gracing the shoulder of his son. I am so happy and excited to have such cute and warm clothes for Phin to finish off the winter in.
This is the first sweater he has worn. But, more to come!



These are just a couple pictures of me and my baby. Thank you Daddy for taking a picture or two!

SIX

Today, I woman guessed how old my baby was. Her guess was 10months. I told her, my baby is six months old today. I then came home and straightened his closet. I took all of his newborn, 3 month, 6 month and 9 month clothes and put them into a storage saver bag. It took an XXL bag that is full to the top!
It’s been interesting because this month, Phin’s friend “Mayah” was born. She is currently about the size Phin was when he was born. The last time we visited the family, we saw Mayah’s little tiny baby feet peek out from her blanket. It was breath taking – not only because they are Mayah’s feet… but also because just six months ago Phin’s feet looked just like that. HOW is it possible that in just six months time Phin has moved from newborn clothing to 12 month clothing? HOW is that possible?
Over the last month, I have truly enjoyed watching Phin grow – mentally. In the last four weeks, he has started rolling over from tummy to back. Now, he still refuses to go back to his tummy but we hope that will change in time. ☺ There are other things though. Phin is very interested in food. He knows where his food comes from and he’s gone to “self serve” mode which is funny because I remember how it was an hour long battle (in the beginning) to get twenty minutes of feeding out of him. I remember one morning after my mom had left I was unable to wake Phin up to eat. He was physically fine (breathing etc), but he was simply not interested in waking up to eat. The doctor had told us that he should eat every three hours and so I was beside myself with what I should do. I called my mom in TEARS asking her what I should do. She was scared he was unresponsiveness or not breathing when I said I couldn’t wake him up – but after she understood the problem she assured me that it was fine and when my baby was hungry, he would let me know. She was, of course, right. But, I digress. Phin’s new obsession with food is actually with Daddy’s food. Phin watches it in Daddy’s hand or on Daddy’s fork and then it goes to Daddy’s mouth and then it disappears! I watch the confusion on his face over and over as this disappearing food/drink happens. He has also started to notice things. Looking over my shoulder as we walk down the hall – watching Maggie walking behind us…
Everyone who watches this blog has seen his rocking on his standing machine…
Yesterday was a great day. It was in the upper 60’s, lower 70’s and it was Phin’s first day to spend some time outside. I showed him how we get the mail. We looked at our yard and also we sat on the deck. We sat on steps that were in the shade and he even took the initiative to lay on his belly on the deck to feel the wood. I let him do it until I noticed that his clothes were getting DIRTY and I immediately picked him up and brushed him off. Daddy says “Let him be a boy” and I will! But right now, he’s still a BABY!
And this, this was Phin’s big 6month surprise: Great Grandpa and Grandma came to visit! See the pictures and video below.

Phin's first supervised date!

Okay, so we didn't take a picture of the kids DURING the date because we are trying to be the "cool" parents and stuff... but here is a picture of the aftermath.

Phin is not "officially dating" Mayah but I think the kids had a good time together. We didn't leave them alone together... They did participate in some baby talk together, which none of us understood, but we believe it was all above board and "clean". :)
We got there for dinner around 6:30 and I thought it was 9pm when we left - turns out it was 11:30pm! Phin has figured it out... IT'S BEDTIME!

Mother Allen Helps!

We were going to fix a dress for a little baby girl and then make a diaper bag. However, it just didn't work out that way. I was uninspired by the diaper bag and the dress is for an older child, and so, I started cutting and getting ready to make "Grocery Dog" for Phin.
I could not have done it without Grandmother Allen.
As a matter of fact, I will probably never try such a project again. It was quite advanced.

Into the evening, Dan popped up some popcorn (THANK YOU Grandpa and Gma Routier) and he was nice enough to share with everyone (except Phin!!!)

Dan stayed out of the way while we pinned and stitched.

Doesn't it look like Grandmother Allen is sneezing popcorn! What a HOOT!

And this is grocery dog - not quite finished. WE have an appointment set to finish it up. Then, Phin can sit in the cart at the grocery store and I won't have to stress out over the germs as we shop!

Phin ALMOST rolls

I am having a lot of trouble getting the site to upload the video - so until I can get it to accept the video, here a a couple of pictures from last night.
Since our first date (we figure around 6.5 years ago) that included food was Indian food, I decided to whip up some tikka masala. The veggies were still steaming during the picture taking process - so they are missing.

Daddy decided to get Phin's high chair (Thank you Auntie!) and give it a whirl on the day Phin turned 5 months. He did a really good job with the high chair. I lit some candles (for the unmentioned cake fiasco) and Phin enjoyed smelling almond and staring at the tiny lights while we ate.

Excellence!

(Oh, and Phin HAD been wearing his choo choo top that he got from Uncle Dave and Nicki, but there was a LEAKAGE problem, so we changed before dinner...) They fit perfectly and look SUPER CUTE! Thanks Uncle and Auntie!!!

FIVE

The best day of my life was not:
- The day in high school that I moved from being so heavy I had to shop only in specialty stores for clothing to being small enough to shop at any store.
- The day I passed my test and became a “black belt” in a marital art.
- The day I graduated from the University as a McNair Scholar with a number of honors and scholarships under my belt.
- My wedding day

- The day it was confirmed that I was going to have a baby.

The best day of my life is actually today. I wish I were able to share with you the huge smile that is on my face and in my heart. Do you know what makes today so special? Today (January 7, 2009) marks the day that I have been married to my awesome husband for five years and it is also the day my baby turns five months old. I know this is “Phin’s blog” and this post will come around to be all about him, but today we are going to take the long way around. Today is not the day to be in a hurry!

Our dating was great.
In the first year of our marriage,
I went to my first professional sports game

and bought a house.
2005 - Dan graduated from the University.

2006 brought the beginning of Dan’s Military career, our first camp and canoe trip and Maggie.

2007, the second camp and canoe trip, continued work on the house
and the start of Phin (Petite Minute)



2008, Dan’s change from enlisted to officer, the third annual camp and canoe trip being postponed in lieu of the birth of Phin.

Now, the beginning of 2009 with my eyes wide open and excitement in my heart that things have gone so very well thus far.
I mean, of all of the people who get married, what are the odds that I would get such a loving and understanding husband? How is it possible that we have been this blessed in just five years (over six including dating)? We pretend to fight,
but our biggest disagreements that come to mind are things like: Dan picking up some shredded cheese at the market for me and getting the name brand (instead of generic or store brand) – what makes us so important that we need NAME BRAND???

Such a wonder of a lifetime and now, this little boy. This baby was planned and wanted. I named him “petite minute” from the beginning and I believe that such a name was very wise and telling on my part. My pregnancy was just a petite minute and his life thus far has been a petite minute (though he’s in no way petite!) The thing that I know today is that this little boy, who has his daddy’s lips and his mama’s eyes has brought such a joy and (an indescribable something) to the LIFE in our home.

I know that Dan and I have been happy throughout our whole marriage – but it has now taken on such a sweeter fragrance! I pop out of bed each morning to see that sweet smiling face and sometimes (actually quite often) I hold him and rock him in my arms long after he’s fast asleep. Between you and me, Phin’s daddy has told me he does the same thing. These moments and days are so fleeting and we understand such. So today, we will hold him more than necessary. Today I will keep every smile I can steal from him.

I cannot know what the future holds, but I do have dreams for my baby. They are the same dreams every mom has. I have visions of his rolling over for the first time. Then his crawling turning into his first step and then into his first word. I wonder what terribly embarrassing thing he will say to some stranger. You know, the thing that is so embarrassing that I want to blog about it – but SO VERY embarrassing that I can’t bring myself to “put it out there” like that.

There are other things too. This is Phin's room. It's a working room that changes all of the time. You will notice that the bumper is off of his bed - after at around day 9.5 , he scooted himself into the corner of the crib to try to "nurse" the bumper. We removed it so that there was no suffocation hazard in his crib.
We got that rug for his room right before he was born. The rug has a road on it so when he's older, he can run cars on it.


You see his flock of sheep, I got them for him this holiday season. I got them because I can picture in my mind, his playing with them. I can imagine a future of sheep lining the hall and he "herds" them around. I think they may also have a good religious value as he gets older and starts to understand bible stories...


Below his flock of sheep, he has books. There is the patchwork Elmer elephant with Elmer books, the Dolly Parton Imagination Library books, books I have picked for him and then books from Grandmother Allen that belonged to his daddy. We even have a great new book from the Great Grandparents Allen, but it's on our coffee table - instead of on his shelf.

Then there is this laundry hamper. We use it everyday but we got it because we imagined the kinds of fun Phin could have with it as he gets to be a bigger boy.


I guess my point is that I see where our future (if it’s God’s will) may be headed and I look forward to all of those things. But today I am tasting the sweetness of the last five years. I am reveling in all of the awesomeness of today. My day's agenda is to pick up our anniversary cake from the baker, make a nice dinner to place on our new dining room table and enjoy the evening with Dan when he gets home from work. Phin will take turns sitting on his daddy's lap and then mine and Maggie will be pacing the floor, looking for dropped food. The cat will, no doubt, be lurking on a chair while pretending to be invisible and in the background, music will play. We will eat dinner, and will simply continue to -be-.