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!

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!

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.

Maggie is a good dog!

This was our weekend to cook for church. We had tested and decided on "Ninja Sauce, red potato & asparagus, french garlic bread and a dessert of Angel food cake with fresh strawberries and also, lemon bars. For this particular event, we cook for about thirty people. SO, you can imagine the moving food from our home to the church. It requires lists, *MY* cooking tools, crates of food and SOME items I cook ahead of time as there is a time the food is to be served!

We had the list, the signs for the food, the serving dishes, the crates of food ready to be prepared as well as the food that was made earlier in the morning.

But, being a parent, you should expect GLITCHES. Usually, I am pretty good about expectations for these glitches and systems around the glitches... but this one... I didn't expect. Dan was at the stove finishing some Italian sausage for the meal and I was pulling a comb through my hair. Phin was laying in his crib, in only a diaper (he has been freshly showered) rolling around and playing.

All of a sudden, I hear blood curdling screaming from my baby. This is QUITE unusual so I walk into his room and find his chubby little leg stuck in between the slats of the crib. I tried to work his leg out, but his fat rolls and bare skin weren't helping the situation. Phin was, obviously, quite upset and I was unable to help him so I yelled to the kitchen to get help from Daddy. Dan came but he was also unable to get the leg out. I ran to the kitchen and got some spray olive oil and sprayed his leg up and out it slipped.

I think that was the worst thing that ever happened to that little boy and he was quite inconsolable. We didn't expect this leg thing - and it put us behind on the clock... so as we tried to rush everything to the car to make it to church on time, one soldier got left behind. That soldier was - the lemon bars - which I got left on the kitchen floor. (they had been lined up with the crates of food going to the car but since they were cold and food was hot and the crates were full, they were in line on the floor waiting to go to the car.) I thought Dan had them, he thought I had them and once we realized what happened, we were a round trip - 1 hour from home and we had to mourn the loss of the lemon bars. We both understood that Maggie would certainly have eaten them - or at least destroyed them with her face or feet or something. I mean, Montana had once dug through Mary Ann's luggage from London to pull out a HUGE special dark chocolate bar of which she devoured most of it. Who's to think Maggie would leave these lemon bars alone?



But for whatever reason, she did not touch the lemon bars at all! My guess is she was sleeping on our bed - on MY pillow (which is one of her favorite things).

Phin's Cheer-I-O-s

Additionally, this was Phin's first try at the Cheerios. I decided that he needs to be able to start working on self feeding. He hasn't has a chance to put food in his own mouth lately - besides a rogue bottle here and there. The Pediatrician said he should not have fruit until he's able to pick it up and eat it himself. SO, before apples (that's a joke) comes a cheerio!











Feeding by Daddy, video by Mommy!

Drinkin'

Phin's Big Day

This is a picture of Phin and Mommy!
Phin had a good morning hanging with Daddy while Mommy went out to hunt (deals) and gather (produce) at the local supermarket!


Mid-day, Phin wrapped himself up in his play pad! We love our silly boy!


In the evening, Mommy gave Phin his first "Trainer cup." He knew what to do with it straight away! Phin sipped while reclining on Daddy!

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 first trip to the violin shop!

While I was pregnant with Phin, I was getting (exercise induced) asthma when I would try to make my way onto campus for my violin lessons. I had to then stop the lessons because of my inability to breathe. THEN, I had a new born and I didn't have the time to practice. Now, Phin is seven months old and I am ready to pick up my instrument again - but it's seriously out of tune. It's so seriously out of tune, I am afraid to try to do it myself.
SO, on our way to the farm, we stopped at the violin shop and they tuned my violin for me! It was Phin's first time to visit the violin shop. Hopefully, in a few years, we will be returning - to find a nice little (1/4) rental for him to play too! :)

All bets are off!

Phin was on his blanket with toys all around.
I was sitting at the mac in front of the coffee table.
... and I hear this... crinkling.
THAT was the moment that I understood that everything had changed.


I felt a BUMP at my foot and looked down and saw THIS.







I guess he's interested in learning about computers - like his daddy (this is the mac cord that he pulled out of the computer.)



Baby proofing will be finished TONIGHT!

Baby Gate - Installed!

Phin is a cyclone.
I had ordered the baby gate online and was just waiting for it to appear.
In the meantime, Phin started rolling and rolling - making his way over to the staircase (never out of my view though) and I would move him back away to a safer region of the house.
Well, the gate is here and installed. It's actually really great! It has a remote control so when I have my hands full of baby and bags and STUFF, I can hit the button and it opens up for me to pass though. You do have to manually swing it closed again - but the ease of not having to jack with the child-proof opening has been HEAVEN!

This is just a picture of Phin - playing with Daddy's feet - off of his blanket where he was put down...

Phin hates his carrots!

What a Sunday!

Phin is becoming so aware of his surroundings. It's really quite amazing to see.
Today, Dan went to Home Depot to get supplies for the new kitchen faucet he was installing. Phin was in his exer-saucer. All of a sudden, the baby noticed the hydrangea and wanted to get a fist full. He started lunging forward and grabbing out to get the branch.




Later tonight, Daddy and I started making sugar cookies for Daddy's work. Phin was alseep and we didn't finish the cookies until the early hours of the morning... But here is a look at the fruits of our labor!

THE Boyz

I missed him more than words can describe.

Dan left Friday morning - early - to help those in South Missouri who had lost power due to the ice storm. Thursday, I had felt an "itch" in my throat and thought I must be coming down with what my mom had a week earlier. Well, I was right on one account...

With Daddy gone, Friday I felt worse and worse. I didn't venture out to the gym in the morning and really didn't feel like eating the whole day. I did have some dinner and before I knew it, not only was my whole respiratory system flipping out along with my sinuses. I shortly realized that not only did I have a cold, I also had a very nasty flu.

Something you may not know about me is that one of the things I hate most is - to throw up. Most of the times I have thrown up in the last, say, five years have been due to food poisoning. The first time since Dan and I have been together was while we were engaged. We had eaten at a pizza place in my home town (which soon thereafter went out of business) and had plans later that night to go to a 4th of July display near Columbia (Daddy Bill's). Dan tried to hold my hair back for me as I lost every bit of liquid from my body. Little did he know that I need to be alone with my vomit - so I yelled at him to leave the bathroom and I was miserable on my own.
Another time, we were at a movie. I believe it was a X-Men. The theater was spinning and I was trying to keep up with the story line. When I got home, it was vomit city and Dan knew to let me be.

So, this is how we ended up to a house full of a sick Mommy and a little baby boy. Daddy was off to help other people and this time, Mommy really needed help too. I spent Friday night sleeping on the bathroom floor and then moving to the kitchen to fill up my water glass. My body was reverberating in pain with each breath and simply drinking water was a chore that sometimes took half an hour to accomplish. Lucky for me, my little boy came through like a champ - sleeping the whole night through like everything is right with the world.

I knew, however, that I NEEDED help.

I thought through the list of people I could call. The family with a brand new baby of their own and one less adult in the house - no. Families who had older children - but most possibly not the equipment it would take to care for a 5 month old. Another lady I know who would probably watch him - but I didn't have her number and I didn't want to impose on her with her already full house of children. I prayed that my first (and perhaps only) choice was available. I did an Internet search (thank you facebook) for Mike's number and emailed him at something like 4am - seeing if they were in town and available to take Phin for me.

Now, you have got to understand. Phin has never actually be away from me for more than - maybe - two hours. I take that back. He's been alone with both Grandmas for hours before... but certainly no one outside of the family. So, for me to leave him with anyone tells us two things: A) I was certainly very ill & B) I trust Mike and Melissa in a way that I don't trust most people. I trust Mike and Melissa with the most precious gift I have ever been given.

Mike and Melissa kept Phin all day and until 1am this morning when Daddy got back from South Missouri and we drove over to get our boy. They said he was easy and happy and didn't eat much. He was a happy like super star and everyone did just fine. Well, everyone but me. While sweating with a fever and being dehydrated I missed my baby so much that I came to trusty ole hyphin and looked at pictures of his smiling face.




I missed him more than words can describe. Which "him" - both of them actually. I am glad that Daddy is so involved with helping those who need it right now. I am happy that Phin was able to stay a whole day (something like 17 hours) with trusted family friends and be okay. But man, I missed both of my guys!

I guess, at the end of the day, I am happy that my health is returning - but mostly, I am happy everyone is back, under the same roof. Superbowl Sunday? For me, it's Thanksgiving!


(and to add insult to injury, this is what Maggie was trying to do while I was so sick!)

Dear Mommy:

I was so happy with myself that I didn't get your chest cold!
But, uh, I think it started last night and then continued on yesterday and now...
well, I have it.
:(
I am continually coughing up half of a lung!
The good news is that I have a great haircut AND I got to see you!
I'm not mad, but I am also not going to be able to go to the gym tomorrow.
The good news there is that I will have the weekend to recuperate! (yay)

Oh, also Dan is going to leave to save the world tomorrow morning.
The particulars involve the ice/snow in South Missouri (call me on the phone tomorrow to learn more.) Oh, and about that, I think my phone is freezing out in the van at the moment.

One more thing!
We bought Phin clothes yesterday. We went to the outlet mall with a 20% your entire purchase to our favorite kids store. Just imagine: a lot of un-purchased inventory at HUGE discounts; a baby who has grown out of tons of his clothing; a hand made spreadsheet of each piece of clothing he has (from Auntie) (and in what size it is) AND a Mommy who is planning ahead into the 2T, 3T & 4T's... and the final verdict is 25 pieces (some of those pieces are actually SETS, like "shirt & overalls") and a bottom line "savings" of $470.00 Almost every single piece I bought was around four dollars and some change and Phin is pretty much set for years!

Okay, now for some sleep and some lactation approved cough syrup.
I'll add pictures of the new clothes and jammies as soon as I get a moment.

Oh, and don't worry about me. Grandmother Allen said that if I get too run down while Phin's Daddy is away - she will come take care of us both. I mean, I expect that I will be okay - just tired and coughing and stuff - but it's good to know that Gma Allen is there is I need her (just like you are!)

XOXO!
Phin's mama.

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!

Jump up, jump up and get down!

Daddy took this flip of Phin jumping around while I was out of the house grocery shopping.

A week!

So, I have missed a whole week of updating which - sucks.
Things have just been very busy. Phin and I have been trying to get on a good schedule with the gym. My gym has two different buildings. The one close to where I live doesn't have classes I like, and the other building is far away. I think we have finally found a 9am schedule so we can really make the schedule work for Phin too.

I have also been working on a "magic blanket" for Phin's little friend who was born two days ago. Phin's new friend is a girl named Mayah. My spare time has been taken with the magic blanket and little baby hats for the hospital.

Last, we had a friend going to Malowie for a missions trip - and her sister in law came back to Missouri (from California) for a couple weeks before she leaves for the African Congo for two years at a University Teacher. We wanted to have a proper "going away" party for her and then I can start planning her "We're glad you're back" party for two years from now.





Phin is still rolling over to his back (still no belly roll on purpose) and jumping in his sit/stand toy. He is noticing the world around him - which is awesome to see - but nothing jaw dropping new. I do have a video of him jumping around to upload and some pictures of the going away party.

We also got some GREAT presents from Grandpa Routier in the mail. I NEED to photograph some of them to post. Phin got some SUPER CUTE clothes and a funny puppy. I will work on the uploading of video and pictures soon.

Hopefully, things will calm down a little in the next few days - but we will be sitting a dog for the next week - so we'll just have to see how it works out. Keep checking in - things will be added soon!

Thank you for your continued interest in baby Phin!

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!!!