So, it's been a hard time

for little Phin.
He's been teething. It's not normal teething either. His upper molars are coming in. Because of where the teeth are located, it's hard for the little boy to get a teething ring in his mouth.
SO, while I am generally against giving him a lot of grains, I broke down today and got him some teething biscuits. One set of biscuits is make with rice. The other set is made with wheat.
The rice biscuits fall apart as soon as his spit hits them. The wheat biscuits are much harder and they seemed for effective for his teething.
As you can see, he was pretty happy with the wheat biscuits.


In a side note, notice the monkey by him. You can see he's definitively out GROWN it by now. We'll have to do a monkey picture soon! :)

Slacker Much?

So I guess I have been absent for a little more than a week. I can assure you that Phin is doing well. We have just been a little "extra" busy.
Since we last checked in, Phin had his 8 month doctor's checkup. They said he's doing great - and he's on target and then some! His height is still in the 25% (which even the doctor couldn't believe because he looks SO big). His weight is in the 75%, and head size is 90th%. Hopefully that means he's got a lot of brains up there!

For Mother's Day, I was at the gym all day doing a training so I can become qualified to start teaching a weight lifting class. After the weekend was over, I had a very nice meal prepared for me and I also got a beautiful blown glass necklace.


This last week, we also went to the parents-as-teachers building to take a class in infant massage. Phin was a little less than impressed. I mean, there were things there that impressed him, but it was mostly his bff next to him and her socks, or the little girl on the other side with the big blue eyes... Even at this age, our Phin is trying to be a 'ladies man'.

Okay, my baby is on the move so I've got to cut this short!
We'll try to be back sooner than another week!!!

What a lovely day!

mohawk-less

I am not so much a fan.
the mowhawk is coming back people!

Kickin' the bell

As you probably know, Maggie is "bell trained." This means that she rings a bell when she needs to go outside to potty - of if she just wants to go outside to play on a nice day. The bell is attached to the bottom of the bakers rack and about a week ago Phin found said bell. He loves it. He loves to ring it and it really confuses Maggie.
The cat tried this as well in the past, but cat doesn't get a hall pass outside!
In this particular photo, phin is KICKING the bell.

I love my boy!

Swinging!

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!

Project MOVE

I made an "obstacle course" for Phin with his toys. Then I let him go.
WATCH and see what happens.
I am scared!

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!

Phin's Specs

He was a cute little guy today, so we had to snap a pic!

Great Grandpa Lawrence


Grandpa Jerry



Gram Carrie


Baby Tyler

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.

Over the river and thru the woods

to the grandparents house we go!

When I was a little girl, we used to sing this song as we went to my "Big Grandma's House." What fond memories I have of that time in my life. One of my favorite memories was my mom and me in the old Bronco... It was yet another rainy day and I, frustrated, asked my mom why it had to keep raining. She told me that it needed to rain so that the swans would have water to swim in. That answer was good enough for me! To this day, when I get sick of the rain, I think of the swans!

Get ready grandparents - Phin is on his way!!!

It's FINALLY April 15th!!!

For my whole life, April 15th is a little celebration in my head. See 4-15 isn't about TAX DAY in the most traditional sense of having to write a check and get it post marked. Instead, it's the day that the endless line of people sitting in my mom's office (and in so doing, take her attention off of ME) stops!

I know I am an adult now and I don't even live in the same town as my mom. But for the last 31 years, 4/15 has been a celebration day for me and it will continue on today. Soon, I will be able to visit my mummy almost anytime I want without worry of her tax clients!

You know we are out of town this weekend, but be expecting me mummy. I miss you!


And all I can say about it is YAY!

Super PHIN!!!

Phin's Easter Day

included a playdate!
Phin's friend, Mayah, came over for lunch and even brought an Easter Basket for my boy! It's funny to watch the two babies together. Phin just wants to watch and maybe touch her a little bit. Mayah looks back at Phin with a little bit of concern in her eyes - as he's so much BIGGER than she is!
We had burgers on the grill and a nice salad, of course.



Phin was quite excited by his Easter basket. Mostly, he wanted to EAT IT! :)

Phin as WWE Wrestler

Easter Cookies Making!

Cuddles with mama

It's bedtime and you can see who had less nap-time today!

Phin's 8 months old today

and we are breaking out the 18month old clothes. I think we should stop calling him "Phin" and call him "Moose" instead!

Phin's doggie

WARNING: I never finished this particular post - and I am just going to go ahead and publish what is here. I'll have to finish my thought another day when it's a little less busy!

Grandmother Allen and I started this project back in January and just finished it in March. It was a hard project and I truly couldn't have done it without GMA Allen!

At the time we started it, Phin wasn't quite strong enough to sit up in the cart on his own but I knew the time was right around the corner. Now, in April - as he's EIGHT months old, Phin is big enough and he enjoys sitting up on his own.

If you notice the shirt, it actually says "Diaper loading 72% complete) with a browser bar across the bottom (like a computer screen). I bought the shirt a few weeks ago. Let me set up the situation. I was on my way to the gym but decided I had time to stop by Walgreen's before I went to my classes. At Walgreen's I got out of the car, opened the backseat door and as I went to pull the car seat, I saw projectile vomit fly from little Phin's mouth. Maybe it was the squash he had eaten the night before, maybe it was something else. Who knows! All I knew is that I had a baby with vomit all over him.
What is a Mommy to do in that situation? I stood there for a few moments and then took the baby and car seat full of vomit into Walgreen's!
I looked for the items I was there for - of which they had none.
Then, I found a new onsie and we went back to the van and stripped the baby naked and washed him down with diaper wipes and put the onsie onto him. We then promptly went home and Phin went back to bed. He didn't get sick anymore, but he was a little crabby apple that day. I believe it was maybe from his teething... Anyway, while I was not particularly amused by the shirt, Daddy thought it was great!

As you look back over the last month, you will see that Phin is now sitting up on his own. He's eating veggies and now cheerios! Yesterday I went to lunch with some women from the gym. The bakery owner brought Phin a cream puff (it's like a donut with cream inside it and a chocolate swirl on top) on a big white plate. The owner was so proud of himself and ready for my little boy to pounce into it. I told the dude, no. Then no. And again, no. Finally, I told him that Phin's on milk only due to food allergies and he apologized and left. My little BABY isn't eating anything like that anytime soon!

We have also finally found the key to Phin's cradle cap! It turns out he can use the same lotion on his head that my dermatologist has me use on my face. His head is back to normal but I am still happy about that hat and mittnss we got him - after the cold spell we've had lately.

Mama went shopping!

My workout this morning didn't work out. So INSTEAD, I gave my credit card a workout!
I got there early to feed Phin before I started the classes. Then they were starting with the one class I don't do. I went and sat in the baby care room. By the time pump started and I got there, all of the bars and floor space was TAKEN. I decide to go to the lake shopping instead.
Good news is that I have a super cute outfit for super cheap!
These pants were $9.00
:)