Crawling and Teeth Update...

Finnean can crawl EVERYWHERE and he goes fast!!! We have just been adjusting to have a more active baby and he could not be cuter as he crawls around! Finnean is also cutting his two top front teeth (not as cute). Yesterday he was pretty fussy and running a low temp and it just hasn't gone away. He just has not been himself, but before we know it he will really be able to chew some food!! The other new thing he does is blow air out his nose and wrinkle it up while he is doing it. We are trying to capture it one video because he looks so funny!. He can really get going, sounds like he is trying to blow his little nose! That's what is new at our house...more to come I am sure!!!

It's Fair Time!!!

1st Trip to the State Fair!!

We are going to take a picture of Finnean every year on the Grand Concourse, so we can see how much he changes each year.

Hanging with Grandma Deb.

Waiting for the rainstorm...listening to the talent contest.

Dad and Finnean the little piggy. In the one of the barns they had little piggy ears. Finnean did not like the lady messing with him to put them on but then after we got them on, he didn't mind at all. He looked so funny but SO CUTE!

Finnean's first Iowa State Fair!

Finnean and Dad.

We headed to the State Fair on Saturday. Finnean loved looking at all of the animals (especially the baby chicks), walking around and LOVED to watch the sky glide. We thought it might be too dangerous to take him this year, so we told him all about it and said we would ride next year. We met Grandma and Grandpa Thordarson at the fair for a little bit and plan to go back again sometime this week for dinner. It turned out to be nice with a cool breeze when we got there (I was worried about it being WAY TO HOT for Mr. Finnean) but then a rain storm came rolling in and woke up Finnean. He was napping in the stroller and we could not get inside fast enough and the little rain drops were getting his feet! He did not like that!!! Other than the rain shower, it was a great time and we look forward to many more trips to the fair in the future. Michael has been every year since he was born, so we hope to keep that tradition alive.

Many random photos...

His eyes seem to get bigger and bigger!

7.18.09

Up close.

7.18.09

"I can crawl!!!"
If you notice the red toy that he is going towards, that is Jerry's and Finnean LOVES it!
8.10.09

Dr. Finnean Michael Wagler

We went to a friend graduation party and he just graduated with his doctorate! Congrats Phil!!

8.9.09

Finnean is trying to pull up to standing in his crib...this is how Dad found him after his nappy.

8.15.09

Finnean looks like a jail bird here...this picture is fuzzy but this is usually how we find him every morning!

8.7.09

Reading+Bath=Very happy Finnean

Thanks for the super cool bath book Abby and Cory!!

8.13.09

Learning how to play guitar. Finnean loves to watch Dad play guitar and now likes to help play guitar!

8.13.09

"Okay-tell me one more time how to do it!!"

8.13.09

He looks like a giant baby here...he really is normal size!

8.11.09

All clean!!!

8.11.09

Silly boy!

7.18.09

Reading a book from Grandma Lisa.

7.14.09

He looks naughty!!

7.13.09

Hope your enjoyed some of the pictures that I haven't posted over the last month! He keeps us smiling-that is for sure!

Off to the races...

Finnean can officially crawl! We are off to buy a baby gate!! He crawled for Marica today and then when Dad got home he showed both of us how he could do it. The concentration on his face is priceless!! Hopefully more video to come!

Big Mess...

I always tell about the cute things Finnean has done or the adventures that we go on. Today I will share a messy, smelly story with you. Uncle Tom came down for dinner last night and Finnean stayed up a little later than normal so we decided not to give him a bath. I took him downstairs to get ready for bed and low and behold...a giant poopy diaper. Yuck! So I am trying to clean him up debating if I should give him a bath, trying not to get poopy all over him and he is screaming!!! All of a sudden I hear the sound of water filling something up...it was not water but it was PEE and his eye was the bucket! As I am trying to get him cleaned up he went pee and it went straight in his little eye:( He didn't know to move his head so he is gasping for air because it was scaring him. I finally figure out what is going on and he puts his hands over his eyes. We are both screaming at this point-me trying to get Michael downstairs to get the bath started, since now we have pee and poopy all over and Finnean because he went pee in his eye!!! While Finnean was trying to fend of the stream of pee...he cut under his little eye and it was bleeding...man what a mess!!!

I got him in the bath and all squeaky clean and we finally got to snuggle in the chair, got the nails trimmed and the eye stopped bleeding. He was so sleepy by this time- he just kept snuggling down while he finished up his bottle and was asleep 30 seconds after he hit the mattress! Hope this gives you a picture of what it really can be like at the Wagler household sometimes!

just in case you forgot...

This is what Finnean looked like just eight months ago...this picture was taken on the night of his birth. He cried and cried and cried and broke my heart but then we got to snuggle him up all squeaky clean and he smelled so good. It makes me smile just thinking about that day.

We are so glad he is here...

8 month photo shoot

He looks like such a big boy!!

The ear on this caterpillar squeaks. So I showed him how to squeak it. He did it with his hand once and then put it in his mouth and continued to squeak it by biting it. Whatever works I guess :)

What are you doing Dad?!

Finnean and his best friend Jerry!

Head shot.

This one is a little blurry but I could not resist posting it. He is just too cute!

Pondering what the next 8 months have in store...

New favorite position. He loves to go from his belly to sitting. He can really move around the floor with this new move. He is SO flexible!

This is my favorite.

He is patting his big belly and that smile just melts my heart!

*****
These are a few of the pictures from Finnean's eight month photo shoot. I could not decide what to put him in-so I decided on a hot summer day...he shouldn't have to wear anything at all!

Eight Months Old...TODAY!

Today Finnean is eight months old. It is amazing that he was so little just a short time ago. I know I always say how fast this is going but he is getting so big! I created a list of what our days are filled with...

• LOVES to growl, babble and make squealing noises (no mamamams or dadadadas yet!)
• learned he can blow bubbles in his drool and make a motor noise
• up on all fours and rocks back and forth
• uses Momma to stand up (just did this yesterday!)
• read, read and read...he can turn the pages when you ask him to
• roll everywhere
• if he sees something he wants he can go get it
• go from belly to sitting and back down and back up...one of is fav things to do right now
• "pet" Jerry
• starts talking when he sees Jerry
• feeds himself Puffs
• started trying new foods (for one week he consistently ate baby food...it is very sporadic)
• go for walks
• went on first vacation
• loves to knock over towers that you make
• enjoys bath time
• wears size 3 diapers
• wears 6-9 month clothes (most of the time)
• gained a cheesy smile
• laughs, laughs laughs!
• grunts when he does not like something (i.e.-take away paper...he loves paper)
• drools all over everything
• continues to put everything in his mouth
• loves hanging out with Marcia
• gets excited when Momma, Dad and Marcia come into the room
• sleeps on his belly
• loves to clap his hands, legs, pounds on the table, clap toys together...anything to make...
• music!! he loves when we sing, play, or make music!
• I am sure that I forgot a million of the new things he is doing, he changes each day!

Finnean has had a great month and continues to amaze us each day! We fall in love with him more and more every minute. Just when I think he is as cute as can be he does something even cuter!!

We are almost completely transitioned to formula. That has been really hard for me but I just couldn't pump anymore milk, my body was telling me it was time to be done. I have come a long ways from almost throwing up in the formula aisle because I felt so bad about not producing enough milk. Michael has been a huge support during this and Finnean has been great with the transition and we will be strictly formula before long. It is weird not to nurse him but I do feel a sense of freedom.

The other change is our lives---Marcia is going to be done at the end of August. We knew it could not last forever but wished it could-she has been an amazing part of Finnean's life and we are on the search to find someone who can give him as much love as she does! ..I am hopeful that we will find someone but it can be stressful!

So lots of changes for August but all things that we can find some good in as well! We are just so thankful for each day that we are happy and healthy. Well...that is all of an update that you get now, as little Finnean just woke up from his Sunday afternoon nap...i think long naps for me are the only thing I miss...but I will take sleep deprivation any day, as long as we get to snuggle Finnean!

Random pictures...

Lounging at the Farmer's Market in Des Moines.

Clap! Clap! Clap! Finnean loves to clap!

Dad making up different words to the patty cake song. Finnean thinks it is too funny when you clap his hands and sing anything!

Cheesy! Reading on the way to the Farmer's Market. He can read anywhere!

Does this look comfy? This crazy kid has figured out how to sleep on his belly and he loves to sit up in his bed. So I think this is what happens when you try to sit up when you are still sleeping. It just looks so uncomfortable!