Wednesday, February 23, 2011

FINLAY


So I was reading old posts from when Duncan was about Fin's age now and realized that I haven't really recorded much about Finlay (other than he's really cute and melts my heart). I think anyone who knows him would agree that he's just delightful. He hasn't met a stranger. He waves and smiles at the people in the cars next to us at traffic lights. When we're out to eat I'll see him looking off into the distance and smiling. I can always scan the crowd to find some lucky individual who has just been friended by Fin.


He loves his Dad and greets him every night with an enthusiastic DAD!! This morning when Jimmy was leaving for work, Finlay gave him an unprompted, "I love you Dad!" When playing with Dad he likes to jump on him, off of him, over him (actually on him again), or to him. He loves trucks and motorcycles. Every time he hears a siren, "FIRE TRUCK!" Duncan got a dump truck for his birthday and for weeks anytime we went anywhere in the car, for the duration of the trip, the conversation went like this,

"Mom. MOM!"
"What Fin?"
"DUMP TRUCK!"
Who knew there so many dump truck looking truck on the road? Along with cars he was a passion for throwing. He has quite an arm and the wind up kills me. Its like he's been watching pitchers or something. He gets his whole body into and is fairly accurate. Lets see....what else? He likes his sleep. He doesn't sleep tons but when he's tired, he's practically drooling over his crib. Speaking of crib, he still loves that binky for sleeping (Ok, Ok, not always just sleeping). That will be a hard habit to break.

He's no angel of course. He likes to kind of ignore you and pretend like nothing ever happened after he's been naughty. Or he tries to charm his way out of trouble which is a very powerful tool that will probably come in handy later in life as well. He's just so darn charming. Even when he's really mad and yelling with all his might at Duncan, we just can't help but laugh at him, it's so cute. He gets feisty but it always passes quickly. He likes to focus on one thing at a time. He won't hold a sippy cup in one hand and a cracker in the other. It's either eating time or drinking time. I'm pretty sure developmentally he is capable of holding two different things in each hand.

As far as talking goes, I figure he is right where he should be. He likes to wander the house saying, "Duncan, where are you?", or , "Duncan, come on." He like Duncan. And when I call for him he answers back with, "what?" That cracks me up. He tries to count which normally comes out something like 13787878787878. I don't know why he likes 7 and 8 so much? He says the prayer or something like it I guess. We normally catch, father, day, daddy, grandpa, grandma, amen. We say Amen and eat =) I'm sorry about all the grammatical errors. I'm too tired for quotations and commas and stuff. And I know this getting long but I have to talk about the ways he runs or bounces or gallops. Any of those description will do. Sometimes we make him run just for our entertainment. He also is an amazing eater. He eats SALAD! He even asks for more salad. I still can't get over it. But really, this is long so to end it let me just say Finlay is sweet and happy and funny and makes other people feel the same way. I am one lucky Momma.
p.s. no editing has taken place here tonight. Be kind in your thoughts toward my intelligence.




Sunday, January 30, 2011

Book Review

I did something I rarely do. I read a book. I can't believe I just admitted to how little I read, I just don't like feeling committed to a book. If the book is good I'm not the kind of person that can just read a little here or there. It consumes my life until it is finished. I normally end up sacrificing way too much sleep and time with the kids just to know what happens in the end. But a few weeks ago I heard a book review on NPR on "Battle Hymn of a Tiger Mother" and couldn't stop thinking about it. Then all the sudden it was getting tons of press and well, I still couldn't stop thinking about it so I read it.
Something I definitely don't regret. I don't want to analyze the book too much here. Let me just say that I really enjoyed reading it -to which Jimmy can attest. I would read bits here and there to him and retell parts to anyone who would listen. And I'm about to do the same to you. Ok, so here's the scene. They are at a "mediocre" restaurant for her birthday because her husband forgot to make reservations. Her 10 year old daughter just gave her a birthday card that is basically a piece of paper folded in half with a smiley face that says, "Happy Birthday, I love you." Or something like that.

I gave the card back to Lulu. "I don't want this," I said. "I want a better one -one that you've put some thought and effort into..."

I grabbed the card again and flipped it over. I pulled out a pen from my purse and scrawled "Happy Birthday Lulu Whoopee!" I added a big sour face. "What if I gave you this for your birthday, Lulu-would you like that? But I would never do that, Lulu. No-I get you magicians and giant slides that cost me hundreds of dollars. I get you huge ice cream cakes shaped like penguins and I spend half my salary on stupid sticker and eraser party favors that everyone just throws away. I work so hard to give you good birthdays! I deserve better than this. So I reject this." I threw the card back.

So that gives you a taste of the book. And some of you are probably thinking, "Well, why should she want to do something nice for her psychopath mom?" It is extreme and while I totally disagree with her method, I do kind of like the message. How many of us would act all excited to receive some dinky card that our 10 year old threw together at the last minute with no real thought. Shouldn't we teach our kids that when you put time and effort into something for someone it shows love and appreciation and shows the opposite if we don't. She's definitely less concerned about her children's feelings and more concerned about preparing them for life (or maybe she's more concerned for her own feelings... I haven't decided yet). But anyway, a common theme in her chinese parenting approach is if you expect less from your kids it's like telling them you don't think they're capable of more, but if you push them and expect great things it's like telling them you believe they are capable of great things. Like, I said, I like a lot of the ideas not the teaching method. There are kinder more loving ways to teach similar principles. I really could go on forever about this topic so I better wrap this up. If you haven't decided that this woman is evil and you don't want to support her in any way, you should read this book =)

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Bathroom Floor

I think I may sleep on the bathroom floor tonight. Is that weird? Well, it is the thing I worked hardest on today, that bathroom. And I nearly killed myself navigating through our dark messy bedroom (light's burnt out). So I really think the bathroom would be safer. And shouldn't I get to enjoy my biggest accomplishment of the day? Ok Ok...so I'm not really going to sleep there because lets face it, I'll take a messy mattress over clean tile any day. But I really do want to stay there in that bathroom and pretend like I'm a tidy person and the rest of my home is as squeaky clean. Reality is dirty.

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Duncan Said

Duncan turned 4 yesterday. Finally. But anyway, when we were driving home last night from Grandma and Grandpa MacDougall's house I said to him, "Duncan, I can't believe you're 4!" To which he responded, "And I can't believe you're 30!"


You and me both Kid....

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

The Best Thing I Did for Christmas

Have you ever read the Winnie the Pooh book, "Friendship Day"? In the book they are all getting ready to celebrate Friendship Day by making something special for their friends. Eeyore can't think of anything to do for his friends but with the help of Christopher Robin he comes up with the idea to make them all Friendship Day Ribbons. Well, I totally stole Eeyore's idea this year. I made ribbons for all the family and asked Duncan why each person should get an award. Then I wrote #1 whatever using what Duncan said. Duncan was so excited to give them out and everyone loved them. I was so worried about helping Duncan understand that Christmas is about thinking of others, but I think I may have accomplished at least that one thing on my Christmas TO DO list. Plus, Duncan came up with some pretty funny awards. My sister-in-law got #1 Hair Brusher because she has 3 little girls with lots of hair that she's always brushing.

from top to bottom, left to right: #1 Hugger, #1 Hair Brusher, #1 Worker, #1 Truck Getter, #1 Player, #1 Iguana Keeper, #1 First Grader, #1 Rider in the Car, #1 Cooker

Monday, December 27, 2010

Well Baby Check Up

Well someone just had a birthday (besides Jesus)and you know what we do on birthdays? Yup, that's right, we go to the Doctor where they poke and prod and measure and check and discuss development. So here's the report.

Age: 30

Height: 5'7 3/4" and shrinking

Weight: 143.8 and not shrinking

Eating: too much sugar and not enough vegetables ...typical
Sleeping: continues to be a problem -could use about 3 more hours a day to fend off late afternoon fussiness

Cognitive development: declining -definitely something to watch

Reflexes: cat like

Areas of concern: communication -jumbles names together /can't finish sentences. too much screen time. potty training

25 years ago.

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Duncan Sings...Kind of.

Duncan's Singing Debut from Holly MacDougall on Vimeo.