Stuff we're up to on my maternity leave (AKA I DON'T want to go back to work so soon!)

The kids and I have been taking advantage of everyday I'm off from work. I don't want to go back! We've been spending a great deal of time out at the farm with Mimi and Grampie. One day we went on Mimi's annual shopping trip to the outlet mall with a couple of her old friends and grandchildren. Ingrit enjoyed playing with the kids. She's such a good girl! And little Finn is the easiest going baby in the WORLD.

Finn does indeed have moments neediness where I can't quite figure out what's troubling him, but they're not everyday and they're not for all that long. Usually holding and cuddling him can calm him. There have been times when I'd have liked to set him down for awhile, but I'm getting really good at my various slings/wraps/carriers! Wearing Finn almost always settles him. He's just a snuggle bottom baby who wants to be close to his loved ones. Sweet sweet little man.

We've also been going to the park and to the Eagle's Nest. The weather's been so beautiful! 60-75 everyday! yes! I love not being cooped up. I also love feeling capable--I can get a LOT done even with both kids. Yay! And Ingrit's a great helper. She loves being involved in every activity from picking up toys, putting laundry away, putting dishes away, dusting, etc...

 Mimi and Ing

 At Water Tower Park, on our block of 33rd Ave NE

 At Como Zoo

 Finn in booties from Auntie Karen Watkins

 We dress for dinner in our house!

 Mother Daughter IKEA breakfast and shopping trip

 Kissy lips!

 Packer fan!

 An attwmpt to get a self portrait of me and FW in the sling, turns out I had to take 2 shots to get us both.

That all said, yesterday the three of us spent the day at the farm making apple sauce and I was not much help. For some reason Finn needed to be held outside of a sling for most of the morning. He did then take a beautiful nap in the afternoon--pictured below. I guess babies just have days like that some times. Ingrit entertained herself and Mimi and me by dancing some great new dance steps and singing. She sings all the time when she's playing by herself. It's really sweet and I think she's quite melodic.

Visit to Mondovi

The family went to Mondovi on 9/26 to meet Nana (great grandma Pat), Auntie Tammy, and Cousin Haley. A very nice time was had by all. Grandpa Tom and Grandma Kathy (Grandma and Grandpa "in the woods" as they're known to Ingrit) got to hold and cuddle Finley and see how much he's grown since his birthday. Nana seemed very happy to hold the little guy and get to meet him so soon.

Auntie and Cousin made quite an impact on the Ingers. She really loves to see them. Ingrit's such a good big sister! She really doesn't seem jealous of baby even though I know how hard it must be to go from being the center of our world to sharing that spot with someone else and someone so novel as a newborn.  Ingrit's friends and family all do a really good job of making her feel included and special too. She's been wearing these flowered hair barrettes from Tammy quite often and she loves a sticker book from Grandma and Grandpa.

Ingrit's New Favorite Book

Thanks to my dear friend Susan, Ingrit has a new favorite book. Bear in Underwear. It's been quite some time since I've been asked to read a book 6 times in a row without a break. It's a great book though so it's okay.

And she LOVES it. I think part of the appeal is that I read it in the same way we gently mocked her kvetching this summer on vacation. She was "too itchy" "too deep" "too hot" etc...and she liked saying them the way we did with high pitched voices. Part of the Bear in Underwear is about all the ways the underwear he's trying on are wrong. They are all "too tight" "too loose" "too dorky" "too girly" etc.

Here are some pictures from our summer vacation. You will see that Ingrit wasn't ALWAYS too itchy, too deep or too hot. We had a lot of fun.