4 Months Today

This Moment:

UK vs. OSU game with papa (we don't normally do tv, but it's the sweet 16 and it's streaming on the laptop, so....)

Activity!

In between rainy days, we have had some beautiful 60 degree weather. It's been nice to get Finn outside more without having to bundle him up so much. We've kept up with mama/baby yoga and pilates, have been taking walks, went to our first La Leche League meeting, and we went climbing in the Gorge this past weekend! It was a bit of a process - Finn in the Baby K'tan wrap on my front and a backpack filled with baby gear on my back for the hike in and out. We got to do a bit of climbing and it felt great! Finn napped, nursed, and watched all the action. He was a bit overstimulated that evening and it took him a while to wind down, but the day was well worth it! Here are some photos of climbing and hanging out with the boy!

3 Month photos with Crystal

We had Finn's 3 month photos taken this weekend with our fabulous photographer friend, Crystal Heis. Here is a link to a preview photo...we will probably have the rest in a week or two!

http://cheisphotography.blogspot.com/2011/02/sneak-preview-finn.html

Happy 3 Months to Finn!

After bath and baby massage...a content boy, getting ready for bed:

The Weekly Finn...

that smile...

Back to the blog...

I know - I've been a blog ghost for the past few months. However the past few months have been seriously busy. Alaska trip, birth of Finn, holidays, out west residency interview trip, Nashville visits....

I'm starting to get into a bit of a routine with Finn, so I think that I will have more time to devote to blogging. I'm thinking one post per week to give folks an update on our lives as we are learning how to be parents and as we're preparing for some other big changes: moving and Adam starting residency.

At some point I may do a post about Finn's birth and my labor, but right now I'm going to stick to the present. Finn and I have been venturing out more during the days - Mama/Baby yoga, the Y, playdates with Kandace and Lucy, and tomorrow is the start of Mama/Baby pilates. It helps me mentally and physically to have something planned for each day. As soon as I feel like we're in a schedule, things change or he has a string of cranky days, but each day he is growing/learning and becoming more interactive.

We've been trying to take advantage of the beautiful sunshine and 60 degree weather this week. Walking, short hikes, porch swinging. Adam is taking a class this month and is not in a rotation, so he has had more time at home.

Short hike with Adam and the dogs at Veterans Park - sleepy baby..

He was not into the sunglasses...will have to try again when he's a bit older...

Recent changes I've noticed in Finn - he is 12 weeks old today:

- smiles more, increased range of noises

- lets us know what he DOESN'T like by making his whole body stiff, spitting, and scrunching his face.....lovely.

- using his hands more - sticking them in his mouth, reaching more for toys (not necessarily on purpose, but hey, whatever works)

- he is sleeping much better during the night (I hope this doesn't jinx it...) he sleeps with us, so he just wakes up a few times to nurse while we're lying down and we usually fall back asleep nursing. some mornings i don't even remember very clearly.

Bathtime!

I just keep reminding myself to enjoy this time and not wish it away or look too far in the future. He will only be at each age once, and I want to take it all in - regardless crying, crankiness, or all the steps pacing back and forth when he only wants to be walked :)

Matanuska Peak & Medevac

Life-Med Evacuation Flight to Cordova

View Larger Map

Bleary eyed after a 2-day stretch that included a 12AM medi-vac trip to Cordova to pick up a unstable gentleman with Crown Royal-induced pancreatitis and a full day of interviews with the Alaska Familiy Medicine Residency, I headed North to the Mat-Su for a quick trip up Matanuska Peak with the venerable Bumpus McFumpus (also known as "Ben Meyer" in quiet whispered conversations).

McRoberts Creek

As the trail wound up the south slope of Lazy Mountain above the McRoberts Creek drainage, the traces of fall disappeared underneath several inches of snow.

Sunrise in the Chugach

Matanuska Peak

The well demarcated single track trail (evident beneath the snow) transitioned into a scree slope that steepened and eventually forced us to continue our scramble skyward on all fours. As we neared the summit, it was rewarding to look down on several ravens drifting on thermals below our vantage point.

Summit of Matanuska Peak

The summit offered a gorgeous view of the snow covered Chugach mountains and a chance to read the eclectic hodgepodge of summit log entries.