The "Finnster, et al."

Well, I have to admit that I have been neglecting my blog. My excuse is a lousy one; mostly that I am too busy feeling sorry for myself. Between the backaches, terrible heartburn, restless legs, the swollen legs, the sinus infection and the extreme fatigue, I have wanted to do nothing other than wallow in my own self pity. Well, I went to the doctor yesterday and learned that Sam and I are going to be in this for the long hall. My doctor's words were "I don't think you will make it to 41 weeks." Translations - definitely going the full 4o weeks. Luckily I only have two and half weeks left. I really look forward to breathing again. I also think that Michael will appreciate the fact that I am no longer talking in my sleep. Apparently, ever since entering my third trimester I have been talking in my sleep regularly and loudly. This is a picture of Finn helping Daddy put ice in his water. Finn had a big day today. This morning we went to Mt. Juliet for Katie...

After having our family Christmas at home we went to spend some time with the Begley’s. Tommy, James, Chelsea, David and Sharon were all in town at the same time – that hardly ever happens. When we got there Finn ate fruit and cool whip. Then we opened presents. This year Finn handed the presents out – he did great! He handed almost all them out before he succumbed to the desire to open his own. Michael would read the name and Finn would carry the present over. After a few minutes he noticed that Pa did not have any presents and he started asking, “Where’s Pa’s presents?” Finn received a Thomas the Train train table, a garage for his cars, a dump truck, blocks, miniature farm animals, books/keys/cell phone from Aunt Chelsea, “A Christmas Carol” from Uncle David and Aunt Sharon (Disney Version), and clothes from Gran and Pa. After we had opened all the presents Uncle David gathered up the paper and when Finn wasn’t looking dumped all the paper on his head. Fi...

At 6:30 this morning I felt a little hand pat my shoulder while a little voice whispered “go downstairs?” We pulled him up in bed and told it was Christmas morning. He was really excited immediately asked to open presents. When we got downstairs we made Finn some oatmeal and let him eat his breakfast on his new “Toy Story” table (one of his Christmas presents). Once he was finished eating he opened his presents. Finn got a “Harold the Helicopter,” a set of “Nemo” keys, a toddler Bible, the game “gone fishin” and a farm/barn set. When he opened the farm he said, in his most excited voice, “I needed this.” So precious. After he opened all of his presents he started playing. Much to my delight he loved his fishing game. It is just a little simple game where the fish open and close their mouths and you try to catch on with the fishing rod. Finn thought that the fishing game was really the pond that went with his barn. He would go fishing, put the fish he caught...

We arrived at Nana and Papa's house last night around 5:00. When we got there Finn immediately went upstairs to play in the playroom. Once Greg got back with the Zaxby's chicken we sat down and had dinner. Finn sat at the table with us and ate goldfish and cookies. At one point both Michael and I were getting more food and we hear a thud followed by Finn screaming. Apparently he had fallen off the back the table and bumped his head - recovery was pretty quick though. After dinner Finn got a bath and then we tucked him into the air mattress for a long winter's night. Finn went to sleep very quickly and did not wake up when I rolled out of the bed. Next we played "Fact or Crap" which Michael won and "Catch Phrase." After games we were all pretty tired so we hit the sack. Michale slept with Finn on the air mattress and I slept on the Murphey bed. Around 6:00 Finn crawled in bed with me and slept for another hour! When we got up we ate breakfast an...

Finn's Christmas with Grandad and Gigi began at around noon on Thursday when Grandad and Gigi picked Finn up from Victoria's house. When they got there Finn was mid-sandwich and upon seeing them shoved the entire half sandwich in his mouth so as to leave quicker. Later that night Michael and I joined everyone at Grandad and Gigi's house. When we got there we ate sandwiches and watched Finn play with toys. The next morning Finn woke up very early and had his own "Christmas Photo Shoot" Clearly, the early of the morning did not dampen Finn's Christmas spirit. The next morning Cooper, Hank, Em and Zac arrived for Christmas breakfast. Finn sat in a chair at our table and ate eggs. After breakfast and few pictures, the boys tore into their Christmas presents. Finn got a Mickey Mouse Rocket Ship, a real moving Thomas the Train set, some really cute clothes, a "Jeff Corvette" Cars car, a soft "Lightening McQueen" Cars car, puzzles and a colo...

Finn is starting to realize that there is a double standard as it relates to discipline going on his house. On Saturday night Finn spent some good time in "timeout" for playing with his trains on the TV stand. We wouldn't care if Finn played on the TV table if he didn't roll his trains on the actually television screen. We asked him on more than one occasion NOT to play up there, but alas he didn't listen. As he was sitting in timeout we explained to him that he has to "listen" to mom and dad when they tell him to do something. On Sunday morning Finn spotted Fannie sitting on the table next to the TV. One of her favorite nap spots is the warm area behind the TV. We have never cared that she sleeps back there. Finn, with all the righteous indigence he could muster pointed at Fannie and said "no Fannie - no playing on the TV!" When Fannie didn't listen, i.e. get down, he turned to me and said, "Fannie didn't listen, Fannie nee...

This has been a very big weekend for Finn. After Lauren's graduation Finn and I went to Nana and Papa's house to celebrate Nana's birthday. When we got there we ordered pizzas - Finn ate two (2) of Aunt Em's thin crust cheese pizza sitting at the table like an adult. After pizza he dug into the single biggest piece of cake that I have ever seen cut for a two (2) year old. Nana really knows how to cut cake. For most of the night Finn played with Cooper upstairs in the playroom. He played kitchen and blocks with Papa. When it was time for bed he crawled into the murphey bed with Nana. Cooper slept in the pack-n-play in the room too. I slept soundly in mom's bed while Em settled in on the couch. When I woke up the next morning I was startled to find that Em was with me. I was happy she came in but completely dumbfounded that I didn't wake up when she did. This pregnancy business must make me sleep very soundly. The next morning Mom told me that Finn is t...

Yesterday (Thursday) Finn and I left for Tullahoma to meet Grandad and Gigi to drive to Knoxville for Lauren's graduation. Before we left Finn and I made our customary five stops to different courthouses to work. On our way out General Sessions Finn took off running down the ramp and bit the dust at the bottom. He was fine, but acted very dramatic. Once we got to Tullahoma we loaded into the van and went to pick up Gene and Minnie. Finn was so excited to be in the van. He was so keyed up that he didn't take a nap until we were almost there. Grandad and Gigi gave him a portable DVD player to watch movies on the way to Knoxville. He watched Chess and Thomas most of the way. He calls it his "puter." Once we got to Knoxville we went to eat dinner with Lauren at Calhouns. Finn ate a grilled cheese out of a car box. Then he and Grandad looked at ducks on the dock. Next we went to the hotel room. Finn cried the minute he saw the room because it only had beds in it and he ass...