Through her eyes...

Another outing to the Please Touch Museum brought about yet another opportunity to view the world through Finnley's wide eyes.  Such quiet delight.  Such simple and pure joy.  I love each and every moment that we share together on days like this. What fun it is to be a kid.  What a privilege it is to be a mom....to be Finnley's mom!

Don't just think it...

Well, it has been a long week around here.  Finnley seemed to get sick out of the blue with a head and chest cold.  Each day she got progressively worse.  For almost 5 days she barely ate (a bite of peanut butter toast here, a goldfish cracker there).  She didn't take a sippy cup of milk for at least 3 days.  For 4 nights or more there was wakefulness, with one night finding Finn crying almost every hour on the hour.  Yesterday was the culmination of the bug, and it forced my little girl to be a puddle of her normal self.  She took a two hour morning nap in her crib, and then she spent the rest of the day nestled on me on the couch in some random cuddly fashion.  She didn't even want me to put her down so I could go to the bathroom.  When I did (because, well...I had to go!), she cried.  Those tears were momentarily heartbreaking.

Today we started anew.  There was a full night of sleep for everyone, thankfully.  And, even though Finnley is still sick...she is much happier and alert.  She has finally started eating again, and she even took a little milk this morning.  There was playing to be done, and I reveled in the welcomed absence of near constant whimpering.

To take advantage of this "better day", Finnley and I ventured out to Barnes and Noble.  There was no scheduled story time today, so I knew that the children's area wouldn't be overly crowded.  I imbibed in my hardly indulgent decaf skinny cinnamon dolce' latte' while Finnley ran around "shopping".  We read some books and played some hide-and-seek amongst the book shelves.

On our way over to the children's area, we had approached a tall, well-dressed black woman donning the most fun and stylish of winter hats.  It was a wool, fleece-lined ear flap hat decorated with faux fur trimmings, and it folded up and tied together on top.  Not everyone would pick this hat to wear, nor could everyone get away with it...but she did, and she did it well.  Most days I would just think "wow, what a cool hat" to myself and continue to walk on by.  Today, though...I didn't.  I chose to go right up to this woman and tell her what a magnificent hat she had on, and that I just loved it.  I am glad I did.  She instantly lit up, told me where she had purchased it (Marshall's, Marshall's, Marshall's), and also expressed to me that I had made her day.

So, why is it that we normally keep these thoughts to ourselves?  Are we afraid to go up to strangers?  Are we so wrapped up in ourselves that we don't care to share our thoughts, no matter how kind they might be?  I'm not sure.  I would like to make a more consistent practice of opening up, even to perfectly random strangers, if I feel that I have something that is potentially worth sharing.  Why not?  If every once in awhile I can make someone's day by doing so, I think it is totally worth the small effort.

What have you done to compliment someone recently...or have you "paid it forward" in another way?  Maybe this post will give you thought to do so if you haven't.  Regardless, try to be more conscious about not just thinking things, but also saying them.  It might leave you feeling just as good as you made someone else feel.

Snow What a Relief it Is!!!

Not too hard to tell what we have been up to lately.  The forecasters all predicted a "mild" winter season for us here in the suburban Philly area.  Of course, they were totally wrong.  Firstly, December averaged about 4 degrees BELOW normal for the month.  Not mild.  Secondly, I think we have ALREADY surpassed the snowfall totals that they foresaw us accumulating for the ENTIRE season.  The big Christmas blizzard was first, followed by two coastal storms within the past couple of weeks.  Not that I am complaining.  I love the snow.  My whole little family does, so I guess we are ok with the fact that meteorologists are generally really bad at what they do.

Here is a peek at our "mild" winter to date:

Snow Much Fun!

Do not adjust your internet...you are ACTUALLY seeing TWO posts in ONE day! Amazing! An all day whispery snowfall led to a necessary late afternoon outing to play. And, you cannot play in the snow with a dog, a sled, and a toddler without taking video. It is the law. So, obey the law I did. I am just a rule follower, what can I say?

Little "Genius" Moments

A video montage of Finnley's latest and greatest "skills".  She is such a blossoming little "genius" right now, and we couldn't be more proud or entertained!  We hope you are just as impressed and amused as we are!

Out with the Old...in with the New

And so another year passes and yet another new one begins.  Last year we started off the new year with a baby in our house.  This year we start off with a full blown toddler in our presence.  What a difference a year makes.  What a huge difference.

And, just as always, I resolve to kick off my year sans resolutions.  I simply prefer to do the best with everything, for everyone, and for myself on a daily basis.  I think living up to your potential in the moment is better than making yearly promises to yourself or others that most will never keep.  That is just me.  No resolutions at forced times, no giving up anything at forced times...just living a good life as much as I can ALL the time.

In seeing all of the changes that took place for our daughter over this past year, I surely can't even being to imagine what this next year will hold for her, or for us as her parents.  Finnley begins this year a vivacious, precocious, and willfully stubborn little girl.  She is forcing her independence more and more every day, and I drink in the delight that it brings to both of us.  I also randomly cringe at the potential danger that this new-found independence brings.  What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, though.  And, given that, we should all surely be fiercely strong by the time she reaches the age of 3 or 4.  

Staying focused on the present, though, let me tell you how Finnley begins her new year:

• words / phrases she now uses: hi, da-da, yes, no (with the accompanying shaking of the head), doggie, hi doggie, hi Boosies (Batman), this, that, bath, ducky, hi there, ma-ma (every rare once in awhile), hot, etc.
• things she can point to / point out: nose, mouth, ears, hair/head, eyes, belly, toes/feet, hands, shoes
• using flashcards, things she recognizes and can point out:  baby, ball, jelly, doggie, keys, mirror, shoes, cat, bear, and fish
• new skills:  walking backwards, climbing just about anything, using a spoon with some success, running, consistently being able to blow kisses / wave hello and goodbye, etc.
• new teeth:  currently working on cutting all four incisors.  once this task is complete, she will only have to cut her four 2-year molars.  
• new heights:  she continues to grow up and not out.  still skinny and weighing in at less than 22 pounds.  we love her tiny and mighty!
• greatest loves:  her mommy and daddy, her grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins, her dog (she worships him!), music, dancing, playing....this kid loves pretty much everything (except for taking long naps).  

Thank you to all who continue to follow our journey.  However you choose to begin the year 2011...may it be a blessed year for all.