Catching up: part 1.

I have been terrible at updating our family blog, which I realized.  Then I came over here to update and I realized I hadn't updated since Addy was 5 months old!  She is now a year old.  How terrible that her baby months weren't better documented.  Oh, well.  We can try to catch up if you want to bear with me.

July 2015. 6 months. 

Addy was starting to sit up supported for longer periods of time, and was able to sit unassisted for small periods of time.  She started playing more with toys.  Addy skipped right over
baby toys and baby food.  She refused solids until she started eating off our plates, and she never really played with baby toys much, but loves to play with her brother's toys.  In July, we also took a short trip to the hot air balloon festival in Indianola, and started thinking of moving after we woke up in the middle of the night to gun shots in our literal front yard.  In July we also went to Keokuck to see my grandmother Florence because she feared that she would die soon, and she wanted to see all of her family together again.   For some reason we didn't bother to take pictures.  I just have this one blurry one, and I think someone else took it and sent it to us even. Fail.  But, very thankful to have that one.

Fireworks downtown

We went downtown for Yankee doodle pops for the 4th of July.  Colin is not pictured because he had a little bit of meltdown that I let Finn pee in public so he stormed off somewhere for awhile and came back right before the fireworks started.  See, Finnigan was just barely potty trained and there weren't any bathrooms or portapots any where.  Finn had to go, and I didn't have a change of pants, so I wanted him just to be able to go in the grass to avoid him standing in wet pants during the fireworks.  Colin, wanted him to try to hold it until we could find a little patch of woods somewhere.  However, since we waited so long while we were arguing about whether or not Finn should be allowed to pee in public, he went some in his pants anyways while I was trying to get them off to let him pee in the grass.  So I had to take his pants off in public anyways and let him sit on the blanket naked, while I let his pants dry.  He is pantless in this photo. =) It was our most stressful potty event as a family thus far, and I learned to always bring Finn a change of pants.

August. Addy was 7 months.

In August, we spent a lot of time outside in the parks, enjoying the last of summer.  Although we had to do therapy every day in our house with Finn, I wanted them to be able to get out and enjoy being kids before school and clinic started.   In August one of my closest friends had a catholic church wedding ceremony.  She had gotten married many years ago with a justice of peace and I was one of their witnesses, but this year was their big ceremony.  It was a beautiful day, and I was happy to be a part of it.   We also decided to put an offer in on a house in Indianola, 15 minutes south of the southside of Des Moines.  I liked the idea of moving to a smaller town, with good, quiet neighborhoods (no gunshots), and good schools for Finn.   The house is a cozy little bungalow, but with huge rooms for the kids, and a walk out basement to the backyard. Addy started to army crawl, and her favorite toy turned out to be Finn's ride on motorcycle even though she was still quite small for it. 

  

 

  

    

 

     

 

 

  

  

  

   

   

      

 

           

 

      

     

  

  

September. Addy at 8 months

In September we bought a home in Indianola, and Finn started therapy in clinic in Clive, and started in an integrated preschool classroom in Indianola on an IEP.   Finn's therapist and I both agreed that he was ready to be out of the contained classroom and be around typical peers as well as children on IEP's so he could have good social models in the other kiddos.  Finnigan has flourished since he started preschool and therapy, so I know we made the right decision.  Even if the 30 minute commute does irritate Daddy. :) I am excited for a summer on our deck and backyard.  The plan is to fence in the yard, and set up a play set.




In September, we took our first trip to the zoo with Addy. Addy started sitting in a high chair to eat and drinking from a sippy cup.  We explored the park by our new home, and bought some patio furniture for the deck with a gift card we received from Colin's parents for our anniversary.   Because, incidentally it was our 4 year anniversary when we moved in!  I enjoyed being able to sit on the patio with the baby, and watch Finn play in his new and awesome backyard, before it got too cold for him to be able to do so.  Finn was excited to start back at school, and was severely annoyed with our desire to slow him down by taking photos before school.