for granddad

Finn loves his Duke National Champions t-shirt!

It's a little small but we'll get it on him a couple more time before it's passed down to Tess.

eating like a big boy

A few weeks ago I bought Finn a booster seat because it was simply way too easy for him to stand up in his high chair, even when strapped in. He LOVES his big boy seat. And for the most part he's still a really good eater and uses utensils well. Usually. I'm not sure if you can see the extent to which this yogurt is all over his face, but it was a rare moment when he was a total mess at the table, so we took lots of photos.

(I'm fairly certain that either immediately before or after this photo, the words "Mommy, mess!" and "Wash hands in sink!" were declared.)

farm visit

Today we all went to the PeaceWeaver organic farm (in nearby Bath) to see where our CSA vegetables will be coming from in just a couple of weeks - YAY! I cannot wait to start picking up our box every week. The folks who run the farm are super nice and gave us a quick tour involving a tractor (!) and a plow (!!) and a lake (!!!)

Yesterday was Tess's one-month checkup and she's doing great. She and Finn are actually very similar on a percentile basis. She has grown two inches since birth and is now 21.5", 9 lbs 7 oz - both the 50th pct. Her head circumference is in the 80th pct. Her tummy is definitely filling out and she's losing her newborn puffiness, it's sort of miraculous how she changes even from day to day.

O.M.G.

Yesss! A tractor! I'm touching it!

Tess also liked the farm.

Taking a dip in the pond.

one month old!

Can you believe it? Time flies. Well, it sort of does anyway.

We're celebrating Tess's first month by sweating our rear ends off at home (although I'd rather be here than in Midtown Manhattan, where Andrew is spending the day). It's 90 degrees here today. 90! and it's not even Memorial Day yet!


Finn has been chattering up a storm lately, as I've noted previously. A few days ago he cracked me up (I posted this on facebook so apologies for the repeat if you've already seen it.) I had bought a can of Earth's Best formula for Tess and it was sitting on the counter ... Finn pointed at it and said, "Sesame Street coffee! Organic." Hilarious. He really is a little sponge so we really have to watch what we say anymore ...

more baptism pics

A few more photos of the ceremony. And cupcakes. And grandparents.

God bless Tess

Last Sunday was Tess's baptism at Immaculate Heart Church and it was just perfect. Here are some photos of the big day, with some from the ceremony to come.

Our little princess. She was so beautiful in her dress made by Grandma Mimi;

it will be in the family for many more years!

Mmm cake.

Papa, Finn and Uncle Mick (Tess's godfather)

He didn't quite make it through Mass (although it was a very nice one!)

Tess and her Great Aunt Jean.
I love this picture.

I was told there would be cupcakes baked by Aunt How.

She really looks like she's about to talk.

Uncle Mick's visit

We were SO excited for my big brother, Finn's Uncle Mick to visit us this weekend. He and his family are moving to Japan for 3 yrs starting this July and we're not sure exactly when we'll get to see them again, so we were extra-excited that he could visit before leaving, and be present for Tess's baptism. Speaking of which, I'll post photos of that lovely event as soon as I get them all together. Mick is Tess's godfather as well so the timing was great.

Here are a few pics of story time yesterday. As Finn's vocabulary increases - daily, it seems - he's unfortunately starting to include a few commands such as "MAMA CLEAN" or "AUNT HOW [Heather] SIT" or "MIMI CARRY". Hopefully he didn't start this conversation with "MEEK SIT" ... but I wouldn't be surprised.

Finn loves hanging out with his dude-relatives.

"... and that is a brief history of the Marine Corps."

Thanks for visiting, Uncle Mick!

We miss you (all) already!

8 lbs 13 oz!

We just came into the doctor for a weight check and are back on track. Tess gained 5 oz in 5 days. Hooray!

getting along

Today was my first day with both kids and without any help from relatives who know a lot more about children than I do. Except for the fact that both of them were up and ready to party at 6:45 AM on a very overcast/rainy day, it has gone pretty well so far. Thank god Bridget let us borrow her baby swing, as Tess is loving it for her catnaps. Finn is constantly going up to her and patting her feet, saying "Hi, Tess. Awww. Hi, Tess." It gives me hope that they will grow up peacefully.

Blissful baby.

Finn is very kindly sharing his bottle collection.

While she's trying to nap, of course.

I asked him if he'd give her a cuddle. And he did. [Sniff!]

work at the barn

Finn takes his time helping Papa at the barn very seriously.

Displaying his proprietary "carrying rock on mallet" technique.

It is important to only choose the most perfect and appropriate rocks.

Aha! A perfect rock. Score.

So although these photos were taken a few days ago, Finn visited his grandparents again today and as usual enjoyed the heck out of being outside. Tess was a little bit more of a handful, seeing as how she's taking after her brother at this age by choosing to eat all day, stay awake and fuss a bit then sleep pretty well at night. Ok, so the nights aren't bad but a baby that doesn't nap makes for a VERY LONG day. I took her to the pediatrician after a particularly long crying spell and the Dr. gave me some suggestions on feeding and swaddling that we put to use right away ... one good swaddle and she's now been sleeping for two and a half hours.

funny guy

The older Finn gets and the more words he learns, the funnier he is. Every day he makes me laugh with exchanges such as the following.

Me: Declan is coming over to play today, Finn. Can you say "Declan"?
Finn: Declan.
M: And can you say "Finn"?
F: Finn.
M: What is YOUR name?
F: Tess!

Or this, overheard as he was talking himself to sleep tonight in his crib...
"Elmo, ba. Elmo, ba. Elmo, ba. [fyi--ba = his blanket]
Dada, Mama, Mimi.
Obama! (laughing)
Obama Obama Obama."

The laughter keeps me sane while I'm trying to get a newborn who's been awake for 8 hours to go to sleep already.

And yes, it's time to post more photos, I've been a little busy this week to say the least and am waiting for our fancy new digital SLR to show up at my door. Then we'll be taking LOTS of great pics!

photo gallery

Happy Mother's Day!

If any of you are interested in seeing the full set of Tess photos as well as a few cute ones of Finn ... go to www.briehomerphotography.com. Choose the proofing section and enter "nico" for the password. It will be up through this week. (I am really happy with them, let me know what you think).

miss blue eyes

There is something about a baby girl in a blue outfit that I find very refreshing.

Yesterday we took Tess to the pediatrician for her 2-week checkup (already!) The nurse practitioner was very happy with her weight gain and said that for her age, she is very alert. She has gained 10 oz. in the 9 days since leaving the hospital, putting her at 8 lbs, 6 oz. I didn't ask them to measure her head - I'm scatterbrained - but we'll go back in a couple of weeks for another checkup. I'm trying my best not to compare my children but I'm curious to know her head circumference compared to that of her big brother!

first photo shoot

Lots of "firsts" this week, including Tess's newborn photo shoot with Brie. She just posted a few photos on her blog so click here for the link!

sleepypuss and the little blue devil

Of course, I love my kids ALL the time, but they are particularly cute when:

... sporting a new Duke Blue Devils national championship t-shirt ...

... and sleeping.

her first bath

We knew that this would be the case, but life with a newborn and a toddler is REALLY HECTIC. We gave Tess her first sponge bath the other day, which is a challenge until her umbilical cord falls out (which we would like to happen soon, please). She is just so cute. I could--and do--look at her all day.

Finn has been adjusting fairly well. The first day she was home he would blow her a kiss and then try to throw a block at her head. It's getting better though. Now he always wants to look at her while she's sleeping and he'll give her one of his matchbox cars to hold. He's really great. And speaking of sleeping, Tess is already sleeping 4 hour stretches at night so much like with Finn, I can't complain that she isn't much of a napper. Also, she's only a week old.

Finn has some funny new words lately.
Panda.
Yacht.
Stuff.
Bee/Ant/Bug/Fly - he is obsessed and yet terrified of them all.
"Niho." He must have heard everyone calling me Nico and is now doing it too.

Finn starting work

Thanks to Grandpa Barber for (unknowingly!) guest blogging about Finn's visit to their house yesterday.

When Finn arrived today I was welding – which I stopped, of course, upon his arrival. We played in the lawn for quite a while, after getting the obligatory time on the tractor, dump truck and backhoe. He noticed I had my tape measure clipped on my pants and wanted it, so he started playing with it. I could not get him to count his numbers on it, but after I showed him how it was used he started to measure the posts on the back barn.

Tess photos

You're here!!

Hi, world!

Proud papa

Tired (but happy) mama

Precious baby

Nana (Wagoner) and Tess

Mimi (Barber) and Tess

Slightly apprehensive older brother

Sleeping beauty

Hi, Tess! I'm Finn!

Tess's birth

So here's the quick rundown on why our labor and delivery on Sunday/Monday lasted over 24 hours ...

On Sunday morning I felt contractions coming every 8 minutes apart so my midwife asked me to go to the hospital for evaluation. Andrew, my mom and I went and left Finn with Andrew's mom. I had the feeling that this was finally it! After an hour or so on the monitors they decided to admit me - this was around 1 pm, I think. We let Darcie (the doula) know and she arrived around 3 pm. I was still feeling contractions but not progressing much, so we just walked around the maternity ward and waited for something to happen i.e. dilation or closer contractions.

Around NINE pm, I was still in the same approximate condition, maybe I had dilated to 3 cm by then but my contractions still weren't getting stronger, so the midwife gave us the options of a) going home and waiting til labor started there in earnest, b) taking an ambien and sleeping at the hospital til the morning, when maybe contractions would be stronger, or c) breaking my water. We decided to go with option c since at that point we wanted a baby already (!) BUT the LD ward was busy with a couple of major emergencies, and there were no extra nurses to help break my water. Sigh. We then went to option b, which turned out to be the better one anyway.

My mom and Darcie went home and Andrew and I slept in the room for a few hours. Sleeping is never a worry for him, he falls asleep the moment his head hits the pillow, but for me it was a challenge - I'm still glad we did it that way. Around 1 am the nurses checked me and I was dilated to 6 cm and the contractions were starting to HURT. I had a nubain drip for pain but decided against an epidural this time, so it was much different than my labor with Finn. Darcie came in around 2 am, which was a godsend because I was starting to feel a lot of pain (despite my excitement that within a matter of hours Tess would be born). Anyway, the hours went by and all of a sudden when I was fully dilated my water broke and it was time to push. That lasted maybe a half hour although it felt like forever, and then out she came! Andrew caught her. That was awesome.

I don't think I'm forgetting anything. It was quite the experience though. And the next day I was on my feet and the next day we came home. More photos to come in the next post.

Day 2

I've been meaning to get online all day to update the blog with Tess's birth story but you know, the hours watching a newborn baby eat and sleep etc go by pretty quickly. She is such a sweetheart! We will be discharged tomorrow morning and I'm excited to get home and see Finn (Andrew is there now for a couple of hours). Then I'll have time to upload a few more photos... But here's what she's up to now...