Finn has finally gotten fed up with needing someone to move him to where he wants to go. When he see's something he wants he thrusts his arms up imperiously and thumps his feet like he's walking, with occasionals "eehhh"s if we don't come quick enough to help him walk. So he now can flop his way across a room to get an object, starting from sitting he bends in half til his forheads on the ground, then he slips out his legs and flops around a bit making a little progress, stretching and twisting, then sits up again, 2 or 3 of those can get him where he needs to go. But he's also working on walking, pulling up on the couch or the coffee table, and working on squats, going up and down. Really he can walk fine, he just doesn't believe it and prefers to use us for balance, but he seems to have the balance himself if he would just trust himself. He loves the little push car that Oliver used, zooms all over the house with that right into walls, so far we still spot him, but he moves fast without us touching him. Francesca and I play a walking game where we sit apart from each other and try to get him to walk from one to the other of us, trying to get our hands away, and he's getting more and more steps before he starts heading towards a face plant. So probably he'll have crawling and walking at the same time.

He's been gaining words too. Has Daddy, and apparently said Bird very clearly. Says Hi clearly. Has Ouch, where he also pats his head. Oliver had a cut on his finger and said "ow ow" when I pulled a pajama shirt off, and I looked over and Finn was patting his head.

He's super into the kitties, loves to try and pet them, which they surprisingly will tolerate for a small amount of time. He is loving books and will go and clear a shelf off if given the chance. One of his favorite things is to sit in the rocking chair and point at the books, it's his spot.

Still really into a lot of different foods, but also still revelling in pincer grip grabbing things, then holding them over the side and letting them fall. Or picking up his plate and turning it over above his head.

Had a little cold recently, which didn't bother him too much. And he's been drooling along with the cold. So he's been giving super slobbery kisses.

Oliver and Finn still get along pretty well. Oliver gives him hugs, and Finn loves to watch Oliver's antics.

Almost a year, it's gone soo fast.

Updates

We've been busy busy, usual time of year, Americorp grant and everything. Finn still refuses to crawl, though he has been sprawling forwards from sitting more often to reach toys, and has army crawled a bit (though I haven't seen it). But he is charging around all the time, really fast. He loves the walking game where Francesca and I sit facing each other and he walks from one of us to the other, he usually gets 2 1/2 steps in and the third step would be a face plant, but we catch him. He's extended this game to cruising on the couch, walk next to it a few steps, then dive for whoever's spotting him. He could probably balance and walk more on his own but he hasn't realized it yet and is still depending on us for his balance. He's still being adorable. Sometimes he puts his head all the way on his side. He thinks peek aboo is super fun. Oliver often tries to entertain him if he's sad "it's okay Finn, Oliver's here" or telling him "kaplouiee". Finn is entranced with Oliver, and often walks up to him the same way he walks up to Francesca. Finn loves the bathroom, and marches over to visit whoever's in the shower, and if Oliver is taking a bath Finn always wants to play in the sink. Finn loves baths, he always wants to get in the tub, which is funny because when he's in it he doesn't act like it's a big deal. Been teething lately, lots of that funny snarl face. Been talking up a storm lately, all night long the other night, just random babbling. Francesca says he just picked up the "d" sound, so maybe he'll get my name soon. Getting more personality, gets angry when something is taken away from him ("hey, I was looking at that choking hazard"). Still likes musical instruments, he has taken over Oliver's music class (which Oliver wasn't liking as much as preschool, and Francesca realized all the other kids in it are much younger then Oliver) and likes it. Loves going outside, usually calms him instantly. He likes walking up and down the steps on the porch. Lately he has been wanting to play with Oliver's Basketball hoop. He's given up falling asleep nursing, so Francesca has been having to strap him on in the ergo to put him down for the night.

Grrrr

Finn is growling a lot. He's really getting the hang of walking holding onto fingers, and really not liking the idea of crawling. In defiance of being put on his belly to crawl he's gotten good at flipping right onto his back. His balance is getting better when he's on his feet, he just wants to follow Oliver wherever he goes. When we're inside it's often a circuit to go and check the bathtub and climb up onto the red stool, then to the front door. He likes bath's, and always wants to get in when Oliver is in. Still really into food and try's to steal it from you if you're eating. He's been growling a lot lately. Still loves music and the guitar when it comes out. Finn has a great throwing arm, with a big wind up from behind his head, and he does a pretty similar movement to play Oliver's drum with the drumstick.

Quick update

Finn's getting big into walking, with our help. Teething again, he makes the funniest faces when he is. He's been impatient with the car, we've had a few crying fits. Prefers the toys that Oliver is playing with, he wants to be part of the action. Still loves to dance and music, claps whenever I get out the guitar. Still lovin food and trying to pull anything you're eating into his mouth.

Big Month

Huge month to San Diego, Oliver's birthday while camping, Francesca working a ton, wow. Finn is doing great, spinning circles on his bottom looking all around. He likes to unload boxes full of blocks, and loves to try food, often grabbing your hand when you're taking a bite to try and redirect it to his own mouth. The only thing I haven't seen him like is egg, but everything else, all fruit and grains goes right in. He's figured out the hold onto fingers and walk thing, it's only been about a week and already he's pretty good at it, often having us walk him over to a toy or an apple on the ground. And he's more insistent on his almost a hop mobility. But he's getting a lot more frustrated with not being able to get to where he wants to be. He's pretty interested in Oliver's toys and we are starting to work with that idea, if the toys are out and you're not playing with them, then Finn can. There were extended times of Finn with people other then Mama while she trained and he did well, though he held pretty tight to her when he got her back. He's starting to like to be read to, and smacks his lips when the book starts. Starting to make more sounds, ba's and ma's and growls. Growing fast.

Progress

Finn has the pincer grip down, even managing it pretty well vs avacado. Also today he just started clapping, Oliver was working on jumping and trying to clap in the air in front of him this morning, then Francesca called and said that Finn just learned to clap and won't stop :) A week or two ago he started waving, and now waves all the time, especially when entering or leaving the house and every time he's in the bathroom and see's himself in the mirror. A lot of the time he shakes his head side to side when he waves, in fact the shaking the head is a signature move of his. For some reason when I hold him he tends to curl up and kind of walk up me, not sure why, he doesn't seem to do it with Francesca. We went to the state fair yesterday and Finn thought it was great, just so much action and people and noise, so much to see, he didn't even see me right in front of him for the first 5 minutes. Apparently he has the stealth scoot now, but I haven't seen it yet. And he's pretty quick at biting big chunks of things off, like paper. He is especially fond of rustly plastic. Just started taking steps when he's standing, and he always wants to be standing. Up to 6 teeth. Still unbelievably addorable and full of smiles.

Pteradactyl Kaplouiee

Finn has suddenly entered the pteradactyl phase, growling and roaring and squawking all the time. It's surprising because he's been so quiet up to now, just carefully watching everything, especially his big brother. We were actually beginning to wonder about his sparse vocalization, but he's here now and making up for it. He also appears to be cutting teeth again and he's slipping towards whines as well, poor guy. I didn't mention last time but he has a game, which I think Granpa Howard created with him, where he bangs on his high chair and then waits for you to bang on it back and then it's his turn again, he thinks its lots of fun. Also he always laughs or at least smiles for the word "Kaplouiee!".