O happy day: June 2014

When I first started these monthly updates, I made it my goal to have them up on the 19th of every month when he actually turned another month older. Now, if I can just get it posted before he turns another month it's a win. Finn actually turned 9 months while we were at the beach, but it has been a whirlwind of busyness since we've been back. Well the biggest thing for this month is that we now have a crawler on our hands! Sweet boy has been scooting backwards for quite some time, but he has now managed to go forwards. Right now, it's more of an army style belly crawl but he is getting quicker every day. He has also gotten his two top center teeth and seemed to have a rougher time with these than his bottom two. He has now started some finger foods, but still isn't quite sure what to think yet, so we're still doing a combo of finger foods and purees. This little boy loves to sleep and it makes mommy and daddy so happy! He goes to bed each night between 6:30 and 7 and sleeps until 6:30 the next morning while still taking two long naps each day. We are most thankful! Within the past few days he has also started pulling up on furniture, us, whatever he can get his sticky little hands to grab onto.

He is up to 21lbs and 27 in. This puts him in the 75% for weight and only the 10% for height :)

Here are some pics from the month!

Taking in some World Cup action in the jersey daddy got him in Trinidad.

We have also had to lower his crib! We will catch him sitting up and looking around and so desperately want to know what he's thinking.

The paper at the doctor's office is the best. toy. ever. This was our 9 month check-up.

At the Golfsmith store watching daddy putt.

...and drive. He would jump every single time.

Puffs are our fav snack of the moment.

Showing off those crawling skills.

Now for the 9 month photos! These are definitely getting harder to capture as someone does not like sitting still!

Sweet boy, we love you more than you know! We love watching you grow and explore each month. You fill our hearts with joy and your big open-mouth grins put smiles on our faces. We are so blessed to be your mommy and daddy!

Well friends, we have just made it back from our very first trip to the beach with a babe. I honestly was not sure how Finn was going to do on this trip. He is definitely used to a calm, quiet house with just the three of us. On this trip, we had 28 people total with 11 kids under age 9. Let me just say- he LOVED it! While it made meal times distracting for him, he absolutely loved all of his cousins and I think it's safe to say that they loved him. He has been so close to crawling forward for over a month now and this trip pushed him over the edge. He started crawling on Tuesday-- I'm not sure if it was to keep up with the big kids or get away from them. Regardless, we now have a crawler. We went on ~~early~~ morning walks since Finn never quite adjusted to central time. He was up by 5:30 each morning; luckily so was the sun- so off we went on walks to fun coffee shops while being greeted by sweet oldsters who were the only other ones up that early. We were able to relax by the pool during nap times and spent plenty of time at the beach. He actually really liked the sand and the water. Momma likes the gulf way better than the Atlantic, because I can actually see the bottom. We jumped waves and let him splash until he was out of breath. His happy squeals melted our hearts. He played hard and crashed for his naps and bedtime. We can't wait to bring him back each year as he gets older! This year, was definitely more exhausting than in years past and we wouldn't have it any other way. I was not able to take as many pictures as I usually do, but here are the ones I managed to capture...

Ready to go!

Gone are the days of packing lightly.

Stretching our legs at a pit stop. Someone was eager to get back on the road.

We made it! Celebrating Dustin's first Father's Day bright and early with a walk on the beach.

These two have my heart.

Finn and Colton- 7 weeks apart.

One of our many early bird walks to get breakfast.

Pool time.

Parker, Sawyer and Reese checking out the recently captured sea wildlife.

Sawyer with his "Shawk"

Aunt Brittney with sweet sleeping Colton.

Hallye and Brooke = BFF's for life after this trip.

Snack time!

Oma and Finn

Dustin and Ella

Not sure what I like the best about this pic. Dustin's center part or Ella looking up at her daddy and either thinking "he's so awesome" or "what the heck is he doing?"