Dare Devil!

Finn has started to develop her dare-devil side. Climbing up on the chairs or couch isn’t good enough for her anymore. No. Now, she has to climb on the chairs, then climb on the end tables to go to the other chair, or to the couch. Or, she has to bring a toy that she can stand on so she can be tall enough to climb on to the coffee table. We get after her for this, but it becomes a game to her, naturally. Every time we tell her no, she laughs and giggles and goes right back to doing it. After the third time, we take whatever object she has been using as a ladder and move it away so she can no longer stand on it for leverage. She then finds the next best thing. It is really a never ending process with that kid. She has no fear. She stands up in the chairs, she ups and down, she leans over as far as she can over the edge. I think Shannon and I have had near heart-attacks because of her shenanigans. She is very clever and knows darn well what she is doing, but she still scares us! We can’t take our eyes off of her for very long, or she will do something that will probably traumatize her, or us, for life.

Every day has an exciting new adventure. It could be a new flavor being introduced (fajitas), or a new game (silicone measuring cups stick really well to baby heads), or a new outfit (hand-me-downs are the best), or a new movie (anything with music). Anything different or new is amazingly exciting for her, and leads to minutes of entertainment for all of us. Yes, only minutes. She is still just a little one, and even if we just get minutes of entertainment, we will take it!

Finny has found her giggle, and every time she does it, she makes my heart soar. It is just uninhibited laughter from her little belly, and her cheeks squish up and her all teeth show, and her eyes squint and her nose wrinkles. It is the most adorable face I have ever seen, and the most beautiful sound I have ever heard. It is much better than the high-pitched glass-breaking screech that she pulls out of nowhere. That will make your ears bleed, let me tell you.

Sleeping in her crib has still been difficult for her. She was fine for a long time when she was first born, and then we traveled a few months ago. When we came back, she has not wanted to sleep in her own crib. It is interesting because when we were away, she slept in a play-n-pack, so it isn’t like we co-slept with her. She just doesn’t want to be in her room or crib by herself. She will sleep a few hours in there, but once she wakes up, she will not go back to sleep unless she is in bed with us. We need to train her to sleep in her crib, but with both of us working full time, and Shannon starting her new job, and me with my stuff, it is hard to have the energy and want to do it. Plus we really don’t mind snuggling with our little sweetie. But, sleeping would be a lot better for us all. Maybe soon, we will find a way to train us all about non-co-sleeping again. That is for another day.

As for now, Finny is still enjoying her donuts every Saturday at NutCakes, enjoying her visits from her many Aunties who spoil the dickens out of her, enjoying pestering her dogs, enjoying visiting her friends at the Sports Park, and enjoying being the best, most rambunctious little 16-month-old she can be. She is so full of love and life. We count each day as a blessing with our Lil’ Bug.