Adventures of a Really Big Baby

Lots of things going on.
Finn's 4 months old today. Whew.

Finn got weighed a week ago, 20lbs. That's pretty healthy. The public health nurse said she's won't be angry with me but he really shouldn't eat sweet things (not joking, she really said that). He doesn't even like sweet things, so we've got that covered. Those of you who know me well know I'm not really much of a fruit fan, I'll eat an apple or banana occasionally but really would rather have a carrot stick or some other veg. Turns out that contrary to most babies Finn, like me, prefers veg to fruit. When starting solids most babies love the sweet fruit and you have to talk them into eating the veg. Travis thinks it's hilarious, he tried a mango banana puree with Finn this weekend and quickly followed it up with the spinach/basil after a mini (and messy) temper tantrum.
Some of the challenges of being a really big, yet still very young baby include:

• In the pack-n-play you probably should be sleeping in the bassinet as you can't roll over or sit up but the bassinet is only rated to 15lbs and is quite saggy now (it's a long way for your parents to reach to the lower level since you can't assist by sitting up-plus you're heavy). Good thing dad's an engineer and engineered a solution.


• Your really cool swing, which is your favorite toy, starts to swing really really slowly EVEN on it's highest speed EVEN with brand new batteries because you are starting to be too big for it.


• Your stroller system is designed to be a 'pram' or carry cot for the first few months until you can sit up on your own so the seat part (what we Americans would think of as the traditional stroller) is rated for babies 6 months and older. But you've exceed the weight limit on the carry cot which is 15lbs.


• You are four months old and wearing 9-12 and 12-18 month clothes. This isn't a challenge, except when your mom forgets to put a bigger onsie and outfit in the diaper bag and you have to do a clothes change and not snap the leg snaps :)

The Bumbo is quite popular now. And we use it properly, on the floor. And yes, we've heard about the recall. And yes, we still use it on the table to feed Finn but we don't wander off around the house leaving our infant child to arch his back and fall out of the Bumbo onto the floor while we're doing our own thing. When it's on the table we sit at the table, well within arms reach, where if he starts to look like he might flip out we'd be paying enough attention to catch him. Seriously, I'm amazed at the things people sue over. Travis loves this picture and thinks it looks like a baby barcalounger. All Finn needs is a can of Miller.

This weekend was a holiday weekend here in Ireland! Hooray! Travis didn't even get called in to work, extra hooray! Today was the Dublin Marathon and the course went on the street in front of our apartments. I checked online to see appx when the runners might be coming by as this was at mile 23 (of 26 miles) and we timed a trip to the grocery store so we could walk there and back while watching the marathon. We got to see the leaders in the elite women, men, and disabled classes all go by and we're pretty sure we saw the leader of the general pack go by, too. There were pace cars with a giant clock on top that drove in front of the leaders of the elite and handicap classes that continually announced the leader, so it wasn't hard to miss. Here's Finn and Travis watching the marathon (Finn's a little sleepy here but he did catch some of it, the colorful jerseys were quite interesting to him). If you can't tell that's Finn in the tiny orange hat (it's a pumpkin) and signature sunglasses just peeking out over the top of the Baby Bjorn cover.

The weather was unbelievable this weekend, it's really been nice for months now. I'm starting to forget that it rained all summer.... has been a truly lovely autumn. Just less than three weeks to go and we should be able to announce our new destination any day now.