North Carolina

We had a great visit in NC! The day after we got in, my family had a little "Meet the Baby" party for Finley. We had plenty of yummy food- including NC bbq- and Finley got passed around to everyone. He was super good, and chatted away the whole time while everyone else was talking.

Marcia

Mickey & Sharon

My grandfather, Marilyn & Charlie

The food!

Mom made this cake with an elephant like Finley's nursery. It was very yummy!

My grandparents

Kate

We also had Finley christened while we were in NC. We did it at the church I grew up in, also where Nate and I were married.

(Nice face, Finley)

With the adoring grandmommy

It was my grandparents' birthday while we were home. They have the same exact birthday- crazy, huh?

And more photos with the fam, just hanging out...

Check out Finley in his new Bumbo seat! He looks shocked!

Great trip! So sad to leave, but we'll see you all at Christmas!

Finley's Hobbies and Sleep (or lack thereof)

We're sitting in the airport in Newark right now, waiting for our flight to Hong Kong. We were very sad to leave all our family and friends, but the time has come. So, I thought I would update you on Finley's current hobbies while Finley takes a nap.

• Spitting up
• Holding his head up by himself
• Watching ceiling fans
• Trying to get everything in his mouth
• Chewing on everything, including his tongue, and drooling...maybe getting ready for a tooth??
• Rolling over-- he has rolled from front to back several times, and can now turn onto his side from his back as well
• Playing with rattles
• Pooping in the bouncy seat-- the bouncy seat really brings out the best in Finley (sometimes I've had to wash it multiple times in a day)
• Lots of smiling and baby talk! (We love this hobby!)

Nate spent the last week at a work conference in Boston, and I stayed on in NC with my parents. Being without Nate made me realize how difficult it must be for single parents! My parents were a great help, but Finley had a rough week for sleep, which means I had a rough week for sleep. He turned into a little night owl this week and would take forever (hours!) to go to sleep. He also felt the need to wake up and eat every 3 or 4 hours, which was difficult after we had gotten used to him doing a longer sleep for 5-7 hours. Here's how last night went, as an example: 8:30pm Finley asleep. 9:30pm Finley awake. 10pm Finley eating. 10:15pm-12:15am I try to get Finley to sleep, only to eventually give up out of exhaustion and put him in the bouncy seat to sleep. I know, it's terrible, but I was desperate. And of course he woke up a few hours later and wanted to eat, and then the next thing I know it's 6:15am and I have to get up and shower and pack for the flight home. Here's hoping we can get him into a solid routine when we get back to HK and stop traveling for a while!

Michigan

Nate, Finley and I spent 2 1/2 weeks in Michigan this summer introducing Finley to his dad's side of the family. We had enjoyed family dinners, walks, a few trips to the lakes, cherry picking, wine tasting, and plenty of other things that I'm too sleep deprived to remember right now (it was a long night last night).

Bouncing with Uncle Cooper

Finley, Marcia, and Holly (Holly wasn't a bit phased by Finley)

Going on a walk with Dad

Beach picnic at Lake Michigan

At a vineyard with a nice lake view

Getting to know Amy

Jane and Finley

Nate, Finley and Great-grandma!

Jim and two hungry doggies

The dogs didn't get enough food, so they moved on to Kay

The view at the end of our hike

Finley is riding forward in the Baby Bjorn (when he's awake) now that his neck is stronger!

Cooper and Amy following behind

Michigan cherries

Jane and Nate picking tart cherries

How do you wear this thing?

The trees were full of cherries!

Collecting lots of cherries (which we pitted ourselves, one at a time) for our cherry crisp...only 50 cents a pound!

Walking through the rows of cherry trees

Washing the cherries at the farm

Finley at Crystal Lake, coated in tons of sunscreen. Maybe next year he'll be running into the water instead of sleeping!

Sitting with Fafee

Finley with his dad, and Nate with his dad

Measuring Finley for the board at Tim & Marcia's

Quality time with Great-grandma

Cherry Grove

Our trip to the US started out with my family in Cherry Grove. We had beautiful weather and enjoyed lots of time on the beach, having family dinners, and outlet shopping. Nate and I even went on our first date since Finley was born while the grandparents babysat. We went to Bonefish and had some very yummy seafood!

Aunt Jessica with her favorite nephew

Alice & Lindsay meeting Finley for the first time

Jacob meeting Finley

My dad bought Finley a tent to keep him out of the sun on the beach. He quite enjoyed sleeping in it!

Finley hanging out with his grandma

Uncle Brett covered in spit-up

Finley & Daddy

Dipping his toes in the Atlantic

Hanging out with Mom

Happy Family

Finley can fly!

"Dad, what in the world are you doing to me?"

Finley's cute sun hat

Hanging out with his grandpa, Maddie, and his keys

(Finley forgot to look at the camera)

These palmettos are very different than the palm trees in HK!

Photos Coming Soon!

Just a quick update: We've already been to the beach with my family and are now in MI with Nate's family. Finley is having a great time meeting lots of new family and friends. Once we get back to NC in a little less than a week, I promise I'll work on the blog! Lots of new photos and video to put on there, but internet access has been limited at the beach and in MI.

Finley did quite well with his flights to the US and those to MI. He got a bit bored and fussy for a little while on the long flight, so Nate and I took turns standing in the bulkhead and bouncing him for a couple of hours. I probably got about 2 1/2 hours of sleep during those 36 hours, and Nate got just a little more than that.

The first night back was rough, with Finley waking up every 2 or 3 hours and spitting up more than normal (we have a photo of that I'll post later), but within 24 hours or so, he was on the new schedule. I can't believe he adjusted that quickly! He started sleep between 5-7 hours in a row for the next couple of weeks- awesome!- but recently has been waking up every 3 or 4 hours again and eating more. Probably another growth spurt. Babies often have one around 3 months, so he's right on schedule!

More soon...