Michigan at Christmas

Since my last post, Finley's top two teeth have started coming in! This makes #3 and #4. We're all almost over jet lag, just in time for Nate to leave for Bangkok for a work trip. Not looking forward to being a single mom for the next four days. I'm particularly worried because Finley has been a total maniac in the middle of the night when he wakes up to eat and we need to change his diaper. I'm talking screaming, crying, and rolling around so that it takes two of us to get a diaper on him- one to pin him down, and one to do the diaper. Fingers crossed he settles down once the teeth come in more and the jet lag continues to improve.

Here are the last of the photos from Christmas. The first half are at Nate's grandmother's house, and the second half are from his dad and stepmom's house. We had a great time back in the States and already miss everyone!

Finley chewing on his pacifier (great for teething!) and cuddling with his great-grandma.

Playing with Amy

Finley laughing his head off at Nate making silly noises

Probably the best photo I took the entire vacation

Checking out the cold, white stuff on the ground

We put him down in the snow to explore, but only for a couple minutes. Poor baby's face was already chapped just from very brief time outdoors and the lack of humidity in NC and MI.

The snow-covered baby with Daddy, looking a little cold and ready to go back inside

Interesting high chair that Grandma Jane got for Finley to use. In addition to a high chair, it can also convert to a play table and-- get this-- a potty. I told Jane that whoever invented this chair obviously didn't agree with the saying, "Don't poop where you eat." (Yes, I cleaned up the language. You know what it really is.) Anyway, Finley had a great time banging a spoon on the metal tray!

Funny faces with Sue

A belated birthday celebration for Jane's 60th and Cooper's 30th. Happy birthday to both of you!

Laughing with Grandma Holly and checking out her cool glasses.

Hanging out with Faf and trying to eat all the gifts.

Our stockings at Tim & Marcia's. From L to R: Amanda, Finley & Nate.

Nate likes to try on all his new gifts at once. In addition to his normal clothes, he is also wearing two new shirts, swim trunks, and wrist bands.

Okay, so we didn't actually take Finley sledding, but he sure is cute sitting in the sled. Probably not very safe to let a 8 1/2 month old sled by himself.

All bundled up with Mommy

Family photo (Finley is over it at this point.)

And now he's taking off the hat

Cuddling with Uncle Cooper before bedtime

To Holly, he's just another puppy

Modeling the sweater Great-grandma Holly made

Do not try this at home! (Finley loved standing in the rocker watching the fire.)

More NC Pics

We made it back to Hong Kong. Finley did great on the flights, but we're all sleep-deprived and tired. On top of Finley's jet lag yesterday, I took him to get his second flu shot (babies have to get two), so he was super tired. Finley seemed to have a little growth spurt over Christmas, so I was curious to find out his height and weight at the doctor's office. At a little over 8 1/2 months, he is now 29 inches long and weighs 20.5 pounds! Finley is a champ with shots. A very quick cry, and then he's fine.

Now, on to the rest of the photos from NC!

Loving Aunt Jessica's necklace

Reading The Night Before Christmas on Christmas Eve. My parents used to read it to us, and now it's Finley's turn.

Photo with the grandparents...

...And the Aunt and Uncle (it's really hard to get Jessica and Finley to both be looking and smiling at the camera, haha)

Family photo

Not that great of a photo, but evidence of what Finley learned over the break: how to climb stairs!

Loving the bows on Christmas morning

Kisses

Finley with the bow, and I'm working on the paper

Finley wouldn't wear his Santa hat (he learned to take off hats just in time for winter), so we put it on the dog.

Gifts for my parents

Nate checks out his new pj pants while Finley plays with the paper

A book for Finley

Checking out the downstairs Christmas tree with Granddaddy

Cuddling with Grandmommy

Christmas in Asheboro

We made the l-o-n-g trip back to Asheboro this week. We have been so excited to see our family for Christmas, but slightly dreading the plane rides and jet lag for Finley. Considering what an active baby Finley is, he did really well on the planes (but that doesn't mean it was fun). We actually had a couple of people compliment us on his behavior!

The jet lag has been difficult at night. Finley wakes up in the middle of the night and thinks it's time to play, so Nate and I have to stay up with him. He sure does take good naps during the day, though! It seems to have messed up his appetite, as well. He has been very anti-baby food, and only interested in our food (little bits of bread, cheese, broccoli, etc.). That could be jet lag or Finley outgrowing being spoon fed, but I just figure it's a bit early for him to completely give up spoon feeding.

We have a few photos from Asheboro to get things started. We probably won't post any more Asheboro or Michigan photos until we get back to Hong Kong, because we're leaving for MI tomorrow.

Finley with his great-grandparents, Granny and Papa. Granny and Finley had on matching outfits!

Cuddling with Papa, almost nap time.

In the high chair that my grandparents bought when I was a baby, eating some pasta.

Annual Allen family Christmas photo at my grandparents' house.

Our little family.

Standing with Dad.

Hmm...this looks like a very nice bow...

I think I'll eat it!

Playing with a very cool octopus that blows bubbles and plays music in the bathtub. (Thanks, Granny and Papa!)

Finley chewing on the wrapping paper while Nate helps him open his gift from the Glasses.

Getting late. Finley's making use of the blanket from the Diabs.

Brett trying to compete for attention by wrapping himself in his blanket like Finley.

Okay, Brett. You're cute, too.

Passed out on Granny's shoulder.

Nursery Photos

First, here is a photo of Finley's scrunchy nose. It's his favorite new trick, and it's totally cute and funny.

I realized the other day I had never taken any photos of Finley's nursery, so for those of you who are interested, here it is. It's a very small room, so it's quite challenging to even take the photos!

This photo is taken standing in the doorway. Out the window is a beautiful view of the water and mountains, which you can't see in this photo. To the left, behind the little bookcase is Nate's built-in cabinet/closet. I have my clothes in the one in our bedroom, and Nate's clothes are in Finley's room, so poor Finley only gets the dresser for his belongings.

The crib mattress is lowered and the bumpers were removed long ago. Finley is too mobile to be trusted with them. The crib also converts to a toddler bed, so we hope to use it for a long time with Finley and any sibling(s)!

We got the elephant paintings in Bali, and the pillow cover in Thailand last year. Our friends Chris and Kathryn helped us put up the tree wall decal the night I went into labor. It was pretty funny. They came over for dinner and to help with the tree, and I was like, "I think I might be in labor." It didn't hurt much yet, but the contractions were already 5 minutes apart, even from the beginning. Kathryn was like, "Should we leave??" I didn't see any reason for them to, because I wasn't in a lot of pain yet. Several hours later, though, we finally went to the hospital when I was in so much pain I couldn't speak and the contractions were 2 1/2 minutes apart! Ah, memories. So exciting!

Long Overdue Video

Sorry I've been a little slack on putting up videos recently. Things have been busy. Only a few more days until we leave for the States, and lots to do!

Finley turned 8 months old yesterday. I almost hesitate to put up this video, because Finley has already changed so much since it was taken a week and a half ago. He has stopped crawling on his belly now and is up on his knees, and he pulls himself up to standing quickly and easily on everything. He can even stand up in his pack 'n play by walking his hands up the side. Finley can get himself into a sitting position now, and he loves to shriek. (I'm hoping the shrieking is a very short phase.)

A little unsure about how the plane ride will go. Finley is a very good baby, and I think he's quite a happy baby, but he is active. He tries to get out of our arms so he can get down and crawl or walk. I'm hoping we can keep him happy on the plane by helping him walk around so he doesn't have to crawl on the yucky floor! Speaking of, Nate and I have finally started the Asian custom of no shoes in the house. It just seems disgusting thinking about us walking around in public bathrooms or stepping in dog poo and then wearing our shoes around so Finley can lick those germs off the floor. (Seriously, he really does put his face on the floor frequently.) It's such a strong custom here that no one would dare wear their shoes inside your house-- ever. If a repairman comes, he leaves his shoes outside the door. If a friend comes over, they always leave their shoes by the door. It's actually quite nice because I don't like wearing shoes anyway, and tend to walk around barefoot all the time. But, I digress. Here's the video!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

We tried to take some Christmas photos of Finley last week. I took about a million, and only got a few good ones, because all the others were blurry! Finley is so active and wiggly that I have to put the camera on the sports setting, and he still often comes out blurry!

Here are photos we took at the beach in Stanley.

This is when Finley discovered the sand. He thought it was very interesting!

Here are a couple of shots in front of our Christmas tree. It was impossible to keep Finley from crawling away, so Nate tried to hold him.

Practicing his "good boy" look for Santa.

More Bali Photos

Here are a few more Bali photos from the beach in Nusa Dua. They were on Tim & Marcia's camera, so that's why they weren't included in the other posts. Enjoy!