Finley O'Carpenter

Finn has the perfect St. Patrick's Day name. And we had a perfect St. Patrick's Day weekend to go with it! Dody came for the end of the week since it was her spring break and Tiffany and Austin came too to go to the parade with us. Matt didn't think he would be able to make it to Savannah since he had spent the prior week at a course in Richmond, Virginia but he missed us too much! After driving the 7 hours home to Augusta, he dropped the other guys off and headed to Savannah. So, needless to say, I was on favorite people overload. 

The absolute craziness that descends on Savannah during this very green holiday every year is well-known. In fact, we have skipped out on the fun at least once or twice since we've lived here just to avoid the hassle of squeezing ourselves into a tiny downtown area with everyone else and their brother (and sister, and mama, and 3rd cousins). But this year I really wanted to take Finn for his 1st St. Patty's and we thought Austin would be old enough to really enjoy the parade. We are SOOOOO lucky that we have some friends that live right on the parade route and they are sweet enough to invite us over each year for breakfast, drinks, and most importantly, a place to use the bathroom that isn't a stinky port-o-potty! So we got up early, rallied the troops and hit the road. Parking wasn't too difficult (and only $15...well, that was the parking ticket I received...but that's a whole separate story...) and soon we were enjoying breakfast sandwiches and vodka soaked gummy bears (just Dody was partaking in this delicacy!). Then we walked out to the parade. It was great! We stayed for about an hour until the kids reached their fun limit (plus it was really hot) and then we loaded up all our stuff and the munchkins and headed home for naps. 

 Watching cartoons. Well, it looks like Finn is watching his best friend Austin!

 All decked out in our finest greenery! 

Trying to get a picture of these two together was not easy! 

A beautiful, sunny day for the parade 

After our naps, Austin gave Myrtle a good work out throwing the ball in the backyard. 

 

Such a serious celebrator 

I was SERIOUSLY sad when Tiff left, then even more so when Matt had to leave. As Dody packed her things I thought I would lose it! I'm so busy during the week that I don't think much about being lonely, but having a full house all weekend was so awesome and makes the empty house seem a little unbearable (at least at first). Thank goodness my mom came to the rescue with a quick visit on Sunday. It has been a few weeks since she had seen Finn and we loved having her!!! 

 My Nana always tells me such interesting things!

"Absence diminishes little passions and increases great ones,

as wind extinguishes candles and fans a fire."

Oh how we are missing you Matt! This separation is sometimes hard, and sometimes not-that-hard, and sometimes pretty-darn-hard. Tonight is the latter. 

A Friday Funny

We've got kind of a weird kid. He does really funny things sometimes. This is what he does every time I put him in this new carrier that I got. I'm scared to take him out in public in it for fear that he will be judged.

And yeah, I know that carrier is crazy looking. And you're probably thinking it isn't very practical. But it looked so much easier to deal with on the box. And the mom and her gorgeous baby looked so happy. Every now and then I get this hankerin' to be a real earth mother....you know, use cloth diapers, swear off the tv, nurse til my child is 6, wear him in a sling wherever I go....well obviously this isn't a sling, but you get the picture. It was $110. Stop laughing. I don't think a real earth mom would pay that much but hopefully it will make me more likely to use it. Or Matt more likely to make fun of me when it gathers dust....we'll see.

Sleepy Sunday

I am always so jealous of babies. No, not the fact that they are bald and incontinent and usually have dried milk/food on their faces and are still somehow cute. But the fact that they can fall asleep almost anywhere and it's OKAY! I mean, I wish I could just pass out whenever I felt the urge. Anyway, this morning Finn got nice and comfy sitting with Matt and just could NOT hold his poor little eyes open any longer! He tried....he really did. He wanted to hang out. He just couldn't. 

 The "sleepy" look

 Eyelids drooping...

 Out like a light!

 "Wait, what did you just say? I'm listening, seriously! Go on!"

"Oh....that's....really.....interesting...."

He just can't help it!

Time for a good swaddle and sleep-tight kiss

Then I looked around the room and realized that not only did we have a very lazy baby on our hands but 3 totally useless dogs as well. What a rough life this group leads.... 

But alas, they couldn't sleep forever because Nan and Bop were stopping by for a visit! It was great to see them and Finn really enjoyed being the center of attention.

I always hate when the weekend is over. But the Lord blessed us with another safe trip home. And I know this week will be gone before we know it and we'll be blazing up that highway again. 

Little Hands

Finn amazes me more and more every day. He is getting so good at reaching out and holding things with his little hands. He also has discovered that they are very interesting to look at and he can spend minutes at a time with one hand or the other held out in front of his face like "Wooooowww" just staring at it.

One day these hands will hold a ball, a bat, a steering wheel, a diploma, a first love's hand....they will button shirts, pray, and wear a wedding ring. These hands will do all sort of wonderful and maybe even awe-inspiring things some day. But for now, just for a little longer, they'll clumsily reach for brightly colored toys and I will continue to proclaim that my little baby is so dang amazing.  :)