Two more new words

Yesterday, I learned two more new words. Mommy is trying to help me learn to say "help" when I need something instead of crying. Yesterday she taught me the sign and was was excited to see that when I tried to do the sign I also said "help". So today we have been working on asking for "help" when needed. I also said "Papa" for the first time yesterday. Mom and I were looking at all the pictures of friends and family on our refrigerator (have you seen our refrigerator?!) and talking about who each one was. Mommy said Papa and asked me if I could say it. I said "Papa" (This is Grandpa F.) over and over again. Mommy called him to tell him the news and I even said it on the phone for him. How exciting! :)

My friend Elaina's birthday

Yesterday we went to Elaina's house to celebrate her first birthday. She is only 3 weeks younger than me. We have had fun growing up together this year and look forward to many more great years together as friends. We love to see each other at church and playgroups.

Mr. and Mrs. Stanley were there too! I sure missed them while they were on vacation. It's nice to have them home, and I sure enjoyed spending some time with them at the party!

Playing with Elaina and the Stanleys!

I got really sleepy at the end of the party. Mommy fed me and put me in my pj's. I snuggled right up with mom and dad on the couch...I was ready for bed! I fell asleep in the car on the way home and mom and dad didn't hear from me again until morning!

Free Fun Friday

As I've mentioned before...I love reading Kristi's blog. Every Friday she does Free Fun Fridays on her blog. We are going to participate for the first time. :) To see more free and fun activities for your friday check out http://runwatchplaywait.blogspot.com/.

Today I'll share 2 ideas...one activity and one craft...both can be done with materials you have around the house!

Fun with a paper towel roll!
Hannah loves to play a game with a scarf and paper towel roll. I stuff the scarf inside and then she has fun pulling it through. This game is great for babies 6-12 months. It's good for hand-eye coordination, fine motor development, and the babies love to see something appear and disappear!

For more fun with a paper towel...use it like a horn or a megaphone. March around the house or just dance making music!

I can't resist sharing a free craft idea as well. One of the many favorite activities when I taught kindergarten was making fabric collages. We did a whole unit for science on fabric. We learned about the different kinds of fabric. We made feely boxes. The kids had to put thier hands in the box and without looking pick out two matching fabrics. They loved exploring the different textures and feels and learning about all the different kinds of fabric. To help them learn more about the texture and feel of fabric we made fabric collages. I just had tons of different scraps of fabric and let them go to town cutting and pasting them. Some made abstract collages while others created pictures with different shapes that they cut out. It was neat to see how creative they would get!

Clearly some put more time and effort in than others...but all had fun!

new words

Yesterday was exciting day for us...
It's exciting to see how much Hannah is learning and growing everyday. We are just having SO much fun together!
One of Hannah's favorite things to eat is soup...so yesterday we had vegtable soup for lunch. When I brought Hannah's bowl to the table she pointed at it and said "hot". She also touched Seth's leg after he got out of bed in the morning and said "hot". Then later in the day she picked up a candle (unlit of course) and said "hot". It's neat to see her learning new words and connecting the meaning to them. (Here's the video...lots of me talking...and not very exciting....but aleast you can hear her new word)

Hannah is also learning how to communicate more and more everyday. I was in the kitchen working yesterday and she came up to me and signed "banana". She asked me for a snack! :o)
Then...when I told her that it was bedtime, she signed "bath". I wasn't going to give her one last night...but bless her heart...how do you turn that down?
It was an exciting day for me too! I am now officially a pampered chef independent consultant! I got my starter kit in the mail yesterday! I'm so excited to use all my new cooking toys and get started with my new buisness! I love pampered chefs products and can't wait to share them with others. I'm looking forward to a chance to make a little extra money and enjoy some (not too many) evenings away from home too. I also used my breadmaker for the first time yesterday! I can't believe that I've had it for so long and have never used it! The house smelled so wonderful and the bread was so yummy! What a great day we had!

Today we enjoyed the blessing of friendship. Sheri came over for a playdate with her 3 precious girls. We enjoyed lots of playtime, lunch, and some time to catch up. Now I am enjoying the quiet of naptime as Hannah & I both rest from our busy morning.

God's Word has been so refreshing to me lately. This morning I finished the last day of my study on the Pslams of the Ascent (Psalm 120-134). We did a Beth Moore Study (Stepping Up) with the ladies at church...and it has been so good! I've been challenged in so many ways. Today's Psalm was Psalm 134 and I thought I would share it with you...I sang the words as I read them today...does anyone else know the song?

"Come bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord, who stand by night in the house of the Lord! Lift up your hands to the holy place and bless the Lord!
May the Lord bless you from Zion, he who made heaven and earth!"

Well...today was a blog post from my point of view...I guess maybe we'll go back and forth..some days from Hannah some from me. Thanks for taking the time to read and keep up with what's going on here in the Finnegan house. May God bless your day!

my first pigtails!

My hair is growing so fast! Last night in the bathtub...mommy tried pigtails..and we all decided that I look so cute! Here are some pics of my new hairdo..mommy and daddy say I'm starting to look too much like a little girl.

pigtails in the bathtub

don't I look cute?!

Taking a break from my book to take a quick pic

kiss me I'm Irish

We were suppose to go to MOPS today, but had to stay home because my nose is still running. I did enjoy a walk in the afternoon with mom...and then Jeff and Amber came over for an Irish dinner in the evening. I got to wear my green dress for dinner...so mom took a quick picture. We had Irish beef stew, Irish soda bread, salad, pistachio pudding (just because it's green...we decided that it's just edible) and were glad to have mint brownies too.

I sure like being Irish today! :o)

My first steps!

Yeah! Today I was brave enough to take my first steps. I walked from Mommy to Daddy about 6 steps. I did it several times over again. Here's a video...but mommy forgot and turned her camera the wrong way again, and it's from the backside. So...we will try to get a better video and post it real soon!

I love my blankie

This is how Mommy and Daddy found me last night when they were going to bed. I'm still not feeling well...so I cuddled up with my blankie and propped myself up so I could breath better. I wonder what I was dreaming about....

Another birthday weekend

This past weekend we went to Ohio for more birthday celebrating! Grandma Finnegan had a birthday party for me at her house. It was so fun to see lots of family and friends in Ohio. They gave me lots of love and of course birthday presents too. I wasn't feeling too good on Saturday...but had a good day anyway. Thanks Grandma for a great party!

Uncle Cody and Aunt Erica spent the weekend at Papa and Grandma's with us. They couldn't wait to give me my gift...and I couldn't wait for it either...so I got to open it on Friday night. I was so excited to get maracas to add to my music collection!

Another cupcake! Tasting the icing first this time...

yum! I didn't eat as much since I wasn't feeling good...but they were still yummy.

Time for gifts...Caleb was my helper...he was so excited and did a great job helping! He got me started on each gift...let me pull and little and then helped finish. I'm so glad that he was able to come to my party!

We had fun riding on Grandma's pony together!

mommy tried to get a picture of my cute outfit..but was reminded why she didn't take so many pics...I just wasn't feeling up to pictures...

but we did get a nice family pic

My friend Maggie

Last Tuesday I went visit my friends Micah and Maggie (and their mom and dad too). We had a yummy dinner then got to play with all of Micah and Maggies toys. We have lots in common already: Maggie is almost the same age as me. We were due to be born on the same day...but she was a little more anxious to get here and was born a few weeks earlier. Her Daddy is a youth pastor just like mine..so she loves teenagers too! The last time I saw Maggie we were both tiny...so it was fun to get to play together this time. Here's a pic of us playing with her tea pot and piggy bank together...isn't she so cute?!

caught in the act...

...again.

I discovered the tupperware containers!! I had so much fun pulling all of the containers and lids out. I had fun playing them like a drum and banging them together to make music too. Mommy didn't mind too much because I was having so much fun!

Hannah Banana loves banana's!

I love being able to eat finger foods now...and one of my favorite fruits are bananas. I have been working on the sign for banana...but it's a tricky one. Of course Mommy was so excited when I got it!

After signing banana...mommy gave me some on a spoon...I love to feed myself!

My first Birthday

On Saturday I had my first Birthday party...we had so much fun! The theme of my party was cupcakes. Both sets of my Grandparents came to see me from Ohio. My friends Olivia, Amelia, Addison, and Elaina came to play too.

Mommy and I before the party starts

Yummy cupcakes for my cupcake party

I wasn't quite sure what to do with the candle...so I let Mommy blow it out for me

YUM! I love cupcakes!

Being cute after eating most my cupcake

and now being silly...mommy loves how I crinkle my nose!

Pooh shoes and outfits from Grandma F.

New dishes from the Ohly girls

and a cute green polka dot dress

I got lots of help from Olivia with opening my gifts

finally my own phone...thanks Elaina!

now I'm getting into it!

yeah beads!

But of course my favorite gift was probably the book!

thank you everyone for coming...I sure do feel loved!!

A Day at Henry Ford

Grandpa, Grandma, & Jeremy came to spend my birthday weekend with me. On Friday, we enjoyed the day at the Henry Ford Museum. I LOVED riding around in my stroller while watching the people and lights.

by the Oscar Myer Wiener Mobile

Daddy and Uncle "J" listening to the Beetles

I want to hear them too!!

Don't be eskimos...spring is almost here!!

We took this pic for Papa...The first Honda made in the US.

I'm just chilin' in my stroller

I loved pushing the button and hearing the train whistle!!

What a fun day...thanks Grandpa & Grandma!