Finn: Month 2 Photo-Dump

More photos from Finn’s second month!

Brotherly love.

Brotherly love.

Big boy breakfast date.

Big boy breakfast date.

That face!

That face!

Life with 2!

Life with 2!

Baking brownies with Mom! Had to really convince him to try the batter but of course he loved it.

Baking brownies with Mom! Had to really convince him to try the batter but of course he loved it. “BWOWNIES!!!”

Sweet snuggles.

Sweet snuggles.

Finn with his girlfriend Coralie Hudson. 8 weeks apart.

Finn with his girlfriend Coralie Hudson. 8 weeks apart.

Hard rocker.

Hard rocker.

Getting ready to visit Dad's office!

Getting ready to visit Dad’s office!

So much hope in those eyes.

So much hope in those eyes.

I've only done it once in front of him but clearly it made an impression... yikes.

I’ve only done it once in front of him but clearly it made an impression… yikes.

First real smiles from Finn!

First real smiles from Finn!

Melting my heart!

Melting my heart!

Heading out with my handsome date.

Heading out with my handsome date.

Sweet smiles.

Sweet smiles.

Pool date with the Hudson girls!

Pool date with the Hudson girls!

We have already planned the wedding.

We have already planned their wedding.

Theirs too. :)

Theirs too. 🙂

Love a sleeping baby.

Love a sleeping baby.

Morning playtime!

Morning playtime!

With play dough!

With play dough!

Everyone was pretty happy to have Michael home after a week of traveling!

Everyone was pretty happy to have Michael home after a week of traveling!

Passed out.

Passed out.

These two together are absolutely hysterical.

These two together are absolutely hysterical.

Finn getting some snuggles with his Godmother Paige.

Finn getting some snuggles with his Godmother Paige.

Harper BOYS!

Harper BOYS!

Finn!

Bald little Finn!

Story time with my boys.

Story time with my boys.

“Hurt my knee. Need to go to doctor. Try to walk. Too hard! Need a bandaid! Need to go to doctor!”

Can't look.

Can’t look.

Michael and I meeting Graham Michael Saign! (Colt's godparents' son!)

Meeting Graham Michael Saign! (Colt’s godparents’ son!)

Angel eyes.

Angel eyes.

Family breakfast date!

Family breakfast date!

Sleepy date.

Mom & Finn.

Annual BC vs. Clemson photo. I think they knew who was going to win it...

Annual BC vs. Clemson photo. I think they knew who was going to win it…AGAIN. (Sorry Michael!)

Love this boy.

Love this boy.

And he loves his (sink) baths!

And he loves his (sink) baths!

Having two kids is already so much fun but what has made the blessing THAT much greater has been doing it alongside our best friends down here. Our first kids are all within 4 weeks of each other and our second round is all within 8 weeks. Hudsons with 2 girls (both the oldest), us with 2 boys (both the youngest) and the Parkers with 1 of each (both in the middle). What a BLESSING from the Lord!

Michelle with Finley & Jack. Me with Finn & Colt. Paige with Coralie & Mailey.

Michelle with Finley & Jack. Me with Finn & Colt. Paige with Coralie & Mailey.

And even more fun when Jana came back to visit and we got to meet sweet Callen! 

And even more fun when Jana came back to visit and we got to meet sweet Callen!

Coralie, Finn & Finley. Finn has serious game.

Coralie, Finn & Finley. Finn has serious game.

Sharon & Ollie meet Finn!

A week after my parents left and the day after Finn turned 1 month old, Sharon & Ollie visited us in Brazil to meet Finn, spend time with Colt and help Michael and me. They were only able to stay for about 10 days but true to form, we packed a lot in! It was a great mix of fun times with friends, down-time with family and then a great getaway to one of our favorite places – the Fasano hotel at the Fazenda Boa Vista.

Nana meeting Finn!

Nana meeting Finn!

"Welcome Back!" dinner at old fav, Sallvattore.

“Welcome Back!” dinner at old fav, Sallvattore.

Finn heading to church in his Sunday best.

Finn heading to church in his Sunday best.

Sunday afternoon, heading out to lunch.

Sunday afternoon, heading out to lunch.

Caipis and feijoada with friends at Museu da Casa Brasileira.

Caipis and feijoada with friends at Museu da Casa Brasileira.

Can't believe I didn't get a better picture of the table!

Can’t believe I didn’t get a better picture of the table!

3 on 1.

3 on 1.

Finn & Coralie.

Finn & Coralie.

During the week Sharon & Ollie developed a morning “tradition” with Colt. They would come over by 7:30am to be here when he woke up (so that Michael and I could get a little more sleep or Michael could go work out). They would do his whole milk, play, breakfast routine and then they would walk down the street with him to our grocery store. The grocery store is pretty nice and it has a great little cafe where they would sit and have coffee while Colt colored and snacked on pão de queijo. So sweet AND helpful to Mom and Dad! Then we would try to do something fun for lunches and dinners.

Colt wearing one of his dad's old hats that Nana & Papa brought down.

Colt wearing one of his dad’s old hats that Nana & Papa brought down.

Lunch by the pool.

Lunch by the pool.

Kisses!

Kisses!

Nana & Fincher.

Nana & Fincher.

Papa & Colt on the seesaw.

Papa & Colt on the seesaw.

Nana taking Colt for an afternoon swim. (Photo sneakily taken from our apartment - 26 floors up!)

Nana taking Colt for an afternoon swim. (Photo sneakily taken from our apartment – 26 floors up!)

The "Melting Pumpkin" was a little confusing to all the adults but was a big hit with Colt.

The “Melting Pumpkin” was a little confusing to all the adults but was a big hit with Colt.

Nagayama!

Nagayama!

With our favorite server.

With our favorite server.

Sharon - famous for how she handles the foie gras.

Sharon – famous for how she handles the foie gras.

After a fun week in SP we headed outside the city to the Fazenda Boa Vista for some R&R.

Hitting the pool upon arrival.

Hitting the pool upon arrival.

Finn & I love stripes.

Finn & I love stripes.

Colt & Dad.

Colt & Dad.

As I mentioned in my last post, I was actually battling a very painful arm infection through the Harpers’ entire visit but unfortunately it was the worst during our last weekend together at the Fazenda. On Saturday morning, Michael, Finn & I had to drive to the hospital for me to have a little “operation” on my arm and we were gone most of the day.

Coming out of surgery. Exhausted from nights of no sleep and lots of pain.

Coming out of surgery. Exhausted from nights of no sleep and lots of pain.

Thankfully, despite all I was going through, Colt was having the time of his life with Nana and Papa at the Fazenda!

Colt & Papa at the petting zoo.

Colt & Papa at the petting zoo.

Sizing each other up.

Sizing each other up.

"Colt hold NumNum. Nice soft NumNum."

“Colt hold NumNum. Nice soft NumNum.”

Trains with Nana.

Trains with Nana.

Petting Nanny the goat.

Sweet little goat.

More bunnies!

More bunnies!

And to top it all off, a ride around the property in the horse-drawn carriage!

And to top it all off, a ride around the property in the horse-drawn carriage!

We hated to say goodbye but it was a little easier knowing we’d be reunited soon over Thanksgiving!

Final sweet snuggle time.

Final sweet snuggle time.

Send-off caipirinhas!

Send-off caipirinhas!

Tummy-time.

Tummy-time.

We love you Nana & Papa! Thank you for a great visit and for all the ways you helped us out and loved on our boys! XO

Fincher’s 2nd Month!

On Sunday you turned 2 months my dear love, Finn!

Happy boy!

Finn Developments: Handsome boy, I absolutely love watching you grow and turn into your own little person!

Weight: Doctor’s appointment next week! You are definitely chunking up nicely but you’re not quite as roly-poly as your brother was at this stage. You have the lovely gift of showing it all in your sweet face first.
Height: Will find out soon!
Clothes: 3 months.
Diapers: Size 1.

Finn, you still have gorgeous blue eyes (hoping they stay blue!) and very little hair that’s kind of a light auburn color. Your acne has mostly cleared up (for now) but you are still a little dandruffy.

I am thankful that your personality continues to be pretty calm and laid back. Some of our friends joke that they never see you awake since you’re pretty reliable about sleeping in the stroller whenever we’re out and about.

Sometimes you can be fussier in the evening between your last two feeds. It’s easy enough to manage and to calm and soothe you IF there are two adults home, but since that’s also the time that your brother has dinner, has his bath and goes to bed, it’s a challenge to do solo. Your dad was traveling for 5 nights a couple weeks ago so 2 or 3 of our evenings were tough. One evening I tried to hold you in the carrier through it but that was kind of a mess too. However, I figure a little evening cry-sesh is a good lung workout and just gets you ready for a long night’s sleep, right? 😉

You’ve only given me a hard time in public once when we went downstairs to play one evening with your brother. At first you were hanging out in your stroller then slowly started fussing. I thought you would calm down but it just escalated more and more until you were absolutely wailing! It wouldn’t have been a big deal but of course your brother didn’t get it and wanted “one more slide! one more slide!” then he had to get on his scooter, put on his helmet, etc. before we could get out of there. It was kind of a scene and I had JUST told another mom down there that having 2 was great and “not too hard” so honestly it serves me right for having said that. 🙂

The most fun development of month 2 is that you started smiling, Finn! And boy, do you give some big ones. It melts my heart and brings so much joy to our life. Colt loves it too, “Finn happy! Finn smiling! Tiny little Finn!” {Heart explosion.}

Schedule: We are on a regular schedule with you and I am so grateful. It makes it easy for me to know what to expect and know how to plan, but it’s also easy to adjust when needed to fit into my daily plans. And I think it helped you start sleeping through the night so early which is just everything when there are multiple kids involved.

7:30 am First morning feed.
11:00 am Lunch feed.
2:30 pm Snack feed.
6:00 pm Dinner feed.
9:30 pm Last feed of the night.
11:00 pm Bedtime for Finn & Mom.

Eating: As seen above you are eating 5 times / day. You kept pushing your middle-of-the-night-feed later and later, from 3am to 4 to 5 to 6 and now to 7:30ish so we just “merged” that one with the first morning feed and you never seemed to miss it.  You normally spend 7-10 minutes per side. You’re a good eater and we’re still on 100% mama’s milk.

Sleep: What a good sleeper you are! Even easier than your brother!! As noted above, at night you’re giving us a 10 hour stretch between feeds and you’re sleeping for 8.5 of those hours. This started at about 7 weeks and was my saving grace while your dad was out of town.

Mom: I’ve kind of gone through the ringer this month. Just as I was clearing recovery from the delivery I got a random infection under my arm. I had always had a small cyst under my arm and one night it started to feel sensitive. It hurt more each day and after a couple of days it had grown pretty large and was quite painful. I went to the doctor to have it drained and it was one of the most painful 20 minutes of my life and unfortunately it just got worse from there. That appointment was on a Thursday and late Friday night I woke Michael up just crying. I was in so much pain and it was clear I was not improving. The infection had turned into a legitimate boil the size of a cherry. So gross. I couldn’t put my arm down but it hurt to lift it as well. I couldn’t sleep at night. In order to nurse Finn, other people had to hold him up to me and half the time I’d be in tears from the pain of it all. On Saturday we met my doctor at the hospital and she went ahead and put me under so that she could go in and remove as much of it as possible. When she was finished she left a straw in to maintain an opening so that it could continue to drain. Gross. After that I finally started to feel less pain but I went on a stronger antibiotic since the first one I was on did not work. This antibiotic was “OK” to nurse through but not ideal so while I did continue to nurse, we also emptied our freezer of all my frozen milk to minimize the amount of antibiotic that Finn received. And I just prayed for him through each feeding that he would not be negatively affected by it. Praise God that so far he has showed no indication of being affected. Anyway, the straw was in for about a week and then it was removed only to leave a hole in my arm. Then that started to heal strangely so I had to go back and have more stuff removed this past week. I think it is FINALLY healing properly so I thank God for that. Anyway, it was just such a strange, painful and stressful thing to go through while also trying to take care of a 2 year old and 1 month old and I am so thankful that it’s over.

OTHERwise, I am doing great and love being a mom of two sweet boys. It’s an adventure but so much joy each day.

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