Not a baby, or even a toddler anymore.

This was Finley's last day being 2 years old.  I am so overwhelmed with feelings I can't describe.  Happy yet sad.  Excited yet dreadful.  It's unbelievable that he is like- not a baby, in a whole new developmental stage, at the age (I thought would take forever to get to) that he can play with all those neat toys that say "3 and up."

Not that I got him toys for his birthday.  I figured others will take care of that.
This book is one thing I got for Finley for his birthday.  This book is AMAZING!  It's so beautifully illustrated and it is such a simple yet profound explanation of the world.  I highly recommend it!
 
Also, we got him tumbled rock crystals- 4 little stones with a little pouch to put them in.  He got a clear quartz, emerald fuchsite, pink spinel, and hematite.  If you are wondering why in the world I gave him crystals for his birthday, read this article.

Just before he closed his eyes tonight, he said, "I love you mommy.  And I love Astrid and Jolie, and chocolate and doughnuts and oatmeal and my sandbox and playing in water and smashing my jelly cakes (sandcastles) and helping you with dinner and making cookies and watching Spongebob and carrots with ranch and teff and my kitchen and going to the park..." In that order.  I'm not sure why he wanted to tell me everything he loves, he's never done that. And he also left out a lot.  I think he was soooo tired and just rambling. 

For our memories-

Before bed, I have to sing songs.  I sing- "All Things Bright and Beautiful,"  "Go to Sleepy Little Baby," "The Body of the Ocean," (which if Caelan is crying and I sing this he always immediately stops) and "Frere Jaques."  Also, before bed, if I am with him I tell him stories about Jessie- I made Jessie up- and it's like it's him I just retell his day to him but say it's Jessie, but sometimes he and Jessie go on adventures.  But if Kevin is putting him to bed, he asks him for stories about a boy named Charlie.

And his diet: every single day he asks for: Teff, O's, and a peanut (butter) sandwich and apples/applesauce.  That's all he ever wants.  Luckily we can also get him to also have a green smoothie, and eat black beans or lentils with brown rice, salmon, tuna, and yogurt.  Also he lovesand I mean LOVES this soup with "cheesy toast."  And he loves broccoli too.   And...for the extra special treat- unsweetened chocolate almond milk with yummy   Shake and Go or chocolate Amazing Grass.  But that's really the basics of what he eats on a regular basis.  I guess it could be worse!

I guess that's all the little details of his 3 year old life.  I am just so ferklempt about this 3 year old milestone.  I wish we could push pause!

April already?

I have to report that Finley is such a wonderful, sweet, caring big brother.  He always brings toys for Caelan to play with.  If Caelan spits up he runs to get a cloth and gently wipes it away.  If he sees danger he removes it- like in the case of the purple tablecloth in the background of this picture, he  folds the edges out of his reach so he can't pull it off and have the things on the table fall on his head.  But there are times that make me crazy- like when he spit cereal all over his head and thought it was sooooo funny that Caelan had milk dripping down his face.  Or when I walked in the room and he was standing on him- on his bum. 

Finley really likes me to take his picture, especially after he's done something goofy- like stick his face in ketchup.

 Look how similar their eyes are- like saucers!

Caelan turned 6 months old the other day so we marked the occasion with his first food- sweet potatoes.  Though afterward I decided to wait a little longer to make it a habit.  I'm not convinced his digestive system is ready.  Once he is capable of sitting better without support we will try again.   

They LOVE each other so much. Please ignore gross carpet.

Finley is enjoying painting.  Every day he asks to paint. 

After he is done painting on paper,  he enjoys covering his body.  Blue is his regular preference.

Here he said, "Look mom, I painted a circle!"  This was without my prompting!  Who needs preschool?!

Getting creative here- he got out the pipe cleaners and made a "weed eater."

Daddy brought home tattoos from work. 

Perfect lazy day dinner-  I keep Meatless Meatloaf Muffins and Zucchini Pancakes in the freezer.  When I'm not cooking a meal it is oh so convenient and guilt free!  Plus it's hearty- guaranteed to avoid the bedtime hungrys!  I've had people ask for the recipes so- Meatloaf Muffins on food.com
and
Zucchini Pancakes
2C grated zucchini
2 Eggs
1/2 C chickpea flour
1/2 C parmesan
1/2 C mozzarella
variation:instead of parm/mozz use 1C cheddar
 mix all ingredients and cook like pancakes on med-high heat. makes about 8

fake smile

Kevin's friend "Uncle Lupe" gave these cars to Finley.  They were such a hit that I woke up in the middle of the night to find him playing with them, he turned the light on in the back porch room and was vrooming away!

Random Caelan pics!

 

Snug with daddy while I go off to "work" at the Hauschka counter.

Mud monster.  Enough said.

Finley will be three in a few days.  Though this is a hard age as far as him exerting independence (defiance) it is soooo fun to hear what comes out of his mouth.  He has a full vocabulary and use of language that astounds me.  If you ask him to tell a story he begins with, "Once upon a time in a far away land..." then will literally talk your ear off telling a story peppered with great detail of him and his friends (usually Vin as his accomplice and Sienna as the princess they rescue) and their adventures with dragons, forests, mountains, tigers, sharks and always chocolate.  Chocolate rivers, trees, and big cakes. This started with Kevin encouraging the stories by asking questions and planting ideas but now he's off and can really tell a  whopper!

Notice the positions!

"The One"

The other day, Finley asked to listen to "The One."  It took me several minutes of saying- "I have no idea what you are talking about!  What is "The One?" for it to click.  He was talking about Michael Jackson's "Billy Jean." 
Kevin put it on one day while we were hanging out and we all danced but I didn't think he'd remember several days later!  Now he is full on obsessed and wants to listen to it all the time!  I guess it's in his genes- at his age I watched "The Making of Thriller" at least once a day!  Michael Jackson was my first celebrity crush.  I went to his Moonwalk concert at Texas Stadium in 1984.  I was bummed when he got "weird" but I never doubted his innocence during those crazy allegations.  I cried for days when he died.  Finley said he wants to go see him.  I said we can't because he lives in Heaven now.  Of course he doesn't understand what that means, other than knowing that Mimi and Uncle Trey live there.  He says he wants to go there and I tell him we can only go in our dreams.  How do you explain that to a (almost) 3 year old?

In other news...
These pics are highlights of the happenings in the past month or so.  

This is a bread making day.  I was shocked at the new ability of Finley to really help me make the bread.  He actually leveled the flour, mixed and kneaded!

Of course he had to lick the molasses and honey!

 I didn't get a pic of the final product but here he is about to enjoy a slice with some eggs.

 I swear I can never get a smiley pic of Caelan- he is very wary of the camera!

He just stares at it!  He's so curious about it!

 Caelan's first high chair experience! 

 Our favorite breakfast lately- Teff and Organic Turkey bacon.  This is currently the only land meat he eats.  I am easing him into the birds.  I wanted him to know, understand, and appreciate where his food comes from before offering him meat.  He seems to naturally have an aversion to meat but I also wonder if he was conditioned by me to avoid it.  But since he is an O blood type- I feel he needs to eat some.

 Ooooh the weird flashy thing!

Okay, I have NO idea what this was about.  Finley was concentrating, quiet, and serious while piling wet sand on his head.

 Caelan looks SO much like Finley here!

 This is the TV stare. If the TV is on Caelan will literally do a back bend to watch it.  Here I put him down for a second when Kevin had the soccer football on and he was mesmerized!  Evil!

Bath time with daddy!

Making bird feeders! A few weeks ago I attempted to make birdseed molds with gelatin.  It was a disaster in many ways.  I have seen people do pine cone feeders but I'm not making a trip to the craft store just for a pine cone.  My brilliant idea- peanut butter on bread with seeds.  It worked great except the birds don't get to them before the squirrels or the opossums!

He just loves dirt!

Finley painted this lovely bird house-
Cost for supplies:
Bird house- $1
Paint: $0.89
Foam paint brush: $0.99
Hour of quiet time: priceless!

Mmmmm- snot and sandy "ice cream pole."

This was super cute- Finley sharing his rocks with Caelan!

He was not upset here- he was asking "Can you bring me (I forgot what)?"

We love our boys!