Still Walkin'

Moving and Grooving!

Finn took her first steps on the very same day as her 10 month birthday. These steps were lucky feet firmly planted on the ground. Up and down she went. Days passed, no steps. Well things have changed.
She's figured out how to get up without support and take off. She's here, there, and everywhere now. We've also determined that "Child Proofing" a house is a misnomer, as the child tries to get into, tangle herself up in, and explore the unknown.
On a side note: A business opportunity up for the taking-baby helmets. Baby Helmets, for the active baby with a risk-taking personality. The baby head sure takes a knocking!

Family Fun

We had some family fun last week. New York came to Maine, and lots of fun was had. Visits to Range Pond, Bradbury Mountain, and Mackworth Island. Fun wasn't had by all: a couple of Maine's finest ocean bugs (lobsters) bit the dust--and were covered in butter!

Walk On

This one's self-explanatory. WOW! or wow. Depending on how you see the milestone.

Mainely Maine

Finn took full advantage of all the wonders Maine has to offer. She started her trip by heading to the coast, to lovely North Haven. Then, she headed north on Rte. 1, seeing some coastal towns like Camden and Rockport and wound up in Bangor at her grandparents' house. A short stay there -with some tractoring in between- led her to hit Millinock, home to -of course- Mt. Katahdin and the Pelletier Logging Company. Pelletier has a show based on its logging operations on the Discovery Channel. They travel up and down the Golden Road, which we did too to get to our morning coffee, from Maine and their operations up to Canada.
At Mt. Katahdin, we hiked various trails that were on or near the Appalachian Trail. We didn't see any moose but did scout some geese, a fox, and some massive dung-perhaps from a moose or a bear. She also ate at the restaurant opened by the Pelletier family that will be featured on the third season of the show, which starts filming in the fall.
Oh, how can we forget?! The camp we stayed at suffered serious damage within hours of our arrival: the gas grill set aflame and lost all its plastic accessories. And two Newfoundlands came to visit -from I don't know where- and knocked down and destroyed a hand railing. I seriously considered telling the owner we knocked it down by simply holding it (there was lots of rot) because that tale makes sense. But I told him what happened: truth stranger than fiction.
Next we hit Bangor again and saw Paul Bunyan -pretty big fella. She wrapped up her trip to see Katie Coleman in wonderful Bucksport and had brunch in Ellsworth, a really fun town with great breakfast!
Lots of swimming took place and Finn got her first ever boat ride.

Itsy Bitsy Spider

Finn had the pleasure to see some of nature's most wildest creatures in action. Take for example this spider here. This spider, although it appears to be alive, is actually the living dead. This is what a twice killed spider looks like, when it arrives straight out of hell after being put to death by an angry mob.
This spider is evil. This spider should not be alive. However it is. Here it is. Don't close your eyes, it sees you. A million times.

Finn Goes to the Beach

Finn had another milestone last week: she left the state and headed to Rhode Island. She remained in New England, so don't worry. There was limited interactions with the Necromongers.

The babes'll go spastic, Hip hop gains a classic

Finn was cool like that in her ladybug flotation device. She be kicking mad waves, like a bearded man takes a shave.
She swim like dat,
She float like dat,
She buoyant like dat,
She out ... she out.

Finn goes North, to go Downeast

Finn headed north this weekend to Bar Harbor. Locals will say she headed down to the harbor or even Downeast. I think it's called so because it's a straight shot to Boston, for trade purposes. Dunno for sure.
Finn had a good time and when she finally settled down on her journeys, it was right to sleep. There was a dicey moment there, when she cried cried and cried. A quick hustle from the other side of town occurred. And she went right down.
She got some pre-1 events logged this weekend. Regrettably, no boat ride. She did turn a huge boat wheel near the Margaret Todd, though. So so dock time and NEAR ship did happen.
Otherwise, a BIG event did happen when she took to the water like a black lab. She was hanging in her ladybug, having a great time 'swimming' and watching older girls jam in and out of the pool. Go Finn!

(Happy Birthday to Brian Wilson; he's 68 today.)

Make Way for Baby and Ducklings

I don't know if this is what Robert McCloskey meant when he wrote, "Make Way for Ducklings." Either way, it is damn cute. She was hungering for my dinner tonight, and I needed to give her something. So, thought I, why not the string for the duckies. She loves string; she loves duckies; she'd also love my dinner, so better hurry up. And once she had that string in hand, OFF she went.
So cute.

I'd say shoelaces, but she doesn't wear shoes. Yet.

We're in trouble: Finn's all about pulling herself up now. Whereas a week ago she was toying with the idea, she's now looking for a new trick-and some new trouble to find. Here's a good example of her finding herself up, leaning against the sofa, and still not satisfied.

Someone has a new favorite word.

Finn has mastered Da Da at this point. Today she was trying to nail Dora Doo and at least once a Hi spilled out of her mouth.
Not long until she's ordering off menu.

CROQUET IS WICKET PART II

The competition, which was weak according to Finn, had nothing on our team. While I handled the muscle, Finn handled strategy.

CROQUET IS WICKET

The 2010 Croquet Season has begun. You can see that this year I've got a lucky charm: It's Finn. Our first game resulted in victory!
Watch out.

European Distribution

This video is like releasing an American film into the European market. Although the states have already seen the movie, it is the first time this particular region has been exposed to the WHAM! BAM! WHAMMY!
So, for the first time ever, I'm very proud to introduce 'Da Da' from Finn, while she takes her very first steps forward!
Enjoy.

Rolling Rolling Rolling ... Keep those babies rolling

Finn's ready to roll! She's getting around now in her walker like no time in the past. This week we've seen her say new things, actually go through the most advanced stage of crawling, and move FORWARD in her walker.
She's getting along. For sure.

Playball!

When it comes to baseball, Finn is a fan. She's a hometown girl, so she's a Redsox fan by default. Can't go into how that makes her dad feel. But simply: he's cool with that.
Keeping with her New York roots, and tapping that intellectual aspect of the game, when it comes to the National league she roots Mets. Why not? It's better than the crosstown rivals.

Happy Summer

Happy Summer. Here's a shot of Milo after a swim.

Remember to bring ya towel.

Social creatures

Everyone got to be social today, including the babies. Here's Finn playing nice with some colorful blocks and a fire truck of sorts.
Who knew she'd love these things. But she does.

Of historical note: we were enjoying the sights and sounds of Portland at the Chamberlain House, http://www.nps.gov/archive/gett/getttour/sidebar/chambln.htm. He lived in Portland during the later and last years of his life. Our clucky friends own the place.

Bird Brains

Okay. Someone had the idea to build a chicken coop. This person had the bright idea to build it far from its final nesting space. So, this person righted his wrong by plying his friends with drinks and then using their brawn to move the thing. Here's the coop is action.
Chickens arrive Wednesday.

Are you still using that?

Got to get at least one picture of the dog(s) on here before I lose interest in 'blogging.'

Makes me think of the gym and the line of treadmills. Doo's got hungry eyes for that pool. It's not that big of a pool, but then again the Doo's not too picky.

Finn trying to stand up part two

Another one, and the last, of the Finn trying to stand up series-Memorial Day 2010. Here's an earlier video of Finn crawling around the floor and taking no prisoners when it comes to objects, or legs, as the case may be.
She's no longer afraid of things in her way. She just goes after what she wants. She was like that when her rolling phase began. She was sort of like a sailboat in a way, meaning she would work towards the object by tacking one way and then the other. Think wind and current, but very much more like shag shag shag carpeting.

Finn trying to stand up

This is a video of Finn trying her hardest to stand up. She's got some things working against her: she's small and she's tired. Wicked tired, as they say in Maine.

Memorial Day 2010 is underway and we're having a blast. Finn got into the pool today, and she is really enjoyed moving in and out of the water with little difficulty.
Finn is preparing to walk, I think. She's exploring things that are stationed above her-think knee level for us bigger folk. It's fun to see how she manages to jack herself up.