Finn is 1! (well, almost)

We celebrated Finn's birthday a little early with his cousin Bridget who turned 3 on Saturday. He went straight for the flame and then actually blew out his own candle! What a genius. I think we are going to do a mini birthday on the actual day, so I guess this was sort of a practice round. Good performance, Finn! Oh, and notice the shark fin(n) on his cupcake!

And Bridget did a number on her candles, too!

Happy birthday twice!

I think of having a birthday week as something that adults do in order to drag out the last moments of the passing year or a somewhat princessy act of self indulgence, a chance to be wished happy birthday over and over, milking every ounce of sugar (or alcohol) out of what is really only one day. But we just, in Finn's first year of life, introduced him to the joys of the birthday week. You saw him eating cake last weekend and now you'll see him again. But this time Tyler and I primed him with a 3 hour nap so he could fully enjoy attacking his tender birthday treat. Note half the cupcake stuck to his bib.

A package from France!

If Finn isn't a model in the making, then it doesn't rain in seattle. I'm not always the best at capturing his good looks AND making sure to center the photo, but I do my best. And honestly, I think the clothes that Morgan sent would make any kid look like handsome devil even while stuffing a petit beurre cookie from LU in his petite bouche. These are a recent selection of pics featuring the new additions Morgan sent (including a single sock which I will explain later).



Finn has mastered saying wow and is moving on to tooth brushing and whistling.






A view I get a lot of, sometimes accompanied by a loud noise, a crash or bang.












Martin takes his bath!!!! Cute!






Amazing book pages. Too bad his mama hogs this book!















Cookies! These led to this discovery that doesn't cry during his diaper change if he has a cookie in his mouth. Just like his mom and dad!

Thanks Morgan! We love all the treats!

Cheerio!

I wonder if there are any snacks hidden away down here...






Oops! A cheerio!

Pillow for Annie and Kevin

Annie and Kevin got a really pretty new couch and I am going to make them a cushion to go on it. This is what I've got so far. AND, the fabric was free! I love that. It came from a stack of sample/swatches from one the firms we share an office with at work. Hassle free, free fabric.



And, here's finn with the kitchen he is borrowing from Liam and Sarah. You were right on, Sarah. Finn is loving it!

The Haul

I'm a little sleepy to pull out a bunch of sewing puns, but that's the kind if mood I'm in. My mom, Annie and I went through the fabric we got last weekend and it was like Christmas all over again. One thing in particular puts me in a holiday mood and that's candy. And though there was no candy in the Brown & Haley's Almond Roca tin, there were plenty of other goodies like fur buttons and ricrac and tons of twill tape and grosgrain ribbon. The tin itself is pretty special, too.

Bright Future

Tyler put up a basketball hoop which has provided quite a bit entertainment for our family. As part of Finn's personal training, which includes trying to get on the stairs, opening drawers, banging on our steel beams, and roaring like a lion, we are working with him on his slam dunk. This is Jeff giving Finn an up and celebrating his 2-points.

Christmas in March

Chance is such a slippery variable. When things, by chance, work out in your favor there is a special feeling that is unlike the gratification of a job well done. It's more like some instant karmic pay-off and, at least for me, I can't help feeling like I deserved that good luck just a little.

In this case, I don't know what the source of my good fortune was, but it is certainly linked to my mother. One of her coworkers bought a home that was left behind by a former seamstress. A fire had ruined much of the house, but the attic, full of fabric (we're talking boxes and bolts--enough to start a small store) remained intact. The new owner, an artist / doctor, saw the value of all of this and generously offered to let my mom come over and pick through it. So, as a good mother does, she got her kids in on the action and we piled into the station wagon, Finn in tow, and checked the place over. It was pretty messy but we came out with a carload of great stuff and I can't help feeling like I just got a second Christmas!

Thanks Mom! (and Lisa!)

This will certainly be spurring many more sewing projects that I will share here.

Summer dress

This is about the most perfect summer dress ever made by Swedish designers Permanent Vacation.
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Hot booties

I've spent a good chunk of time trying to design and make my own version of booties for Finn. It seems like there are tons of cute ones and they all look really easy so I figured I was up for the task. It proved a little more challenging than expected.


This is number one. Old ski sweater, ultra suede bottom. After they kept sliding off I took a little seam in the ankle which helped. But, when we lost one it was sort of a blessing.


Number two. Fleece from an old fuzzy bear Patagonia coat. I honestly thought these would do it. They are a lot like haflinger slippers but they would not stay on either.


Number three. I finally caved and used a pattern I found online for free. They're basically robeez with a rubbery bottom. Finn likes thesebest, too.

Back to things made

All I blog about these days is Finn, but I have a backlog of photos of stuff I have made in the last three months that I am going to start to post. I got an iPhone and I just love it b/c it is so Michael easier to do posts and I can do them from the bus or while I am sleepily playing with Finn at 5am!
So, here is a snapshot of some cards I made as gifts with stamps at my moms house.


And here is a recent cullinary highlight. French lentils cooked in this summers tomato and pesto sauce; farmer's market greens; sauteed asparagus with lemon and butter; and black rice risotto cooked in homemade chicken stock with chantrelle mushrooms gathered by Annie and Kevin! Yum! It was a little on the crunchy health nut side, but I guess that is what I am going for considering the fact that a lot of our other meals consist o tater tots and and frozen fish filets (that's a pretty tasty meal!). Oh and Fat Tire to wash it down.

New socks

Finn was really spoiled this valentines day. He got a onesie from Boogies from Tyler's mom and four darling pairs of socks from my mom. The onesie is prime size for summer (stay tuned for photo opp) and the socks are so right now. I think when I put them on him this morning they gave him extra Dracula power. Or is that a zombie pose?