Hanging out

With the swine flu running rampant throughout the US, Mom doesn't allow me to play with other kids. So, here is a shot of me hanging out with my best buds - Leo and Ellie. These two were gifted to me even before I was in the real world. Pretty cool. I particularly enjoy eating Leo's mane and cuddling with Ellie...maybe that is why I don't have any real friends?

DISCLAIMER: Hi all, it's me Courtney. For the record, Finn DOES have real friends and IS allowed to hang out with them. My child can be so dramatic sometimes...not sure where he gets it from! :)

Here Comes The Bride...

Last weekend was Jennifer and Alec's wedding and it was beautiful! I don't have alot of experience with weddings (this literally was my first one), but I had a very important job as ring bearer. Mommy wouldn't let me carry the actual rings down the aisle because she said she couldn't afford to replace them if I decided to throw them or swallow them. The beautiful Church (don't have alot of experience with these either, ahem heathen parents) had a long aisle and I made it down all the way, with only one almost stop in a pew with a random old lady. She seemed very nice and is pictured here - you can see me checking her out...

After the ceremony ended, my babysitter Colleen came to pick me up so my parents could have a date and below are pictures from the rest of the night...their evening consisted of eating delicious food, dancing, hanging out with great friends and spending some much needed time together. My evening consisted of running around, going up and down the stairs, chasing Colleen's doggies, clapping, eating dinner, and sleeping. It was a great night for everyone!

From the rehearsal and after party (Daddy and I went home after dinner so Mommy got to hang with her girl friends!)

Mommy and Daddy at the reception

The Father/Daughter Dance...Jennifer looked so pretty!

Jennifer and Mommy dancing away!

And the cutting of the cake!

Now the two lovebirds are on their honeymoon...I don't really know what that means, but everytime Mom hears the word she smiles and talks about some place with a weird name...Zihuatanejo. Congratulations to Jen and Alec - we love you!

Mommy and Me

Last weekend, Mommy and I drove down to Orange County for a fun weekend. Friday, we went to Disneyland AGAIN and this time Auntie Erin and Amber joined in the fun. I did NOT take an afternoon nap, but I did crash in the stroller at the end of the evening...not surprising after a day filled with the Play Parade, Dumbo, It's a Small World,


meeting Mickey Mouse, Heimlich's Chew Chew train, the carousel, the spinning Ladybug ride (no, that's not the name of it, but Mommy and I can't remember it right now) and one big kid ride called the Zephyr. I got to sit on the bench with my very own seatbelt on this one and Mommy thought I looked so grown up (and was sort of bummed she didn't think to bring the camera on the ride with us.) I really enjoyed meeting Mickey Mouse and smacked him square on the nose upon introduction. Mommy thought it was hilarious; Mickey and his handlers did not think it was as humorous.

Daddy didn't join us on the trip down because he had to pull Single Daddy duty for TWO weekends in a row. We gave him a little bit of a break and he was REALLY excited to see us on Sunday. Mommy and Daddy have come to realize that even though I am ALOT of work and have ALOT of energy, it is just not the same being away from me. Even when I am getting new teeth in and am a bit grouchy (hypothetically speaking, of course...not like they are suffering, er dealing, with this right now as I type.)

We get to see my Doctor tomorrow and I am very excited. He is a very nice guy AND Mommy & Daddy decided to skip my shots this visit so as to not risk any adverse side effects - whoo hoo! I need to be in tiptop shape for this weekend when I debut my ring bearering skills in Jen and Alec's wedding. I am sure we will have lots of pictures from the big day and will post them soon.

And, here are some photos from today...I thoroughly enjoy my bathtub unless I need to have an actual bath in it. At what point are my parents going to transition me to the real bathtub you ask?? It remains a mystery!

Peace,

Finn

Pick your seat

Geez, I am on a roll today...here is another post that I wanted to share since I have a second. Mommy and I had to run a quick errand at Macy's the other day, but once we were parked in a nice shady spot (it has seriously been hotter than Hades here lately...I don't even really know what that phrase means and I probably sound like a 95-year old lady by saying it, but you get the drift) Mommy realized the stroller was not in the back of her car. With quite a dilemma on her hands, Mommy decided to face the challenge head on and carry me into the store to shop.

On the way in she also realized that she had to go to the restroom...now this was going to get tricky. Mind you, she talks to me all the time and I pretend like I don't understand what she is saying because I don't want to be the next Doogie Howser, so I knew that she was concerned about having an unrestrained, walking toddler in the cesspool of germs also known as a public restroom. With Mother Nature sending her not so subtle reminders, we braved it and I could feel Mommy's heartbeat racing...only to come to find there was a special seat attached to the wall in the handicap stall for this very type of scenario!!! I was strapped in with lightening speed and Mommy was able to get her business done, as well as snap a photo of this amazing device/NASA Spaceshuttle launch babyseat.

Where to start...

First of all, Mommy wants me to apologize for not keeping up with this blog. We have been so busy having fun that the last thing I want to do is sit in front of the computer all day. But, she keeps reminding me that I shouldn't shirk my blogging responsibilities so here goes and I have to provide the disclaimer that this will be a long recap!:


The first weekend in August my parents surprised me with a trip to Papa Danny's house so we could go to Disneyland! The surprise turned out to be on them because I woke up on the WRONG side of the crib and was a grouchy monster for oh let's say the MAJORITY of our visit to the happiest place on earth. The grouchiness was partially due to a new tooth making it's appearance and partially due to the fact that I am now a super, duper walking machine and can't be slowed down by a silly stroller.
We did watch a parade in California Adventures and the entire Barry family enjoyed this...I liked the music and the bright colors and my parents enjoyed the fact that our seats were smack dab in the middle of the wine country area of the park! We are heading back down this weekend and EVERYONE keep your fingers crossed that I am a happy toddler for this trip. Although, I have a sneaking suspicion that my parents are planning to leave me with Papa Danny so they can go to the park themselves on Sunday night for what they are referring to as "date night"...we'll see if I am ok with that.

The next weekend we had a really fun time with my friends Frances, Samuel and Jackson. All the Mommies got together a few months ago and came up with the idea to have the Daddies get together in Santa Barbara as part of their Father's Day celebration! The Daddies (also known as Chris and Pete) have been friends with my own Daddy forever and they are alot of fun. We went to Shoreline Cafe for happy hour on Friday, the Daddies went on a beer tasting tour (and I am pretty sure they didn't just "taste" on said tour) and we all had dinner at Chris and Sylvie's beautiful home, then Sunday we celebrated Samuel's 2nd birthday. It was a great weekend and I am so glad I got to meet my new friend Jackson and his super cool parents.

The Daddies with the their kiddos!

I think Jackson is telling me talk to the hand...oh no he di'int.


Me and Frances...I.Love.Her...can you tell?

The next generation...plotting something that will surely get us into trouble.

Here are "The Daddies" (my own, Chris and Pete) midway through the beer tasting. Mighty large "tasters" they have in front of them, wouldn't you say??

Fast forward to the NEXT weekend...this was a bit of a milestone for the Barry clan because Mommy left me and Daddy on Thursday and didn't come back until Sunday! Jennifer was celebrating her bachelorette party down in Palm Springs and Mommy, Jen and Tammy all drove down on Thursday night. This meant it was "Ladies Night" down in PS and "Barry Boy Weekend" up here! Barry Boy Weekend = listening to Motley Crue, going to the park, helping Daddy Finn-proof our condo, and some real bonding time. Mommy says she missed us, but I really think she had a good time! Below are some photos to prove it...

Pool party with Dames, Jen and Sarah

Pre-party with almost all the girls on night one!


One can only imagine what was said to cause this reaction!



And finally, last weekend was Papa Danny's birthday celebration/Barry Boy Weekend part two. Mommy went down to help Aunt Sheila and Uncle Scott at their house in Temecula and thought it was probably better for everyone involved if I stayed home. And, since we are heading down to Orange County this weekend she thought Daddy might want to skip the drive down and back for the weekend so he and I stayed here again (basically a repeat of the weekend before!) Mommy did get to celebrate Papa Danny's birthday at one of his favorite restaurants, the Hibachi Steakhouse and below are some photos for you to enjoy. Papa Danny's real gift will come this weekend when he gets to see me...Mommy says spending time making memories is the best gift of all, especially because we are on a budget. While down visiting the OC, Mommy also got to see almost all her friends from home on Sunday for Anna's baby shower. Baby Quentin was there and Mommy got her baby fix of holding him, but it didn't make her want another one of those anytime soon...good, that means I get my parents ALL to myself for longer!

Auntie Erin, Papa Danny and Mommy...I wonder if Mommy got that shirt on sale because one of the shoulders is missing??


My cute cousin Amber and Auntie Erin!

Well, thanks for catching up with us and I will try hard not let as much time lapse between posts again. Hope everyone is well and we still have alot of fun upcoming events so stay tuned!

Peace,

Finn