Finn at Seven Months

ParentingSomeone asked me the other day if I remember not being a mom. I really don't. I feel like Finn has been around forever. The first few months were a huge learning curve and it felt like things would never feel normal again. But now our normal just includes Finn. I don't know if I feel like I'm a good mother. I constantly second guess myself, but isn't that what parenting is? Just trying to do what's best while fighting through all of the uncertainty? I still feel like a 18-year-old at heart. Who am I to be a mom? But Finn is starting to pick up on things and he no longer just requires the basic human needs. We have been reading more and more, and I've made it a point to stay on top of baby's development so I know what to watch for. Parenting is truly intimidating, but really rewarding... I guess like all things worth living for!Physical GrowthFinn is really growing into himself. His feet are reaching the edge of his carseat, he is in 9 month clothing, and he looks more like a little boy at times than a baby! He loves to be up on his feet and is thinking about crawling more and more every day. However, we think he might skip the crawling phase altogether, because he would much rather pull himself up than scoot around on his hands and knees. Those top teeth are still trying to break through. I literally say "any day now" every day.Brain Growth"Da da da da" all day long. So fun to hear! He has found quite the shriek for when mom and dad leave his sight as well. He has mastered passing things from one hand to the other and has started to recognize cause and effect. For example, when Dad makes the "claw hand" and starts to inch towards me, I'm going to get tickled and it's going to make me laugh!SleepingWe've finally transitioned Finn to his own crib. Yes, mom is the reason he has been in our room this whole time. She is kind of neurotic :) but he seems to be doing just fine with it. And I've actually managed to get some sleep for once! Every single moan and groan used to wake me up. Now he is far enough away that we can all sleep a little peacefully. The pain in the butt part remains getting him down for naps, which is hard to master since he is away at daycare most days. But we will succeed one way or another!EatingFinn can spot his bottle a mile away. He gets so antsy and excited and doesn't need mom or dad to hold the bottle anymore. I've been pumping pretty exclusively for a while now, but a few weeks back my milk supply started slowing quite a bit. It's been a struggle to get back to my regular amount, and for the amount of time I sit to pump compared to the actual amount of milk I get, I am starting to succumb to the fact that my breastfeeding days are over. I made it a month past my initial goal, which I'm proud of. Something inside me wishes I could go on, and the other part of me knows that it's time. My body knows best!Finn let's us know when he doesn't like a certain food. I'll keep trying, and he keeps his mouth shut tight. I pulled out the peas last week and after one bite, a gross face, and spit up everywhere! It took me forever to get him to open his mouth to try again. No peas for Finn man. We bought some spinach and green beans hoping it's truly not a green food aversion! We shall see... his current favorites include carrots, prunes, and anything mixed with apple.Things I don’t want to forget:

• I love Finn's shy little smile he gives when he first sees you in the morning or when you first enter a room. It's as if he knows he's the best looking baby around!
• Finn fell asleep on me at a holiday party this weekend. He was never really a snuggly, sleep-on-mom kind of baby, so to have him do that was so surprising and sweet. Finn may be a good sleeper, but getting him to sleep is another story. So for him to gently pass out on my chest was so amazing and relieving.