Happy Anniversary Finn

Finn is a month old (if the self serving picture didn't already give it away). When his hands aren't swaddled in blankets or ensconced in little girly mitts with lace trim, he taught himself to write and made this sign himself. His first one said "Save Me" but Molly and I thought it a bit Evangelical so I tore it up. This time he followed directions....his printing is pretty good but the baby down the street is writing in cursive so he has to put down the Wii and hit the primer books. In the second picture with the pacifier (can we call it a mouth Gandhi? No, that is offensive. Other famous pacifists? Jesus-- uh, also totally not appropriate. Jimmy Carter...a mouth Jimmy or a mouth Carter? Not sure. Ok I am moving off this. Email me if you know of a famous pacifist with a catchy name not tied to a major religion or culture) o.k digression over, back to the baby...in the second picture we think he looks like he is coyly waving hello to us. How cute. Although, his babysitter is a Rollin' 20's Crip so maybe Finn is showing some love for his people in the 213. West side is the right side.

Virginia Trilogy: Tripping the Fairfax Fantastic

On Sunday following a great brunch in Williamsburg, we headed north to Fairfax to meet up with the LeMays and the Dunnes. Grandma Dunne rocked the Astro Van all the way from North Carolina to meet her double digit grandchild (Phineas is number 10). We got a picture with grandma and nine of the ten, as Harrison was up in Massachusetts at an AAU basketball tournament. We had some fantastic meals and Finn got passed from LeMay to LeMay after spending some serious time with grandma. Scott made some incredible burgers and the Dunnes came down from Leesburg to hang out with the cousins. The next day we went to a great county park and checked out a really cool nature center-- snakes in cages, turtle tanks, the works. We went on a hike and Finn broke out his baby bjorn harness thing. We ended with a picnic lunch in the park--the all american day. The kids were great with Finn and picked out two huge boxes of toys for him...when we were leaving, Finn was crying and Shane said "Don't cry Finn, you have a car full of toys now." Now that guy has his priorities in order. Speaking of gifts, Anne and Scott gave us an awesome Garmin which we used to guide us home. We named her Ginger, and provided you don't make her "recalibrate" directions too often, she is perfectly pleasant and a great help on the road. We drove home on a route right through DC...past the white house and the monuments on our way back to New Jersey. Finn's first major road trip was in the bag and was a great trip with a ton of family fun.

PS I LOVE that picture of Finn and Grandma Dunne!

Breaking News: Matt and Lisa are getting married

The big news from the Williamsburg gathering was a surprise announcement from Matt and Lisa that they got engaged earlier that morning in the Carolina mountains. Kevin, Uncle George and I were in on some of the pre planning, and Kevin and I put the over/under at 4 minutes before one of the women in attendance would spot Lisa's engagement ring. Molly and Patty spotted the ring literally as Lisa walked in the door...it was uncanny. It's like they have some supernatural mental ring scan going at all times. Matt had about one of the most romantic proposals I've ever heard. Everyone gathered and Aunt Anne gave a beautiful and moving toast, and I think Aunt Cathy had Julie join us via cellphone as Lisa and Matt recounted the story.

For those readers who don't know Lisa and Matt, they are literally two of the nicest, most generous, caring individuals I've ever met. It frankly makes them hard to be around sometimes...nothing like holding a big fat reality mirror up to your own shallowness. I can't believe how much I have scored in the in-law lottery. We wish them all the happiness they deserve. Enclosed are some pictures of the family and of course my forcing Lisa to show off the Finger Ice.

Virginia Trilogy: Talkin' Bout a Revolution

After Leesburg we headed south to Williamsburg, home of Aunt Anne and Uncle George Bull. Those of us in the know call it Billburg. Or Wibu. For those of you unfamiliar with this national treasure, Williamsburg is a colonial era town with a bunch of re-enactment and educational stuff (we skipped the educational stuff to hang out in a cafe, but Grandpa Bracken took Finn to see a drum and fife corp parade. Very colonial.)

It is also home to the College of William and Mary, a beautiful public university which is one of the oldest in the country. Are we dorky enough to visit other colleges while on vacation? Well, yes we are. We even took a picture by the Admission office. Man, does Finn have some GREAT family vacations ahead of him....college visits across America! The town is beautiful, but it takes a bit getting used to the woman in a petticoat and a bonnet standing behind you in line at Starbucks. We did see a guy in a tri corner hat set down his musket and check sports scores on his blackberry...I started shouting "He's a witch! He's a witch! He has a devil tinderbox in his pocket-- it lights from within with the cold fires of sin." The rest of the townspeople gathered around and jostled the blackberry free...so we got to stone the guy in the town square. Now that is an inspiring commitment to living the past. It was so cute seeing Finn lean forward in his stroller to get a little baby handful of pebbles and attempt to throw them at the accused witch....such a good little helper!

The Bulls live in this beautifully landscaped neighborhood which I am told reminds people of the houses in Desperate Housewives (I wouldn't know because I only watch PBS shows, with the sole purpose of expanding the intellectual horizons of my child.) The hosted a great party for the family to meet the newest editions of the next generation...Anna Reid Bull of Georgia and Phineas Robert of the glorious Garden State. The Bulls had family in from New York, Connecticut, Virginia, North Carolina and Georgia. It was great food and even better conversation. Anna Reid and Finn got along well (apparently betting on baby fights in a pack-n-play cage match is frowned upon in both the colonial and contemporary times, so we passed on that activity.) It was just a great way for Finn to meet all the family members he hadn't met yet and catch up with everyone.

The Virginia Trilogy: Horse Country

We spent the day in Leesburg hanging out with the Dunne girls. Kevin and I ordered BBQ from the place down the road and the guy mocked me when I didn't understand one of his BBQ specific questions...so I am going to call the health department and get his little roadside superiority stand shut down. Yeah, that is how we do things in bitter, competitive NJ. Let government work for you!!

Speaking of small business, we visited Digital Bridge, the telecom company that Kelley started with our pals Joe and Bill. It is amazing to see how it has grown since it was basically Joe, Kelley, and Bill tooling around an empty warehouse-looking space. They have real people working there, which kind of startled me as the business always seemed to be some sort of shell corporation which allowed Joe, Kelley and potentially Bill to ski all the time and I guess write things off in the unregulated John McCain salad days of a few years ago. It seems more serious now, which for various people in Idaho and other areas is probably a great thing. They have a giant KNOCK Board, or G.N.O.C board....I am not sure what it does (or how to spell it) but it looks very important in a Tom Clancy track the Russian satellites sort of way. Very impressive now, but not long ago I recall watching High School Musical on the big GNOC board with the Dunne girls. Glad to see it resembles a real business and yet they still seem to be skiing all the time. Pictured is Joe holding Finn in the office in front of the big board. My big take away from the visit was that they get free Pop Tarts in their office kitchen space.

The next day we hung out around the house and took some family pictures. Hailey was an amazing helper was the official pacifier re-inserter for Finn. I walked Kylie back from the bus stop and learned that she was edged out by some punk for the "raven of the week" contest. I suggested we go egg the kid's house and start vicious online rumors about the guy, but Kylie politely declined and mentioned that type of activity may actually hurt her chances for subsequent raven of the week selections-- what happened to a little healthy competition in school...this is why we have fallen in the global community. I couldn't help but notice that as we were leaving for Williamsburg, Kelley was sending Kylie to school the next day with the Maryland basketball home schedule with a note for Mr. Robinson, Kylie's beloved teacher and sole judge of raven of the week, to pick out a game or two he would like to attend. Interesting turn of events for the sole judge of raven of the week. Glad to see Washington beltway lobbying extends to the third grade. Hopefully Jack Abramoff doesn't have a kid in the class or this could get ugly quick.

After some family photos and a quick pizza dinner we headed out for Willamsburg, with Finn still ambivalent about his car seat. We did learn that traveling with an infant can put a wrinkle in the estimated arrival and departure times. We also learned that the back shelf of the PT Cruiser, which I believe I had hoped to use for tailgates and other brochure worthy car activity, is actually quite handy as an open air changing table. Also, we learned that bus stations are nonplussed by diapers and various refuse. As we could see, they have bigger, adult sized problems to worry about.

Guest Blogger: Cousin Delaney

Hi, I am Phineas' oldest girl cousin and I live in Leesburg, Virginia. Phineas arrived here yesterday and he got to meet my sisters Kylie and Hailey (pictured above) and my mom and dad. We ate dinner and I made muffins with marshmallows and cupcakes for dessert. I think Finn is adorable and heavy....I got to hold him last night. At 9pm he fell asleep in my arms. He is sleeping right now...I call him a sleeper hound. I don't want to brag, but Phineas was crying last last night until I held him. Then he went to sleep. I didn't get to see him before I went to school today, but I missed him all day. I told my friends about his visit. I remembered how warm and cuddly he was when I held him. He has the longest arms and legs and has Uncle Tom's eyelashes. My dad has short eyelashes. When my dad gets home from work we are going to have dinner together and then they are driving to Williamsburg to see Molly's family. But, we are going to see them on Sunday with the LeMay's. My advice for Phineas is that he should play soccer and later, football. He probably will be fast. In 18 years he can be Princeton's number one running back and then they will be the new LSU. Phineas is already walking- I am just joking. In other news, we are growing a watermelon. I wish everyone who is reading this a good day, especially Phineas who should be sleeping right now.

I took the pictures posted in my entry last night. Except the one I am in where I am holding Phineas-- that was the beautiful work of Uncle Tom.  

Finn takes to water like a fish...

These pictures are from Phineas' bath. Get it? The kid's name is Finn and I made a "fish" simile...I slay myself. Speaking of water, Molly wants Finn to be a swimmer, but man, talk about pressure. You can't be terrible at swimming with a nickname like Finn. Kids (not our kid of course. But probably yours, honestly) can be very cruel. It's compounding torture if you are being teased about your name due to a lack of athletic skill, all while essentially parading around in an outfit similar to underwear. I have some other bath pictures, but you would swear we are washing Finn in a sink at Penn Station rather than our bath tub. Good lord! How long before Finn can pick up a scrubbing brush and help out around here? Also, Finn has been rocking some music this week...his big recommendation this week is the Killer's "All These Things That I Have Done." Here is the song featured in a Nike ad (link below). Finn loves it more than Palin's folksy Main Street verbal jumble. Look for more music picks from Finn. It should be noted that he is a bit too embarrassed to tell you that, due to his uncle Kevin's IPod, he heard his first Micheal Jackson song "The Man in the Mirror". If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place, Take A Look At Yourself And Then Make A Change...Hoo! Hoo! Hoo! Hoo! Hoo!Na Na Na, Na Na Na, Na Na,Na Nah(Oh Yeah!) Good stuff. I am off to find my Thriller LP.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ae3tFI8wXE

On the Road Again....

This week Phineas made his first trip up to campus to make the rounds, and has been rocking his pram, affectionately known as Blue Thunder (pronounced with a South Boston accent "Thundaah" in honor of the hot BC Eagles). When he can see further than 12 to 18 inches in front of his face we anticipate he will enjoy the fall leaves which are turning right now...it is shaping up to be a great Fall.

We also went to Hope and Kevin's wedding which was absolutely amazing...Hope processed under an arch of long-stemmed calla lilies as 100 voices from the chapel choir sang...it was pretty incredible. They also had an opera soloist (a friend of theirs from NYC) sing some arias which were beautiful. It was a great event...the rehearsal dinner was at our favorite restaurant Blue Bottle Cafe. I lost a paper/scissors/rock game and had to give the benediction (one note, when praying before a restaurant full of people from Buffalo, win them over with a gratuitous mention of the Bills winning the super bowl) and was the Eucharistic minister the next day. So while I may not be a saint, I held a beatific saintly countenance all weekend. I also made sure to stay clear of the Cloister eating club, which became the official after party location for the alumni back in town for the wedding. We have some pictures from the wedding listed above...take a look at what is going on in the background over my right shoulder...at a family function and right outside the chapel no less. The other pictures are of Hope, Kevin, Molly, Finn and I enjoying dinner at Conte's before they headed to France and Spain for their honeymoon. Finn kept trying to lean upside down. Hopefully this will be the first and last time he will be upside down at a bar.

The last picture is Finn and the fine ladies of 3rd floor West College. He loved all the attention. Mr. Bracken also brought him up to campus to talk a little lasagna trash with Shelley. Molly and I dropped a apple pie off for Mim, the nurse who was by our side through this whole process (yes, Molly is more thoughtful than I. Some of my friends don't even know Molly is pregnant...I have to work on that). Wow...this lack of sleep is killing me. That TMZ show is on again...and I am watching paparazzi footage of Bill O'Reilly, the woman who does Lisa Simpson's cartoon voice, and Pete Sampras. Seriously?