Sunday, January 11, 2009
Finn, Interrupted Week 11, Episode 2
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Playin’ and Pukin’
Finn gets so excited with all the action Ollie and his elephant provide that he loses a little bit of his lunch. Not to be thwarted the fun continues with Finn unabashed by the emesis.
We think they are on their way to being best of friends. Just this morning Ollie chose a spot 6 inches from Finn to take a morning nap. :)
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Thanks for Cousins!
This week, Finn met his Colorado cousin Rylie for the first time. Brian’s sister Jennie and her husband Chad spent Thanksgiving weekend here in Washington, bringing with them our adorable (and unfortunately a little sick) niece. It was great seeing them – the visit was too short as usual.
The first meeting…
Auntie Jennie, you’re so funny!
We celebrated Thanksgiving on Friday, and Finn wore his Thanksgiving outfit, courtesy of Gigi (his Halloween hat from Lia Halter made a reappearance as well). It was a tad big, but it’s not like he was going anywhere.
Finn seemed to enjoy his first major holiday (Halloween doesn’t count) despite the fact he wasn’t able to enjoy any of Grandma Dub’s delicious fare.
Even Ollie was on his best behavior!

Sunday the Walkers hosted a little open house to allow Jennie to see all her WA friends and extended family, so we were able to snap a family pic!
and another one of just the uncles, aunties & cousins…
We are already looking forward to the coming years, when the kids will no doubt frolic together, entertaining us all.
-cw
Monday, November 17, 2008
Out n’ About
This past weekend was a busy one, with a double-outing on Saturday! We started out the day at University Village in Seattle, doing a little shopping for mom & dad. a friend of Brian’s from work gave us a “friends & family” discount card for Gap & Banana Republic, and it actually caused the words “I could use some new jeans and shirts” to come out of Brian’s mouth. When the man says he needs to shop, you don’t ask any questions, you just go shopping!
Finn slept through most of the shopping excursion, cozy in his car seat stroller, but we found a way to help him multitask just the same…
He did a great job surviving 3+ hours rolling around the outdoor mall on a lovely fall day. We had our own “tailgate party” as well, with Finn’s lunch being served out the back of Brian’s Acura.
That evening we visited our friends the Torgersons in Redmond for some wine, appetizers, delicious brownies compliments of their seven year old daughter Mari and some baby story-swapping.
Sunday was the Seahawk game for Brian and a day of rest for a weary and fussy Cindy & Finn. Unfortunately, the Hawks continued a recent tradition of the Seattle sports’ downward spiral, despite Finn’s obvious support of the home team.
Time to get this boy a Ducks uniform so he can back a winning collegiate franchise at the very least!! :)
-cw
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
I’m Three Weeks Old Today!
It is pretty hard to believe that Finn has now been in our lives for three weeks. Some days, it feels like we’ve known him forever – others he still seems like a little stranger sleeping in our room. Either way, every day we learn new things about our mini-man!
Today, we experimented with a nap upstairs in his nursery crib (vs. the pack n’ play or infant seat downstairs) in an attempt to move him to his crib for nights. I’d say his two hour stint up there, veggin’ out to lullaby songs inspired by The Cure (an ode to his father) was a resounding success! Maybe tonight is the night we get some sleep with our little Mr. McSnorty Snort in his own room.
In the meantime, it is good to know that he’s not letting getting one week older bother him. He’s just chillin’ out in his Rainforest bouncy…
Saturday, November 8, 2008
The best day of our lives…
About a week before our scheduled C-section, our friend Steve Rosen asked if we were planning on having his wife Jodi, an amazing photographer, take photos of Finn’s birth. We reminded him that we were having a C-section, which we didn’t figure would make for good pictures. He responded by sending us a recent photo slideshow that Jodi had compiled for another couple who had had a C-section… and when we both ended up teary-eyed for a couple we didn’t even know, we decided to give it a shot.
What Jodi pulled together through nearly 400 pictures and an immense amount of love is nothing short of breathtaking and beautiful. I’m sure there will come a day when I can watch this slideshow without crying, but it isn’t any day soon.
We are so grateful to Jodi for sharing her gift with us, and for her loving and lovely chronicle of this incredible day in our lives. I am especially grateful, since I was a bit out of it during the surgery due to some issues with my spinal, and had to remain flat on my back for Finn’s first hour of life. Through these pictures I was able to experience moments in my son’s life that would have otherwise been lost to me, and which I am so thankful to have now.
A few things to watch for:
- the look on my face when we are talking with the anesthesiologist about my spinal (terror)
- my loving husband, whose outfit looked like a combination of Haz-Mat and a French painter, and who was the rock I needed that day
- our OB’s scrub cap – yes, it is Spongebob Squarepants
As Israel Kamakawiwo Ole sings so beautifully in his version of “Somewhere over the Rainbow” at the end of the slideshow, dreams really do come true.
So grab some Kleenex, turn up the volume on your computer and click HERE to watch the debut of Finn Michael into our lives.
(by the way, you’ll need to install some software to view the show – it is all perfectly safe, so just keep clicking “yes” and “allow.” All you Mac users are unfortunately out of luck – better go find a friend with a PC!)
If you live in the Seattle or Portland area, think of Jodi the next time you’ve got the need for family pictures, birth pics or any other special occasion. Her site is www.jodirosen.com, and as you’ll see from these pictures, she is outrageously talented.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Happy Halloween!
We long ago thought Finn could be a Halloween baby since his original due date was October 28th but the scheduled c-section brought him a week early. Doesn’t mean he can’t costume party with the rest of us though.
Finn’s party pose. Obviously rocking to house music at an all night costume rave. Replete with festive swaddle and pumpkin took, courtesy of Ryan family friend Lia Halter. It's a little bit big this year, but should fit perfectly enough to be completely embarrassing by next!
Finn after an all night par-tay. Mom had to pick him up as he was under no condition to get himself around. Some silly prankster sewed a giant pumpkin on his bum. Silly kids these days.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Acclimation…
OK we have been home now about 27 hours and feel like old pros! Yeah right but we managed to get some sleep and feed the little bugger Finn a whole lot. Cindy has done a great job preparing us for this onslaught of poop, noise, and use of the 38 new pieces of furniture in our house (you know I love you Cindy).
It has been quite amazing weaving Finn into our lives. We still have some work to do in order to get him eating correctly but it is fun that I get to feed him too. This is typical of early newborns so we are just rolling with it enjoying the ride while keeping him fed.
Ollie is curious about the whole thing, he appears to like Finn though as he tries to lick him whenever he gets the chance. He has stolen Finn’s toys, watched curiously as he eats, watched him sleep and chirp as in the pack-n-play behind the sofa, came to alert when he cries at 3:30am. All these things are great in that he is just showing he has no idea what the heck is going on but really wants to figure it out. Ollie even got a bath today so he must know life can’t be too off-kilter.
Grandma and Grandpa Dub came over tonight and shared something interesting…a newborn picture of Brian. Cindy and I KNEW this guy looked familiar to us when the Dr. first showed him to us. It was uncanny, hard to explain the feeling, but we may know why. Can you pick Finn from Brian from these two newborn pictures?
Anyway, this post is just an excuse to post more pictures…here are a few more from our first 24 hours at home.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Finn Day 1
Due to popular request here are some more pictures from the hospital on Finn’s birthday.
Dr. Walker scrubbing in
Tired after the move (AKA snoozing with mom)
Sleepy Cin and a typical Finn
Finn and his Dad
Gigi and Papa
Grandma and Grandpa Dub
(Finn’s got something to SAY!)
Mom meet your son Finn!
Finn passing his tests
The All-star of the day with some ointment in his eyes.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Hi Finn!
The Walker family was incredibly blessed by a new long-awaited addition today, October 22nd at 4:35pm at Overlake Hospital in Bellevue, WA.
Finn Michael Walker joined our lives this afternoon via cesarean and he could not be more beautiful. Parents Brian and Cindy and 4 grandparents welcomed Finn into the world at 6 lbs 14 oz and 19 inches long.
Cindy is doing great as she recovers from some adverse reactions to the spinal during her surgery. We go home on Friday afternoon to start our lives together at home in Seattle where Finn will meet his new BFF Oliver.
Thanks for your thoughts and prayers many of you have given us over our long journey of starting a family. We cannot wait to fall ever more in love with this little man for whom we are so thankful. We hope to introduce you to him sometime soon. :)
Love,
Brian, Cindy & Finn