El Segundo
We have happy news--we are expecting baby #2 in early July! We visited the doc last week for an ultrasound, which helped pinpoint exactly how far along I am. I'm now 8 and a half weeks along, and the estimated due date is July 7, 2009. So Finn's got a sibling on the way, and we could not be happier!
Little Finno makes it easy to imagine another addition to our family--we love him so much and have such good times together, we can't wait to have another kiddo to share in the fun. While my folks were here, my dad coined the phrase "El Segundo" for baby #2, so until we know our baby's gender and start tossing around names, El Segundo it is :).
Every day with Finn brings new accomplishments. Just this morning, Finno started waving to us! John was waking him around the house, and when he saw me, I said "hi" and started waving, and Finn started waving back! It's like a switch got flipped, because now he's an unstoppable waver--waving hello at every opportunity. It's a super cool new way of communicating!
Finn is moving and grooving all over the house these days. He's an avid scootcher, crawler, and cruising enthusiast. He's mastered the ability to flip himself over from a sitting position to crawling mode, then he just takes off, scooting his way across the living/dining room. Once he reaches a parent, he's all about grabbing on, hoisting his patoot up into the air, straightening his legs, and getting a little support to stand. Once he's up, he's off to the races--holding on one-handed to one of us, or cruising along the couch or coffee table. I think it's officially time to get those baby gates up...independent locomotion can't be far away!
In Douglas Adams' Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy, protagonist Arthur Dent finds out he can fly, but he can only stay aloft as long as he's not thinking about flying. The minute he realizes he's flying and starts thinking that it's impossible, that he shouldn't be able to fly, etc., he comes crashing back to earth. 
I'm happy to report that Smilin' Finn Nack is back in town. He's been working really hard at crawling this week, and he's graduated from constant frustration and immobility to happy, excited attempts at crawling across the room. I got some rubber floor mats that snap together, because I thought it would help him get some traction--the wood floor is too slippery! Apparently that did the trick--Finn's been much more willing to flip over on his tummy and start scooching and crawling towards his toys or us. 
Our usual chuckling, happy-go-lucky Finn is on hiatus this week, replaced by serious, furrowed-brow working man Finn. He's putting all of his energy into trying to crawl/walk. Yes, he's trying to do both at the same time. Or maybe he's really just trying to walk and we keep encouraging him to crawl. In any case, he's none too happy about any of it. He has figured out how to push himself up (with a little boost from me, Dad, or the nanny) to standing, and therefore gets really angry if we refuse to play along and instead encourage him to try scooting on hands and knees. 
Today marks Der Finnster's 8-month birthday. To celebrate (well, mostly coincidentally), he balanced on his feet unassisted for the first time! I had him up and tottering for a couple of seconds this morning, and this evening he was up for even longer. (I'd like to think it was for 8 seconds, a la bull riding. ;-))