text: Aubrey Anne Finn
  Aubrey updates have a new home
  Follow the adventures of Aubrey and her sidekick Owen over at their new web site, www.finnkids.com.
  posted by Kevin at 2:54 PM | email this post | 0 comment
  Happy Birthday x 4!
  I think Aubrey's birthday has officially ended. This weekend, we had her fourth and final birthday party. The first being way back in July to celebrate August birthdays with her cousin Aidan, the second being in Ohio with the extended family, the third on her actual birthday with mommy, daddy and cupcakes, and finally... a wild blowout on Saturday with all of her friends and family. Thanks to Dave who just happened to be in town from Africa, we had a fantastic pool party where Aubrey was able to show her dare-devil side (with a little encouragement from daddy).
  I'm not sure who wanted to stretch her birthday out more, Aubrey or me. I don't think I really wanted her to turn two... although from talking to her, you just might think she was turning six. My baby is really a toddler and we have to seriously start thinking about potty-training and a big-girl bed... two things that truly seem terrifying. Even though the two's seem a bit scary, they also allow Kevin and I to hear the sweetest words ever spoken... "I love you sooo much!"
  posted by Keena at 8:27 PM | email this post | 2 comment
  At 8/27/2008 2:51 PM, Anonymous said...
  why haven't you written in a year? I have a daughter name Aubrey - I just found your site, and love it. My Aubrey will be 2 this saturday -I wish I had keep a record of her first 2 years like you have for your Aubrey. I see the last entry was in 07. What happened? Your Aubrey is so cute.
  Aubrey's Little Bro
  posted by Kevin at 1:09 PM | email this post | 0 comment
  We hope everyone's Fourth of July was full of fun and relaxation... we did what any normal family does on the 4th. We went to the beach (despite the threat of thunderstorms), had a cookout with friends, let Aubrey have chips and cupcakes (at least they were red, white and blue) for dinner and made her stay up way past her bedtime to see daddy put on a truly stunning display of fireworks. And of course, she woke up the next morning wanting cupcakes for breakfast!
  The summer is flying by and I can tell this will be Aubrey's favorite season. We can't seem to drag her away from the beach or the pool, where she is turning into a real daredevil. She runs head-first into the waves of the Atlantic and only stops to wonder why everyone isn't running as fast as she is. She throws herself off the side of the pool like Superman and even when she comes up coughing and gagging we hear, "Again, again!"
  Her speech is really something to behold. We have full conversations and she still has another month and a half until her second birthday. This past week she likes to end everything she says with, "Ok?" "I go outside, Ok?" "Aubrey no take a nap now, Ok?" "I have the keys to the car and a twenty, Ok?" Well, maybe not that last one... but judging from the pictures, I 'm sure it won't be long!
  posted by Keena at 11:08 PM | email this post | 0 comment
  Thanks to some great friends, we spent the last couple days at a house in Vilano Beach. It is right on the ocean and the sound of waves crashing was the ultimate sound machine for Aubrey. If you keep tabs on Aubrey, you know how much she has LOVED her swimming lessons, so I thought she would run screaming when she saw the water. In fact, just the opposite happened. She ran full-speed towards the waves and would have taken a serious beating if Kevin hadn't caught her. It took her about 15 seconds to get used to the temperature and not much could pull her out of the water all day, except the promise of "goldfishies" for lunch. We hosed sand and shells out of every crevice of her body and she could barely keep her eyes open at 6:45 for a bedtime story. Aubrey had such a good time, I almost didn't mind the piles of sand that we tracked in from the car... ok, I said almost!
  posted by Keena at 11:21 PM | email this post | 0 comment
  Really... we aren't trying to torture her. We are just trying to teach her how to swim! Aubrey completed her first swim lesson today and it definitely could have gone better. The lessons are four days a week for 6 weeks for about 10-15 minutes per lesson. I think her lesson today lasted about 7 minutes. Partly because it was so obviously the worst day she has ever experienced and partly because her first lesson came during an unexpected cold snap. Is it really fair that Aubrey's instructor is wearing a wet suit?? I felt so guilty because I can barely muster the strength to stick my big toe in water that's below 85 degrees. The fun part though is that we get to do it all over again tomorrow! I'm pretty sure Aubrey will lock herself in her room at the first sight of her bathing suit. The instructor ASSURES me that she'll be swimming be the end of the lessons... I'm thinking I should have requested a money-back guarantee.
  posted by Keena at 1:39 AM | email this post | 0 comment
  Easter has always run neck and neck with Christmas in being my favorite holiday. Cadbury Creme Eggs and Reese's Peanut Butter Eggs are far superior to candy canes and chocolate Santas, and the Easter Bunny has been known to fill a pretty good basket over the years. It looks like Aubrey will share my love of Easter. It was obvious that she was having a great time hunting for eggs and eating, or rather licking cookies and showing off her mad skills at the craft table... but finding pink Dora sunglasses in her Easter basket really sealed the deal.
  As fun as it is watching Aubrey enjoy the treats that come with Easter, I realize that she is becoming fully aware of what is associated with each holiday. Stuffed bunnies and "eggies" are cute, but nothing in comparison to the love God showed by sacrificing His perfect Son so that we may live eternally.
  posted by Keena at 8:37 PM | email this post | 0 comment
  There is a picture floating around somewhere in the archives of my family of my older brother, Brandon proudly wearing nothing but his Incredible Hulk Underoos and my Grandpa Lumm's cowboy boots. There is another of my younger brother, Brigham when he was probably 4 or 5 standing down by my uncle's lake looking up at everyone flexing his little muscles as if her were the next Sly Stallone. I love pictures like that... those that make you stop, remember, and laugh out-loud.
  As I was taking the latest pictures of Aubrey, I knew they would become some of my favorites. Not because she had on the perfect outfit or because her bow was in the right place, but because she and Kevin were having such a great time. You can probably guess the story. Empty suitcase + one 17 month old = FUN!
  posted by Keena at 8:22 PM | email this post | 0 comment
  For this latest update, I've had some trouble narrowing down which accomplishments to write about. Right around Christmas time was when a new Aubrey seemed to take over. I'm not sure when kids officially make the transition from baby to toddler, but I'm going to go ahead and guess that it's about now.
  In the past I have whined, cried and wanted to throw tantrums over Aubrey's pickiness when it came to eating. I thought I would be sending her to Kindergarten with the little jars of baby food, but literally in one day everything changed. She just decided that it was time to try some big-girl food and by golly, she liked it! Now she has strong preferences for twice-baked potatoes, taco meat and turkey-sausage, but thankfully has not given up her affinity for broccoli, bananas or green beans.
  Sadly, the morning nap (mom's shower time) is quickly becoming a thing of the past. Aubrey still stays in the crib for a while, but instead of napping she prefers to spend her time playing drum solos on the wall, using her mattress as a trampoline and listening to herself recite all her new words. Which brings me to...
  ...her speech. It's like a little switch went off in her head telling her it was time to talk. She isn't quite ready to join a debate team, but her words are many. Mommy, Daddy, doggy, piggy, milk, nose, eat, and Aubee (among others) actually sound like the real thing. But the funny ones are those that I can decipher no matter how far off they sound. I also have acquired the ability to infer a entire sentence from a single utterance. For example, "Wak!" = "Mommy, hold my hand and walk with me to wherever I want to go." "Rok!" = "I want to rock in mommy's chair and read books." " Wook!" = "I know daddy's working, but I know he wouldn't mind if I go interrupt him for a second!" and "Nack!" = "I never get ANYTHING to eat and I want a snack now!"
  Aubrey has also found a new way to spread some love. She has been into giving kisses for a while but for the last two days she has added an, "EEZE" to the mix. Right before bed, she wraps her tiny little arms around our necks and squeezes her heart out. Now this could be a clever tactic to stay out of bed a little longer. And since she gained an extra 5 minutes tonight by "EEZing" me over and over, I'd say her methods seem to be working.
  posted by Keena at 9:51 PM | email this post | 2 comment
  At 1/30/2007 9:04 AM, Shaun Andrews said...
  Wook! Hahaha thats awesome!
  At 1/31/2007 5:52 PM, Aunt Sue said...
  I thought I had a while before Aubrey's social calendar filled up more quickly than ours did. 99% of the "to-do's" in my planner are for a 15 month old who would just as soon climb into a Lego bucket and have her daddy pull her around the house.
  This weekend Aubrey had three birthday parties to attend. Since her feet can't quite touch the gas pedal yet and she doesn't seem to have a knack for directions, she had to bring Kevin and me along. She experienced her first ball crawl, bounce-house and Dora pinata. And when it came time for cake, she used her "more" sign with gusto... which led to her first spoiled dinner.
  Now we know what happens when her major food group if the day is sugar. "Crazy Aubrey" makes an appearance! Crazy Aubrey loves to throw tantrums in the car, run around the house naked, splash all the water out of the bathtub and sing her repertoire of songs instead of going to sleep (but Crazy Aubrey does make for some cute pictures). We won't be allowing that again anytime soon... at least until next Saturday when Aubrey has another birthday party!