Finn Henry

When I was picking Finn up from childcare yesterday (after the biting incident) I commented to one of the carers that he had been particularly challenging recently and wondered whether it had anything to do with turning 4. “Oh yeah,” she said, “that happens with some of them. They’re really lovely, then they turn 4 and go wild.” So this is not unusual. yay.

It seems we now have the Feral Fours to add to the Terrible Twos and Troublesome Threes (not that we had much experience of those with Finn). I can hardly wait for the Feisty Fives.

New Sandals by Nicky P

Finn can be a boy of strong opinions and some days those opinions are more contrary than others. Today is one of those days.

Our first disagreement this morning was about telly. Playschool was on and Finn didn’t want to watch it so I turned the TV off and suggested he should come outside with me. Apparently that was a bad idea. Many tears, much screaming and 2 timeouts later we hit on a compromise of playing with his Duplo Thomas.

Then I decided that a trip to the Plaza for a new pair of sandals would be a good idea. This wasn’t a particularly popular suggestion, but it was save by the fact that Thomas can be purchased at the Plaza - not that I told him he’d get anything. At the shoe shop a public tantrum was averted by the promise of a new pair of yellow Crocs as well as the sandals that I wanted to get him. Yes, I am that weak.

On our return home Finn wanted to wear the new Crocs but refused to put on the other sandals that I wanted him to start breaking in. There was more screaming and crying and another timeout. The new yellow Crocs are also now residing out of sight and reach on top of the bookshelves until someone is sufficiently well behaved to warrent their return. After the timeout Finn decided he was going to have a sleep and took himself to bed. That only lasted about 10 minutes until he gave in and came out and agreed to wear his new sandals.

He’s had them on ever since and no longer seems to notice that he doesn’t like them or that I’m mean to him … until the next time.

Last night, during dinner, Finn announced that he needed a rest and took himself off to bed. We thought it might have been a stalling tactic to avoid eating his meal, but it seems it wasn’t because he stayed there and went to sleep. We didn’t see or hear from him again until 5.30 this morning when he trotted into our room and announced he was hungry.

After lunch a similar thing occurred. When he finished eating I asked him what he was going to do. Computer was out because he’d been playing on it all morning and telly was out because I didn’t want him to watch all afternoon. Finn told me that he was a bit tired and asked if I would come and close his bedroom curtains so that he could have a rest. I did that and took custody of his hearing aids and off to sleep he went.

After a couple of hours I went in and woke him but he was in no hurry to get up. About half an hour ago I checked on him and he was lying in bed telling himself a story. Now he’s up and insisting that he can have telly because he had a rest. No such deal was made, however I have given in because I am a big softie and it’s raining so he can’t go outside.

Graffiti in Pirate Town ~ PDX 7-7-7 by xXxBrianxXx

Finn pulled all his blocks out this morning and started building. A few minutes later he showed me a tower which he told me was a Pirate House. A few minutes and many blocks later he instructed me to come and have a look at Pirate Town.

“You can go shopping there. But you have to beware of pirates.”

Balloons by chrislworships

Finn had a lovely time at his birthday. Of course he was delighted with his present (just the right mix or Space Robots, Thomas and other toys). It wasn’t the planned Zoo birthday but it went briliantly. Kids and adults played beautifully and no-one had any kind of meltdown.

So Finn (and his Mum and Dad) would love to sent a massive thank you to everyone involved. Hoorah for all of you as well.

Gazing out by Nicky P

I just did something I probably shouldn’t have. I encouraged the dogs to try to jump into Finn’s new bed. It’s higher than I’ve seen them jump but not beyond their capabilities and I wanted to see if they would do it.

Indi made it up but Em didn’t. I don’t think Em could get her head around getting through the gap at the end and she’s also a bit fat and unfit at the moment. She also seemed to want me to lift her and there was no way I was going to try to heft 20+kg of dog that high.

Anyway Indi spent a bit of time sitting up there with Finn. I’m not sure whether she enjoyed it or whether she just stayed there because I told her too. Doesn’t matter, though, because Finn thought it was fantastic.

Download

Birthday Bed by Nicky P

Finn wanted a bed with a ladder for his birthday. We were going to get him one from Ikea but they were out of stock and not expected in until after the big day so we looked elsewhere. We ultimately settled on a Lo-line bunk from Bunkers.

Finn’s actual birthday is on Monday but the the bed was delivered today and Mark put it together as soon as he got home so he got his present early. The Foozle was very excited. He can hop up into his new bed without a problem, but he’s less sure about getting down by himself. In a day or two he’ll be scrambling in and out of it like he’s been doing it for years so we’re not concerned.

Wolverine Figrues by zeroplate

Finn is terribly interested in the X-Men comic that I bought for school. It makes a certain amount of sense I suppose. Is it colourful, has some big writing and stuff blows up every few pages.

He is quite keen for me to read it to him which is ok since I am making the story much more suitable for a three year old. People are turning off robots rather than destroying them and minor characters are sleeping rather than dead.

I am telling him a little about who is who. He current favourite is Wolverine and he can even do a passable imitation of the claws with his little hands.

Having said all of that I am hoping that this interest passes since I am already getting quite sick of this particular story, or at least the junior version of it.

Harold by Nicky P

Perhaps we should have met in a bridge at night in the rain. Instead Finn just took his last dummy off to the bin and we went to the shop. Big W only had Harold but that was fine with Finn who decided that Harold could be his prize.

It was all suspiciously easy.