Finn is 11 months!

So, I totally skipped over the 10 month update. It went so fast, and we are so so so busy right now, that it went by the wayside. BUT, that just gives me more to report now. I can hardly believe this is the last monthly update before he turns one. Time flies! But he just keeps getting more fun with age.

The biggest news to report is that Finn walks now! He doesn't walk far, but he'll go from table to chair or cupboard to wall. He can probably take 10-15 steps or so and does it all on his own. So, I think that qualifies as walking. Here's a video!

Finn also has a girlfriend named Eliana. They met back in November when I did a craft show and met a woman who lost her son at birth one month before we lost Kaia. She started a company named after her son. Finn and her daughter, Eliana were born one month apart. I think that qualifies as soulmates. Finn just attended her first birthday party, and Ellie was walking. The next week, Finn was walking. I think he walked so he could impress her at his first birthday party. When Ellie saw Finn at her party, she was surrounded in adults, but she wouldn't take her eyes off Finn. And as soon as she saw her window, she beelined it to him. It was so adorable. Here's the two of them.

Finn is quite the character. He knows a lot more than I realize sometimes. This morning he pointed to a bird on a blanket and said "Bir". He'll also point at dogs and say "Da". He points at the hanging chinese lanterns in his room and says "Ba" (ball). He likes anything that's above his head. He's always pointing up and looking up for new things. Often, he'll look up and find something to hang from and then says "ooh ooh, ahh ahh" like a monkey. And if you say "what's a monkey say, Finn?", he'll say "ooh ooh, ahh ahh". Smart cookie we got here.

He celebrated his first 4th of July in style. His aunt Kim and Uncle Kenny found this amazing radio flyer wagon on a tree lawn (best freebie ever!), and we took him to Lakewood's parade in it. He loved the parade, but fell asleep on the way home because the parade was during his usual naptime.

He's a pretty big fan of the wagon and likes to help daddy push it.

In addition to being a walker and a talker, he's a super duper climber. I have to be careful because he climbs on EVERYTHING. He's as strong as a horse and never stops going. He thinks standing on everything makes him important. And it does. It really does!

We go swimming at least 3 times a week. He's a huge fan of the beach and will play in the sand for hours! He also loves the waves. He totally knows how to swim too. He likes to dunk and knows that if he doggie paddles his arms and frog kicks his legs, he'll propel forward. He does it with such joy and pride. Here's a pic of him and dada after a swimming session at Lakewood pool.

Typical boy, Finn is in love with playing in dirt and rocks. I took him to Rocky River yesterday. We took a jog in the jogging stroller and found this awesome spread of rocks along the river to have a snack at. Of course, Finn was more interested in playing in dirt than he was in snacking. Super duper cute moments (and one ruined outfit)....

I almost forgot to report that Finn has teeth now! It took him 10.5 months, but he got 4 all in two days. He got the bottom two middle teeth and his top two fangs. Can you say "Vampire Finn"? He won't let me take a pic of that, which is completely unfortunate.

Finn also loves music. He loves his drum, and I think we're going to get him a baby guitar for his birthday. He's obsessed with my guitar. So, it makes sense. Here he is in awe of Curtis, who knows how to play a mean bongo!

Lastly, daddy taught Finn (months ago) to shake his head back and forth when you say "crazy" or "where's crazy Finn?". It's kinda funny. I caught it on video not too long ago when we were having a cantaloupe snack.

That's all for now. We're off to enjoy our last few weeks of being 0 years old. The big 1 is coming in a minute!

Peace, Light and Love to you,
The Urban Clan

It's so easy to help the children

As all of you know, we lost our daughter to a congenital heart defect in July of 2009. Since then, I've made it my priority to focus on my family. This required a career shift so that my creative efforts could benefit children affected by congenital heart defects. Since starting Little Lion Designs, I've been blessed to be able to raise hundreds of dollars for chd research. Very little dollars are spent each year on chd research. And I want to help make sure these defects cease to exist. By spreading awareness of my daughter's condition (brought on by an antibiotic prescribed to me at 7 weeks pregnant), I hope to have a little flame pass from person to person and create a fire.

The Children's Heart Foundation has formed a chd walk that we, as a family, are taking part in. Other family and friends will be walking with us to show their support for us, for Kaia, and for all the children and families affected by these defects. Our team, Kaia's Krew, has a goal of $2,000 to raise. Every penny raised will go to the Children's Heart Foundation...one of the few foundations out there that give their money to research.

We are not even close to our $2,000 mark. We are just shy of $1,000. I'm asking for anyone out there touched by these children's stories, to donate anything they can....whether it's $1 or $100. Every little bit helps. And remember, 1 in 100 kids are born with one of these defects, and the number just keeps on growing. Chances are, you will know, already know, or (hopefully not) will be a statistic in these numbers. The most simple thing we can do to help is to raise awareness and raise money for research. If you feel so moved, please donate (or join us in our walk) to Kaia's Krew by clicking this link. Kaia's crew general team donation page.

We thank you for any support you can give to help these little lives to have a fighting chance of survival. 

As always, I'm plugging along with order after order for Little Lion. Word of mouth has spread and continues to spread, which means CHD awareness, Kaia's story and research funding is spreading, as well. Please join me on Facebook or Etsy, and don't forget I'm here for all baby showers, weddings, birthdays, anniversarys, pet portraits, etc! Here's a fact sheet that I send out with each piece of artwork I sell. (Please click image to view full size)

 

May your lives be filled with light and love, peace and prosperity, health and wellness. 

Dear kk, you are loved more than you will know.

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RIP my first little dude

My Kota love.

Shakota,
For years (14 years and 6 days, to be exact) you loved me. You hated all others who came between me and you, which was EVERYONE, in your eyes. I didn't mind. It made me feel special. I loved how you'd sit behind me in my office chair.

You comfy back there?

You always found a way to be near me or on me, no matter what. Even when I was pregnant, my belly couldn't get in your way.

I love you, mommy.

You played fetch with me with milk jug rings and wadded pieces of paper. Every time I balanced my checkbook, you were right next to me, waiting for me to crinkle a receipt and throw it for you to go fetch.

You sometimes even loved your brother, Mustache.

Brotherly love.

Everyone made fun of your short and crooked tail, but I loved it. It made you unique. It made you different.

You can kind of see my crooked tail....

I will always look for you when I turn on the hair dryer or my electric toothbrush. The sound was a cue for you to come sit on the countertop to get pet while I dried my hair and brushed my teeth. I looked for you this morning. I forgot you were gone.

Yesterday was your last day here. At 1:25, you were put to rest. I wish you had liked Finn. Attacking him and I is what led me to the decision to have you put down. You were not well. Severely diabetic and hating your daily double dose of shots, you had trouble walking and knew your days of alpha male were over. You didn't take this well and turned on everyone in this house, and I'm sad for that. But I know that it's your animal instinct to do so in the wild, because it keeps the others from making you their dinner. I have to remember that you are an animal, and those are your basic instincts. You didn't mean harm to me. And so, I sat with you and held you and told you I was sorry and that I loved you until the doctor said your heart was done beating. I hope you know I was there for you until the end.

True love

I even dug your grave myself. Almost 3 feet deep. I hit a slate deposit and couldn't go further, but you are down deep. I laid a milk jug ring in there for you to play with in heaven. It was very hard placing you in your resting hole. Seeing you down there, I swear I saw you breathing again. It took awhile before I could cover you up with earth. The first shovel of earth over you was the hardest part. It was the last minute I would ever see you here. I miss you already. But I want you to know that I was with you. I stayed through to your last minutes and laid you to rest myself. I did it because I love you.

Now it's your turn to do something for momma. Please find KK and Taffy and lick them for me. Be kind. Don't bite. I took this video of your last moments before taking you into the clinic.

I love you and will forever see your shadow bouncing around this house. I will miss your head butts and your sandpaper kisses. You were my first kiddo, and you will forever have a piece of my heart.

Love always,
Mama

Amen

This is a good thing to remember always. I always quote this to myself when I start to get a little angry at someone I love.


1 Corinthians 13:4–8
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.

Birthdays....

June 9, 2009....minutes before they took her to open heart surgery.

June 9, 2009....minutes before they took her to open heart surgery.

Two years ago, right now, I was saying goodbye to my little girl. She was on her way to open heart surgery. Little did i know the surgeon I trusted her life with would botch the surgery and leave her lifeless 3 weeks later. My birthday will always be a reminder to hold those I love, near and dear. I miss you, my girl.

I woke up this morning to Finn crying. He couldn't sleep. We both are moody today....and rightfully so. I'm not sure June 9th is such a great day to be born. I used to love my birthday. But now.... Obviously there are issues to work through. Mom, if you're out there and reading this, it'd be really nice to get  "happy birthday" from you this year. It would really mean so much. I can't imagine not doing everything possible to be with my children. I'm not sorry that that is the way I feel. I love you. I love my little girl. I love my family. And I just don't love this day.

Happy raw and emotional birthday to myself. Self pity is allowed on this day for one hour and then NO MORE! :)

In honor of Kaia's birthday

Kaia & Daddy, one week post-op.

My baby girl's 2nd birthday is today. She's celebrating in heaven. I ask that any of you who feel generosity in your hearts, please donate what you would have paid for a gift for her, to the Children's Heart Foundation's Heart Walk in September. I've set up a team and have a donation goal of $2000. We are already at $640! Over 25% there! Even $5 will help. If you feel the movement in your heart, please donate by clicking RIGHT HERE IN THE CAPITALIZED TYPE. When you get to the page, please click either "general team donation" or "stephanie urban" to make your donation. Again, any little bit helps find the cause and cure for these little hearts. There is VERY LITTLE funding to find the cause of CHDs. The American Heart Association, unfortunately doesn't help fund this much. It's our job to step in where the medical industry fails, and find the answers to fix this ongoing issue. One in 100 babies is born with a heart defect, and that number keeps growing. My baby's was due to taking antibiotics in my first trimester. The next baby could be your baby. Let's join together and take the steps to make sure this never happens to another family, down the line.

One love,
Stephanie Urban & Family

Happy birthday baby girl

Dear Kaia,
I miss you! I love you! I want to make those things clear. Papa and I just laid in bed at 9:16 and remembered the moment when you entered our lives. We were so scared, but had no idea the real fear was to come when your heart started to stop. Now it's two years later, and look how much you've grown us! Papa, brother Finny and I are going to the beach today to celebrate you, as a family. You've given us, us. We're a close-knit family of 4 with so much love because of you. I hope to see you there at the beach. I got you cupcakes and pink candles. Are you able to have one? I'll save you the pink cupcake. I cried picking out the candles. How many people have to buy candles for their child's birthday, when their child isn't on earth with them? It breaks my heart that I cannot hug you. It hurts bad. I know you are okay and you are free and happy and that your work here was done. But I will never stop being selfish about wanting you here. I will always miss you. As your mother, you, my baby, will always come first. You are the head of this family, and your little brother is your right hand man. He's kind of taken over the house right now. He kissed your picture this morning when we said happy birthday to you. He's such a sweet soul, and I know you know that. I see him looking at you and laughing. You're a good big sister. Today is your day. Nobody can steal that from you. Do what you please. And if what you please is to visit mommy and family today, then we would love to see you. All my love and adoration and thanks....from the depths of my ever growing heart.

Love, mommy

Photog!

Look at this amazing shot my friend Shannon Miller got of my two main men. She's incredible! Check her out at http://shannonmillerphoto.blogspot.com. She also did the shots from Finn's first photoshoot.

Finn is 9 months!

What fun. Nobody told me it would be this fun to be a parent. Holy moly. So, Finn is crawling like a champ. He's now added cruising to his repertoire. In seconds he's off and pulling himself up on tables and chairs and plants (to my misfortune). He stands well but still has to hold on with at least one hand. Walking is just around the corner. Changing a diaper is next to impossible. This is what I get on the changing table the second I put him down.

Mommy, I'm an acrobat.

He's a very social little dude. He always lunges after his friends and tries to poke their eyes out and pet their heads.

Sweet Rei Rei. I will trick you into liking me by petting your head. And then....

And then I poke your eye out!

We spent last weekend in Cleveland Heights at the Hessler Street Fair. I had a booth there for Little Lion Designs. It was a ton of work to prep for, and we were there from 8am till 10pm both days. Poor Finn went to bed so so late, but he didn't seem to notice. He had a blast. He even played his little bongo (that daddy got him at Christmas) in the drum circle with all the drummers. Here's a pic after he was finished drumming and decided to sit on the sidelines with a ball.

So, he had a blast with all the nice hippies at Hessler! He had his first wave there. I've been trying to teach him to wave for some time now, and he never got it. Then this really sweet old man came to my booth and waved at Finn, and Finn waved back like he'd been doing it forever. Sigh...
Lastly, He LOVES to give high fives. He now throws the ball back to you and loves to play catch!
All he likes to say these days is his Brrrsss brrrrrssss. If you don't know what that is, here's the video.

That's all for this month. It's been the most fun month yet! We wish you all peace and love and serenity in your lives. We are humbled by the blessings in ours.