The Day After - A letter to the Grandparents and Uncle

Dear Grandpa, Gigi and Uncle Austin,

Late last night was a little hard. Too much cake and a belly ache does not a happy boy make. But after a BIG poop and a full nights sleep we are all recovered from a great birthday bash.

This morning was all about the monster pj's and the farm truck! Eeee aye Eeee aye Oh! Thanks Grandpa, Gigi and Uncle Austin!

This afternoon we're rockin' the dump truck! We have to learn how to ride this thing...

Can't wait to see you again!

Love Finn and Lace

The Challenge

Finally...I have done it. I have an Etsy shop.

(What is Etsy? It is a place for people to sell handmade and vintage items and supplies)

The first step was coming up with a name. It took weeks. I am serious...weeks! I pondered and pondered and would look it up in etsy and someone would always have it! When I would finally find something that was not taken I would run it by Patrick and he would give me his thoughts. But nothing felt right.

I got frustrated and overwhelmed and Patrick suggested Lacy's Basement. (I know, it sucks right!) I think his thoughts were something like this..."Her name is Lacy...She works in her studio, in the basement..DONE."

So I went with it. Whatever right? I mean Patrick works for a company called Trader Joe's...Who the hell is Joe and why is he a Traitor?

Anyway...

I did all the work. Set up the site. Got the paypal and email etc. etc. etc. dialed. Done and done.

And then I went to Fake Thanksgiving...

There (after quite a few glasses of wine) Patrick and I ran the name by our friend Tyler. He tore it to shreds. And rightly so! Lacy's Basement!? What was I thinking! It makes me think of two things now...a bargain basement full of horrible overly priced used clothing and someone selling crack to teenagers.

The next day I destroyed Lacy's Basement.

Another week of pondering and many more choices...Rock, Paper, Silver - Finn and Lace - Laced - Kiss My Ass Creations - Vitruvian Studios etc. etc. etc.

I just let go. I resigned to using the very un-creative backup - my name. Lacy McKinney.

But then I was listening to "Dead Leaves and The Dirty Ground" written by The White Strips but I was listening to the Chris Thile version. These lyrics popped out:

"thirty notes in the mailbox

will tell ya that I'm coming home
and I think I'm gonna stick around
for a while so you're not alone
for a while so you're not alone"

Coming Home! It screamed to me. I work in my home...I originally wanted to study the idea of "home" for my thesis...Who doesn't love home?!....

And at last there was Coming Home Studios.

Now I just have to make some fresh work to fill it.

I'll be in the studio.

~LDM

For FInn

June 14^th, 2010

10:04pm

Monday

Dear Finnegan,

I am sitting in our living room right now. It is very peaceful, very quiet. Harvey, our new dog sits behind me on the rug. You helped me pick him out while Papa was at work.

Right now you are asleep in your room, in your crib wrapped up tight like a mummy; sucking away on your binks.

Papa is asleep in our room. Most likely snoring.

You are practically 7 months old! Dear Lord the time has flown by. You are getting so big and learning new things every day. Your favorite food is sweet potatoes and you hate peas. You also love graham crackers but are still learning to chew and try to swallow them whole so I do not give them to you often.

You are learning how to pet dogs. There are many in our lives. You sing little songs to yourself while I push you around the neighborhood in your stroller. You drool a lot because you are cutting teeth, which Mama hopes happens soon because it seems painful.

You are the only boy on our block so far…but that will hopefully change soon. You look like superman when you try to crawl but you still don’t get it yet. You sit on the potty and sometimes go like such a big boy and we clap and laugh and go back to our busy days.

I love the way you smell. I constantly want to hold you and nuzzle your fat neck. When you cry I love to scoop you out of your crib and fly you through the air because I know one day you will be a man and I will not be able to lift you.

Every morning I bring you into our bed so you can sleep in my arms. I wish I could do this forever.

You are amazing.

You always will be.

I love you.

Mama

Finnegan James McKinney

A few days old...

Here at 3 months.

I know, I know.

This is so late.

Finnegan James McKinney

December 2nd 2009

8 pounds 6 ounces

20 inches