Even though we thought the next major milestone was moving from crawling to walking we realized that there are so many things that a child will squeeze in between...
Quinley started feeding herself - this is a great move on her part - it does allow her to get a vision for the future. It also allows her to make amazing messes of her face and anything close by. For every meal there is almost a required bathing. That's a lot of baths.
We have really loved watching a Cheerio enter into her hand disappear in a closed fist and then fall onto the floor as she tries to ram her entire hand into her mouth until she gets some fiber love. If she has access to 15 of those things - sometimes 13 end up on the floor. Ratio will improve in a couple years I've heard.
Slightly ashamed to say that we have found the wonders of a short 30-minute spell in public broadcasting. Our go-to show is Super Why - a story about super hero kids who "look to a book" to solve their "super big problems" and have alphabet, spelling, word and reading power. It is tough to get the theme song out of our head - one of you may be hip to it...(just started singing it again). Q is captivated by the color, Princess P (with Spelling Power) and the Phil Collinsesque singing sensation who absolutely kills it throughout the show.
Early tooth fairy update - we got the two bottom teeth in. Seems like she's enjoying some action and can get pretty crazy on a pear or other large fruity items.
She also remains the self-proclaimed "World's Loudest Baby" based on non-crying output. Neighbor Mike bought himself some earplugs because he's smarter than we are and he doesn't need to help around the house. Quinley is a great communicator she just has no volume regulator - this is normally a mid morning treat as she pretends that she's never eaten in three weeks between every single bite.
Picture volume is still way down because action photography is so much more challenging than still portrait work. Her crawling is now a pretty well-oiled motion. We see no reason for her to move beyond that anytime soon.
Didn't realize that we would be forced to wrestle with Quinley on every single diaper change - it has become fairly amusing and challenging. Also, didn't realize that I would suffer from an injury that is called in the industry "mommy thumb" - in which I am now going to physical therapy to try to recover wrist and thumb mobility. These two items are not correlated but does hinder my ability to effectively wrestle a diaper-less kid on the change table.
We're off for now but will be back when we have more to report. Thanks for sticking with the photo sharing. Feel free to move on once you see the pictures of her first days of college!
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Our Trader Joe's Girl
The "Q" is for Inertia
It is an unavoidable truth - once a child begins to move - they will not stop...unless they are asleep.
With that in mind, a new lifestyle is now in full swing for many years to come. Currently, it's become a life of wondering where Quinley is and if Derby is within striking distance. With so much more floor action - we've got to keep a close eye on the two of them.
Baby and dog toys have become interchangeable in the house and Q's bath toys are Derby's new favorites. It appears that he's trying to help Quinley in the bath, but we know better, dogs don't like to help out - they want something to chew on.
Q has spent most of the summer in nothing but a diaper. She doesn't seem to mind - we don't either.
Nap schedule is all over the map. We figure out she's tired with crying and/or eye rubbing. Then we have a hired hand (me) who rocks her to sleep - such is life as a pampered cutie.
The pictures of Quinley with arms draped over the crib depict one of the most common scenes in our house. She likes to think that standing up will allow her to exit the bedroom sooner than if she lays there quietly. And, she's actually very right. Too hard to walk away from her anticipation.
Q got another round in the swimming pool - seemed to enjoy it. Has started eating almost everything in sight - seems to like that as long as it's indeed a food item. She's also capable of making a mess of anything within arms distance - we've got to figure out what to do with Derby's water bowl...
Happy Labor Day, everyone and Happy Birthday, Aunt Louisa!
It Happens Fast!
Less than twenty-four hours from our last post, we found out that Quinley was indeed crawling in a straight line so we have to formally retract our comments about floor swimming practice. And, to add to the development milestones, within forty-eight hours, Q managed to pull herself up into the standing position! My oh my. Too much. Too soon. "Too bad" - she says.
Onward. Time to start paying attention to what's actually on the floor. The play table from Mr. Randall has been amazing (big thanks). Her first session with it - she was also a bit tired as you can see - so the head down pictures were brief naps while standing.
Quinley has also learned to make a sound that seems strangely similar to the name "Dadda" - I absolutely melted when she started saying this. Caught it on video for later consumption. She is an unbelievable communicator for having an arsenal of no real words just yet.
Everything encountered continues to end up in her mouth. And, as a bonus, there's very few edible things on the ground for her to find - except for dog treats. Perhaps we should start leaving good fresh food on the floor?...just a thought.
We had a great roadtrip this past weekend up to Carmel for a lovely Sullivan wedding. Took the drive back down Coast Highway on the way home. Side note - that's an easy way to turn a six-hour drive into a twelve-hour drive - no problem. Just saying. Had an amazing surprise waiting for us when we got to San Luis Obispo to visit Uncle Bruce - "amazing" let's just keep it at that.
The food stuffs are becoming more and more varied and now include most of the organic vegetable/fruit chain. Not sure about the napkins and leaves...People seem to freak out when she starts eating a receipt or a napkin - it doesn't really bother me as long as it doesn't bother her. It doesn't have a great finish anyway.
Derby got his late summer cut and remains a bit disgruntled as second fiddle. He could really use some visitors that will show him the love he remembers. A shameless plug, we know.
Summertime in Quinleyland
Not exactly sure where to start with this update. We're now well into the seventh month and now forgetting about what developmental items we were excited about two months ago.
Major milestone was the introduction of some solid sources of food. Avocados, bananas, carrots, peas, rice cereal, house plants, envelopes and anything that gets close to her mouth. It is fascinating to watch her start to experience the world around her with the mouth.
The sounds that come from that little mouth are also a nice little treat. She's such a happy baby and great communicator. She likes to pepper the world with little grunts and yells as she says hello to everyone around her. No one is a stranger and everyone is welcome to hold her at this point (or, at least that's what I'm doing).
She really likes to talk to other children. Sometimes I think she scares them a little bit with her expressiveness and intensity.
Other notables are her ability to notice her hand and its new movement and she'll look like she's waving at people. Also, teeth are on the way which is a new variable that obviously causes a bit of discomfort - which is why Eren has become the leading expert on the multitude of products available to combat the associated pain.
The sitting up success is a distant memory while the crawling is still looking like a disjointed floor swim practice at this point. I've been scolded for hands-on coaching the crawl sessions because it helps her "grow up too fast", but she's certainly making some forward progress. She figures out how to get where she wants to go - unless she gets caught on the ottoman or other floor obstruction.
It's a relief to know that we can leave her on the floor with a few items and she can stay entertained for enough time to get a few things done. She still likes to be held as much as possible, but then again, who doesn't?
We've done some travel the past month including some time with family at Frier wedding number three (Kaitlin) and time with both sets of grandparents in Coeur d'Alene. She's such a great traveler - it's fun to think about road trips in the future and the places we'll get to explore.
We got a new bike seat and helmet for Father's Day. I'm excited to ride around town with this little gal. I'm sure Eren will get a matching version for Derby so he doesn't feel left out. Being a cute dog gets you pretty far - until a baby show up on the scene. He's well aware of that.
Until next time, enjoy some of the photos. We've got plenty more now that I got my camera fixed!
She is Her Mother's Daughter
We went a little quiet on the photos the past month, for that, I apologize. There's definitely been plenty of action and very little silence as this set title suggests.
It seems like a lot has happened since mid-April...at least in Quinley time...let's recap.
Quinley still remains next to perfect (in our eyes). She just hit 5 months...that's a bit hard to handle emotionally.
She learned to roll over. And over. We find her in a lot of new places after leaving her on the play mat.
Almost sitting up now. Can balance for a moment, but inevitably comes to rest in a non-sitting position.
And, the one I think I'm not supposed to do...I like to prop her up on the ottoman where she can stand for a good amount of time until she distracts herself with the taste of synthetic leather.
We've figured out some of her tickle spots which at times is pretty much everywhere. She loves to laugh and even scream.
She has a new sort of noise that's hard to describe but borders on a the sound of a distant dirt bike or a singing frog.
I think the only other major update is the amount of slobber that is coming from the sweet lips of our little beauty. We've found bibs to be a go-to item so that we don't have to change her shirt every hour. The only tricky part is when she decides to do her spitting thing combined with the lip drool thing.
We're starting to settle into a bit of a sleep routine. Our target time for sleep is 7:30ish...we wish that could also be our target time. Q is starting to exert a little more dissatisfaction with bed times, but we know by the eye rubbing and the general sounds of exhaustion (from us) that she should go down.
I've figured out that a late night walk around the neighborhood is the best way to get the eyelids shut. The distance of the walk is entirely dependent on the weight of her head on my inner left arm. I took four of them the other night. It's beginning to become decent exercise.
We just celebrated Eren's first Mother's Day last weekend. Eren is an unbelievable mother - we had a great time. I can't say enough about how amazing Eren is at being a mother. I'll keep the sappy details to myself.
I mentioned that I will try to make this photo sharing a monthly event. There's plenty more photos where these are coming from! Enjoy.
Four Months - 40 More Pictures
Eren asked me the other day how often I was planning on posting pictures of Quinley on Flickr. I quickly responded that I had landed nicely on roughly once per month (or at least I had thought)...then, after a quick review of the albums, I realize now that she would need to be almost two-years old for that to be true!
Quick update on the "things that might change checklist": Eyes are still blue. Hair is still red. She is still ridiculously cute. (sorry - had to throw it in there)
Quinley has found her pipes the past few weeks. She enjoys a good scream here and there - especially in public at local eateries. It's fun and we hope that we haven't become "those people".
Also, found an amazing used crib and a TON of girls baby clothes at a yard sale in Dover Shores - the Mecca of garage sale destinations. We're extremely thankful for these wonderful families that like to style their children with the goods. We are still very much in love with the cradle as its rocking motion is the 1-2 punch that is needed for end-of-day slumber. I'm still trying to figure out why we don't have cradles for adults. Eren says that they are called hammocks.
Uncle Daniel, Aunt Julia and cousin Jocelyn came for a visit this week. Jocelyn is such a proud cousin. It's a very cute scene. She loves her family.
Q got a chance to take another flight up to see grandma and grandpa in Idaho for Easter. I heard she had a wonderful time. I stayed with Derby in CDM and the boys were really bored and missed the girls immensely. We won't be doing that again anytime soon.
Please Don't Grow Up
I just found a couple more pictures that just showed up on my camera...
She's such a cutie! Sleeping through the night consistently and getting plenty to eat from her momma. She's growing out of most her 0-3 clothes and her early swaddle cloths. We think she might even be knocking on the door of a size 2 diaper! Yikes.
On a funny note, we just realized that most of the clothing that we've been having our girl wear would be classed by most as pajamas. I guess there's a whole world of clothing that we missed - we'll be okay for now. Maybe when she turns 1...
Watching Quinley grow up in front of us, we often say to each other, "can she just stay like this forever?". Although the answer is obvious - it's hard to accept that our little love bug is off to college in a few years...(well, not exactly)
Right now Eren is trying to get her to crawl on the carpet so I guess were all for development on some levels.
We just got back from our second trip by plane - this time Seattle to see my brother, Paul and his amazing wife and kids. We found a couple amazing breakfast spots - one at Pikes Place - Lowell's and one near the Space Needle - 5-Point Cafe. I would highly recommend either one as I am writing them down on this entry.
Caught some amazing views from Highland St. and Gas Works Park which I'm adding to another folder of photos
First Leap into February
This album is long overdue and I realize that at least two people wanted me to post more pictures. You have to love Grandmas for that very reason. February has been a relatively big month and I must say I've been a bit distracted by all the goodness.
As dreamed of, we've arrived in the first stage of dialogue with this little bundle. She's smiling, laughing and sort of talking/singing. I have video to prove that she can string it together for a while. We spend hours listening to her various sounds. She is such a happy baby.
Quinley took her first trip on Virgin America to go see her new good friends Courtney, Scott and Lucas in Arlington, VA. She enjoyed her time there and got a lot of rest and relaxation while her folks toured the greater DC area.
Add to all that, we managed to squeeze in an inter-village CDM move to a new place down the street. I had to paint over the walls of the baby closet and felt strangely bummed that she now has her very own room vs. 5x6 alcove.
Speaking of bedroom, the last couple of days we've been letting her sleep in her cradle in her room. She's too big for her Moses basket now. (sad) The cradle is perfect. Derby is happy with some of the extra bed space vacated by our little power sleeper.
Posted a video to YouTube tonight:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWSzynzXR1U
January is Just an Amazing Memory
January came and went about as quickly as it possibly could. Since time flies when you're having fun - time is moving warp speed with a daughter. Your mind can't help but race ahead 15 years when she's got you in the passenger seat zipping around the streets of some town to be named later.
The clothes marked Newborn are starting to get tight - a little too tight. We already have a bag of items that are hitting the exits after a brief stint of usefulness. Out with the Moosie Onesie - out with the I Melt Mommy's Heart snowman outfit - out with the heart jumper that acted like a Shout Color Catcher when it got mixed with some new fabric.
Quinley hit 11lbs 4oz at her 6-week check-up. There is no doubt that her progress will continue and there is no stopping her from moving on to other major milestones on the diaper boxes no matter how much we hope for time to stand still. I guess the only way to make things pause for a few seconds is to look at the pictures that keep mysteriously showing up on our camera.
Quinley Joy turns 2-months young on Monday. It's amazing how quickly our measure moves from days, to weeks, to months and then you know the rest.
As we sit together here on the couch with the day coming to a close I can't help but feel intense levels of gratitude in every single moment in this fleeting thing we call time.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Quinley Makes Every Day Epic
Quinley Makes Every Day Epic, a set on Flickr.
Even though it doesn't feel like I'm pulling the camera out as much, whenever I load photos at the end of the week it always seems like there's some new gems. In this case, I believe there's an entire jewelry store of pictures of this super cutie we thankfully call our daughter.
Major happening this weekend was enjoying (together) her first laugh. She had just finished her morning bottle wrapped in a pretty great swaddle. Then, all of a sudden she just laughed and smiled. It was the most amazing sound we've ever heard up to this point in our lives.
Photos in this album include a serious nap on our new couch, a showcase of her range of facial expressions and her first modeling session of a few of mom's baby inspired hair pieces.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Her First Month...Done!
Quinley turned 1 month last Friday! We've been told by almost every parent that time moves really fast with your children and they definitely weren't kidding. Seems like we were just getting home from the hospital a few days ago and now our little one is under consideration for an upgrade from Newborn (N) diapers to size 1 (not so quick little princess). We still have up to 10lb and we'll hold on as long as we can!
I can safely say that this was the best month of our lives. Every day there's something new. We can't stop staring at her. She's beautiful and better than the best shows on television. We've enjoyed quite a bit of rest and relaxation this month - much more than we felt like we deserved as new parents.
Still learning to use and enjoy the gadgetry of parenthood. Major winners so far are the Sleep Sheep, vibrating chair, Soothie, wipe warmer, baby bjorn, swaddle blankets and the Boppy.
Quinley is one of the world's best sleepers at this point. She can crush an entire afternoon of furniture shopping out cold in her car seat. I earned the title of "best rester" through many years of serious sleeping and am now considering the name transfer to our sweet little sleeper.
She's starting to enjoy her baths, absolutely loves her milk and is making some of the best faces and sounds ever. I can only imagine it's going to get even better when she can smile, laugh and tell dad that his jokes are bad.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas!
Wow - what a week! It's hard to believe that seven full days have passed since we first fell head over heels in love with our little girl.
We're learning about the relatively predictable (sometimes in hindsight) yet surprisingly interesting task of detective work required to keep our baby happy. It goes a little something like this: diaper - eat - burp - diaper - swaddle - sleep - swaddle sneaky arm - diaper - burp - spit up - sleep - diaper - eat - repeat.
Not much different than us although we don't normally take our meals two hours apart. Although it would be a lot better for us if we ate light snacks over a shorter period of time, but I digress...
The chest cuddles have been out of this world amazing. We've been sleeping in and having fun staying warm. She's already got me wrapped around her little finger. I've made it out on a couple errands and always seem to pick out a cute little outfit for my little Quinley. I could probably find Newborn Size clothes at the gas station...maybe something NASCAR!
It was "beginning to look a lot like Christmas" with baby's first Christmas tree! We picked up a cutie tree - our first real tree in quite a few years. We left fauxtree in the garage this year. And, dad had his normal fun with blurry tree lights on the camera...only he appreciates that.
Dad is also realizing that he has a bigger photography issue than he had previously thought and coping with it.
Really enjoying visitors and the new normal that comes with the privilege parenting. We're looking forward to our walks together when we can get out again and feel the ocean breeze in our faces. The days have been beautiful from the little moments we've seen.
Living in the moment. Loving every second.
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Our Baby Closet - 5x6 & Real Simple
Our Baby Closet - 5x6 & Real Simple, a set on Flickr.
We love life here in Corona del Mar and about a million times more now with sweet Quinley Joy.
With the 2nd bedroom of our cozy living space acting as Eren's Etsy Bridal Shoppe office we selected the walk-in closet out of sheer necessity - we really don't want to move...just yet.
It's fun to think of living in a tiny little studio in Manhattan or a little cabin in the woods and this exercise in space discipline was a part of that thought process.
With sweet Quinley arriving a couple weeks early I'm so glad that I painted a few weeks ago! That may have been an overwhelming task at this point in time.
Special thanks to Hillary Blake for the bin labels, amazing sign and Owl burp cloth. And, to Gina Diaz and Louisa Cash for the wonderful Baby sign. Whitney Wright for the fun Baby Diaz banner. Lastly, everyone else who showered us with gifts that fill this tiny space. We love you all!
And, perhaps most importantly, my Grandpa - Mr. Keith Watson for the use of this beautiful handmade cradle that was built by his loving hands in 1951 for my mother, the eldest of eight siblings and the same resting place for me back in 1976.
Rest easy, Quinley - you'll be forever in our love and just a few steps away from our warm embrace.
First Friday
Got some eyes open action before bed tonight and some great facial expressions. My girls are truly amazing. Eren is so beautiful right now and recovering well. I will sleep well tonight no matter how many times we wake up. So - on to our fourth day and our first weekend full of surprises.
Welcome Beautiful Little Quinley Joy
Sitting in silence with Eren, reflecting on a day of anticipation, longing, physical pain and emotion so deep that all of the combined experiences in our life could not rival that single minute after the last push.
We are humbled to welcome beautiful Quinley Joy into this world with hearts full of gratitude. Her 20 inch frame was wrapped in a 7lb 10oz package and delivered to us at 6:24am.
Eren was so courageous today - I've never witnessed such a display of strength and commitment. I can't stop looking at her in amazement and telling her how incredible she is. She sleeps peacefully now.
Thanks again for all of your thoughts and prayers. We enjoyed all of the thoughtful messages throughout the day.
We can't wait to spend time with you soon.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Beginning in the Middle
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| Camera came out quick on this one - captured 4/11/11 - 9:43pm |