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
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
First Leap into February
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.