Oops

Dear Bloggy friends,
I promise I will update the site soon! Quinn and I are so busy these days that I rarely have a quiet moment to reflect and write about his adventures. But I will put fingers to keys soon! Keep checking back!

That random blue-jeaned leg is the scarecrow. He's laying down on the job.

Architect in Training

Quinn finally graduated from the red/blue tower! He and Ben designed several new buildings last night. Take a look..
.


Out of nowhere, Quinn got up to get one of his Buzz toys and ran back to the blocks. I could see his little mind just a working. Once he found the perfect place for Buzz, he said, "I build castle!" Um...how on earth does he know what a castle is?

Pumpkin Pickin' Comparison

Yes, I am being lazy today and giving you "the comparison" post. It's cute nonetheless.

2009 vs. 2010

Visiting a Mouse

No, not THE Mouse that lives in Orlando. Just the mouse in Humble, Texas: Chuck E. Cheese. What I thought would a be good, short, morning activity turned into a three hour event with us getting home at 1:30 in the afternoon! Now, CEC isn't anything like I remember as a kid. I remember a huge playroom with a ball pit that would bury a grown man, a swinging from a vine/zip line thingy, a maze of punching bags, and a lot more. And I remember a full stage of animitronics that put on a 15 or 20 minute show. None of that exist now- at least not at our place. It did have a tiny "stage" with just Chuck singing a 2 minute song that came on every 30 minutes or so. Anyway, we met our friends Maddie(and her mom Laura) and RJ (and his mom Christa) for some video game fun (well, toddler versions of video games) and ENDLESS rides on the machines. We're definitely going back...often.

The Magic Word

Amanda is out running errands the other day. So, Quinn and I are messing around. He *needs* a snack. We decide on string cheese. After the fist bite, he wants more cheese or "mo cheez." I ask him to say please. He does. "PEAS DADA, CHEEZ!" Not bad.

Next piece of cheese, I ask him to say please, again. He does.

I'm happy, he's getting the hang of being nice.

Next piece of cheese, I try something new, "Quinnie, say the magic word."

He does...

He throws his arms up in the air, gets an excited look in his eye, and then he says, "TAAAADAAA!!!" while turning around.

Perfect. "Please" is not the magic word. The magic word is what you say when you do a magic trick to make people clap...

Obviously...

Just As It Should Be

Since the weather has been "cooler" (in the mid 80s), we've been able to get outside and play. I really can't remember a day I have been more at peace than on days like today; sitting in the backyard with Ben as Quinn and Ruby chase each other and play. Little boys are suppose to run non-stop. And yell. And laugh. With their dog. In the backyard. Today was just as it should be.

A Kiss Is a Kiss Is a Kiss

As you know, Quinn and Abby have been fast friends since birth- give or take a few months. Us parents have been waiting for the time when they would be able to run and play together, have cute kid conversations, and all that gushy stuff. Well, the time has come. Anytime we go out the front door, Quinn bolts toward Abby's house- straight to the front door and rings the doorbell. Allyson will tell you that Abby does the same thing. They hug hello and hug goodbye. And lo and behold, they kissed this week! Allyson, Ben, and I ventured up to the clubhouse for our neighborhood's National Night Out festivities with Quinn and Abby in tow a la wagon. Thank you, Ben, for pulling that load all night! I didn't witness the kiss (only Ben did) but I heard Quinn jabbering away about, "Kiss Abby?" "Abby like kiss?" "Ooh, kiss Abby." Allyson and I couldn't believe it! We didn't know whether to gush with sappiness or start planting sticker-bushes under all the windows.

It really does warm my heart. Quinn has learned that hugs and kisses are how you show someone you care about them. I'm kind of proud of that lesson.

Star Gazing and Talking about Birds

Q and Baker

Posted by Ben:

Super sweet Quinn story. Coming back from Chik-fil-a the other night, Quinn is just chattering away. He does this stream-of-consciousness thing where one phrase or word takes him straight into another. So, somehow he was talking about bears, then brown, then dogs, then he starts talking about Baker. Amanda asks him if he remembers Baker (who used to watch over and protect Quinn obsessively). Quinn then says "Baker! Big Dog! Brown! He Bark! Ruby and Baker!" As if Quinn was telling us, of course I remember Baker! Amazing to know Quinn remembers what an awesome dog he had.

. 

Learnin' Letters

View Blog

Book Picking

Every night (and I mean every single night) since Quinn was about 2 months old, we have read to him before bed (and all during the day). Now, after bath time, he is picking his own books to read. We tell him to choose three and sometimes he'll sneak four. Surprisingly, he selects different books each night. I know you are probably on Quinn video overload. But he's at an age where it is funnier for you to watch him than for me to describe him. So without further ado...


And I can not tell you how proud I am that he can pick out his Bible! Warms a mommy's heart!

A Picasso Phase

The Tower

Quinn loves blocks. He enjoys building something and he especially loves tearing it down. The only catch: he builds the same thing every time. "Close Encounters" anyone?

Picture Taking

Quinn taking a picture of Ben taking a picture of Quinn.

Two Year Check-Up

This was the first time Quinn got to stand on the
scale and not sit in the baby scale!

Quinn Turns 2

The Buzz Lightyear birthday party was a huge success! Thankfully, Quinn took a long nap before the party. As he slept, I put the finishing touches on the party snacks and decorated the kitchen. When Ben brought Quinn down after his nap, his face lit up as he said, "And Beyond!" once he saw the Buzz balloons, banner, and table setting! The guest list included our favorite neighbors The Wojtalewiczs and The Halls along with some new friends The Wilsons. And Mawmaw & Gaga drove all the way from Alabama for basically one day! Quinn was so excited to have his friends and grandparents all in one place to share yummy cake, a tasty crab dip (if I say so myself), and green & blue m&ms featuring the birthday boy himself! But we sure did miss all our family and friends that couldn't be with us!

Livi and Emory (who Q calls "Emmy"), Quinn's cousins from Daphne, drew these great birthday pictures for Quinn. And they left the sweetest voicemail singing Happy Birthday to Quinn. And speaking of that song, Quinn was singing it ALL day long...as he went to bed...even the next day.
Connie, who Quinn affectionately calls "Yellow," sent this sweet drawing. We interpreted this masterpiece to be of her and Quinn playing in the sun together.

And I can't forget "Shout Outs" for Mawmaw who helped decorate and redecorate Buzz cookies, Allyson who took some great photos, Christa and RJ who drove four hours home from vacation straight to the party, Gaga who carried the cake, and my sweet husband, Ben, for putting up with my craziness during the party planning! I can't imagine what I'll be like when we start having parties with animals, performers, bands, costumes, etc!

Singing The Birthday Song while hopped up on sugar!

Everyone Loves Comparison Photos!

If Only

Today, we felt a hint of Fall- at least until 10:30am. No humidity and a swift breeze allowed Quinn and I to ride our bike to the park and play (if only for an hour)! Within minutes, he made three new friends- Chloe, Bella, and Matty. He just walked right up to them and said, "Hey" and threw his hand up in the air..what Ben and I call "The Jimmy Mitchell."

In Three Days...

Retention

For the first time in our 10 year marriage, Ben and I have extended cable with a gazillion channels AND dvr! Wow! What an invention! Anyway, the point of my side track is that we also have more than the Disney Channel and PBS for Quinn. We have Sprout! Home of The Wiggles. Yesterday was our very first Wiggles experience. And Quinn seemed to enjoy them. Apparently, the Blue Wiggle made pasta for the rest of the Wiggles. And, somehow, their nemesis, the Pirate, knew this. So, he rang the front doorbell to lure all the Wiggles away from the pasta. Then, he slipped in the back door and ate the pasta from each of their bowls. When the Wiggles saw that no one was at the front door, they returned to empty bowls in the kitchen. They discussed the mystery, refilled their bowls, and followed the same scenario two more times- until they figured it out and caught that dastardly Pirate.
Today, Quinn and I were watching Sprout when a Wiggles commercial started. And as quick as, heck-I don't know-a fox, Quinn said, "Pasta! Pasta, Mama."
How's that for retention?

Play Day

Quinn met Abby and Audrey at the indoor playground nirvana today. Even with how awesome the playground is, playing in the water fountain seemed to be their favorite part.

Then we made them sit on the bench for a photo and got this...