It's a Mitchell!

2011-03-15T21:32:00.001-05:00

So much for promises.

Oops

2010-12-14T18:09:00.001-06:00

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!

2010-11-05T09:19:00.001-05:00

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

Architect in Training

2010-11-03T16:33:00.007-05:00

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

2010-10-27T19:17:00.006-05:00

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

2009 vs. 2010

Visiting a Mouse

2010-10-25T20:11:00.006-05:00

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

2010-10-25T10:43:00.003-05:00

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

2010-10-10T20:04:00.005-05:00

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

2010-10-08T23:21:00.003-05:00

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

2010-10-08T20:36:00.002-05:00

Q and Baker

2010-10-06T12:11:00.001-05:00

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.

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Learnin' Letters

2010-09-29T19:51:00.003-05:00

View Blog

Book Picking

2010-09-12T19:58:00.005-05:00

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

2010-09-10T15:30:00.003-05:00

The Tower

2010-09-04T22:26:00.004-05:00

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

2010-09-04T16:32:00.002-05:00

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

Two Year Check-Up

2010-08-31T22:57:00.002-05:00

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

Quinn Turns 2

2010-08-31T21:56:00.007-05:00

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!

2010-08-29T20:50:00.003-05:00

If Only

2010-08-26T11:10:00.004-05:00

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...

2010-08-25T21:31:00.001-05:00

Retention

2010-08-25T16:54:00.004-05:00

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

2010-08-20T20:41:00.003-05:00

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...

Occupation du jour- Graffitist

2010-08-19T22:11:00.002-05:00

Snacks, Books, and Hats....and Ruby

2010-08-13T20:19:00.000-05:00

It's a Gymboree Day

2010-08-13T20:11:00.002-05:00

2010-08-02T21:57:00.002-05:00

Check out this video from church. I just stumbled upon it when I was looking for a VBS video. If you look very closely during the "Nursery" segment, you'll see a baby Quinn on his VERY FIRST day of church. While this video was being taken, I was in worship bawling my eyes out because it was the first time I had ever left Quinn with someone else!

Vacation Bible School

2010-08-02T21:24:00.005-05:00

Quinn attended his first vacation bible school last week! Each day brought a different bible story and a ton of arts and crafts! He learned about David and Goliath, The Prodigal's Son, and The Good Samaritan. The week ended with Quinn attending "big church" with us and seeing the super hero show. He loved the lights, lasers, dancing, and singing! He even danced in the isles like a good Southern Baptist! Here's a little sample of the shows we saw each day!

Saturday at the Children's Museum

2010-07-31T13:46:00.002-05:00

At the Car Wash...

2010-07-24T21:08:00.000-05:00

Quinn now has two chores: checking the mail and washing the cars!

Moon Walk

2010-07-23T18:37:00.002-05:00

Look who's having a great time walking on the moon (aka playing in balloons)! Ms. Tracy said Quinn wouldn't hold the balloons, but he jumped up and down, squealed, and laughed hysterically the entire time!

To Infinity and Beyond!

2010-07-19T18:15:00.006-05:00

Quinn is enjoying his time at summer school and learning about outer space and planet Earth. Last week they made the Earth's crusts and then ate it (i.e. crushed up oreos, pudding, and gummy worms). Ms. Tracy asked me if Q ever had pudding. I told her no, maybe a bite or two of banana pudding from Jason's Deli, but that was it. She laughed and said, "That's what I thought! Kids who haven't had pudding or cookies usually go wild with this project." Apparently, she gave Quinn his "layers" and before she could instruct the class on what to do, he had the pudding from ear to ear and head to chin! She said they pretty much bathed him, but when I picked him up, he still had traces of pudding everywhere! That's just how much pudding the kid "used" for his creation!

Only two weeks left! I need to start thinking of fun things to entertain Q after summer fun like this!Look at the astronauts. Quinn's photo looks more like a mugshot.

Quinn's Earth

Quinn's Sun

Exploring ice.

Zing Zang Zoom

2010-07-18T22:11:00.004-05:00

Quinn attended his first circus this weekend. And let me tell you, the circus ain't what it used to be! I remember the circus being full of animals doing tricks, a ton of acrobats, the trapeze, and clowns that were funny. This circus- not so much. It was more like an off-Broadway show with lots of singing- read piped in recorded songs- and cheesy choreography. There was a brief elephant show that Quinn went berserk over! He waved, he yelled, he screeched, he threw up his "elephant trunk," and nearly jumped out of his seat while the elephants performed. The tiger show was pretty neat, too. But Quinn was unimpressed. There was a brief horse (4 horses) act and a dog act. And that was it for the animals. The rest was a snooze fest. Oh, wait. We did get to see two people shoot out of a canon. That was cool. But if you ask Quinn about the circus, he'll just tell you (or show you with his arm aka trunk) about the elephants.

Saying "Cheese"

Watching the elephants

He went straight for the elephants. But for $18, we had to pass!

Austin...For a Day

2010-07-06T21:38:00.007-05:00

We took a road trip to Austin for the holiday weekend. Figuring that it's only three hours away, surely it would be an easy two-night, three-day trip. So NOT the case. We left Saturday morning hoping that Quinn would nap in the car. Nope. Then we checked into the hotel hoping Quinn would nap in the pak n' play. Nope. Not only nope, but he CLIMBED out of it! There goes the pak n' play. Dang. So we got up and decided to start our adventure. Austin has a great feel. To me, it felt like Auburn in a bigger city. And the hills, trees, and overall greenery are such a nice change from ugly old Houston! We visited the LBJ Presidential Library; which was AWESOME! I hope Quinn loves history as much as I do!

Ben took great care of Quinn while I snapped photos throughout the library- many of which didn't come out since no flash was allowed. Quinn without a nap is like Dennis the Menace on a sugar high. Next we walked around the UT football stadium. It's nice and all, but Jordan-Hare still rules!
We also enjoyed a little nature-time in the middle of the city. Quinn was quick to take off his hat and throw it in the stream. Lovely.

Without boring you with the rest of the details, here's a quick recap: Stubb's BBQ, UT Bell Tower, dinner with our old friend, David Knowles,
Amy's Ice Cream (and our first family photo booth session), and a drive down 6th Street. Back at the hotel, Quinn freaked out about being in a hotel room. And did not go to sleep. Until midnight. Then woke up at 2am. And did not go to sleep. Until 4am. The only way we got him to sleep was turn on Toy Story on the laptop....until he couldn't hold his eyes open any longer. We got up twice to drive home, but decided to just come back in the morning. Both Ben and I were furious, exhausted, frustrated, and disappointed. This trip ruined my lofty plans of taking weekend trips across Texas. Or anywhere for that matter. In closing, we spent ONE day in Austin. But after the awful night we had, we left on a high note by visiting Sweetish Hill Cafe and Bakery for breakfast.

Oh, and as soon as we got home, Quinn went sleep. So no Fourth of July celebration for us. There's always next year!

Toy Story

2010-06-22T23:59:00.003-05:00

We took Quinn to his first movie last weekend. And you'd need only one guess for what we saw- Toy Story 3! Quinn was a champ! He LOVED the movie! And he did NOT like Lotso, the mean purple teddy bear. He kept saying, "Bye Bear!" And if you have heard him say, "Bear," it's hilarious! It comes out as, "Bay-a." Honestly, take out the 20 minutes of previews and Quinn pretty much sat through the entire movie- give or take a few passes back and forth between me and Ben. The worst part of it...I forgot my camera- so Ben took this one with his blackberry.

Quinn and Daddy

2010-06-22T23:46:00.004-05:00

Potty Time

2010-06-22T17:54:00.002-05:00

Practice makes perfect, right? One of my potty training books says it could take up to a year! Lord, please give me patience. Amen.

Summer School

2010-06-20T18:52:00.005-05:00

For the summer, Quinn is going to a new school- Atascocita United Methodist Church Weekday Learning Program- or AUMC Weekday for short. He starts each day out in a shy mood as we walk into class, and yet he doesn't cry or fret when I kiss him goodbye. He's always been that way- even when he was four months old and we left him in the church nursery for the first time. Me, on the other hand, I've been a nervous wreck about it. I even cried the first day of school. Don't get me started on the nap mat situation (which is now solved)!
For seven weeks, Quinn will do all things space! He's already made alien art, played with moon sand, and made a flying saucer pizza for lunch. Still ahead is making glow-in-the-dark shirts for black light day...I mean outer space day!

2010-06-10T22:46:00.000-05:00

A Buzz Buzz Here, A Buzzy There

2010-06-01T16:09:00.003-05:00

Quinn's collection of Buzz memorabilia is slowly growing. He now has two Buzz Lightyear "action figures." One is big and chunky, perfect for little hands. This was his first Buzz. The other is a smaller figure much like the old Star Wars or GI Joe toys. As to prevent any confusion for us, Quinn named the smaller one, "Buzzy." So, we now have Buzz and Buzzy. Don't get it wrong!

Well, Duh

2010-06-01T16:07:00.003-05:00

Scene: Chick-Fil-A playhouse. Quinn standing in front of the wacky mirror. Mom and Dad watching from the bench.

Dad: Quinn, who's that in the mirror?
Quinn: Me!

Q and A Poolside

2010-05-31T14:58:00.000-05:00

Like Father...

2010-05-31T14:55:00.002-05:00

As I was getting Quinn dressed to go run Saturday errands, Ben was getting ready. And look what happened. They are even wearing the same New Balance tennis shoes with ankle socks.
The only thing Ben is missing is a juice sippy cup.

Out of the Mouths of Babes

2010-05-30T21:43:00.003-05:00

Ben, Quinn, and I were shopping in Lowe's the other day when a Hispanic boy, probably 10 years old, was walking down the aisle toward us. As he got closer, Quinn started saying, "Hey Manny! Hey Manny!" I understood what Q was saying, but was wondering why all of the sudden he was talking about Handy Manny. Just as the little boy past us, it hit me. You see, Handy Manny is Hispanic. And Quinn thought the little boy resembled Handy Manny. Isn't that amazing?

Pool Day

2010-05-16T21:08:00.005-05:00

It seems we have a half-boy half-fish for a son. From the time we got to the pool today, Quinn would NOT stay out of the water. He wanted to walk in the water, sit in the water, float in the water, jump in the water, play in the water. Even after swallowing several gulps (and terrifying mommy), Q didn't quit. So, when we finally made it home I signed him up for swim lessons at the YMCA- four days a week for two weeks in June. Occupation du jour: Oceanographer.

How About a Morning Greeting for Mommy!

2010-05-13T13:44:00.002-05:00

8:45 am- I hear the nature sounds start up.
8:50 am- Next, I hear Quinn moaning.
9:00 am- He starts to cry.
9:01 am- I go upstairs to get him up.
9:01:30 am- Me: Hey! Good Morning!
9:01:33 am- Quinn: Blueberries? Blueberries?
9:01:35 am- Me: Yes, you can have blueberries for breakfast. I love you.
9:01:37 am- Quinn: BLUEBERRIES!

To Share or Not to Share

2010-05-11T20:24:00.003-05:00

As Quinn and I were eating dinner tonight, he started to share his chicken nuggets with me (Earth's Best Organic- try them, they are delicious!). One for him, one for me. After a few turns of this, it became...none for Quinn and two for me. Seems that Quinn's objective was NOT sharing, but just a way of getting rid of his dinner. I was outsmarted once again. I wonder if I should keep count.

What Will He Be?

2010-05-07T20:05:00.006-05:00

Since the day Quinn was born, Ben and I have wondered what Q will be when he grows up. Like every set of parents, we hope for a doctor, lawyer, inventor, another Bill Gates. So far, I think engineer has the most votes. Since Quinn was able to crawl, he has tinkered with all his toys. Instead of playing with them, we would turn them over and mess with the screws on the bottom. And when he got his first riding toy, he ALWAYS flipped it over and "worked on it." I think I've posted about the "car being in the shop."

The occupation du jour is architect. He is into stacking and gathering materials; whether it be blocks, puzzle pieces, or food (see carrots below).
As I watched him build today, I could see his little mind a churin'. His eyes were so intent and I swear I could read his thoughts: "I know this won't hold, but I'm going to try it anyway. And if it doesn't, I will try this or that next."
When we really start thinking and talking about it, we want him to be a Christian, husband, father, humanitarian.

So Tired

2010-05-04T17:35:00.004-05:00

Quinn was so tired after playing all day that he spread Sammy out (on top of his Elmo book) and laid his head down not to nap, but to watch Toy Story.

What Is He Thinking?

2010-05-03T21:24:00.003-05:00

As I sit here watching tv, I can hear Quinn talking over the monitor (it's 9pm, by the way). He's running through our family names. In his heavy southern accent, he's going straight down the list: Mama, Dada, Gaga, Mawmaw, Mimi, Roo, Mama, Dada, Gaga, Mawmaw, Mimi....I can only imagine that he's saying his prayers like we practice every night.

It's Hotter Than...

2010-05-02T14:16:00.002-05:00

Quinn and Abby got together for a little backyard playing-in-the-sprinkler fun!

Paparazzi

2010-04-09T11:16:00.002-05:00

On Tuesday night, we met the Wojtalewicz's at Minute Maid Field for a little Astros action. Being the most awesomeness wife in the world (maybe even the universe), I told Ben to go ahead to the seats and enjoy the game for awhile. I kept Quinn with me and tried to feed both him and myself as did Allyson with Abby. While we were eating (and by eating I mean Quinn running around as I chased him), a lady yelled out, "Go Duke" and stopped to talk to us. Quinn was wearing his Duke t-shirt and the lady and her husband/date were Duke fans. I thought she was going to flip out over a toddler wearing a t-shirt! Then she asked if she could have her picture taken with Quinn! For a split second, I thought, "This is weird." But I agreed and stood RIGHT beside him- just in case she turned out to be a looney. So her man-friend whipped out his iPhone and took a picture....of her and Quinn hi-fiving! And Quinn is perfectly poised so you can see the "Duke" on his shirt, the hi-five, and his clever "side-smile" grin. That little devil! BLUEdevil, that is! She offered to email the picture to me, but at the time, I was trying to get Q under control so we could head to our seats. Now, I wish I had that photo!

Practice Makes Perfect

2010-04-08T13:30:00.002-05:00

Easter at The Woj's House

2010-04-04T21:03:00.005-05:00

Matt and Allyson- you know, Abby's parents- invited us over for Easter dinner. As always, we had a great time and ate great food! Here are a few pics from the day:

An Eggcelent Day

2010-04-03T21:04:00.006-05:00

Today was the Fall Creek Egg Hunt. We met up with Abby and her parents for the running of the lost bulls- aka the 0-2 age group. It was basically a bunch of parents running and pointing to colored plastic things on the ground while the kids just stood there starring....except for this one 8 year old boy that both Ben and I called out. AND- I got him on video! It was really warm, okay it was HOT, so Quinn wasn't in the mood for much. He cried when we put him the bounce (just 6 months ago he LOVED the bounce house at the Halloween Carnival). And we couldn't find the Bunny to take photos. So we just sat under a tree and played with Quinn's loot.

Take a look at how much difference a year makes!

Thank You, Easter Bunny...bock bock!

2010-03-27T18:06:00.004-05:00

Okay, so until today, I was opposed to the whole "let's-go-see-the-Easter-Bunny" thing. Que Donnie Darko. That movie ruined the Easter Bunny for me. Just looking up that link has given me the willies! I just knew Quinn would feel the same way when he saw Mr. Bunny. But take a look...Fast friends. Two peas in a pod. Peas and carrots. Forrest and Bubba. You get the point.

Daddy's Shoes

2010-03-26T21:14:00.002-05:00

2010-03-26T21:11:00.001-05:00

Our first time ALL sitting at the dinner table!

2010-03-13T20:40:00.000-06:00

One of my favorite pictures of all time!

Another Day at the Park

2010-03-13T20:13:00.005-06:00

Quinn and Abby hit the park today. I lost count how many times they went down the slide.

Quinn: How you doin'? Want any fries with that shake?

Quinn: Wait, where are you going?
Abby: Boys are gross!

Abby: Race ya!

Quinn: Okay! Let's go!

Spring Time is Park Time

2010-03-10T23:07:00.001-06:00

Elmo...or in our house, Belbo!

2010-03-07T20:51:00.003-06:00

A few weeks ago we joined the Wojtalewicz's at Sesame Street Live: Elmo and Friends. Our seats were perfect and Quinn and Abby got to see Belbo, I mean Elmo, front and center. In my adult opinion, the Sesame Street show totally kicked the Disney on Ice show's booty! I definitely see us going again! The kids had a great time, too. At first, they sat in awe in their separate seats. Then they sat together. Then they got up and danced. Then they switched mommy laps. Repeat several dozen times and all of the sudden, it was time to go home.

Happy Birthday Dr. Suess!

2010-03-02T20:45:00.003-06:00

One of Quinn's favorite books (at the moment) is Green Eggs and Ham. When we read it to him, he says, "Mmmmm" every time we say the words green eggs and ham. In honor of the late Dr. Suess' birthday, we decided to try some green eggs sans the ham. And it went just like the book!

Mom, what is this?

You really expect me to eat this?

I'll try it. But I'm not promising anything.

Not too bad.

I LOVE green eggs!

A Hard Day

2010-02-27T22:37:00.003-06:00

Today was a really hard day. But as hard as it was, I want to dedicate a post to Baker and thank him for being a great dog to Quinn. Quinn's second word was "dog." He tells everyone everywhere that he has dogs at home. And he does the baby sign for "dog." Before taking a nap everyday, Quinn tells the dogs nite-nite. And every morning he greets them with a, "Hey dog!" I know Q won't have his own memories of Baker, but I have plenty and will share them abundantly!

Going to Work

2010-02-21T21:18:00.001-06:00

Quinn at 18 Months

2010-02-17T17:18:00.003-06:00

We had a photo session a few weeks ago with Tiffany at Mulberry Dreams Photography. And what a great time we had. Talk about a photographer with patience! Instead of posing, Quinn wanted to explore her house-both inside and out. It was too cold to go outside, but that didn't stop Quinn from trying out the backdoor several times. Tiffany just let Q do whatever he wanted and she snapped away. An 18-month-old is a little too "on the move" to sit for traditional photos! We're doing another session with Tiffany this Spring outside!

Has Anyone Seen Quinn?

2010-02-17T13:08:00.000-06:00

Happy Mardi Gras!

2010-02-16T22:06:00.000-06:00

Helper

2010-02-16T22:04:00.000-06:00

First Kiss

2010-02-16T20:06:00.003-06:00

I think tonight was the best night of my entire life! Ben and Quinn were settling in to read in Quinn's room before bed. I went over to the rocker to say goodnight and kiss Q on the head (just like every night). Except this time....he took my face in his hands, puckered his lips, said, "Mmmmm," and kissed me on the lips! It was so sincere and sweet! And once he saw that I was excited, he wanted to do it again!

P.S. He also fed himself spaghetti tonight!

Boots, How Do I Love Thee

2010-02-13T20:48:00.003-06:00

Let me count the ways...

I love them in a chair,

I love them checking email.

I love them going to work,

I love them while reading a book.

I love them when I dance,

And when on one foot I prance.

Boot Shopping

2010-02-13T17:32:00.003-06:00

We took Quinn shopping for his first pair of cowboy boots today. I'll just call it an "adventure." See, the kid has "Fred Flintstone" feet- extra wide and extra thick. Since we have to special order his tennis shoes (7.5 extra wide), I knew we were in for some fun trying to find a boot to fit him. Now, we were in CAVENDER'S...in TEXAS- aka Western-wear and boot heaven. It's the kind of place that even if you don't do the whole "Western thing," you walk out of there with a sparkly snap shirt and some ostrich-skin kickers! After an hour of shopping, we couldn't find ONE pair that Quinn's toes would even go all the way in! We even called in the store's "old timer" boot man to help search. "Let's try this one, Cowboy," he would say to Quinn. We had just about given up when......

Daddy found a pair of infant John Deere boots. Size 7...the only one in the entire store! And they fit like a glove! Mr. "Old-Timer" said that once Quinn gets up to a size 8, we should be able to move into more of a pointed cowboy boot. That's if the feet become more proportionate. So Quinn, grow them feet longer and not thicker!

Valentine's Swag

2010-02-12T21:51:00.003-06:00

Goodies from the grandparents!

Goodies from the school party!

Quinn made out like a bandit on Valentine's swag! Mawmaw and Grandad sent "Bernard" the Love Lion while Mimi and Grandpa sent a touch and feel book (Quinn's fave) and plenty of candy for Mommy and Daddy!

2010-02-07T22:21:00.003-06:00

Quinn is 1 1/2 today!

I was going by the birthday ticker. But it's said the same thing for several days now. Anyway, he really turns 18 months on February 28!

Not Again!

2010-02-02T15:26:00.002-06:00

Quinn and I made the haul to see Dr. Suell today. Survey says: Double ear infection! Second time in two months. Little man is all out of sorts. I told my friend, Allyson, that I thought the "terrible twos" were starting, but it turns out Quinn's irritability is due to an ear infection...in BOTH ears. Bad mommy!

I voiced my concerns to the doc about Quinn's loss of appetite. Then I asked him at what point do I need to be concerned- since I've already started worrying about malnourishment, bone density loss, teeth falling out, etc. (wink, wink). Dr. Suell giggled (yes, giggled) and said, "He has plenty of reserves. I wouldn't worry about it." Have you seen how scrawny this kid is now? I mean, he only weighs 27 pounds 12 ounces. My sweet roly-poly, squishy baby is now all arms/legs and bird chest.

2010-01-30T18:20:00.001-06:00

Quinn finally said, "MAMA!"

You Get That From Your...

2010-01-17T22:16:00.004-06:00

Ben and I are enjoying watching Quinn's personality, quirks, and mannerisms develop. From the day he was born, Quinn has been a carbon copy Ben to me. But every now and then, I see little sparkles of me in Q. Whenever he is sitting, he crosses his ankles and rubs his feet together- that's me. Whenever he's telling you something serious, he does this head nod/bob thing- that's me. Organizes- check. Cleans up- you got it, moi (that reminds me...got to post about the yogurt spill).

Here are some other "family traits" that we can identify:

Love of Books- okay, that's an easy one- Ben.
A Vegetable-eating Machine- Bobo by way of Mawmaw. Q ate handfuls of sauteed spinach for dinner this week!
Gashouse Eggs- Papa by way of Grandad.
A Practitioner of "Early to Bed"- Uncle Jimmy.

The last trait is one of my favorites. Only hearing the stories, I've never experienced a "Where is Jimmy? Oh, he's gone to bed" evening. From what I've heard, Ben's brother, Jimmy, is notorious for getting up in the middle of an evening gathering and going to bed...just out of no where...like at 7:30 or 8pm. Guess who does the same thing. Yep, Quinn. The three of us can be playing in the living room, laughing, listening to the tv, in full awake mode. All of sudden, Quinn will say, "Bye" and start walking to the stairs to go to bed. And he means it. He's going. No matter what. Sometimes, he doesn't even say, "Bye." He just goes. And that leaves us asking, "Where is Quinn? Oh, he's gone to bed."

Animal Farm

2010-01-14T22:57:00.017-06:00

We've got a barn/jungle full of animals living with us! Just ask Quinn. He'll tell you what these animals say:

The monkey, tiger, and elephant also have hand motions. I'll try to get video!

Secret Stash

2010-01-04T16:40:00.004-06:00

We have these plantation shutters in the kitchen that actually open out and fold back. Today was a super sunny day, so I decided to open the shutters all the way and take advantage of the winter sun. And here's what I found... Quinn's secret toy and nick-nack stash.

He often watches the dogs through the slats. I guess while doing so, he's been collecting some goodies to "find" at a later time.

Fun at the Park

2010-01-02T20:16:00.002-06:00

Silliness

2010-01-01T10:44:00.001-06:00

Christmas Morn

2009-12-28T18:07:00.004-06:00

What a great Christmas! We chose not to travel this year and enjoyed waking up and celebrating in our home. It was low key and quiet. And super cold outside. So, Ben and Quinn only got to try out their "shared" present for a minute...

Ben got a new bike and Quinn got a stylish helmet and riding-along-seat.
I anticipate them being gone for hours when the weather warms up. ;)

Quinn has been enjoying a Mickey Mouse music set (drum, tambourine, maracas, castanets, recorder, and harmonica). We've already had front row tickets to several concerts. Another musical gift he loves is his "Elmo-pod." Imagine an iPod, except for babies. It has about 15 songs on it with play, stop, and shuffle buttons. We rarely get to hear a song in its entirety. Quinn is definitely a "flipper" like me.

New mittens!

Another favorite is his big-boy table and chairs. What kid doesn't want to enjoy a snack or do some art at his own table?

Holding the Elmo-pod in one hand, using his veterinarian kit with the other hand, and standing at his new table....a gift trifecta!

Almost forgot about the train table. At the moment, it's getting hit by earthquakes and sinkholes instead of "working properly."

Sneakin' Cookies

2009-12-24T22:13:00.001-06:00

When a 15-Month Old Decorates the Tree

2009-12-22T22:23:00.000-06:00

Yogurt Makes a Great Hair Product!

2009-12-20T21:09:00.001-06:00

Quinn, Have You Been a Good Boy This Year?

2009-12-20T21:03:00.001-06:00

Um...... of course!

Making....Uh, Eating Cookies

2009-12-20T20:17:00.004-06:00

I made Christmas cookies for the first time! Rolling out the dough, cookie cutters, the whole shibang! And Quinn helped....eat them, that is. We made candy canes, stars, and trees. Note to self for next year: Do not feed the kid sugar cookies with icing and sparkles 30 minutes before bed time.

Our Little Picasso

2009-12-19T20:52:00.001-06:00

Apparently, Quinn LOVED using stamps to decorate his Christmas Tree. His teacher said he had a blast in Art that day.

Go Jesus, It's Your Birthday!

2009-12-14T22:02:00.006-06:00

Last Saturday, we took the Wojtalewicz's (Abby and her folks) to a birthday party for Jesus at our church. And it was a great party! Quinn and Abby were cuttin' rugs like nobody's business! There was lots of singing, dancing, lights, and confetti. Puppets sang about the night Jesus was born to Pop songs (except the words were a tad different). One of our favorites was a motorcycle gang singing "Born to Be King" to the tune of "Born to Be Wild." The end of the show had day-glow dancers and black lights. It was awesome! Finally, we sang a very upbeat version of "Happy Birthday" to Jesus!

Quinn dancing

Obviously, this was the best show Abby has ever seen!

Abby & Quinn on stage after the show.
Look at her cute Christmas outfit!

Ben and Abby & Me and Quinn singing

Part of the puppet show

A hilarious action version of 'The Twelve Days of Christmas"

Doings and Goings On

2009-12-10T22:42:00.004-06:00

I haven't been in a blogging mood for some time. But I would like to keep all of Quinn's loyal fans abreast of his doings and goings on. Check it out:

To look at the Christmas tree, he lays down beside it and looks up.
He knows one color- yellow. It seems like yellow would the be hardest color to say or pick out...other than purple. He loves to tell us when he sees anything yellow.
He can point to his toes and his head when you ask him to do so. Ben reads this book, I Am Blessed, to Quinn before bed. There's a part that mentions eyes, nose, mouth, and toes. Quinn points to his toes each time.
He tells us when he has to poo-poo. And goes to sit in the corner.
He can climb on the sofa all by himself!
When I put on my shoes, Quinn asks, "Go bye?"
He loves to have his toes "gotten." He'll lay down and stick his foot in the air so that you'll "eat some sausage."
He blows kisses with the back of his hand.
Still sleeping 12+ hours a night!
When the cow comes out at Chick-Fil-A, Quinn watches him like a hawk and waves to him. As soon as the cow gets close to us, Q gets nervous. But once I hi-five the cow, Quinn will do the same.
He is now taking a interest in his riding toys. But...he can only go backward. So, he gets on, goes backward across the room, gets off, and pushes back to the starting point. Repeat.
He helps me blow on his food to cool it.
When he talks to Ruby, he says, "Hi Roo!"
He has discovered the magnets on the fridge. You can see his brain thinking away as he plays with the magnets...like he's developing a "why-does-it-stick-to-this-shiny-thing theory."

We Have a Clown on Our Hands

2009-12-09T23:06:00.000-06:00

Children's Museum of Houston

2009-12-02T21:36:00.004-06:00

15 Month Check-Up

2009-12-02T14:32:00.002-06:00

2009-11-12T16:28:00.001-06:00

This is what happens when Mommy is sick in bed and Daddy is in charge of dressing Quinn... a muscle shirt and no pants.

The First Haircut

2009-11-07T21:37:00.004-06:00

We took Quinn to get his first haircut today. Initially, I had planned to take him to the Sports Clips up the road. Ben, however, vetoed it. He gets his hair cut there and said it's really hit or miss. Plus, he wasn't ready for Q to get a hair cut...even when I told him I found a place specifically for kids- Snip Its. I don't think Ben was okay with the idea until the whole episode was over. I wasn't about to admit it, but I was nervous too! Quinn was born with his "baby mullet." For the longest time, Q was bald on top and on the sides, but had a FULL patch of hair at the base of his head- from one side to the other. As he got older, the hair became wing-like. It never really curled, just became wispy.

At check-in, Quinn was given a key card to wear while getting his hair cut. At the end of the service, he got to put his card into a cool machine-thingy that spit out a prize. Q's stylist was Chelsea. She was so patient and kind- to both me and Quinn. Chelsea let me take all the pictures I wanted and even paused right before the first snip and recommended a snapshot. She kept the first lock of hair and put it in a tiny keepsake bag for me! Next, she blew bubbles for Q, put on a movie (each station has its own mini tv), and even let Q take the comb from her so he could brush his own hair. At first, Quinn was quite suspicious; turning his head each time she squirted it with water. Then, he just sat there in amazement. The event was over in less than 10 minutes. Since I just wanted to trim the bottom and over the ears, there wasn't much to do. And instead of charging the usual $18, Chelsea only charged $8!

And then our baby boy walked out of the salon a little boy.
He definitely met "all the requirements of a first haircut with courage and bravery!"

Vocab This Week

2009-11-05T15:13:00.004-06:00

"Dank you"- Thank you
Yellow
Gentle- also uses the baby sign

and as of this afternoon....

Elmo!

Happy Halloween

2009-10-31T22:23:00.004-05:00

Quinn and Abby went trick o' treating together and had a great time. We made it to 5 or 6 houses and then went back to Abby's house to play and watch some football. Q is battling some severe teething and was a trooper the entire night! He even gave us a couple "Rrooaars!"

Vocabulary This Week

2009-10-31T09:34:00.002-05:00

Woof
Fish
Poo poo

I think they are all self explanatory.

It's Starting

2009-10-30T22:09:00.004-05:00

Remember Quinn's chair? Well, he's grown in to it a bit since this photo. In fact, he can pick up the

chair now- which is the point of my post. See, I was cleaning and Quinn was playing in the corral. Sidenote: I have to leave the gate to the corral open now...or he gets super mad! So...the chair is backed up against the coffee table. When I look over, Q is sitting in the chair holding a book- you know how he likes to read to himself. I go back to cleaning. I look over again (cause it's really quiet) and he has climbed on top of the coffee table via said chair! As soon as he hears me gasp, he slides off (feet first-just like he learned at Gymboree) and flashes his half-angel, half-devil smile. I go over and move the chair away from the coffee table. I go back to cleaning. I look over again and by George, Quinn is picking up the chair and moving it back to the coffee table! Can you believe that?

Pumpkin Pickin' & Fall Festival

2009-10-24T21:19:00.001-05:00