A Looming Deadline

Dear Quinn,
As a writer,  I thrive on deadlines - they are a procrastinator's friend and I often do my best work when they are approaching.  However, there is one deadline that I've been dreading - and it is almost here.

About a month ago, your Daddy and I reached a compromise on the whole you-moving-out-of-our-room thing. And so, on the first of March, you will begin sleeping in your nursery.   

I'm sad, Quinn! I have loved having you sleep next to me these past four months.  I am going to miss being able to reach over and cuddle you and all the little grunts and snores you make while you're sleeping.  Most of all, I am going to miss having your smiling face be the first thing I see when I wake up. 

Your Mom Mom keeps telling me that I have no reason to be sad- and she is right.  So instead of mourning every moment gone by, I am going to concentrate on celebrating your milestones. 

You are truly thriving and growing up before our very eyes.  New accomplishments for you this week include rolling over onto your tummy and successfully grabbing your feet.  Way to go, Quinn! 

For the sake of posterity, here are some of the notes that were sent home from daycare this week:

2/25/13 - Quinn enjoyed rolling onto her side. During tummy time, she did a lot of talking and smiling.  Quinn couldn't fit into her extra outfits (too small).  

2/26/13 - Quinn was very excited to hear me sing to her during sing-along time. Running low on diapers!

2/27/13 - Quinn is a very happy baby girl. She loves to play with toys and she loves to sit at the table and look all around at friends during story time. She also enjoys rolling around on the floor and picking up objects off the floor. Awesome day, Quinn! 

This is how I found you today when I came to pick you up:

Fast asleep in your daycare crib...

These days I have been taking less photos because we have so little time with you on school nights, but I plan to make up for that over the weekend.  In the meantime - more videos! 

Close up in your ducky suit:

Laughing/Hiccuping with Aunt Lauren:

If you watched that last video, you know the end of it is in desperate need of some editing. But instead of doing that, I'm going to leave it be and go to bed so that I can enjoy my last night beside you.  Good night, baby girl - I love you with all my heart.   

Love,

Mommy

Best Friends

Dear Quinn,
What an amazing thing it has been to share the crazy journey of pregnancy and motherhood with my bestest friend in the whole widest world - your "Aunt" Amy.  I have been so blessed to have the gift of true friendship in my life - and I wish the same for you. 

Amy and I met in sixth grade, but you have the good fortune of already knowing someone I hope will be your lifelong friend - her son, Benny. 

"Hey Quinn, look at me!"

"Check this out, Benny - I can put my whole fist in my mouth."

"Hmm... not Impressed."

"Let's hold hands!"

Makin' a move...

"I wanna touch that chubby cheek!"

BFFs!

 Video Bonus: Quinn and Benny

I love you both so much!

Four Months!

Dear Quinn,
You are now four months old. At your monthly appointment we learned that you are 25 inches tall (77th percentile) and nearly 16 pounds (84th percentile). You have officially doubled your birth weight, and you are right on schedule developmentally.  Good for you, Quinn!

You are beginning to settle into a new routine now that you are getting used to daycare.  You are going to bed at 7 p.m. and sleeping for longer and longer stretches.  You still wake up to eat at 3 a.m., but most nights are content with a cuddle and the replacement of your pacifier.  Sometimes I give in and feed you anyway because I miss you so much during the day.

I can't say, however, that I am always as happy to see you wide awake at 5 a.m., which seems to be the trend lately.  I think you are going to be a morning person like your Daddy.  As for me, I am learning to enjoy coffee. 

These days you are getting so good at working your little hands.  You love to crinkle your dragonfly toy when you're in your chair and touch your seahorse when you're in your bassinet.  Recently you noticed that you also have feet and have started trying in earnest to roll over. Your hair is starting to get a bit longer and fuller on top - and most importantly, you have found your voice.  Whenever you are awake, you are babbling, cooing and singing.  We love hearing you express yourself, especially when you are excited.  

Also this past week, you hit another milestone, a daycare inevitability - your first cold.  Even though you didn't feel well, you were still your usual happy self. You have such a great little personality.  We are so proud to be your parents.

We love you so much, baby Quinn!

My first cold

 Thanks for my Valentine's jammies, Grammy!

They're comfy!

Daddy and Quinn

Quinn and Pop Daddy!          Photo credit: Aunt Elena

Check out my long hair!

Trying on accessories at David's Bridal

A kiss from the Bride!

Video bonus: Round, round bally - and your wonderful smile.

Video Round Up: Christening Edition

Dear Quinn,
Here are some videos of your Christening day. 

Here you are in church, smiling away on your Grammy's lap:

Right before the Christening - you have the hiccups:

The actual Baptism:

Thanks to Uncle John manning the camera! 

Blessed

Written Monday, February 18, 2013

Dear Quinn,
I am so emotional today, not only because I am thinking about your beautiful Christening yesterday, but also because it is President's Day.

It was on this day last year that our lives changed forever - it was the day we found out about you.

I'll never forget how scared I was in those first few moments (and days and weeks!), or the look on your father's face when I told him the news.  He hugged me and told me that everything was going to be ok, but at the time I did not believe him.  He ended up being so right. You are the joy of our lives and the best surprise we have ever gotten. This morning I asked him if he remembered what happened a year ago today.  He said, "Of course! It was one of the happiest days of my life."

Yesterday was another one, Quinn.  On Sunday, February 17, 2013 - you were Christened at St. Joseph's Church in Collingdale.

Even though we don't live in the parish, we really wanted to have your Christening at St. Joe's.  After all, that is where your Grammy was baptized and went to school.  Your Pop Daddy went there too, as well as your mommy, Aunt Lauren, Aunt Elena and Uncle Mike.  I have so many memories of that church, happy ones like my own sacraments, graduation and playing Mary in the Christmas pageant - and sad ones, like the funerals of people I loved.  

St. Joseph's School

But the main reason St. Joe's is so significant is because of your great-grandparents, my Mom Mom and Pop Pop.  Even though they passed away many years ago, I know that they are aware of you and are watching over you as you grow.  Being in that church was just one way to keep them close on your special day. (I even requested Italian food for the luncheon afterwards - an Italian Christening for my little Irish girl!)

In the morning I said a prayer that they be with us as you got baptized.  I was not disappointed - there were definitely little signs of their presence all throughout the day, from the songs they played during mass to the pizzelles that your Great Aunt Theresa made.  It made me very happy.   

Since the day was all about traditions, you wore the same gown that your Aunt Lauren, Aunt Elena and I wore when we were baptized.   Mom Mom had it all laid out for you on the blanket made by your great-grandmother, Mary.

Thanks for altering the bonnet, Mom Mom!

Getting dressed!

I was so thrilled that you fit into the dress - the bonnet was a little on the small side, and there was no way your chubby little feet would squeeze into the shoes, so you wore frilly socks instead.  You looked absolutely beautiful. 

You were so well behaved in church!  You slept all the way through the mass and woke up just in time for your Christening.   Despite your frilly white dress, you were not very ladylike. I won't record exactly what you did, but let's just say that it was irreverent - and I'm surprised it didn't rattle the stained-glass windows.  There was a lot of stifled laughter in the pews around you, Quinn.  

The only time you cried was when they exorcised your demons:

 You smiled during the actual Baptism.

Reborn!

The Godfather - Uncle TJ!

Mommy, Daddy and Quinn

Your Godparents - Aunt Lauren and Uncle TJ

Grandparents and Godparents!

Afterwards we had a luncheon at your Grammy's and Pop Pop's house.  You received many meaningful gifts - a music box like the one your Aunt Jo had when she was a baby, a medal blessed by Pope John Paul II, a wooden coat rack handmade by your Great Uncle John, crosses to hang in your nursery - and money for your future education.  You are very lucky to have so many people in your life who love you, Quinn - and your Daddy and I are lucky to have so much support from them.

Thank you to everybody who made the day so special.  Mom Mom for working so hard making tons of delicious food, Grammy and Pop Pop for hosting the lovely party, Aunt Lauren and Uncle TJ for being such great Godparents- and everybody who came to help us celebrate, especially my Godparents - Aunt Theresa and Uncle John.  

We love you all!

Valentine's Day - Part 2

Dear Quinn,  

Happy first Valentine's day baby girl! 

Normally we don't make a big deal out out this holiday, but having you around makes everything worth celebrating.  We had so much fun taking pictures and sending Valentines to all the special people in your life.  

Here is the card you sent to family:

And here are the chocolate roses you gave to your teachers at school:

We also baked three different kinds of cookies from scratch for the rest of the people at your daycare:

Yes, we are kissing butt and vying for teacher's pet a little bit here,  but I am willing to do whatever it takes to win you some extra cuddles. 

(By the way,  the whole domestic goddess/supermom thing I'm going for is still a work in progress.

Not pictured: Me scraping burnt cookie bottoms off with a cheese grater; Daddy frantically trying to quiet the smoke alarm; pan that turned into one giant cookie; etc.)

Of course, you also got a little something for your true Valentine, your Daddy. 

This past weekend you met a bunch of his old high school buddies. They were all teasing him about which one of their sons would end up being your boyfriend.   He didn't think it was funny- at all.  He is insistent that you don't start dating until you turn 30 (we'll work on him later), but right now you are both happy with him being the only man in your life. 

You have always been Daddy's little girl.  Before you were born you would kick in reaction to his voice, and now your eyes follow him wherever he goes.  You calm right down whenever he holds you, and you always save the biggest smiles for him.

I don't blame you, Quinn - I love him too.  Sure, he is funny and handsome and smart - but he is also one of the kindest people I have ever met.  He is, by far, the most patient person on the planet.  I didn't think I could love him anymore than I already do, but my heart swells every single time I see you guys together.  He is such an amazing father.  We are so very lucky to share such a wonderful valentine.

This holiday is all about love, and this year we have more of a reason to celebrate than ever before.  Every day, our love for you grows exponentially. We love you so much, Quinn!  Happy Valentine's Day!

P.S. - Everyone loved the pictures from your Valentine's Day Photo Shoot, but just for fun - here are some hilarious outtakes.  

Happy Valentine's Day!

Quinn's First Valentine's Day