A Little Mischief: A Day in the Life

Dear Quinn,
As I scroll through one blurry photo after another, I am realizing that it is impossible to continue documenting your life as I have in the past. If you aren't going to stop moving for one second so that I can take your picture, you certainly aren't going to stop learning and progressing long enough for me to record it here. I can no longer keep up with you, as everyday brings new words, abilities and just downright adorable things that you do.

Since I can't stop time, I thought describing a typical weekday with you would capture the essence of you at seventeen months. Here goes:

Like clockwork, you wake at 7 o'clock every morning and call out to us from your crib. I go downstairs to get your milk and I can always hear you giggling with anticipation as I go down the steps. As soon as I open your door you greet me with smiles and are often jumping up and down with excitement.

I change your diaper and dress you and then we go in to see Daddy while he gets ready for work. More often than not, Daddy takes you to school when the weather is cold. You say "bye bye!" and give me a kiss as you head out the door.

You love your school and your teachers have started telling us that you are "advanced." I know it's obnoxious, but I can't stop bragging to people about how smart you are. You know all your colors and animal sounds. Your favorite color is yellow - and you think that you are supposed to "yell" whenever something is "YELLOW!!!" Yesterday, the school said that if we wanted to move you up to the two-year-old class a little early you would fit right in. We're going to keep you where you are for now, but keep it up, Quinn!

After school, I come home and start making dinner. By the time your Daddy brings you home, I am usually in the kitchen. As soon as Daddy puts you down you run over to give me a hug. You just started doing this and it's the greatest thing in the world! Then you "help" me make dinner by exploring whatever raw vegetables I am cooking and making me hold you up so that you can see what's happening on the stove. By 6:30, we are sitting down to eat. Although you are a genius, you haven't quite mastered utensils yet. After dinner we play with you until it's time for Mommy to go upstairs and get everything ready for your bath.

You have a very strict routine for bath time and bedtime. First you put all your bath toys into the water one by one, cheering and clapping as each one goes in. Then I undress you, singing the "gimme that sock, shirt, etc." song for each article of clothing. Your favorite part of bath-time is brushing your teeth. When we are all done washing you say "bye-bye!" to the water. You often bend over and slurp up the last dregs of bathwater. This is gross, but you think it's hilarious. Only when every last drop of water is gone will you let me take you out of the tub. I bring you into our room and you sit on my lap in front of the mirror while I dry your hair and put your jammies on.

After that comes my favorite part of the day, when we sit in the glider together and read bedtime stories. We read four or five books and play little games we invented that go with each one. For example, after reading The Going to Bed Book, we go through it a second time trying to find the piggie on each page. I've never seen a kid who loves books as much as you do. You sit so nicely and quietly while we are reading. After the last book, you call out for Daddy and he brings up some warm milk and kisses you goodnight. We turn off all the lights and I rock you in the chair and sing to you while you drink your milk. More often than not, you'll put your finger to my lips to tell me it's time to stop singing, and then you point to your crib. That's it! You always go right to sleep because you are the best kid in the whole world!

We love you, Quinn!