Know What's Good?

Avocados!!!

Nomnomnom!

Yummy!!!

Mmm!!  I eat them all!!!

Not.

Video Roundup

Dear Quinn,
Amidst all the holiday hubbub and busy couple of weeks, you have made incredible progress.  Your babbles now regularly include consonants.  Whether or not it has any connection to him, we don't know, but either way your Daddy is thrilled that you will now say, "Dada." 

After weeks of determination and frustration, you are now officially crawling.  For the first couple of days you were putting your hands on the ground and hopping a bit, but you have since perfected your form by bending your knees.

You are everywhere and into everything! 

Your teacher tells me that you have started a trend at school of hanging out underneath your crib.  You allow other babies to follow you in, but will not tolerate them going under there first or without you.  I prefer to think of it as you demonstrating your natural leadership ability.  

Elsewhere in the mobility department, you have been using the furniture (or us, or whatever else is available) to pull yourself up to a stand.  You love to stand up and practice your balance! 

 Also, I think it is finally safe to say that you are sleeping through the night.  Thank you, Quinn!

And last but not least, two adorable things you do that I want to remember. 

1. Lately, whenever I carry you down the stairs, you hold on to me with both hands and squeal with glee.  You enjoy being startled too... I think we have a little thrill seeker on our hands. 

2. You are really into the book, Peedie by Oliver Dunrea.  Every time I read it to you, you continually turn around to smile at me and lay your head against my chest - your little version of a hug. 

And now to post a bunch of videos before they get too old:

Playing peekaboo in the Wawa parking lot:

Talking with your mouth full:

Time to lower the crib:

No more puffs:

I can't believe you will be eight months old in a few days.  We love you, sweet girl!

Family Weekend

Dear Quinn,
You had such a busy weekend, my little party girl!  We spent Friday night at Grammy and Pop-Pop's house for Uncle Mike and Uncle TJ's birthday dinner.  You couldn't stay awake long enough to sing  and clap for them, but you loved sleeping in the new crib your grandparents got for you and your future cousins.  They are so excited to have you in a couple of weeks!

My new snail jammies!

What is this thing??

Havin' fun with Uncle Mike!

Can I try on your hat, Uncle TJ?

Too big!

Hey - there's Aunt Jo and Uncle Chris on the iPad! 
Sorry I missed you guys!

On Saturday morning, we gave you puffs for the "first" time.  I suspect that you have had a puff or two at school before.  When I put one on your tray, you demonstrated an expert pincer grasp and immediately began crunching it up with your two little teeth. 

I love puffs!

Later that day you went to your first Luau for your great Aunt Kathy's 50th birthday.  You had so much fun seeing Mom-Mom and Pop-Daddy and playing with the other kids. 

Great Aunt Chrissy!

Aunt Lauren

Your second cousin, Baby Max!

You also experienced "Quinnac" for the first time... Our family is weird - you'll see!

On Sunday, you and I got up early and took a walk through the quiet streets.  In the afternoon, we said goodbye to the coffee table to make a play area for you.  You need more room for crawling practice - you are almost there, Quinn!

C'mere, bunny

More room for me to crawl!

Mommy couldn't resist the matching bow

Long line at Starbucks...

Shouldn't have gotten decaf...

Rest up while you can, Quinn.  There is another big weekend coming up for Father's Day.  Already we are having such an incredible summer with you.  We love you so much!!

Video RoundUp: Food Edition

Dear Quinn,
This past weekend I did another audit of your clothes and added to the ever-expanding collection of things you have out-grown.  We also retired some of your equipment (goodbye for now, bouncy seat, Bumbo, and bath sling) and got some new stuff out of storage.

We are so lucky that our loved ones provided for all your needs so generously - and that they thought so far beyond your newborn days. (To all of our friends and family who are reading this, please know how much we appreciate it.)  It is so much fun to go "shopping" in your toybox, dress you in a new outfit or read you a new book from your little library. 

Whenever I need something, it is usually waiting for you in your fully-stocked nursery. Now that the time for real food has arrived, it was so helpful to already have little bowls and special spoons, sippy cups and bibs - and things I didn't even know existed, like the mesh feeder that allows you to safely eat chunks of fresh fruit.

Lately you have been developing such a sophisticated little palate.  So far you have enjoyed peas, carrots, butternut squash, avocado, pears, watermelon, mango, bananas and sweet potatoes.  To say that pears are your favorite would be an understatement.  When we cannot shovel pears into your face fast enough, you crawl into our laps and chase the spoon with your mouth.

Tonight your daddy put together your high chair (thank you, Aunt Annette!) and I learned another valuable lesson in parenting: it is much easier to feed you while you are strapped into a chair. No more sweet potato smudges on Mommy's glasses! 

Here are 2 short videos of you trying out your high chair - and one of you getting your first drink of (bath)water.  You are hilarious, Quinn!  We love you so much. 

Video Roundup

Dear Quinn,

Here are some of my favorite videos from the past couple of weeks. 

Splashing in the sink:

I must have watched this video a thousand times.  Every time I ride the subway, fellow commuters lean over my shoulder and tell me how cute it is.  I watch it every night after you go to bed, and every time I get a free minute at work.   I wish I would have included your Daddy's reaction to how much water you are splashing on the floor. 

A complete roll:

Totally grossed out by your banana feeder:

I think you're saying, "I have squash all over me, Mommy."

Lucky Seven

My sweet baby girl - you are now seven months old! 

Every day you do some new, amazing thing.  On Wednesday of last week, you came home from school with a tooth. We only had two days to say, "Quinn has a tooth!" before we had to change it to, "Quinn has two teeth!"  We don't have any teething horror stories to report. You didn't seem to be in pain or have any trouble with it at all. You are completely unflappable - so much like your Daddy, Quinn!

You surprised me the other day by pushing my hands together when I was playing Peekaboo with you.  Every time I opened my hands and said, "Peekaboo!" you laughed and then pushed them back together so we could do it again...and again...and again.  It's so much fun to play with you. 

We continue to try new foods to support your latest growth spurt.  We've recently added butternut squash and banana to the menu. I think we'll try avocados next.  You are up to eighteen and a half pounds, and getting stronger every day. 

I can't wait to see what else you do this month.  Onward, Quinn!  We love you so much.  

Playing dress-up as we pack away the winter clothes

Extreme close-up

I'm splashing water on the floor - deal with it, Daddy!

He forgives me

Miss Independent

Thanks for showing me how to use the sippy cup, Daddy.

I'm off the playmat!

Transition

I made this at school!

Dear Quinn,

Last Thursday when I picked you up from school, the principal was waiting for me at the door.  She wanted to let me know that you weren't in your usual room that day.  Instead you were across the hall, spending some time in the "infant transition" room.  She explained that you will spend a few hours there every day until you are moved up permanently some time in the next couple of weeks.

I remember seeing this room when I was pregnant and your Daddy and I toured the daycare.  Unlike the calm environment of the infant room, this place was much more rough and tumble.  The "babies" were so big, and most were on the move. They eyed us curiously and crawled around our feet.  They climbed over one another and pulled themselves up on the furniture.  The prospect of you being one of them seemed so far away at the time, but now you are almost ready to join them.

I walked into the "big girl room" and introduced myself to the teachers. (By the way, I love saying, "I'm Quinn's Mom!")  You were busy playing, but gave me a big smile when you saw me.  I asked how you did and all the teachers said that you were wonderful.  "Most kids cry," they said.  But not you - you enjoyed watching the bigger kids and playing with all the new toys. 

We are so proud of you and how well you are doing at school.  Every day we hear about the excellent progress you're making there through the notes sent home by your teacher.  "Quinn holds up her bottle on her own."  "Quinn is doing a great job sitting up!"  "Please send in a sippy cup so that Quinn can practice."

On Friday your teacher asked if we wanted them to start feeding you "puffs" so that you could develop your fine motor skills.  I was incredulous when I told your Daddy about it.  "They suggested puffs!!  Can you believe that?" 

He could believe it.  He thinks you're ready.  You are lucky he is around to advocate for you, because sometimes my natural instinct is to resist all this change, and try to make you be my baby forever. 

That's when it occurred to me.  The reason your principal was waiting for me at the door.  The reason she spoke so gently while assuring me that they would ease you into your new routine slowly and gradually.  I couldn't help but think that this transition phase is probably much more necessary for me than it is for you.  

Here are some pictures of my big big girl: 

"Quinn's bin"
Apparently you won't let any of the other kids play with these toys at daycare.

Exhausted after a long day in the big girl room

I can finally get my feet in my mouth!

Playing with Rao in my sleep...

I'll try the carrots and cereal, but only if I can check it out first...

First Annual South Street Festival

Admiring a sculpture across from Three Bears Park

First time in a big girl swing! 

Whoa! I better hold on!

Long day of fun...needed a bath!