Eighteen Months!

Dear Quinn,
Happy half-birthday, baby girl! You are at such a fun age, and are such a pleasant and enthusiastic little person. We are becoming more appreciative of the little things in life just by observing you. It's hard not to smile when you become ridiculously excited every time we pass a doggie on the street, or laugh when the wind blows in your face, or decide to dance along to the song from the ice cream truck.

I've been keeping an eye on the milestones for 18 month-olds and you have surpassed every one. The two-year old milestones more accurately describe your recent behavior - naming your colors and body parts, saying the names of your friends and interacting with them, repeating our words and mimicking our actions, defiantly answering, "no!" to almost every question directed to you.

It's amazing to watch your personality develop and notice your little quirks. You are becoming very particular about certain things. Every night during dinner you make a big mess on the floor, and then point to it and say, "Oh no!" over and over until we clean it up. The other day you actually handed me the dustpan.

You have also decided that I am not allowed to put my feet up on the coffee table. I know I'm not setting the best example by putting my feet on the furniture, but I am in my 30s, and it's my house and my coffee table, so I will do what I please. But for some reason this irritates you, and you make a big show of getting up and waddling over to push my feet back onto the floor. Thank you for your efforts to preserve our low-quality IKEA furniture... now if you could only remember not to jump up and down on the couch like a madwoman, or use it as a napkin or tissue. 

Here you are being Quinn and enjoying the beautiful spring weather: 

I love swingin'!

...and slidin'!

Strolling with my Daddy

Hanging out at the South Street Diner

Mmm! Ice cream!

Cheering on Daddy's football team

Go, Daddy, go!

Put me in, Coach!

Playdoh is pretty cool...doesn't taste too bad either

Floor is dirty - get the mop!

We love you, Quinn!

Video Roundup - Easter Edition!

Quinn decorating Easter eggs

Quinn opens her Easter basket

Apartment Easter egg hunt

Hunting eggs at Grammy and Pop-Pops

Happy Easter

Dear Quinn,
We had the most wonderful Easter! Your holiday weekend began on Friday with the Easter egg hunt at school. That night we attempted to decorate eggs, which mainly resulted in you decorating yourself with washable markers. On Saturday morning, Daddy took you out on a mystery errand so that I could do some cooking and baking. (You guys actually went to get a surprise Easter basket for me, so thank you very much, Quinn!).

Later that day, Mom-Mom and Pop-Daddy came over and took you for a long walk all over the neighborhood and down to the river, so we had no trouble getting you to sleep to rest up for the big day.

On Sunday, the weather was perfect. You woke up smiling and Daddy entertained you upstairs while I hid the eggs and readied the video camera. You were delighted by your Easter basket and by the egg hunt we set up in the living room.

When the excitement died down, we got all dressed up and headed to Grammy and Pop-Pop's house for Easter brunch with them, Uncle TJ and Rebecca and Uncle Mikeyface and Julie. Grammy and Pop-Pop set up an egg hunt for you, so you wandered around cracking open eggs and eating cookies and goldfish. Then we had a delicious meal and you took a long nap in your crib at their house.

When you woke up, we put on the fancy shoes and Easter dressed that Mom-Mom bought for you and headed to your Great Aunt Sheila's and Great Uncle Beav's house to see Pop-Daddy's side of the family. You were the life of the party and had a great time playing with my aunts, uncles and cousins. They had not seen you since last Easter, so it was a wonderful feeling to get everyone together again.

Quinn, you have a lot to show for your Easter adventures. It was like a second Christmas for you. Your haul included four Easter baskets, one from school, one from us, and one from each set of grandparents. Your grandparents also provided diapers, cool new toys, much-needed new books, and an entire summer wardrobe, including pajamas and six pairs of shoes. You are one spoiled baby... but even though you can't yet verbalize your gratitude, I really think that you are very appreciative of all your gifts. The way your little face lights up with pure delight is almost a thank you in itself. But in the meantime, we'll say thank you on your behalf to all the people who love you.  Thank you, everyone!  And thank you, Quinn, for the precious memories of another holiday with you. We love you!

It's hard to believe we let the whole day go by without getting a family photo, or one of you with your grandparents, or one with your mommy or daddy, but you aren't much for posing lately...what we do have are a couple photos to document the day, including plenty of you in your pretty dress - enjoy!

Easter baskets and cookies!

There's one!

 

Oh! Is this for me??

I'll share with you, Uncle Mikeyface

I'm a good egg hunter!

Quinn, Marie and Elizabeth - you were so excited to see them

America's next top models!

 

 

Reading a book with the girls

Quinn and Diana

 

Dear Quinn,
One day on the bus to work I was sitting in front of a little boy and his mother. I used to avoid little kids on public transit, but these days I don't mind so much. I recognize how nice it is when people smile at you to provide a friendly distraction that keeps you momentarily entertained, so I try to do the same. Also, it gives me a chance to observe other parents in action.

The little boy was looking out the window and then he turned to his Mommy and asked, "Mommy, what does 'melted' mean?"

Quinn, it isn't very polite to eavesdrop on other people's conversations, but I wanted to hear how she would explain this one. I distinctly recalled a time I overheard a kid reading the street signs aloud and then asking his mother, "Mommy, what is a Walnut? Is it a kind of nut?" And hearing her say, "No, it's the name of a street."

The mom thought about the little boy's question for what seemed like a long time, but then she gave such a thoughtful answer. "Well, remember when we talked about the states of matter, like solid, liquid and gas? (She didn't go into the plasma thing) 'Melted' is a word that means something going from solid to liquid, like an ice cube turning into a puddle."

The little boy got it right away, and I could hear the excitement in his voice when he said, "Oh yeah! Like the cheese in a grilled cheese sandwich is 'melted!'"

Not only was this adorable, but it really got me thinking about how our jobs as parents is to also be your teachers. Sometimes this seems like an overwhelming proposition. We don't have all the answers, but we are anticipating a lot of questions. You already ask the simplest ones in your own way. "Cookie? peese!" or putting your arms and eyebrows up and saying "uh-oh?" meaning, "I dropped something, where did it go?" They are only going to get more complicated.

I'm slogging through two of the latest bestsellers about parenting toddlers at the moment (Bringing Up Bebe and Happiest Toddler on the Block, but these don't have the answers either. I'm realizing more and more that I need to look to the moms around me. I'm lucky to have a lot of great examples in my life, and I know you will too. Sometimes I feel guilty for dropping you off at your grandparents' so that Daddy and I can go house-hunting or go out to dinner, but then I remember that any time you spend with people who love you is a good thing (and they love you so, so much.) When I get overwhelmed with the enormity of the task of raising you, I remind myself that it takes a village and that you have an awesome one.

Tonight when I picked you up from school you were covered in blue paint. Your teacher told me that you were in the book section by yourself pointing to colors and saying them out loud. She was amazed, just like we are amazed everyday by how smart you are.

Keeping going, Quinn! Learn everything you can from all the people you encounter, but pay special attention to your Mom-Mom and Pop-Daddy, Grammy and Pop-Pop, your aunts and uncles, our extended families and trusted friends, and your Daddy and me. Take your guidance from the people who love you the most, because we will always have your best interest at heart.

We are so proud of you and we love you so much!

Haha! Daddy, there's a sticker on your nose!

My new dollhouse - the angel goes on the roof!

I like your hair, Uncle Mike!

I found a new use for the Oriental Trading catalog...

Blue!

Instant Karma

Dear Quinn,
Naturally, since I posted yesterday about you being the perfect toddler, you decided to make me eat my words last night.

For some reason unbeknownst to us, you came home from school yesterday acting like a complete maniac. You normally happily eat whatever we are having for dinner, but even though you were excited to identify "broccoli!" and "carrot!" in last night's meal - you refused to eat it. After a lengthy tear-filled battle in which I explained that you would not be getting a cookie, we compromised with vanilla yogurt.

Daddy told you over and over again to use your spoon, so you threw it onto the floor, dipped both hands into the yogurt and licked it off all while defiantly staring him down.

"Nooooo!" was the word of the day. You did not want to take a bath.  After 15 minutes of trying and trickery, I finally had to pick you up and carry you upstairs while you kicked, screamed and tried to dive out of my arms. When I set you down you immediately flopped onto the floor for an epic tantrum the likes of which we haven't seen in months. You banged your head against the carpet, kicked your feet and screamed as loudly as you could.

I began to think that something was wrong or that you were in pain - but then I tried an experiment. I said, "bye-bye" and closed the door.  You immediately stopped crying, got up and pushed it open. As soon as you saw me you dove back onto the carpet and began wailing again. It was a very impressive show.

Eventually you calmed down and let me bathe you, as long as I performed a trick with your squirty doggie bath toy throughout the entire duration. You didn't even want to brush your teeth. As I mentioned in the last post, after bath time you sit quietly in front of the mirror to get your hair brushed and dried. Yesterday, you ran around naked and screaming until I wrestled you into your jammies. 

What happened, Quinn?  Did Mommy jinx your good behavior?

It's ok, baby. We all have our days. We calmed down enough to read some books, but it was getting very late. You freaked out again when we turned off the light and I was forced to walk you until, exhausted, you fell asleep on my shoulder. Quinn, it was the best. I never get to rock you to sleep anymore, so I treasured the opportunity - even though you had a crazy night, even though you are starting to get very heavy.  You're worth it every time. You don't have to be perfect - nobody is - but we will always, always love you no matter what. 

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!

Uh-oh, Where's Quinn?

There she is!

I love my magnets!

Da-da

Uncle Robbie magnet

Picking out a bedtime book

ABCs with Daddy

Milk break!

Bedhead with waffles