Quinn's New Tricks

Quinn is doing really well at sitting up on his own now. To encourage this, we bought a bunch of used toys that he can only interact with really well if he's sitting. He's also rolling better, but still not shifting his weight super well. We're doing exercises now to get him to get himself into the sitting position from side laying and more weight shifting. Who knew all the things we had to learn as babies! 

Lauren enjoys playing with brother's toys. He's so good natured, she doesn't care that she grabs the toys from him. At Shaunie's great advice, we are now practicing "substituting," which means she can't take a toy from brother without first getting him one of equal or greater enjoyment. It's worked really well and I was grateful for the advice. It's fun to see them interacting a little more. They both enjoy "talking" with each other where he makes a noise and she imitates it, then he makes another noise, etc.

I can't believe he's almost a year old and Lauren will be 3 this month!

 

Lauren, the Builder

Driving on north I-15 passing the rock quarry. All is quiet and mom thinks Lauren is asleep.

Lauren (excitedly, loud): Whoa!

Mom (startled, thinking something is wrong): What is it honey?

Lauren (enthusiastically): That's a lot of dirt!

She then proceeds to talk about Bob, the Builder and his machines and how they scoop up dirt (loves her new DVD from Christmas). She has also decided the tool bench in the nursery is her favorite toy and goes around asking, "Can we fix it"? "Yes, we can"! It may have all started when Jay allowed Chloe and her to take a hammer to the wall he knocked down at Christmas in Chicago. Daddy said he had to resist buying her a pink tool belt at Home Depot. She's daddy's girl!

We think a good marriage of mom and dad's strengths and interests would be to host a home improvement show one day.

Too Funny Not to Post

While Lauren and I were eating cereal together this morning, she asked me if this was the milk's bunda (what we call the behind). So observant.

Lauren's First Snowman

Lauren's been singing "Once There Was a Snowman" since she started in nursery, but has never actually made one. Jay took her out in the backyard on Friday to show her how it's done.

Quinn's Personal Trainer

Quinn continues to fill out, but has not been back on the charts for his weight again until his doctor appt last week. He's now 16.5 lbs, which puts him in the 1 percentile. At 10 months, he's just starting to do things he hadn't had energy to try or do before the surgery. We got him eating solids without gagging while in Chicago, so the first order of business last weekend when we got home was to make a bunch of baby food. For those of you who don't make it, it is sooo easy and a great cost savings. I made all of Lauren's and am so glad I did. It just takes a long and messy afternoon.

We went to his first physical therapy appointment and they put him "well below" an average 10-month-old in his physicality. They did a PT test and put him at about a 4-6 month old. We're going to be taking him in weekly for the next few months to get him rolling to get things, sitting on his own and maybe even crawling. They estimate about 4 months, but we expect him to be advanced of course. There's nothing wrong with his kicking, which he continues to with full force everytime he's on the floor. He's such a good baby and didn't cry at all as the PT moved him around and put him in uncomfortable positions. We love this little guy!

 His beefier self. Nathan pointed out that his scars look like an exclamation point.

 I did 13 different combinations and put them into freezer bags that can lay flat for fast defrost and space.

Our cute boy.

Christmas 2010

We ventured off to the tropical Chicago again this year for Christmas. Actually it was pretty mild temperatures this year and warmer than Utah. We were hosted by the Gollaher and were catered to for three weeks. Jay built a super bedroom for the boys taking existing space from the master, added lights to all the rooms upstairs and (with my help) did a rod iron staircase in the entry. We loved our time there and look forward to doing the master bath next year!

Lights at Temple Square with Shaunie and Nuie before we left. Lauren loved it. More photos on Nuie's blog.

 We went to Airtastic, a big, indoor blow-up jungle gym. Lauren of course loved the slides.

Just turn your head sideways. Ann-Marie thinks she's funny with this photo. She staged it and took several until she got the angle just right. The can was empty of course. 

Of course with all those kids, there was some sickness. The kids were sick independently at least with only about two at a time having it. Lauren got it about New Years and was the sickest we've ever seen her besides maybe when she had RSV the week we brought Quinn home at birth. She had a fever for two days and was "busy" (i.e. dizzy). We stayed on the couch watching shows and Chloe would join her. Mom was part of the fun with a dizzy bought of her own the second day.  

The kids went to the children's museum again and had tons of fun. Heather had pothole emergencies with work and had to work, so daddy took Lauren this year.

 

Chloe loved Quinn. I don't think I stressed that enough. She kissed, hugged, grabbed, mauled him every chance she got. We really had to watch him with her that the love didn't get too smothery. We loved seeing how much his cousin loved him. The boys also were so cute with him and would just hang out and hold him on the couch. They loved having a baby in the house.

Christmas Eve in her new Minnie jammies and Elmo slippers. Lauren on Christmas morning was not really interested in opening presents. She woke up after all the other kids, so all the presents had been cleared out except for hers. It killed Ian and Chloe that she didn't really care to open anything. She said she would do it later. The funniest moment was when she opened a box we had wrapped with a hat and gloves in it and she was so excited she unwrapped a box! She did know about Santa this year because of the Dora and Team Umizoomi Christmas specials, but I don't think she really got it, which was fine.

Hope you all had a Merry Christmas!

Thanksgiving 2010

We headed south to Vegas at Pick's house for yummy food and fun company. Pick brined the turkey, which ended up even topping Becca's turkey last year that was my favorite ever. It was fun for Lauren to play with the cousins. Some fairy wings and goggles from the playroom were on her the whole time expect for at bed. She loved their shopping cart and playroom. We went to a big outdoors store that was like Cabelas and saw a big tank with fishes and a diver that talked to the crowd. Quinn had a good time with Dahlin, but didn't make it in any of the photos.

I had the experience of joining Pick and her friends on their annual Black Friday escapade. They "divide and conquer" with a Thursday night planning meeting, making assignments and standing in line to enter stores at 3 a.m. We were on the TV news with our matching t-shirts. We did get some good deals and I was able to help save the group some money by grabbing some of their coveted items before they were gone in the madness. Thanks again Keslers!