More silliness

Quinn is at such a fun age. (20.5 months/17 months). She is silly, fun, and carefree. She learns a new word a day, it seems. She is always copying and trying new things. She loves to explore and be adventurous. It can be exhausting, but I am loving this age, even though it includes some temper tantrums!

Waves and curls

People often ask me where Quinn's curls come from, and the answer is, "me." However, I think all the years of blow drying and straightening/pulling back my hair have confused people. But yes, I have naturally wavy hair. I had little curls and ringlets when I was little too. The longer it gets, the more the curls turn into waves.

I let my hair just dry naturally today. You can see the waves. I don't often let it just dry, because it can be hard to control. Sometimes it gets frizzy, and sometimes it looks like it needs to be brushed all day long, and sometimes it turns out ok.

I compared it to a picture of Quinn's Day 2 or 3 hair. We get the most curls out of Quinn when her hair has just been washed, and waves as it time goes on.

Peaceful

She is a Nut

Here is some photographic evidence of Quinn's nuttiness. The photos always upload in a strange order from my phone, but here is the what they are about in no particular order.

Drinking "coca coca." She calls all drinks in cans coca coca as in coca cola. She has never actually had a soft drink, but she loves to pretend.

She also has taken to solid food. She loves veggies, beans, meats, and sweets. She may have gotten a little frosting on her face while sharing a cupcake with Dalan.

Quinn does not like dogs, babies, or stuffed animals in clothes right now. It makes her angry.

She does like to play games and hide.

She also likes to suck her toe, and call it her guy-guy. Even in the dark. When she is suppose to be sleeping. Thanks Ali for teaching her that one.

Cutest Picture

Here is Quinn in her owl towel from Christmas. She is too cute. She knows what the owl and about ten other animals say/do now.

Hair

The day we wash Quinn's hair, we get curls. The day after, we get a wavy mullet. I see a hair cut in Quinn's future.

Sleeping

My sleep training over Winter Break was a bust in the long term. Quinn is now sleeping in our bed from about one a.m. until I get her up in the morning. This is a problem, only because she has increasingly become a bed hog, and super restless. I like having her in bed with us to a certain extent. She is warm, cuddly,and she will only be this small and young for this period of time. However, some nights I just need my sleep without a wild, little kinkajou in my bed.

Here are some ideas I have been brainstorming.

1. Do some more sleep training, and possibly include some crying it out. No guarantees I can stick to my guns on this one. I don't think anyone likes to hear their baby cry, but throw in a mama who couldn't even hold their baby for the first month of their lives, and it becomes even harder.

2. Move her crib into our room, and make her sleep in it. Then she'll be close, but not too close. But will hopefully, be close enough to sleep in her crib.

3. Super baby proof her room and put a double mattress on the floor, and get rid of the crib. She always sleeps better in our bed than the crib and then we can lay with her in her bed, but sneak away without the transition from rocker to crib. And if she gets up and parties in the dark, well that is what she'll do. We'll make it super safe.

4. Stop worrying about. Face the fact that she will be coming to our bed for the time being. Embrace the cuddles and the squirms, and remain semi- tired.

Thoughts?

The Great Couch Clean-up

Our couches have taken a beating over the last year. Feeding any newborn baby can be messy, but throw in a feeding tube and a baby with severe reflux and equals MESSY, MESSIER, and MESSIEST!

Ali found a simple cleaning solution of rubbing alcohol, sponges, and a soft bristle brush on Pinterest for cleaning microfiber couches, and yesterday we gave it a whirl.

It took about an hour to do both couches, and left the house stinking of rubbing alcohol. We had to escape to my mom's for the evening and let the house air out.

The verdict- couches are cleaner, but still stained. The cleaning solution was just that a cleaner, not a stain remover. The couches look nice and clean, but still stained. What can you do? We have a kid and a dog. We live in our living room and life is messy.

Thanks Ali and Dalan for all your hard work!

Crazy Q

Quinn is silly. Quinn is crazy. Quinn loves getting a laugh, a cheer, and some claps from her audience.

This includes doing yoga, backflips, putting things on her head or wearing silly clothes. (and a Broncos cheerleader outfit is silly.).

20 Months

Dear Quinn,

It has been 20 months since your dramatic entrance into the world! TWENTY! You are going to be two before we know it.

You are growing and learning everyday.

I think you might be going through a growth spurt right now as you can't get enough food. And that is unbelievable in itself.

You have gotten really tall, but are still really lean. Dressing you has become an adventure.

You know over fifty words, and you are starting to put phrases together. For example, you say, "my mama" and "my dada," as well as "big girl" and "brush teeth."

You are becoming more generous with the hugs and kisses, and will usually give anyone a lick. You also like to give high fives and knucks.

You still love books, babies, and toys.

You love Sesame Street, and can point to all the characters, and can say a lot of the names.

You think all letters are "Q".

You love to look at pictures and watch videos.

You have 12 teeth, and chipped one this past month. You love to brush your teeth.

You like to spin and fall down. You like to dance and run. You like to throw things and look for them under the couch.

You love Piper and all other animals.

Your favorite food is still yogurt, but recently you have finally taken a real interest in table food.

You love to play in her crib, fake sleep and make others go to "sleep" too.

You have the best laugh, and love to get really silly right before bed time every night.

You are not the best sleeper and end up in our bed most nights.

You are a little pick pocket, and love to go through purses and wallets.

You love other kids, and always wave hi when you see them.

You can be stubborn and now tantrum when you don't get your way.

You are simply fabulous! We love you so very much and you make us so happy. You are the best!

Love,

Mama and Dada.

Happy Birthday!

Dear Piper,

Today is the seventh anniversary of the day I adopted you, or as we call it your birthday. That makes you around nine or ten years old.

Seven years ago, your grandma Patti and I drove out to Tooele to go see the small female dogs they had out there. You were a sweet and cute dog, but shedding everywhere. The shelter worker assured us that it was just nerves. FALSE! You are the worse shedder in the history of dogs! I don't remember what it is like to not have dog hair all over me and the floor.

You have been a challenging dog in some ways. You are stubborn and spiteful. You have epilepsy, and require daily medication. You like to kill things and eat things you aren't suppose to eat.

However, you are a sweet dog. You love nothing more than to be rubbed and loved. You love to cuddle and lick. You are patient with Quinn, and let her give you knucks, and big bear hugs. You love to share food with Quinn, and yes, unfortunately it goes both ways. You eat Quinn's food and Quinn eats your food. You love to go on walks, and chase birds. You love toys with squeakers. You are protective, smart, and loving.

Happy Birthday Dear Piper! Thanks for getting me ready to be a mom to a human baby!

Loves!!!!