Potty Training

We have been dabbling in potty training with Quinn for months. I have no doubt in my mind that she could be potty trained, but she is busy and stubborn, and only interested in spurts.

We have some success lately with pooping in the potty, including at Grandma's house today! But, she prefers to pee in the corner or on furniture. Ha, ha! She'll get there. And it will be awesome.

Christmas Cheer

I am crazy excited about Christmas this year! We have so many fun activities planned and I think Quinn is going to love every minute of it! Christmas with a two year old is the best thing yet!

Sleep Talking

I don't talk in my sleep as much anymore.  I think it is because I lack the deep sleep cycles I was once accustomed to getting each and every night.  (Speaking of which, last night Quinn woke up around 4 am.  She is usually half asleep and crying.  Not last night, she had her light on, and was bouncing on her bed.  When I walked into her room, she clapped her hands and said, "yeah!" She didn't go back to sleep for at least an hour. It was cute, hilarious, and soul crushing all at the same time.)

Over the weekend, I fell asleep on the couch while watching Moneyball (It's a baseball movie with Brad Pitt.  His character is named Billy Bean.) with Dalan.  When I "woke up", Dalan and I had the following conversation, which I do not remember.

Me:  I am not doing well at coaching.
Dalan:  You are coaching?
Me:  I am not a coach.  I am a recruiter. 
Dalan: And you are not doing well?
Me:  I am Billy Bean, and I need to be better at recruiting. 
Dalan: Ok
Me:  I am going to bed now.  (in a very cheerful voice.)
Dalan:  Night. 

I Just Blue Myself

(The title is a fabulously funny reference to Arrested Development.)

Quinn was very well behaved at the grocery store. She requested a BLUE sucker at checkout. I obliged, as she did so well at the store.

By the time we got to the car, Quinn had blue herself.

It was the messiest sucker EVER! But she purred yum the whole way home, so I think it was worth it.

Christmas Tree

Quinn was so excited to put up our tree this year! She loves trees in general and having one in our living room with lights and decorations about sent her over the moon. She kisses the tree several times a day.

She also loved the Christmas bears, and books. And the "horns." Except the horns are decorative Christmas trees, but she insists they are horns.

She also loved decorating the tree and Grandma and Papa's house last night. She has quite the flair for decorating (and undecorating).

She got a card from Santa in the mail. She was so excited. She, however, insisted that she is in the naughty, not the nice list.

Weight Watchers Week 6 (and a half)

Ali and I struggled to find time to go weigh in this week, due to her work schedule and the holiday, so we really went a week and a half in between weigh ins, and we have not been able to squeeze in a meeting forever.  (Which is fine with me, but the WW ladies would argue that we are not really "working" the program.)

Weight Loss:  7.4 pounds (Trying to not be too excited, it seems like a lot, and maybe it is a mistake, but hell, I have tried hard, so I will take it for this week.) 
Total Weight Lost:  18 pounds. 

Successes:  Not over eating at Thanksgiving, but I still had a glass of wine, and dessert.  I think I am getting better at finding a balance. 
Goals:  Still to exercise.  I have a billion reasons/excuses why I don't, but I need to just start. 

Thanksgiving Comparisons

These comparisons include,

Quinn in her high chair the last three Thanksgiving. She clearly was not into this year.

Quinn and Dalan, 2010 vs 2012.

And Quinn and Dalan as she has doubled in weight (give or take). The first picture is around 2 pounds, then around 4.5, then almost 10, and finally over 20 pounds.

Thanksgiving Recap

We had a lovely Thanksgiving this year.

It included...

Watching the parade.
Dalan cooking the turkey.
Eating with my family at my Nana's.
Eating dessert with Dalan's family.
Black Friday shopping- online and in the store.
One adorable little toddler.
And some fun comparison photos.
It was a great day.

Giving Thanks

This year I decided to come up with one word to summarize my thankfulness. 

Perspective.  

I am thankful that most of the time I can keep things in perspective, and I try to gain a positive perspective on all the things life tries to throw at me. 

I am thankful for enough perspective to realize that most of my problems are first world problems.  I have too much to eat.  I have too many things to buy.  My house is too cluttered.  I don't know if we can afford another trip to Disneyland in the spring. 

I am thankful for the perspective that Quinn's NICU stay gave me.  A healthy child is not guaranteed, and should be valued. Modern medicine is amazing.  People are generous, and wonderful.  Nurses are incredible.  Things can go bad in a second, so enjoy the moment.  And even if things go bad, I can probably handle it, and come out a stronger person. 

I am thankful the perspective that my job at a Title I school has given me.  The kids in my class have experienced hunger, homelessness, rape, and death.  And I am not just talking about the refugee students, this includes my American born students.  Yet, these children are full of joy and silliness, even when they are have been through some really terrible things.  All children deserve an equal chance to learn, play, and be successful. 

I am thankful for people in my life that help me keep things in perspective when I need a little reminding.  I love that I have family and friends, who share their experiences with me, and let me share mine, and in turn help keep me sane and pretty level headed. 

I am thankful for the perspective that Quinn will only be this little for so long, and therefore, I really try to enjoy every second of every day with her.  Even when it involves temper tantrums, or a refusal to go to sleep at night.  I really love that crazy and wild 2 and half year old, and I feel so lucky to be her mom. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wordless Wednesday

In the Kitchen

Quinn has been getting more and more into imaginary play. She will feed and rock her babies. And she loves to play with her kitchen at home and at her grandma's.

Tonight, we made some (weight watchers approved) banana and Nutella bread. She loves to help mix all the ingredients together. After the bread was baking, she spent the next twenty minutes using the dirty bowls to, "mix, pour, dump." (And for making a mess.) It was a lot of fun!

Not a Quitter

I seriously don't have anything to blog about today, but I am not a quitter. So, let's see what random things I can piece together.

- I am getting a ton of great deals online, and may be done with my Christmas shopping before Black Friday.

- Quinn is a total 2 year old tomboy. Almost all her gifts are Disney themed and have come from the boys section. What can you do? It is better than princesses. :-).

- If you ask Quinn what she wants from Santa, she says an airplane. Every. Single. Time.

- Quinn and I will be going through our playroom and putting together a bag to leave for Santa, so he can pass the toys along to other kids.

- Quinn spotted one of the "car" grocery carts for the first time as we walked into Harmon's. I told it was broken. She believed me, even when the kid that walked in right behind us hopped in and "drove" away. Shopping is hard enough with her without pushing one of those suckers around.

- I work a half day tomorrow and then get a five day weekend. It will be glorious.

- Quinn's sleeping has reached an all time low point. I wish I could replicate whatever was working so smoothly over the summer. I seriously thought I was going to lose my mind the other night. Silly night owl.

- We babysat Scout this morning before she went to doggy daycare. She is so cute. Piper was less than thrilled, and the reason Scout has to go to daycare rather than hang out at our place.

And now some cute pictures.

Side by Side

There is a group of photos comparing two year old Quinn to me, Dalan, and Ali all at two years old. Quinn has Dalan's skin tone for sure.

There is a side by side photo of Quinn and Alice wearing their beautiful homemade sweater dresses that Grandma bought for them at the preemie auction.

There is a comparison photo of Quinn in November, 2010 sitting against my legs and Quinn in November, 2012 sitting on her kitchen. The kitchen is basically in the same place as I was once sitting.

And of course, the stupid blogger app puts photos in a random order and there is no way to fix it without getting on the computer. So the photos below (may or) may not be in the order of the descriptions.

Thanksgiving Survey (2 years old)

I asked Quinn what she was thankful for this year. Of course, the concept of gratitude is a little abstract for a two year old. So, I told her it was when you are happy about things that are good.

She told me she was thankful for...

Toast
Piper
Sauce, ketchup.

Ha, ha, ha! Love it!

Cute Pictures of the Kid