Quinn is almost One!

On May 22, Quinn took her first steps. I missed them but Daddy got to see them. Now she walks everywhere. She can climb on to the couch and the little chairs (for the kids table). She is happy all the time, unless she is getting a diaper or clothing change! She loves Maya, and tries to do everything that Maya does. I don't think that Quinn knows she is about to turn one, I am fairly sure that she thinks she is 3. When she was 6 months she got her first 2 teeth while we were on the family trip. June 14th, I noticed that she got her 3rd tooth. In the last couple of weeks she has had 3 more pop through for a total of 6 teeth. Quinn is able to eat everything, she has been on table food for a few weeks now. If we are eating it then she wants to try it. From steak to pizza. The other night she ate chicken and lentils. Her favorite foods are fruits, especially blueberries, and mac-n-cheese. The other day Quinn used the 'more' sign to get some more food for the first time. Every night when I am taking Quinn to bed I tell her "say night night to.... Maya or Daddy." Couple of days ago on her way to bed after I prompted her Quinn said "ni-ni." Quinn likes to play games with us, she will tease us with a piece of food and then stick it in her mouth and start laughing. She will also tease us with toys. She is such a wonderful part of our life.

Busy summer...

We are having a busy and fun summer. Quinn has 6 teeth and is fully walking and starting to climb! Maya got a big bike, mastered water slides, loves amusment park rides and quickly learning all her letter sounds. I will update more throughly soon and post some pics :)

35 things about me...

My 35th birthday was this week.

Thought I might post a little about me.


1. I love to sleep but I am not sleeping much right now and my life seems to revolve around getting more sleep.
2. I love to cook.
3. I am planning a big garden this spring/summer, I want to plant lots of flowers, grasses and vegetables.
4. I think being a Mom is the best thing I have ever done.
5. I have traveled to Italy. (Venice, Florence, Sorrento, Rome and Sienna)
6. I love Spanish Red wines.
7. I want to learn to knit this year, so yesterday I spent a silly amount of money on yarn and found a place to take some knitting classes.
8. I have a bachelors degree in Social Work
9. When the girls are a little older I want to get a teaching degree.
10. I need to color my hair.
11. I love to travel and it makes me nervous at the same time.
12. I have had 3 speeding tickets in my life.
13. I have had one cavity in my life.
14. I love Indian food.
15. I love Thai food.
16. Someday I hope to travel to Thailand.
17. For my birthday dinner I had mac n cheese with Maya.
18. I am seriously considering home schooling the girls.
19. I love NCIS.
20. I have a butterfly tattoo.
21. I voted for Obama and support most liberal ideals.
22. I think I cook the best steaks around, ask me for my technique.
23. I love to read but have very little time to right now.
24. I drink English tea with milk and sugar in the mornings.
25. I use to be a news junkie, not so much right now.
26. Adjusting to a second baby has been very hard for me. I often feel torn and guilty.
27. I love the color green.
28. I want to travel to Cape Town, South Africa.
29. I am terrible at housekeeping but I keep working at it.
30. I crave order and neatness but see #29.
31. When Maya was born I thought 'I must have at least 3 kids.' Now I KNOW 2 is enough.
32. I need to start exercising again.
33. I love to rub my check on each girl's head, that is feeling in the world.
34. I am solar powered and need the sun.
35. I am forever grateful for my kids and their good health, my husband, my family and friends. I am so blessed and lucky!!

Flowers for Mommy.

Our first night in Ft. Myers Beach, T took Maya to the grocery store for a few staples for the week. While at the store Maya spotted some flowers and talked T into getting 'Flowers for Mommy!' He said okay and they finished the shopping. At the check out Maya found a balloon that she wanted. T told her to pick one, the flowers or the balloon. Maya thought about it for 20 seconds according to T, then said 'Flowers for Mommy.' So of course they got both flowers and the balloon. I must be the luckiest Mommy to have such a wonderful little girl :)

Now offically called 'The Family Trip'

We are back from vacation or rather the family trip. We all had a great time. 12 days in Florida, out of the winter weather here in Kansas City. It is now called the family trip because traveling with 2 little ones is a lot of hard work, and not a vacation for the Mommy. It was a vacation from cleaning and cooking mostly. I had to keep everything picked up and organized and I did several loads of laundry but no real cleaning and cooking!! I needed the break desperately, I was getting some serious winter blues. My lack of sleep due to the baby does not help anything but warm sun shine made it easier. We went to the Daytona area to visit in-laws, then to Fort Myers Beach for sun, swimming and beach, then Orlando for Sea World and finally Tampa Bay for Thiele's work. Moving around that much with kids is too much and next trip I will cut out some stops. Part of all of the moving around was because T had to work most of the trip. I will post some pics and more details of our trip soon.

We had lots of firsts for both girls. Quinn got her first tooth, saw the ocean and gulf and touch and tasted sand for the first time, she learned to sit up and pulled herself to a sitting position, she also tasted peas and carrots for the first time and loves both. Quinn also learned how to move around, she has been turning over for a while now but on the trip she learned how to roll over to move around. Now when she is on her tummy she will work to get to a toy and turn 180 degrees.

Maya saw the gulf coast, danced at a Tiki Bar, rode a roller coaster at Sea World and went to Disney Downtown.

I feel renewed after this trip, I really needed to get away.... now if I could just get Quinn sleeping better and take a cup or bottle I might get a little bit of my life back :) Have I mentioned that Quinn has not taken a bottle since she was 2 weeks old, oh I am tired. More on that later....

Quinn

Quinn is almost 6 months. She is now eating 2 solid meals a day and loves pears and sweet potatoes. Quinn talks and babbles almost all day. Loves her jumperoo. Maya is the one to make Quinn laugh the hardest. I need to find a picture of Quinn when she smiles because it takes up her whole face. Pure joy.

Holiday notes

Christmas was so much fun. Maya had a blast opening all her gifts. We put out reindeer food, made of oats, sugar and glitter...luckily that helped Santa find our house ;) Partially due to the weather we were home for several days in a row and it was wonderful, just the 4 of us...lots of time for relaxing, playing and holiday eating!! We made sugar cookies and decorated them. I had planned to take pictures but the mess was so overwhelming that did not happen but it was fun and the cookies were yummy!!