Beautiful Days

We took advantage of the BEAUTIFUL 65 degree weather in January to enjoy some much needed park time and fresh air. Quinn took to the swing in his very first solo flight! He absolutely loved it!

Keira's two favorite books lately have been my cookbooks and the phone book. Maybe it's a hint to me that I either need to cook more or we need to order more take-out!

Q-Man is right on the edge of crawling! He will get up on all fours and rock back and forth- SO CLOSE!! But I have a feeling that once he starts really moving- he will NEVER stop! He has always been such an active guy!

Is this the first look of "two-year-old tude" or what?? Signs of things to come??

Hello Toddler!!

I had put Keira down for her nap today and then heard her in her room laughing and talking 20 minutes later… knowing that nap time WAS NOT over, I peeked in the door to see her COMPLETELY naked- diaper off also, attempting to crawl out of her crib!! Taking off her clothes is her new thing. Luckily she has not stripped down in public yet! I couldn’t help but laugh! What a sight! Her other funny of the week was during the inauguration. We were all “watching” it- or at least mommy was trying to watch/entertain kids/attempt to hear it. After the invocation and the “AMEN” Keira shouts “AMEN AMEN AMEN” - her new word and so appropriate! Even Keira is rejoicing for the new President! Ahhh… the toddler years are here! Funny, unpredictable, and definitely entertaining to say the least!

Show off those chompers!

Always a ham for the camera, Q-Man shares a big teethy smile!

Playing Dress-up!

One of Keira's favorite things to do is to play dress-up. She loves to put on daddy's shirts and shoes, any kind of hat, play jewelry, boots, mommy's purses, just about anything will do! She decided it was time for Abbey dog and Quinn to join in the fun... I'm not sure they were quite as excited...

Happy New Year!

It is amazing to see Quinn and Keira change so much each month! Quinn is rolling all over the place and is into everything. Keira doesn’t appreciate him chewing and drooling all over “her” stuff and she will say “no no” to Quinn and take her toy back while shoving one of his toys in his face. Sort of like sharing?? At least trading! It’s progress!

Keira’s latest is taking off her clothes all the time and walking around the house shirtless and/or pantsless- so far she hasn’t stripped down in public! She has an opinion about EVERYTHING and wants to wear one of two shirts EVERY day- either her Obama shirt which she pronounces “OH MAMA” or her Elmo shirt. And it MUST be her “meow meow” cat pajamas every night! These are just a very few examples of the “Keira-isms” that are part of her growing world! She also repeats everything we say and imitates my every move so I really have to keep myself in check these days! Talk about a huge lesson in self reflection when you see all of your traits- good and bad- copied, repeated, and imitated!

Since we were SOOOO good this year....

SANTA CAME EARLY!!!

Daddy, err.. I mean, Santa ate all the cookies, but left us these fabulous gingerbread lattes!!! So good!


Keira was SHOCKED to find that there was stuff in her stocking this morning! For the past few weeks she has been pointing at the stockings and making a game out of telling me which one belongs to Daddy, Mommy, Abbey, Bubba, and her!

Quinn enjoyed his baby M&M's container- a rattle, a chew toy, but the yummy chocolate is for big sister! Just wait until next year...

Thanks for the cool 50's diner Santa!! You really know what I like! Mommy is SO excited that it will provide hours of entertainment for me and someday Quinn!

Keep that coffee coming!

HO HO HUG???

This is why our kids are pictured separately in the Christmas card this year…

We had the same problem when we tried with the professional photographer. I thought I could surely get ONE useable picture with both kids smiling and not hitting each other, crying, screaming… not so much! As an only child, I have this fantasy image of the kids being best friends and always loving and sticking up for each other- I guess it’s because I always wished I had a brother or sister. That’s when Les calmly bursts my bubble and says “you know, they may not always get along or even like each other.” WHAT??? Oh yes they will- even if I have to make them!

So then I walk in the next day and catch them playing, sharing, smiling….
Where was this love yesterday kids???

Quinn fell asleep on the way home so I moved him into his bouncer where he slept in his coat and hat just like this for two hours!!