Celebrating Quinlin's birthday

Over a month later, but I didn't want to forget what we did to celebrate Quinlin turning 4. I wanted to start a fun tradition for her and I, so we planned a mommy/daughter morning, and truthfully, hope it's something we can keep doing every year.

We started with the "picture on the stairs"

Then it was off to dance class

and then to the salon... this was the tradition- a morning of pampering.

finished, pretty hair!

then it was time for Quinlin's first manicure

then it was my turn

She got her toes done too. she was too small to sit with her feet in the hot water, so we opted just to do it in the manicure room. 

Our finished hands

Her finished toes! she chose sparkly blue! they had to fold and cut her pedicure slippers. I wasn't thinking when I dressed her in her fuzzy brown boots that day.

After the salon, we came home, had lunch, and finally got to open presents!

She was so excited for her new booster seats, her scooter and her new birthday dress! 

Party time!

can I mention how much I love my new crock pots? They're the connecting ones where you can use one or more on one electrical plug. Love them!

Frozen cake! (we have a slight obsession with the movie)

My mom's annual birthday card! the sled is the number 4!

Cousin love!

More presents!

It really was a fantastic day. My baby is 4. sniff sniff. 

Tiny Dancer

Quinlin started dance class in January. I had to wait until she turned 3, so we got her into the class mid-season. When she started, she was very hesitant, shy, unsure of herself. About a month and a half into it, she loves it. It's Saturday mornings, and it's hard to get out the door sometimes, but once we're there, she's good.

I found the secret to our success is getting there 10 minutes before class starts. This gives her time to go in, find the square she wants to start on right away, and time to warm up a bit (when we first started, she took the first 10 minutes just sitting there watching, now she actually participates).

Sean went with me to the first class. The kids go in the dance room alone and the parents sit outside and watch through a window. Sean found some of the other women to be too chatty and catty so doesn't like to go and watch. Me? I love it. I don't know if it's because she's my little girl, or because she's my last, but I like to go and watch and take everything in. I either sit in the back with the other mom's or sometimes stand on the other side of the room and watch through another window (I can actually hear better when I do it that way). I don't want to miss a thing.

She really has gotten the hang of it and even does some of her moves at home when we're playing. They have the cutest sayings that make the kids remember and cute little songs that make them interested (so I don't forget, the legs in the air is popcorn, shaking the head is- I like dance class- shake your head yes- I don't like stinky shoes- shake your head no, point together clap, step and point- too cold, step and point- too hot, Good morning, good morning, good morning all over the world!)

The big recital is in May and the whole dance school is doing dances to a theme of books. Quinlin's class is an ode to the Chicken Soup for the Soul books. All I know is I just spent $45 on a yellow feather costume for her to be a chicken (and they jump out of a soup bowl in the beginning).

Here's hoping by the time that recital rolls around that she'll be a happy little chicken. I have visions of the class dancing and her being a chicken in a little ball on the side of the stage not doing anything.

Quinlin- 3 year well visit

Quinlin had her 3 year well visit last night. Can I first add how much I love our pediatrician??? Like really love her. She is so kind, sweet, good with the kids, personable, etc. She walked into the room and mentioned that she loved our Christmas card we sent her, asked how Sean's ice fishing was going, talked to Owen and asked if she could still fix anything (and gave the example of the basketball hoop). I love how much she knows our family- that we don't feel like just a number in the wide clinic system.

First the important stats:
Height-3 feet, 2 inches or 38 inches (65%)
Weight 35 lbs (84%)

She is on a nice curve of slimming down a bit which was nice to see. I can definitely tell she's getting taller and thinning out. She's only 2 or 3 pounds lighter than Owen- haha. Owen at her age was 32 1/2 lbs and 37 1/2 inches. So she's a tad taller and weighs more than he did.

She did so well at the appointment. She got her blood pressure checked for the first time:

Her doctor checked her out and thought everything about her was fantastic (of course). And then we all chuckled when she asked if I had any concerns and I didn't because the 3rd child is always the breeze. You finally feel like you know what you are doing!

She looked like such a big girl in her little gown. She was so funny during the appointment too- kept telling Owen it wasn't his appointment and that he needed to not be on the exam table. After the doctor was finished, we went down the hall for her vision screening. She had to stand on a line and look across to a chart, cover one eye and tell the nurse what she saw. I was a little nervous that maybe she wouldn't be able to answer, but then I remembered what a smart girl she was. She knew everything- every star, moon, circle (though she said the letter O for circle), flag, mug, etc. And then I thought, why did I doubt her? She's a superstar.

Happy birthday Quinlin!

3 years ago today, my precious little girl was born and I suddenly understood what everyone said about the amazing experience of having a daughter. Happy birthday, Quinlin! My beautiful, smart, funny, feisty, fabulous little girl.

Leading up to three has been amazing. We had some rough go's in the terrible two's, and I know she's well on her way to becoming a threenager, but she really has grown into this amazing little girl. No more toddles, but a full blown little girl with her own, large personality. 

(example- image below- you want a picture? Ha- not posing)

And she is beautiful- so incredibly full of inner beauty.

Though have you seen this amazing hair?

She is so incredibly sweet, hilarious and so caring. She is very maternal, and very protective. She really has come into her own. She's opinionated and independent. 

• She's been potty trained for about 2 months now, and has done fabulous. She really picked it up like it was nothing and there was no turning back, and also no need to. A few accidents here and there at night time, but nothing to speak of. Thank you to Miss Essie at school for getting this girl trained!!!
• Not much has changed between 2 and 3 growth wise. She is in 3T clothes and size 8 shoes. I know she will be getting into size 4's pretty soon (at least for shirts). 
• I am not sure how tall she is as her physical is in a few weeks, but I'm guessing she 's about 34 or 35 pounds. She is getting pretty tall and losing her little chubbiness. 
• Her hair is darkening up a bit- and is soooo long (it gos down to her shoulder blades- would you have guessed?)
• Friends are starting to be very important to her. She loves her friends at school- Claudia, Olivia, Joseph (who in fact gave her a Tinkerbell doll for her birthday this morning), Matthew, Nora, Morgan and she of course, loves Troy. 
• She loves her dollies, her animals, her teeny tiny blankets (aka baby washcloths that she uses for her dolls), Eeyore. 

And as tradition, I did the birthday quiz with her asking the same questions I plan to ask each year. I've been asking Owen the past two years, so time to start with Quinlin. Here are her responses at age 3:

The Quiz

1. What's your name? Quinlin Olivia (our last name here)
2. How old are you? 3 (proudly holding 3 fingers)
3. Where do you live? at home
4. what is your favorite color? purple
5. what do you want to be when you grow up? a robot and a mommy
6. who is your favorite person? Mama
7. who's your best friend? Owen and Daddy
8. what is your favorite tv show? Dora
9. what is your favorite food? Steaky! (aka steak. this girl is definitely my daughter)
10. what is your favorite drink? milk
11. what do you like to do for fun? play 
12. what do you like to play outside? well... we didn't quite answer that one. She has enjoyed sledding a lot this year, but she didn't really come up with an answer on her own.
13. what is your favorite song? How I wonder (which I believe is Twinkle Twinkle)
14. what is your favorite movie? Tangled
15. what is your favorite book? Pete the Cat

Happy birthday little girl! Celebratory and party post to follow!

Preschool

Since I posted Hunter on his first day of 10th grade, I shouldn't overlook the little ones for their preschool. This was a few days into the new school year (oops).

Owen Preschool 4's and Quinlin Emerging 3's



Quinlin- age 2 1/2

July 11, 2012

My darling baby girl turned 2 1/2. I know it's written all the time, but so hard to believe she's already 2 1/2. 3 is literally just around the corner. The past 6 months have been such a whirlwind as she's really coming into her own and such a beautiful little girl both on the inside and the outside.

First I wanted to do my annual picture session of my little beauty, but it required bribing her with marshmallows.

Her prized possessions had to pose with her- Eeyore and blankey

• I don't have exact stats since we haven't been to the doctor's office for a while (knock on wood), but from our home scale she's about 32 pounds and is about 35 inches tall. Though I'm sure on some crazy hair days, she stands much taller than that.
• The summer has lightened her hair to a nice shade of dark blond. She experienced her first haircut at 27 months and it continues to grow, though when really hot, it shrinks up into spiral ringlets. I always imagined my daughter to have thick straight hair, but crazy and curly it is and I love it. Some days she lets me style it, other days it runs wild.
• She has a beautiful suntan from being outside all the time. She loves to play on Owen's big wheel or ride her little scooter down the sidewalk. This has been a great summer for her as she really has come into her own for making friends. Our friends about 4 doors down have two little girls (twins, age 4) and Quinlin just adores them. She also loves our neighbors Adam and Lauren and instantly she and Owen rush to see if any one's garage doors are open which signals playtime.
• At 2 1/2, she is a mix between tomboy and girly girl. Some days loves to be pampered- painting nails, getting her hair straightened, wearing dresses...and other days only wants to wear Owen's boy clothes or Owen's underwear (don't worry, it's clean).
• She is in size 3T for almost everything, size 5 diapers and I think size 7 shoes.
• She says anything and everything. We can have full conversations now and it's absolutely adorable.
• She knows her colors, shapes and can count to 13.
• Favorite show- Dora the Explorer. It's been so great to be outside all the time as she gets one 30 minute episode before bedtime so really hasn't had a chance to see that there are other shows out there. She will sit and watch Power Rangers with Owen sometimes, but doesn't seem overly interested.
• She is a nurturer and a mommy type. Loves to help Owen. If he gets stuck on his bike, she is right there with him pushing him along or getting him that jump start. If he's crying, she rushes to his side to see if he's ok. "you ok owen, you ok". very reassuring with a nice pat on the back and a hug quickly to follow.
• Owen is her world with Sean and Hunter as a close tied for second.
• Potty training stalled a bit as the daycare won't begin working with her until the end of August when she switches classrooms (not enough staff to bring her to the bathroom, whereas the next classroom has a little toilet in a portion of the room). She gets it and goes at home probably 2-3 times a day. I am hoping that she will be easy to train once we begin working with her more.

On July 11, to celebrate her half birthday, we did our annual picture session.

And I love this face...

And she had ravioli for dinner (we had steak, more on that tomorrow)

and our annual happy half birthday cupcakes

After dinner, we went to the pool in our development

She loves to swim. More braver than Owen when it comes to the water for sure.

She loves to jump into daddy's arms

 It really was a great day.