Merry Christmas From Quin

Quin woke up a very happy boy on Christmas morning. Could it be that he's like his mommy and is totally nuts about Christmas? Maybe it's just that he's happy every morning. I don't know. But he was especially happy on Christmas morning as we unwrapped him and his little Christmas PJ wrapped limbs immediately sprung to life and right into his mouth.

He got to help open lots of presents, and undoubtedly his favorite activity of the day was eating ribbon.

He got lots of great Christmas gifts from toys to oh-so-cute little outfits and hats. We wouldn't want his ears to get cold.

But the main event of the day was his discovery that those neat toes he discovered a couple of weeks ago will actually go into his mouth! Oh happy day! I mean honestly, what's more fun than putting your toes in your mouth?


13 new photos have been added to Quin's Picasa Candids-3 Months to Present Album.

Good News for Picasa

Okay, you may have checked out our Google Picasa photo album since we created it a couple of months ago. Due to the fact that some people can't see the pictures in the Kodak Gallery (some kind of technical issue), we decided to try out the Picasa service. Well, we like it a lot better. Up until now, we were maintaining both the Kodak and Picasa services because you couldn't order prints on Picasa and some people order prints of our photos. Well, the good news is that Picasa now offers prints and photo gifts. If you're interested in ordering prints, you can add photos to your order while you're looking at photos in Picasa. Then when you want to check out, you just view your order (there's a link on the page) and you can then go to the Shutterfly or Photoworks web sites where you can buy the prints. The services are integrated right in to Picasa. It's very cool.

On our Picasa web site you'll find things better categorized into smaller albums so that you don't get lost in the photos. Pictures are dated so you know when they were taken. We've even started putting non-Quintin related photos up there (gasp!)

So as of now, we're going to discontinue the use of the Kodak service. We'll leave the pictures alone for a bit, but if you want the latest, you'll have to check out Picasa. There is a link to Picasa on the right side of this blog that will always be there to guide you to the albums.

To check out our Picasa web albums, just click here.

Things I am Thankful For This Christmas

This year, we have a lot to be thankful for. Here are a few of those things:

1. Our sweet, beautiful, happy baby boy
2. A healthy son (This is something some parents may take for granted. We, however, feel very lucky to have Quin healthy after everything I went through during my pregnancy)
3. A baby who is good at sleeping
4. Getting breastfeeding down and having a son who will gladly take a bottle from anyone who will give it to him (including strangers on a plane)
5. The swing that puts Quin to sleep during the day. If this swing broke tomorrow, we would rush out to buy another because without it, he does not nap (I found this out first hand in LA)
6. A boy who is generally very happy and loves to play
7. The magical song (The Butterfly from the Celtic Woman CD) that quiets Quin no matter how mad he is
8. Having a family that loves Quin almost as much as we do

Wow, Toes!

Quin recently discovered that toes lurk at the bottom of his body. Ever since, he can't leave them alone. He is fascinated by the way they move and how they feel. He hasn't quite figured out that they can reach his mouth, but he does know that they are there.

42 new photos added to Quin's Snapshot Gallery.

Welcome to the Wild!

While Grandma was in town, we decided to visit the Austin Zoo. This was Quin's first trip to a zoo. The weather was perfect for an outing and the animals were happy to see us (or so I would like to think).
While there, Quin got his first taste of a snow cone! He was a little unsure at first, but he quickly decided that the cold, sweet, red stuff was worth eating. He did great eating from a spoon, especially considering this was his first attempt. It is amazing that he instinctively knew what to do when the spoon was brought towards his lips. We had a great time. I am sure this was the first of many trips to the Austin Zoo.

Quin Visits the Austin Trail of Lights

Quin got to visit the Austin Trail of Lights for the first time. So did we. We've been meaning to visit every year for the last six years, but we never seem to make it by the time it's gone a couple days before Christmas.

The Trail of Lights is 43 holiday displays that are put on by corporate sponsors. I don't know how many lights there are, but it must be in the millions. The trail is probably a mile or so in Zilker park right next to downtown Austin.

Quin got to see all his favorite characters from all his favorite bedtime books. Dr. Seuss, Where the Wild Things Are, they were all there.

It must take hundreds of people weeks to set the trail up. Just look at these trees, it must have taken forever just to set them up. Absolutely beautiful though.

Luckily, I brought the tripod so I could get some timed exposure pictures while we were there. Some of these pictures required that the shutter stay open for four seconds. This includes the pictures with us in them. I set up the camera to have the flash go off, which froze us in the picture, and then we just had to stay still for a few more seconds while the lights in the background exposed. It actually created a neat effect in many pictures, because while there were hundreds of people in the pictures, because they were moving, they simply disappeared from the picture and it looks like we were the only ones there. Cool! It was a fun and challenging photographic experience.

11 new photos added to Quin's Snapshot Gallery.

Grandma's Visit #2

Grandma Donna came out to visit Quin for the second time this week. The last time she saw Quin he was just three weeks old. As is expected, she was amazed at how much he's changed since then, turning into a laughing, standing (with help of course), happy little boy.


Unfortunately, Quin was a little grumpy for her visit. Overall though he was still a good little boy. We took him to the Austin Trail of Lights, which he absolutely loved because he goes nuts over Christmas lights! Pictures coming soon!


36 new photos added to Quin's Portrait Gallery.

Captain Quin: The First Three Months Available Now on DVD

Quin's first movie Captain Quin: The First Three Months is now available on DVD. The DVD includes a 45 minute feature film of Quin's first moments on this earth and three months of other cuteness. Also included on the DVD is a 15 minute slideshow of Quin's cutest moments.

If you'd like a copy of the DVD, let me know, I'll be happy to make you a copy and send it to you.

Below is a quick preview of Captain Quin: The First Three Months

Motor Mouth Video

Quin is turning into quite the little motor mouth. He wants to talk and make noises constantly. But why tell you about it, when I can just show you? Here's a quick video I threw together to show what this boy is like these days, and to give you a quick update on his most recent activities.

Babies On A Plane!

Quin got to spend his four month birthday traveling on a plane. He and Elizabeth went to Los Angeles for the week, so Elizabeth got to try out air travel with a baby without me. As you can see by the picture of Quin chilling out on the baggage carousel, he very much enjoyed his first flying experience. Yeah, it was a long day for the little guy.

I was just happy to see my two babies back safe and sound!