Quin the One Tooth Monster

Not too long ago, we told you about Quin's first tooth making it's official appearance. Well, in a rare departure from our normal ways, we failed to provide the photographic evidence to back up our claims. I mean who would have thought we would make a claim lacking picture proof?

So to make it up to you, here's the proof: Quin's teenie tiny itsy bitsy little itty bitty tooth. It may be small, but it's serrated and sharp as hell.

I feel sorry to anyone who puts any body part in that mouth. His bite is definitely worse than his bark. He's drawn blood on more than one occasion.

Teeth numbers two and three are on their way fast. We expect number two to make it's appearance any day now, with number three likely days behind that one.

Flap Flap Flap

Well, Quin's finally done it. He's now officially mobile.

For the last two months Quin has been desperately trying to figure out how to crawl. But the best he could do was to get on all fours and rock back and forth, grunting the whole way. A couple weeks ago he got a little closer by figuring out how to move his knees. But then he would just do a face plant once his knees and hands got too close together.

Yesterday he finally got all the right parts moving. While playing on our bed he just went for it and crawled right across to the other side, much to our delight as we watched. Then we put him on the floor and he started crawling in circles. Since he first did it, he hasn't forgotten the fact that he can for one second. He's been all over the place ever since.

We captured some of his first moments crawling on video and now it's available below.

Of course since this was one of his early attempts, he's improved dramatically just in the last 24 hours. He's no speed demon yet, but give him a week....

Other accomplishments in the last week include: clapping, waving hello and goodbye, and getting from a crawling position to a sitting position.

Four Years

Four years ago today I got to marry the most wonderful woman I could ever find. This has been the best four years of my life, and I wouldn't change a thing. I really am the luckiest guy around.


And of course we can't forget about the best gift I could have ever asked for. Nearly ten months ago she gave me my sweet boy. That makes this one of the best anniversaries, because it's the first with Quin. This last year has definitely been the best of the four because it's been as a family.


So, to my wonderful wife: Happy Anniversary

One Toothed Monster

Well, the long awaited first tooth has finally made it's arrival. After several months of teething, Quin's lower right front tooth popped out last week. If memory serves me, it was the same day I lost two of mine. I was to go in and get my wisdom teeth out, and what do you know, Quin was replacing them with his own. The circle of lif...er...teeth I suppose.

Here we are in one of our first pictures together as father and son, me minus two teeth, and Quin plus one tooth.

And then Quin and his wonderful mommy. No dental escapades for her this week. She'll have to wait until she's old to lose some teeth I suppose.

Another of Quin's recent accomplishments is a new found ability to half crawl. He's quite mobile these days, just not crawling in the normal sense. One thing he has figured out is how to move his legs when on all fours. He's yet to figure out the hands, so after a few shuffles of the knees, he usually does a face plant. I'm sure the hands are coming soon, then there will be no stopping Quin.

We decided to get out and enjoy the nice weather this weekend and use the opportunity to get a few (hundred) more pictures. We went down to the Zilker Botanical Gardens in Austin, which is a common spot for bridal photographers. In fact, we saw some. We didn't get to go to as many different spots in the gardens for pictures as we wanted because Quin was getting hot and tired and a little cranky, so we had to cut our visit short. But in the end, we walked away with some winners.

19 new photos taken this weekend in Quin's portrait album

New Photos

We're strange people. As you well know, we love to take pictures of our little boy. But for some crazy reason we go through these periods where we hardly take any pictures (relatively speaking of course). Just to drive my point home, during Quin's fifth month of life, we took a whopping 963 photographs. Then, during Quin's sixth and seventh months, we only took 271 and 272 photos. The eighth month was dismal, with a lousy 127 photos. I mean, what kind of parents are we?

So to reset the karmic balance and restore the world's natural order, after these periods where our shutter fingers get a break from their train ride to Carpaltunnelville, we go nuts. We'll easily take 500 pictures in a day.

This past Mother's Day weekend was just one of those times. We spent most of Saturday and most of Sunday taking pictures. We took 630 photographs in two days. On Saturday we headed down to Lake Austin near the loop 360 bridge for a few (better check Webster's for the definition of the word "few") location portraits. Then on Sunday Barbara came over for Mother's Day and we did some studio shots.

So maybe we did get a little lazy with the picture taking. But we got a few keepers this weekend, so that makes up for it. To see all 26 of the new photos, check out Quin's portrait gallery on Picasa.


Can you believe we never got around to getting the standard "little hand in big hand" shot until Quin was more than nine months old? Oh well, so Quin's hands are a little bigger now. It took about four shots to get the one we wanted, and here it is.

Happy Mother's Day

My first Mother's Day...I can't believe how fast time has gone by. Quin is already 9 months old and acting more and more like a little boy. I know that traditionally Mother's Day wasn't established to celebrate women as mothers, but I am glad that it does. We deserve recognition (as do fathers) for all that we selflessly give to our families. Before becoming a mom, I never understood how wonderful it could be. I know that Tim and Quin will never lack love, as I seem to have an endless supply. This Mother's Day was spent as a family, just how I wanted it. It wasn't anything special, but it was perfect. In the morning, we moved some furniture around in our living room to create a large play area for Quin. Later, we had a nice lunch at Freebirds and then my mom came over for dinner (we made homemade pizza). Of course, we had a take some portraits to mark the occasion. It is nice to have a day set aside to celebrate all that we do as moms, but every other day is just as special because of Tim and Quin. Happy Mother's Day to all of the moms I know. You are all wonderful mothers!

Little Standing Man

So here's Quin's latest trick: standing up on his own. He can now pull himself up to a stand from sitting. Today it was time to lower the mattress in his crib now that he can get up and lean over the sides. As much as we don't like him growing up so fast, he sure is cute standing there on his own!

Peekaboo and Learning to Crawl

We've been pretty bad about new posts lately. To make it up to Quin's loyal audience, here are a couple of new videos.

Here's Quin playing his favorite game: peekaboo.



And here he is trying to crawl. He's not there yet, but working on it.

Nine In, Nine Out

Well, a couple days ago Quin hit his nine month birthday. While it passed as a pretty normal day around here, it's a pretty significant milestone if you ask me. After all, Quin has been out of the womb as long as he was in the womb. He's officially a human, no more alien baby.

Of course to Quin the biggest benefit to being nine months old is probably the fact that during his pediatrician visit on Friday, he didn't have to get any shots. Woohoo! He's closing in on 20 pounds, almost as much as the cats! He's still a little light according to averages, but just right if you ask me. He's just perfect, healthy as can be. What more could a parent ask for?



Quin is really branching out on what he gets to eat these days. He's into all kinds of fun stuff like tofu, cottage cheese, yogurt, little puffs, banana chunks, diced pears, diced carrots, and more. And man does he like to eat! The way that kid puts away the food I don't know how he stays in the 25th percentile for weight. After more than four months of eating solid food, I still have a blast feeding him every time. I never get tired of it.


Those teeth remain elusive. The two front bottom teeth are ready to pop out. They're even creating a bulge in the gums that you can feel. One of the top teeth is ready to make it's debut too. Once again he was teething real bad, but now that seems to have passed and the tooth movement is on pause. Elizabeth is safe from Mr. Bitey Pants for now.


Quin isn't crawling yet, but he really loves to get up all all fours and rock back and forth and laugh at himself. Apparently he thinks he's the funniest thing around on all fours. Didn't he notice all the animals in the house? He scoots around a lot. In a five minute time span he'll easily do an entire lap around his room, but it's a combination of scooting and rolling, not full on crawling. And one of his new tricks is standing up on his own. He can now grab on to something and pull himself right up to a standing position. And he is so proud of himself when he does.


After nine months, Quin is still the best little boy I could ever ask for. The screaming in restaurants has pretty much subsided with a little gentle prodding from mom and dad. For a while there we were skipping going out to eat. He's as playful as ever, and is really into his toys and anything he can manipulate (like the TV remote; amazing how mobile he suddenly gets when it's in sight). He sleeps 12-13 hours straight each night and always goes right to sleep when we put him down. As I write this it's 9:30 and he's still asleep and he went to bed at 8:00 last night.