The Water Park

We took Quin to a nearby water park on Saturday that is designed for families. This was our second time going, and both times he has loved it! What's not to love?! They have really shallow water in areas, which is perfect for Quin to crawl around in. This boy really is fearless. He seems to love the water, even when he has crawled a little too deep and has a sip or two. He does make me a little nervous when he speeds off towards the deeper water, but that is why we are there! As long as he has fun, I am happy.

Clingy Baby

Quin seems to have morphed into a clingy baby when other people are around, especially if those other people dare to try and pick him up. Last week Matt and Becky came out to Austin for a visit with hopes of getting to hold their nephew. No such luck. Quin was content interacting with them if Tim or I held him, but the moment we tried to pass him off the tears started to flow and he held on to us as if his life depended upon it.

For part of an afternoon, Quin was actually okay with Becky. By the next day, however, he had forgotten that she was not Satan and screamed bloody murder every time she tried to hold him. He never seemed to give Matt much of a chance; it was a bit like when they were visiting when he was a newborn:

I hoped to have some pictures of Quin with his Aunt and Uncle, but I never got the chance to take any. Maybe when we go out to Colorado to visit?

Since there are no pictures of them, I figured a picture of Quin being silly would suffice.

Time-Out!

Quin has been a bit naughty the past two days and has actually been placed in time-out twice! You are probably wondering what good it does to put a one year old in time-out, but we decided that it is as good of time as any to start working on issues with behavior.

Yesterday, Quin was repeatedly pulling silverware out of the dishwasher and we were afraid that he would poke himself; he was placed facing the couch on the floor for 10 seconds or so. Today, however, Quin was pinching me. I am still on doctors orders not to pick Quin up for fear of pulling the incision on my back, but I instinctively picked him up after he pinched my neck. He spent the next 15 seconds or so sobbing while facing his dresser.

So you may wonder, did it teach him anything? Probably not. But it will as time goes on. I am sure the he will figure out that bad behavior leads to boring time-outs and a mommy and daddy who aren't smiling.

Captain Quin

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How Do You Not Pick Up Your Baby?

I had a mole excised from my back last week and now I am on strict doctors orders not to pick Quin up for two weeks. How can I not pick my baby up!!?? I really am not sure how I am going to go two whole weeks without picking him up, especially since he has become a bit clingy lately. The hardest part about this whole thing has been him crawling over to me, tugging on my pants, looking up at me with those sweet blue eyes, and asking to be picked up (putting both arms straight up in the air and occasionally waving them frantically about). Poor baby. We will just have to get creative and rely on Tim a lot!

The Rain

Quin is a funny little boy; he seems to find rain repugnant. I am unsure why he has singled out rain to take offense to, considering he loves water in all of its other forms. Perhaps it is the inconsistency of the water droplets, or maybe it is the force with which they hit his face.

This, however, brings up a question: should I simply let him hate it, get a little wet, but learn to deal with it? Or, should I shield him with an umbrella from even the mildest of sprinkles? I think for now I will compromise by saving him from torrential downpours, but let him experience the occasional light shower. After all, he isn't the wicked witch, so as far as I know he won't melt. Besides, don't kids love to play in the rain? I know I did. What childhood is complete without running in the rain and jumping in puddles!

Party!

To commemorate Quin's first birthday, we decided to throw a big party for him. We invited all of our friends (even those without babies), bought an adorable cake, made beer, cooked yummy food, and can you guess how we spent the party?? Trying to calm Quin down. He was so upset by all of the strange people in his house and being denied his afternoon nap that he had a complete meltdown before the party ever started. My dad and step mom arrived a few minutes early and wanted to hold Quin. A normal request, right? Well, Quin objected and the crying fit began. For the majority of the party, he was only happy when either Tim or I held him. Poor baby. I really did feel bad for him.

All was right, however, when he got his first taste of cake. We bought him his own "smash cake" and placed it in front of him, letting him do as he pleased. At first, he was moderately distracted by all of the colorful sugar confetti; he picked the pieces off one by one. Soon, he became a bit more adventurous and tried to scrape a little of the icing off. I wanted him to truly enjoy the cake so I tore off a chunk for him to experiment with. Next thing we knew, he was eating cake (and by eating cake I mean trying to shove a 3" X 5" slice in his mouth)!
After eating a respectable amount of his little cake, he had to be washed off. We considered the hose, but opted for the tub. The butter cream icing turned him into a little greased piggy! About the time we finished his bath, the sugar hit and he became a spastic little boy. He was flopping around so much on the changing pad that we could barely get a diaper, let alone pajamas, on him! Seeing as he had a renewed sense of energy, he got to stay up a little longer, attempting to be social.

Overall, I would say he had an okay time. I think he enjoyed his friends parties more than his own, but at least at his party he got to have cake!

Thank you to everyone who could make it. We hope you had fun!

Happy Birthday Big Boy!

I can't believe that Quin is already one. I will admit that I have been having a hard time with the idea of my BABY turning one, but now that it has happened, I am actually okay with it!
It seems like just yesterday out little baby was born. It is amazing how much he has grown in one short year. Each stage has been better than the last; watching him progress from a newborn overwhelmed by the world to a toddler who is curious about everything has been amazing. This first year has been even more wonderful than I thought it could be and I am so excited to see what Quin discovers next.