A little ladybug.

Here are a few belated photos of Quinners in her first Halloween costume! Full disclosure: We actually snapped these about a week after Halloween because I came down with a bad cold on the day of Halloween and didn't have the energy to do much picture taking. We at least managed to load her up and take her to the grandparents' houses to trick-or-treat. Yes, thank you - I am feeling much better and very relieved that Quinn didn't come down with anything.

Pumpkin patch.

Happy autumn! One item that was high on my list with the season's arrival this year was to take Quinn to a special pumpkin patch in Canby that we visited when I was a baby. I hadn't been there in decades, but I did remember that they have a cute little train called the Phoenix & Holly Rail Road that runs around the patch. The day we went, it was cold...REALLY cold (but not raining!). For most of the visit we had Quinn wrapped up against the wind and loaded into the carrier. When the train stopped at the pumpkin patch section of the farm, the conductor said that we could all get off and go pick pumpkins, and the train would loop back around in twenty minutes to pick us up. I don't think any of the three of us were going to survive twenty more minutes in the elements, so Spenser and I hopped off the train, ran over to the patch, unloaded Quinn, snapped a few photos, and ran back to the train before it could depart again! Hahaha. Gotta take advantage of those photo ops, right?

Two month checkup.

Quinn had her two month checkup today and everything looks great! She weighs 11 pounds 3 ounces (61st percentile), is 24.5 inches long (98th percentile!) and has a head circumference of 40.25 centimeters (85th percentile). She had to have four vaccinations today, which was not too fun, but we survived. Dr. Moshofsky briefed us on some upcoming developmental milestones and they are all very exciting! She should start smiling more, recognizing faces more readily and...sleeping longer stretches at night, aaaaaaaaaah.

Vertical tummy time.

I just HAD to post this picture - hilarious!! Quinn was a little resistant to tummy time practice so my mom propped her up on Vince's back and she bobbed around up there...maybe you had to be there, but it was seriously. So. Dang. Funny.

Steve's wobbly knees.

Mom & I took Quinn downtown this weekend to participate in the Walk to Defeat ALS in honor of our late friend Steve Sall. It was a beautiful day for a walk on the waterfront and Quinn was a hit with Steve's crowd! :) I know that being a parent was a role that Steve cherished and I think he would have been really happy that I have the opportunity to be a mom.

Ramping up.

I've been trying to capture some photos of these pouty faces since Quinn was very first born! As Grandpa Fowles would say: "Hang a bucket on that lip!" By way of quick update: Quinn is five weeks old and doing great. She is a healthy and (for the most part) happy little girl who changes every day. She is developing a lot of  neck strength and engages objects and people more intently with her eyes now, so it's fun to sit her on a knee and laugh at all of her expressions. The first question people usually ask me these days is how she is sleeping. I think Spens and I really lucked out in that department because most nights, Quinn is a great sleeper. She usually goes down between ten and eleven at night and sleeps for a four- or five- hour stretch before she gets up to eat. After that, she continues to sleep for two more three-hour shifts with feedings in between before she's up for the day. Sometimes the days are a little more difficult because her nap schedule is somewhat inconsistent, and I find it hard to get things done (such as feeding myself, haha), so I am on the lookout for a sling or front carrier that I can pop her into. 

Parenthood is sometimes challenging but even though we've only been at it for five weeks, I can already feel the rewards. I think there is something about placing your focus on meeting the needs of another person that increases your overall happiness. It's definitely a team effort and Quinn and I are so lucky that Spens is such a present, supportive father. Quinn also has lots of grandmas and grandpas who love her to death and are happy to spell mom and dad for a few minutes... :) 

Smoochin' and cuddlin'.

Quinn turned three weeks old yesterday! We pretty much spend every spare minute smoochin' and cuddlin' and spoonin' her. She is one sweet little baby.