Playdate with Aiden

This morning, Quinn's buddy Aiden (and his mommy Karen) met us at Jumpin' Beans. The boys play really well together; they both have a lot of energy and LOVE running, climbing, and jumping with each other. They had a great time!




Boy, this is fun!









"Whee!"




Taking a much needed snack break (Holden must be thinking: "I can't wait until I can sit at the big boys' table!).


Please don't worry about Holden . . . he was not in the stroller the whole time . . . he wouldn't have that!!! I bounced him in the toddler area for a while (hard to take a picture while doing that!), and I let him practice his crawling skills in the main area (just didn't get a good photo).

And, yes . . . he is developing his crawling skills!!! He is doing short bouts of crawling the traditional way (hands and knees) instead of the usual swimmer/rolling method (pushing with arms and kicking his legs . . . hilarious to watch by the way . . . kinda looks like he's doing the worm!). So, we are already seeing improvements from his PT sessions (we've only had 3)! Yeah!!! :-)

Dancing with the Stars . . . the tour!

I bought tickets for my mom for Christmas; with my dad recuperating from surgery, she was unable to go.

So, I invited my friend Jaclyn, and we had so much fun!!! Brant and I have been friends with Dave and Jaclyn for 10 years or so. Their little girl, Elizabeth, is one of Quinn's buddies, and we often get together for playdates. But, it was great to get together without the kiddos and have an actual conversation without running after children or changing diapers!

The show was lots of fun. We both left inspired and ready to sign up for dancing lessons (now we just have to convince the husbands!).

Haircut Time!

It was time for Quinn to have a haircut (well, actually the haircut was well overdue!!!), so I took the boys to the coolest kids' salon. They have a play area with a climbing structure, slide, kitchen, video games, etc. The kids are able to pick a video to watch during the haircut (Quinn picked "A Whole World of Tractors" today). Then, they are able to pick a vehicle to sit in.

It is a little pricey (of course, b/c they know that we parents will pay it!). However, we go on budget- priced Wednesdays! It also helps that Quinn doesn't have a lot of hair . . . today marked his fourth haircut (in almost 3 years of life!). Now, whatever will I do when Holden is ready for haircuts?!?

Anyway, it is a really neat place and it made for our outing of the morning (with a stop by Wal-Mart for a few essentials). I have a feeling places like this were not around when I was little . . . kids these days have the coolest things!!!

What a set-up!




Quinn's favorite part . . . the climbing tower and slide!









Holden trying to provide some moral support!




He chose the fire engine (the other choices: airplane, police car, and motorcycle).




A little worried and not thrilled about having wet hair . . . just trying to focus on the tractor movie!




Thank goodness that's over! Now it's time for more playing and a sucker!!!

"Jammies"

Today marked the end of some serious pajama (or as Quinn calls them . . . Jammies) days at our house!

With last week's snow days and sick days, the boys (and Mommy) have spent an enormous amount of time in their jammies! We tried to make the most of the snow days (as shown in pics on the blog) and even tried to enjoy the sick days (with movies, rice krispie treats, and snuggling).

Quinn "caught" the cold bug first (last Wed, to be exact). He is much better today. He was even feeling good enough/been fever-free long enough to go back to preschool this morning . . . yeah!!! I don't know who was more excited . . . Quinn or Mommy . . . just kidding, kind of! He now has an ear infection, but that should be cleared up soon with good 'ole amoxicillin.

Holden "caught" the cold bug from Quinn (I keep telling that boy to share . . . looks like he's listening to me!) over the weekend. Just suffering from a stuffy/runny nose and cough (and he has at least 2 teeth coming in right now, too!). Holden is still Mr. Happy and is playing right through it!

So . . . we all got dressed and out of our jammies first thing this morning and embraced the world together!!! But, to be honest, I'm kinda missing my jammies, right now!





Playing is hard work!




"EEEEEEE!" says Holden.




Quinn's cool NFL jammies - Thanks Aunt Brandi!




Quinn's big "CHEESE" smile

"Girls' Afternoon Out"

Yesterday, I was able to get away for a couple of hours for lunch and a movie with 2 of my very best girlfriends, Charity and Maridith.

We had a great time . . . lunch at Moe's and then Bride Wars (a cute chick flick). We had so much fun! It was wonderful to get together, talk, relax, and eat (without having to cut up anyone else's food or remind someone to use their fork . . . Charity and Maridith did pretty good with those things themselves!).

We get together once a month to destress, ask advice, catch up, and just be silly. Thank you Lord for girlfriends!

Special Care Nursery

His shirt says "Future Heartbreaker". Yes, it was Quinn's shirt, but it's too cute not to pass down to little brother!!!



















Denise (the nurse on the left) was one of his weekend nurses over a year ago!



In celebration of Holden's first birthday, we collected preemie clothes to donate to the Special Care Nursery at Rex Hospital. The following is the letter that was included in his birthday party invitation:

Hello to all my buddies!

As you may remember, I decided to enter the world a little early (I was eager to meet all of you). I spent my first 24 hours or so in Duke’s NICU. The next day I was transferred to the Special Care Nursery (SCN) at Rex Hospital. I spent a total of 19 days in the SCN. All of the doctors, nurses, and support staff were so wonderful! They took really good care of me (and they gave Daddy and Mommy a lot of encouragement and support). Not only did they take great care of me medically, they also held and loved on me all the time! The SCN was my home away from home, until I was big and strong enough to go and live with Daddy, Mommy, and Quinn.

To say “thank you” and to celebrate my first birthday, Mommy is preparing care packages to donate to the SCN. Each care package will include a preemie outfit and a note of encouragement for the preemie’s family. If you would like to bring a preemie outfit to my party (no gifts for me, please), I know that the SCN families would really appreciate it. There is no need to gift-wrap the outfit; Mommy is going to wash each one before assembling the care packages. I have heard that Walmart and the Carter’s outlets carry inexpensive preemie clothes (as well as some Belk, JC Penney, and K-Mart stores).

I look forward to having fun with you at my birthday party!

Thanks so much for your love and for being my friends,

Holden

Our family and friends are wonderful! Thanks to them, we were able to donate 30 care packages to Rex. Each one included a prewashed outfit or set of onesies and a note of encouragement for the family. We are certain that this donation will mean so much to the parents of the little ones at Rex. THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!! We love you guys!

“Don’t be afraid for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”

Isaiah 41:10

Frosty the Snowman

Frosty: up close and personal!




A full-view photo of Frosty




Frosty beside Quinn . . . maybe he is a little small!



Daddy is back to work today . . .

Mommy and Quinn bundled up and went outside this morning with every intention of making a "Frosty the Snowman". Being a southern girl, I have only seen a handful of "good snows" (snows over an inch or so!) in my lifetime. So . . . my snowman skills are weak!!! Daddy (from Michigan) assures me that it's not my snowman skills; it's the fact that the snow is too soft and is not "packing snow". Well, that sounds fine with me . . . let's blame the snow!

Anyway, we gave it a shot and had a great time!

Holden is feeling fine today . . . Mommy was just lazy and decided to make our trip outside during his morning nap . . . with the monitor on, of course (that way I would only have 1 kid and myself to get dressed in layers/bundled up/undressed/cleaned up/etc.!).

SNOW DAY!!!

From WRAL-5: "Winter Storm Warning until 6pm. Cloudy to mostly cloudy with periods of snow likely during the morning to midday hours, tapering off from the west through the afternoon. Highs in the lower 30s, though many of us will spend a good part of the day in the mid 20s to around 30 before creeping back up late. Snowfall amounts will likely range between one and four inches across the better part of the area, but there may be a few pockets or bands with higher amounts in the 5-8 inch range."


In other words . . . SNOW DAY!!!

Quinn was thrilled to get bundled up and enjoy his first real snowfall! He's napping right now, but we hope to get out later this afternoon and attempt to make a "Frosty" (the snowman, that is!).

Holden seems to be coming down with a little cold, so we let him nap this morning . . . we'll bundle him up and get a few pictures later today (if he's feeling up to it).

Oh, the joys of snow!!! Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!!!

BIG Brother (and another update on Papa Quinn)

Just some fun photos of Quinn . . .

He is usually not in the mood to have his picture taken, but he was hamming it up for camera over the weekend. I could not waste this golden opportunity!















***Mommy and Holden went to see Papa Quinn on Sunday, and he was doing really well! He has a lot of soreness, and he's already tired of sitting around . . . but he looked really great, and the doctors say that he should make a full recovery! :-)

Motivation is Key!

We have discovered that Holden is quite mobile . . . when he's motivated! If he's not motivated, he's perfectly content to sit and observe (the PT even noted that he's an observer and not a mover . . . he should not suffer from high stress or high blood pressure in the future . . . he's too calm for that!). But with the right motivation, movement is quick and successful! The right motivation: Quinn and magazines . . . see for yourself!




Quinn: "Come on, Holden. You can do it!"




Holden must be thinking: "You are the coolest guy ever!"




Holden: King of Mischievous Faces . . . Mommy can see trouble down the road!




"I'm coming!"




Sweet, sweet victory!!!! :-)

Update on Papa Quinn

Just talked with Papa Quinn on the phone, and he sounded great! He is home now, and he said that his back and shoulder already feel better!!!! He sounded tired; he was up walking the halls of the hospital all night (the nurses/doctors advised him to walk . . . might help with flexibility). But, he sounded happy and relieved that the surgery was over and that he was home.

Mama Quinn was baking a pound cake . . . nothing like something sweet to help with recovery!

Holden and Mommy are driving down on Sunday to visit him . . . maybe he'll even let me take a picture for the blog!

Papa Quinn's surgery

Papa Quinn (Mommy's Daddy) had back surgery this morning. He was involved in a car accident last summer and has been in enormous pain ever since. Today's surgery was the last resort . . . he has tried everything else (medicines, chiropractic care, etc.). I just got an update from Mama Quinn, and the surgery went well. The surgeon said that it was successful and that it should take care of the problem/pain. Papa is staying in the hospital tonight and should be discharged tomorrow. Please pray for a speedy recovery (he's been given a 4 -6 week recovery timeline) and for the success of the surgery to be true! **Also, pray for him tonight and tomorrow morning . . . he did not get a private room . . . he has a roommate . . . probably not the private situation that he was hoping for! Papa/Daddy we love you! :-)

Abby's Birthday Party

Quinn's favorite part of any party!




The "Birthday Princess"!



"Caution . . . might bite when hungry!"



On stage with the other knight, the dragons, the prince and the princesses!



A true "knight in shining armor"!



Quinn liking the spotlight (or maybe he is just happy to get to stand and move around)!



Quinn and Holden are some partying fools!

Mommy needs to get a special social calendar just for them and all of their parties/play dates!


Today was Abby's birthday party; the "Birthday Princess" is turning 3. Abby is one of Quinn's little buddies; he has been getting together and playing with Abby for his "whole life".

Abby's party was at a local puppet theater. The boys both enjoyed the show (with Quinn even getting up on stage and participating!), but enjoyed the cake and juice the most . . . of course!