Happy Birthday, Bugaboo!

AWE!!! The big milestone has come and gone....Quinn, you're becoming quite the toddler and not our little baby anymore :( We spent last night reminiscing about a year ago when Brent was en-route from Guam and my mom and I were at Portsmouth hospital trying to hold off labor...look how far we've come!

Quinn, I cannot imagine my days without you by my side! You're mommy's best friend and despite your non-napping days and still waking at night for a quick snack, I can't picture life any other way!!!

Miss Quinn had a great birthday, despite the fact that Mommy booked her 1 yr. well check today and she got 5 shots this morning...GOD was I feeling guilty! Hard to believe she entered this world at only 4 lbs. and today she was in the 81% for weight and 87% for height-she has certainly caught right up!

After much debate about the perfect gift, or rather, which dog toy to purchase for her big 1 yr. birthday-you know she really only loves whatever Sophie is playing with-she was thrilled with all her new gifts, although, as you can tell from above, a good 'ol tennis ball is always sure to bring on a smile!

Of course, Grammie and Papa's gift was a huge hit-she was thrilled to hear the neighing box and bouncing up and down before her little horsey even got out of the box! She's still not sure she'll ride on top, but she loved pushing it around and listening to the music!


Her wheely bee might be a little too big to ride just yet, but the antennae were fun to play with!


Yup-a doggie, perhaps Quinn's favorite from the Little People school-she is truly OBSESSED with dogs and literally jumps out of her stroller whenever she spots one from a mile away and then runs pointing until we can go touch it, so she wanted to hold this little one all day long!


The big caterpillar birthday bash is on Saturday with all her playgroup buddies. We did try a practice round tonight with a little cupcake, but she was more interested in eating the candle...we'll get the real footage on Saturday after I perfect the perfect caterpillar cake :) (let's hope!)
Promise to get a few pics up before Myrtle Beach!

Brooke's Visit

Autie Brooke came down from Philly for the weekend and Quinn had a fabulous time getting spoiled by her!!! We got drinks at the Oceanfront and Quinn could not sit still- she was, of course, obsessed with any passing doggies and loved King Neptune!




Took a day trip to Smithfield-not a HUGE attraction, but we did enjoy yummy banana ice cream and Quinn got to meet Ben Franklin :)



Of course, we needed to hit the beach one last time b/f Brooke hit the road-the weather is finally cooling off and we are so spoiled to have this right around the corner!!
Quinn still loves the waves and watching Soph chase anything!


Come back soon, Brooke! Q misses you already!

One Week Shy...

Okay, I'm still in shock that a week from today Quinn will hit the big 1 year mark!!! Where has the time gone? She took her first few steps the day before yesterday so I'm convinced she'll be walking to blow out her candles at her party next weekend! Little bugaboo, you're getting SO BIG!

Quinn's new favorite past times are hiding under the table, throwing any kind of ball around the house, and playing with anything on the fireplace mantel-I'm over trying to keep it off limits :) Oh and she LOVES reaching in to steal ice cubes out of our water glasses-she could entertain herself for hours picking up and eating ice-in between letting Sophie have some licks-yes, isn't that lovely...

She loves her rocker-thank you Auntie Brooke-we're taking good care of it-she mainly loves to rock her animals in it, but on occasion will actually sit still for a few seconds in it.

We celebrated Grammie Alford's 89th birthday over Labor Day weekend-a nice brunch outing and Grammie came down from VT for a visit too-lots of fun!
Here is Quinn finally passed out below while Daddy held her and played the piano-guess we'll need to purchase a baby grand to help knock her out! Babe, I know you'd love it if we could fit one in our little house...someday!



Quinn below helping Mommy make the cake for Grammie Alford-she loves to help measure and cook with me, actually she wants to get up and taste anything I'm preparing and is SO inquisitive... it's very cute!

Well we tried to capture some footage of first steps below-we'll try again this weekend...
On the countdown to celebrate, although I'm getting pretty sad that she is getting so grown up and independent already! Oh and I had to throw in her spoon tricks at the table, she was keeping a pretty good beat to the Coldplay music in the background-just like her Daddy, very musical!

Fun in Key West!

Okay, so, Quinn and I officially 'cracked the code' on flying military transport and accompanied Brent down to Key West on one of his 'required' detachments-SO much fun!!!! We'll certainly be joining him again very soon! The flight down was direct and about 2 hours with plenty of seats open, unlike our budget trip back on American, where we were stuck in Miami and then crammed into a prop plane on the way back....Quinn was such a traveling trooper!

We had an amazing time, eating our way around the world-so many great restaurants down there-Cuban, Greek, French, Thai-you name it....yumm! Quinn has sure developed some taste buds and is eager to try whatever is on our plates-hmmm, sounds like her mom's appetite!

Highlights of our trip included the butterfly conservatory-she LOVED seeing all these flying beauties and tried multiple times to catch one, also Hemmingway's House where she couldn't get enough of the 6-toed cats...you know how mommy isn't such a fan, but I gave in and let her get down and pet them, enjoying the warmth of the blue-green waves-Ft. Zachory-Taylor state park is quite simply, heaven, and, of course, a trip back to Smather's Beach where the magic began when Brent popped the question after John & Caroline's wedding 7 years ago!!!

Quinn rode in style as she toured around on the bike with me...the next trip will be once the weather cools down b/c I was dying with the heat. By the time I got the bike lock off, Quinn strapped in and on the go, it was time for another shower for the day! She loved the view from her little seat though, and, by the end, she'd was grabbing her helmet and anxious to put it on :)








Daddy just can't get enough of his little girl and we're both in denial that her big 1st birthday is in just 3 weeks-yikes!!! Where has the time gone, really?? She is nearly walking and soon she'll be running away from us and saying 'no'.... for now, we'll enjoy any ounce of snuggle time we can get :)