ABC's

Quinn and I sing out ABC's together on the way to Jo-Jo's. It's pretty fantastic. He's got nearly all of the letter down and joins in with me, and likes that he knows the words. Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful. I tried to introduce Quinny had a little lamb today, but maybe I should have stuck with Mary because he stared at me like I was from another planet:) Yesterday was an interesting testimony to routine. Because Luke had the day off, he and I dropped Quinn at Jo-Jo's together. The addition of Daddy on the trip was not a bonus and Quinn disliked that Dad was with us. Plus, when we're all in the car, Dad drives, but when we go to Jo-Jo's, Mommy drives. Quinn could hardly decide who he wanted to be driving. His schemas were all distorted. Then, when we picked him up he was even more distressed. Now, part of that had to do with his exhausting day and the school age big boys being there, but I think he also needed his normal time to be with Mom, nurse and debrief. Poor soul. He cried all the way home.

Speaking of the nursing and tears, both real and unshed. We have purchased a bed for Quinn. For one week, it was next to our bed in the room. That became tired quickly because the appeal of the bed- for me- was so close and the twin bed took some getting used to for my back. Plus, Quinn craves more and more room in a bed and the twin bed with me in it isn't a great fit. Still, Quinn doesn't want to sleep by himself so we're trying to mix things up. Now, for about a week, Quinn's bed has been in his room and he's been sleeping pretty much full time in there. I say pretty much because sometimes I crave the space and comfort of the big bed and so does he. On his first night in his room, he went down early and I snuck away. Then, Luke and I were able to chit chat and hang out in our room without Quinn. It was pretty surreal. One minute, I feel weary from nursing and ready for space of my own and in the next, I don't want to alarm Quinn and I'm ready to stick with it as long as he needs. And he does love it. Sometimes when he's nestled next to me or across my body, he is so perfectly happy and at ease, so completely trusting of me... it's difficult to describe. I did some more reading this weekend about weaning and they say to not refuse, but not to offer. They say to change the routine, but not to do so drastically so that nursing may be more desired because of the upsetting change. It's all wild. At the heart of it all, I love Quinn and I want to be here for him as best as I can, for as long as I can.

Rubber Duck

My son really likes Bert and Ernie. One of their Hulu video posts contains the Rubber Duck song and he and Dad were singing that together before bed tonight. Quinn also loves singing the ABC's with me now. He has sections that he is able to sing with me and he waits anxiously for those moments of unison. It's quite adorable and I'll have to record him singing. Tonight Quinn is sleeping with his Dad in the big bed. I suppose the main goal is for Quinn not to sleep next to me, so even though this means that I'll be sleeping in Quinn's Star Wars bed, I'll roll with it:) Tomorrow, our idea is to have me disappear in the evening and try a night without me. Perhaps Quinn heard about this plan and is taking it upon himself to control the terms of the arrangement. Or, maybe he knows that the big bed is much more comfortable than his own. Despite having already spent $100 on his mattress, I do think we're going to have to upgrade it, especially if I'm going to be spending additional time there.

Lately, our pajamas are "jamas". We were really into Kung Fu Panda for a bit and called that the Big Bear movie. But, we're removing that from the rotation now that he's swinging at people and impersonating battle scenes. We are also going to need to reign in the Star Wars. Poor stuffed George felt the pain of Quinn's remote light saber tonight. Earlier today, Quinn hit his stuffed George and when Grandma asked why, he told her that George had pushed him. OH my.

Have I mentioned that my son loves ice cream and that he calls it cream? Last week we went to Izzy's and enjoyed a scoop and then we were off to Choo-CHoo Bob's where we had a lovely time. This week we kept the post Jo-J's high jinks to a minimum and we also had a swimming free week. There's a two week break between sessions and so we'll have this coming week of spring break off as well.

I'd love to write that I'm going to spend oodles of extra time with Quinn this coming week while I'm off school but unfortunately, I'll be doing my capstone. In the end, it will mean a better financial life for the family and Quinn certainly needs us to have our feet under us. Another guy at Luke's work was laid off this week and it feels foreboding...

My Jamas

For the past week, Quinn has been a huge fan of his blue monkey pajamas. Now, normally, that might not be blog worthy, but this is a little boy who typically sleeps in his diaper, or in the clothes he was wearing during the day. He even chose to wear his pajamas to Jo-Jo's on Wednesday. But, with all quirky phases, they come to a surprising end:) Last night he would have nothing to do with his pajamas and was back to life in the buff.

This past week we graduated from swimming lessons, though we all know that participation is the key in these little kid classes. While he definitely made some swimming progress, he certainly didn't bond to the instructor, a sweet high school thing that thought he could try to do rockets, when mostly my son wanted to play with the ball. This week he discovered that he could touch the bottom of the pool with his feet in the shallow end and that was the end to swimming. All he wanted to do was test the waters, if you will, and walk about. Funny kid.

This week we got the Elmo goes Green video to preview. I haven't sad through a whole episode of it, but I need to soon so that I can write up my review. Ah, Paul Rudd. From Clueless in the 90's to Sesame Street today. Quite the professional leap:)

Objects floating around our house: Quinn has been making all sorts of use out of the cardboard from the IKEA beds we recently purchased. The long cardboard has been set up for a long slide for his cars, which was then swiftly crushed when Quinn tried to slide down. Fortunately, that didn't stop the fun. Then, we wanted to fold the cardboard back over us like a blanket. We've wrapped ourselves in it and tried to hide and we've used it for multiple fort-like shapes. You have to love and appreciate how playing with the least expensive thing in the house is the most fun.

Yesterday Luke and Quinn were off to Eagles Nest while I graded. They returned with bulgogi and one tired little boy. It was Wall-E day, but more than that, we played a lot of catch. Quinn is SO funny when he throws. He often ends up spinning completely around when he throws or tucks his head under. It's rare that he can look at you and throw at the same time. The ball sometimes ends up behind him or to the right or left. To his credit, he did a great job of catching:) In Matt's arms, he laughed and laughed when the little beach ball bonked Matt on the head. Even in Matt's arms, he still turns his head away when he throws.

In other Quinn news, my darling son likes to collect pennies and change now and again. His pockets will sometimes he heavy with the change. The other day Matt witnessed him putting pennies in his diaper because he didn't have any pockets. A penny stuck to his foot the other day and that also seemed a convenient travel spot so he was miffed when he couldn't get his foot to attach itself to the coin again (the air dried off his sweaty little foot). Funny, wonderful Quinn.

Fun times at home

Quinn is perched semi-precariously on his father's back, calling his Dad, "Horsey". Now, he's asking for Mommy to ride horsey. My son is wonderful. We just finished up a session of tickling. Quinn likes very much to be tickled, but also like to watch other people tickle one another, SO, it sometimes goes like this, "Mommy tickle Daddy" or vice versa. He will join in too, if he feels the urge. His tickling is the sweetest little movement that doesn't tickle at all, but instead is sweet and funny. He scrunches his hand together and lightly touches the other person. Gentle, loving Quinn.

Quinn rocks

He can put his own boots on. And when he does, he's generally wearing only a diaper. I love watching him clomp around the house in nearly zipped boots, a diaper, a smile and his top. What a funny kid. We bought a bed for Quinn last week and got him Star Wars sheets. He's taken to it pretty well, but I think he's having some adjustment issues to being out of Mommy and Daddy's bed. Kairis is also gone from his life and I think that's thrown him for a loop. She's off to a new daycare and Quinn remains the only boy with a whole new flock of girls. Poor little man.

The new spring season meant that Quinn and I went to the park the other day. We had a terrific time swinging. He was swinging in the big boys swings and liked it when I pushed him. Of course, i was also required to swing next to him so I had double duty. We happily walked around the unfinished hockey rink and the little man ventured into the too muddy baseball fields, prompting him to lose his boot and fall into the mud. Funny kid. We also did some climbing on the playground and this year he is better able to tackle the "ladders" at the park.:) He did manage to fall out of the swing, which was a bummer, because his little rump got too far back in the seat. Thankfully, the wet sand caught his little body.

Laughter

My son is hanging upside down off of the couch while Luke tickles him. He continues to ask to be tickled. He is wearing one of his new football shirts. I have finally given in to his desire to have football shirts. He doesn't have to become a football player, so I shouldn't imagine the t-shirt will shape this life:) All along the front of his shirt are streaks of hot cocoa, or coffee. Quinn really likes the idea of coffee so even though we only purchase cocoa, we entertain the illusion. Lately, he's all about watching the Leap Frog Letters Video. He calls it B C's instead of adding the A. Tonight we're skipping swimming lessons because Mr. Quinn was awake at around 4 last night and never quite got back to sleep. Bummer for us all:) Let's pray for an eventless night of sleeping. Luke is looking exhausted on the couch.

My son loves to be tickled. He may protest and scream, his face turning bright shades of red, but he loves it... and asks for it, "tickle, please". Lately, we're all about pulling. More often than not, that means that the belt from my robe is stretched between parent and son. He loves to be yanked to us, the happy momentum of a 2 year old careening into our arms. We're in a very Star Wars phase lately and if we time things correctly, he may be intrigued enough to jump into a new bed and situation if Star Wars sheets apparel it. Here's hoping:) This evening we made an interesting discovery. Quinn was hiding between the bed and his crib. He called me over to hide with him and when I did, I noticed the "artwork" that adorned almost the whole side of the sheet. He had made large circles and swoops in blue pen all along the side of the bed sheet. I did my best not to smile and laugh and called Luke up to help us discuss it. It wasn't something he did today, so even though he recognized it as his work, it wasn't a fresh action and he was more interested in playing soccer. Speaking of, he is quite the kicker. He hasn't quite absorbed the No Hands rule, but it's not as if we're getting David Beckham on him. He likes to combine chasing the soccer ball from Dad with tumbling, grabbing it with his hands and attacking Dad at the waist. Funny kid.

Boots

Quinn has two pairs of boots. One pair is Brown, Nike and purchased at MOA last year with Nana and Papa. One of the swooshes has been colored in with blue pen by Quinn. The others are blue in the style of Moon boots with a very satisfying giant velcro band around them. Clunkier, but probably warmer, these were given to us by a friend of my Mom's. All winter, we have rotated our affection for these boots. Sometimes Quinn must absolutely wear the brown and other days he'll have nothing but the blue. He often wears boots around the house, wearing only a diaper. Yesterday I came downstairs to find Quinn sprawled out on the couch wearing his Lightning McQueen shirt, diaper and brown boots. He has run from me before I could put his pants on:) I have to admit that the sight of my marvelous son just kickin' it in his boots and top made me laugh. Plus, he had put his boots on by himself!!! I suppose I'll be constantly amazed by what Quinn can accomplish when I'm not around. He even had the right boot on the right feet. When I'm around, Quinn will stand up to put on his boots, grasping my head or hair to support himself, oddly supporting himself with my upper body. Hilarious.