Quinn Summer Tales

My son came home buzzing tonight after his first evening at Vacation Bible School. While I am still mixed about how we are going to raise Quinn in terms of religion and faith, there was no denying that he had enjoyed the experience. He was proudly wearing his VBS shirt and refused to take it off when it was time for bed. We listened to his VBS CD multiple times so we could hear Son Rocks Kid Camp and do the hand motion that he had learned. His 3-4 year old room of 11 kids has 3-4 adults and some high school helpers so he's well attended to. After a bit of ice cream with Grandma and some running about, we went to sleep after reading two baseball books (multiple times): Curious George and the Baseball Game and Mighty Casey. This weekend we were in Le Sueur for the Beck event. It was great to see Quinn and Nicky playing together and they really had a good time. My favorite memories are their antics in the tub and pool. Their interaction was sweet and silly and totally fitting two three year olds. I was pleased with Quinn's naps and also that we were to bed at reasonable times. All in all, it was a lazy, relaxing weekend and even though my son is attached to me, I find that connection more important and emotionally fulfilling than the paranoia I experience when I wonder if people judge that. I need to let go of that anxiety and just trust that what I do for Quinn is in his best interest and that- and this I am sure of- I know my son and his needs better than anyone else (except perhaps for Luke). ZIt was pleasant, actually, to end a long weekend with Quinn at VBS because we could get everything unpacked and the house in order. Very refreshing. I started laundry, emailed and did the Wii. I've been running on the Wii and that makes me happy. Even though I'm not setting any records, I'm still being active. I'm hoping that setting this as a norm means that while i am pregnant (when that happy event occurs) I'll be able to stay fit, making my postpartum return to health even faster and smoother. I love watching Quinn's new skills come along. He easily unscrewed the top of his new golf clubs so that it could be a makeshift lightsaber. He also used the lightsaber to whistle through and despite the extra saliva, he had that trick down. He is getting much better about blowing out the candles on cakes too. I wish I could explain the fun enthusiasm and articulation to the way Quinn says, "hap pee Birthday" with rising tones and emphasis. Then, the second time he says it, and this is often the case lately, it's up an octave. If something matters to him, he'll sometimes repeat it and each time, his chin rises and so does his chin. Quinn has been wearing a bandaid on his forehead for the last few days, though there's no injury to speak of. It's going to leave a tan line:) Quinn and rocks. My son loves rocks. He loves throwing them, he loves collecting them and holding on to them and he even loves slipping them inside the tube of his golf club. There's a pretty agate that he likes to hold and this weekend he did some miniature rock climbing on the burm at Nana and Papa's house. QUinn is finally recognizing more of the figures on the mural headboard at Nana and Papa's house. He is going to love Disney World in 2011.

Precious Quinn

Ah, Quinn. Sometimes, you have to laugh because that best summarizes the joy you feel because a smile just isn't enough. Last night, I was the dutiful parent to start up bed time around 9. Quinn and I had spent the evening going on a walk and playing, and after a little Finding Nemo and some snacks, I got him in pajamas with teeth brushed. We read books and were all set to go to sleep, except for the fact that my son was happily, wide awake. He asked for his Dad so I went to get Luke. Unfortunately, Luke was outside finishing up some yard chores so Quinn had time to come downstairs and plop himself on the couch in the office to watch some more Nemo. Since he was actively awake I took the time to empty Quinn's closet of toys to bring downstairs and also to assess garage sale potential in his closet. I got the downstairs toy chest settled and prices marked for Quinn's clothing et al. Once Luke was showered and Quinn had his waffle, it was back upstairs for the boys while I watched some Twilight extras. Then, Luke came down to ask for me. Quinn wanted to kiss me goodnight. By the time I was walking to the stairs my perky little son was already half way down, grinning and smiling like some radiant angel, with just the touch of mischieviousness. We all went back to his bed then and Quinn insisted that we all lay together, "You and me and You". We squashed our bodies onto the twin bed and Quinn rolled back and forth between us planting the sweetest kisses on our lips and faces. His hands gently cradled our cheeks and he would kiss our foreheads. When he wasn't endearing us to him even further, he would clap his hands together, intertwining his fingers into one another. He was bored, but playful, even as we tried to insist on quiet. Finally, my precarious balance on the edge forced me to leave and Quinn remained with Dad. But, that is not to say that he went to sleep. Quinn wanted to follow me, but Luke told him he had to wait for me. So, he sat up and waited--- almost a half an hour. Finally, he fell asleep with Luke, and I traded with Luke around 2 when Quinn woke up and wanted me. Funny, precious, kind, tender little boy. It almost breaks my heart today to sell the couch we've spent so many hundreds of hours on- nursing, snugging, playing, making forts- but it's time...

Quinn summer transitions

He wrapped his arms around Quinn and as always I was reminded of how tall and strong he is, but how gentle and loving he is with his nephew. The final breakfast with Matt was really difficult. Quinn had such an all over weekend, napping early on Saturday but not getting to sleep until nearly 11 that night. Then, the following day he got up around 9, took a fake car nap on the way home from Laura's family picnic and then didn't nap until 5. He slept until almost 8 and then again wasn't in bed until 12:30. He napped on the way home from Iowa and then it was, maybe, an evening of about 10??? The poor man is just so emotionally tired and also physically lost in all this. It was hard for me to form the words to comfort Quinn as we left the Drake Diner. Tears were streaming down my face and Luke respectfully allowed me to cry in peace. Quinn is having random stress attacks it seems where he desperately wants to eat, or I can't leave him (say, so he could go to the park with Dad and I could nurture my overly-filled stomach). Yesterday is asked, "Where is Matt?" and then told me that i had to stay with him. He also has taken to saying he "misses" me. Matt told him that he would miss him when he left. I think it was good that Quinn saw Matt pack up and go, saw the process of unpacking and said good-bye. But, for all of that, it doesn't mean that his life isn't very different now. The room that used to be Matt's now has a red computer desk and the old couch. The dining room is filled with items for the garage sale we're going to have tomorrow and the living room is nearly empty. I thought for sure that we would be able to empty Quinn's closet into all of this new space we would have, but already, it's filling up. He has so little room and so little territory that was purely his. I hope that in his new space he is flourishing and that he realizes all that he has gained in his own home. In little things, I miss him and all that he did for us. His physical strength when it came to moving things, the lawn mowing and the moment to moment child care he provided. I also like that he allowed me to decompress or vent about things, if only for a moment, and I knew that he was only going to listen and not judge me. Luke and I are back and forth being on edge ever so slightly and very good together. I am sure this means new things for us as well. Lana was hear that last for what seemed like a giant venting session that she needed. She's been spending lots of time with Bobbi, who has been terribly ill with her pregnancy. Lana is at her wit's end with it all and admits to not even "liking her". She says that being a mother in law is the hardest thing she's ever had to go through. Gracious. What to do, what to think. The cool Eric Carle game that Toni got Quinn has turned into fun body awareness for Quinn. Now, he'll spontaneously want to wiggle his toes, turn his neck, bend his neck, raise his shoulders... very fun stuff. More and more, we chat back and forth and I love the communication. Quinn is wearing pull-up's now and we just purchased a different kid's toilet from IKEA to see if he likes it.

Quinn report

We were at Lee and Kris's for the fourth of july. After a short visit to the St. Peter parade where the rain forced us to leave early, we were off to the Edberg's for fun with the family. Quinn was thrilled as always to play with his cousins and he and Ethan sword fought with every bat or noodle or lightsaber around. We all went swimming and I was the resident lifeguard for the threesome. My sweet three year old was all blue lips and shivering, though he fought hard to stay in the water. Finally, he gave up and dug in the sand with Luke and later went on a pontoon ride where he quickly fell asleep leaning against Luke. One of my favorite moments from the day was when he picked up the hula hoop and instead of throwing it around his hips, he held it in his hands and turned around. An adorable interpretation of the act of hoola hooping (seems I can't agree on how to spell that activity) to be sure. I was chuckling madly. He and Ethan rolled and rolled around in the grass and once more, Ellie and Ethan drove Quinn around in their battery operated cars. Nana tried to teach Quinn to drive, but he was so intrigued by the pedal that he would forget to steer or look up:) Sweet boy. Per usual it was a fickle day of eating, but he did fairly well eating some apple, corn, his favorite chips (salt and pepper) and drinking water. He even had some bites of ham. All in all, pretty ok, though his critics (or rather, my critics) might disagree. Bobbi announced her pregnancy to the crowd and they are due February 20th I believe. She was eating pickles, which waa cute, and indulged in a nap-- a favorite part of being pregnant. Quinn miraculously stayed awake the whole ride home and crashed about 9. Maybe he'll see fireworks when he's 4:) His new thing is to carry around his medicine with him, which means carrying around the Melagel disk and having me put some on his recovered knee injuries. This morning we were snuggling and I was saying that I had to get up to go to work and he told me to "lay down Mommy. Just cuddle". He likes to turn on his side away from me and hold onto my arm and place one of my hands between his own. Incredibly sweet stuff. Lately, we're playing this cool body activity game with him that he got for his birthday from Toni. It has Eric Carle pictures on it and asks him to do particular actions. We bend our neck and knees, turn our hand, stomp our feet, etc. The best is when we have to raise our shoulders and Quinn's arms raise up too, making is a whole upper body action. He really likes wiggling his hips, though his movement is reminiscent of his mother's hip action:) Sweet boy. We're all about Madagascar lately and he calls is "gascar".

Misc. Quinn moments recorded

I wish we took more pictures of Quinn. I try to memorize his face, but I know my mind is flooded with so many glorious images of him-- and that it will continue to be- that there simply won't be space for the all the Quinn footage I would like to have stored in my mind. Like, for example, the way he looks when he determines that he is going to pretend pout. Or, the devious look he has when he is going to lick or bite you, staring into your eyes so we can see his evil plans:) The concentration on his face when he eats an ice cream cone and the slightly spaced out expression he gets when he is both tired and watching a movie. The way he swings his arms with fists gently clenched, ho-humming his way through life. The way he sayd "Rosey" and reaches for your arms and calls to the missing parent so we can all do ring around the rosey together. Lately, he's all about Madagascar. it started last week when he was watching the cartoon and we were headed out of town. In a burst of Quinn-shopping, I picked up the movie and then when we were out as a family on a Target run the other day we grabbed Madagascar 2. He can label his animals quite well. The other night we went down to the Mississippi River and Quinn and I ran and ran. Dad stayed with the stroller and walked along, with us yards ahead of him. Quinn discussed that there were obviously fish in the river, as well as turtles. He rode in his stroller on the way home and Luke and I talked about the abandoned building along Shepard Road that would make a cool school. Last night we were at Palace Park. Quinn is making really excellent strides in his climbing, thanks in large part to Luke's dedicated efforts to make him more independent and planful when it comes to ascending things. I think we'll probably spend the upcoming 4th with Luke's family at Lee and Kris'. We can hardly say no to an invite, especially since Quinn is so wickedly happy with Ethan and Ellie. At the recent birthday bash, Ellie drove the two of them around in her Barbie car, cranking on the reverse handle over and over so that they lurched back and forth hilariously. Quinn didn't mind at all being driven around by Ellie and she was a delightful driver. Quinn continues to enjoy his trips to Starbucks on Grand with his Dad for coffee. How fun. He loves his Oreos very much and has learned some different methods for rating them, inspired by watching his Dad open them and eat them in stages. Quinn and I went to the water park twice last week and had a delightful time. It was so warm/hot last week that it seemed the only thing to do. what a relief that this week has been cooler-- for the pocket book at least, not for the activity. This past Sunday we went canoeing and that was big fun. We stopped on the little island there and had our lunch. Quinn sat and ate his apple, dropping the first. The position of this little legs laying in the sand never shifted and his only movements involved bringing his apple to his mouth and picking up near by rocks to throw them into the water. Delightful boy. His cars life jacket is quite adorable on him.