My sweet, sweet son. He is getting very good about recounting his days to me. His memory is selective, but strong, and routines are a fundamental part of how he organizes his experiences. For example, yesterday Quinn and Dad went to get coffee. They always go to the Starbucks on Grand. Then, they walk to Creative Kids Stuff and Quinn knows that a visit for coffee means that he can go to the toy store. Quinn shared with me that the horse and barn he wanted yesterday he couldn't get because we didn't "have enough money", but he did manage to come home with a bear figurine, that is being called Brother Bear. Lately, we're all about our tools again and we continue to love our rocket and Little Einsteins. They play together and occasionally fight together, though we try to nip that in the bud. Lately, he seems perfectly content to play in his room with his toys. He still watches the occasional Ferb or, of late, Kungfu Panda, but he also focuses well during independent play time. I think he's going to really do well in preschool and his mind is ready for that kind of structure and exploration. We have our parent meeting tomorrow night and I am excited to learn more, meet other parents and get this new phase of his life rolling. Quinn fell asleep last night to Becky's Christmas, though that was after several readings of Swing, the cool book that has pictures that movie when you move the page back and forth. Quinn was all about hearing it several times last night. Dad's go to book, to get him down for nap is Horton. The longer ones allow for our voices to lull him to sleep, when all is going well. We continue with our bath, waffle, stories, bed routine and it seems to be working, though the bath sometimes energizes him. He has taken to running about fully naked. Yesterday he ran into the room and immediately began jumping about, full of smiles and energy. I could still see the streaks of white on his legs where the lotion hadn't fully been able to soak in. Funny boy. Quinn and I are sleeping in the big bed lately and Luke has taken up residency in the Star Wars bed. It just makes good sense to give Quinn the room he needs to stretch out. Often times I'll wake up and see him at an off angle, taking up a good 2/3 of the bed. One evening he ended up perpendicular to me somehow. I trust that we're not going to change the co-sleeping and the nursing in one big move so I just have to roll with it and thank my lucky stars that we were able to assume the big bed and leave the twin behind. In my new state, that additionally room and comfort is much appreciated. Quinn is all about suckers. I think the first place he got a sucker was at Kid's Hair. The second place they found their way into his heart and mouth was at the Children's Museum. Their gift shop has them and they became quite the regular snack for Quinn this summer when we attended. Now I've picked up a container of organic ones at Trader Joe's and he has one once a day. It may be fulfilling multiple needs and so I am ok with their use. As life goes, they will surely be replaced with an activity or be forgotten for some other reason. For now, that and him sucking his fingers is going to be ok:) Quinn is quite the singer. He definitely has that "end of the line" singing thing going. He hears that the best and so we can sing along. At the same time, he knows what he is hearing and the choreography for that line, say, in his vacation bible school songs. Hopefully whatever new car we manage to procure will have a cd player and we can make music a bigger part of our travel time. The latest dvd player has broken and so we're without visual stimulation:) Alas, 21st century kids CAN go without some of their 21st century influences. Must start getting ready for school. Off to 3 days of disciplinary literacy. Whoo hoo.