Playdate with Larz

My good friend Marisa came over with her little boy Larz for a playdate. We take music class together, so Quinn and Larz do know eachother. It was so much fun to watch them play together. Larz is a little bit older than Quinn, so he was showing her all his moves and tricks. He can even walk by himself already (way to go Larz!). We decided they can play together until they're about 14 years old.....haha.

Nice about this playdate too was that Marisa and I finally had some time to chat and catch-up. Normally it's just quick chatting during or after music class. Now we actually got to talk about things a little longer.
Thanks Marisa and Larz for taking the drive up her and play with us!

ps. Marisa took more pictures of the two munchkins so I will add those later.

Last day at Music Together

December 2nd was our last day at Music Together. For this season that is. Quinn LOVES it so much, and so do I, so we signed up for the next season again starting January 6.
You can really tell Quinn is enjoying the class a lot. They way she is moving around and responding to the music, it's just so much fun to watch. They only thing she still got to learn is that the instruments are for making music/noise, not for putting them in your mouth.
She recognizes the songs when we play them at home or in the car. They bring a big smile on her face.
We can't wait for another season of Music Together.

Quinn is 10 months old!

10 months today! It seems like I was just writing your 9 month blog post....And now we're one month older again.
It has been a very busy month for you little munchkin. You have grown and learned a lot! Your world is expanding. You are on the go every wake moment. And you keep me on the go as well :-)

Playing Peekaboo is one of your favorite games....

and pulling yourself up to standing is one of your latest achievements.....

"Seriously mom, how many more pictures are you going to take?"

I could take pictures of you all day long! Unfortunately, you are more interested in the camera itself (that is, grabbing it with your little paws and putting it in your mouth) and are not very fond of looking at it anymore when I try to take a picture. So it takes lots of silly faces, singing and other tricks to get you to look right at it.

Fun facts about being 10 months old:

* you say 'mama' and 'dada'

* you can babble, babble and babble a whole story together

* when we sing to you or when you hear music, you rock you body from left to right and back

* you look at the computer when you hear an email coming in

* you put your hands in the air when we say 'how big is Quinn' (in Dutch)

* your schedule looks about like this:

7am: wakeup time and breakfast (milk)

8.30am: bath

9am-10.30am: nap

10.45am: fruit

12.15pm: lunch (milk, cereal, bread)

1.30-3.30pm: nap

4.45pm: dinner (vegetables, potatoes/rice/pasta and sometimes also meat + yoghurt as dessert)

7pm: milk with cereal

7.15pm: bed time

* You have ONE tooth: your left middle tooth on the bottom came through on November 20

* I can see the start of your SECOND tooth coming through as well (right middle tooth on the bottom). That might be the reason why you have been waking up a few times at night in the past few days :-(.

* you are still army crawling. You know how to sit on your hand and knees, but as soon as you're moving forward, you slide to your belly. And as fast as you go this way, I don't think you feel the need to change that.

* you are pulling yourself up to standing. A major achievement, which makes us having to watch you even more though......you like to stand, but you forget to hold on sometimes. Luckily we have carpet in the living room....
* we put your crib mattress down to the lowest level on the 25th of November. I found you standing in your crib one day later. Like you were waiting for it!

* you love playing catch with your football.

* you're very interested in non-toys
* your little fingers find every tiny tine little crumb or fussball there is on the floor. You make mommy vacuum every day.

* you love it when we chase you on the floor. You stop moving and start to giggle when we almost got you.

I can go on an on about all the funny things that you do. You're such an entertainer. You know what you want already and don't hesitate to let us know it.
We love you little munchkin.

Merry Thanksgiving

What do you get when you celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas at the same day? A Merry Thanksgiving!
Yes, Thanksgiving was extra special this year: it included presents from Santa Claus. We will be in Holland for Christmas this year. And even though Quinn doesn't have a clue of what's going on yet, it is grandma and grandpa Eversons first year with a grandchild, so we didn't want to deny them the fun of Christmas presents.
Quinn was in awe with all the wrapped boxes and gift bags. She didn't know what to do at first, but quickly got the hang of it and understood that wrapping paper is LOTS of FUN.

A quick look at a new toy before going on to the next.....

This box has a big bow grandma...

You can see her think: "Wow grandpa, did Santa got you some diapers? I can't believe it, you're wearing the same size as I do!"

Wrapping paper would keep her entertained for an entire day.

Santa brought Quinn a Dino walker and ride-on. Now that she is standing up more and more, she can practice walking with it.

No time to waste. Daddy had to put it together right away....Hurry hurry....

Ta-daaaa!!!!!!!!!

Her little legs barely touch the floor, so we will need to help her out a little. But I'm sure that soon she will be crossing around on her own.

I have so much to be thankful for. A great husband, a great loving family and awesome friends in both the USA and in Holland and the most beautiful and sweetest little girl I could have ever dreamed of.
I love you all!

Ps. Quinn, just that you know.....there won't be presents every year at Thanksgiving honey.

Standing up

Quinn has mastered the skill to go from belly to standing. And now she knows how to do it, she is exploring her expanded world. She LOVES the tv cabinet, because it has the receiver and a DVD player in it, with lights and buttons to push. I know, we can close the door. But I want her to learn that she can't touch everything also. So as long as someone is in the room to watch her, we're leaving it open.

What is it actually with kids and non toys like cellphone and remotes. Quinn loves to play with our cellphones. We got her a fisher price toy cellphone. But hey, that's not the same! And the remote.....the most interesting thing EVER. So we got her her own remote of an old tv (took the batteries out of course). She can push on all the buttons that she wants, she can put it in her mouth, throw it around, whatever she wants to do with it......what does she do with it? Not much. She wants the other remote. She KNOWS that that's the REAL one. Haha....

Crawling into small places is another favorite thing to do. These days, she rather plays underneath her excersaucer then in it.

Go Pack Go!

Daddy is out hunting. It's just mommy and Quinn at home. So what do we do? Put on our Packers gear and get ready for some Sunday afternoon football!

I am getting more into football every year since I moved here. And ever since my first game at Lambeau field a few weeks ago, I really got the Packers blood running through my veins. I even got a jersey: #21 Charles Woodson. I have to admit, it wasn't until AFTER I got the jersey that I found out he is a Cornerback (I asked Ryan what position he played.....ouch) and that he was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year last season.....Well, details. Fact is: I AM A PACKERS FAN. And way to go Woodson! I'm proud to wear your number!

Got milk for Quinn, tea for myself, let the game begin!

Touchdown!!!! The Packers scored many of them today. And the Minnesota Vikings......none.
Packers beat the Vikings 31 to 3. 

Quinn loves it when we play catch with her little football. Hopefully she takes after her dad when it comes to catching the ball......;-)

Quinn is 9 months old!

Our little baby is becoming a big girl: 9 months old!!!! You can see by the smile on her face how excited she is about that. 9 months is such a fun age. And even though I can't wait for all the new things she will be doing soon, sometimes I wish I could stop time for while. It is going soooo fast. Soon she won't be considered 'baby' anymore.

9 months stats:

weight: 17 lbs 1.5 oz (7700 grams)

height: 27.5 inches (70 cm)

head circumference: 45.3 cm

We are so blessed with our little girl.
She is such a happy little person and her smiles just make us melt.

Other things going on at 9 months:

* she giggles when you try to tickle her, or play airplane or peekaboo, or chase her.

* she army crawls all around the house. And she is fast at it!

* she already very well knows the fire place is off limits. She always looks at me or Ryan first, smiles, and then takes off to it.

* she loves to play catch with the football and does a really good job trying to throw it back at you!

* we had a few weeks in which her sleeping pattern was a bit messed up, but she's pretty much back on track again:

- she goes to bed around 7.15pm and sleeps till 6.30/7.00am

- her morning nap still starts exactly 2 hours after she gets up and lasts about 1 to 1,5 hours.

- her afternoon nap starts around 1.15/1.30pm and normally lasts 1,5 to 2,5 hours, depending on how long she slept in the morning and what we did in the morning (after the Little Gym she can sleep up to 3 hours sometimes).

* her favorite show is Nijntje (the American readers probably don't know Nijntje, but it's about a cute little bunny). She is very excited when she gets to watch it on tv and she starts to smile as soon as she hears the Nijntje tune:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9vyYmJXzk8

* she had her first cold at 8 months and 1 week. Luckily it only lasted 2 days, but I felt soooo bad for her. Her little nose was so plugged up, which made it almost impossible for her to suck her thumb. And she sooo needs that little thumb of her, especially when it's time to sleep.

 * I thought for sure that cold would be the sign of her first tooth coming in, but......nope. No tooth yet until this date. The drooling and chewing on everything and anything is still there though.

* Ryan heard her say 'mama' one day before her 9-months birthday.

We love you little peanut! You fill our hearts with so much love. I wouldn't mind having 10 more like you! (well, maybe not 10....., but another one for sure).