Quin is 15 months old!

Time to sit down, take a breath, and document a little about my now, 15 month old!

You FINALLY took your first steps on Saturday, February 11th...you did it a few times (3 to 5 steps) but that's about it. You walk super stiff legged, but you can do it! You still will walk for us occasionally, but more times than not, we'll stand you up, tell you to walk to us, and you'll sit down and start crawling. So...I think you're just a little lazy. It's ok though, I know you'll be a walker before too long, I am just glad to know you can when you're ready!

I am in the process right now of switching out your clothes from 12-18 months to 18-24 months...pants were getting a little short and your big belly was hanging out of most shirts...I always like change and having a brand new (to YOU) wardrobe every few months is kind of exciting!

You are really starting to talk a bit more every week, although not much of it we can understand. You say MOMMA, BYE, and Hi clear as day. You LOVE shouting BYE and HI at people who are visiting or leaving, and waving or simply holding your hand up. Like 300 times. Over and over and over. You also say "Boo" for Book, and point to it when we go in your room before nap or bedtime...so yes, you LOVE to read. Your favorite is a flap book that you have just about ruined by pulling all of the flaps off of the pages...that is the book you want to read over and over. You understand quite a bit and can follow a simple instruction...although your listening skills are lacking (although I'm sure all 15 month olds are!). Actually I think you have just already mastered "Selective Listening". For some reason you can NEVER hear me tell you to leave Scout's food alone or to NOT go outside when it's snowing and/or raining!

You still LOVE to go out the doggy door, and lately it's been kind of nice outside, so I'll let you play in the backyard and you are as happy as a clam out there. I can't wait for summer. We will be out there ALL. DAY. LONG. The other day I was starting dinner, and looked outside and you were on the trampoline. I went out there to get you down and you saw me coming and got SO excited, so you started crawling towards me, and crawled RIGHT OFF the trampoline and landed right on your head on the picnic table. I was about a foot too far away to catch you. It hurt you and scared the daylights out of momma, but you were ok. Just a little knot on the forehead. Just 5 minutes later you were in the kitchen and you dropped a lid to one of our pots on your little toe. Again, it cut it and you were crying so hard, but you're are a tough little cookie. No wonder I don't get much done around here...look away for 2 seconds and it's never good.

You still sleep from 7:30 or 8 until 7:30. You still LOVE bathtime. YOu seem to be trying to drop your morning nap, but I'm trying to hold out just as long as possible. YOu usually take one GOOD nap a day, and then the other one is hit or miss, you might sleep some or you might just lay in your bed singing, crying, or talking.

You are 100% MONKEY. You can climb almost anywhere. I will not be surprised if you make it up John's bunkbed soon. Your favorite is the kitchen table, because usually there's either a Sonic DP or a McAlister's sweet tea up there...and you definitely help yourself!

You are a KISSER. You love to give kisses...so if Quin comes at you with his mouth wide open, he just wants a kiss. They're pretty sweet, slobbery but sweet and I love each one I get! When he lays his head on my shoulder or cuddles with me, he'll say "awwww".

You are a sweet, busy, handsome, mischievious, loud, loving, precious 15 month old, who keeps life interesting and SO fun!

Chi-town!

My sweet momma turns 60 in March, so we took her on a girl's trip to Chicago to celebrate just a little early! We flew in early on Thursday, February 2nd, and our fun started. We stayed on the "Magnificent Mile" which was awesome because almost everything was within walking distance. We only took a few cabs and those were mainly at night when it was dark and really cold. We definitely got our exercise while we were there!

The first day we ate at Pizza Due', which is famous for their deep dish pizza. And when I say "DEEP DISH" that's just what it was. It looked like a quiche, but with pizza sauce, cheesy goodness, and toppings. My stomach is growling just typing that! The lady suggested we ordered a medium (for 4 of us) and it wasn't very big, (only 6 slices) so we ordered salads, too. Mistake. One piece of that bad boy was MORE than enough. There is no way I could have eaten 2 pieces....I don't think I even finished one. We did luck out though, because supposedly this place ALWAYS has a line out the door, and by the time we flew in, checked into our hotel, and went out in search of lunch or dinner, or LINNER, it was about 3pm, so there was no one there. Score for us! After our awesome true Chicago style pizza, we went to TRader Joe's, a few other shops, including a 3 story Forever 21 (huge disappointment) and no lie (I'm a little embarrassed to say this) we were in our room for the night by 6pm. It felt like 10. We had traveled all day, and we were just worn out.


Day 2 consisted of a morning Starbucks (there was on in our hotel lobby....Score, again, for us!). We got ready, bundled up and went out to explore and find Millenium Park. We got there, saw the BEAN, took some pictures with Marilyn Monroe, and went looking for lunch (yes, food will be a main theme on this blog). We wanted a CHICAGO hot dog, but didn't find the place we were looking for....but we found a "WOW BAO", which after googling and Urban Spooning, and asking a few people that were there ordering, we decided it looked great...and it was! They had AWESOME dumplings, bao's, salads, it was delish. And we didn't feel stuffed, so we definitely had room for a cupcake at Magnolia Bakery. After that, we felt stuffed. But it was so worth it, you could taste the butter in the icing. YUM! We did a good deal of shopping...found an H&M (no disappointment there), a Nordstrom Rack (I was shopped OUT by then) and some other FUN shops! That night we had reservations at Tavern On Rush, and it was wonderful! Steaks and seafood. I had seared tuna, and it was amazing. After dinner, I had some kind of an allergic reaction because my throat and ears were itching, and then later my face and neck turned fire red and I got SO hot...strange, but it eventually went away.






Day 3, started the same as day 2....Starbucks, of course! We took a cab to Navy Pier, which was pretty neat...and pretty cold with it being right on the water. But for Chicago, it was fairly warm, considering they are usually below 0 at this time of year, it was mid 30's-40 everyday we were there. Score, for us...again! At the Navy Pier we rode the big ferris wheel which gave us a great view of the city. We shopped a little, but it was VERY touristy...but we still enjoyed it (since we were, in fact, tourists) and we were glad we saw it! After that, we found Portillo's which serves GREAT Chicago style hotdogs...they were tasty! Dill pickle, mustard, onion, pepper, celery salt...mmmm! After that we went to the "high end" shops (Tory Burch, David Yurman, etc) so it was just to look but it was still fun! I did find a Yurman watch I want to get Ryan....when I have $5300! ha!) It was pretty cold and windy, so we hit up Starbucks again, and shopped as we found our way back to our hotel...but not before we hit up Garrett's Popcorn...again. This place is heavenly. When you turn the corner and are about a block away, you can smell this sugary, buttery goodness. We brought some home, and mine didn't even last a week. It was SO good! We had dinner reservations at Trattoria 10, which was an Italian restraunt. It was good...not as great as Tavern, but still very good. I had asparagus ravioli, and I won the award for "Best Dish of the Night"...voted on by the 4 of us. Everyone's was good, though!





Day 4, we flew out around 3, so we had plenty of time to find a brunchy place...and we found YOLK. Tasty! Jess and I both ordered Crepes (I told you food was a main topic on this trip!) and they were HUGE but AMAZING! We actually boxed our leftovers up and found a homeless, hungry man to give them to (at least we hope he was homeless and hungry)! AFter we stuffed ourselves, it was time to head to the hotel for our shuttle. Sad our trip was over, but ready to get home and see our BOYS! All of them! I sure missed my babies, but they were in GREAT hands with daddy and Nena, who came in town to keep them on Thursday and Friday while Ryan was working, what an AMAZING "Nena" we have. So very blessed! I know she loved her time here with them...I know she was worn out afterwards though! And to my fabulous husband who had the house picked up and ALL the laundry done when I returned...thank you for letting me get away for a few days, and have some "ME" time...You're the best!

What a fun fun trip we had!!! Chicago was SO fun and had the best shopping ever...and I'm not even really a "shopper" so that says alot. We had a great time and I am so lucky to have 2 sisters and a momma who I love SO SO much!