just a few days gone by.

Sometimes in mommyhood just a few days gone by can change so much.
It happens occasionally, where one day they are doing the same things they always have been and the next they are a different child doing 5 new things you haven't seen before.
It's all part of the fun ride of watching them grow.

This little love nugget here...

is growing up so quickly and so beautifully.

In just a matter of a few days she has become more brave, confident and silly.
She is doing so much better in a large group, feeling more comfortable and needs mommy a little less.
She is trying to hold back her tears and be stronger when someone else in the room cries.  (She is a compassionate girl who does not like sadness or trouble.)

What is so fun about this age and what she is doing now, is that she is discovering feelings, emotions, and social gestures.
The past few days when we arrive somewhere new and greet new people she puts on this big sweet (almost fake- to me because I know her) smile on.  And she keeps it on every time someone new talks to her.  This is so different from our shy girl who nuzzles into mommy's chest or rests her head on my shoulder with more of a serious look. 
She is brave.
She is trying.
She is so much stronger than she was just a few days ago.

This morning she was in a little timeout for dripping her cup onto the floor purposefully.
She sat there and teared up (like usual) but then quickly pulled the tears away and put this huge cheesy smile on her face, then made a silly wiggle her tongue face, then giggled (all for me, because she could see that I was not happy with her and she was trying to make me smile).  It was SO hard not to smile right back at her.  I did.  Because I'm also teaching her that her little gestures can have a big impact, that she can make someone smile and brighten their day.  I want her to be like the little boy in the video I had posted that goes back on the rainy road to help someone walk across it.  So, I smiled of course, but still was firm on the no spilling on purpose. :)

Last night we went to a family dinner for all of Todd's volleyball team and their families.  It was so fun, and so nice in so many ways.  It was a gorgeous evening outside, at their beautiful home.  It was fun to get to see all of the boys outside of the volleyball court.  Todd has such a nice group of boys on the team, so sweet and kind and just good kids. 
Quinn had the best time, she could have stayed forever.  She was a different girl.  This is where things can change in the blink of an eye.
She barely needed mommy, or sat in my lap.  She put on her happy smiley face every time someone talked to her.  She found a little frog and tried to say "frog".  When her favorite song came on, she let everyone know it was her favorite song.  When we were sitting around talking to all of the boys she kept pointing to her shoes, which I knew was code for take them off please.  She wanted to show the boys her new pedicure (which she loves).  And they were so sweet to oooh and ahhhh at her little toesies for her.  It made her smile.

Yup.  First little pedicure.  She loved it. :)

Back to our volleyball evening.
There was music, there was volleyball in the grass, there was swimming.  Quinn joined in with everything.  Well, she really tried to.  As in, she would have jumped into the pool with her dress on if she could have.  And she would run into the grass volleyball court to play with the big boys.
She was such a good girl and had so much fun.
The cutest and sweetest thing of the evening though was when she walked right up to one of the boys (Johnny) and reached out for his hand and led him to the steps.  She wanted to go with him down to the grass volleyball court.  And they did.  Her cuteness can be very persuasive. :)
Now, this was probably just a sweet little moment to everyone who saw, but to this mama this moment was HUGE.  Quinn does not go up to people she doesn't know and initiate play or conversation.  And she did this twice last night.  I was so proud of her.

In just a few days, so much can change.

Seeing her playing with all of these high school boys made me think of being little and growing up around my Dad's high school basketball team.  It is so fun.  It's such a great way to grow up and be around so many good kids.  Growing up around sports, not just participating, but being involved in other ways too is such a good thing.  I've talked about that here.
We are all lucky to be part of something so fun, rewarding, and that brings people together.


-------------------------------------------------

Life is so good.
Our days are always filled with fun, happiness and love.
But the last few days have just felt extra blissful I guess.

We had Todd home all weekend, always makes for an extra special weekend.

We went to a birthday party for our little friends Greyson and Finn.
We got to see friends.
And we made and brought these Lego cookies. :)

Todd and I had a date night out with a group of 15 of my high school friends.
It was so special that we were able to get such a big group together.
We enjoyed a fun and delicious dinner at the Melting Pot.
I only took one picture.  With this pretty birthday girl, Danielle.

It was a late evening out, and we were so grateful that our little Quinny was in good hands with Great Grandma Ginny. :)

The next morning, this tired mama was still in bed when a little girl came running in with a smile and note asking if she and her daddy could take me out to breakfast for mother's day (Todd is working next weekend).  So we did, and we had a wonderful day together.

And the next day was filled with painting and pedicures, and pretty dresses.
We all know that I love a pretty maxi dress.  Quinn wore her first one to the volleyball party last night. 

 

What a wonderful few days.



the good in the world.

Sometimes we need to be reminded of the beauty in the world that we live. 
The last several months have been filled with too many sad stories on the news, too many hardships, too many tragedies. 
It's important for us to not lose faith in humanity. 
To continue to see the kindness around us and give it whenever we can. 
The little acts of kindness are in fact BIG to those on the receiving end.  
I was on this blog, and watched this video.  I was so touched and moved and uplifted, I decided it was worth spreading the love and kindness in any way that I can.  
My friend Danielle, told me a story about how last week she was driving down the highway and came upon a horrible car accident that had just happened.  Immediately and without hesitation, she pulled over with her kids in the car, got out and ran through the mud, losing her shoes along the way, to help those involved.  She performed CPR on one of the passengers until emergency response arrived. 
She is the good. 
There is so much good around us. 
Sometimes our focus is pulled from that. 
No matter how big or small, every act of kindness is BIG to those on the other side of it. 

The video is from Russian dash cameras.
Turn up the volume. 
You may even tear up a little like I did at 4:26.

"It’s a cold, dark world, but people still take your hand and help you cross the street. I don’t know, I just think that’s kind of beautiful."

happiness is...

seeing spring for the first time in your new home.

a maroon 5 song playing on the radio.

a handful of m&m's (quinny)

being silly.

I'm not sure if she was so excited about all the flowers or just the fact that it was finally a warm and sunny day.  Is she sunbathing?

a volleyball game victory.

seeing little baby duckies.

dancing anywhere.

making someone else smile.

a dandelion-free yard. :)

Oh wait, that picture was taken three days ago.  Now we host a whole field of dandelions.  sweet.
Quinn and I picked some the first day we saw them, the next morning four times as many were out there.  She started to go pick them (well, she points to the ones she wants me to pick) and I said "nope, not today sweetheart", I was exhausted by the thought of how quickly they grow.
We are trying hard to be patient with a yard that went uncared for, for two years.  oh well.

Nothing that a scoop of ice cream from our favorite local custard shop can't fix.

ice cream.

ahhh...
happiness.

Happy Weekend!


PS. This is post #360 for this little blog.  How did that happen?

projects and crafts and parties...oh my!

That's my Wizard of Oz reference for today.

And it's really just my way of saying that I have revamped our PROJECTS page so that it is easier to view and easier to find a project to individually view instead of having to scroll through all of them.
Our projects page gets viewed pretty regularly so I figured an update was necessary. 
Plus there is always some kind of DIY project going on around here, usually several at the same time, so just by numbers alone, we definitely needed to revamp the page.

You can still click the page link under the header called all things DIY.
or you can CLICK HERE.
You can check out a new Subway Art project I tackled last week.

What is in the works right now?
- headboards (one tufted, one rustic plank, and one beadboard)
- a few bridal shower crafts
- redesigning/painting a bookshelf for Quinn's room
- 3 different art craft projects for Quinn's room

Also have been reorganizing closets around here, and there may be some projects involved in that as well.

And there are a few more things I just finished up that will need to get posted soon.
We hope that maybe someone might find one of our projects to be insightful or helpful for them, but we also like to just document them for ourselves too.

In the meantime, Quinn and I have been spending TONS of time playing outside.
We are off to a music class at the library this morning.
And Todd is in the last month of the school year, and enjoying a great season of coaching. :)

Have a wonderful day!!

the battle of the bottle.

Quinn never attached herself to a pacifier.

 

Somewhere along the way the bottle became her pacifier.

Her soother.

In many ways it was great because if she lost it in her crib it was much easier to find than a paci.  She would find it quickly on her own before a cry would start and fall right back to sleep. 

It doesn't need to have anything in it, it's just a soother.

 

Quinn was about 15/16 months when we started to feel like it was the right time for her to start to separate herself from the bottle.  Sure she drank from sippy cups earlier than this, but it was never the same for her.  Unfortunately right around this stage we were also in pack up the house, things are crazy, go live with grandma ginny, move into a new and strange house phase.  It was too much, and I just knew it was not the time to add another huge change for her. 

We waited until we were settled in and by the end of the fall it was pretty much gone from the day (except for when she is sick - how in the world does any mama deny their only soother when they are sick?)

 

Now just like the battle of how to transition the paci away from nighttime for others, we battle the how to transition the bottle from nighttime.  We have encountered a new battle, a new attempt many times.  Several have worked but then a sickness falls and we are right back to where we started. 

Over all this time it has only ever held a little water or just been completely empty, it is just like a paci for her. 

 

Last night I tried another one of these attempts at bedtime.  But it was a battle for me more than it was the right time for her.  I was ready last night to make the break, but I should have known better that it wasn't the right time for her.  She still has a cold, a cough, and took a slept only in the car nap.

 

I have always been an easygoing, do what's right for her, for us, kind of mama.

I needed to be reminded of that last night.

 

As the conversation with my darling husband resembled something like this:

 

Me:  We created this bad habit for her.  We need to start to break it. 

Todd:  Why is it a bad habit?

        It's her one thing.  It soothes her.  She is such a good sleeper.  She is a good girl.  It's her one thing.

       (and with a big sweet silly smile on his face)

        Is there some law out there that says she can't have it? 

       Do you think that all the moms of the world are going to get together to tell you that you are a bad mom?

       It's not a bad habit babe.

 

I love him.

 

Every thought that was usually in my head had left last night.  I needed to be told what I had always been thinking.  Be the parents we have always been.

 

The parents who do what is right for her, not what is right for everyone else.

 

When she is no longer sneezing, or coughing.  When she is in her normal sleeping routine.

When she is her usual happy easygoing self.

Then we will try again.  And when it is right for her we will know.

 

To the mamas of the world, fighting any battle with themselves. 

It's okay.

We aren't perfect, but you know in your heart that you know what is best for your child.

No child ever follows a book.

Life is more simple than that.

 

Last week was filled with sneezes, cuddles, tissues, thermometers, and comfy jammies.
Quinn was running a fever for several days, and fortunately has kicked that but is still getting over a lingering cough, and watery eyes. :(

Todd's volleyball team continues it's winning streak. :)

Crafts and projects and party things are strewn across the kitchen counter...more updates on those later.

And Great Grandma Ginny is home from Arizona!  Yea!  We enjoyed seeing her yesterday, catching up, and enjoying breakfast.

And yes, a morning post means a morning nap.  I think she will be taking two today.

the remote control.

just for fun.