Fancy Pictures

Febreeze Ad, Quinn Style

Angel Baby

Quinn enjoys being the center of attention

Family Photo with Winston Churchill

 



I used to think I was a good photographer, until I met Melissa Sweazy. She is amazing, she captures the images as they appear in my head but they never quite translate to the pictures. Melissa has captured our engagement, marriage, family photos, and now Quinn's newborn pictures. I love the way she is able to capture our personalities consistently. Even if this is not an authentic newborn shoot, it was done in true Quinn fashion. It was done on her own time, on her terms and it turned out better than I expected.

 

 

 

4 Months.

Her First Picture

She really enjoys looking at herself, others are fine but she prefers herself. Scary.

 

Three years ago today I moved to Memphis. Four months ago today I become a mom. In the awful year that was 2009, I would have never thought I would have been in this state of domestic bliss. In fact, I am not going to talk about it because it is even nauseating to me.

Quinn went to the doctor today for her four month check and shots and weighs in at 10.8 pounds and 22 inches long. She is almost on the term baby curve for height and 3% for weight. Despite her aversion to eating in an efficient manner, she is doing great. Her doctor said she clearly not suffering in the nutrition department, so not to worry about her eating. Easy for him to say, worrying is now my new profession and frankly its exhausting.

Round the Waking Clock

 

 

This picture sums up feeding Quinn. It is exhausting and it often requires an adult beverage to complete. Her struggle to finish bottles in the NICU has continued, and amplified. She now "eats" every 2-3 hours and it takes FOREVER. Occasionally she will throw us a bone and eat in 15 minutes, but typically it takes about 45 minutes to an hour to finish 2 ozs. I have started supplementing breast milk with her preemie formula to ensure she gets the calories. Quinn has not really nursed since she came home from the NICU. Although pumping exclusively is not my idea of a great time, I am grateful because I would not know how much milk she is taking and I am quite certain I would lose my mind if I had to feed her all the time.

 

 

Clearly, she is not starving. She weighs about 10.5 lbs and her cheeks continue to defy gravity. Her wrists and legs even have fat rolls, a major accomplishment given her scrawny beginning. She is adorable and stubborn and feeding her should be a requirement for any one considering having a child or used as a method to make sure you never have to make dinner again. When faced with the decision of feeding her or making dinner, 10 of 10 times people will make homemade dumplins.

 

Blessings Countinue.

Aunts make the best conversationalists.

 Its hard work lifting her cheeks.

Baby snuggle time makes happy people.

 Despite her simian appearance, she's all baby.

 

I've always known I was blessed. My life in the last few months has proven this over and over. Family, friends, and pretty much every one we have encountered on this journey has shown us love and support. Even when we are tired, cranky, and just plain irritable, people in our lives are overwhelmingly wonderful to us. They cook for us, help with encouraging words, and let us take naps (my personal favorite). Quinn is fortunate enough to have aunts and uncles who care so much for her and her well-being. From Funcle sending multiple articles on her care and keeping to her Aunt Liza teaching her the rules of being a baby to Auntie Lori giving her a ton of Mizzou paraphernalia to become a proper tiger, Quinn has received so much love and attention. I am reminded daily of our fortune of her overall health and calmness.

 

Last week we went to visit STO at his office, by chance her twin neighbors from the NICU were there. Their mother also suffered from toxemia but hers had not resolved like mine did. She was visiting one of STO's partners and I got to hold her babies who were three weeks younger than our Nugget. They weighed 2 lbs less than her and looked so much smaller. I feel so fortunate our girl is strong and healthy. Given her beginnings, it could have gone any way. So far, she's serious, content, and not happy when she thinks she's being excluded from any conversation. When she was born so tiny and helpless, it was hard to envision. But like everyone assured me, she is thus far a normal child. However, she comes from a long line of awesomeness so I expect once she stays awake for longer than 4 hours it will exude from her being. 

Three Months and Counting.

 Three Month Stats
         9.2 lbs
         21 inches
         50% height and weight for her adjusted age
         99% for cheek circumference

 

Quinn is already practicing her dance moves, she has inherited her father and brother's penchant for this form of expression.

 

She has inherited my flair for the dramatic, she has won her first faux pageant. I may have created a few of these whenever I see spare ribbon that is begging to be a sash. The latest being my cousin Will's wedding which upped the ante by providing a scepter which made me queen. I love that I have been able to pass this down to my child, even if she has no choice.

Easter Blessings

Grandparents love pictures. 

 Sibling picture, don't they look thrilled.

 Proud Daddy.

Bnonna is very happy and colorful.

 Pictures are exhausting.

Nugget has had enough and doesn't care to talk to her momma, despite my best stories.

 

Luckily the entertainment was ready for the afternoon show.

 

              We are so blessed to have families that enjoy each other and celebrate holidays together.
              We are very grateful for this and our many blessings.

Family Bonding.

 Reecer tells her the facts of life.

Funcle tries the sling.

 Bailey has her own doll.

 Quinn has already started squaking at Bnonna