90% Angel; 10% Tyrannical Howler Monkey

When the Nugget is good, she is really, really good. When she is bad, she is awful. This was in a story I remember being read to me as a child, and now I think my mother was trying to tell me something. She has said several times I am raising myself, that my child acts like I did as a baby. If I could remember the book, I would add it to the ever expanding library of children's books in our house. So far I Love You Stinky Face and I was So Mad are my favorite titles in our collection. Since I love books so much, I am forcing it on Quinn which means she will probably not like them. I have images of us going to the library and picking out books and sitting down for story hour. Isn't it nice when you can still live under the delusion your children will want to go along with all of the grand plans I have so lovingly conjured? Yeah, even I am not that naive. 

Back to the Howler Monkey, there are no parenting books I read nor know of that can adequately prepare you for the reign of terror a child can have during a temper tantrum. I am really hoping this happens to other children and not just mine. She can turn moods in the time it takes you to blink, and I am in no way exaggerating the speed with which she turns her temper on. My mother-in-law says Quinn has the quickest temper she has ever seen on a baby. I'm hoping that its just because it has been awhile since she has cared for an infant she feels this way.

On Easter weekend, Quinn showed her true colors in a spectacular meltdown at my mothers expense. Bnonna innocently bent over to pick up the Nugget and a scream that I am sure I have never heard before came out of her tiny lungs. Two hours later of letting her cry, warm baths, etc she finally settled down. That blood curdling scream wasn't heard again for 6 weeks, when she met my cousin Andrew and then again the next morning when Meme was holding her. Sister does not mess around when she wants to let lose. Luckily these meltdown were not as long in duration but still as nerve rattling. 

June was especially full of meltdowns for her, then mine. Thus the reason for my break from blogging. I'm getting back on track since Quinn seems to be settling into a more subdued version of the meltdown. Let's hope I did not just curse myself but typing that. 

Crying is allowed as long as I can take a picture

Charlie loves her when shes quiet.

Taken right before she punched the dog, not on purpose. I think.

Six Months and All Is Well...

 

SIX Months

 

12 lbs 10 ozs, 24.5 inches

3% and 5% respectively

on the Term Baby Growth Chart!! She has made it on the "normal" baby measurement system. Her head is 15%, so like the pictures show her head is huge. Maybe it is just her cheeks. Her doctor says she is doing great for a 6 month old, her physical therapist says she's on track for a 4.5 month old. I really wish they would get on the same page but since the likelihood of this happening is about the same as everyone wanting the same person for political office, I choose to believe she perfect just as she is.

 

 



Swimming with Style

Quinn's first swimsuit

Funcle and the bathing beauty (I'm sure Winston Churchill looked this good!)

Quinn Loves the Pool, then again who wouldn't if you got to ride in style like this.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is a great picture of how big her cheeks are!

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.