Quinn at 30 months

 

Hi my sweet darlin'!

 

This month you are 30 months aka 2.5 years old.

 

You can count to twenty.
 

You can sing the ABCs in English and French.
 

You can sing part of O’Canada.
 

You know your name starts with a Q and you can write the letter Q.
 

You recognize the first letters of many of the children 's names at daycare.
 

You love the movie Frozen and know the lyrics of many of the songs.
 

 

You love blueberries, cantaloupe, grapes, pineapple, goldfish crackers, oatmeal, noodles.
 

We can talk to you about anything and you understand and respond.
 

If you don’t remember something, you’ll ask for help or try to get more information to help you remember.
 

You put your whole head under water and you also try to hold your breath.
 

You are quite good at gymnastics. You can walk the balance beam without help (just spotting), you can somersault and you love jumping on the trampoline.

 

You love reading and will often ‘read’ stories aloud (you will make up a story based on the pictures).
 

 

 

You remember lines from many stories. Your favorites are Mortimer, 50 Below Zero and Jason Cleaned up and then Heard a Sound.
 

You are 100% potty trained and you like to do your business in private. You can climb on and off the regular potty using a stool and you wash and dry your hands all by yourself.
 

You love helping and have some assigned chores to do around the house.
 

You help with laundry - loading the washer, transferring to the dryer, sorting and putting away.
 

You feed the dogs their dinner.
 

You put your dishes away in your cupboard.
 

You vacuum, often without prompting if you see a dust bunny roll by.
 

You love dusting and wiping windows.
 

You love helping little kids and babies. You bring them toys, hold their hands, rub their tummies and are just plain adorable with them.
 

 

If you want something upstairs, you always tell us before you climb the stairs so we know where you are.
 

You love coloring, painting and playing with playdough.
 

You love watching Dora the Explorer, Franklin, Sesame Street and anything Muppets.
 

 

You are the best thing that every happened to Daddy and I.
 

 

You are gorgeous on the inside and out.
 

 

We could not be prouder of your accomplishments and we love watching you grow.
 

 

All my love forever and ever,

Mommy

A Room for Little Mister

 

I am all about window shopping for inspiration but am very bad at pulling the trigger and getting stuff done. Case in point, Quinn's room. Actually case in point, my entire house.

I have half projects lying around, new projects ready to get started and a head full of new ideas. What I lack are time, motivation and skillz. Hmpf.

So I have decided that my mission in life right now aside from 1) keeping a 2.5 year old alive and happy 2) growing another human being and 3) personally surviving, is finally getting shit done.

With a tiny human getting ready to join the world in four short months its high time a room for little man is started.

So today, I give you my inspiration for little mister's room.

 

I shall call it "Totally Nautical Dude"

My initial inspiration came from this:

 

And then I saw this wall and knew I had to do some thing similar:

 

via

 

But instead of dots, let's make em gold anchors.

Yeahhhhh baby.

via

Orrrrr maybe some gold stars?

via

 

And while we're at it, let's add some bookshelves like this:

 

via

 

Or just full out copy my faves over at Young House Love and add some built-ins?

 

via

 

Cute, right?!

 

xo, Vicky

Birthday/Babymoon in Boston

My hubby turned 30 on Friday.

I told him to pick somewhere we could jet off to for a weekend.

He chose Boston.

I think I said things like, "what about San Francisco?" or "what about somewhere with temperatures are in the positives?"

He declined.

 

So off to Boston we went.

We = me + hubby. Quinn had an extended sleepover at Grandma and Grumpa's. Since we'll be a family of four in four short months (HOLY MOTHER OF EFF), we thought it wise to take one last parentals-only vacation.

 

Before I begin our trip recap, I would like to start off with some thoughts on letting your significant other book your air travel:

 

When they tell you they got a ridiculous deal on roundtrip airfare to Boston, ask some questions.

 

Here are my suggestions:

 

- What is the name of the airline and is it a reputable company?

- Does the airplane have more than 9 seats?

- Does the airplane resemble a glider more than it does a commerical airplane?

 

The reason I suggest asking these questions, is to avoid arriving at the airport and seeing this waiting for you on the tarmac...

 

 

 It also avoids things like:

- being asked to co-pilot the flight (I'm exaggerating slightly, but they will make you sit beside the pilot)

- sitting through the most frightening flight of your life. It honestly felt like riding a roller coaster. At several points during the flight I seriously contemplated whether the pilot knew what he was doing.

 

 (smiling to hide my TERROR)

 

Oh and since I mentioned THE pilot, um yeah there's only one. If said pilot has some sort of life threatening health emergency, the plane is going down. There's no backup, no other trained person on board. You are totally screwed.

 

So yeah, it was terrifying. But it was a fucking bargain, let me tell you.

 

Anyways, Boston.  

First day we stayed at a hotel across the street from Faneuil Hall.

 

 

We perused Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market. 

We ate an expensive meal at The Chart House in the harbour. 

 

We took cute selfies by the harbour.

 

 

We returned to Faneuil Hall for dessert and then went back to our room and watched Wolf of Wallstreet. 

Next morning we had breakfast in the North End.

 

 

We then packed up and drove to an outlet in South Boston, then we headed to two outlets in New Hampshire. Tilton and North Conway to be exact.

 

We stayed the night in North Conway, NH and then drove to Salem.

 

Here's a funny fact for you - did you know there are two Salems in the US? One in New Hampshire and one in Massachusetts. When you ask the cashier at Target in Salem, New Hampshire about where all the Salem Historical places are, don't be surprised if she looks confused. If you want to see Salem witch-related stuff, please get back in your car and drive to the appropriate state. Lesson learned.

 

So after a detour in Salem, New Hampshire, we finally ended up in Salem, Massachusetts. We ate lunch and saw this creepy house where the first witches of Salem supposedly lived.

 

 

There really wasn't much to see there so we got back in the car and drove back to Boston.

 

On our final day in Boston we went to the New England Aquarium.

 

Turtles, penguins, seals oh my!

 

 

Overall great trip.

Thankful to be back home in one piece, albeit our wallets came back home a little worse for wear. 

 

 

On the plus side, our unborn child now has an extensive wardrobe of adorable clothes.

 

xo, Vicky 

Say What Now? - Edition Six

 

#1

Mommy: "What happened at school today?"

Quinn: "I stepped in a muddle"

Muddle = mud puddle?

 

#2

Daddy walks in after Quinn had a tantrum...

"Daddy, I just freaked out about Popsicles!"

 

#3

After finding a book under her bed that we'd been looking for weeks for:

Quinn: "Daddy, Mommy is gonna be so proud!"

 

xo, Mama

BABY JUMPING IS A ...

BOY!!!

 

I'm honestly still in shock.

I guess I convinced myself I was carrying a girl, so when I saw that blue icing inside, I was very, very surprised! 

 

I think its fair to say the nub theory is maybe not as sound as I had thought it to be...

 

Needless to say, we are all thrilled and can't wait to meet this little guy in July!

 

Now onto party details!

 

Our gender reveal party was SO MUCH FUN!

 

We decided once everyone arrived, to have them vote either Team Boy or Team Girl.

 

To help them make a decision, I had printed off a list of Old Wives tales and my answers.

Of the 20 questions, my answers came back:

Girl = 15

Boy = 2

Inconclusive = 3

 

With those answers and their own predictions in mind, the votes came back 9:5 in favour of Team Boy.

 

 

And then we got to eating...

 

 

 

Before:

 

 

In perhaps a twist of fate, the three of us coincidentally grabbed blue cupcakes...

 

During:

 

After:

 

Oh and at the very moment we found out, my adorable sister cued up this song:

 

 

She said if it had been pink icing she would have played:

 

 

Like I said, she's adorable.

 

 

BOY OH BOY!!!

 

 

It was such a fun night and great way for us to share the news with our families.

Now that we know what Baby Jumping is, we are so excited to finally be able to start planning, decorating and shopping for this special little guy.

 

xo, Vicky

 

30 Baby Things I Just Can't Handle Right Now...

With one day to go before Baby Jumping’s gender is revealed, I have taken the time curate a small gallery of baby clothes that I frankly just can’t handle right now.

Ladies first:

 

 

 

And now little gents:

 

 
And of course gender neutrals:

 

 

Baby Gap and Old Navy should probably just take my pay cheques directly from now on, because really, who needs food when you have the toes of an adorably dressed baby to munch on all day?

 

Xo, Vicky

 

*all images from gap.com/oldnavy.com

 

Say What Now? - Edition Five

#1

Mommy: "I love you Quinn"
Quinn: "I love you too much Mawmy"
(insert the sound of my heart exploding)

 

#2

The other morning while snuggling on the bed before I left for work, Quinn put her arm around my neck and Simon's and said: "Family hug!"
(insert the sound of my heart AND Simon's exploding)

 

#3

While jumping off a jumbo package of toilet paper in my bedroom, Quinn shouts:
"Quinn's being silly upstairs Mawmy!"
Yes you are child. Yes you are...

#4

At a recent family dinner, Quinn was being held by my dad's brother, Uncle Tom.
Quinn: "Uncle Tom matches Grumpa."
Translation: Uncle Tom looks like Grumpa
My child is a genius.

#5

Quinn’s most prized possession, Baby Addie, had a dirty face so Quinn asked for a cloth.
While wiping her face Quinn said : “Oh Baby Addie, your face is all mucky!”


#6

We were told by her teachers that the other day in daycare a boy in her class threw his lunch on the ground. Apparently Quinn piped up and said “ Simao, you’re weird!”

She’s kinda right, I mean, who in their right mind would throw their tuna melt sandwich on the ground?

 

#7

While brushing her teeth the other night:

Quinn: “Where’s Baby Addie”

Mommy: “She was sleepy so she went to bed”
Quinn: “Yeah, she’s tired and toasty”

xo, Vicky