3/4 of a year!

It is unbelievable to already start thinking about what we are going to do for Quinten's 1st birthday, but the big day will be here before we know it!!!

We can not believe that he is already 9 months old!

His personality is growing more and more each day, it is so much fun to watch him grow and play. Quinten continues to be such a happy baby, although this month brought new frustrations for him. He is at the stage where he wants to get to something, but hasn't figured out quite how to get there. We definitely think he will skip crawling and move right on to walking! He has started pulling himself up to a standing position and will even move around a little once he is up. Of course this gives me huge anxiety...I know he will get his share of bumps and bruises over the next few years, but for now this new mommy will continue to surround him with pillows:)

Quinten LOVES music and somehow already has a favorite tv show!

We are not huge tv people, however, we have caught Bubble Guppies a few times and every time it comes on Quinn starts his "I'm excited dance." We have even used the song to help on long car rides, even when he is upset he will stop crying and smile when Bubble Guppies comes on.

Notice how he gets excited and starts dancing because he thinks the song is going to start and then he stops and waits...so cute!!!

Apparently, he earned his first nickname at school the other day,  "DJ Skull Baby!"

We dress him in a lot of baby surf/punk clothes with skull and bones on everything.

Well, his teachers put some music on and all of a sudden Q started showing off his moves to the other babies. They said they were cracking up! Quinn truly was having a great time dancing. His favorite move is fist pumping:)

 Quinten is big enough to finally use the shopping cart cover and sit like a big kid for our Sunday food shopping outings. I think Daddy was most excited, this was one of his picks from our registry!
We got to use it again, this time on a high chair...

 First time at Grotto Pizza with Dave and his girls...
Q was trying to get in on the senior discount.
While we were at the beach for spring break, Quinn decided he was tired of the usual vowel sounds and started babbling "dadada" it was AMAZING!!!
Now when he "talks" it seems like there is some sort of meaning behind what he is babbling. Super cool!

Being at the beach for the week, made this little family VERY excited for this summer!
I can't wait to spend everyday home with my little monkey:)

 First day back to school after spring break, Quinn was to into the toys to look up.

Loving the ball pit at school!

 We decided to get some updated pictures done while we were out about one day...had to get some in his "caddy shack" outfit, as daddy calls it!

Happy Family:)

The photographer forgot to load our favorite family pic on the cd...

he is sending it, so hopefully I'll get it posted in a few days.

Like father, like son!

Unplanned...Jason and Quinn have a very similar shirt:p

 Me & my monkey xo

Don't you just want to eat him up!?!

Walking??? This guy is ready to run!

Angel Baby went for his 9 month check up and is growing like a weed!
He now weighs 17 1/2 lbs. more than three times his birth weight!
Quinten's head is 45cm.
and
He is 27 1/2 inches tall!

9 New Things Quinten does at 9 Months...

1. Sleeps in his crib...FINALLY!

Quinn has slept in his own room since about the time he came home, but because of issues with reflux he slept in his inclined cradle...with his new found independence and moving skills increasing this worried us and he has finally adjusted to sleeping all night in his crib! (although he still gets up at least 2 times to eat, Mommy certainly looks forward to the day when he sleeps through the night!)

2. Kneels, Quinten started trying to pull himself up and kneels when he is playing with his bigger toys.

3. Eating puffs!

4. Getting ready to crawl...up on all fours he is started to realize he can move...often gets frustrated that he can't figure it out yet!
5. Conquered consonant sounds! We were laying around playing at the beach house one evening and all of a sudden Quinten started babbling like crazy "dadada mmmmm" he has been nonstop ever since!
6. Dancing! This kid definitely loves music...so far the Bubble Guppies theme song and jazz are his favorites!
7. Waving...we are still working on this but Quinn will randomly wave goodbye.
8. Smacks his lips to make a sound.
9. Getting to be a pro at using his pincer grasp (picking small things up with his thumb and index finger).

9 Things Quinten Loves at 9 Months...

1. Table toys, he loves these new toys that are a little off the ground.
He has even started to pull himself up to standing with them.

2. Clapping, he gets very excited when you clap and then help him clap!
3. Theme song to the show Bubble Guppies!
4. Ball pit! At school they filled up a pool with plastic balls...one of Q's favorite new things to do at school.
5. Cinnamin:p
We started sprinkling some in his apples and sweet potatoes and he can't gobble them up fast enough.
6. Zebra book...taking a big interest in books in general, but Zebra definitely his favorite! Quinn and I bought this on our very first trip to Nordstroms when he was only a little over 1 month:)
7. Playing with his ears...he plays with them so much we thought he had an ear infection.
8. Drinking water out of a cup...although he dumps half of it on himself.
9. Rolling his tongue:p

Some bunny's ready for Easter!

Easter was Wonderful!

 Quinn and I had fun with our Easter photoshoot!

Even Callie got in on the fun:)

We spent the rest of spring break at the beach with GM & GP Kurash and Uncle Michael (Kusheba)

The weather was perfect and we had a great time eating, laughing and playing!

Michael checking out all of Quinn's cool toys!

Quinn loving his new bunny from Grandpa Paul!

Laughing and playing!

Huh, what did you say...the turducken is ready!?!?

Tired after a lovely day!

Play date at the Park

We kicked off Spring Break 2012 with a trip to the park.

Quinten and I met some friends from work and their kids.

As soon as we got there Quinten tried out the swings for the first time. I was a little apprehensive, not sure if he was big enough for it yet, but he seemed to like it...

until he noticed the bigger kids playing on the slides...

 Quinten couldn't keep his eyes off of them!

 After swinging Quinn spotted Leland's ball and tried to roll it back and forth!

 The park reached a whole new level of fun when Quinn spotted the giant abacus that he could sit and play with...

 He really enjoyed moving the balls...

 and loved when Paige popped her cute little face through the other side!

 These two couldn't get enough of each other...

Hey, wait...where did she go???

 Here I am Quinten!

 Of course we had to try the slide...or at least sit on it for a picture before we left!

Look who is 8 months!

8 months already, where has the time gone!

I know we have said this before, but it just seems like time is passing so quickly.

We truly treasure every minute with our little peanut. It is unbelievable to watch him grow and change. Every day he seems to become a little more independent. It is so cool to see him recognize where certain things are...when we sit in his rocking chair he scoots himself over to the side and then leans over to see his stuffed animals on the floor. Instantly he smiles and laughs to greet them!

Here are some pictures from this month.

 Q is turning into quite the acrobat squirming and arching to get what he wants!

 Monkey Face!
Quinn's look of concentration.

 Playing in his toy basket...looks like he just got caught with his hand in the cookie jar:)

 Hanging out with Daddy on St. Patrick's Day!
We enjoyed a beautiful weekend at the beach. Chef Jay made us all "green" food...pistachio muffins, corned beef, Irish Soda bread, green chocolate chip mint ice cream and green margaritas!
Quinn had pears and peas;)

Sitting in the big kid tub for the first time. Whaley didn't make the trip to the beach.

Loving some blueberries:)

I took out my phone to make and call and 

Mr. Hambone was all smiles thinking his picture was getting taken!

Quinten skyping with GM Jeanne

 Did you say "Cheese!"

"Okay mom, enough pictures I need to talk to GM!"

"Come on mom PLEASE, 5 more minutes!"

 I LOVE this picture!

We were taking his "8 month" pictures and

 Callie had to get in on the photo shoot!

Best Buds!
8 New Things Quinten does at 8 Months...

1. Sits in the shopping cart when we go food shopping.

(This was a long awaited skill, especially for Daddy!)

2. Quinten has figured out how to look in his mirror in the car to see me when I look back at him.
3. Quinten has found Callie's tail and in general finds her hilarious!
4. Stands up on his own when leaning on something.
5. Eats 3 solid meals a day, along with lots of milk and the occasional teething biscuit.
6. Turns when he hears his name.
7. Looks around for Callie when he hears her collar jingle or her walking on the wood floor.
8. Squirming around like crazy!
Once he figures out how to move, we don't think we will be able to keep up. Quinten is always arching back or leaning forward in order to get or see something out of reach.

8 Things Quinten Loves at 8 Months...

1. His giant stuffed bear (Thanks Uncle Eric)!

Quinten gets such a kick out of playing peek a boo with Big Bear. Even when he is half asleep if he sees Big Bear out of the corner of his eye, he can't help but laugh (makes nap time interesting sometimes)

2. Sophie the Giraffe

Quinn has liked Sophie for a long time, but he now loves her so much, he recognizes her name!

3. Talking...lots of vowel sounds, takes turns. I look forward to our daily conversations on the drive home from school.
4. Crosses his legs/feet. It doesn't matter if he is sitting or laying down...even in the bathtub. He is always chillin' out with his legs crossed.
5. Peek a boo!
6. Banging on everything, even himself!
7. Necklaces..no he doesn't like to wear them, if you are wearing one and happen to be holding him, look out!
8. Getting his picture taken, Quinn has turned into quite the ham every time he sees a camera or phone.

Bath Time Fun

Quinten loves bath time...

we recently moved him to the deep end of the tub and he quickly figured out he can reach over to his whale friend and play with the running water. Bath time has reached a new level of fun!

 This is my new favorite picture of him!!

He has also started kicking like Michael Phelps...

School Newsletter

Quinten is starting to feel better and after a week of fun at home with Grandma Kurash,
he is headed back to school tomorrow.
Although I'm sure he enjoyed all the hugs and kisses he received this week, I know he will be happy to see his teachers and play with his friends!
In addition to Quinten's weekly communication book from his teachers, 

they send out a monthly newsletter to share the activities of the different classes. 

This month Quinten was featured twice!

Quinten and Luke playing and engaging in conversation! Another month has come and gone too fast here in the Infant Room. February brought red and pink hearts, presidents, and very little snow! It also brought a new friend to our classroom. This month we welcomed Sam and his family. Sam's big brother Harry is in Preschool One and loves helping to drop Sam off in the mornings. We have several older siblings that help out in the mornings by putting bottles away and making sure their baby is set for the day. Our babies also enjoy special visits to their sibling's classroom and being the center of attention there.                This month there has been a lot of movement in the Infant Room. Rylan is now exploring all of the play area and, if the gate is open, the cubby area also using his "combat crawl".   Nicholas, Carli, and John are moving about the room by rolling and Laila has added some "scootching" as well. Our babies have been working hard on their sitting skills. Quinten and Chase no longer need the support of a teacher and are sitting like pros. Claire is working on strengthening these skills and is enjoying how much more she can see from that position. Luke and Rylan are often seen sitting together playing with the piano toys or on the musical mat. Tummy time is important for all of our babies so that they strengthen muscles needed to hold their heads up, sit, crawl, and walk. Some of our tummy time is spent having the babies reach and stretch for toys in front of them on the floor, looking at books, and playing on our activity mats.   This also allows them to interact with each other and to make connections with their classmates.                                                            ` Our "lunch bunch" continues to grow. This month Quinten, Carli, and John joined us at the table. Rylan added sandwich pieces to his menu and Luke likes to show us how delicious yogurt is by finishing every last bit. Chase is exploring different combinations of fruits and grains and seems to enjoy them all. As different foods are added, such as Puffs, table foods and crackers, fine motor skills are developed further and different senses are used.`            Language is very important and our babies communicate with us and each other through coos, smiles, gestures, and crying. Patrick and Sam quietly coo and are full of smiles when we talk to them. Others have added pointing, waving and clapping to their vocabulary. A favorite time is when we read, sing songs or finger plays. This month "Clap your hands" and "If you're happy and you know it" seemed to be favorites. ``                                                                                                      This month brought many new developmental milestones to our class and March will be no different. Our babies will continue to grow and develop and amaze us. Until next month....

Quinten's first day back to school, after being out sick was great he was happy and enjoyed playing!