Quincey's First Thanksgiving

 Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday and I was so excited for Quincey to have her first Thanksgiving but, I would have been pretty bummed if it wasn't spent with  family. I mean, the reason that it's my favorite holiday is because of all the warm memories that my family has made over the years all being jammed into the same loud house with kids steaking through it, moms trying to cook, and the guys trying to stay sane.  I absolutely love it and was so excited when the Logan's took us up on our offer to host thanksgiving here in ABQ.  So, with bated breath and A LOT of anticipation, the Logan's finally arrived on Tuesday morning.  And by morning, I mean MORNING.  Grace was so excited to get here to see Quincey that they decided to leave Monday evening at 7pm and so they arrived in at 3am on Tuesday.  That didn't stop Grace from getting up early so squeeze little Quincey and play play play.  Quincey was so thrilled to see Auntie Grace.  It really warmed my heart.  She rarely sees anyone but me and her papa because of COVID and I've been worried that she would struggle with new people.  But, it took her no more than a minute or two to realize who Auntie was.  Like she really knew who she was.  Grace is obsessed and marco polos (a video app) with Quincey at least once a day and if that daily marco polo doesn't come through, I hear about it!  So, Quincey is really used to hearing Grace's voice and she was so happy to see her.  She crawled all over her and couldn't quit smiling.  

We had such a good time.  There were two moments when I felt so full.  Like a fullness I have never felt before.  I literally felt like  I wanted to bubble over.  Quincey is finally on enough of a schedule that I am not constantly a walking zombie, my new house is starting to feel like a home, and being able to be in the moment and really truly just enjoy this Thanksgiving made me feel so full and happy that I literally went around hugging everyone at one point.  

Grace had gone to a second hand store for me in Greeley to get clothes for Quincey.  It couldn't come quick enough.  Quincey is such a weed and growing so quick that, although she is not yet 9 months old, she is almost outgrowing her 9 month old clothes and, because of (once again) Covid, I don't get to go out shopping for her so I was super excited for Grace to go shopping for me!  We got probably $1000 worth of clothes for under $200.  Every day I am just loving picking an outfit for her.  I always wanted a baby girl because I wanted to dress her in cute outfits and i don't take that for granted, not one day!

Gideon had his birthday while they were here and Jason's was on the day they left so of course I had to make them a cake.  I was so happy it turned out good and everyone loved it.

During their stay, Quincey just soaked up all the different faces, sounds, and snuggles she could handle.  We went on our daily walks, even ventured to the Oxbow Restoration Site and found a rope swing, played TONS of Mario, enjoyed killing each other on Among Us, played cards, and had a fabulous Thanksgiving dinner.

Everyone helped with Thanksgiving Dinner..  Joe made his traditional apple pie.  We were all worried.  He was having so much for making it that he chose not to measure anything and went rouge making the crust.  I mean, we gave him my mom's famous recipe for the crust which requires very little stirring and instead we hear him in the kitchen with the beater on high mixing all the ingredients for it but, we were all impressed with how good it turned out.  Everyone else pitched in and we had a great feast.  

And speaking of food.  I have come along ways and am quite proud of myself.  Living alone for so many years left my meals up to the nearest fast food joint but, since being married and especially since having Quincey, I have really taken a liking to cooking.  Of course, I rely completely on Joe as my taste tester.  But, this last week I couldn't help but smile with every meal I made.  For example, Gideon said that the breakfast omelet I made was the best he has ever had in his life, Grace couldn't stop talking about how good the fajitas were that I made, Joe said that the birthday cake was so moist and good, the dumplings I made for the soup turned out better than Grace has ever been able to get them to turn out, the turkey was AMAZING and so juicy.  In fact, Jason said that the white meat was probably better than the dark because of how juicy and flavorful it was, I made egg in the hole bread for Grace and Jason and both were really impressed with it and just LOVED it, and even sweet Afton said that she loved the way I made her favorite... sweet potatoes.  

I was just so proud of myself for how far I have come.

Finally, a thanksgiving post wouldn't be a thanksgiving post without posting some of the things I am thankful for...  

I am thankful for my husband.  His unconditional patience and love is more than I deserve.  I am so thankful that he is a hard worker and supports us not just financially but emotionally.  Our world wouldn't go around with him. 

I am thankful for my healthy daughter.  I am thankful for her cute toes, he spunky personality, her silly hairs on her head, her shaking lips when she cries, he fake cough when she laughs, her squishy orsh that i can't get enough of, her happy spirit, her little belly, and wobbly knees, and her perfect snuggles.

I am thankful for the opportunity to be a mother.  I am so thankful for this.

I am thankful for health, especially this year.

And I am thankful for all my family as well.  From my sisters who are my best friends to my mom and dad who are the best mom and dad in the world.  But also, I am so thankful to my new extended family.  I am so proud to be a Schroeder and so glad I have been blessed with amazing parents in law.  

God is Good!

I Can Stand All On My Own

 This last week brought about a new skills that Quincey has been trying out.  Standing all on her own!!!

Recently she has been bear crawling instead of being on her knees so I knew that she was starting to experiment with other ways to get around.  But then, she started to constantly sit/stand like this......

And then, out of nowhere, she just rose to her feet!  It was the coolest thing to witness.  I couldn't believe it.  !  I had her in our back yard a couple days ago.  I was sweeping the porch, I turned around and she was standing up the middle of the yard!  She looked and me and started giggling.  Cutest thing ever.  She has only done it a few times but we are a couple very proud parents!

8 Months Old

Our little girl is now 8 months old and we just can't get enough of her.  During this last month Quincey's personality has continued to emerge.  She gets funner and funner by the day.  She boogies around the house on all 4's and pulls herself up on everything.  That's been her favorite thing to do - STAND UP!  She loves to stand up and slap whatever surface she is holding.  And her favorite thing to do while she stands up... Watch Baby Einstein.  (Thank you Auntie Dessa for the suggestion)  She thinks that show is so funny.  Also, she is finally making lots of different noises.  Nothing consistent yet and no words but she continues to experiment with her voice.  Her favorite food... Tuna fish!  Which, ironically was my favorite food when I was a baby as well.  But, she doesn't like to take the time to sit and eat so we found a solution to get her to sit there, turn on Baby Einstein while she eats!  

This is her eating tuna gravy just like me when I was little.

We went to the Dr. recently for her flu shot and found out that she is now 16 pounds which is the 23rd percentile for her age and she is the 96th percentile for her height.  Tall and skinny just like her daddy.  

She still wakes up about 1 time a night but is typically easy to put back to sleep.  She was sleeping until 6ish in the morning but the recent time change has us back to around 5:30am.  She typically naps like a champion now as well.  

All and all, this month I feel like we've started to establish a routine I can depend on a little bit.  I have been able to get more sleep and started to think about things I can do for myself again.  Like reading a good book.  

Quincey is a dream come true that just keeps getting better and better!

                             

This to This

From this:

 To This:

Fun In the Fall

 Quincey has always loved the park.  She especially has always loved the rogue leaf that she finds fallen from the trees.  So, I knew it was a must to take her there after our first big storm when the park would be full of leaves.

What a cutie.  Before they all fell, she would crawl as quick as she could to reach one, but when I plopped her down in a pile of them, she literally sat there for like 10 minutes not moving at all having no idea what to do.  She just stared at them.  Finally, she picked one up and decided it was okay after all!  

Why the Trash?

 A little thing that I know I will forget as the years tick by but I want to remember...

Quincey loves the trash.  Or the plastic liner around the trash.  In fact, up until recently that darn trash can in our kitchen has caused Quincey many tears.  Before she could crawl, I always put her in her walker (AKA patrol car) when I'm doing the dishes or cooking etc. and she, for months now, would zoom over to the trash can and try her hardest to reach the liner but, up until the last couple weeks, her arms have been short enough to keep that infamous trash can liner just out or reach which always resulted in much frustration and many tears.  No matter how much I would try to divert her attention, it was a no go.  Trash can liner or nothing.

Finally... she has gotten big enough to reach it.  But, now that she can crawl (no baby walker is necessary anymore)  she crawls right over to it, and crawls up the trash can to hold onto that darn liner.

The good news... I have found something to distract her from the dirty trash.  The PANTRY!