Turning 1......

Welp Quinn turned 1 on May 26th.  I am still in shock I think.  Where did a year go? I literally feel like it was 2 months ago we were coming home from the hospital, but then I look at pictures of him as a newborn and I feel like I cant remember when he was that little.  I have mixed emotions about him turning 1, I am so happy, but a little sad.  I dont know if I will get to experience all this "baby" stuff again so I try to soak it up as much as possible but man its just flying by.

On his actual birthday we just had a small cake and dinner, just the 3 of us. Cecil and I talked about how the day went the year before, and how ours lives changed in an instant at 3:12pm.  We talked about how we were awake for 48 hours straight because we were so worried something was going to happen if we closed our eyes.....we talked about how we had Hot Box pizza delievered to the hospital room both nights we were there and how it was proably the best thing we had ever eaten.....and how going into that day last year, we didnt know how to change a diaper, how to make a bottle, how to do a swaddle....and how you just get "it" when you need to.  We just did all those things because we had to, not because we knew what we were doing.

Im sure we have had made our fair share of mistakes, but this first year has been something I cant explain.  I have never felt so much love for 2 other people in my life.  Quinn has just been everything I knew I wanted, and a million times more.  Cecil is everything I knew he would be as a father, plus a million times more.  I sometimes wonder if I would have just given up, like some doctors told me I should....what a great gift and life I would be missing out on.  Anyone who reads this no matter what in life someone tells you isnt going to happen, can't happen, won't happen....fight, pray, love, and fight somemore....Dont give up.....it will happen. "Where there is great love, there are always Miracles"

I think in the year I have got this stay at home mom thing down pretty good, growing up I ddint ever see myself being a stay at home mom. But I love and cherish it so much.  I know its not for everyone, and I know everyone just cant do it, even if they want to.  I can never thank my husband enough for being such a hard worked and allowing me this time with Quinn.  We spend our days playing, taking walks, going to the pool, going to playdates, playgrounds, library time.....and just hanging out! It is the hardest, yet most rewarding job I have ever had.

Quinns Brithday party was a success.  He had a good time, thats what matters right?  We did a sock monkey theme and had it in our back yard, we put up a bounce house for the older kids that I didnt think Quinn would like at all, and of course when we put him in it, he LOVED it.  He kept wanting Aunt Kassidy to make it bounce more and more.  He loved his cupcake and wasnt really to into opening presents, he was way more concerned that their were other babies play with his toys in his room! (we are working on sharing!) He was cracking the whole party up because he would go into his room and just start yelling, and stomping his feet when he saw all his toys being played with.....Oh Gosh...am I really going to have that kid?  :) He loved all his presents as soon as we got them out of the boxes...he is very blessed and lucky with all the people in his life that love him.

Other then that.....hes just a character.....he RUNS now, like literally full force runs...hes trying to jump and starting to climb....everything in our house is attached to the walls now! He is saying momma, dada, dog, baby, oh yeah, Hi, I love you.....he will repeat a ton of what we say.....Mom and Dad are having to start watching our potty mouths....he gives high 5s, waves, and points, he can climb stairs on his own.  He watches about 10 mins of MIckey Mouse Club House every morning.  He absolutly loves being outside, getting dirty and muddy.  He is a true BOY in ever sense.  His favorite toys are any ball and blocks, he loves to stack them up and knock the over.  He still loves his food, and can clean an entire kids meal plate we were are out.

A letter to Quinn:

Quinn,

I hope one day you are reading through this blog and you know what a blessing you are to your dad and I. We love you even more then we thought possible.  You light up ours lives everyday when you stand up in your crib and start chattering away.  You bring such joy to us! This first year has flown by, but been such a blessing.  I cherish every day, minute, second with you and enjoy it so so much.  You have been the best baby we could ever ask for.  We love you so much! Mom and Dad 6/15/2011

Quinns 1 Year pictures, turned out amazing as usual, Suni Johnson captured his first year and I am forever greatful.

T minus 15 days......

Until I have a 1 year old.....I tucked him in his crib a few hours ago and just looked at him for a few minutes....Thinking back to a year ago, I had no idea how my life was going to change...I mean a year ago I was 9 months pregnant and I knew having a baby would change me as person, change our household, change our marriage, change my world...I just had no idea how this little person could change everything about me.  My mission is to be his momma....I know this because it brings me complete joy every single day.....I struggled for many years because I  knew something was missing in my life....I had a great husband and a great marriage, a great house, great dogs....but I still didnt feel like I was complete...I am complete.....the past year of my life has been the best and I know it will just keep getting better...I am really struggling with the fact of doing IVF again and trying for another baby. I am I would say 92% sure we are done.  I always just pleaded with God, just please give me a baby to love...I got my baby...he is healthy, he is happy, I am happy...what more could I want.  And honestly the thought of needles, paperwork, doctors appts, medicines, 2 week waits....I just dont think I see myself doing it for the 3rd time.  I am having some health issues...so I know I have to make a choice sooner then later, it just makes me uneasy to make such a permanet choice....I dont feel prepared at 27 to make it....but I really didnt feel prepared at 21 sitting in a reproductive doctors office going through an IVF, but I did it and got through it, so I know I will get through this. I just hope I can make the right choice for me, for Cecil, for Quinn..for our family...I am going to do what I have done this entire journey...pray about it, ask God to lead me...

Back to my baby boy.....and I mean boy oh boy..do I mean boy....he is a total boy...loves dirt, bugs, playing outside, cars, motorcylces, blocks, legos......he throws everything, he thinks everything is a ball......throws everything out of the grocery cart, carseat, high chair, stoller......The kid does not know a stranger....he will talk to anyone....he loves people and loves kids.....he loves dogs.....he loves to sleep on his belly....he loves food...and not baby food...big boy food....everything we eat...he eats...he loves drinking out of a sippy cup...he thinks hes so big.....he loves, loves, loves this crochet blanket his great, great grandma made for him, he just lights up when he sees it, and he sleeps with it everynight...which is totally cool...

he gave up his paci on his own....has no desire for it what so ever......easy enough.....

he is "talking" non stop...mostly things I cant understand..but hes says...momma, dada, baby, no, yeah

hes working on his 7th tooth..so he has a toothy smile and it melts my heart.....

We spend our days playing, going for walks, playing outside, reading...he is just a happy guy...all the time

momma...momma...momma...momma

Why am I such a horrible blogger...oh I know...I am chasing a wild man all day long. Quinn is literally non stop all day long....his one good nap during the day is when I just sit down for a second and breathe.....He stopped crawling oh about 2 months ago...now hes in a sprint everywhere.....He is all boy, loves cars and destroying things. He actually tried to eat his first dead bug the other day....thankfully I was there to yank it out of his mouth...I know its going to happen, and I know I cant stop them all from being swallowed...but it just grosses me out.

The weather is finally nice...when its nice, we are outside. Quinn LOVES to be outside, I mean loves it. At the park he just walks around screaming and clapping with excitement....he loves to follow the older kids around and hes not shy at all. He loves to just sit back in his stroller and walk the day away, I think he would literally sit in the stroller all day if I could walk that long.

The kid is into toys...blocks, legos, cars, balls...anything we bring home...he LOVES. He has started throwing a ball and bouncing it on the ground. He now gives you things if you ask for them...and yes he gives up his toys to mom or dad if they ask, but just for a second, he wants them back really quick!

He is getting 3 teeth in the top now, finally....he got his bottom 2 almost 4 months ago and its been nothing since, Im not complaining, I can't imagine what it feels like for teeth to come in....but now he has 3 on the top...with a cute small little gap between the 2 front teeth, and 2 on the bottom....so hes a little off balance but its super cute!

He talking a lot, mostly things we cant understand but he cracks himself right up! There will be days he will say momma proably 250 times in a day...I love those days! He now knows I am momma, when he wants me he says it....its so great, melts my heart. He also says YEAH, hes starting to say bottle, momma, dada, and mamaw.....

He will be 11 months next week.....I can NOT, let me repeat, can NOT believe it was almost a year ago that he came into our lives and changed every single second of it. The past year has been the best year of my life...it puts all my other 26 years to shame, nothing compares to being a mom to the most preious boy, and a wife to your best friend and one of the best dads around.....I now know why people fight so hard to have families, no matter how it comes about...we fought so hard and we didnt even know what we were fighting for....I knew it was going to be good, but I never could imagine this good, he brings so much joy to our lives. I know people say what a difference a year makes.....um yeah...what a difference a year makes....

Well off to search the web for some perfect things for his 12 month photo shoot....

Growling, Clapping, & Walking..OH MY

Giving Aunt Kassidy Kisses March 6th 2011

9 months Feb 26th 2011

Look at the lip!

Walking! Feb 2011

In the pool! Feb 2011

Ready for swim class..9 months!

Well Quinn is into his 9th month.....he is such a funny kid. I cant get over how much personality he has already. Lets see...his main thing right now is growling...yes growling...he literally growls at everything....I say his name...growl....I ask him if hes ready for bed...growl...I ask him what he wants to eat...growl........it is so funny...not really sure where he picked that up from but its something I will always remember him doing.

Clapping....along with growling this is favorite thing to do......When he first started walking and was falling a lot I would clap and tell him good job when he fell, because I did not want him to get discouraged from falling so much, so now everytime he falls he claps! Such a good boy! When we are in the car I hear him from the back seat just clapping away.

Lets see...clapping, growling....oh and shaking his head no....really hard and really fast, sometimes he even does it so hard he shakes himself right over. And the funny thing is he does it right on point....I try to talk to him like I would an adult..asking and telling him everything we are doing...so I will say "Quinn, are you ready for a diaper change?" And I ethier get a growl or a head shake no. What a charater!

Oh yes, and his new thing is giving high fives..if you ask if for a high 5, you are for sure getting one, hes just cracks himself up doing that!

Baby Proofing, that is what we have spent the past few weeks doing....because we offically have a walker, no help needed, no more crawling going on anymore in this house.......if he sees something he really, really wants and he really wants it fast, he will drop down and crawl...but other then that its all 2 legs around here ( well except the dogs) Hes falling less and less everyday, never in a million years did I think I would have a 9 month old walking around my house like its no big deal...its so funny to see him walk (and yes I have taken tons of video of it) but hes just a small little guy totting around...oh with his arms up in the air for balance like a little baby monkey! His first offical steps were 8 months 3 days. Offically walking without help 9 months 1 day. Im in trouble because hes already showing sign of being on the go all the time at a fast pace like his dad.

We have been attending a few different classes...music and reading class at the library and swimming class and the indoor pool. Hes such an independent baby, like I feel like he looks at me like Mom can you get out of my play room Im busy. He could literally play in his play room by himself for hours. But at library class, he doesnt want to sit with mom, ya know cause thats so uncool for a 9 month old...he rather go around and talk to other babies....so I am left sitting there singing songs and blowing bubbles to myself.......but hes not as tough as he seems, if I leave the room he lets me know that is no what he wanted......which I love, Im not ready for him to be Mr. Independent yet. My mom said I was the same way, very independent, not a cuddler. Swimming class on the other hand, hes a wild man.....LOVES the water......he splashes and kicks...the older kids in the class are to get out of the pool on the ledge and get back in with their parents, well I put Quinn on the ledge and he just falls right in the water and laughs....you have to be on your toes around this one! And I think thats where I will stay for awhile, on my toes......

His Aunt Kassidy was here over the weekend and he got his second hair cut! I after to do more with his hair after a bath then my own.....and its growing in so light compared to his dark hair when he was born, so now I have a high-lighted hair kid..I always wonder how many people that see him out are like I really hope his mom didnt color his hair, because yes I have been asked over and over again if I color it..."ARE YOU KIDDING" Cecil and I laugh everytime....because we know...there are baby pictures of Cecil at home, with the same high lighted hair.

His sleeping is getting better..hes a belly sleeper now...hes still up 1 or 2 times a night, we are working on it. He is the combo of both Cecil and I, a night owl like me and an early riser like Dad, not really a great combo. But we will get there.

Right now he has his first ear infection, poor guy...the only good thing about him being sick is he wants me to hold and cuddle him all the time....but other then that I feel so bad for him. Hes starting to get better today.

He is actually 22 lbs and almost 29 inches long, 75% in both. We have moved to the big boy carseat and he loves it because he can see out the window. He loves to watch outside, well actually be outside, we cant wait for the weather to break. Cecil and I are making our backyard all about Quinn, thats our spring project..so he can be outside all the time. He also loves to watch cars, trucks, anything on wheels really....he is for sure a typical boy!

Other then that everything else is going smoothly in the Kenworthy house, just trying to finish up the house inside, and then we are moving to the outside for some projects this spring. Ive started to plan Quinns 1st Birthday, and no I cant believe those words are coming out of my mouth already, werent we just leaving the hositpal with him like 2 weeks ago...because thats what it feels like. I have enjoyed every second with him, yes even the crying and screaming. He has changed out life in everyway possible....He just makes everyday better then the last.....he is the sunshine of our lives, and he is so lucky to have a Dad that cant get enough of him....

Until next time

xoxo-Kari

8 Month Pictures

A Few Steps......

That is how month 8 started out...with a few steps...8 months 3 days...Quinn took his first 3 steps in a row....we were shocked. He is pushing around a little cart with wheels everywhere with no help.....he is just amazing. Total he has done 4 steps now in a row, hes getting braver and is trying so hard to really walk. I thought I had a few more months to prepare for this.....but he had other plans.....hes ready to be on the move. He can stand up on his own from sitting, he walks with our hands and around furniture like a champ. I just cant get enough of him...but Im sad time is flying by....I cant even remember being pregnant or him being a newborn and it wasnt that long ago....

I am already starting to plan his first birthday...I keep re checking the calender....am I sure its less then 4 months away...that cant be.....but every time I check, its say the same thing...my baby boy will be turning 1 at the end of May.

What else is going on in our house...open mouth slobbery kisses is what...he loves to give them out...you see him coming froma mile a way with his mouth wide open right onto your face....they are awesome...never though I would enjoy being covered in saliva so much....he will literally have me rolling on the gound in laughter because he just kisses over and over again...and he thinks its so funny!

Words so far...he says dada, momma, and hi! We are working on waving, he does it every once in a while...he Loves to clap, he claps all day. His other great accomplishment, shaking his head no....and he knows when to do it too, like when Im singing to him, he shakes his head no the entire time...or when hes getting into something he shouldnt, I tell him no no no, he still goes about doing what he shouldnt be doing, but shaking his head no no the whole time...I mean how can you ever be mad at that.....Im gonna be such a push over!

We did our first mommy and me class this week, it was a music class...with bubbles and mirrors and toys and books. It was a lot of fun...Quinn does not like to sit still though,he rather be exploring then sitting on moms lap singing songs! We start mommy & tot swimming class next week..I am super excited for that because he LOves the water...so stay tuned to see how that goes.....

other then that we are just enjoying our days with our little man......now I know this is what I was made to do in life.....be a mom...it consumes me....its my world, its my perfect life, being a mother and a wife!