Monday, November 19, 2007

Party guy


Daddy likes to say that it isn't really a party unless someone's got cake in their hair.

Mission accomplished.

Cap'n Quinn's first birthday bash was a smashing success. Daddy's work friends Mark, Maggie and Ollie came, so did Mommy's work friend Christine and her daughters. Uncle Dwight, Aunt Carmen and Cousin Axel came, too. Grandma and Grandpa Smith were there to spoil him. And though Grandma and Grandpa Siemers couldn't be there, they found their own ways to spoil him.

That's not even counting all of the great stuff he got from all the rest of his family.

It was a good time filled with toys, balloons, and lots of fun people to play with. And strawberry cake, the destruction of which forced Mommy to toss the good Cap'n in the bathtub several hours early.

Mommy plans a mean party. And Quinn, he was the life of it.



































































Wednesday, November 14, 2007

The big ONE and some cake

Today our fair Cap'n turned ONE! He's officially a biggy boy.

Mommy and Daddy gave him a cool toy with lots of beads and things to turn and push. Of course the box seems a lot more entertaining for some reason.

He and Mommy enjoyed his day by visiting the zoo. Mommy even caved in and bought him a "kitty" (Black spotted Jaguar) stuffed toy. She just couldn't say no to the grin he got when petting it.

Afterward we had a dinner of pizza and CAKE! Another first for our new biggy boy. He's an obvious pro when it comes to eating cake. He didn't even flinch, just picked up the hunk and proceeded to eat it. It was great fun for all of us. Even Dexie got some nuggets of cake.

Daddy even gave the good Cap'n something else for his birthday. A shiner. It really wasn't daddy's fault. He was being curious and slipped on the bathtub. But he's got a nice red and purple spot under his eye.

That might have been a problem yesterday. But not today.

Today he's a big boy.



































Sunday, November 11, 2007

A rise and fall

It was inevitable, as our young hero rose to prominence on the eve of his first birthday, that he would one day land on his own two feet.

That day happened last week. The good Cap'n Quinn arose and stood for the first time.

It started in the bathroom. As Daddy filled the tub, the little man's curiosity brought him first to his knees, then to his feet so he could get a closer look at what Daddy was up to.

Later, in the living room, he was using Daddy as a jungle gym and pushed off his chest, rising to his feet. He grinned and chuckled, as if to say, "Look Mommy, no hands."

He was the conquering hero. But like in any epic tale, those who rise to the top inevitably fall.

For Quinn, it happened Thursday at a photo studio.

When he was smaller and less mobile, photographers at the same studio placed him on a stately leather chair for a photo. Quinn just sat there, immobile and smiling. Now, however, he doesn't care to sit still anywhere. This time, as soon as we sat him in the same chair he sprung himself out -- right on top of his head onto a hard tile floor.

Naturally, he screamed, though Daddy suspects it was more out of fright than pain. Mommy cried, too. Daddy shed no tears, but he thinks he may need open heart surgery now.

This tale, however, is no tragedy. The good Cap'n Quinn continues to conquer new heights. And Mommy and Daddy will be there to guide him -- and catch him when he falls.