Oh what a difference a month can make.

Wow!! This little man packed on the pounds this month! I am so thankful that the doctor was able to work out what was giving Liam tummy trouble. After about 10 days of ProBiotics, this little one's tummy seems normal. Liam now keeps his food inside (for the most part) AND he is a much, much, MUCH happier little dude. Really. And, little Liam David weighed 16 pounds today! Wow-wee! He was 13 1/2 lbs last month on the 29th. Can you believe it???

I would post more, but we've had a long travel day and I am pooped. But, here is a fun little image I snapped of the littlest Quinlan in the leaves during our Thanksgiving travel...
Speaking of eating, which I was, I could just eat him up he is so darn scrumptious.

Go On. Have Another...

piece of turkey,

spoonful of stuffing,

swallow of cranberry sauce,

bit of pumpkin pie.

Whatever makes you happy.

Gobble, gobble!

Happy Thanksgiving from the Quinlans.

See you next week!

Fun Monday.

Owen and I worked really hard in the front yard today. We are getting it all decorated for Christmas. After Liam woke from his super long nap, Owen wanted to show him what we had done. I set Liam in the grass while we were out there. It was his first time to be in direct contact with the stuff. I had my camera (are you surprised). Owen saw it, said "picture?", and sat next to Liam. What have I done to my child?

Then Liam fell backwards... I think he was a wee bit stunned. He started crying about 20 seconds later...

So...I went to Texas A&M and my aunts and brother went to UT. My aunts and I will watch the "BIG GAME" this week together. Last night, I had a dream that they got Owen a gift to open right before the game. Inside was a t-shirt that said "My Mama may have gone to A&M, but that doesn't mean I have to. Hook 'Em." What a bad dream that was.

BTW...Owen is really in to hats right now... isn't he adorable?

Owen & The Little Red Bike

Owen got a bicycle a while back. He was ecstatic when he first got it--you might remember my post about it with a picture of him on it in the front yard. Well, within the first couple of days we had it, he toppled over on it and hasn't been to keen on it since. So, I just sat it in the garage where we would pass it every day. We never talked about it. I never tried to get him back on. Just made sure it was in plain view so that he would think about it every now and then. I figured when he was ready to get back on the bike, he would. And he did.

Yesterday was THE DAY.
He has been working on riding that bike for two straight days now. It comes in the house with us. It went to Mimi's with us. It gets pushed around from space to space so that it is near him always.

He can't pedal it, yet. He does a half-turn every once in a while; but, I think it is more an accident when it happens than a conscience understanding of what to do. But, boy is he trying to work it out.

He'll keep trying. I'll keep pushing him from the back. And, Liam, his #1 fan, will keep silently cheering him on.

He will be successful at it....and when he is, I suspect there will be no stopping that boy.

Gobble, Gobble

When Owen came out of his classroom at school yesterday, he was wearing this...

See the blanket and motorcycle he carries? Yup, that's my Little Linus. Any tips on what to do about a boy that has gotten a wee too attached to his blanket? I don't mind the motorcycle so much...it doesn't get dog hair on it when dragged in the garage nor grass when dragged outside.

I swore I would NEVER let my kiddos get too attached to anything (other than me and daddy, of course).

Never say never.

My Science Project

Question: Does Liam end up any messier if I give into Owen's requests to feed him his green beans for dinner than when I feed him myself?
Research: Owen is very capable of feeding himself with a spoon. He has also fed me things from a spoon a time or two with very little mess. He has been using a spoon for 12-13 months. Owen does not have experience feeding babies. Owen certainly has never fed a baby that spits and sputters and sucks on his hand and hits the spoon while taking in food.


I have been using eating utensils for 31 years, assuming my mom didn't hand over the spoon until I was over 1 year old--otherwise, longer. Further, I have experience in feeding babies. I definitely have experience feeding babies that spit and sputter and suck on their hands and hit the spoon while taking in food (Owen was a champ at this as a wee one).
Hypothesis: Based on the fact that I have more experience with a spoon, I believe that Liam will be less messy if I feed him his green beans than if I give in to Owen's requests to do so.

The Experiment.

Exhibit 1: Owen feeding Liam. Note the care and thoughtfulness evident on Owen's face. And, the obstacle of the hand in the mouth presented by Baby Liam.

Exhibit 2: A bite for Liam....a bite for Owen (ha, ha).

Exhibit 3: Liam AFTER eating green beans fed him by his 22 month old brother, Owen. Owen was fairly successful; however, a few bites were directed at Liam's nose AND Liam managed to swat the spoon away making green beans go everywhere. Otherwise, not too bad.

Exhibit 4: Since Owen didn't take photos of me feeding Liam tonight, we only have the final product. Here's Liam after eating a container of green beans fed him by mama. Yes, he is wearing the same outfit. No, I didn't take these all in one day, they are two separate occurrences.

Analyze the Data and Draw a Conclusion: Liam does not appear any less messy in Exhibit 4 than he does in Exhibit 3. In fact, he is almost messier. Perhaps it is because I don't take a bite in between feeding bites of food to the baby. Hmmm....

Communicate your Results: You saw it here, folks, it is no less messy to allow a 22 month old baby to feed a 4 month old baby. Nosireee. That's because the baby, the sweet, smiling, drooling, innocent looking baby, is the root cause of the mess every, single time.

Stunned? Yup....we were, too.

Yee Haw! PlayTime with the Boys.

Owen has been enjoying playing "yee haw" a lot lately. In Liam's room, we have a rocking Giraffe that he rides. In the playroom, a bouncing zebra that also works for "yee haw". Often, he will jump on my back and is ready for me to run around so he can "yee haw." Once, he tried to play "yee haw" with Liam...but, that didn't work out so well. Yesterday morning...this was how he played "yee haw." He got my beach hat out of the closet, found the little horse that I inherited from my grandmother, Gigi's, horse collection (btw...it came to me super-glued together) and played "yee haw." See....

Unfortunately, when moving the horse to "yee haw" closer to where Dad was sitting, Owen tripped and "uh oh...horsey broke." It was a short-lived game; but, boy was it funny! The horsey is going to get some super-glue surgery...he'll be fine. In the meantime, I hope you got as big a laugh out of this picture as Gerard and I did watching him do it in person!
Liam also has something to "yee haw" about! Little dude was itching for something new to do ;-) Mimi, our neighbor, suggested I get Owen's bouncy down for Liam. Boy, did that turn out to be a great idea! Liam is in bouncy toy heaven. He played in here for a good 20 minutes -- that's a long time for him to be happy without me or Gerard or Owen entertaining him. He enjoyed all of the toys within his reach, liked touching the little caterpillar that makes different noises, and had a good 'ole conversation with the little frog. Another baby that played with this toy talked to that frog, too.

And, since I was looking back at pictures of Owen in the jumper and found this cute one...thought I would share it. This is Owen from May 2008--he's just a week older here than Liam is now

Last, but not least, if you are searching for something to giggle about, look no further. As you might imagine, with 2 kids under 2 years old I often have my hands/arms full...literally. I usually have at least one baby in my arms. So, when it comes to turning off toys that are left on, or the t.v., unless Owen is in the room and willing to help me, I have to get creative. Most of the time, I use my feet. Earlier this week, I asked Owen to turn it off, and so he did...but this time, he turned that tv off just like mom does.

Giggle, giggle, yee haw. Have a great week!

We Worked the Camera Today

First and foremost...check out this big, sitting boy!!! He just loves his new, independent perspective on things!!! I have to confess, this is the moment I've been most longing for. I love it when babies can sit up to play and interact. He can "tri-pod" sit like this for about 30 seconds or so, before toppling over. Now...he can just slow down this growing business and stay my baby!! Just for fun...I looked back in the blog at Owen's first photo sitting like this. Owen was 135 days old...Liam...134 days old. Is that not strange?

Liam has gained 1 pound and 10 ounces since going to the doctor on 10/29 and getting the medication for his tummy. Considering he gained only 1 once from 3 mos to 4 mos, I would say that it is working. He is so much happier and getting chubbier by the moment! I am so, so happy!

I think the coolest thing that Liam does at the moment is that he smiles with his whole body. In the grocery store today, the lady behind me in line was getting tickled at him. She commented that it looks like he is talking to me. He gets his whole little self into that smile. It is priceless. Love him!

I worked on Owen's photo for his birthday invites today. Got five "good ones" that I will have to pick from. Feel free to comment or email me and let me know your fav!! I would love to hear!

Option 1

Option 2Option 3

Option 4

Option 5

Can't wait to see which you like best!

It was good to be gone; but, it is great to be home!

My team and I completed our Breast Cancer 3 Day journey on Sunday. It was an amazing experience. There are no words to describe the roller coaster of emotions that I felt over the 60 mile, 3 day, tent-camping, port-a-potty using walk with seven of the most amazing women in DFW.

The journey is hard to describe.... One moment you are rolling with laughter at a story told. One moment, you round a corner and come upon a cheering station...at first, you feel pride and joy at seeing everyone, and then you are overcome with emotion knowing that people who don't know you are there supporting you, thanking you, and loving you. One moment you see 2 men holding up a sign with two holes cut out for them to peer though...its reads "these two boobs thank you"...you laugh so hard. One moment you read a man's t-shirt that is a tribute to his wife that is no longer with him due to Breast Cancer...and you cry like you knew her. One moment something funny happens and you are laughing so hard you might cry. One moment you look around the 8x8 tent cramped with 8 women drinking a "smuggled" bottle of wine telling stories of things "we don't know about each other" and think...I can't believe I only met these people months ago...I feel like I've known them forever. One moment you see a 16 year old girl walking 60 miles because she believes. One moment you see a 60 year old man walking 60 miles because he believes. One moment you see a friend pushing another in a wheelchair because they both believe. And then you reach the finish line. What a journey. What an experience.

For all of you that helped me fund raise, thank you. This was one of the most amazing things I have ever done in my life.

And, then I came home to a warm cozy bed, toilets that flush, and my two boys who I love so much...

I am not sure I have mentioned this; but, little dude has been rolling over for ages. I think the first time I went to his crib and found him on his back when I laid him on his tummy, he was 7 or 8 weeks old. Yet, I never saw him do it. More recently, it has become a joke. He would be playing on his activity mat, I would walk out of the room and return to find him on his back. Last Thursday, I sat vigil...bound and determined to see it for myself. But, guess what. The 3 times I left the room for a split second were the 3 times he chose to roll. Seriously. Today, I left him on his back, and returned to find him on his tummy. You've got to be kidding me. Then tonight, right before bed, after 9 weeks of knowing that the little dude is rolling over, but never seeing it. I saw it. I saw him do it from tummy to back. From back to tummy. And watched him army crawl to a toy. What fun!!!
He must have forgotten I was in the room ;-)

iPark and iPhone

Owen's favorite place to go is the park. Today, we met a couple other friends there. Here are some snapshots from our morning:

Owen saying "cheese." Where did he learn this? No...I am being serious. Where? I NEVER say that, 'cause I don't want a cheese-y grin. He just did it when I asked him to look at mama. Sigh. I do have to admit...it is a cute smile.
AJ having so much fun beating the table like a drum! He got the other two boys to join in--I think that made him one very happy fellow!!

Cutter being super cute. Cutter and Owen met when they were 10 weeks old. They don't see each other very often at all; but, they always have fun together. It was great to watch them. They are only 1 week apart in age, both love baseball, and they are both big brothers. They have a lot in common already ;-)

The little 'uns. Gracie and Liam. Gracie is a 3 month old cutie, isn't she! Liam, you are one lucky boy! These two will soon be joined by AJ's little sister coming in March. Owen's circle of friends is mostly male...looks like Liam will be surrounded by the ladies. Watch out.

Just Gracie.

Just Liam.

Of all the things they did this morning...this was their favorite! Running in circles around the tables. Boys.

Look how serious Owen is...

Liam after dinner.

Okay...this is probably the funniest video clip I think I have ever posted. Owen has started really enjoying talking on mom's iPhone to Pa and Grammie. I don't know what it is, but there is something SO FUNNY about his mannerisms on the phone. I think is is imitating me...I just go on about what I am doing while I talk...he does the same. But, watching a 22 month old do it leaves me in stitches. I hope you enjoy this!



Apple, Inc, if you want him for a commercial, call us.

See Heli-Tractor?

They used to be airplanes, then tractors /boats.

Now, he calls them "heli-tractors." Whatever.

...he gets so happy when he spots one, that it doesn't mater what they are called.

And, the little man just takes in all of big brother's antics...watching and learning.