Rory and Quinn.
Looking at our monthly photos amazes me. It’s incredible to see how you’ve grown so much in just the last 30 days. Where you were once so easily carried around with one arm you are suddenly requiring the constant assistance of two. Watching you grow and change has been an amazing treat but it also saddens me in a strange way. Part of me looks forward to the days when you will crawl and walk and talk but another part of me just wants you to stay as you are – as our cooing babies. You are wonderful little people and everyday I find myself loving you more and more.
I suppose that since I can’t control time nor the human growth element (yet…) I should just embrace your amazing process and run with it. Just promise me that you’ll never be too cool to give me hi-fives.
Earlier this month your mom and I decided to embark on a well deserved vacation up to San Francisco to visit some good friends of ours. Were we expecting the trip to be different than what we were used to, traveling alone or with dogs? Yes. Was it different? DEFINITELY. Was it more difficult? Sometimes. Was it more fun? Sometimes! There’s something strangely exhilarating about changing a babies diaper in the front seat of your car in a light drizzle at a gas station in a town you’ve never been to. There’s something romantic about waking up at 3am in a strange hotel and watching Mtv with your family. There’s something illuminating about buying beer then realizing that you don’t have a bottle opener and getting on YouTube to find a “How-To-Open-A-Beer-With-Your-Keys” video.
Rory, you fuss less and less as the days go on and Quinn, your eyes get bigger and bigger. Rory, you’ve begun to thrash your arms and legs around, swiping at little objects and slapping me in the face while I sleep. Quinn, you’ve begun to roll over, mostly onto your side and ALMOST onto your stomach. Rory, you don’t even try to roll; you prefer laying face down and, from one deranged mouth-breather to another, that’s okay with me. Quinn, you laughed for the first time when your mom was giving you a bath a few weeks ago. The sound of your coos makes us smile; you’re becoming quite a noisy baby and will “talk” with us if we ask you questions. Your big gummy smile cracks me up. Rory, you drool…a LOT. Honestly, I’m not even so fearful of you smothering yourself in your blankets as I am of you drowning while you sleep. We put bibs on you in the middle of the day just so you don’t get your shirts soppy wet. Quinn, you’ve begun waking up at 6:30am pretty consistently. You are not hungry. You are not wet. You just want to play. You cry until someone sits you up, at which point you look at us, smile, laugh and then start to coo. I don’t even care that it’s 6:30. Rory, you sleep all night….you actually sleep all night and most of the day. The other day you slept 10 1/2 hours. You are a true professional and you take your rest very seriously.
Everyday I leave to go to work and everyday I think about you all day long. It’s tough to be away from you for such stretches…..maybe I should tape a picture of myself to the ceiling above your crib? Maybe I should get you a live webcam? When I come home and pick you up, it is clear that you recognize me and laugh. You both do it and those two moments are the absolute highlight of my day. We’ve got more family coming to town soon – Your Aunt Theresa, who you haven’t met yet and your Grandma June is coming back for her second visit and I think they’ll both be pleasantly surprised at how big you’ve gotten and at how much Rory drools.
johnny be bald 