Happy New Year & Happy Half Birthday, Quinn!

Well, this is the year we've been anxiously waiting for.  2016 will no doubt be our best year yet and I simply can't wait.  It's hard to imagine a better year than 2015, but being closer to family will make my heart overflow with happiness.  I think we're all just ready to see each other more often!

Quinn turned 18 months today.  There are some days that it does seem possible she is this old already, but then there are times when I think she is halfway to 3 - and that blows my mind.

Quinn is full of personality and even though she throws her fits and is incredibly stubborn, I wouldn't change it for the world.  She gets easily upset when she can't put a cover on a bowl or the top on a bottle, but I appreciate her determination.  I remind myself that when she throws her little tantrum.  Speaking of tantrums, I've witnessed 2 full-on ones.  They both happened when I wouldn't let her walk our neighbors dog alone.  She always wants to hold the leash and heaven forbid I help her.  This isn't a small dog, so if there was a squirrel that ran by, Quinn would be flat to the cement.  I try telling her this, but she doesn't seem to understand ;).  It takes a good 5-10 minutes for her "crying rash" all over her face to go away and for things to settle down.   More to come, I'm sure!

We are hearing more and more words lately, especially the last week.  It's so nice to have some communication with her and understand what she wants or what she doesn't want.   It was always a guessing game!  It still is, but happy we are making progress with it!  She is starting to really love slides and parks in general.  We have been taking her to one a few minutes up the road that has a huge slide and she has absolutely no fear going down by herself.  We went a couple weeks ago for the first time and I was so hesitant to let her go down alone, but she wanted to - and then she went on to do it 10 more times.  She loves people of all ages.  Kids are still her favorite, but she isn't shy to give adults hugs, high fives, or even sit on their lap.  Lately we've been seeing a daycare/pre-school class on our walk to the park in the morning (our daily routine) and she's been walking with the class, hand-in-hand, and happy as can be.  Tony and I have decided that when we get back to the states, we will for sure find a little pre-school for her a couple mornings a week.  She is definitely in her happy place and loves to follow the older kids around.  Can't wait for her to be around her cousins this summer!

She continues to be just an OK eater.  It's a struggle sometimes to get her to eat new foods or even think of what she'll like, but overall I'm ok with where we're at.  She won't drink milk from a sippy and is a huge water drinker.  We'll put off juice as long as possible.  Quinn's favorite things to do these days:  ride her bike, play catch with a football, roll/kick any ball, build with her blocks, play with her kitchen, Barney (ugh, not my favorite...but it's a guaranteed 20 mins of quiet time), baths, writing/coloring, and playing with the kids at the park.  She is sleeping great these days *KNOCK ON WOOD*.  Bedtime is between 7-7:30pm and she sleeps straight through 6/7 nights until 6:30-7:15am.  She is napping around 12:30pm for 1.5-2 hours.  I sure hope this all continues come May when her little sis arrives!

Love you, Quinn babes!