15 Months

After Quinn turned one, I decided to do away with the monthly updates, and update once every three months instead. As I sit down to reflect on the changes that have occurred since Quinn turned one, I don't even know where to start!

First of all, he went to the doctor for a well-child visit two weeks before his 15 month birthday; here are his most recent stats from that visit:

Height: 32 1/2 inches (90th percentile)

Weight: 26 lbs (75th percentile)

Head Circumference: 49 cm (90th percentile)

*In other words, we've still got a mighty large boy on our hands!

Since Quinn's first birthday, Pat and I have have found that our role as parents is developing and becoming more overwhelming. We are comfortable showering our little boy with love and admiration, but when it comes to discipline, we have our work cut out for us (and a lot of learning to do)! Quinn has been throwing tantrums with regularity, and is experimenting with how to get what he wants immediately. He loves to drum, and will do so with the most convenient tools around (kitchen utensils, sticks, etc...). The drumming wasn't much of an issue until he decided that drumming on mommy or other people's furniture was acceptable, and even funny. Trying to teach him that it's okay to hit some things (i.e. a drum) but not others (i.e. mom) does not seem to make much sense to him yet. When it comes to running errands, he loves to pull things from shelves, play tag, and run up and down the aisles of stores, thus making these chores more of a hassle than they're worth. I take comfort in knowing that most parents of toddlers are experiencing similar behaviors.

Although the challenges of parenting have been a bit overwhelming at times, the sheer joy that Quinn exhibits towards life is inspirational. He is acquiring so many hobbies, and truly seems to have fun in just about any environment. He loves drumming, music, dancing, balls, water, play dough, the sound of his own voice, and being outdoors. It is such a joy to see the world through Quinn's fascinated eyes.

Developmentally, Quinn is continuing to hone his new-found skills. His run is getting faster and faster, in fact, I took him on a little hike last night and he must have run 1/4 mile with only a few stops (to check out the rocks and sticks along the way). I couldn't believe how fast he ran for such an extended period of time, given his size. Quinn also enjoys climbing and will climb whatever is in his immediate vicinity. He's like a cat in that he prefers to be as high as possible whenever possible. This has required some furniture rearrangement to attempt to keep him as safe as possible (which is no easy task). :)

Quinn's vocabulary is still quite small. He says nana (which is his universal word to date, meaning anything from food, to more, to give me that RIGHT NOW), dada, dog, and mama (on occasion). He loves to wave at other kids his age and say "hiiii", but if they show him any attention back he will immediately stop. He is also mimicking a few animal sounds, the cutest being his little "meow" which sounds more like "eow". He'll woof, pound his chest like a gorilla, and moo as well. He signs "more" with regularity (while saying nana), and "milk" and "eat" on occasion. We are really working on "please" right now, which he seems to be getting the hang of. We haven't been very consistent at teaching him new signs, oh well! In recent weeks Quinn has been attempting to speak more words like "hot", "up", and "out", but only Pat and I can understand him at this point. I am anxious for his vocabulary to continue to develop. I am so curious to talk to him and learn what's going on in that fascinating brain of his. :)

Another huge change in the Gillette household since Quinn turned one has been my going back to work. I had a part-time piano accompanying job at a private elementary school this summer, and that opportunity caused me to realize how much I missed having a classroom of my own. That same week (in late July) I finished my online application for the Lake Washington School District that I had begun in February, and long-story short, a few weeks later I was offered a PM Kindergarten teaching job. I was not ready to go back to work full-time, and so this opportunity couldn't have been more perfect (well, I would have preferred an AM offer, but have come to realize that working in the PM has some major benefits). Learning to balance work and home has not been easy, but I am learning. This change has allowed Quinn to attend daycare a few hours each day, and he is doing wonderfully. He is never thrilled to say goodbye, but tears at drop-off have dissipated, and Quinn is always having a great time when I pick him up. I am happy that Quinn has time to play with a few kids his age each day now. This is something that he wasn't getting enough of being at home with me.

It's been a busy few months, and Quinn is changing faster than we can keep up with. He continues to be the greatest joy in our lives. Every evening as Pat and I just sit and play with Quinn, we marvel at the infinite love that we have for our precious Quinn Zachary.