Newest arrival

I have been all talk this whole year about "planned c section this" and "planned c section that" which was scheduled 10.06 (at 7:45 to be exact). With my first delivery being a long and difficult one, I was looking forward to skipping all the contractions and heading straight for the operating room.

Chris and Thea gave me a solo weekend for Labor Day weekend as that was probably going to be my last alone time for a while. They went up north and came back on Monday. So when I started having contractions every 8 minutes on Monday night, I was worried that something was wrong because I was only 35 weeks along. We went to the hospital where I was admitted overnight for observation and released at 8 that next morning. I was still having contractions but my cervix wasn't dialating so I was just supposed to rest.

It was about 4 o'clock when the contractions were stronger and about 5 minutes apart. Chris dropped my off at the hospital at 4:30 so he could pick up Thea from pre school. I get checked in, they see what my cervix is doing and tell me it is a "4" so I am off to have this baby. WHAT???? I call Chris and tell him and he makes it just in the nick of time to be in the operating room. He was able to arrange a cousin to come over to watch Thea, call all the family, etc in about 30 minutes. It was amazing! At 6:21 p.m. we welcomed Levi Christopher Quint into our family!

Preschool pictures

So way behind on posting this photo! It is of Thea's first day of preschool. Wasn't quite the "first photo" we were hoping for but the subject of the photo (aka Thea) wasn't in the mood for photos.

Sibling class.

The hospital we are going to deliver at holds a "sibling class" and we went the other day. It was so cute. It was only an hour long and the kids were asked to bring their favorite doll or stuffed animal. Of course, Thea brought something she never has played with before. When they enter the classroom, the instructor asks what her name is and gives her a name tag. She then asks what her friends name is and she thinks for a bit and says, "Matt". He's a teacher at her school so I guess the monkey is now Matt.

Then all the kids get on a big blanket together and look through two books about bringing home a new baby and being a big brother/sister. Very interactive and the kids had some fun answers. Thea's best answer was when the instructor asked what comes out of babies mouths. Other kids replied "crying", "momma" or "goo goo gaa gaa". Thea threw out her answer of "blueberries".

After that they watch a video of babies and what they are like (which showed mostly sleeping or crying) and talking about asking permission before holding or giving anything to the baby. Then it was off the L&D to see the waiting room, the room where mommy will be and they were lucky enough to look at a "real live baby".

After that, they each got a goodie bag with crayons & coloring books, baby diaper and bottle for their doll (or Monkey Matt) and treats. Plus--they all left with a new stuffed animal they can give to their new baby brother or sister.

It was super cute and she did great. I think it helped a lot because since then she keeps saying "I think baby brother is going to cry a lot". I want to say "so will Mommy" but I don't. :-)

We didn't get any photos of it but I will be posting some soon that Thea took herself with my cell phone. I have over 40 to choose from!

This one is for Kara

Kara T is one of our devoted blog readers and is always "gentle reminding" me to update this with new stories and photos! So here you go Kara!


Here is Thea with her first black eye! She and a pal were playing at day care and crashed. It looks worse in person and has gotten darker each day. It's been about a week and a half!


Here is Thea looking at a turtle at the Denver Aquarium on our recent visit.

Here is Thea at a family reunion. She ran around dancing and chasing cousins for about 2 hours and here is the result!

Thea and Kim at the Denver Zoo. Seeing the Elephants were her favorite part! And she loves those glasses. Wears them all the time and day care says she has even napped with them on a time or two.

So there you go Kara! Thanks for reminding me to update the blog and for being our #1 fan!

Kim

Thea's 3rd birthday

We had a wonderful time at Thea's birthday party and felt fortunate she invited us!

The weather was perfect so some kids played in the pool and others dug for toys in dirt. Everything was outside which was nice.

She had a Mickey Mouse cake which turned out better then I thought it would.

Chris's birthday weekend!

Chris's birthday was this weekend and the weather was so nice!! We spent most the day outside which is good because as you can see from the photo.....Thea loves watermelon!!!


She likes the big slices that will cover her whole face and she will eat it so there isn't any mind showing!

Here is Thea helping Chris blow out the candles. Thea stuck them on the cake which is why they are all in one place. She also helped make the cake with Kim and helped put the sprinkles on it!

Thea kept busy outside but digging for worms. She found quite a lot of them!

We are all enjoying the nice weekend weather and are looking forward to many more weekends outside!

Apologies and Snow

Okay, I know it has been awhile since we posted an update on here. I could say that we all have been real super busy, but that would just be an excuse. But I guess the old adage applies here, better late than never, right?

Things have been going very well around the Quint household. Kim is doing well at work and about to move over to managing the Pediatrics division at PrimeCare at Southern Maine Medical Center. Now she will have to deal with two kids (I am counting myself as one of the kids) at home and countless more at work. Fun! I have been plugging away at work and was recently promoted to Senior Public Affairs Director which means more work. However, we are thankful to both be employed during these difficult times.

Thea has been doing great. She continues to grow and evolve into a mature little girl. I sometimes look at her and think was I this smart when I was 2 1/2? Am I this smart at 32? She is absolutely amazing and provides Kim and I with countless challenges and an abundance of joy.

I recently took Thea on her first snowshoe trip to Bradbury Mtn. in Durham, ME. Well, actually Thea just road in the Kelty carrier while I hiked up to the "summit" (I know those of you from Colorado don't consider a "mountain" that is about 400 feet high to have a summit, but we out here in Maine do). She really enjoyed being out in the snow and watching Dad sweat as he carried her up the hill. Enjoy the pictures.

I am currently sitting in the Manchester airport waiting for my flight to Virginia to see the reunion show of Phish! Don't tell Kim, but I am enjoying a beer at 10:30 in the morning. :)

More later and I promise, we will be more frequent with our updates.

Happy New Year!

Well, it has been awhile since I have updated my blog. I has been very busy lately which means Mommy and Daddy are busy. Also, I really don't know how to type yet so I am kind of reliant on either Mommy or Daddy for their limited typing skills. :)

The new year is here, President-Elect Obama is about to become President Obama (I am all jazzed up for the "Change" that we are about to see. Not sure if I could have taken another year of Bush, or so says my Daddy on a regular basis. Isn't it a wonderful feeling!), and pitchers and catchers report in about a month (Daddy insisted I make mention of this in this post. Humor him - he has been kind of lost since the Sox lost the ALCS last year). Life is certainly good right now.

I know you all have been waiting for an update from our holiday. Well first off, presents are cool. Very cool! Especially the tearing of the paper part. Why can't we do that everyday? Mommy, Daddy, Sadie, Kylie, Meg, Lucy and I spent Christmas day at home. It was very quiet and relaxing. It took me about 4 hours to open my presents. What do you expect, I have the attention span of a dog. :) I got lots of great stuff. What you ask? A baby (from Minna and Poppa), a shopping cart, some books, clothes and a kitchen set (from Grandma and Grandpa).

After Christmas we made the trek "up North" to spend another Christmas with Grandma and Grandpa and Aunt Crystal and Uncle Erick. Daddy got to use his new snowshoes for the 1st time. I can't wait to get out in the woods with Mommy and Daddy very soon. I had lots of fun playing with Grandma, Grandpa and Aunt Crystal. We also celebrated Mommy's birthday. She says I can't say how old she is but I will give you a hint. It has a 3 followed by a 5. :)

Just when I thought the holidays were over, along came New Years. How exciting! A chance for me to get all dolled up and paint the town red. This is what I thought until Mommy and Daddy told me that I had to stay home because the I am not old enough for the bars. What's up with that? :) Daddy and I stayed home and played while Mommy got dressed up in her pretty purple, sparkly dress and went out to a ball to benefit my daycare. One of my teachers said she was the bell of the ball. I don't know what that means but I think it is good.

That's all for now. I promise to make Mommy and Daddy write on a more regular basis in 2009. Happy New Year everyone!