Despite not being in the office for the last week and a half, I've been a bit delinquent with the blog posts, so here's a few pics of our 'goings on' during the Christmas season. Unfortunately, some of the pics are a bit out of order, and I can't get blogger to reorganize.
One other quick point: Quinn reached another milestone yesterday: he said his first 'word'. He's been rambling for a while (like his dad), but it is all relatively random. Now, he can clearly enunciate 'Ah Oh'...which were the 'words' that he woke us up with this morning. Now if he would only learn to change his own diapers. More on this when a real word gets spoken.
Quinn and his friend Henrik on Henrik's new sled! We didn't have any snow, so Rene and I pulled them around the floor of our condo. They had a blast. Below is another pre Christmas pic: Quinn loves taking baths, and he gets so excited when we start filling up the tub...and he just looks so cute there with his little legs and butt...
Quinn with TicTack Oma. Eva gets a bit sentimental with this pic because it is one of the first where Quinn looks much more like a 'toddler' than a 'baby'. He certainly has grown up this last month.
Despite the distance, Santa Claus visited Quinn as well, and dropped off one gift: this stack of blocks. Kind of a simple game: I stack the blocks, and Quinn knocks them down. You should hear him giggle when he starts crawling to knock them down!
The famous Bügeleisenhaus in Hattingen, all dressed up for Christmas. During December, the house is a big advent calendar, and they 'open' up a different window at 7pm each evening, and someone at the windowsill will sing or tell stories for the onlookers.
A really cute pic of Emma!
The Gould family Christmas picture: new and improved this year: with Quinn!
Quinn all decked out in his Christmas overalls (Thanks: Jessica, Charles, and Landon) on his first vehicle: his very own Bobby Car. Yes, that is the name of the thing...a Bobby Car. Every child has one, and the kids in the neighborhood put miles on the things. Quinn's legs are a bit short for the thing, but he had a blast when we pushed him around on it (Thanks: Oma und Opa). Eva's Dad even let me help him put it together.
I love Quinn in this sweater...it makes him look so cute! This is also the look he gives us when he is in a drawer he shouldn't be in. As all of you parents know, there are some clothes that you become somewhat attached to, and are kinda sad when they don't fit anymore...and this sweater will go in that category. Thankfully, it still fits.
Oh my God! How am I going to get this to fit in our wagon? After sacrificing a few sheep to the Packing Gods, I got it all to fit...wait! Who forgot the kid ?!?
Quinn in his cowboy look.
Quinn and I playing a bit at his great Aunt and Uncle Göttgens' place. They had a remote controlled car that Quinn had a blast chasing...
Here's another pic of Quinn looking more like a 'boy' than a 'baby'. How time flies...
Quinn playing with Emma. He still doesn't have tons of control over his hand and finger motions, so sometimes he pats her a bit too hard, but he's learning...and the two had a great time together. I still find it amazing how babies and toddlers are fascinated with other children their ages. I guess they're 'stuck' in a world where the people are huge, and they are even more amazed when the find other 'little people'.
Eva celebrated yet another birthday. Silly birthdays just seem to keep coming around. Happy birthday Eva!
Nina sporting her new hairdo with Quinn in hand.
Finally...the last pic of 2007. We had a few folks over for New Years. Everyone brought over snack food, and I made a potato soup...we laughed, chatted, ate, played Cranium...and even had a few drinks. Somehow, it was quickly 3am, and it was time to go to bed and to say goodnight to good friends and goodbye to 2007.
Promptly at 6am, we woke up to Quinn and his one 'word' vocabulary: Ah Oh!
Ah Oh! was right. Child, why can't you sleep in a bit longer? I guess Quinn is an early riser like his folks, and he was ready for action. It was time to check out 2008.
Thankfully, I took care of Quinn the previous two mornings, so it was Eva's turn!
We hope that you all had a great and healthy 2007, and we wish you all a great 2008. May all of your hopes and dreams come true.
We really don't know how Quinn got in this position. He can turn really well onto his stomach, but he can't really get back on his back. Eva and I both missed this one, but it seems that he did the full turn...and somehow avoided banging his head on our hardwood floors.
...ok, and Quinn has milk for breakfast...