Quinn turned 1!

I love this picture. This little man is my son. I still have to remind myself of this sometimes. Will I still be saying this when he's 18? He is so beautiful and smart and he loves ME. I am his mom. Woo Hoo!! Oh and if you ever want to make one of these little shirts with their age on it they are so easy. Piper's Quilts and Comforts sells all the fixings to make one. They will even show you how to do it.

Our baby turned 1 today. Quinn is one of the happiest babies I have ever known. He smiles non-stop. He is curious and all boy. 
We had a small party this evening, and it was lovely. My mom, Dad and Daryl, Seth's dad, Sara, P and Bears and Ronan and our good friends Deidre, Denny and of course Eli came. 
We ate great food, mostly from the Favorites Cookbook (what did I do before I discovered this book), followed by some amazing chocolate cake and naked swimming (just the kids, don't worry). 
It was a hot summer night with a cool breeze. We were surrounded by beautiful children and good people. My dad lives in Oregon and I don't get to see him often, so it was so special to have he and Daryl with us.
Every morning when I see those big blue eyes peering thru the crib I am reminded of how lucky I am to be Quinn's mom. I can't wait to pick him up and tell him how much I love him. 
We love you Quinn so much. What did we ever do without you. 
Happy first birthday my son, my love!

 I haven't been to Jolley's Pharmacy on 17th and 13th in years. OMG. They have the most amazing everything. Decorations, flowers, clothing, you name it.

Chocolate cake from what else, Favorites. It's the chocolate version of the lemon cake. It was a hit!

Favorite birthday banner from Jolley's. I have a feeling my family is going to get sick of seeing this decoration. 

 I LOVE IT!!

 

 

 

 

 

Sweet Daryl

Ronan

Way happy, proud parents

Dad, Daryl, P, E and Bears

Quinn was welcoming his guests

A true Dunlop. Those Dunlops love them some chocolate

Poor guy. I think he overdid it

It was Piper that started it. Next thing I knew they were having a ball.

Thanks everyone for coming to my party and for the great presents. Life is pretty great!

 

Ronan turns 1!!

We found out Christmas morning that Ronan Patrick Quinn was on his way. I was LITERALLY jumping up and down SCREAMING and at one point I looked down and I was drooling.

We wanted Patrick and Erin to have a baby in the worst way. Well they did and he is fabulous. I get to have two little boys.

Patrick and Erin threw an amazing party for him last night in their backyard. It was perfect. The little details are what make a party so perfect. 

-Big round tables with white linens

-The homemade invitations with sewn fabric flags

-Delicious chocolate one eyed monsters

-The centerpieces made from vintage tonka trucks with balloons attached

-The world hotdog guy. He is a hotdog cart who is a Sugar House fixture. Gourmet hog dogs, vegetarian and beef. Patrick and Erin had him set up his cart in their yard. People got to eat hot dogs galore.

-Corn Hole. My favorite new game. Sooooo fun!!!

-Yummy cold mommy and daddy drinks.

-Old and new friends celebrating this life we all love more than anything. The majority of the people at Ronan's party we have known since we were kids. How lucky is that. We grew up together and now we are becoming parents together. Wow these children are so beautiful, just like their parents. I truly hope they grow up together they way we all did. 

Ronan we love you. You have tons of support and love.

Thank you so much for coming to us. I will be at every single one of your parties watching you grow and become an amazing man. 

Love aunt Shannon

 My beautiful Quinn

 Proof that I didn't bring my child to the party naked. I CAN'T keep clothing on her

 Hot dog cart

 Cutest centerpieces ever. That Patrick and Erin have amazing taste

 Patrick's credeza with vintage drink buckets

 And she's naked.

 Josiah. He belongs to my long time friend Leah Steele Barnett. So beautiful!!

 Mom, Al and Jaren

 Greatest guys in town

 Quentin, son of Brian Clinger and Annette

 The guest of honor. Ronan loved his cupcake. Holy cow they were amazing. One eyed green monster chocolate cupcakes. I ate two on the way home.

 The finest women in town. My oldest friend Sascha, Christine and Al. Classy, intelligent, beautiful women and SO FUN!. These women are my friends. I am so lucky.

 Hot Dawgs!! Setho and Andy

 Nathan, Brady and Jen. More good friends we are so lucky to know.

 Pipes and Iris. These two are going to preschool together next year. They are going to be so close for many years to come. Iris belongs to Christine and Andy. Seriously great people. I have a feeling we may get a phone call or two from the police regarding these two when they are older and causing trouble.

Enjoying this beautiful summer evening

 Pipes does parties right

 Grandpa Tom

 Centerpieces

 Sweet, silly Jaren

 Quinn is done

 Headed to grandmas for the latter part of the evening

Happiness Is

I have been incredibly humbled by our situation over the past 6 months. Everything I do I feel so incredibly grateful. The ability to pay our mortgage, put Piper in preschool, have food on our table, great medical insurance, an amazing career, going out to eat, healthy kids, time together, you name it I am overwhelmed with gratitude.

I don't believe in blessings or luck. I do however believe in good decision making, hard work, and sacrifice. They are essentials for being a human being. When you have children, they are more than essential, they are a must.

It's silly, but the other day we went hiking and I even felt grateful that we have a car with a full tank of gas and the ability to take our children to an amazing place of beauty. 

 

Preschool Graduation

All good things must come to an end. Yesterday Piper graduated from the U of U Preschool. She is going back in the fall, so it's not a final goodbye. What an amazing experience we have had. The teachers, other kids and their parents are phenomenal. It has been a perfect fit for us. To trust someone with your child is so scary to me. Piper's best friend Eli is switching schools, so we are sad about that. Her other little friend Iris is joining the U of U Preschool family in the fall. We couldn't be happier about that. Iris and her parents are amazing people. 

Piper, Eli and Sammy

Piper and her teacher Miss Tammy Taylor

Piper and her very best friend Eli. These two love each other so much. I love watching them.

We all got to come to the end of school party. Quinn loved it.

 

Piper and the potty

It was a lovely hot Sunday afternoon. You were hanging out watching a nature show on Black Mambas eating chocolate ice cream and bananas in the nude. Just exactly what you should be doing on a Sunday.

The pee pee dance started and it happened. You ran to your potty and you did it. You started to use the toilet today. Seth and I have tried and only ran into tears and fighting over the past 6 months or so. We backed off and tried to let it happen on its own. 

2 skittles for pee and 5 for a poop. Piper keeps trying to urinate over and over to get her skittles. I taught her about what makes urine, so she spent much of the afternoon parked on her potty with her water bottle. A friend of mine at work suggested keeping your child naked while potty training. Worked like a charm. Not one accident this afternoon.

Not only did you pee, but you got up from the dinner table without a word and pooped in your toilet. 

This is so Piper. She does things on her own terms. Piper will not be pressured and does not follow the group. These are wonderful qualities to have. Qualities that I hope stick with her as she becomes a teenager.

Today was bittersweet for me. I am in no hurry for any milestones. I love my LITTLE children. I have never minded diapers. I am happy that she is proud of her new achievement, but with Quinn walking and now the potty, I am hoping we can slow it down a bit. 

Next they are going to tell me they have found an apartment and are moving out together.

Congratulations my little love. I am so proud of you.