Updated family photos! We wanted to get some to capture 2 year old Quinn and my very pregnant belly. I am so glad we decided to do this because I absolutely love these pictures. In addition to the banner image (above), here are a few more of my favorites:
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After months of putting it off, we finally started potty training. Quinn seemed ready back in April, but with the move we decided it wouldn't be the best time. Then I started working full-time and we put it off again. Finally, in August it was time to get serious. Although the first few days were rough (lots of accidents and yelling about not wanting to sit on the potty), we pushed through.
We decided not to do incentives and rewards and instead went with lots of praises and clapping, etc. So far, we are 3 weeks in and she is really doing great. She is using public bathrooms (portable potty seats are the best invention ever!), she has been going at school, and we have had multiple days with no accidents.
The best part of potty training came last week though. Every time she uses the potty, we tell her how proud we are. Well, last week we were at a restaurant and she went tot he bathroom with me. After I used the restroom, Quinn proceeded to clap and yell, "Mommy used the potty! So proud of you Mommy. Yay!" It was absolutely hilarious.
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Wow, I haven't blogged in so long! I have missed it, but a lot of life has gotten in the way of my blog time lately. To start with, we sold our adorable Atlanta house and took off for the 'burbs. Yes, it is shocking! It was a whirlwind-- 2 closings and the move (2 fullsize truck fulls) in 1 day! We are working on getting settled still, but we are absolutely thrilled with our new house and neighborhood (not to mention the pool and playground right across the street!). House selling in this market was challenging (and a lengthy process), but we ended up with multiple offers on our old house right after we went under contract on the new house....amazing how things work out sometimes. Having our house on the market for many months with a 1.5 year old was exhausting to say the least.
Since my last post, we also found out we are expecting #2 this fall. Baby Grape, as Quinn calls her, is scheduled to arrive October 17th (repeat c-section). So far this has been a great pregnancy (thank goodness). We had a little scare related to my blood transfusions (liver surgery), but those were quickly resolved and my liver is looking very healthy. Since this pregnancy will be my last (at least that is our plan), I can't wait to start blogging about it--I feel like it has flown by (23 weeks already) and I want to remember as many details as I can. We can't wait to meet this little girl and we know Quinn will be such an amazing big sister.
I'm also back at work full time for the summer while a coworker is on maternity leave. It has been a big shift from working part time, but I am enjoying it (and found wonderful sitters for Quinn). I'm still trying to get my office fully settled, but having my own space in the basement has been really nice.
Recently, we celebrated our 10th anniversary (more on that soon) and Quinn's 2nd birthday (more on that as well).
Now I think you are all caught up on the last 6 months in the land of Zyg!
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I love it, don't you? Last night I started pinning a ton of new recipes I want to try soon.
Today I ran across an article on CNN about the website. They mentioned this blog: http://www.pinfluence.com/
If you don't follow it, you should. A lot of really cute pinterest material I hadn't come across and the FAIL section is pretty funny.
Happy pinning!
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I'm not big on New Year's resolutions generally. This year though I have decided to make some goals. Pretty general stuff for the most part, but I think it will help me start thinking about what I would like to do/achieve this year. I've also decided to try and look at the calendar for the year this week and start some vacation planning, etc. Traveling with a child definitely makes us want to prepare way in advance (and traveling without her means working on calendars with the grandparents even further in advance!).
But for now, here are my 12 goals for 2012:
1- Get a Little Type A
Organize both my house and my calendar!
2- Book Worm
Before Q, I used to read all the time, but I think I completed maybe 4 books in 2011.
3- Snapshot
I've decide to bite off a big project and try to take 1 picture a day for 2012 (thank you for the inspiration Laura). Originally I wanted to make this all about improving my photography skills, but my dear Nikon will be going back to the manufacturer this week due to an autofocus issue. So most my January pictures will be shot with my old camera or my phone, but at least it will get me in the habit!
4- Explore Our Backyard
This is more of a goal for the winter. It just got cold here, so the idea of venturing out doesn't always sound like fun. I want to continue exploring fun indoor places with Q now that she is older. Tops on the list is the Children's Museum and finding a good storytime
5- Hit the Road
With some of my closest friends scattered across the South (and more leaving Georgia every day!), it is time to get better at packing up the family and hitting the road. Tops on my list are NC and TN with a possibly longer journey to VA.
6- Techie
We increased our tech toys over the holidays and now it is time to really get everything all linked up and backed up. I'm hoping to parlay this tech increase into more blogging and a blog-to-book, etc. Also looking forward to redesigning the blog this winter and getting some fun stuff like Picnic.
7- Keep In Touch
This might be my most important goal, but I really want to focus on staying in better touch with my friends. It gets tough with the different weekday schedules and/or different states and time zones (I don't think anyone will be in another country this year, so that is good!). Whether it is scheduling phone dates, finally figuring out Skype and Facetime, or getting a regular lunch date or coffee on the calendar.
8- Foodie
Love to cook, so I need to continue to make more time to do it.
9- Just Say No
This year I want to learn to say No more often to things. Not everything, but with the limited amount of free time I have I want to really spend it doing things I enjoy and not things I feel like I need to do.
10- Dive In
I picked two things that I want to get further involved with this year: Redfin (my job) and Junior League. I get a lot of personal satisfaction from these, so I hope to continue to grow with both this year.
11- Big Picture
Continue working to let the little things go and focus on what really matters
12- Give Back
I did a good bit of volunteering last year and I hope to do even more this year. (Any ideas on how to volunteer with a 1.5 year old? I'm drawing a blank....)
I refuse to let my resolutions stress me out or turn into something I can fail, so I don't do specific goals (read 12 books this year, cook 5 nights a week, etc.). I do plan to check in with this list regularly just to see how I am doing though.
Best of luck with your resolutions too!
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We decided it was time for some updated shots...little did we know how challenging family pictures with a 17 month old could be! Quinn was not at her best (read: easiest) that morning, but we got some cute stuff. (You can see a few shots here.)
As soon as Jeff left, the major smiles came out (go figure) and I captured these two shots:
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| Love the new super toothy grin |
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| She is completely in LOVE with her dog these days (and even says Scout) |
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After last year's card, I wasn't sure what to do this year.
I decided we should include Scout (and not just have a tiny picture of her on the back). Then I thought some kind of Christmas related photo would be fun.
Here are a few of the shots (and outtakes) from our Christmas card photo shoot adventure. I must say, the 7 year old dog was easier to work with than the 17 month old child. :)
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| I still can't believe she let me wrap her up in lights! |
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