Spiders for a midnight snack

I'll post this weekend all the pictures and videos we've taken this week. For now I'll just fill you in on whats been going on. Last week was refreshing and relaxing. There was a dramatic decline of noises due to an out-of-town trip that lasted 6 days, and 5 nights. I was able to regain my sanity, composure and reduce stress. Unfortunately Franklin and myself caught colds.

Stephen was great in being able to watch Franklin, who didn't seem to need the extra sleep from being sick, while I got in a nap or two. With Stephens help, especially over the weekend, I was able to more quickly get over this cold. There is still a little left over with Franklin, and some irritations of the throat with me, but overall, we are back to healthy. Friday I took Franklin in for his 18 month appointment, as well as had the doctor check on his cold. Franklin is 26 1/2 lbs. (54% for his age) and 34 inches (91% for his age). He did lose a little weight due to running around and not as interested in eating solids (due to teething and his cold) but I'm so excited to know he's definitely going to be taller than us!! He'll be able to keep up with Greta's and Heidi's kids!!

Franklin hasn't seemed to affected by his illness except for when naptime approaches he must be in bed. He has had high energy, and Stephen and I have been trying to come up with activities for him when it wasn't good for 2 sick people to be outside. Over the weekend Stephen was itching for a project since I made him stay home. So he got some scrap wood together and made a temporary eisle for Franklin. We taped some card stock to it, and let him go to town with his markers. He'd get so excited, he wanted to move on. Our only rule is that the markers stay with the eisle. He doesn't like that rule.

One evening we set up a fortress in the living room. The cats had a lot of fun with that too. Franklin was a little more sick that night, so when he got really worked up, he started coughing a lot. We had to call it quits before he wanted to. But he definitely had fun while it lasted.

The next night we did finger painting. He wasn't too sure about it, and in a way, still isn't. He wanted daddy to do more painting, and just copy him, rather than do it himself. Stephen painted his whole hand to do a hand print, and that upset him for a short while. I guess it was too much at the moment. We'll try finger painting again when we get some water colors. We did it with acrylic, and of course he had to taste it. Obviously he didn't like the taste, and sure made a funny face.

Stephen blew up an air mattress but not all the way full. We were able to bounce, and toss Franklin on it. He had the most fun with this activity. We even tried to bounce Rizzo, but he was just too light. However he did stay on it while we bounced Franklin. I tell you, that cat is most definitely one of a kind! He had to be in on every activity we do, and every room we are in. Since the air mattress was such a success, but Stephen didn't want to get it out again, I convinced him to bring in the twim mattress from the nursery. Franklin expected it to have the same effect, but even though he didn't bounce as high, he still had fun. And Rizzo was right there too.

Yes, I was going to get to the title of my blog. We have relished in the fact that we don't have many insects up here; no scorpions, and you never see a cockroach, and the mosquitos, though the locals complain how many there are, its nothing like the population in AZ. The one thing we have plenty of is spiders. There is one kind that we have down here all the time. In the first few months the cats liked to chase, capture, and kill, till they both were bit back. Now they pounce, and play, but not always eat them.

Monday morning I woke up with a slightly puffy lip, and 2 unusual red spots; one next to my nose, and the other next to my mouth. Originally thought it was acne, except for what was on my lip, till the next day. My lip was more puffy that you could actually notice it, and it started to sting. The red spot next to my mouth was bigger, and also started to hurt. Just blamed it on messing with it at first. Then the 3rd day I noticed that each red spot had two little marks and began researching the web about insect bites. I realized I had been bitten in 3 different spots; the trail leading to my mouth. In my sleep I must have sought my revenge because the last bite is on the inside of my lip. Yes, gross!! Now I seek revenge on every spider I see before it has the chance to get fresh with me. (no, my revenge doesn't involve eating them, it was just the one, and I was asleep)

Picture Post

Don't forget to check at the bottom of the blog for 2 new videos. The Description of them is just to the side.

We went to cold stone, and yes it was cold outside too. Franklin wanted to eat it at his own pace, and not ours.


We set up his crib with a bed rail so that it was more like a toddler bed. My back can't handle picking him up and over, so I needed to make the switch. He LOVES it, his bed is his new favorite place in the house. Rizzo likes it too!


Stephen got off work early one day, and decided he needed to clean out and organize his truck. His regular vehicle was having problems, so they made him switch and had to move his stuff in a hurry. Franklin was more than happy to help, there is a tool in his hand, and wouldn't let go of it at all. It was total dispare when we took it from him.


He was on edge for the next little bit, so I gave in, and let him have a cupcake. He didn't waste time shoving it in his mouth, frosting first.


Stephen was installing a whole-house humidifier (Life Saver, I have to say, Franklin and I have both been sleeping so much better since it was put in). Rizzo was having fun in the box, he always does, but this box happened to be big enough for Franklin to enjoy too. One of the videos below is of this box adventure. He had so much fun!!

What he does best

Franklin is a pro at stealing hearts. I'm not entirely sure how to descibe what he's doing other than it is super cute. He chatters and talks his own language constantly, as if you know what he's saying, however he doesn't talk as if he's being serious and that you should understand him like I've seen a lot of toddlers do. The whole mouth, tongue, and eyebrows get into it too. He gives the whole personality all at once; that is if he isn't pretending to be shy at first.

He also believes he is very clever, especially when playing "Where's Franklin?" He'll use his blanket, or his hands and cover his eyes. When you "find" him he laughs as if he is the most clever boy in the world. He has smooth moves too, if you ask for a kiss he'll lean his head forward and let you kiss him on the head (he doesn't give as many slobbery, on the mouth kisses, but he does them every so often), and he loves to copy silly faces, especially if it has anything to do with the lips.

Nursery is great, and he's learning where it is, and what it means when he goes. He can't wait to get to nursery now! Our primary kids miss him, but it feels like we actually have full lessons now in class. We're still trying to find out what happened to naps since the time change. Its like he knows, and now its not just Sundays, its every day.

My sister, Greta, babysat Franklin for us on the Saturday before last so Stephen and I could attend the Temple. It's been ages since we've gone, mostly because I wasn't ready for a babysitter. It was a relief to have her watch him, and he enjoys his cousins. Greta's been urging us to go on more dates, and leave him with her more. He sure won them over, and now they can't get enough. Its the whole personality at work, I tell ya!

This last Saturday was very nice. Stephen says I've created a new V-day breakfast tradition: Crepes with strawberries, mmm, mmm, good. Franklin took his morning nap, as we watched a movie that we've had forever (and needed to go back to the store). We ate lunch, and immediately after I got sleepy. Stephen was great, he let me sleep, even though there were things we wanted to get out and do and Franklin woke up right after I went to sleep. When I did get up, we headed out because we wanted to see Bolt at the dollar theater. It was insane out on the roads anywhere near theaters, mall, and major stores. We bought our tickets, thought we'd take care of an errand, then thought better of it and turned back.

Franklin LOVED the movie. It was the best he sat through ever!! We really enjoyed it too, it was more commical than we expected. Toward the start of the movie Franklin though he wanted our soda, versus having his own drink. It was too heavy, and we weren't paying much attention till we both felt our legs getting wet. At least it was at the start of the movie so it had time to dry before we got out in the cold.

Just a little side information: Sunday before last we were told by our landlady that her roommates would be moving out by the following weekend. We were very surprised, and excited. I've lost lots of sleep on account of the noises from upstairs, and as a result my stress has been out of control, and I started getting migrains. I've never had them before, and I started to get really sick because of them. My doctor has given me something to help me sleep, but it seemed once we had that news my stress was back in check, and my pains were going away. On Thursday I heard a discussion from the mother and daughter upstairs, and decided to take Franklin out of the house so they could talk as loudly as they liked. Stephen and I agreed that the result of this conversation would be that they would not be moving out. The weekend came and went, and we have had some communication that now proves we were right. Ironnically my stress has gone up a little since, but now we know what my struggle is we are trying to keep it under control so that my pains won't return.

Sorry there are no pictures. Its not that we aren't taking them, I just don't always download them, so please be patient with me.

First born survey

1. Was your first pregnancy planned? Sort of, we had been trying for 21 months, but stopped because of the heartache, and decided to let the doctors find out why we weren't getting pregnant.

2. Were you married at the time? Yes


3. What were your reactions? In denial. Don't get me wrong, I was thrilled, but not concinced I actually was pregnant


4. how old were you? 24


5. How did you find out you were pregnant? A specialist was going to start me on treatments, so they did a blood test to make sure I wasn't pregnant. Got a call the next day at work.


6. Who did you tell first? Stephen. Then my doctor. We waited a few weeks to tell family


7. Did you want to find out the gender? Even before I could wholly accept that I was pregnant I knew it was Franklin. Stephen was the one who needed convincing we were having a boy.


8. Due Date? August 18th, 2007


9. Did you have morning sickness? Did I ever!! I actually found out a few months ago there is a name for the sickness I had, hyperemisis. I lost 18 lbs. in the first 5 months


10. What did you crave? Nothing, I was thrilled if water stayed down. After the sickness was over I was happy to enjoy all food (still couldn't eat certian meats for months after he was born)


11. Who/What irritated you the most? The shaking from when I was so absolutely weak, and when I was ordered on bed rest for the last 7 weeks, which I didn't completely obey.


12. What was your first child's gender? Boy


13. Did you wish you had the opposite gender? Absolutely not, I knew it was Franklin specifically.


14. How many pounds did you gain? I gained back the 18, and then a few more.


15. Did you have a baby shower? Yes


16. Was it a surprise or did you know? I knew


17. Did you have any complications during your pregnancy? I had pre-term labor on our 3rd anniversary, and was ordered on bed rest till he came, 7 weeks later.


18. Where did you give birth? Sierra Vista Regional


19. How many hours were you in labor? If you count early labor, which most women don't, 17 hours. I was at the hospital for only 5 hours from when I got there till when he was born.


20. Who drove you to the hospital? Stephen

21. Who watched you give birth? Stephen, my doctor, delivery nurse (who had actually been my school nurse back in middle school, so I knew her and she's friends with my mom) and about 5 others. Honestly, I don't know where 4 of those nurses came from; they just appeared right in the last 15 minutes before he was born.


22. Was it natural or c-section? natural

23. Did you take medicine to ease the pain? an epidural, but for most of the labor my catheter was pinched by my BP cuff cord. Then when Stephen located the problem they lowered my dose to almost nothing; said they wanted me to really experience it. Thanks a lot!!


24. How much did your child weigh? 6 pounds, 10 ounces

25. When was your child actually born? August 7th


26. What did you name your child? Franklin LaVor Quinn


27. How did the father react tot he new baby? Stephen was thrilled to finally hold his son in his arms.

28. Did you experience any post-partum depression or baby blues? not at all


29. Breast or bottle? Bottle, with pumped milk for 3 months. When Franklin finally figured out how to latch I got engorgement, then mastitis. He never latched after that, and I felt so guilty, and that it was my fault. Stephen helped me get over that. Hooray for formula!!


30. How old is your first-born today? He is 18 months, but sometimes is convinced he's already 2 (if you get what I mean)