My Birthday

The weekend of my birthday was spent with random and unexpected visitors. Scott's cousin (not a close relationship) sent him a text Friday and said he and his wife were in town, and wondered if we wanted to meet up of dinner. Scott and I were planning to go out Friday but bumped dinner to Saturday so we could meet up with them.  I got to use my birthday certificate and got a free meal, at Noisy Oyster. When we got home from church Sunday I had a missed call and text from my cousin Carrie's husband, Ryan, who was also in Charleston. We had him over for dinner and had a nice time visiting and looking at cute pictures of the Brady family. It wad nice to have a little family time even if it was the cousins we would had least likely expected to have call us and meet up with.

For my birthday I got a cruiser bike and bike trailer for Quincy. F We ordered the bike online with free shipping so we wouldn't have to figure out a way to get it home. As we began to assemble the bicycle the bolts were stripped so well we couldn't put it together. So in the care the bike in a box went and we exchanged the bike for a pre-assembled bike. Scott got to ride my cute girly white bike home from Walmart and the roads that are not friendly to pedestrians or bikers. We purchased Q's trailer from a craigslist posting but after a few weeks realized it needed a tire patch. A pain but really it was a great deal. The only problem is that the trailer is difficult to connect and disconnect to my bike (Scott's is easy because it is fancy) and we have no place to store them connected.  So we will just use it on Scott's until we have a better place to store the bikes. Bike rides have been fun! (We went again the beginning of October and Q as figured out how to completely get our of the seat-belt. hmm.... we need some deep thinking to keep her safe.)

I got to look forward to attending Dining Out with the Navy Ward Room the at the end of the week which proved another fun way to celebrate my birthday. 

Dining Out

The Navy officers have  a club called the Ward Room. Once a year they have an event for the members called Dining Out. Dining out is a very nice formal event with dinner and tradition toasts and prizes (at least ours at NNPTC) The event was August 24, here is how the evening went:

We had our first date night out together with babysitter for Quincy. Annie, one of my YW, doesn't have a lot of babysitting experience so her mom came and helped until Q was asleep. We left by 6 and went downtown to a restaurant called McCrady's, a gourmet place that serves food I can only enjoy on occasion because it is beyond my palette (definitely a cousin Jeremy kind of place.) Side note George Washington years ago ate in the same room we did, it was just a different restaurant, I think it was more of a pub then. Kinda neat- you wouldn't find that in Utah. The evening began with an hour of drinks and hors d'oeuvres as people gathered, you know fruit, cheeses, crackers, mini quiches...sodas for those of us who don't drink. 7:00 was when dinner was supposed to start but everyone was having too much fun visiting in room number one. When dinner actually started we had salads with no dressing but after digging around a little we found a buttery cream hidden under the leafy greens. For appetizer I had quail and Scott ate scallops. I don't think I want to eat scallops again. Main course, I had New York steak which was served extremely rare but our table was served very last so I couldn't send it back. It didn't taste as rare as it looked but still too red for me liking.Scott had a grouper fish, again, I am glad he ordered it, I could have a bite and not have to try to eat the rest. As we waited for dessert coffee was served to those interested,  I mention this not because we had any desire for coffee but because of the whole presentation; A dinner like this is definitely an event and not just a dinner. Dessert was the most filling and fun part. Mmmm. Everyone had a plate of creme brulee and a dark chocolate cake with a drizzle of salted caramel on the plate. Wow. one was super sweet and the other  bitter but together dessert was very good.

Necessary formality of toasts followed dinner. We toasted to the president of the United States, toasted to those currently in war zones, those who gave their lives for our country, POW's, etc. I had never been to something like this before so it was all very interesting and an overall enjoyable experience.

Scott requested people to sit with, those in his division that he works closely with but there is always an upper chain (high ranking person with substantial role at the command) at every table too.As luck would have it the DOD sat next to Scott, just the person Scott wants as much interaction as he can get so he can get the highest position available to him at NNPTC.

After dinner we went back in to the first room where prizes were given out and guess what, we won something! We got a gift certificate for another fancy dinner out. There was a DJ and music was played we visited for a bit longer, some dances but it wasn't my kind of music and we had a babysitter. To our delight Quincy did great with the babysitter. The report was didn't cry at all, she loved playing with Annie and the two of them wore each other out.

Here we are at McCrady's, I couldn't find a dress I liked so I ended up wearing this old dress. I didn't feel out of place but I could have definitely dressed up a lot more. I had fun drinking my sparkeling grape juice and trying to be fancy. Thanks for taking me out Scott

Dear Quincy, you are one

September 23, 2013

Dear Quincy, 

Wow you are one! Life can be hard when I feel like I can't accomplish a single thing with you getting into everything, but I am in heaven when you smile and I can see you growing and understanding each day. These last couple of weeks you have defiantly changed from baby to toddler. You like to do more things, you seem to have a sense of independence with your confidence in walking. Your stranger anxiety has disappeared and you love to let people hold you at church- you will sit on others laps, scoot down come over to me and go back to them. You are a pro at climbing down form your stroller and my bed. 

A story about you understanding- Today after your nap you didn't wand to be happy upon walking up. I asked you if you wanted a cracker and you lit right up and pointed to the kitchen. You followed me in anxious for your cracker and got SOO excited then I gave it to you. When the cracker was gone we replayed the scene and after that I asked if you wanted water, you seemed to agree, we found your cup and you had a great big drink.

After changing your diaper you like to hold the diaper. The last couple of days you started follow me to the diaper pail carrying the diaper and throw it away with min-mod assist. Amazing to see your brain making connections. 

Here are a few pictures to show what you are up to all the time. 1. Ever since you learned to get around by crawling you love to crawl into daddy's lap as he puts his shoes on for work, we can count on  you being there almost every morning. 2. You are brave, a go go goer, you can tell  mobility just went up a notch due to the awful scratched up head... I felt like the worst mom in the world, we will leave it at that.  You are also always playing with books, mostly you are flipping the pages and pulling them off the shelf if  you can get away. The other day when dad got home from work you found in the bedroom, he said he wasn't sure if you were more excited to see him or the bookcase. :) 3. I just pulled out your little chair again, ready for toddler rocking, you love climbing in and out of your little chair. 4. time for more baby proofing. You climbed on the big chair twice this day. The first time I redirected you after being able to reach the next self of books, the second I knew you where you were going, so I grabbed the camera and after a picture the chair was taken down. 

Love you more then anything. Happy Birthday,

Mama.

PS I will get you fridge magnets to play with for a belated present. You really liked those at our friends house on Labor day. Muah!

            

Little Dancer

Dear Quincy,

Today while we were cleaning and doing the dishes we were listening to Taylor Swift Pandora radio. I started to dance. You were watching me and smiling. I picked  you up to dance and spin with me (we do this every so often.) We both were giggling and having the best time. When I set you down I kept dancing and the best part is that you did to. My Sweet Quincy girl was waddling in quick circles and putting her hands and arms up and down and up and down. I thought it was the most adorable thing, dancing together made me tear up a little. I love being your mommy.

Love you always,

Mom

Sooo....Quincy had a birthday...

Soo... Quincy had a birthday, a birthday, a birthday, Quincy had a birthday, tra la la la la!

She is one! This lucky girl got to spread her birthday out over a couple of weeks. She got a cake and some presents in Utah and then again in Charleston.

Celebrating with Nana and Papa in Farmington. that 1st picture was 100X cuter a half a second earlier. (how are your pictures ken?)

My photo shoot, too bad some of the best pictures are out of focus... 

Birthday Girl getting cake for dinner (Grape "salad" without the sugar in the cream) 

don't worry we did sing do a candle.

So there's that. I no longer have a baby but a toddler. She is exploring more, understanding more and growing up so fast- she is one for sure. 

Scott's Memories

Scott's bedroom at his parents had no blank wall space. I am doing this post for his memory...maybe it will be easier for him to let go of his room. Don't worry Julie it is documented even better in panoramic pictures on the iPad. With the latest threat of the room getting torn down Scott had to set aside a few trophy's, medals, and take plenty of pictures so it all wouldn't be lost. We have been married almost 4 years and  he has left everything how it was since high school. He is proud of his many accomplishment and his room. haha love ya babe. 

Utah Summer 2013

The second night at Lake Powell we did a murder mystery I was Alice (in Wonderland,) Mom Richens dressed Quincy up as the White Rabbit who is always late to match me, and Scott was Aladin

Lovin' Powell

Spying on Q actually playing happy without us around. Apparently she cried for 20 minutes the first time without us. The next time 5 and the 3rd time she didn't really cry at all. 

Grams, Ken(Papa,) Julie (Nana,) Gramps, Quincy, Jenny, Scott all cooling off in the lake together. 

The ski right after I sprained my finger

My Charleston Peach. 

The cathedral in Powell? It was really pretty.

Modeling...

Meeting the cousins. Q and Vickie were pushed everywhere in those boxes. Quincy loved it.

Modeling Motorcycles...on Gramps' Bike. :)

Great Grandpa Baird was lucky enough to have Quincy happy while he held her. 

On a hike to Timpanogos Cave with the extended Allen clan. This picture started as just Scott, Q, and I and but turned out to be more fun with most of the nieces and nephews. They like us. 

In the cave

Finally a family photo

All 14 of my parents grand kids in Natalie and Nic's backyard

The three of us flew to Utah together and got in 10 Pm and the next morning drove to Powell. Quincy traveled beautifully- however it was tricky not letting her get adjusted to a different time zone before everyone was stuck on a house boat with us. After a week in at the lake we stayed at Mom and Dad Allen's for most of the next week, then Scott headed back to work in Charleston while Q and I got to stay another few days. between Lake Powell and the back and forth we got to be with both the Richens' and the Allen's about even. We got to:

• Go to Averie's baptism,
• Have FHE and Allen BBQ
• Hike Timp Cavewith Allens
• Visit everyone's homes
• Help throw a bridal shower for 2 cousins at my moms
• go to the splash pad with cousins (any good pics dad?) -which Quincy warmed up to and then got too brave getting splashed right in her face, which made her scared again
• Visit both Richens' and Allen's church wards to show off Quincy
• Meet Aunt Sue at Grams Sunday dinner
• Sunday dinner at the Roach's the next week and take cousin pictures
• Play Rook the Baird way and the Richens way. I won the highest game average at Powell! However I only played 5 games compared to Grams' 35 games. I would have played a few more games but I had Q. And thankfully grandma and grandpa Baird aren't too mad at us.
• Skied our little hearts out (or arms out) Thanks to mom arms I am much stronger then I used to be
• Meet 2 new babies, Kade and Adelle.
• Clean out Scott's old bedroom-meaning pick trophy's and medal Julie CANNOT trash when she actually does the cleaning out.
• Practice walking (Quincy)
• Have a 2 week early 1st birthday party for Q with the Richens
• Play play play. Quicny LOVED all the kids. when everyone went home she was worn out!

We were all worn out after the week but it was sure fun. We felt so much love from everyone. Family is great it was fun to play, sad to leave, and happy to be back home. We do like our lives in Charleston. The flight home was a little more rough for Q since she only had me and not Scott also, it was during the day, and on the long flight we didn't have extra space. She loved to watch everything going on which made it hard to fall asleep and she got kinda ornery until I succeed in getting her to sleep. 

Once we were back home and Q realized she was home and in her own space she took off walking 100%.