The (Dark) Little Prince

Last night we celebrated John David's first Halloween! For those of you who were there at the beginning (i.e. Quinn's and my respective childhoods), you know that we were happy, happy, happy to have an excuse to dress up. Finally, we are getting to the whole upside of this parenting thing!

We dressed as a family of vampires - appropriate for two attorneys and their offspring, I believe. We ate a delicious dinner at the home of our friends, Kelly, Mitch, Thatcher, and Cooper. Then we acted as Thatcher's entourage while he tricked and treated his way around our neighboorhood. Because our parenting role-models are Britney and K-Fed, we forced our child into an uncomfortable costume and then bought his cooperation by allowing him to chew on a starburst wrapper!

As for the baby costume - we came across it way back in February or March at a serious markdown. Quinn insisted that we purchase it posthaste while I demurred at the thought of dressing my precious baby as the bloodsucking undead prince of darkness. As you see, John must have been VERY new indeed if I thought it wouldn't match his personality! Quinn promised that he would dress up right along with John and he is a man of his word. Enjoy the pics, and don't worry, Quinn and I are wearing makeup; we are not just THAT tired.

The (Dark) Little Prince, pt II

Back and Better than Ever!

The prodigal baby returns. John David was nine months yesterday - he's now been out as long as he was in! I have to say, I can't really decide which nine months I prefer . . . okay, the latter, except for the sleeping.

We are all settled in San Antonio. For those of you playing along at home, here's a brief timeline of our goings-on:
May: Quinn graduated G'town, we traveled to TX to buy a house.
June & July: Visited friends and family (FL and OH), prepared for yet another cross-country move!
August: Moved to TX, unpacked 82% of our belongins (other 18% living in closets throughout house).
September - present: Quinn is working(!), we're just hanging in, making friends and having fun.

S.A. has been a great fit so far. Quinn is really enjoying his job. We have made lots of friends - John is a really popular guy!
He is 19# and 28 inches, no teeth and army-crawling. He eats real food sometimes but is still a boobie baby! He babbles all the time, with heavy emphasis on ooohs and aahhs; it's like living with an obscene caller.

We miss all our friends and family around the Estados Unidos (got to work on that espanol, y'all) and we are sending out ridiculous amounts of love across the country and worldwide.

More FL Pics

Top to bottom:

Jamie; John; John and Kendall x2; Cole and John.

Cinco de My-oh-my

The Baker three are reunited! John and I came home from Jax on Tuesday, Grandpa J.D. in tow. He stuck around for a few days but now the fearsome threesome is together, alone once again.

Miraculously, we all survived John's first crack at the friendly skies. He did great on the airplane, a miracle considering his recently developed car seat aversion. He barely let out a peep either way. Security was a fiasco, of course but we made our flights which is all that counts. On the way down, that entailed Mommy and Daddy getting up at 3:30, but not the little peanut!

We had a great time in Florida. John had so much fun with his cousins! He is now cousin Cole's "Monkey." Jamie and John did not interact so much as sleep in the same place (often) but we know they will be great pals and tons of trouble down the line. John was especially fond of his Uncle Josh - beware, Quinn, there is a new Uncle in town! We also got to meet baby Kendall, my friend Sarah's baby girl. Sarah and I have been friends since grade school, and amazingly we had babies one day apart!

Kendall took the opportunity of our visit to roll over for the first time, and I guess John was inspired because he did the same last Monday! He is now rolling over from front to back with some regularity. He is also playing with all kinds of toys and beginning to show some interest in peekaboo. He is all smiles and laughs, except when he's not! He also babbles ALL THE TIME - it is like living with a large, poorly trained parakeet!

Quinn is wrapping up his semester and after he graduates on the 20th we will be heading out to see the Texas crew- we can't wait to introduce John to the rest of the family!

Up in the Air, Junior Birdman!

John is practicing his flying for our big trip to FL tomorrow. Luckily for him, we're taking a plane, because his arms would get really tired, wocka wocka wocka! We will provide a full account of our adventures in the friendly skies. We're taking a few bottles of breast milk so I will not be the next mommy to fall victim to the no-boobie gestapo, i.e. meanie flight attendants.

By the way, John had his 3 mo. check-up and weighs in at a whopping 11.09, 24 inches long and a nice big melon to match. He is perfect, and that's not just my biased opinion, it's backed up by an actual medical doctor.

This is the day that the Lord has made...

Let us Rejoice and be Glad in it!

Happy Easter to all! The Baker Three have had a wonderful (if chilly) Easter Sunday. We rose with the dawn, thanks to the small guy, although I can't complain as he did sleep from 10:45 to 4:45. I let Quinn sleep until around 7:00 and then we all hung out and ate some homemade coffee cake. After we all got dressed up in fancy new frocks, we went to 10:00 mass at St. Jane Frances de Chantal in Bethesda. It's not our parish but it is a beautiful church with TONS of families so we really like it. The other church we tried skewed a bit towards the AARP demographic, no offense to our readership.

After lunch we went to Houston's Restaurant which as many of you know is one of our favorites! The food was great as always - I ate pretty much every single thing that bothers John, but what the hey, it is a holiday after all. Best of all John slept all through church AND lunch. It was almost like Quinn and I were on a real date. We had so much fun! We got home a while ago and John ate and is now playing away in his favorite chair, thanks again to Aunt Mary Beth and Uncle Charles! He can now reach up and hit the toys, which is absolutely thrilling to him and us although it seems pretty accidental!

Quinn's semester is wrapping up and we are looking forward to some fun times ahead. We will be down Jacksonville way on the 19th of this month and then in Texas the last week of May.

Thanks to Grandma and Grandpa for the beautiful flowers and to Uncle Josh, Aunt Jessi and a very big cousin Cole for the card. We cannot wait to meet the new Baby Boy Benoit and we hope he shows up very, very soon for Aunt Jessi's sake!

Love to all and we hope you all have a happy and blessed Easter, we are certainly feeling very blessed around here!

Lone Star State of Mind

So we are eating some crow . . . and hopefully, some really good Mexican food. Why? Because the prodigal Bakers (plus one) are returning to the Lone Star State. Many of you may remember our vocal departure only two years hence, when we SWORE we were finished with Texas and set out for greener pastures. As it turns out, the green lies in Texas after all, as Quinn has accepted a great job at Cox Smith Matthews in San Antonio. Allegedly, they are already sending him some money so I guess the deal is sealed.

I am really speechless on this subject, so you know I MUST be in shock... it'll be great to be back around all the family on both sides. Can't fight fate, I guess. I am excited about Quinn's job, it is a great opportunity and the legal market will be easier for me to break into as well (should I ever decide to work outside of the food service industry). My son will be a Texan but then I like his father and Nana all right so I guess that isn't so bad, hee hee. And of course what really tips my hand is the Mexican food and SWEET TEA. Texas, here we come . . . but not until August. As I typed that I realized I am moving to Central Texas, in AUGUST, and I am happy about it. Man, I should really get my head checked!

Maybe I am feeling so good because John finally decided after ten weeks on this earth that night is for sleeping. He and I go to bed between 8:30-9:30 and he doesn't wake up until around 6:00! He is still nursing at night some but we have figured out how to do it without either of us really waking up. Then he gets up and plays for an hour and a half or so and takes a morning
nap so we are getting some real sleep at last. John also takes actual naps now where he sleeps longer than 35 minutes so the days are better, too. Best of all he loves to play and laugh and we are having so much fun!

See, I told you the Japanese were good for more than just making cars

Today we took the Small Guy down to the Mall to get some pics of him with the Cherry Blossom Trees. I think they turned out pretty well, despite his refusal to smile and a necessary costume change - but you tell me. He also got to experience laying in the grass for the first time ever (warm weather but too early for bugs, you see). Do you remember laying in the grass soaking up the warm Spring afternoon sun for the first time? Neither do I, and neither will he, but it looks like he quite enjoyed it.






Note also this pic of me wearing Jessica's hippie granola wrap. From the back the thing looks like part of a Jedi Knight outfit. It's a lot more comfortable than it looks.

Ladies' Man

There is a new woman in John David's life - his Nana. Linda arrived yesterday for a five day visit with the wunderkind. She is keeping me company (and sane!) while Quinn is in the Lone Star State on business. Yes, breathless readers, one of the Bakers may someday obtain gainful employment. John has really put on a show for his paternal abuelita. Yesterday he refused to nap and fussed / nursed from 3:00pm until 10:00, when exhausted mommy handed him off to daddy, and then he (John) immediately fell asleep! Today he has brought his A game and has been nothing but cute and sweet and has thankfully slept several hours like a normal baby who never ever makes anyone want to throw him out the window. He seems to be thriving on nursing only, we'll have to wait to see the tale of the scale on Monday. While we're on the subject of A games or the lack thereof, please all take a moment of silence to mourn the rapid exit of the Davidson Wildcats from the NCAA Tournament. I could not bring myself to bet against my alma mater so my bracket is officially busted. Jen, if you are reading this, I will pay you the $2 anyway.