Quirk Blog

i have always wanted to do this....

Jen Quirk — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:50:18 GMT

Bought $50 of groceries for $11.39 :) I am so excited! Can't believe this is actually POSSIBLE....AND that I can do it! Never thought I could!

In other (quick) news....Eden is EVERYWHERE. And basically wants to stand all day. The problem is, she wants to stand where she's not allowed so that makes for some conflict already :) More often than not she obeys, but those times she doesn't...it's really hard. Funny little story....at the beginning, Aaron and I would make a huge deal out of Eden listening to "no". I think she caught on rather quickly because now if I tell her "no" she will stop, and clap for herself :) haha.....cute!

I need to take some more pictures.....it's almost been a week! GASP :)

Our little pumpkin.....don't let the picture fool you, she did not like this experience :)

haven't kept up my end of the deal!

Jen Quirk — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 18:42:53 GMT

Okay, y'all! I completely dropped the ball. I haven't been blogging like I said I would and I'm pretty sure I've discovered why. I upload a ton of E's pictures on FB and usually write captions under each one. To me, it just seems that everything I write there I write here and I basically have the same readers in both places! And really, my brain can't think of much else to write besides that!

Little Eden is growing up so quickly. I say that so much I'm starting to get on my own nerves, but it really is so so true! She crawls (when she really wants to get something....she's not all over the place quite yet), sits up, and has two little teeth. She can clap her hands and wave bye bye when you ask her, and if she's in an obedient mood :) The other day I put one of her toys (okay so it was Ellie's orange flip flop...but Eden loves the thing!) underneith her blanket and she knew to lift the blanket to find the toy. It's pretty neat getting to watch her mind figure new things out. Even still when I watch her crawl I can't help but smile. So proud of our little lady.

She says "da da" constantly now, though we're still not convinced she knows what she's saying. Eden loves her daddy and her little face lights up when she sees him come home from work. However, if she's tired or hungy it's momma she wants. She "talks" constantly and is making new sounds almost daily. This morning it totally sounded like she said, "la la la la la" as she was playing with her toys :) She'll also mimic our voice pattern when we say words. She tries to say "all done" most often after I say it.

We've been teaching her signs, just a few so far. All done, bye bye and please are what we're working on now. I've read not to expect much back until 10-11 months but I figure now is as good a time as any to start. I've literally watched parents communicate with their one year old using just signs. It's amazing, and I'm excited for when that happens with E. :)

And here's what y'all really want...pictures :)

our eden with her new favorite toy....tupperware. she loves it when i put her blocks in there for her. e shakes 'em all around :)

daddy and his girls!

i see more and more of myself in her every day!

oh the hay bails at the pumpkin patch!

in her big girl bath!

so little time!

Jen Quirk — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 18:52:20 GMT

we have been quite busy at the quirk home this past week! because i only have about 15 more minutes until i wake up little eden, here's some pictures from our past week. The pics from our 12 hour car trip will remain on my phone. I don't ever, ever want to relive that experience!

baby girl and her block :) she loves them....best $12 i ever spent!

she could stare at the sisal rug for hours....okay, maybe not that long, but she is so interested in it.

the little one never sits still....but the other day she was so relaxed in my arms....who knows when this will happen again so we just had to take a picture. I am determined to make her a cuddler :)

eden and grandpa...i love this picture. they are both staring at aaron

i LOVE this picture :)

Eden and her daddy....she looks so old!

And, after probably the most boring post ever, the little one is awake.....'till next time!

a little motivation

Jen Quirk — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 01:40:04 GMT

Okay so I keep complaining to Aaron, "Why aren't people updating their blogs?" To which he replies, "Are you?" Caught. I immediatly asked Aaron to grab me the camera so I could upload some pictures and start writing. So, friends, I ask, if I post....will you?

This afternoon we (and by we, I mean Aaron) hung some more frames to add to our little photo collage along the stair case. It is, by far, my most favorite place in our entire house. I have always wanted one of these, and when it comes time to move, the entire thing will be transported. It is that important. Here's what our collage looked like when we first moved in 2 years ago:

BEFORE

AFTER

Big, big difference, yes? And I know there is a little straggler down there at the bottom, and soon enough it will be complete. E's 6 month pictures are coming up and I'm sure we'll have plenty of choices to fill that space! As we were adding more frames to the wall, I realized I needed a portrait 5x7 of E and didn't have one I wanted to use. So - i pulled out the camera and took this little gem:

You can see it up there. Bottom right, in black and white. So cute :)

Oh, and I would be remiss if I didn't add some pictures of Aaron hanging these frames. Parents, don't freak out. He looks unstable, but for real - it was a-okay.

Eden was watching her daddy, too!

hanging the first picture :)

really excited about the whole process!

Pretty creative get up right? When you don't have a ladder one must get pretty creative to reach those higher locations! So glad it worked!

In other news, last night when I was out wasting time at Kohls, (i got a $10 gift card in the mail and decided to use it.....6 bucks for 3 outfits for Eden is my kind of deal!) Aaron was at home preparing this lovely evening unknown to me! Eden was already asleep and it was so perfect!

this is what I saw when I walked in the door (Aaron actually met me outside like he always does so we walked in together)

pretty!!

I had told him a couple weeks ago that my idea night looked like a sleeping baby, and table set in a dark room only lit by candles! Isn't it nice? It was so much fun!!!

In a couple days we're heading of to PA to visit family and the day after we get back my dad will be in town for a quick visit! We can't wait!! :) I may be a bit slow to get back to the blog this week, but for now, I've done my part. Now it's your turn....GO :)

what everyone wants to see anyway...

Jen Quirk — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 14:43:38 GMT

pictures! here's some from the past week....

eden and her great grandaddy.... i love the way she's grabbing his hand

Eden and daddy excited about our staycation!

no lie this is how she rides in the car....so funny

when did she get so LONG?

dinner date!

is the not the most amazing plate of vegetables you've ever seen? i have only wanted grilled veggies since that night!

eden loves her new cow! we got this on our date....i was so sad she wasn't there!

this girl never stops moving...but i put her on my legs and she was so content! i loved it...though you can't tell by my face in this picture....i was seriously about to fall asleep :)

she's getting very good at sitting up....and looks very old here to me. i have a feeling i will be saying that for a very long time!

Unto the Lord

Jen Quirk — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 16:47:15 GMT

Sweet Eden,

I can’t tell you how much joy fills my heart as your dad and I stand here today. I never dreamed God would choose to bless us with a baby girl, but here you are, and our hearts couldn’t be more excited. You are such a gift. Standing here looking at you amazes me. Your precious little life, fearfully and wonderfully formed by the hands of our Creator God, entrusted to us so that we could be a part in His great plan for your life. From before you were born, I prayed for God to constantly remind me that you are His, and for my heart to always be open to whatever He has planned for your unique and special life. It is so comforting to know that each of your days have all been prepared, before you even took your first breath. Paul’s words to the Galatians echo my heart, when he says that he’s again in the pains of childbirth until he sees Christ formed in them. How your dad and I pray for you to have a hunger and longing to know Christ and walk with Him. That God would use us, as your parents, to produce godliness in your life, as you watch our relationship with Him continue to grow and develop.

Ephesians 5:18 and 19 say, that you “¹may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” Sweet Eden, our steadfast prayer over your life is that you would know and become convinced of God’s great love. As the psalmist writes, that the morning would bring you word of His unfailing love, it is to God you lift up your soul. That you would know Christ as Savior at an early age, and that you will continue to seek him, thirst for Him, and long for Him until he calls you home.

Eden, as your mom just said, we are truly blessed and praise the Lord to be entrusted with such a great treasure. We also recognize that we have been entrusted with a great responsibility. God has called us to raise you up in a home where His truth is spoken and demonstrated. We are committed to loving you, teaching you, and leading you in a way that points you to Christ. We also commit to surrounding you with a body of Christ followers who will come along side us and teach you in ways that we cannot as parents. Eden, there are so many people here today (and many who could not be here) who love you and who are excited to help us raise you in a way that brings glory to God!

God loves you so much, sweet child, that He sent His only Son Jesus to prepare a way for you to spend eternity with Him in Heaven. Jesus lived a completely perfect life, not once failing to obey His Father. We want you to know though, that none of us are capable of such a life! Christ alone lived perfectly, and He alone is qualified to bear the weight of our sin. Because of our sin, we aren’t able to have a relationship with God. But Jesus is God’s provision for our sin, and when He died on the cross, He bridged the gap that separated people from God. Eden, each and every one of us deserve to be on that cross – but Christ took our place! The good news is that Jesus is alive! God raised Him from the dead and it is through Him that you can know and experience God’s love and plan for your life! But it doesn’t end there. You must trust Christ and receive him into your heart by your own personal invitation.

As your parents, God's provision of His own Son is truly humbling and gives entirely new perspective to the Gospel. We love you so much, and the thought of giving you up is unimaginable. But this is exactly what God did. His love for us is so great and He knew His Son’s sacrifice was the only way to free us from the burden of our sin. We long for the day when you come to understand these truths, and are so excited to be able to share this wonderful news with you. Only through Him will you find peace and life, both abundant and eternal.

Eden, we are committed to helping you become the wonderful person God intends for you to be. We believe that standing here today, before God and our church family, is the first step toward honoring that commitment. We have already been so thankful for their encouragement and accountability these past 6 months, and trust these blessings will only continue. Sweet girl, these people love you so much and we are incredibly blessed to have them walk beside us as we raise you. We are so excited to be your parents! May God be glorified in all we do.

We love you,
Mom and Dad

she sits!

Jen Quirk — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 17:33:56 GMT

This morning Eden started sitting without the support of her hands....not for very long, but she sits! It's super hard to take a picture of her doing this when I'm home alone. I don't exactly have enough hands to make sure she doesn't fall over, AND snap a picture. They aren't the greatest...but i've got proof! You go baby girl! I am so so proud of you!

wasn't looking through the view finder here....didn't realize the lens was zoomed!

my little lady

And this one....just because I can...

5 months!

Jen Quirk — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 14:30:05 GMT

Sweet Eden,

Today you are 5 months old....momma can hardly believe it! It seems like just yesterday you came into this world. You are such a joy, little one. You are sweet, yet sassy, and always have a smile on your face. Oh that beautiful smile....I can't help but do the same every time i see it, or think about it for that matter. It has been so fun getting to spend my days with you. Just you, me, and little ellie. What fun us 3 girls have! Your little eyes follow our puppy everywhere she goes. You smile at her, too! You reach out your hand every time she gets close; it looks as if you want to pet her. Usually ellie runs (don't worry, she won't always do that), but if she doesn't, you grab a nice fist full of her fur. I then unclinch your fist, and tell ellie you weren't trying to hurt her. Someday, little girl, we'll need to explain how to be gentle with the pup....I'm confident you'll learn.

You've really taken to sucking your thumb, especially when your sleepy. I find it precious and I love that you've found a way to soothe yourself to sleep. In fact, I rarely even hear you cry when you go down for your naps these days. Speaking of naps, you take 3 during the day - from 8:30-11:00, anywhere from 12:30 to 1 until 3:00 and 5:00-6:00. You go to bed at 8 and sleep until 7. You eat four times a day, with solids at 3 of your meals. So far you've had: rice, oatmeal, sweet potatoes, carrots, green beans, prunes and pears. Today you will try squash, peas and apples....yum!

You are such a wiggly little girl - hardley ever sitting still. Even when I feed you, you are always moving something, most of the time it's your leg or your tiny little fingers grabbing my shirt in your hands. The exception to this is church. You have always sat so still in your carrier until it's time to eat and then you remain quietly in momma's arms until the service is over. I can't help but think God uses those moments to draw yourself to Him. Mostly I sit there and pray that you would always have a heart that is still and quiet before the Lord. That you would long to hear God's voice and listen when He speaks. A few days ago I was watching a special on homeless children and you sat so quietly in my lap and looked so intently at those little faces. Oh sweet girl, how i pray you'll grow up to love God's people. That you would be a woman who's moved to compassion and gives freely of her time, resources and talents. That you would continue to bring joy to all those around you. I love that I can already see some of these prayers being answered.

Little girl, I just love watching you grow. Every day it seems you gain more and more control over your hands. You grab toys so quickly now, and though you can't quite crawl yet - if you want something, you tend to figure out a way to get to it! You love being on your tummy, as well as your back (now that you've found your feet!). You love your jumper and figure out new ways to play with it every day. The same goes for your gym. You also love to be tickled and to kiss momma's face. You still like being changed. You love the pool and your baths and getting lotion on your legs. Daddy reads you Olivia every night before bed. You can sit up pretty well with assistance, and if I position your arms just right you can hold yourself up for a few seconds. Skirts that were once too big are now far too tight. Your cowboy boots still fall off when you kick.

Little one, I could go on and on. I still can barely believe you five months old. Do you think it's too early to start planning your 1st birthday? Time goes quickly by. I was noticing the other day how much the nursery has become your room. Before you were born, it was so hard to picture you in it. Now, with spit up stains on the glider, dirty clothes in the hamper, well worn toys and a sleep sack that waits for you in the crib, it's yours, and it fits you just perfectly.

I love you, I love you, i love you little girl,

Momma

big ole' update

Jen Quirk — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 17:57:05 GMT

I begin this blog the same way I have the past few entries....it's been a while since i've written! Hopefully y'all haven't given up on me and are still checking for updates! Life is going by so quickly lately, it feels like such a blur at times! I have to remember to sit down and process so maybe I'll do a little of that here as I type.....

Little miss eden isn't so little anymore....she will be FIVE MONTHS in 6 days! This means we are quickly on our way out of infancy, and i have less and less of an excuse for still carrying around baby weight...haha! Eden is all smiles most of the time, and is a really good baby. It feels so wonderful to have people comment on her sweet disposition when they are around. We are starting to venture into the world of solids. It's interesting....and I'm more thankful than ever that we flush her diapers (thank you g diapers!)! Boy, do they stink...ick. She is finally grabbing her toes and beginning to pull them towards her mouth. She also will reach for a toy if you sit her up and put it out in front of her. She rolls over constantly....front to back and back to front. When she's on her tummy (and her side) she'll lift herself up so she's resting on her forearm. I fear crawling is in our not so distant future? She will also rock and attempt to scoot when she's on her tummy.

With her new found desire to move changing her diaper has become quite the challenge. I keep saying, "no eden. lay still eden" and though she probably has no clue what i'm saying she will look at me when i speak which gets her to lay still for a few precious seconds! Whatever works, right?

I think i think she's on a 4 hour schedule these days....eating four times a day. I had previously had her on some crazy 3 hour 45 minute schedule for the 1st half of the day and then had her eating every 2.5 hours her last 2 feedings just to cram 5 feedings into a day. When she began protesting eating, and no longer taking full meals i bit the bullet and moved onward. There's always some transition time when this happens but baby girl is doing great. This means longer and fewer naps and longer night time sleep which is exactly where we want to be.

Speaking of naps, E finally sleeps without the swaddle...WAHOO! And truthfully, I think she sleeps better without it! She's always been a great sleeper, but now that she's able to move around and adjust herself she seems a lot happier. We had a few (well 2) days of almost constant crying. I went into it prepared for the worst, and while at times I literally thought I was going crazy it was nothing compared to others stories. For that I am thankful. Once that was mastered she started to get her limbs stuck in the crib slats and would wake up screaming. Nice, huh? I finally got smart and purchased one of those mesh crib bumpers. Saved. my. life. Baby girl sleeps peacefully once again. And it's actually pretty cute (light pink)....always a plus!

A few other things about our girl: she loves her daddy. she follows ellie around (with her eyes) constantly. she even smiles at her, though ellie really has no clue. all she cares about is licking eden's feet and ears. i still have no idea what color her eyes are - bluish, greyish, greenish right now....they've been that way for a while. she belly laughs more and more often. if she's crying, i mean really crying, i sing "this little light of mine" and she calms right down. she still smiles when i pray over her before she sleeps. loves her baths. kicks and giggles in the pool. still finds her thumb every so often but really only when she's tired. gets distracted very easily when she's eating. sometimes i have to close the door and face the wall. often, she'll look up at me and smile. i have to remember to smile back, instead of getting frustrated that she's taking her sweet time to eat. she's been "talking" herself to sleep instead of crying.

whew- i really think that's about everything. i really enjoy being momma. I'm finally beginning to understand it as part of my identity. not something I do, someone I am. it is so different than i ever thought it would be. so much sweeter. so much harder. there are days i feel like super mom, and other days i feel like a total failure. some days, i even wonder why God called me to this. Why He thought I was fit. What I love though, is that every single mom out there has probably felt the same way at one time or another. In fact, everyone, mom or not, has probably wrestled with those same feelings. I'm not alone. What I struggle with and who I am are not the same thing. Just have to keep reminding myself of that.

I could really go on, but there's a song i just love that I've been singing a lot lately. Here's the words to the chorus:

There's no such thing as perfect people
There's no such thing as a perfect life
So come as you are, broken and scarred
Lift up your heart and be amazed, be changed
By a perfect God

"Perfect God' by Natalie Grant

makin' baby food before...

all steamed and pureed

ready to freeze! SO easy...and cheap!

grabbin' her toes!

i believe the warning says "to prevent falls never use on elevated surface..." ah well...i was RIGHT there :)

i love this picture....she's starting to bit her bottom lip...adorable

going nuts in the jumper..look at that drool!

sweet eden

4 month old little eden

Jen Quirk — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 18:04:21 GMT

So I have been saying for a while that footy pj's are no longer fitting our little Eden (unless they are from GAP) and today I learned why! Baby girl is TALL! We went to her 4 month check up (a week late) and here are her stats!

Weight: 13 lbs (32%) - gained a little under 2 pounds since 2 months
Height: 25.5 in (87%) - grown 3 inches since 2 months
Head: 40.5 cm (33%) - grown about 1 inch since 2 months

I know things change so quickly when they are so young, and who knows what her stats will be at her 6 month check up, but right now she's looking like she might take after her daddy in the height department! How nice would that be? Maybe Eden won't have to alter all her pants/ skirts/ dresses like her momma!

Everything else looked great, too! I am so so thankful to have a healthy, happy baby!

We've decided to wait until 6 months to give baby girl any solid food - unless of course she starts letting us know she's ready for them sooner. So right now I'm reading up on how to make that happen. I went out and bought my Baby Wise "book two" today, and I think it's going to be extremely helpful. I love how the principles are so clear and easy to follow. My personality thrives under that type of direction, and I am so grateful for good friends who told me all about it! I think I've found the perfect spoons and bowl for baby's first bite of food :) I can't wait!

Here are a few pictures from the past few days....enjoy!

been trying to work on her tripoding it. She does pretty well with my foot behind her...but nothing on her own yet

she really loves to lay on her side these days....

she is always moving! i love how you can clearly see she was kicking her feet in this picture :)

this is my favorite face that she makes...she does it all the time. makes me smile just lookin' at it :)