Day 6: Exhibit E, Thing 5

Kwintyn Leon started as an adventure from the very start, and taught me to Never say, Never. We thought we were done having children, after we got our girl, but we didn't close up the shop, and someone had different plans for us. We welcomed our 5th, and last baby into our Family, on December 20th, 2010. I already knew he was trouble, and stubborn before he was born. I was scheduled for an induction with him, on the day he was born, his due date, but things changed the moment I was checked. I labored all weekend with him, and by the time I got to the hospital I was already 8cm dilated, but he had his own plans and decided to turn. I ended up needing a C-section with him and they found out he was transverse, laying sideways. I was terrified to have this C-section, I never had to have one before, and I was just so crushed! I had wanted to photograph the whole thing, from beginning to end, and I was going to try for another natural birth. I remember being so scared and Christmas music playing in the room. Everything seemed to go so slow, and then finally Frank came in and shorty after, Kwintyn was born. I hated not seeing anything, and I told Frank to stand up and look. He sat down real fast after that, I wanted details!! I remember I kept asking if he was okay. It just seemed like forever till they brought him over to see me, and even then I had trouble looking at him. Shortly after that they took him away, and Frank followed, and I was left there to send my uterus to a permanent vacation. I then went to recovery, and that took forever again!!! I kept saying I felt fine, and I just wanted to see my baby!! When I did finally get to see, and hold him, I fell in love!! I will always remember the first time all of the kids came up to visit, and see their new little brother, and finally know what his name was! We kept his name a secret, just to make things a little fun, plus so we didn't hear "I don't like that name...what about?" The kids took very well to the new addition to the Family, and I think they were pretty proud too.

Kwintyn weighed in at 8pds 5oz, and was 20.5 inches. I had fun with his name, and I wanted another "K" name. His name "Quentin" means Fifth or Fifth born. The origin of Kwintyn is the Polish/Latin variant. His middle name Leon means "like a lion" and is the fifth sign of the Zodiac. Leon is also Noel spelled backwards which means "Christmas".

He was a handful from the start, I always thought he was a "needy" baby. I'm surprised that he didn't walk or crawl early, because you could see he just wanted to go. Once he learned to walk, running quickly followed. He is a bruiser, and he always has some sort of bruise on his forehead, smack dab in the middle, every time too! So far we are lucky, no broken bones or anything. Surprisingly because he is a little monkey, and likes to climb, and tried to master the monkey bars this past Spring & Summer. He is a very active child, and I feel more exhausted with this one, than any of them! I say maybe it's just that I'm getting old, but I think he is a really high spirited child. He gives me anxiety, and I'm sure someday he's gonna give me a heart attack. He can be very, very difficult, and hard to handle, but he is a joy to have!!

He is talking a lot more now, and he is just so darn funny! He likes to repeat everything, so some not so nice words have come spewing out of his mouth. Oops! He has kinda taken to having his picture taken, I guess only when he wants it taken....He is noticing logo's and sign now, and is obsessed with Walmart & Meijer. Chelsea had a fascination with Walmart at this age, too. But he gets SO excited when we go into Town, and he reads all the signs. He also has Tim Horton's down pretty good, too. He LOVES to play with his Big Sister, although now that he is older, and can get into her things, and ruin them, she doesn't think he's an angel anymore. But they play well together, and he loves his Big Brothers too! They are really awesome with him, I think sometimes he thinks of them like a Super Hero. The other day he threw a massive fit because he could not have his tablet, or his "caplet" as he calls it. He hasn't had a fit like this in a long time, but I had to look away, and just laugh. He was calling me a Trouble Maker!!! I composed myself, and told him that he was being the Trouble Maker. He then proceeds to call me, Trouble. He can be so over dramatic! He loves Curious George, and is the typical boy who loves trains, planes, and automobiles. He already has a favorite car, and that is the Lincoln. He drinks his milk with a dab of creamer, and he loves pizza & donuts.....and chocolate kisses too, thanks to his Daddy!

Kwintyn it has been quite the adventure with you, and I know there are many more to come. I hope you never loose you're sense of adventure, and curiosity, and the energy that makes you go! I know there are many wonderful things for you ahead in life, and I can't wait to document them all! Ok, so maybe I can, so just slow down, a little bit? Go on, and "Be a Good Little Monkey". (He likes it when we say that.) I love you, Kwintyn.

I have been so, so blessed to have 5 Beautiful children. I am thankful because some people cannot even have 1 child, and here I have almost a half dozen, all who are very healthy. Some may say that we are crazy for having so many kids, but don't dis it till you try it. ;) I have SO much love in my house, SO much craziness in my house, and SO much to be thankful for in my house. My kids are my world, and the reason I am insane, and the reason why my heart feels so much love, joy, & happiness. I never knew love like this could exist till the five of you came along. I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always as long as I'm living, my Babies you'll be.

Kwintyn Leon