So remember when I wrote that Quinny had developed some Separation Anxiety? Well, that was then. Now she’s taken it one step further into something we call giving the Stranger Danger Treatment.

~ The other night at a restaurant, Nora sneezed. The lady sitting at the next table thought it was Quinn and said, “Aww! Bless you!” Quinn went from fine to completely freaked out in .52 seconds. (About your average Google search results time.) Straining her little tummy against the straps of the high chair, tears streaming down her face, screaming as loudly as possible. Desperate for me to pick her up and away from this terrifying Stranger who had dared to say three words to her in a sing song voice.

~ My mom was holding Quinn as she went to get her mail. One of her neighbors spotted Quinny and paused to say hi. She probably wished she hadn’t as Quinn gave her the full “Stranger Danger!” treatment. My mom said Quinn didn’t calm down until after the lady started to walk away. But the lady, an optimistic, turned back and thought perhaps she was ready for a friendly wave and a “Bye!” Quinny was not, and gave her a second dose of her Stranger Danger Treatment. Just for good measure.

~ Last week, Quinn and Nora were both in the car cart at Publix and we passed by a man shopping for juice. As far as I could tell, he didn’t even glance our way. But we had to pass pretty close to him and that was enough to sound off Quinny’s stranger alarm. He got the full treatment, too.

~ Today was the hardest yet. I blame myself because I really set her up for failure. Quinn was a little late getting her 9 month check up. As in she’s ten months now. (At least, that’s what their system tells me but I know she’s really only like, five months. There’s no way she’s that old already.) Anyway, I took the first appointment availability they had out of guilt. Which happened to be during her nap. (Dumb.)

We checked in right around 2:15. The receptionist asked if I wanted to give Quinn an eye test they offer at 9 months. The Rule Following side of me was like, “Oh, sure!” (Dumber.)

I guess they were a bit backed up because we didn’t get to a room until almost 3. Which meant Quinny’s patience and energy were waning. (Again, my fault.)

The eye test consisted of being in a darkened room for a minute, me holding her up so she looks through a rectangular cut out at some lights and they take two pictures.

That was the plan, anyway.

We got to the part where the nurse turned out the lights. And Quinn starting fussing, although that was probably more from being confused and tired. I’m pretty sure that despite a lot of patience on the nurse’s part, all we got today were two pictures of squinted eyes oozing tears.

The next step was to weigh her. She was none too happy about me leaving her on a scale next to a Stranger. But I figured, “Eh, she won’t be so upset that she’ll launch herself off the scale trying to get to me.” But she was and did. The nurse and I both caught her. And then the nurse confidently took over, which was good because I was feeling very helpless. But that meant actually giving the Stranger total control of Quinn and there was no going back after that.

For the rest of the time with the nurse and then with the doctor,she was in full on Stranger Danger (plus exhausted) Mode. we’re talking tomato red, river of tears, squinched up eyes, flailing legs, pulling on my sweater trying to get me to hold her away from these STRANGERS. Poor thing. (Future Quinny who may read this, I really am sorry. Your next appt is not scheduled during your naptime.)

She’s taken her God given instinct to be weary of strangers and fine tuned it a bit. Maybe this is what she was really working on all this time as she crawled around silently and played with her toys. (“First, I’ll squinch my face up and then I’ll cry..I’m pretty sure I can get my face to turn a purply red shade that should be adequately terrifying…”)

The good news is that I never knew how to deal with strangers randomly touching her arms or hands and now I don’t have to. I can simply give a little apologetic smile and take her away while she does her thing.

In other words, Strangers: Beware of Quinny.

On the happy, wonderful days when both girls have successful naps at the same time, Nora is usually the first one to wake up.

But oh, the fun we have when Quinn gets to “knock” on Nora’s door and Nora hurries to answer her pint sized summoner.

I was thrilled that I got this post nap reunion on record as it was particularly joyful. It’s a little shaky since I was trying to film with one hand and support Quinny in a standing position with the other. But I think you will still be able to feel the love.

Those teeny bottom teeth allow for the perfect way to pop the tops off those puffs.

I guess Nora doesn’t see the actual backpack part of a backpack too often. Therefore, if she wants to recreate those oh so cool backpack straps, all she needs is a long necklace.

This week’s posts are all about Christmas. That’s play money, by the way.

Have a great weekend, y’all. We’re excited about 2012!

As you can see, Quinny wasn’t impressed with the ride this particular day. At all.

Sure was cold yesterday! Move to keep warm!