reason to believe: Quinn!

Meet the newest member of our Royal Family!

Quinn Audrey

Quinn Audrey Fries was born on May 5, 2015, to my niece Micki and her husband Tyler.

Anxiously awaiting Quinn's arrival were her two big brothers, Ethan (here, here, and here) and Drake (here.) They stayed with GG while Micki and Tyler were in the hospital, and of course they were the first to be notified of Quinn's birth. Both of them could hardly wait to meet their new baby sister and see their mom and dad!

Going to visit, bearing gifts!

Ethan is an amazing big brother. He knew how to spell Quinn before anyone told him--I was teasing him and pretending Quinn's name was Lynne. He vehemently said "No. QUINN. with a Q"! Micki asked him how he knew it was a Q and he said 'because it sounds like kwa--q.u.a"!

Ethan and Quinn

From the beginning, Drake has been enchanted with Quinn (Kin as he says)--especially her tiny hands. He often asked to hold her and still does three months later, They are going to be such good friends, I know!

Drake and Quinn

Not only does Quinn have two big brothers to love and protect her, but she also has the most incredible grandparents. GG and Jimpa Coover were there to welcome their third grandchild and first granddaughter.

GG, Jimpa, and Quinn

Grandma and Grandpa Fries also live nearby, and they were there to welcome Quinn to the ever-growing Fries family.

Grandma and Grandpa Fries with Quinn and E

Grams got to meet Quinn when she was three weeks old! She immediately nestled into Grams' safe, loving arms. Two months later, she was nestled in again <3

Grams and Quinn

Quinn is surrounded by so much love. Indeed, she got to meet the entire Thompson family, all 31 of us, at Kyle and Ashlie's May wedding. Everyone wanted to hold three-week old Quinn, and hold her we did. She got passed around more than a Nebraska football! It was beautiful.

Quinn with Great Aunt Kerri, Cousin Aunts Ana and Amy, and Great Great Aunt Donna!

Of course, a girl must have her BFFs. Quinn is off to a great start with two of the most ah-dorable little pumpkins, Hailey and Lucy. Hailey is Micki's friend Brooke's baby girl, and they are just one month apart in age. They're already going through the handholding phase! Lucy is Quinn's 2nd cousin. They are going to be best of friends, just like Micki and Jill, despite what this picture might suggest!

Hailey and Lucy with Quinn

I'm still smiling cheek-to-cheek smiles from my two visits with Quinn (Quinnerina as I call her, much to Ethan's horror). I met her for the first time when she was three weeks old at the same spot I met her brother Drake two years earlier--Old Chicago in Kearney, Nebraska. I absolutely could not wait until the next day when everyone would arrive in Lincoln, and so I made a small pit stop in Kearney on my way. I'm so glad I did. Because three-week-old Quinn was so . . .

alert--looking around at everyone!

but also

sleepy--such a good baby!

delicate--little baby hands and slim fingers!

but also

strong--she was already holding her head up!

tiny--nothing like a newborn!

but also

big--a nine-pound baby!

girlie--around all those boys!

but mostly

beautiful--melt-your-heart beautiful with dark hair and dark blue eyes!

When I saw her two months later, she hadn't changed. Oh sure, she had grown. And she was smiling--lots of smiles! But Quinn was still strong and girlie and so

beautiful.