Mark Soper

Mark Soper

Software engineer · Product leader · Entrepreneur

Data infra · Web · ML Ops · Cloud Ops · Agentic AI Ops

Cambridge, MA

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Quinn Amrich Soper Born May 26, 2009

It’s hard to believe Quinn was born only two months ago today. Here’s a photo log of our lives since then.

Some recent movie footage of you smiling and kicking as you’re going to bed.

Been smiling for less than a month now, but already seem like an old pro.

Quinn smiling

You seem to enjoy singing songs with your mom & dad - a couple of favorites are Ripple, Wishlist, and She’ll be Coming around the Mountain. Hopefully your dad’s singing and guitar playing will improve faster than does your ability to escape.

Singing songs

You also enjoy reading along with your mom. You’re really focused on the book. Your dad on the other hand …

Reading with mom

You’ve been hiking several times, at Middlesex Fells, and here at Estabrook near Concord, MA. You usually enjoy checking out the trees. This time you were mainly sleeping, an activity which you also enjoy a great deal.

Hiking

Your grandpa is a favorite with all the kids, and you took to him right away.

With grandpa

We went to Preston’s 1st Birthday party hosted by the Faris’ just across the border in Michigan. There was kickball, baseball, jungle-gyms, remote-control cars, pizza, cake, and of course, one of our favorite pastimes …

Birthday party

Grandma’s and Grandpa’s 40th wedding anniversary celebration in Toledo.

Anniversary

Dude, nice job keeping up with your cousin Preston in the goofy face department.

Goofy faces

Hey, your mom and I get to look cute sometimes too.

Mom and dad

So much love takes a little getting used to …

Love

They’re not beating you up yet, but I have a feeling that very soon it will be on.

With family

Your mom loves this one, thinks you look like a jaguar.

Jaguar face

Getting a tractor ride at Nana’s & Papa’s in Bright, IN.

Tractor ride

Your aunt Lisa was very excited to meet you. And she just bought a very cool house in Cincinnati.

With aunt Lisa

Your aunt Vera is totally crazy about you, too!

With aunt Vera

Here you are partying it up with your uncle Paul at the Northside Tavern in Cincinnati. We’ve got to get you a hat like that.

With uncle Paul

Here you are at Nana’s and Papa’s place in Bright, IN, just coming in from playing in the pool with your mom’s friend Robin and her kids Madelyn and Jackson.

At Nana's and Papa's

You and Uncle Craig in a relaxation contest. You may have met your match here. Notice that your stiff-arm doesn’t even phase him.

With Uncle Craig

Your cousin Jade is so nice and sweet with you …

With cousin Jade

Uncle Craig and Aunt Lisa at Grandma’s & Grandpa’s in Bright, IN.

Uncle Craig and Aunt Lisa

Your cousin Brody was very impressed with how big his own hands and feet were after looking at yours.

With cousin Brody

Doesn’t get much cuter than your cousin Brooke holding you …

With cousin Brooke

Your aunt Beth was so excited to see you after getting back from Venezuela. I think we all had a few drinks that day, yourself included.

With aunt Beth

Coming back from the beach at Fire Island, NY with Dierdre, Allison, Mom, and one of the locals.

Fire Island

Meditating in your Buckeye gear with Mom’s friend Kate

Buckeye gear

A first dip in the ocean - Jenness Beach, NH.

First ocean dip

Warm and dry back on the beach.

On the beach

First hiking trip - Middlesex Fells

First hike

Meeting Nana and Papa for the first time. Boy, were they excited!

Meeting Nana and Papa

Your Papa loves you very much.

Papa

My personal favorite, this could be the permanent wallpaper on my cell phone.

Favorite photo

Your mom can’t get enough of you.

Mom and Quinn

Your aunts Tara and Denise came to visit when you were 3 days old.

Aunts visit

This was your hungry face. Notice the little bump under your tongue - a clogged salivary duct common for babies. Went away after a couple of days.

Hungry face

Most people have been saying that you look more like your dad, but I’m not so sure …

Who do you look like

I think this was your first walk around the neighborhood.

First walk

You developed an early talent for hand expressions.

Hand expressions

Grandpa was there to help take care of you from the start.

With Grandpa

Russ and Tracy couldn’t wait to meet you. Too bad we don’t have any photos of you and Ruby.

With Russ and Tracy

Your Grandma helped in your delivery and in taking care of you during your first couple of days.

With Grandma

You were a big hit with the ladies from the beginning.

Big hit

The day you were born was so amazing! Hard to put in words.

Birth day

There you are weighing in, still sporting some of the purple color and cone head you had when you arrived.

Weighing in

Doesn’t your mom look beautiful after 16 hours of labor?

Mom after labor

Your mom liked to play with the football during labor.

Football during labor

Here you were a few weeks before launch.

Before birth

At the beginning of the journey, here’s your mom showing off what back then seemed like a huge belly.

Beginning of journey

Mark Soper

Mark Soper

Product leader, engineer, and entrepreneur. Building at the intersection of data infrastructure and AI. More about me →