these sisters

While Caroline's crib escape has been a large dose of reality in how big she is really getting,
there is one thing that I love seeing as these girls grow...
their love for one another.

They genuinely love each other,
they love playing together,
celebrating together,
and spending time together.

Of course not every moment looks like this.
but when I see one reach for the others hand,
hear them playing and singing together upstairs,
or catch them reading together...
my heart swells to borderline bursting.

It's so sweet.

Caroline's bunnies

Caroline's lovey is a bunny.

Her love of bunnies has grown

times three.

While her original bunny, is still her most loved lovey,
all three get snuggled, and kissed, and cuddled.

And seeing this little darling walk with all three tucked in her little arms.
I can't.

I didn't manage to get a photo of it,
but that's okay.
Because it's a sweet little memory this mama will keep in her heart.
And those are the best kind.

one summer afternoon

today was a busy day.
We went to the pool & splash pad.
Came home for lunch &
left for a painting playdate at our local Little Gym
with some open gym time immediately following.

Both girls fell asleep on the way home.
Because they were exhausted.

But they didn't stay asleep.
Neither one completed the transition from car to bed.

So, I did what any smart mother would do
on a hot day at the end of summer....

I put on Daniel Tiger's Family Trip.



Here's to an early bed time.

cheers.

no stroller, no problem

At about midnight on Friday {or Saturday}
it dawned on me that my previous strategy for successfully navigating the airport with two little girls may need to be upgraded.
Previously, I strapped Caroline in a carrier and pushed Lauren in a stroller.
But now that Caroline runs everywhere,
and sadly is bigger & longer,
I didn't know if this would work.
So I did some research and Matt i spent the weekend searching for an umbrella double stroller,
only to realize they were pretty much only available online.
Amazon guaranteed delivery on Monday by 8pm.
Sadly, USPS didn't make that happen.

Plan B consisted of an internal debate of whether to convince Lauren to walk,
despite her love for a stroller ride,
or carry Caroline in the carrier.
I decided to stay with what I know.

Except, *someone* forgot to load the single stroller.
To make a long story short, my anxiety was much worse than the actual experience was.

Both girls had a great flight
and in all our flights,
we've never been invited to the cockpit,
until today.


We've been looking forward to our time in Good Ole Rocky Top
and kicking it off with an afternoon in the pool was pretty perfect.
Especially in new swimwear.


And in case you're wondering, the double stroller arrived today.

rest time

Our big girl may be nearing the end of naps.
It changes from day to day,
but the inconsistencies make me wonder if
the days of two girls napping,
while i drink coffee,
fold laundry,
and catch up on 'Housewives' is over.
{also, this doesn't happen often...}

So today, after reading books and locating Lola for rest time,
it took her a whole 18 minutes to come downstairs to announce
"Rest time is over."

As I continued to fold laundry,
in silence,
no Housewives today,
I heard Lauren make her way over to the dresser and begin to play with my jewelry.

Words like
pretty,
special,
beautiful,
adorable,
and fancy
were used as she took out each piece to admire and share with me.



I would be lying if I said I was looking forward to the end of nap time,
but if it means I get to sneak in a few more special moments with this girl,

I guess I can binge watch 'Housewives' after bedtime.

June 1

Hi there.
The few of you that still stop by probably thought this was a monthly Caroline update
because mom guilt gets the best of me and I can't stop posting those.

You're mostly right.

Being a mom of two has kept me busier than I anticipated
and many of the little things I found time for before
aren't happening so often right now.

But I do enjoy this little blog.
Mostly in a selfish way.
Because it provides a little place where I can keep pictures, words, and memories.
It checks a box on that mom guilt list.

It also makes me think about how to string a proper sentence together,
when I've spent the day babbling with a baby and arguing with a three-nager.

It makes me use that big camera
instead of my phone.

And that big camera makes me happy.
I still have so much to learn about it,
but sometimes when I am able to capture a moment
that so perfectly sums up who these little ladies are
right now,
it makes my mama heart smile.

So in honor of that,
and making those grandparent hearts happy, 
since they may be the only ones reading this
I'm going to try something a little bit different.

In the spirit of helping me to take more pictures on the big camera
and share them here, with you,
I'm going to attempt another 365 day photo challenge.
I say attempt because let's be honest,
there is no way it will happen everyday.

We are in a chaotic season of life,
but I feel like that's all the more reason to try and slow down to capture a bit of it.

My goal is to share a daily picture here.
It may be daily,
and then there may be a blast of 5-12 photos to make up for my absence.

The bottom line is there will be more photos,
which is what you are really here for Mom & Dad,
and when the mood strikes,
maybe even an actual blog post!

Since this idea came to me after dinner around 7 pm,
here is Day 1.

Big Sister

We've shared a lot about our sweet addition Caroline,
but theres been another addition in the house.

We've got a big sister here.

The last six weeks have been a lot.
We celebrated the holidays,
had both sets of grandparents visit,
and welcomed another human to our little family.

That's a lot going on for anyone.
Especially a two year old.


After our visitors left we experienced some 'growing pains'
as Lauren adjusted to her new role as Big Sister.
Uncharacteristic fits...
meaning more than usual
difficulty listening to directions...
she was totally testing us
and even some hitting/kicking...
only mom was on the receiving end.



It made for a hard couple of weeks.
We knew our sweet girl was overwhelmed with all that was happening,
yet didn't have the ability to truly express her feelings.
So it came out in all the wrong ways.
Not to mention,
she's two.
So frankly, she could have totally intended to express herself that way.



Matt and I felt challenged as parents and did our best to remain calm
and stick to our proverbial 'guns' as to what our expectations of Lauren's behavior were.
We're also learning to pick and choose our battles. 



I am happy to say the past two weeks have been much better.
Lauren is back to her happy, helping, listening, yet still busy and strong willed self.
We seem to be more in a routine and peace has been restored...
for now.

In the aftermath of said 'growing pains',
Matt and I are both making a conscious effort to get some one on one time with Lauren.
Lauren has been attending gymnastics on Saturday mornings with dad
and going on special errands,
from oil changes and lunch
to Lowe's trips.



Lauren and I have been making special treats in the kitchen
and having tea parties while sister naps.
We're also making sure Lauren gets to continue activities that she enjoys,
dance, gymnastics, trips to the park and the library.

One of the things that makes me my heart the happiest is that throughout the last six weeks,
even at her 'worst',
Lauren has shown nothing but love and adoration for her little sister.

She holds her,
she speaks to her in soft tones,
and she is full of positive affirmations for her sister as she points out all of her 'pretty' features.
Pretty hair, Caroline. Pretty eyes, Caroline.
Pretty dress, Caroline. Pretty belly button, Caroline.
I believe I've mentioned this before, but it really is so sweet.
And something this mama doesn't want to forget.



I'm not naive. (pause, or maybe I am?)
I know that it's not all cake pops and and sweet sister poses from here on out.
There will be more challenging times ahead as we navigate parenting two girls...
but in this moment,
I just want to treasure the image of my two daughters sitting together and the sweet sound of a proud big sister's voice whispering softly to her little sister.

baby caroline

There's some wisdom that comes with a second child.

A sense of familiarity that allows you to relax a bit and enjoy the newness.

But with that wisdom comes the acknowledgment of time.

That is goes fast.

That brings us here.

The one month mark. 

I don't know how it is possible that she's been here a month,

yet I am not sure what we did before her.

I've tried to soak up all the moments I could.

I took in her scent and let her head lay on my chest in an effort to etch the feeling into both my heart and mind forever.
And the funny thing is,
only time will tell if I succeeded.

It's probably not a secret that I love photos.

I love the emotions they evoke 

and the moments they represent.

I'm already knee deep in mom guilt about the lack of photos or video we've taken.
I missed the first bath and didn't get a picture of her with her grandparents together...
But,
while I haven't been behind the camera,

I have been enjoying the moments, 

breathing in the memories, 

and taking mental pictures.

And that's where the real memories are.

While I enjoy capturing the real moments that go on in our home
and in our daily lives,
the photos that capture all the love,
the togetherness of a new family,
and the little tiny newborn details that I never want to forget
happen at the newborn session.



caroline newborn session from Sarah on Vimeo.
photo cred: Rebecca Penny Photography 

I'm so thankful for all these tiny memories
and look forward to so many more.

She's Here...

and she is perfect!

Our little Caroline has made our hearts double in size
and left us in a haze of newborn love.



We have so much to share about our last Christmas as a family of three,
welcoming our sweet Caroline into the world,
visitors, growing pains, and life with two girls.

But right now we're working our way out of that newborn haze of love and adjusting to our new normal.

Today was our first day solo,
Grandma & Papa left early this morning,
and tomorrow is this Mama's first day all alone.

It's going to be a big week here as I discover what life is really like with a toddler and an infant...
and I'm sure there will be a few stories to share*



*if you're patient... I'll try to get caught up before Caroline's half birthday

Mom Fail: Potty Training

This post could alternately be titled:

Mom Fail: Why you shouldn't potty train your toddler in your third trimester of pregnancy when you can't bend over or get up from the floor without sound effects and some sort of assistance.

or my personal favorite

Mom Fail: Why you shouldn't potty train your toddler sober.

Like all parent's I think I've got one smart cookie on my hands.
Our little Lauren amazes us daily with her vocabulary, memory, comprehension, etc. etc.

So when she turned two and started randomly telling me she needed a
'diaper change'
and hiding, to do her other business,
I thought she was ready.

She was ready to be potty trained.

Maybe not completely.
Not over-night. But she was surely capable of using the 'potty' during the day.

And if I'm being completely honest, I've had this fantasy about having her potty trained before we welcomed another diaper wearing sweetheart to the family.

Lauren was introduced to the potty many months ago and had used it successfully a number of times.

So after doing some research, I decided on going the '3 Day Method' route, in which you stay home for three days straight and do nothing but focus on getting your toddler to the 'potty chair' each time they need to use it, while they walk around in cute little toddler undies and you try to keep them off the carpet.
According to my research, it was quite messy, but by day three, it clicks and you have a potty trained toddler.
Pretty straight forward.
And to sacrifice three days for such an outcome sounds like a pretty amazing deal to me.

Well, I still think it sounds amazing, because it didn't happen.

I'll spare you the play by play details, but we had a lot of cleaning up, changing of pants, holding it for hours, treats, prizes, frustration, and failure.



It wasn't perfectly executed.
On Day 3, {the day the magic happens, but hadn't happened at our house} our babysitter came over for a few hours to get reacquainted with Lauren before Matt's Christmas Party and since this was the only time that worked for her, we were forced into a date night.
I didn't want babysitter practicing the three day method, so I put a pull-up on over Lauren's Ariel undies. Same outcome.

The moment I realized I may have to wave the white flag was at the end of Day 4.
Please note: Day 4 is not a part of the 3-Day Method.
Lauren and I sat on the potty for a long time.
Well, she sat on the potty.
I sat on the floor.
But it was a long time.
Sitting on the floor, next to her, singing every song we knew, reading book after book,
and...
nothing.
I set the timer for 15 min,
{because that's what it had come to at this point}
told Lauren I was going to put my pajamas on
and we would try again before bath time.

Within three minutes of me slipping into sweatpants, I walked out to my daughter in a puddle
{more like a lake}
of her own urine.
Did I mention she was laying in it?
Playing Disney princess?



And here's where the FAIL happens.

I was upset.
I was angry.
I was frustrated.

All things you shouldn't be when potty training.

It was then I realized that my stubborn self had to let this one go.
She wasn't ready.
That's what my similarly stubborn little daughter was trying to tell me
in all those wet little undies, messes on the floor, and refusals to tell me she needed to use the potty.

It was a big lesson for me.
And the hardest parenting moment I've had thus far.
But I have a new understanding for allowing her to do things in her own time,
not on the time line I believe they could or should happen.

And this big lesson
probably came at the right time.

Right before we mix things up and add another sweet
{hopefully not as stubborn}
little darling to this family.

But my goodness gracious,

she does look cute in undies.

And despite the 'FAIL' this go around, she's still one smart cookie.

She now tells me she needs to go potty...
right around bed time.

Week 26, 27, & 28 & the truth about the third trimester

Week 26


Week 27


Week 28


We've arrived to the third, and final, trimester.
And I look tired in this picture,
because I am.
I've starting doing some tossing and turning at night
and we moved our big girl to her new room...
so there's that.

I've talked to some moms lately about this whole second pregnancy thing
and a few people are speaking my language...
It's harder.

Please don't get me wrong,
I feel so blessed to be carrying another healthy baby
and adding another sweet darling to our family.

But...

My pregnancy with Lauren was pretty ideal.
I experienced very few symptoms,
and felt great the whole way through.
I also lived a completely different lifestyle.
I was in between Colombia and my parent's house
and had no toddler to chase, no floors to clean,
just a lot of time on my hands,
time to work out, read parenting books, and research all things baby.

This time is different.
I chase a toddler.
A lot.
Which takes up quite a bit of time,
and the cleaning of the floors, preparing dinner, and being a mom
seems to take up the rest.

Those symptoms I didn't have round one,
they're here.
I had the nausea.
I feel tired.
My back hurts.
and {gasp!}
varicose veins.
Seriously?

But, last night as I laid with my big girl in her new bed reading books,
I saw a little foot move it's way across my belly.
And there you have it.
Those amazing moments that make it all worth it.
The gift of carrying this baby is temporary
{and hopefully so are those varicose veins}
so for the next 11+ weeks,
I will cherish this gift,
this second and very different pregnancy.

Oh, by the way...
Go Royals.

two weeks from two

Two weeks from today,
we will be celebrating the golden birthday of a special little girl at the most magical place on Earth.



Next Friday her birthday week kicks off with a trip to Iowa to see grandparents, cousins, and celebrate with a  little birthday party.

So we're busy gearing up for lots of celebrating and memory making,
but in the midst of all that I can't help but get a little sentimental about two.



I remember last year leading up to that first birthday,
and all the thoughts of "last year at this time I was..."

But this year is different.



She is changing right before our very eyes.

And the last couple days,
as we approach the two week mark,
and prepare for lots of celebrating to come,
I can't help but stare at her and wonder if these are the moments,
the faces,
and the little memories that will flash back to me when she's older.



Will I see that same little smirk when she's a teen?
Will I remember the way she used to read intently by herself when I catch her profile?
Will I hear that little contagious giggle when she thinks something is really funny?

I hope so.
But just in case,
I'm going to keep soaking up all of the little girl goodness this almost two year old is giving.

may celebrations

The beginning of May is a celebratory time for the McQuinn family.

'Cinco de Mateo', Matt's birthday & Mother's Day kept us busy last week.

We celebrated Matt's birthday with Tex Mex, balloons, and a few gifts.




The cupcakes were eaten by the dogs while we were at dinner.
Never a dull moment in this house.

This weekend we introduced Lauren to the Houston Aquarium.


After oohing & ahhing at all the big & small fish and a white tiger
[what? you don't have a tiger at your aquarium?]
we made our way to the outdoor area and rode the ferris wheel and carousel.

Lauren was a little hesitant about sitting on the carousel,
so dad rode her seahorse instead.


We celebrated Mother's Day with a lovely brunch followed by a trip to the spa for this mama.


Celebrating another exciting and adventurous year for Matt.

Celebrating the beauty and challenges of motherhood.

Celebrating one another and our lovely little family.

the library

There are many little ways to enlarge your child's world.
Love of books is the best of all.
-Jacqueline Kennedy-

piggies & toofers

Lauren is at this age where every time I look at her, I think she may have grown a little bit.

Gone are the days when I saw that baby face, instead I see a little girl growing before me.

Desperate to keep Lauren's hair out of her eyes I've been trying ponytails, quickly realizing we weren't quite there yet.

Then this happened.

Pig-tails.

five things

{1}
Our little girl is just that, a little girl.
She is reaching milestones by the day and leaving behind little bits of infant-ness by the moment.*
The other morning I walked in and this is what I saw:


And I immediately reached for my camera,
which is still at the camera doctor.
Oh, how I miss her so.

*
Don't worry, we are savoring the infant-ness moments we have left.
They were right. 
This all goes too fast.

{2}
I still haven't quite figured out blogging balanced with motherhood.
Since we use this blog as our family scrapbook, there are several things I realized I haven't blogged about that I want to remember.
For example...
My first Mother's Day

Matt surprised me with a spa day.
I left the house Saturday morning at 8:30 am, for my 9:00 am 60 minute massage and didn't return until 3:00 PM.
There was also a facial, mani/pedi, and a blow out.
A full day of pampering and since the last pedicure I had was the week of Lauren's birth, it was time.
I loved coming home to see Matt and Lauren, who had worn one another out, and listen to them tell me all about their day together.
Well, Matt told me.
I would have loved to hear Lauren's version.
On Sunday, we went downtown for brunch and Matt & Lauren gifted me with a special charm for my bracelet.

It was a nice little weekend, full of love for this beautiful little girl who has completely changed our lives.
But I couldn't help but thinking about the mothers in my life and how my love and amazement grows for them each day I experience motherhood.

All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother - Abraham Lincoln

{3}
The other purpose of blogging is to keep our family and friends updated on our life and we have quite the update.
We sold our house in Tennessee...
to some really sweet buyers.

A long story short, my parents sold their house and have been in search of something for a little while now. Not finding what they were looking for and running out of time, they came to us with an idea. While I was a little worried they were just being really kind, having a nice, new, temporary home works for them right now and it allows us to make Texas a permanent home.
I am looking forward to seeing them make this house a home
{since we never did and they are really good at it!}
and as of last Friday, we officially stopped referring to it as Matt & Sarah's house.

{4}
For Christmas Lauren received two Disney Princess castles, one that involves horses that klip-klap through the stable and the other where each Disney Princess announces herself and sings a song.
Between our moves, these items remained in their perspective boxes.
Until we had a few rainy days...




There is no doubt, that I had more fun than Lauren.
I was giddy putting the things together...
it was probably one of the few times I've used a screwdriver and been thrilled while doing so.




I am in no hurry for my sweet baby to grow up and have princess tea parties wearing gowns,
but when she is ready...

So am I.

{5}
Today at playgroup Lauren was the oldest babe there and the only one without teeth.

But that's okay.

It's common in the McQuinn family not to have teeth until close to a one year of age

and






we really can't get enough of that gummy smile.