February in Texas

I feel like Valentine's Day tends to take over our house in February.

I love a theme and the holidays provide just that!

While Matt and I have never been big "Valentine's folk" 

having kids to celebrate with changes everything.

We celebrated with our annual Valentine's Day card photo

making delicious cookies

and cake pops to share with all our friends

and finally celebrating the day with a class party at Lauren's school.

She brought donuts with heart sprinkles.

Surprise, surprise.

We filled the rest of our February days with play, adventures, and a few quiet moments too...

also known as, how many sleeping photos was I able to capture this month?

We also had the opportunity to shoot with a favorite child/family photographer of ours for
Caroline's slightly belated one year photos.

And y'all...

My midwestern self can't see to add y'all to my vocab yet, but its part of Shalonda's and she sounds so cute when she says it, so in honor of her...

this might be me favorite session yet.

We were seriously blown away by the photos and had so much fun shooting. 

I won't show you every photo,

but definitely enough that you grow bored and scroll through. 

February may be short,
but my goodness
this one was sweet. 

Donut Day

Happy National Donut Day!

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.

seventeen

At seventeen months, this sweet Caroline...

...is continuing to be a busy girl. She keeps us on our toes as she is for sure a fearless female, just like her sister, but with a knack for climbing and testing her boundaries.

... always has something in her hand. Loves books, puzzles, baby dolls, and little princesses and Daniel Tiger's crew. She also loves to dress up and play with her sister. While I am amazed at how much they 'fight' {sharing is a big topic at our house} I am even more amazed at how they play together and how close their sisterly bond.

... has the best giggle. LOVES high fives & kisses and wrinkles her nose in the cutest way that makes her mama melt. Goodness, we love her.

... is still a good eater. If she's hungry enough she will eat the veggies mama gives her but prefers fruit and anything considered a carbohydrate.

... is picking up more and more words. Each day I feel like a new one becomes distinguishable and we all love cheering her on!

... has moves. This girl can't hear a beat and not move. We get a big kick out of it and can't wait to see what her future holds.

sixteen

At sixteen, this little miss...

... is so busy. I know I write this every month, but she's not slowing down. See how she is posing with 13 months. She switched the blocks before I could take the 4 steps to take the picture. And we had to take sister to school, so she wins.

... has more teeth. We've got our bottom molars and are working on our top, for a grand total of 10 {this top ones haven't cut yet, so they don't count} Just for reference, sister had 7 at this age.

... loves books, Daniel Tiger, baby dolls, running, playing outside, her bunny, dancing, goldfish, her dogs, and sister.

... the girls are starting to play more together, which gives me all the feels, until it takes a sharp turn and the crying starts. The fighting is starting. Lauren, our leader, likes Caroline to do exactly what she wants, when she wants. Caroline has a mind of her own. And doesn't have words to share that.
So, she bites.
Yep.
Twice. Both times have been in a form of self-defense... Lauren wouldn't leave her alone. She gave a couple warning shrieks and then went for it.
Kinda freaking out...
I don't want a biter.


... is really getting into puzzles, which makes my teacher mama heart happy. She knows her eyes, nose, mouth and toes, babbles with the best of them, and seems to be learning something new everyday.

... is still a bit timid when meeting new people or in new surroundings, but once she is comfortable, watch out! She runs into her sisters school to pick her up each day, is a busy little birdie at Little Gym, tries to break into the room Lauren practices in at the dance studio, and just started swim lessons last week. While I had to hold her back from jumping in the pool during her sisters lesson, she went right in the pool to Miss Paige, practiced her scoops, loved to jump in, and even went under.

... is still my snuggly sweet baby, despite the impending toddlerhood that awaits us. Based on those little fits, my days are numbered.

a weekend to remember

As a family with young children I feel like there are many weekends spent in running in the backyard, picking up after Play-Doh & projects, in-between preparing breakfast, lunch, dinner and many snack breaks.

But every once in a while, there is a weekend where your calendar is filled with fun, so much fun that the schedule and the naps get put aside and you focus on making some extra special memories.

We just had one of those weekends.

We kicked it off with a trip to the zoo with some friends. We rode the carousel, fed the giraffes, and fought the crowds of students on field trips. And the mamas were rewarded with tired little darlings who were out before we pulled out of the parking lot.







On Saturday we took our love of all things Disney to another level and attended Disney On Ice.
We weren't sure what to expect, but both girls did great and Mom & Dad were pretty entertained by the performance as well.




Our Sunday started off with an Annual Easter Egg Hunt and visit to the Easter Bunny.


Caroline was a little unsure of the bunny this year,
which is a bit ironic as her lovey is a bunny and we've become a bit obsessive with all things bunny.
As I attempted to put her in the bunny's lap, she immediately started shaking her head "No".




After a costume change, we were off to Minute Maid park to see our favorite team, Royals v. Astros.
While this wasn't Caroline's first time to the ball park, this was her first Royals game.

She's a busy gal and our climber, but she did a great job helping us cheer the Royals on.

And cheer them on, we did. We lasted 9 innings, but had to call it quits as the game went into OT
(for 12 innings and the Royals lost...)

A long weekend.
A couple firsts, a couple traditions, and a lot of family memories.