Hello World! Carson Elizabeth is Here

Some of you may have seen a sneak peak or two about what we have been up to these past few days, but for everyone else... It gives me GREAT pleasure to introduce all of you to our brand new, darling baby girl...

Miss Carson Elizabeth Stoneking

All the Details

Saturday, June 15th, 2013 at 1:06PM

6 pounds, 8 ounces and 19 inches long

She is the tiniest, sweetest little peanut and we are relishing in all the fun of having a newborn in the house again... Carson is oh-so-easygoing (maybe a 2nd child mentality?) and loves to be held, cuddled, and has the sweetest expressions you've ever seen. I cannot wait to fill y'all in on the details of her arrival-as she was a bit early in her debut-but for now, we will be relaxing in the comfort of home and adjusting to life as a family of four.
For those that have inquired about Big Sister Caroline, she is doing GREAT and is in love with her new baby...specifically, always wanting to give her kisses and share her snacks! I think she is going to love having a built-in best friend.
I promise to return soon with all kinds of fun updates, but for now I will leave you with a just a few of our favorite snapshots from the past few days...we are over the moon to finally have Carson in our arms! Thanks to everyone for all their support, well wishes, prayers, and blessings...we feel truly blessed!

Getting to hold her for the first time

First shot with Mommy and Daddy

 Best Early Father's Day Gift!

 Complete with a bow ;)

 There is our big girl!! Playing with all her new toys and gifts from Carson

 Melt my heart...there is nothing sweeter in the world

 Smoothie Time

 Home at Last!

12-15 month favorites

12-15 month favorites by trixietat on Polyvore

LeapFrog Shapes Sharing Picnic Basket / J.Crew Salt-Water® baby sandals / LeapFrog My Own LeapTop Violet LeapFrog / 1-Piece Knit Sunsuit baby girl / Gerber Graduates Fruit and Oat Bar, Apple Grape, 2.12 Ounce (Pack of... / Radio Flyer Girl's Steer Stroll Trike Pink / 1-Piece Strappy Sunsuit / 1-Piece Flutter-Sleeve Sunsuit / Hape Rhythm Set

You didn't think I would go and leave you high and dry in terms of "baby" recommendations, now did you? I have been bookmarking little odds and ends that have helped us survive these past three months, in anticipation of sharing some helpful advice for all of you venturing into toddler land...yes, I know, my first baby is no longer a "baby", but a toddler, which to me is like an actual human being rather than some alien that has taken over your house...you decide ;)
Here we go...
Alligator Pull Toy: Once Caroline started walking, she took to this wooden toy like no other. She "walks" it around the house, and it's the cutest thing in the world...it's like her very own pet and it's the perfect tiny tot size, too! I think this would make a wonderful birthday gift for a girl or boy.
Wooden Musical Instruments: Mimi and Pappy got our girl her own set of instruments for Christmas and she has really started taking an interest in learning to play her xylophone, drum, and maracas. These are made by Hape and are wooden so I know they are going to last a long time!
Gerber Fruit and Oak Snack Bars: Whenever we are on the go, these things go into our diaper bag right after the other necessities...Caroline LOVES them, and they are a lifesaver for preventing restaurant//shopping meltdowns!
Carters Sunsuits/Rompers: Caroline wears these things practically everyday...they are wonderful for around-the-house wear since they don't break the budget, and I won't be crying if they get ruined after 2 washes! Cotton, comfy, and cute prints, too!
Salt Water Baby Sandals: If I could buy one shoe in every color, these would be them...they go with EVERYTHING and they have made walking a breeze for CC. They are a great price point and we have been so pleased with the quality...easy to wipe down after she gets them dirty, which is always a big plus.
Leapfrog Laptop: We may have jumped the gun on this purchase a bit soon (as the package says it's for toddlers 2+), but when we were getting ready for the beach I needed a car toy to keep her attention for more than 2 minutes. This is WONDERFUL! It talks, plays music, and she loves to hit the buttons and carry it around...I think it's a great educational toy and the portability makes it even better.
Radio Flyer Trike: We bought this for Caroline's 1st birthday and this has been the biggest hit in our house ever since. We take it on walks, brought it to the beach, and on nights where we sit outside for dinner, this is a good place to plop the tot so she can't escape. It's a grow-with-you trike that will eventually turn into a normal tricycle when she is big enough. Pricier than some toys, but this is something we will use for many years!!
Leapfrog Picnic Basket: Another big hit is this picnic basket set. It helps toddlers learn their shapes, plays music, and of course CC will spend at least 30 minutes each day taking everything out and putting it back in...if you need some downtime to do household chores, this is a great toy to keep them occupied and happy!

happy father's day to my favorites!

Today marks a special day for the three most important men in my life...it's Father's Day and it's time to celebrate these incredible men, for all they have done and continue to do for our family.

I feel extremely blessed to have a grandfather whom I am extremely close with...a Papa that has been there for me from day one and still continues to call me his little "punk" and keeps me in line when I need it most. He is a wonderful grandfather and has spoiled his "tuttie" Caroline even more than he did me which means trouble! 

Next up is my wonderful Daddy AKA Pappy! He is truly one-of-a-kind and someone I look up to admire tremendously...it has been so much fun to see him transition into the role of grandpa as he is just a big kid at heart (I think yall can tell this by now, right?) Dad, thanks for being a great father...I relish our time together (even when you make me do things I don't want to do... "picture picture picture") and I am so thankful to have such a loving and supportive father who is there for me always. I love you!!

And last, but certainly not least, is the man who has transformed into one incredible daddy...my Jeff. They say fatherhood changes people, and this new experience certainly has revamped my hubby into a much more sentimental person, and yes, CC has him wrapped around her little finger. He is so sweet and to see him interact with her now as she grows and grows is a joy to behold. They play ball together practically every night, he loves taking her outside on walks around the neighborhood, and they will sit and watch cartoons on Saturday morning which is adorable. He has recently started dropping by the house during the day just to pop in and see her and it makes me happy to see him misss her that much when he is at work. You're a wonderful daddy Jeff!! I know both of our girls are extremely fortunate to have a father who loves them so very much and is a great role model...you're one special daddy! OXOX

Five on Friday...Join Our Link-Up Party!

Uno.
Instead of the traditional wedding gift for year #2 (that is cotton BTW), Jeff and I took a modern approach to anniversary gifts...we decided to join a wine of month club! Nothing says celebrating the love of your life like alcohol, right? Our first shipment will come next month and I am so excited about being able to have a fun tradition like that for just the two of us this next year...cooking dinner and enjoying a bottle (or two) of wine! There were SO many options out there, but thanks to a good blogging friend Tess, we were able to find a great one at a reasonable price. Cheers to vino!

Dos. 
Our dining room table was in desperate need of a new look, so that meant I was off to explore the world of never-ending options when it comes to placemats, napkins, and everything in between. It's nothing fancy, but it suits our tastes and I think a "set" table looks so happy and inviting when you're visiting someone's home. Here's to summer! (P.S. For those that are curious, the natural fiber placemats are from World Market and the floral linen napkins are from Target)

Tres. 
Our bags are packed and we are ready to go when Baby Time comes! I've pre-registered at the hospital, made our ever important "call list", and I used the packing list I came up with last time (see here), but added a few other odds and ends like Carson's baby book, my iPad, and the Brest Friend pillow (rather than the Boppy), but it feels good to have everything all lined up. Of course, then I realized I needed to pack a bag for Caroline, too, since she will be staying with family while we are in the hospital...snacks, diapers, pajamas, a few outfits, and toys to keep her occupied. I have been working on a "Big Sister Bag" to give her once she comes to the hospital to meet her sister and I think she is going to love her new, fun goody bag!

Cuatro. 
I have to brag on my sweet mommy group friends who went above and beyond and spoiled Carson with the most adorable personalized treats...is this bib and gown not the cutest thing you've ever seen?? And they even included Caroline and gifted her with a big sister dress, too. I don't know what I would do without these ladies and they sure have made motherhood much more fun!! Love you girls ;)
P.S. these items came from She She Made...the CUTEST little shop!

Cinco.
I have seen a ton of people on Pinterest/fellow bloggers doing the revamp on the Ikea kids' table and chair set and I am on a mission to tackle this project myself! I found the PERFECT inspiration from Paddington Way and I think this is a no-brainer, inexpensive way to incorporate a little art and craft space for Caroline in the family room. Is this not adorable??

Thanks for visiting today for our Five on Friday Link Up! Be sure to check out April, Christina, and Darci's blogs too for their Friday fun, too...today, we will be taking it easy by the pool and trying to rest up so we can finish the nursery this weekend. Cheers friends!

Mama Knows Best

Today is one of those "real" posts when you let it all out there...it's one that shows the ups and downs of family life, but I hope with me sharing this that some of you other mommas know you are not alone! 

Backing up a bit... I have mentioned the past few weeks have been rough, mostly because we listened to the pediatrician's advice and decided it was time to wean Caroline from the bottle before Carson comes. We knew it was going to be a difficult transition to rid her of the "nankie" as she lovingly called it because it has always been her comfort, her security blanket of sorts.
Well, my little headstrong darling of a girl fought and fought us on this, and it's been REALLY emotional to watch her get upset/cry/throw tantrums just because she wanted her milk from a bottle, not a cup. We made the decision to quit cold turkey and put away all the bottles, and finally after three long, exhausting weeks, she has taken to drinking milk from a sippy. Cue the applause!

I am sharing this because I want y'all to know I had to put MY big girl panties on and do things I didn't want to do. I went to bed at night wondering if she was still hungry, wondering if we did the right thing, and second guessing myself and feeling like a complete failure...her molars were coming in at the same time, so we were trying to combat two monsters at once, which made things REALLY fun :/.
On the other hand, I had the support of a lot of other mom-friends and most family members, yet others fought me on this decision and made me feel like I was doing the wrong thing. Thank heavens for Mimi, who is always in my corner, assuring me she knew why we were making this choice, and telling me I was doing what I felt was right for Caroline in the long run.

Though most of us are venturing into this parenting territory with all sorts of helpful resources-books,  internet, other blogs, advice from friends/family, etc-at the end of the day, we are the ones who know our children better than anybody else...we are the ones who cuddle them when they are sick, we are the ones who know when something's just not right, and we are the ones who spend hours each day caring for them. We may not know best when it comes to everything, but we know THEM best, and we should follow our gut instincts...God made us parents for a reason. My best advice is to seek out information from the experts, to ask others who have walked down the same path before, and to pray about it...no one said this parenting thing was going to be easy, that's for sure.
And today, I can say that we successfully conquered this tricky time. My girl is growing like a weed, she is happy, healthy, and she is drinking out of her big girl cups! Good job Caroline!!