Having two kids

When you have one child and want another, you ask everyone what it's like to have two kids. Is it hard watching two of them? How do you sleep at night? Did you have to get a bigger car? You know the usual stuff. No one ever tells you that having two kids everything changes. Child number one gets extra attention. Child number two gets screwed. Plain and simple.

Child #1: Parents disinfected everything. Paranoid about colds, germs, and dirt.

Child #2: Isn't that cute? She is playing in a dirty mud pit. And then still contemplate a bath before bed.

Child #1: When the child falls and scrapes a knee, the neosporin, antibacterial wipes, and band-aids are pulled out within 30 seconds of the accident. Dad ready to hit 911 on the speed dial.

Child #2:
Dad "Hey, what happened to Maeve's knee?"
Mom " I don't know. Looks like it was scraped. Huh."
Dad. "Huh"
Thats it. One question and two "huh's".
You are lucky to even see the fall. Usually you will notice a little dried blood and a scraped knee hours, if not days, later.

Child #1:
More pictures and video than you knew what to do with. Child #1's life was fully documented, dates memorized at every milestone.

Child #2:
Mom to dad: "Do you know when Maeve walked for the first time?"
Dad to mom: "No. Do you?"
Mom to dad: "Huh. Let me see if I wrote it down somewhere."
(she did write it down. June 26th. However there was no cute story, no pictures, no full documentation of her first steps. Again, child #2 gets screwed.

Child #1:
Afraid of adults including her own grandparents until age three. Even then she is a little hesitant.
Child #2:
Willing to go anywhere with anyone at anytime. No fear.


Child #1:
Watched so closely that nothing strange happened to her.
Child #2:
Is that a train stuck in your hair? Yes, that is.

With that being said, here are some Child #2 photos from Vermont this past weekend. Maeve, we know its not much of a consolation, but its the best we could do on short notice. The pony is in the mail.



Loving the summer.

I think we will use this one for her Senior Portrait.
Liam giving Maeve a little bite.

Watermelon eating contest.

They both ate 34 pieces. Insane. Those seeds come out the way they go in.

Loving the mud. Nanny says its good for your skin. Ok, we will go with that.










Grampy enjoying some time with child #1.


She loved the ride in the convertible. And who would have thought that BMW put car seat latches in the passenger seat. Sounds safe enough for me.




And finally, Maeve wiped out after a fun filled day of slashing playing and swimming.

Red White and Blue

Nothing says 4th of July better than a beach rental on the coast of Maine. It was everything you would expect. Picturesque views, the sound of the ocean every night, a firepit to sit by at night, and kids running and playing and eating and playing and running and eating icecream and screaming and playing. Everything but sleeping (Colin Snyder being the exception to this rule who likes to roll out of bed around 10am).

We tried this a few years ago at the Sea Cliff Motel in Old Orchard Beach. It was fun with all of Shelbys college girlfriends. This year we opted not to stay in a small motel efficiency and rented a beach cottage and carriage house. It was nearly the same money but afforded us space and a place to play. It was a good move. Not all of her friends could make it. However Lisa (and her fam) and Kelly (and her fam) and a special guest appearance by Amy (and yes her family too).



View from the yard down the beach.

Someone got a new pink bathing suit that looked like a tutu. I wonder who? She loved it and proudly wore her star necklace on the 4th.


A view of the cottage and carriage house (aka garage with living space) before the yard turned into a playground.


An example of the nightly sunsets

Nighlty firepit ritual.

Nothing says relaxing like a fire. And some cocktails. Much needed after the days that seemed to start at the crack of dawn.

We hoped the kids would wear themselves to sleep. Playing just seemed to give them more energy. Right Colin Mason and Charlotte?

Hunter and Hayden joined in the fun on the 5th for the day. Everyone got along so great.

Chris with a motley crew of kids. Notice Charlotte. She is saying, "do you want a knuckle sandwich?". No way missy. Not from you!

We even had a little luau on the final night. They really got into it!

Charlotte trying to show Mason how to do the Hula dance. This picture will come back to haunt BOTH of you!


And we could not forget marvelous Maeve.

The Quinny girls. Or at least some of them. Lisa, Amy, Shelby, and Kelly.

Shelby and Lisa after a long day. Looks like they started early this night.

A trip to Old Orchard Beach would not be complete without a trip to the amusement park at the boardwalk. They were really strict with the rides. Maeve really couldnt ride on any. But she did find a puddle to splash in. Looks like a ride to me?
** footnote. Yes Maeve is fully walking. She loves to walk, non stop. She is also talking up a storm with words. "Ball, dog, cat, dadda, mamma, down, up, more, all done", and "push da buttons" are her favorite. Yes she has even strung 1 - 3 words together. Crazy. All in a span of 2 weeks.



What do you do when you get a day of rain? You hit the indoor playland to climb and play skee ball. And what do you buy with all of your skee ball tickets? Well for Charlotte it was bad teeth. She callled them Lion teeth. Not quite honey, but for now we will let you think that.

The moon rises were just incredible. The pictures do not do them justice.

Ahhh. Fire. Full moon. Clear sky. Just perfect.

Sunset looking up the beach.

Oh and we would be remiss if we didnt include a visit to Lenny the 1700 lb solid chocolate Moose. Again, rain.
A trip to Cabella's scores a new furry hat. Dad put it on Charlotte as a joke. Mom ended up liking the hat and bought it for herself. Cant want to see her in it when it snows. Crazy mom.

A random cat who hung out on the beach named Echo. Maeve and Echo had a special bond.

Echo was the most chill cat ever and LOVED kids.

Even ones that stick sandy feet in its face. Echo still nuzzled up to Maeve.


Maeve loved to be held and snuggled in close toward the end of the trip. She was exhausted from all the excitement.

Coastal Maine = Lobster. End of story.

Lobster races. The loser gets cooked. And the winner.

Ok, the winner gets a drink with a cool straw before it gets cooked. Sorry PETA.


Everyone enjoying a meal outside.




What? The ice cream man is here! Line up kids!


Maeve with her first snowcone.


Dave really loved his icecream.



Charlotte on the rocks. She was upset that she was told no more throwing or climbing on the rocks.


Then dad caved as usual and let her continue to throw the rocks. Typical.

Brendan having some fun in the sun.


Someone snuck away to practice her ballet moves on her pretend stage in her bathing suit (I mean tutu).


Position 2.5.


Maeve just is Maeve.


Enjoying some quiet time together before it ends.


The End