Family Photos

Here are some of the pictures from our family photo shoot! My kids are so adorable, don't you think? The pictures were taken at a pecan grove right in our town.

A Busy October

Things have been pretty crazy around here! The month of October was a busy one for us! Look below to see what we have been up to!

Here is a picture of Kennedy from September, sooo cute!

And here she is again with a big, happy smile! She is such a happy, sweet baby! She smiles a ton and laughs a lot too. She loves being tickled on her tummy!

At the beginning of October, we went up to northern Arizona to visit my family. we got to go apple picking and made/canned a bunch of applesauce. In the above picture you can see Ben with Grandma by the apple trees. Below, you can see me with Kennedy picking apples.

Here is Kennedy smiling really big for Grandma!

In October, we also went camping with my family up by Payson in the Tonto National Forest. Benjamin had a blast being outside all day. Although it was a little chilly, we bundled up both kids really well and they slept just as well as they do at home! Above, you can see me with Kennedy as we went for a walk and below you can see Ben hanging out with his dad by the campfire.

In October we also checked out the carnival in town. Benjamin got to eat a Funnel cake and a big pretzel. He also went on his first carousel ride with Dad. You can see him in the picture above. He was too scared to ride one of the carousel horses, so they hung out on the bench.

And here is Corey with both kids as we leave the carnival. Kennedy was a good baby and didn't mind the stroller.

Here is another cute picture of Kennedy! Such a happy girl!

Towards the end of October, we took Ben to Dewitt Stables in Mesa. Ben went through the hay maze with Corey.

Ben also got to check out the petting zoo. He was fascinated by the goats and sheep.

We then went on a wagon ride to pick out a pumpkin. Ben needed help from Corey to carry it.

Here is Corey and Ben carving the pumpkin once we got back home. Corey did most of it! ;)

Here is the pumpkin all done! So spooky, right?

Here is Kennedy all dressed on Halloween day!

And here we are as a family for Halloween, all ready to go trick or treating. Corey and I were graham crackers, Ben was a Hershey's bar and Kennedy was a cute marshmallow, so as a family we make a s'more! Ben really liked getting all the candy, but wore out after about 40 minutes. And then of course, the next day his diet consisted mostly of candy!

And finally, we ended October by signing Ben up for an intro to sports class for little kids. Here is learning the basics of basketball!
Kennedy will be 4 months old in 6 days! I cannot believe how quickly it has gone by. She is so big now and Benjamin is getting bigger too. They both keep me busy! Corey has started a new job, which we hope will be a good fit for his future career and I hope it allows him to work a little less. It will be nice to have him home around 6pm instead of as late as 7:30 or 8:00. It also means we will be staying in Arizona for now, which I don't mind. Gotta love all the sunshine!

A one month old and a two year old!

I can't believe it has been a month already since Kennedy was born. She is doing really well. At her one month check up she weighed 10pounds 12 ounces. She is a good baby most of the time. We are still working on establishing good eating/nap times. On a good night she wakes up around 3am and eats and goes right back to sleep. Other nights she likes to be awake for a while. During the day she is a happy baby. So far, no reflux like Benjamin. I think she looks a lot like Ben when he was a baby. Same face, just different coloring since she is a lot darker than him.

Benjamin turned 2 last Saturday. Corey had to work most of the day, so we made the best of it we could. Ben helped me frost and decorate his cupcakes. I made a cupcake train, since he likes playing with trains so much. We celebrated when Corey got back from work. Also, he got a play pop up tent. So far, he enjoys playing in it. I can't believe he is 2 years old! He seems so huge now, compared to Kennedy. He is definitely not a baby anymore. The same week we brought Kennedy home from the hospital, he learned how to climb out of his crib. So, he is now in a twin bed. We are still working on getting him to stay in bed at night. Sometimes he goes right down. Other nights, it takes a couple tries before he settles in for the night. The toughest thing is that he wakes up really early now. while in the crib, I wouldn't hear him until 7 or 7:30. Now he is up and in my room by 6:00, sometimes 5:45am.

Benjamin has adjusted really well for the most part. Sometimes I think he is a little jealous and misses having me all to himself, but I try to make sure we do quality one on one time while Kennedy is down for naps during the day. He tries to be helpful sometimes, which is really cute. For example, when I am feeding Kennedy, he will sometimes go all the way downstairs and bring back up my big hospital cup for me.

I am doing alright. Right now what I am missing the most is sleeping and "me time." Between night time feedings and Benjamin getting up early, I am pretty tired. And with  a new baby you have to adjust to no longer having your nights free to do whatever. Taking care of the two during the day has its challenges, but we are starting to get a good routine down. Corey is a huge  help on the weekends with Benjamin, which works out great because Ben loves his dad.

Here is Ben giving Kennedy her passifier. This was the first time he got close enough to her for me to take a picture of the two of them together. Benjamin's opinion of her changes frequently. Sometimes he ignores her or finds her interesting. Every once in a while he will try to pick her up! He has yet to hold her.

Here is Kennedy nice and awake.

Corey and Ben in the pool.

Corey with Kennedy

Kennedy

Benjamin and his birthday train

Ben enjoying his cupcake. He mostly ate the frosting.

sleeping Kennedy

Ben with Abby in his tent.

Kennedy with her tongue out.

Kennedy's Arrival

Kennedy made my day by coming one day early from her due date. I started having contractions on Monday, July 9th around 3:00am. After about an hour and a half of contractions my water broke and we grabbed our stuff and headed to the hospital. Luckily, my brother Matt was living with us and was able to watch Ben. It worked out because we did not need to wake Ben up and bring him elsewhere before we left.

We got to Mercy Gilbert Medical Center and got checked in. In triage they confirmed that my water had broken and that I was 4cm dialated. We were in our labor and delivery room by around 6:30 and by 7 I had my epidural in and was measuring at 6cm. By 9:15 it was time for the delivery part. With Ben, I pushed for about 45 minutes. With Kennedy, she was out after 3 pushes and one contraction. She was born at 9:29am. It was amazing how quick she came!

She was perfect and had an apgar score of 9 and 9. She weighed 8 lbs 6 oz and was 21 inches long. Ben weighed 8 lbs 2 oz, so she was a little heavier. She was born with a nice head of hair too! Nursing with Kennedy was easy. She latched on right away without a problem.  

The nurse I had during labor and delivery was wonderful. She was so nice and made me very comfortable.

We enjoyed the first 24 hours with Kennedy. She had a great appetite and we cuddled a lot. We knew we would be at the hospital for at least 48 hours because I had strep B and I only got one dose of antibiotics.

On Tuesday afternoon, the results of Kennedy's bilirubin test came back with her in the high risk zone. This meant that Kennedy had severe jaundice. The doctor came in and explained where Kennedy was on the bilirubin chart and that the course of treatment would be to put her under lights for therapy for 24 hours. This meant she would be in the nursery, stripped down to a diaper, and would only be allowed out of the lights to nurse 20 minutes at a time. They would also feed her extra fluids with a syringe while under the lights. Corey was not there when the doctor came in because he went home to spend some time with Ben.

I kept a brave face as the doctor explained all of this to me, but then when I went to explain all of this to Corey over the phone I started crying. I knew jaundice was very treatable and that she would most likely be fine, but the idea of her being away from us and alone in the nursery was scary. I worried that she would cry and cry while in the nursery and we wouldn't be able to console her. Within a half hour of talking to the doctor, Kennedy was sent to the nursery.

Corey and our closest family friend gave Kennedy a priesthood blessing that night. The blessing was such a comfort to me.

For the next 24 hours we checked on her in the nursery throughout our time there and I fed her about every 3 hours. It was such a blessing that she was a good eater. Because she ate well during our 20 minutes together she slept for the majority of the time she was under the lights. I also pumped so that they could supplement her with breastmilk instead of formula.

After the first 24 hours, her levels had gone down overall by 1 point. But, we needed another point before the doctor would send her home. So, on wednesday I was discharged and was set up in a smaller room down the hall so that I could stay at the hospital and still feed Kennedy. Kennedy was kept under the lights for another night. In the morning our prayers were answered. Her levels dropped another 1.4 points and she was discharged. We still need to keep watch on her, but the worst is definitely over. We are home and enjoying holding her and snuggling with her. She is such a beautiful little girl and I am so glad she is here! I am also thankful for my mom who was able to watch Ben while we had an extended stay at the hospital. I am also thankful for Corey keeping me company whenever it was time to head to the nursery to feed her. I am also thankful for my sister Lauren who kept me company our last night at the hospital. And of course, the nurses in the nursery were wonderful. They helped put me at ease to know that Kennedy was in good hands.

 Kennedy shortly after birth.

 Me holding Kennedy shortly after birth.

 Corey holding Kennedy during a feeding session in the nursery.

 Benjamin visiting in the hospital.

 Me and Kennedy together.

 Kennedy under the bili lights. They had two sets of lights shining from above and a light under her back. They also had little cloth eyepads on her protecting her from the lights.

 Kennedy shortly after we found out she would be discharged.

 Kennedy and I all ready to head home.

Our family leaving the hospital. Ben helped push Kennedy all the way to the nursery, where we signed release paperwork. Now it is time to adjust to having two little ones!

We are 'patiently' waiting for Kennedy to arrive. A week and a half left till my due date. I am pretty much all set for her to come. I am certainly ready to regain my ability to move around more easily and sleep more comfortably, despite the interruptions I am sure to get! Below are some things we have been doing to keep busy along with a prego picture!

 Me at 37.5 weeks pregnant with Kennedy

 Our last family photo with just the 3 of us, soon to become 4!

 A few of the hairbows I made for Kennedy

 This is a carseat pillow for Ben that I made. It is designed to hopefully keep his head from flopping to the side when he falls asleep on long car rides. I have yet to try it out, but hopefully it will do the job. I feel so bad seeing him slouched over in such an uncomfortable position on car rides. I plan to make one of a different style for Kennedy as well, since this one was such a pain to make.

 Here are pictures of Kennedy's room with pink curtains and polka dots. Corey and my brother did all of the painting and paneling.

 Here is the other side of her room with her name and some picture frames. We have the changing table in there and Ben's future big boy bed for the time being. Kennedy will sleep in the playpen for the first little while in our room. Ben has yet to climb out of his crib, so we plan on keeping him in it for as long as we can.

 This is a boppy cover I made for the boppy pillow I got myself. Didn't use one with Ben, but I thought I'd give it a try with this little one. It is a pillow I can use for extra support while feeding Kennedy, and it also can be used to sit the baby in so that she will be propped up a little bit.

Along with all the work Corey did in the baby's room, he took the time to refinish this dresser for Ben. This dresser has been in my family for many years, but had seen better days. Corey sanded it, painted it and put a new finish on the hardware. Also, the dresser is so old that it does not have the safety pull outs that stop the drawers from falling out when you pull on them, so Corey fixed that problem too. This is a must, so that they don't fall on Ben when he opens the drawers. Corey did a wonderful job and I love the way it looks. Now, he just needs to paint Ben's twin bed to match!