2 months old- video included

OMG... the days seem to go by slow, but time is flying by somehow.  Kenzie is already 2 months old!!!

Last weekend, my mom, Kenzie and I traveled to Houston so that Kenzie could meet her great, great grandmother.  That's right 5 generations. 91 years apart.  When I was born, both my great, great grandparents were alive.  I was able to be apart of a 5 generation picture also.  VERY COOL!!

She has such a cute personality.  She is most definitely more happy in the morning after she has eaten and also as you are trying desperately to get her to fall asleep at 11pm.  She is all smiles and giggles and coos.  Very cute!  If only the rest of the day she was like that!  She has tummy issues so she can be fussy.  Some days are way better than others.  

As for sleep schedule,  she usually will go to sleep between 11pm and 12am. Then she will typically sleep 5-7 hours before she wakes up hungry.  Then she will eat, play for about 15-20 minutes and go back to sleep until it's time to eat again.  I am grateful for the sleep I am getting.  I've learned to try and keep her awake or only let her take short naps/rests after 6pm.  She does much better when that is accomplished.  (I hope I didn't just jinx myself by saying this.)

As for mommy updates- I don't get out of the house much.  I no longer have a car either.  It was totaled when Kenzie was 2 weeks old.  I now borrow my parents car when I need it.  We also have the truck- which gets a whopping 8mpg when it's empty.  It's a good day for me if a few bottles get cleaned and a load of laundry gets washed.  It's a great day if I get a shower.  Sundays are the ONLY days you will see me with makeup and a quick attempt at plucking my eyebrows.  BUT I don't wear my pjs all day!!! :-)

Daddy updates- Brady LOVES his baby girl!!!  He hasn't had any work lately, but he has been doing alot of job bids.  If you don't already know this- he owns a fence and deck company called PlanksNPickets.  You can visit the website at www.planksnpickets.com.  Since he hasn't been doing much work, he was able to spend 2 weeks in Joplin, MO for disaster relief after the May22 tornado that took so many lives and destroyed even more homes.

  

And one final picture to leave you with. 

Smiles- 1st month

Well, Miss Kenzie Rose is now 5 1/2 weeks old now.  Boy does time fly by!!!!  She is quite the nosy little thing.  Here are a few updates.

*She prefers to be up on your shoulder looking around.
*She is fairly efficient at holding her head up(and has been since birth).
*She has learned to smile when she recognizes someone that she knows. (hasn't done it for a stranger yet)
*She is starting to realize she can make noises other than cry. (cooing)
*She is finally fitting into her newborn clothes. (I think she's about 8lbs now)
*Her daddy's voice calms her down most of the time.
*She has not lost any of her hair, but it is getting lighter.
*Her eyes are still blue and seem to be getting a little lighter blue.
*She loves to sit in her swing.
*She has yet to sleep in her room. (she apparently has a nosy mommy too)
*It takes her 20 minutes of stretching to wake up from a nap. (very cute)
*She's already had several road trips across Texas. (College Station, Port Aransas, and Dallas)
*She still looks like her daddy!!!

Hanging with my Ammie in Corpus Christi. 

First trip to the zoo with BFF Macy(2 days older)

Smiling at Mommy!

Play time!

Chillin with Daddy before he went to Joplin, Mo to help with Disaster Relief. 

Sunday Afternoon Nap with Daddy.  

 

Labor and Delivery

So it all began with a midwife appointment on Wednesday. I was 40 weeks and 5 days pregnant.  They told me it didn't look like Miss Kenzie would be coming on her own so it was time to consider induction since I wasn't even dilating.  We all agreed that it was the best decision even though it wasn't how we wanted to do things.  (you know it's time when your "midwife" says it is) We scheduled our induction for Monday night and to start the pitocin on Tuesday morning.  When we got into the car, I cried. And cried, and cried, and cried.  I wasn't wanting to go this route nor did I want to wait any longer.  I wasn't sleeping anymore and she was getting quite painful to carry since she was STILL facing the wrong direction.

When we got home, Brady spoke up and told me to call and move the induction up since there wasn't really a reason to wait any longer.  Thankfully, they had a bed available for the following evening. Which would mean I could have Kenzie on Friday(my 23rd birthday).  At this point, I was just relieved to hear she would be coming sooner than later.

Thursday morning came, and I repacked my bags since we'd be staying an extra night.  I caught up on laundry, and cleaned the kitchen and bathrooms.  My mind wasn't on any one task though, so I'm not thinking I was very thorough.  I'm sure my mother in law got a kick out of watching me walk in circles around the house trying to remember what I had in my hand and what I came to this room for.  :-)

It's now 4:15pm and we have to be at the hospital at 5pm.  We get everything loaded in the car.  I go to sit down on the passenger side of the car and the entire front of my pants rip in two.  I seriously thought my water had broke.  We all got a good laugh which I really needed since I was tense.  So we finally make it to the hospital and get our room.  Things are good.  The midwife Jan came in and inserted the Cervidil.  She said this would help get my body ready for contractions and so that I would be able to dilate when they started the pitocin the following morning.  She also mentioned that for a very small amount of women, the Cervidil can start labor and bring contractions. They kept me on the monitors to watch the baby's heart beat and see if any contractions would start.

9:30pm Brady brings me Chick-fil-a for dinner.  The nurse won't let me off the monitors to try and get Kenzie to flip on her own.  She was following hospital protocol but my midwife would have let me.

10:30pm Contractions start and are strong enough that I'm using breathing techniques to get through them. They are about 2 mins apart.  

11:30pm Midwife Jan comes in and asks me why I hadn't spoke up about having painful contractions.  My reply was something along the lines of, "Isn't this why I'm here, so that I can go into labor?!?"  She then removed the cervidil(which normally needs 12 hours to work) and gave me a little bit of pain meds so I could sleep through the night since we would be having a long day on Friday.

5am I am at 3cm. I was able to get about 4 hours of sleep.  Contractions are still 2 mins apart and are getting stronger.

7am Midwife Christi comes in to check on me.  Says things are looking great, we won't need any pitocin!

12pm  contractions are CRAZY STRONG!!!! Back labor is horrendous!  Midwife Christi suggests I use the yoga ball to help with the back labor and try and get Miss Kenzie to flip.  I end up throwing up my dinner at this point since the back pain is so strong.  I say something like "I'm done, I just want to go home now.  I don't want to do this anymore."

1pm Christi now suggested that I try and use the bed and have Brady help put counter pressure on my lower back to help with the pain and Kenzie may have an easier time turning.  (I am currently on no medicines)

1:30pm  Kenzie is still facing the wrong way. And I'm at 6cm.  I'm not able to breath through the contractions anymore.  It's more of a yelling moan sound that is coming out.  I'm crying and no one knows how to help me.  My back is the only thing that hurts... I can't even feel the true contractions, just back labor.  At this point my contractions are about 30 seconds apart, lasting between 60- 90 seconds long.  I know I said some things I shouldn't at this point because I was mad that I didn't get any breaks in between to relax.

2pm Christi is now suggesting that I truly consider getting an epidural because I'm so tense that I'm not dilating anymore and Kenzie can't turn since I'm so tense.

2:05  The anesthesiologist walks through the door.  I tell him that he's my hero.

2:15 BLISS!!!!! Christi tries to break my water since I have so much amniotic fluid.  She thinks this will help the contractions get stronger.  She also thinks that having the epi will allow me to relax enough that Kenzie can turn and get engaged.

3:30 Contractions have stopped almost completely.  Christi is now forced to give me pitocin to make the contractions come back.

5pm Christi wakes me up to check me.  7cm.  So she turns up the pitocin some more. Christi leaves the hospital for a meeting and Midwife Lauren takes over. Christi makes me promise that I'll wait to have the baby until she gets back around 8:30. 

8pm Lauren wakes me up and checks me. 10cm and I'm ready to push!!!!!  Family came in to wish me good luck as Lauren gets the room ready for our adventure.

8:20  Christi isn't back, but she's been called. My mom and Brady helped hold my legs for the pushing my Brady's mom is in the background ready to take pictures.  Lauren is ready to help get this baby girl out.

8:30 I am able to feel the contractions and when I need to push, I am also able to feel where I need to push at.  I was telling them when I was going to push not the other way around.  I start talking about wanting to try natural again next time as long as I don't have back labor.

8:44pm SHE's HERE!!!! Full head of hair. I got to help catch her.  She is absolutely beautiful!

8:48pm Brady cuts the umbilical cord, Kenzie reaches up and hold his finger as he does this.  Very sweet moment for everyone.

8:50pm Christi runs in the door yelling "did I make it?". She is still in her street clothes.  poor girl!

9pm The umbilical cord breaks from the placenta before it's delivered.  Very odd.

Turns out the umbilical cord was attached more to the amniotic sac than the placenta.  Had anyone seen this on an ultrasound, they wouldn't have let me deliver vaginally.  I would have been rushed to get a c-section.  But Kenzie was born perfectly fine and facing the correct way.  Only a few stitches were placed, and recover hasn't been bad at all.


Kenzie Rose McDaniel
Weight: 6lbs 8oz
Length: 18 1/4inches long
Eyes: blue
Hair: black
She has her mommy's nose and her daddy's toes.

 

Eviction Notice

Ok We give up!!!!  When the midwife recommends you get an induction because she doesn't think the baby is going to come on her own... it's time!  Apparently my daughter is stubborn enough that she won't get into the correct position long enough for me to even dilate.  It's definitely not the route we wanted to take, but at least I'll have a baby soon.  Turns out Thursday night we will check in the hospital to be prepped.  And then on May 20th (my 23rd birthday) they will start the pitocin.  Hopefully she will be out that day, which means... Mommy and Kenzie will share a birthday.  I've been totally against it for so long, but now I just want to be holding her.

 I'm up late again right now because she won't stop moving.  She's too big now and it's pretty painful. She only ever gets this active when I am laying down.  NOT COOL!  I really, really want and at this point, NEED to sleep.  I can't wait for this to be all over with! I promise to update again as soon as I can. It may have to wait until I'm home for the hospital though.

Story Time

Wow, I can't believe how fast time is flying by!  When we first found out we were pregnant, my thought was "It's all good, we have just under a year to prepare."  And now I have 13 weeks to go until I meet my "mini me".  She is constantly letting me know she's in there.  You can see her move these days.  In fact, last night we were sitting at the dining room table and she started kicking the right side of my rib cage.  You could see my ribs moving.  Very weird, and very alien-like!  She's almost 2lbs and is measuring around 14".

This week one of my good friends Natalie had her baby girl, Madison.  We went to the hospital the day after she was born to visit.  What a shock!!!  It finally hit me that 3 months from now that will be me in the bed and other people holding my little girl.  I'm sure every soon to be mom goes through these moments as the day nears, but this time it's me.  I know I'm probably being a little emotional, but at least it's better than the angry mood swings that been kicking in lately.  (poor Brady- pray for him. He may need some counseling after this is over)  Last weekend, we went to McKinney Falls with Brandon and Tammy (bro and sis-in-laws).  We've done this before, and ususally Brandon brings his camera and we take a leisurely stroll in between photo ops.  So, of course, I agreed to go.  When we got there, we walked around, and Brandon never took out his camera.  Then they asked if we'd like to go on a trail.  (i'm still thinking he's got the camera in his backpack and thats why he wants to go for a walk. Duh! to take pictures!)  Well, needless to say- I didn't see the 2.8 mile warning sign, nor did I ever see a camera.  I wanted to just lay down and die by the first mile.  The animals need to eat too, right?  I felt bad for making the trip such a drag for everyone.  Every 20 feet, I'd have to stop and take a breather.  Braxton Hicks contractions started kicking in about halfway through the trail.  (I'm totally not ready for labor and delivery)  Plus I was drinking a lot of water and of course there is no Valero with a bathroom in the middle of this trail.  I almost didn't make it, but then we saw cars through the brush.  My pace quickened.  I'm going to survive!  We kept walking, thinking the end of the trail is near, but it wasn't.  Not by a long shot.  When we finally did make it out, but we still had another 3/4 of a mile to walk back to the car.  Not cool!  A few cars drove by and  I milked the poor, exhausted, "I'm having a contraction face" pregnant woman look.  No one stopped to offer me a ride back.  **by the way- if you EVER see that face, and I do mean EVER, you better STOP and offer that woman a ride to China if it's going to make her happy!**  Where was I, oh yes, I'm not going to any state parks until at least September.  :-)

On that note, I am thankful my midwife called in a antibiotic for my allergies that have turned into a sinus infection. :-)  I have that nasty cough again- and nothing makes it better.  Hopefully the antibiotics will help.

registry link

Ok I have pretty much finished with the registry, I think.  I'm sure I'll end up leaving vital items off of it.  I also know I've add things I don't need, but I want, or think I want.  Oh well, Live and Learn, right?  Anyways, you can find it at the link at the bottom.  Gift cards are welcome too! :-)


http://www.toysrus.com/registry/myregistry/index.jsp?overrideStore=TRUS&_flowExecutionKey=_c2AC3EF75-C58C-1DA4-5948-E3FCACF6F87E_kCFF4F065-9DB5-24F2-6825-FCE85FCB4222

REGISTRY HELP

Ok Mommas, it's your turn to chime in. Let me know about products that you loved, hated, never used, or even wished you had invested in with your little one.(who may or may not be so little anymore) Any and all advice is welcomed. Just don't be offended if it doesn't get used. :-) Good advice I've heard recently is getting cloth diapers to use as burp rags; putting down an absorbing pad under the baby when she's in the crib- that way if she leaks, so that I don't have to change the sheets every time; and you can never have too many blankets. Let me know if you think of anything. Please share your stories, I love to hear them!

Babysitting Blues

Well, I had my day all planned out, and it was perfectly timed!!

Pick up Asher
go to sprint
go grocery shopping
come home and put away food
make lunch for brady
take it to the jobsite
come home
make lunch for Asher
put Asher down for a nap
while asher is sleeping- clean, call insurance company and find out about opening a HSA, eat lunch, do laundry
When Asher wakes up, go to the library
return a book to an old co-worker
take Asher back to his mom.

Whew... well that would have been my day. When I picked up the little guy, his diaper had soaked through his clothes, and mom didn't have time to give him breakfast. We had to go home to feed him and that's when I realized it was pee on the clothes and not juice. He is now wearing my nieces tshirt. (he's not even 2 years old and my niece is 7 years old) The tshirt is now a dress. I can't possibly bring him out in public with a dress on. He's not a fan of it, but he's so stinkin cute!! So, while his clothes are in the laundry, I'm trying to do the rest of the chores... hopefully I get everything done by the time I drop him off this afternoon. We shall see.



On a side note, last night Brady tried to convince me he should wait a few months before he changes are child's diapers. He says he'll hurt the baby. Considering where the baby comes out of, I don't think you'll hurt him/her.  We went to Babies-R-Us last night. It's amazing how much the markup is on their stuff! Resale shops, here I come! But those size 1 diapers are just so stink cute!! I can't believe I'll be putting those on my little bundle of joy in a few months!!!

ok well, Asher has a stinky diaper... time to go!

It's Alive!

Well, I figured since our family is so spread out all over Texas, Maryland, and Delaware... I should blog about what is going on in our lives!  So, to start off with, we found out on Sunday that we will need a nursery in our home.  I'M HAVING A BABY!!!!!  I know, crazy huh?  I've always wanted to know what Brady was like as a kid.  I guess I'll find out in 9 months.  From the due date calendars online, it looks like the baby will be born sometime around May 10th. I have a doctor appointment on Oct 4th.

Things I feel:
*HUNGRY- all the time!!! I feel like a hobbit... I want 3rd breakfast,  noonsies, afternoon snack, early dinner, regular dinner and snack before bed. I really can't keep the pantry and fridge stocked long enough to get through the week!!!
*No nausea yet :-)
*potty breaks every 5 minutes. (Brady loves this when we watch movies or during the night)
*Hot flashes-- need i say more?

I can't make any promises, but I am hoping to blog often! And of course, I will add pictures as they come!