These pictures were taken on Sunday morning when Alyna and Kellyn wore matching dresses to church for Kellyn's first appearance. Alyna thinks that was a pretty neat idea.
And Grandma sure does enjoy snuggle time with her new granddaughter...
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Pictures This week
We attempted some family photos in the back yard this morning... but it didn't go so well. Ryan ran away, and as Grandma caught him she bonked him on the head with the camera. So he has a nice goose egg forming above his left eye in the picture. Then Alyna wanted to hold Kellyn, and then she was just done. We got some funny candid shots, but nothing worthy of the living room wall. Maybe we'll try again next week.
These pictures were taken on Sunday morning when Alyna and Kellyn wore matching dresses to church for Kellyn's first appearance. Alyna thinks that was a pretty neat idea.
And Grandma sure does enjoy snuggle time with her new granddaughter...
These pictures were taken on Sunday morning when Alyna and Kellyn wore matching dresses to church for Kellyn's first appearance. Alyna thinks that was a pretty neat idea.
And Grandma sure does enjoy snuggle time with her new granddaughter...
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Kellyn's First Week
Kellyn Brooke is a sweet and beautiful baby girl. She always looks around when she hears noises to see who is making them, and doesn't seem to mind her toddler siblings playing and screaming right next to her. She eats well and sleeps really well too. At only a week old, we usually have a 4 hour block and then 6 hour block between feedings at night. I'm amazed at this, and have enjoyed having the extra sleep. This does present a challenge during the daytime though because she wants to eat more often to make up for the lack of night time feedings. So we are flexible and watch for signs that she is still hungry.
Grandma gave Kellyn her first sponge bath at home... she squalled the whole time. She seemed to enjoy it the second time around though.
Kellyn actually has enough hair that it has to be washed and rinsed well or it gets oily.
I am nursing Kellyn, but sometimes pump into a bottle which she takes quite well. This gives her Daddy a chance for some special one on one time.
Ryan and Alyna enjoyed having Grandma and Daddy around all week to play with them. Barry returned to work on Wednesday, the 25th.
Alyna likes to look at the "Where's Waldo" books with her Daddy. She can even find Waldo by herself sometimes now. She has a lot of focus for not even being 2 years old yet.
Grandma made a really cool tunnel with 2 dining room chairs and a sheet.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Welcome Kellyn Brooke Love
This was me on the morning of Wednesday, August 18.
Kellyn Brooke Love was born at 9:29 am, Wednesday, August 18, 2010. She weighed 7 lbs 2 oz and was 19 inches long. The first thing the doctor's said before she was even out was, "Look at that full head of hair."
She was perfectly healthy, and joined her Mommy in the hospital room a few hours later for her first meal. She eats and sleeps well, and always wanted her Daddy to hold her.
We took Kellyn home on Friday around lunch time.
Kellyn Brooke Love was born at 9:29 am, Wednesday, August 18, 2010. She weighed 7 lbs 2 oz and was 19 inches long. The first thing the doctor's said before she was even out was, "Look at that full head of hair."
She was perfectly healthy, and joined her Mommy in the hospital room a few hours later for her first meal. She eats and sleeps well, and always wanted her Daddy to hold her.
We took Kellyn home on Friday around lunch time.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
The big day arrives
Today I had my final Dr. appointment and preop visit to the hospital. Tomorrow, Wednesday, I'll go to the hospital at 7:30 am to deliver Kellyn Brooke by c-section. Grandma is here to care for the twins while Barry and I are at the hospital. And if all goes well, we'll all come home on Friday.
That's about all that's on my mind right now. I'll try to post pictures and this weekend. Please pray for our doctors, and our health this week.
P.S. I did think of something else...
Alyna has named her baby doll... "She". We think it comes from our saying "Where is she?" all the time so she associated "She" as the baby's name. And now every baby Alyna sees she says "She". Funny toddlers.
That's about all that's on my mind right now. I'll try to post pictures and this weekend. Please pray for our doctors, and our health this week.
P.S. I did think of something else...
Alyna has named her baby doll... "She". We think it comes from our saying "Where is she?" all the time so she associated "She" as the baby's name. And now every baby Alyna sees she says "She". Funny toddlers.
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Sleep re-arrangements
Alyna, the toddler who already wants to do everything herself (or at least try), has finally decided that nap time is better with someone to sleep with.
When Ryan was sick a month ago, she threw a fit several times when he would come climb into her bed. So he stopped doing that. We've been having issues that past couple weeks with Alyna throwing tantrums at nap time and bed time. She doesn't want to lie down in her bed, and gets up repeatedly.
Thursday at nap time, Barry finally gave up and just brought her out of her room after 25 minutes of a tantrum after Ryan had already fallen asleep. I took her into my bed, and she went to sleep almost immediately on his side of the bed. We slept there for 2 hours, and Ryan was still asleep in his own bed. I definitely don't want to make a habit of this because after the baby is born I won't always be able to nap with her.
Friday at nap time she kept coming into the hallway and we repeatedly put her back in her bed. Finally we shut the door fully and she cried, but stopped eventually. About an hour later she awoke crying and when I went in I found that she had actually been at the end of Ryan's bed. I think she was disoriented when she woke up and fell off the bed. Then neither one would go back to sleep.
Today I again told her to get back in bed several times, and even took her into the bathroom for a small swat on the leg so that she knew she was in trouble. I then heard Ryan and Alyna talk and play for the next 30 minutes, but we decided that as long as they were in the room, that was ok. Sure enough 40 minutes after the initial nap time tuck in, all was quiet. I waited 10 more minutes and then peaked in the room. Alyna is curled up on her bed on top of her pillow in the corner of the bedframe and the wall, and Ryan is lying in the middle of her bed on his back. His head is on her pillow and he's covered with her sheet.
Well, whatever works. I just hope it lasts past the hour mark today.
Update: Nope... Alyna woke up at 1 hour, and was upset that someone else was in her bed. Ryan stayed asleep where he was, so I removed her from the room. She used to be the one who wanted the 2 hour naps and Ryan would wake up after an hour, but not this week.
When Ryan was sick a month ago, she threw a fit several times when he would come climb into her bed. So he stopped doing that. We've been having issues that past couple weeks with Alyna throwing tantrums at nap time and bed time. She doesn't want to lie down in her bed, and gets up repeatedly.
Thursday at nap time, Barry finally gave up and just brought her out of her room after 25 minutes of a tantrum after Ryan had already fallen asleep. I took her into my bed, and she went to sleep almost immediately on his side of the bed. We slept there for 2 hours, and Ryan was still asleep in his own bed. I definitely don't want to make a habit of this because after the baby is born I won't always be able to nap with her.
Friday at nap time she kept coming into the hallway and we repeatedly put her back in her bed. Finally we shut the door fully and she cried, but stopped eventually. About an hour later she awoke crying and when I went in I found that she had actually been at the end of Ryan's bed. I think she was disoriented when she woke up and fell off the bed. Then neither one would go back to sleep.
Today I again told her to get back in bed several times, and even took her into the bathroom for a small swat on the leg so that she knew she was in trouble. I then heard Ryan and Alyna talk and play for the next 30 minutes, but we decided that as long as they were in the room, that was ok. Sure enough 40 minutes after the initial nap time tuck in, all was quiet. I waited 10 more minutes and then peaked in the room. Alyna is curled up on her bed on top of her pillow in the corner of the bedframe and the wall, and Ryan is lying in the middle of her bed on his back. His head is on her pillow and he's covered with her sheet.
Well, whatever works. I just hope it lasts past the hour mark today.
Update: Nope... Alyna woke up at 1 hour, and was upset that someone else was in her bed. Ryan stayed asleep where he was, so I removed her from the room. She used to be the one who wanted the 2 hour naps and Ryan would wake up after an hour, but not this week.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
7 days and counting...
This time next Wednesday (if not before), I'll be meeting my baby Kellyn... I'm very ready to see if she looks like Alyna.
I was very uncomfortable trying to sleep last night, but feel pretty good this morning. I just get tired very easily these days so I have to sit down and rest often.
Alyna always takes that as her cue that it is time to read a book or color with Mommy. Ryan usually joins us for a while, and then roams around and makes trouble. He's gotten in trouble the past few days for coloring on the walls, floors, and furniture. We're still working on what "paper" is and isn't.
I'm just hoping the rest of the day goes as smoothly as the first few hours this morning have... but with 2 toddlers, that is a lot to ask.
I was very uncomfortable trying to sleep last night, but feel pretty good this morning. I just get tired very easily these days so I have to sit down and rest often.
Alyna always takes that as her cue that it is time to read a book or color with Mommy. Ryan usually joins us for a while, and then roams around and makes trouble. He's gotten in trouble the past few days for coloring on the walls, floors, and furniture. We're still working on what "paper" is and isn't.
I'm just hoping the rest of the day goes as smoothly as the first few hours this morning have... but with 2 toddlers, that is a lot to ask.
Monday, August 9, 2010
hanging in there
We've hit the 38th week of the pregnancy. The official due date is still 2 weeks off (Aug 23), so I'm really hoping to hold off delivery until the scheduled day next Wednesday (Aug 18). I at least hope baby Kellyn will wait until after Saturday night when my mom arrives. It will give me piece of mind to know I can leave for the hospital at any time without having to first arrange child care for my current little ones.
We almost went to the hospital last Wednesday night because my contractions were strong and 5 minutes apart, but after an hour and a half of lying down they finally slowed down. I'm just glad Barry was home that night because I couldn't do anything but lie there.
This week is all about just making it through. We had a play-date this morning, and it was really good to catch up with the mom. Her little boy is just 4 months younger than the twins so they had fun together.
Tomorrow we have a play-date at the church's nursery with several other 1-3 year olds. That's been a good place for us to play this summer about once a week. It's air conditioned, and a safe environment where I don't worry about them running off from me. They are faster than I am right now...
Wednesday and Thursday are quiet days at home... hopefully... while Barry sleeps for night shift.
Then Barry is off for the rest of the weekend. Unless I'm in labor, he'll drive to Lubbock on Saturday afternoon to pick up my mom from the airport... and then the real countdown to Wednesday morning begins.
We almost went to the hospital last Wednesday night because my contractions were strong and 5 minutes apart, but after an hour and a half of lying down they finally slowed down. I'm just glad Barry was home that night because I couldn't do anything but lie there.
This week is all about just making it through. We had a play-date this morning, and it was really good to catch up with the mom. Her little boy is just 4 months younger than the twins so they had fun together.
Tomorrow we have a play-date at the church's nursery with several other 1-3 year olds. That's been a good place for us to play this summer about once a week. It's air conditioned, and a safe environment where I don't worry about them running off from me. They are faster than I am right now...
Wednesday and Thursday are quiet days at home... hopefully... while Barry sleeps for night shift.
Then Barry is off for the rest of the weekend. Unless I'm in labor, he'll drive to Lubbock on Saturday afternoon to pick up my mom from the airport... and then the real countdown to Wednesday morning begins.
Friday, August 6, 2010
Alyna's First Hair Cut, and more
Alyna did so well during her first hair cut today. She woke up from her nap, and I told her we were going to go see Miss Esther and let her play with her hair. She seemed okay with that idea. It helps that Esther attends church with us, helps in the nursery sometimes, and is in our Life Group.
The cut was mostly to even out the layers in her hair where it grew at different speeds from the time she was a baby.
Alyna sat in the big chair (on a booster), and the drape was bright pink with butterflies all over it. She was very still, and didn't get scared. She did have a curious look on her face as Esther placed some of her hair on the counter for me to bring home as a keepsake. After the cut, she sat through a blow dry and even having the ends curled under. She was rewarded with a piece of chocolate, and getting to meet Esther's dogs.
This is Ryan throwing a tantrum because he saw his night time cuddly go into the washer.
Alyna loves to try on shoes... even Daddy's.
In this picture you can kind of see how scraggly her hair was from growing out as a baby.
The cut was mostly to even out the layers in her hair where it grew at different speeds from the time she was a baby.
Alyna sat in the big chair (on a booster), and the drape was bright pink with butterflies all over it. She was very still, and didn't get scared. She did have a curious look on her face as Esther placed some of her hair on the counter for me to bring home as a keepsake. After the cut, she sat through a blow dry and even having the ends curled under. She was rewarded with a piece of chocolate, and getting to meet Esther's dogs.
This is Ryan throwing a tantrum because he saw his night time cuddly go into the washer.
Alyna loves to try on shoes... even Daddy's.
In this picture you can kind of see how scraggly her hair was from growing out as a baby.
Getting Help
Grandma was here for the first week of July, but when she left things just started to pile up. Clutter, uncleaned bathrooms, sticky floors, tall grass, weeds, out of control bushes... etc. With all the reorganizing and swapping of rooms in preparation for a new baby, everything was feeling overwhelming for Barry and me.
So we've hired some help, and are very grateful that it fits into our budget to do so.
July was an unusually wet month here, and we've also been running our sprinklers when it doesn't rain because we're trying to get new grass seed to grow in some of the dead spots of our really large yard. We have a .4 acre lot. So for right now, we have a local teacher/coach mowing and weed eating our whole lawn every week. As school starts and fall approaches it won't be that often.
This morning as they mow, Barry is resetting sprinkler heads and trimming bushes and trees. He'd be out there all day today and tomorrow if he were doing everything himself. Now he will have time to spend with his family before he starts his next shift, and the lawn will look nice too.
Every 2 weeks or so, we are having a housecleaning service come in. It's been worth it so far. By the time I do the dishes, and pick up all the toys and clutter... I'm don't have the energy to clean the floors and bathrooms. Now it at least gets done before it becomes a health hazard.
As one of our friends said... we are also stimulating the local economy by employing people. Mostly it feels nice to not stress about cleaning the tub with a 9 month pregnant belly. It's hard enough on me right now just to take care of the kids all day.
My mom will be here in about 1 week to stay for 3 weeks to help with the kids and the new baby's arrival. After that, Barry's mom will be here for about a week and a half, and then we'll have other company come through to see the baby throughout the following months.
So we've hired some help, and are very grateful that it fits into our budget to do so.
July was an unusually wet month here, and we've also been running our sprinklers when it doesn't rain because we're trying to get new grass seed to grow in some of the dead spots of our really large yard. We have a .4 acre lot. So for right now, we have a local teacher/coach mowing and weed eating our whole lawn every week. As school starts and fall approaches it won't be that often.
This morning as they mow, Barry is resetting sprinkler heads and trimming bushes and trees. He'd be out there all day today and tomorrow if he were doing everything himself. Now he will have time to spend with his family before he starts his next shift, and the lawn will look nice too.
Every 2 weeks or so, we are having a housecleaning service come in. It's been worth it so far. By the time I do the dishes, and pick up all the toys and clutter... I'm don't have the energy to clean the floors and bathrooms. Now it at least gets done before it becomes a health hazard.
As one of our friends said... we are also stimulating the local economy by employing people. Mostly it feels nice to not stress about cleaning the tub with a 9 month pregnant belly. It's hard enough on me right now just to take care of the kids all day.
My mom will be here in about 1 week to stay for 3 weeks to help with the kids and the new baby's arrival. After that, Barry's mom will be here for about a week and a half, and then we'll have other company come through to see the baby throughout the following months.
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