McKlayne's Newborn Pics

My good friend, Lynsey, took these almost 6 weeks ago (when McKlayne was 2 weeks old) but I didn't want to post these until I has sent out her birth announcements! Well, I designed them about a month ago and didn't like them once they were printed...then life got crazy busy again and I still haven't re-designed them!

So, here are just some of my favs...I just couldn't contain them any longer...maybe I'll get to them sometime this week and you'll have one to hang on your fridge soon! You can look at them all here. (I just want to add that the pink "M" in some of these pics is only 6 inches tall...just to give you an idea of how tiny she was!)

Isn't Lynsey amazing? She's so precious to our family.

I have TWO kids now!

Sorry it's been so long since an update...and I'm sorry that I still haven't returned some of your phonecalls or emails. Chances are, I've started to and somehow been interrupted by one of my two darling children.

Life with two kids has been hectic, but wonderful! These last four crazy weeks have been filled with family, visitors, and less sleep then I've been used to for a little while! My mom was here the first few days we were home from the hospital, and Charlie was off the rest of the week. Then my sisters and their kids came the next week...overlapping one night...6 kids in our house was a little chaotic, but I'm so glad they were all here. It was really fun. Thanks, Mom, Kyle and Ave, for cooking, cleaning and serving us...we love you and don't know how we would have made it (or at least eaten) these first couple weeks without you.

A week ago was my first day alone with just the two of them...two on one. It's been difficult...nobody told me just how hard the transition from one to two would be! Two kiddos under two are definitely different than one energetic 18 month old! There have been times when I've been a bit overwhelmed...and there have been many tears, but we're adjusting.

This week I'm trying to get McKlayne on a consistent schedule. Poor baby...I haven't paid as much attention to her eat, wake, sleep cycle like I did for Asher and we're both starting to feel the effects! I had a stopwatch and timed Asher's every feeding, wake, and sleep period for the first six weeks of his life...with McKlayne sometimes she'll sleep for 4 1/2 hours during the day before I realize it's been that long...then I pay for it at night. So, this week we're concentrating on setting her little internal clock. I'm not super rigid with the whole schedule thing, but can definitely attest to the benefit of it! By this time when Asher was a baby, he was predictable...and I could schedule my day around his feedings...with her, sometimes she goes over four hours without eating and sometimes it's barely been two!

Here are some of my favorite pics over the last four weeks:

How pretty is she?

Our little Eskimo baby.

I love that spikey hair.

McKlayne & Mimi.

Asher with his Mimi.

My boys.

Pop came to visit, too.

Her crooked little nose did straighten out!

Uncle Jo with the nephews & nieces minus the newborns.

Oh, how they love the bath!

Camdyn is 8 weeks older than McKlayne.

Reid, Stella, Asher, & McKlayne.

Family Pics

The proud big brother...

McKlayne Eliana

Psalm 13:5&6:
I trust in your unfailing love.
I will rejoice because you have rescued me.
I will sing to the Lord
because he is good to me.

Thanksgiving...that's what we're overwhelmed with right now.

Thankful hearts to the Lord for He has been so good to us...in so many ways...our beautiful, healthy baby girl was born at 6:02 this evening...McKlayne's labor and delivery was oh, so different compared to Asher's...the Lord protected and healed me of any complications I had been having again since Asher's birth...we know so many of you have been praying and He's been faithful to answer those precious prayers...thank you. We love you all.

My 4 hour labor compared to my 20 hours with Asher was AMAZING! I could have 8 babies if all my labor & deliveries went like this one! And she is TINY compared to our big ol' boy. She weighs 6 lbs 14oz. and is 20 inches long. As difficult as it was to wait these past several days, it was worth it for such a short labor! Our little girl is eating like a champ and we haven't heard but about one peep from her since she's been born

She looks so much like Asher did when he was born...just with more (and darker) hair! Here's are a few pics of her right after delivery.

Here's Asher, just a few minutes old:

Other things I am grateful for:

My sonic water with lime and extra ice...they changed the policy and now allow mothers to drink while laboring! How amazing is that? It made all the difference for me.

Epidurals, my anesthesiologist, my lovely nurse, Tawnya, and amazing doctor. They ordered me an epidural even before my contractions were super intense...I definitely experienced some, but nothing to complain about! Dr. Davis was performing a c-section and was going to come break my water afterwards andwanted me to get my epidural before he broke my water. Here I am shortly after my epidural talking on the phone and attempting to watch 24.

We didn't end up watching any 24 episodes, because I opted to take a nap instead...did you just read that? There was no napping involved in my labor with Asher...but I napped for an hour! This is when I transitioned from a 4 to a 7 and then from a 7 to a 9, twenty minutes later.

My sweet new family of four...we don't have a pic of the four of us yet, but we'll get one today! She's a Daddy's Girl already!

Here's the video of Asher meeting his new baby sister. He loves her so much! Check out how he honks her nose (his initiation into the family...either that or he's trying to straighten out her crooked little nose.)

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A little bird updated me...

We're posting updates of Kirby and McKlayne's progress via Twitter. Look on the right side over there labelled "Twitter Updates" and know what's going when right when it happens.

Countdown...and a Contest!

I've been pretty bad about updating on anything pregnancy related for a while...we've been very busy with more home improvements, getting ready for this little girl, and chasing after a VERY active 17 month old!

We're converting our garage into a "multi-purpose" room for a laundry closet, computer room/play area, and an extra place to sleep.

Here's some proof of the boys hard at work:



He loves "helping" Daddy.



What would a girl do without a couple of "handymen" like these?



How does this brilliant man know how to do everything?



And this little mister is going to learn it all from his Daddy...what a happy wife he'll have one day!


Most of you know what the plan is for McKlayne's birth, but for those of you who don't, my due date is July 7th. Due to my complications with delivering Asher, Dr. Davis didn't want her to get "too big" (he didn't want me to have another 8 lb baby) so he scheduled my induction for July 3rd...the ONLY day we were hoping that she wouldn't come!

July 3rd is our 3rd Anniversary and, selfishly, we're not too excited about having to share it! When we were picking a wedding date, we chose this one, so that we would always have the 4th off to be able to go away for the evening of our anniversary if we wanted. But, that's all that Dr. Davis' and the hospital's schedule would allow. So, we're keeping this date and praying that she comes before then!

Which is very possible! I went in today and was 75% effaced and almost a full 3 cm. dilated! He said she "looked to be" about 6 1/2-7 lbs...but how much can they really tell from poking around on your belly? Dr. Davis said he'd "probably see me this weekend" since he's on call and would be surpised if I lasted until next Thursday.

Isn't that what every pregnant lady wants to hear? We shall see! I could sit like this for another week!


(Pic taken tonight, in my 39th Week!)

On to the fun part...leave a comment with your guess to when you think McKlayne will be born (the date...even if you don't think she's coming until the 3rd) and her measurements (height & weight.)

My guess is Saturday, June 28th; 7 lbs 4 oz; 20 inches long.
Charlie's is Sunday, June 29th; 7 lbs 8 oz.; 19 1/2 inches long.

No matter what, a week from today I will have a baby girl...this is still so hard to believe! I can't wait to meet this crazy girl who's been kicking around in me so much lately!

Cutest Lil' Ag

If you happen to be at the mall, go to Aggieland Outfitter's (by Macy's) and vote for the Cutest Little Aggie. Asher is #43. You can vote until the end of June.