Nov. pics from Mawmaw Snider

What's Been Going On

Last week was a fun week. We went to target and got some items to make some goodies for the neighbors. Kins helped me put pretzels in white chocolate and coat them in sprinkles. Then we went to a couple doors to hand them to the neighbors and say Merry Christmas. The Lord has been calling me to step out of my land of comfort and actually love on my "neighbors." I started literally. I LOVE doing nice things for people but typically from afar. I much rather leave something in their mailbox BUT I felt so good after and a little more bold. Thankful for two little munchkins as my sidekicks too.

My mom picked the girls and I up for their Dr. appts last Wednesday. You might wonder why Kins had one at 2 1/2... oh that's because I am always late and just getting around to her 2-year old appointment. Maclaren didn't have to get any shots. Kinsley got Hep A shot, flu nasal mist, and a vision screening. She did great! I'm not sure she will ever want to go back though.

Stats:

1 month- Maclaren is 10lbs 3.6oz, 67%
length: 22" 80%
head: 38cm 85%

2.5yrs- Kinsley is 25lbs 6.4oz 12%
height: 2' 10.75" 22%

head: 47.5cm 32%

Kinsley went to Shuggy's house to make some holiday treats and Maclaren and I ran to Trader Joes and Walgreens to pick up some things. It was a new adventure and the weather was beautiful. We even took a walk.

We went to Toys r us thursday. First time alone with both the girls at a new place (our go to's are target and harris teeter). I put Maclaren in the stroller and Kinsley walked. The both did great until we got in the car and I had to nurse and Kinsley didn't want to be in her seat. Melt-down.

Friday we had a cookies and milk playdate at our house. I was surprised at how "smoothe" it went. I was exhausted after, but we all had fun! Maclaren slept a good bit and allowed my hands to be free to help with icing and sprinkles. Kinsley loved having her friends over to play. And I always love getting together with their mommies.

Kinsley likes to sit by the mamaroo when Maclaren is sleeping and read her books. 

At night, Kinsley's new favorite book is "Mommy's book" aka my little childrens Bible my mom just sent home with her. She has learned one verse completely and another one with some help. She can memorize anything with a little hand motions and word emphasis ;)

We also read Barney Bear's Pizza Shop (given to aunt B from Ms. Kathy). 

I love waking up to a great cup of coffee.. a midday cappucino, and a nighttime hot chocolate. Too much? I think NOT! Being a mom of two is quite an adjustment and each day deserves a couple rewards.

Timing and prioritizing things are an adjustment as well. I just got used to doing everything on my "list" with a toddler. Now with a toddler AND a newborn I can't just run out to the grocery store to pick up something quick or surf the web or go to the bathroom alone. I love the times I can get a shower by myself or sneak off to the tanning bed for a few minutes. AH-mazing! I get overwhelmed and cry sometimes at not being able to get things done. I'm thankful for my hubby that helps in every way he can and goes on the grocery trips to get my list checked off or puts work off to hold Maclaren so I can shower or even just asks if there's anything I need. I'm Lucky.

I have started trying to be OKAY with only getting ONE thing done. Two is awesome, but it is temporary and I need to enjoy these moments. A lot of my day is changing diapers, taking a toddler to the potty, nursing, making breakfast, lunch and dinner, washing clothes that got poop on them, nursing again, reading books and putting kiddos down for naps, singing and trying to put up things with one arm only to find them out again a few minutes or hours later, running the dishwasher, etc, etc PHEW! 

Being a mom is a hard job! And you don't even get paid! It is the most selfless, frustrating, amazing, wonderful, confusing, rewarding things I've ever experienced. I love every moment... even the ones I'm throwing Kinsley in the tub while sitting on the floor nursing a babe, closing my eyes and letting tears run down my face thinking I can't do it, or I did it wrong, or I could have been better. 

When Kinsley tells me I'll always be her friend, or hugs me when I apologize for getting upset with her, or just wants ME I can't help but thank God for this gift. The beauty of unconditional love. A picture perfect scenario. Grace. Mercy. Love. 

Macaroni Grill Copy Cat Salad

I make 2 pieces of chicken and 1/2c ratio with the glaze once and it lasts 4-5 days. Quick and easy way to get a healthy meal in with one arm ;)

preheat oven 350 degrees

Chicken "crust"-

blend 1 slice whole wheat bread

2 tbsp parmesan (more or less)

sprinkle pepper and seasonings of choice (i did dried basil)

chicken-

mix 1 tbsp melted butter and Marie's parmesan yogurt dressing and a pinch of ranch dressing packet in bowl

drizzle over chicken

toss with "crust" until well coated

cook 35-40mins

Balsamic Glaze-

1 to 1 ratio balsamic and brown sugar

heat in sauce pan at medium until boiling, stirring frequently until sugar melts

turn to low and simmer 20min

Shake lettuce with dressing, top with cut pieces of chicken, parmesan, and drizzle balsamic glaze-- ENJOY!

4 weeks

-Laughs in her sleep
- kicks her legs
- sleeps  with left arm straight out, arms over head, or squeezed in close to her chest
- longest sleep stretch at night- 4.5hrs
- sleeps in bassinet by our bed-- i never get out of bed at night
- no particular feeding schedule- nurses every 1-4hrs
- normally naps good from 3-5 and 7-9... i can normally sneak out of the house if I need to between then
- has had a couple baths and hates them
- newborn clothes.. but some are getting short on the arms and legs
- blue eyes still
- loves to snuggle
- kins is "buttercup" and Maclaren is "sugar muffin"

mom updates-
122lbs (down about 22, 13 to go)
nursing doesn't hurt as much/ at all now)
not a fan of the feeling of milk coming in
we've been to target and harris teeter..im scared to go anywhere my carrier won't fit in a cart
2 weeks til 6 week appt and clearance for exercise though I started doing a little
getting out for a quick trip to the tanning salon has made me feel so good

11/21-11/28 Week 3

11/23- Belly button officially fell all the way off... thank goodness

She's had 2 baths and a couple hair washes... she is NOT a fan of baths. I got a warm sponge to put inside the little pink tub and it looks super warm and cozy plus I bring the portable heater into the bathroom, but apparently she is just not into it.

11/25- Kinsley started nursing her dolls
-I'm still nervous to leave the house with 2 kids. You really have to plan out where your going to go and how you are going to get 2 kids inside the store and get all of your stuff. I need to go to hobby lobby to get some things to make some DIY christmas gifts but my carrier is too big for the cart, and if I put Maclaren in the sling or wrap I won't be able to pick up Kins and put her in the buggy... dilemma. You really have to plan these things out. So I just stay home.

- I taught Kins about Daniel in the lions den today. I've been telling her short Bible stories at night and today we watched a cartoon movie on you tube and then colored a picture about him. It felt like a fun home-school day today and I loved every minute. It made me think of how it would be to plan lessons for her and have more of a routine for the day (snack time, music time, video, lunch, nap time, etc)

Christmas List

10 Wishes (in no particular order)

1. be a full time photographer and mom
2. move to a bigger house with a playroom and lots of windows- we toured one i LOVED but the neighborhood ran out of lots :/
3. dedicated time to work and a place for it... ideally i'd like a playroom where a family member or babysitter can watch the girls for a couple hours in our home and a separate area where I can work just for a couple hours
4. my sister and her husband to move to charlotte... or in my neighborhood
5. my parents to live closer
6. pre-pregnancy body back
7. small group and community of christian friends- growing with my husband in the Lord
8. go to a pilates studio
9. to be more of a homemaker- keeping it clean, making meals, teaching my girls to do the same
10. contentment

Some of these things might be more of new years resolutions so you may see them again when I make that list too ha

2 weeks post-partum

2 weeks after maclaren

2 weeks after kinsley

I feel good until I put on pre-pregnancy clothes. I think I'll stick to leggings and comfy shirts- like this one from target- for a while.

Everything feels like it's healing, but when I go out of the house I feel like I've ran a marathon when I get home. I still take the prescribed pain meds maybe once every other day or 2.

142lbs ending pregnancy weight... 2 weeks after, 124lbs.
I like looking back at last pregnancy and compare.
Diet right now- salads, whole wheat, low carb in the afternoon, no "desserts" except cappuccino, hot chocolate. I'm not too strict right now, so if you offer something and I accept, don't hold it against me just yet ;)

Kinsley is 2 1/2

fav book: going on a bear hunt

new sayings: know what i mean?, Grayson Porter, just a second, i love to help

nicknames: buttercup, snuggle head

fav songs: amazing grace, wish you a merry christmas (only the figgy pudding part), baby bunting, Jesus loves me

fav things to do: baths, watch bubble guppies, tell stories, go on walks, dates with daddy

Attached to green blankie and buh

*Always does stinkies on the potty-- still working on all the peepees

*she tried to nurse her baby doll today

*naps 3-5pm

*bedtime routine starts at 7:30 (brush teeth, potty, jambes, books with mommy, say "ohhh tooodles" for daddy to come in, kiss Maclaren, then songs and time with daddy... reads until she goes to bed)

Dear Kinsley,

We love you SO much first born daughter! You make us laugh and smile and anytime we're away there's a part of me missing. I love being your mommy! Every bad mood can be cured with a bubble bath. You are a big helper and a great big sister! You are a nurturer and you have a sensitive heart. We have never spanked you and have only put you in "time out" once. You're a good listener and normally cooperate by the time mommy counts to 2. You are really outgoing until you meet a stranger or when we get around other people at first. I can't imagine life without you and I'm so thankful for you!

Love, Mommy

First Days- Maclaren

Thurs- 11/7-Birthday

-Born at 5:08am- 7lbs 5 oz, 20 in long- brown hair and dark gray blue eyes

- We definitely didn't sleep the night before or any that day for the most part

- Mid morning we got moved to mom and baby recovery- a different room on the 4th floor

- Late morning the Porters (Grammy and Poppy) brought Kinsley and the Boones (Shuggy and Papa John) all came to visit Maclaren.
-Later that afternoon Sarah Hurst came to visit.

Fri 11/8 1 day old

- went home from hospital at 11:30am!

                      - Lauren and Ansley came to visit and brought Maclaren a sweet little rattle and organic                    onesie

- Shuggy brought Kinsley back home and Subway for Lunch

- we tried to all lay down for a nap, but only Maclaren and I got some sleep

- Mawmaw and Pawpaw Porter came during the nap and brought pink roses, fruit, and a chick-fil-a nugget tray!

                       - I think I got about 6 hours of sleep that night-- waking up just for feeding and diaper change

Sat 11/9 2 days old

- Kins and I took a lot of pics of her- her room is now a mess
- i took a long great shower
-Kinsley started having some tantrums probably due to Mom's focus on baby and inability to hold her
-Kins, Maclaren and I all took a nap 3-5
- Papa John and Shuggy brought dinner and watched Maclaren while we loved on Kins and ate at the table
-we switched night time routine to mom does books, dad holds her and sings songs
-Maclaren smiled for the first time

Sun 11/10 3 days old
- we watched dora's big sister movie with kins and spent more time giving her individual attention
- daddy took her on a special date to yogurt and starbucks-- mom got a treat too
- we cleaned and i got some grading done
- 3 girls took a nap 3-5
-mawmaw snider, aunt donna & uncle trip, grammy & poppy, and kenan all stopped by
- aunt donna & uncle trip brought dinner from panera--plus gifts (an ornament for kins and M, a candle, and bath & body works spray)

Monday 11/11 4 days old
- Gray flew out of town til Thursday

Tuesday 11/12 5 days old
-First Dr. appt and lactation appt. She was not only back to birth weight, but surpassed it! Now weighing 7.9lbs. She drank almost 3 oz.

-We went on our first outing to Target. Shug took Kins while I had Maclaren in the sling.

-Hard work!

Wednesday 11/13 6 days old
-Lauren brought dinner. Ansley and Kinsley had a blast playing with each other.

iphone pics:

Meet Maclaren Rose- Her Birthday

I was scheduled to go into the hospital to start the induction process 1 week over due on Nov. 7th. We went to dinner for a "last meal" pre-baby and pre-no food induction rule at Macaroni Grill. I had been having some contractions that day that weren't too painful but just uncomfortable. I didn't have any contractions that I couldn't bear with Kinsley, so I wasn't quite sure of what I was feeling. I just assumed I would know when the time came.

Well, the time came around 8pm. We had just gotten home from dropping off Kinsley at Grammy and Poppy's house. I started packing my hospital bag knowing that I didn't have too much time and I didn't think I could wait until the morning. I had no idea what to wait for or when to call. So I turned to google and started texting some friends about when I should call. I started timing my contractions and they were about 3-4 mins apart and getting stronger...sometimes hard to breathe. The phone call led to them telling me to come on in.

We had no idea where "come on in" meant. The doors to the part my OBGYN is connected to was closed and the only thing open with lights on was the ER. So we headed that way. My contractions came and went and I was pretty calm and still wanted to walk. This other lady came in behind me pretty much screaming. I think everyone thought I was going to be sent home.

As soon as I got set up in the room, the Dr. came in and wanted to break my water. I wanted the epidural first. That took FOREVER to wait on. My contractions got so painful I was in tears. I didn't think I could do it. I have NO IDEA how people go without it. Maybe if they have a quick labor? I was about 7cm by the time I got my water broke and the last 3cm seemed to take FOREVER. 

We arrived at 10pm to the ER and stayed up the whole night waiting for miss Maclaren to enter the world. Finally, at 5:08am, Maclaren Rose was born 7lbs 5oz, 20 in long, crying loud and already suckling. She has dark blue-gray eyes and brown hair. 

Last time, with Kins, I was excited they saw hair... this time I was excited that my stomach felt "SO much better" haha. 

I'm already obsessed with this little girl. 

Here are the i-phone pics:

 Welcome to the Porter family Maclaren!

Her newborn pics I did can be viewed HERE.

We are having family photos taken next weekend so we will be sure to post those as well!