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!