McKinley Jane: One Month Old

Getting out around the neighborhood in our new double stroller. Kinley loves to take it all in. It is pretty fun to watch her face as she sees birds, trees, and clouds for the first time.

McKinley's Newborn Photos

Last week we headed to JC Penny to get some newborn pictures taken during the "sleepy baby" stage.  Here are some of my favorites:

Wearing a headband made by our friend Lisa Jean.

Kinley loves keeping her hands near her face.

Wearing a headband made by our friend Emily

I love that tongue!

McKinley is laying on a blanket that Great Grandma Orr started knitting and Auntie Lorraine finished.

This is the necklace that I wore to all of my embryo transfers in honor of my sweet Snowflake Babies.

One of my favorite newborn outfits is this jean jumper with cherries - cute full body shot but Kinley isn't happy about the flash!

McKinley's First Visitors

We have been so blessed to have so many visitors over the last few weeks.  It has been fun to introduce McKinley to her family, neighbors, and friends.  Many of them so generously brought food over to us and special gifts of love.  We are so thankful for the thoughtfulness of our friends and family.  We didn't get pictures of everyone but here are a few of McKinley's first visitors!

One of my students and his mom

Auntie Kathryn

Another student and her mom

Cousin Jack

Auntie Lindsay

Grandma

Emily

Grandpa

Ginny

McKinley Jane: Three Weeks Old

We love our McMunchkin!!!

McKinley Jane: Two Weeks Old

Two weeks already!

 Last Friday McKinley Jane already turned two weeks old!  While we are all very tired McKinley is starting to feel more and more like a permanent part of our life and our daily routine.  She is a good sleeper and only cries when she is hungry.  She has still been slow to gain her birth weight back so both the pediatrician and the lactation consultant have been having us supplement her diet with newborn formula.  The good news is my milk supply does seem to be keeping up for the most part and once McKinley is able to eat more efficiently we will be able to drop the formula.  As of Friday she weighed 7 pounds 2 ounces so she is only three ounces away from reaching her birth weight. 

Look at those baby blues!

Kinley loves to suck her fingers.

The Ugly Side of Week Two:
I had a little setback this week when I had a pretty bad allergic reaction to fenugreek (which I took to increase my milk supply).  I broke out in hives, began to itch like crazy, and my eyes began to swell and turn puffy red.  In addition to being tired and recovering for surgery this was NOT fun!  I am trying to get used to not having a perfectly clean and organized home environment.  There are often piles of laundry to be washed or folded, dirty dishes in the sink, and unmade beds.  It is hard for me to relax when things are left undone around the house but on days when I am exhausted I have to just let it go.  On days when I have help I am able to get some chores done and it feels good!

How we spend lots of our time...in bed getting small tasks done between feedings while Lena is very closely watching.

Lots of laundry to do...

Hives

Swollen eyes

The Fun Side of Week Two:
We were able to get McKinley's newborn photos taken at our local JC Penny.  I just wanted to get it done quickly for a reasonable price.  While the photos weren't perfect I loved how most of them turned out and they served the purpose of capturing this special time at the beginning of Kinley's life.  We also had lots of visitors during week two!  Kinley was able to meet lots of her friends, cousins, aunties and uncles for the first time.  It was fun to introduce her to everyone.  We also were able to go out for my belated birthday lunch as a family of four for the first time.  McKinley slept through the whole meal so it was fairly peaceful.  Lastly my Mom came out to help for a few days while Dan went back to work.  It was so wonderful to have company, have someone to visit with Lena, and also someone to help with the daily chores. 

My Mom took this picture when she came to help.  I am happy but tired.

Lena has been adjusting okay to being a big sister.  She still loves to smother her baby sister with touches and kisses and the first thing she asks about when she wakes up in the morning is baby sister.  Since Kinley sleeps much of the day Lena gets especially excited when she is awake and declares, "Eyes open!  Baby's eyes open!!!".  It has been hard for me to divide my attention unevenly these past few weeks.  I don't like having to put Lena's needs second to Kinley's and I am so thankful for the days when Dan is home and can spend some extra special time with Lena.  I love my special girls!