HAIR

I am always looking for someone to cut my hair. In AZ I had a wonderful lady who did it for several years (until she had twins boys...) In TX I have found a lady who does a a pretty good job, but it took me 9 months to be brave enough to go to her! I am sure all of you woman understand how hard it is to change hair stylists :-)! BUT, if any one in Arizona is looking for a new stylist or just doesn't know where to go.... Check out my great friend Brittany's hair care blog http://www.brittanyshaircare.blogspot.com/ I am sad I don't live closer so that she could cut my hair because she does any amazing job! Both of my sisters just had their hair cut by her and they turned out ADORABLE!!! You can see pictures on her blog of some of her work. Also you should know that while in school she got first place in the Vidal Sassoon competition (or whatever they call it). I am sure if you go to her you will love it!

Again check out her blog at

http://www.brittanyshaircare.blogspot.com/

The Thoughts of a First Time Mom....

I wish that there was SOMETHING that could fully prepare a woman for the wonderful experience of becoming a mother. I was a nanny and also spent many hours with my nieces, but not even those experiences prepared me 100% for becoming a mother! The past three weeks have been amazing! I have discovered many things about myself as a wife and mother. But, even though I have learned that I can do a lot, I have also discovered that I can't do EVERYTHING! At times it has been so frustrating that the laundry isn't folded, the desk is a disaster, the hospital bags are still not unpacked and who knows when I will have time to accomplish any of those tasks! Last week I was so frustrated that I couldn't manage my normal life/duties and a baby. I was giving Mckenna a bath and I finally broke down. Jeff was so sweet and gave me the best advice- He told me that never again will I have a 2 1/2 week old Mckenna and told me that I should enjoy every minute with her now instead of worrying about what is getting done and what isn't getting done! I realized then that I was so frustrated and worried about what wasn't getting done that I wasn't taking the time to enjoy every moment that I could with my new little baby. From that moment on I have taken every minute that I can to enjoy Mckenna. Now I savor each moment that I get to spend with her instead worrying when I will be able to put her down for a nap in order to fold some clothes! That little piece of advice has helped me to enjoy being a mom even more. It hasn't solved all of my problems because no matter what the laundry and dishes need to be done, BUT I no longer stress that things are not getting done! That one piece of advice has become the little thing I needed to know in order to be a better mom. I love holding Mckenna and even miss her when it is Jeff's turn to wake up with her and I stay asleep. I love her little smiles (even if they are just gas...) and all of her silly baby noises. I love to watch her sleep and love having her close to me! Becoming a mom has been the best experience and I am so grateful for this opportunity that I have been given to have Mckenna in our family!

So all of my wonderful friends who are getting ready to have their own baby- Take Jeff's advice! Enjoy every second you get to spend with your little one and when you are able to spend that precious time don't sit and wish that you were doing something else (even if it REALLY needs to be done).

*** But for some reassurance... it does get easier right? haha! Will I eventually be able to get things done???

Thriving

On Monday we took Mckenna to the pediatrician for her two week appointment. They weighed and measured her again AND we were shocked when the nurse told us that she grew an inch (she is now 21 inches long) and she weighed 9 lbs. 12 oz.- that means she gained 1 lb 6 oz between her two appointments!!!! We couldn't believe it! She is getting so big. The doctor came in and said "Well by her weight gain we know that she is thriving!" That is what every parent loves to hear, right? Besides gaining lots of weight and eating a TON- Mckenna is doing great! She is sleeping pretty well at night. She will sleep for about 6 hours atleast once in the night and we are loving that! She also is getting so strong and loves her tummy time on the floor! We really love having Mckenna home with us!!!!

We are really adjusting to life as parents. It is amazing how difficult it is to have a baby and get things done like we used too! I never thought it would be as hard as it is, but I am so glad I have Jeff around. And you will never guess how many times Mckenna went to Target before she wad 2 weeks old--- 6 times!!!! Yikes, we go there a lot :-)!!! It is a one stop shop for us though, so it makes us only have to go to one store with her instead of 2 or 3 stores! Anyway, when we do something fun or exciting I will post something else- but for now all of the excitement in our lives is MCKENNA!

Lots to Blog

Mckenna is sleeping and I am trying to stay awake for a little longer, so I thought I would blog! There are lots and lots of pictures- enjoy! She is getting so big. At her doctors appointment on Monday she weighed 8 lbs. 6 oz. and has rolls on her arms and legs!!! The bilirubin is getting much better. She has beautiful pink skin again and the whites of her eyes are turning back to white (instead of yellow). Now that we don't have to wake her up to eat every 2 hours, night time is way better! Last night she slept for 4 hours and then again for another 6 before she woke up to eat- WOOHOOO! It was wonderful! I hope tonight is another good night! Being a mom is so great and I love watching Jeff be such a wonderful dad!

We Love Grandma!

My mom was able to come out after Mckenna was born! We LOVED having her here and she was the biggest help! I don't know how we would have made it through the first week without her or Jana!

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!!!!!

DaDdY TiMe

Mckenna loves her daddy snuggles!

I love this happy face!

Funny Faces

The many faces of Mckenna Grace Jones!
(Isn't she adorably chubby?)

SUN BATHING

The day after Mckenna was born we found out that her bilirubin levels were high. Because of that we had to start feeding her every two hours and had to start supplementing with formula. She was doing pretty good, but the levels kept going up. She even had to go back to the hospital for another lab test on Friday (after being discharged). In order to help her levels go down we had to put her in the sun light! So, at 3 days old she was sun bathing for the very first time! She looks so cute in her bouncer all naked! She is so chunky :-) We love her!

Coming Home!

Last Thursday we got to come home from the hospital! It was a little scary, but super exciting to be home! I love being home with Jeff and Mckenna AND I really love being a mom! It is so great!!!! Here are some pictures from our adventure!

The first time in the car seat! She was a good sport while we figured out exactly what size the straps needed to be!

The first drive and it was wonderful- Mckenna didn't even make a peep!

When we pulled up to our house this is what we found! Jana, Chad and their 4 kids had decorated our front yard with tons of pink balloons and signs! It was so fun to pull up and see all the decorations! Thanks Holmes family!

Mckenna and Daddy

WELCOME HOME!!!!!

This is the first outfit we bought for Mckenna after we found out she was a girl! We decided it was appropriate for her to wear it for her first real outfit! I love the hearts on the bottom of her feet!

Beautiful Baby

My great friend Jenni (and her husband Mason) took some amazing pictures of Mckenna yesterday when they came to visit! She was awake and alert the whole time they were here, so that made for even better pictures!!!

For a little update- we are doing great being home! It feels really nice to just be relaxed in your own house. My sister-in-law, Jana, is absolutely amazing. She has been her so much helping with Mckenna while Jeff and I sleep!!! It is has been great! Mckenna's bilirubin has been high since they first measured it at 24 hours and because of that we have to feed her every 2 hours. That has been rough, but we are supplementing with a bottle, so Jeff has been able to help in order for me to sleep sometime! We are soooo happy to have Mckenna here with us!!!!! We love her so much!

Mckenna Grace Jones

I was going to let Cara write, but that will have to come later. But the title should give it away, we decided on a name: Mckenna Grace Jones.

We had a couple of names we liked and we were just deciding which one fit her little snuggly, squirmy personality.

Mckenna and Cara are both doing great. We should be in the hospital until tomorrow or Friday depending on how Cara is feeling. We are super excited and grateful that everything has gone so smoothly. Thank you all for your support, prayers, messages, and phone calls.

Here are some more great photos.




.

To clarify

Baby Jones was born last night at 7:21, not 45 minutes ago. Those pictures are from 8pm last night.

45 minutes old

She is...

8 lbs

20 inches

Beautiful

Half Way There....We hope

Well, nothing too exciting so far, except that Cara had her epidural and is loving life. We're about half through though I think, and ever since the epidural Cara has been sleeping like this:




I took this with my cell, she has been snuggling with her green body pillow. She has slept right through some huge contractions, which before was completely impossible.



I'll let Cara post something if she feels like it, then you probably won't hear back until we have pictures of a little baby!

BABY TIME

No news yet. We've been in the hospital since last night when they started the first medication. We waited in the waiting room for four hours before that happened. We played cards and Cody brought us some dinner from Wendy's.

They just started the pitocin and the contractions are under way. It will be awhile before the epidural, but Cara is anxiously awaiting the relief. She dilated only a little past a one, but the first medication softened the cervix quite a bit, so she should be dilating more already.
Hopefully this is the last pregnancy picture:

The final PREGNANCY update...

So, last Thursday at my doctors appointment the doctor gave me all the info. for the induction. I was really hoping all week that I would just have her (because I was have TONS of contractions), but nothing happened- so I am still being induced. I go in on Monday afternoon to start the first part of the induction. They give me some medicine to start the contractions and dialate me a little and then at 5am on Tuesday morning they are going to start to Pitocin drip. So, hopefully it won't be too long and she will be here by Tuesday late afternoon!

We will definitely keep everyone posted. I told Jeff he will have to do his first post with pictures of her on Tuesday night! And if by some chance I go into labor today or tonight, first of all, that would be AWESOME and second you better check back on our blog more often to get the scoop :-)

Hope everyone is doing well and had a great 4th of July! We had a great week/weekend with all of Jeff's family here, but I will have more posts about that later!!!!