Dear Kiley... One Month

Dear Kiley, 

I can't believe that it's already been an entire month since you were born.

Your birth went exactly according to plan — the surgery played out just like we expected, my recovery has gone even better than we could have hoped, and you have been a perfect little angel from the moment we first set eyes on you.

I have always dreamed about my life as a family of four, and now that you're here it's finally a reality.

We brought you home after spending just two nights in the hospital, but we were ready to start adjusting to life on our own. We are very lucky, because Daddy gets to take eight whole weeks off of work to be home with us!



First car ride, headed home from the hospital... 



For the first 24 hours or so, Nana was also here with us to help us get settled, which was great because it was quite a shock to your big brother Ryder to have to share Mommy with you.

Ryder sure does love his baby sister, though. 







Normally Ryder spends a couple days a week with our nanny, but since she had a pre-planned vacation this month, that meant we spent the first few weeks at home with just the four of us. It was a little bit like getting thrown into the deep end of the pool, but we are all getting the hang of things quickly.

You have been such an easy baby so far!

By the time we went to the doctor for your two-week checkup you had already exceeded your birth weight by ten percent. Not surprising, because you have been a breast feeding champion and we've had virtually no problems in that area. For the first couple weeks of your life you were pretty content to just eat, sleep, poop, and repeat, with just short periods of alertness in between. And even though it seemed like you slept most of the day, you still didn't have any problems at night. I usually feed you when we go to bed around ten or eleven, and then you typically only wake up once or twice between then and 6 a.m. for a quick feed and diaper change before going right back to sleep. I knew all babies weren't such difficult sleepers like your brother!

Due to unfortunate circumstances, we took you on your first overnight visit to Nana and Papa's house when you were only two weeks old to attend your Great Grandma's funeral. I am still so incredibly heartbroken that you two will never get to meet each other. She was such a wonderful person and would have loved and spoiled you so very much. The visit did allow you to meet quite a few of your relatives though, which was nice, and your beautiful, sweet little face was a welcome distraction during such a sad occasion.

Kiley and Great Grandma Sally.

Kiley and Ryder with cousins Sophia and Aubrey.

Back at home, we've also had lots of visitors, who have all come with their arms full of yummy food for us and generous gifts for you.

Kiley and Papa.

Brett and Haley came to visit with sweet baby Jane.

We know that the two of you are destined to be the best of friends.

Grandpa and Patty also came to spend a few days with you and Ryder.

Kiley and Aunt Cailin.

Surprisingly, I've felt incredibly calm and confident in my abilities to care for two children at once. So much so that I've encouraged Daddy to go snowboarding a couple times, and I even took you both on a second overnight visit to Nana and Papa's house (over an hour's drive away) all by myself.

Couch cuddles with Papa.

First few days home from the hospital, marveling at the fact that we have TWO children.

Nap time for the WIN! I got both you and Ryder down to sleep all by myself while Daddy was gone snowboarding.

Daddy and I both try to give you and Ryder each some special time every single day. We both love to cuddle with you and love it when you fall asleep and take naps on our chest. I call you "Little Squishy" and Ryder still calls you Baby Sister or "Ki-wee" because he struggles a little bit with pronouncing the letter L.















A few nights after we brought you home, Ryder decided that he was done sleeping in our bed, and began sleeping in his Big Boy Room. We were simultaneously ecstatic and a little sad that our baby boy had decided to take such a grown up step. We are also wondering if potty training will follow...

All cuddled up with Big Brother for nap time in his Big Boy Room.

And yes, other things besides sleep have been going on at our house...

You are still in newborn sized diapers but will transition into size one soon. At about three weeks old you outgrew newborn sized clothes and are currently in 0-3 month sizes. Also at about three weeks you began to get quite a bit fussier, especially in the mornings — we think it's probably a growth spurt. So far you hate pacifiers and seriously dislike bottles, despite our best attempts at both. Of course you prefer being held and cuddled to anything else, but you also like a couple small, vibrating chairs we have for you, and sleep swaddled, flat on your back in your bassinet each night. So far you don't seem to love your swing or rock 'n' play, but we think that might change in time.

One of the few times that you tolerated a pacifier for more than a few seconds.

Daddy trying a bottle for the first time. You weren't a fan...

Your favorite cozy vibrating chair.

The bassinet where you sleep next to our bed.

Daddy's magic hold that always manages to calm you down and soothe you.

You still have all of the soft, dark hair that you were born with. Your eyes are deep, dark blue and they become more and more alert every day. Just a couple days ago, in the middle of the night, you looked up at Daddy after a diaper change and have him a huge, beautiful grin — your first smile.



We've already celebrated one holiday since you were born — Valentine's Day!



Big Brother Ryder made valentines for the whole family, it was so sweet!



You had your first bath, and we've learned that bath night with two children is a new adventure in time management and multitasking. 





We love you so incredibly much that sometimes it feels like my heart will burst. We are trying to soak up every special moment with you... 

Don't grow up too fast, my darling!

For a fun comparison, click here to read about Ryder's First Month.

Kiley's Nursery Reveal

When it came to creating a nursery for baby Kiley, I wanted to make something extra special for her.

Since Ryder had moved into his Big Boy Room, his vacated nursery was ready for a renovation.

I decided to keep the existing gray and white base colors and add some pretty, baby-pink accents to make it look sweet and girly for little Kiley.

Does it seem like a pretty, cozy place for her to grow up? 

You may not be able to tell at first glance, but the room is filled with love.

Quilts, blankets, and burp rags made by Kiley's great grandmothers, grandmothers, aunts, and good friends. Super soft, cuddly stuffed animals given for her to cuddle. A shelf full of books that have been read and chewed on by Big Brother Ryder. A night light that shined in my own room when I was a child. A special clock from an amazing little workshop in Rome that Stew and I visited before we were even engaged. Even the stylish headbands were made by a dear friend. And every detail was painstakingly thought out and orchestrated by Mom and Dad — glass drawer pulls, matching pink curtains and lamp shades, a sparkly chandelier, and name letters that I painstakingly painted by hand.

We sure hope that you love it, sweet baby girl!

Kiley's Birth Story

"A newborn baby . . . is without question the most phenomenal, the most astonishing, the most absolutely unparalleled thing that has yet occurred in the entire history of this planet."

My aunt found this quote bookmarked in a book that my grandma was reading before she passed away. It is absolutely true.

We are so unbelievably in love with our daughter.

Kiley Patricia's Birth Story

Due to complications related to Ryder's birth, we had a cesarean delivery scheduled for Kiley at exactly 39 weeks. It did feel a little odd to essentially "choose" her birth date, but after weighing the pros and cons of all of our options, we knew it was the safest choice for both me and baby. 

It was actually really nice to know exactly what to expect this time around. We were able to mentally and physically prepare as much as possible, including arranging childcare for Ryder, which provided me with a huge amount of peace of mind. 

The day before our scheduled delivery date, Stew and I dropped Ryder off with the nanny so that we could spend a little bit of quality time together before our lives changed forever. After a quick doctor visit for some pre-surgical blood work, we had breakfast together at a delicious local cafe, followed by relaxing pedicures.

Our parents arrived a little later that day to help us get settled in and ready for a super early check in at the hospital the next morning. I made sure to give my sweet little firstborn son some extra special cuddles that night as we spent our last few moments together as a family of three.

Y'all... a planned, scheduled c-section is SO different than an emergency one!

At promptly 5 a.m. we arrived at the hospital and were led calmly into a surgical prep room, where I changed into a gown and was hooked up to a monitor and given an IV. For the next two hours, the nurses simply monitored me and baby while the surgical team prepped. It was nice and relaxing... Stew and I chatted, browsed social media, and checked in at home to make sure Ryder was deposited safely with the nanny for the day.

Then, right on schedule at exactly 7 a.m. my mom kissed me goodbye and we headed into surgery. I walked myself into the operating room and climbed up onto the table myself. Then a spinal block was administered through an injection into my spine, I swung my legs up onto the table, and about 15 seconds later I was completely numb from the chest down.

There was no turning back now.

It was vaguely horrifying and terrifying to lay naked on the table, completely numb, surrounded by virtual strangers, knowing that I was about to be gutted like a fish. However, I tried to clear my mind and focus calmly on the impending arrival of our sweet baby girl, who we would meet for the first time in a matter of minutes. I gripped Stew's hand firmly and tried to focus only on his steady gaze.

Less than an hour later, we heard the first mewling cries of our daughter.

Kiley Patricia was born on February 10, 2017 at 7:58 in the morning. She was a perfect 8 pounds, 6 ounces and 21 inches long. 

As soon as they pulled Kiley out and the cord was cut, they held her up so I could see our sweet baby within seconds of her arrival. Then they took her over to clean her off while the surgical team worked to close me up. Soon after, Stew brought Kiley over and I was able to hold her on my chest until I was all stitched up. She had stopped crying and we just gazed into each other's eyes... She was so beautiful I just quietly cried and cried tears of joy.

Happy birth day, sweet baby girl!

Afterward, the three of us spent time in the recovery room together. As I waited to regain feeling in my legs, Kiley and I cuddled skin-to-skin and tried breast feeding for the first time. The girl is a pro! 

Since I was feeling pretty good and Kiley was doing great, our parents were able to come in to the recovery room to meet their little granddaughter for the first time.

After a few hours in the surgical recovery room, we were moved to a postpartum hospital room for the remainder of our stay. Once again, Swedish Medical Center exceeded our expectations, and I can't say enough good things about the facility and staff members.

I also can't stress enough how different my scheduled c-section was compared to my emergency one. Everything went exactly as planned and Stew and I were completely happy with our choice. Apart from my IV starting to hurt and needing to be redone during the surgery, and some radiant pain in my right shoulder, the procedure went perfectly. Within hours I had regained feeling in my legs, and I was totally alert and aware with virtually no pain. Granted, I was still on IV narcotics at this point, but still — I was feeling great and loving life getting to know our sweet daughter.

Ryder came to visit each day, and it was so sweet watching him get to know Baby Sister Kiley.

At one point shortly after Kiley was born, I remember telling Stew, "We did it... we made a family!"

I do feel pretty proud about everything we've accomplished so far during our almost ten years together. Stewart, Ryder, and Kiley are the most important people in my entire world, and they complete my soul in a way that no one and nothing else ever could.

"To live will be an awfully big adventure."