Little Update.

I am currently sitting on the floor – watching my 6 week old – play with her “birdies” (that is what we call her Fisher Price Gym Mat that has a mobile of birdies).  And, I bolded 6 week old  because lets talk about that: how is she already 6 weeks old?! I feel like time is flying and she is growing up insanely fast.  I have 5 more weeks of maternity leave and I just know that time is going to fly right by so I am trying to soak up every moment with this little one. 

and let me tell you – it is getting A LOT better.  We have finally figured out her “schedule” so now we can anticipate her crazy lady meltdowns and we are getting her to sleep much easier.  I also feel like the book “Happiest Baby on the Block” has helped me calm her meltdowns WAY faster.  Who would have thought a little jiggling, swaying side to side, and shhhhhh’ing would work wonders and save my sanity.  And Kyle says the same thing about rocking and a little bit of pacifier action. I don’t want to jinx anything but I think we are finally getting into a grove. Hallelujah. And as much as we love having visitors, the Shanahan Inn is officially closed until October.  There is no room in the inn. And my C-Section infection is SO much better so the stress of not getting back to work in the 12 week time limit is officially gone.

This is the most unflattering picture of me.  Ignore my 4589 chins, but McKenna is such a smiling happy baby!! McKenna is starting to smile more and more everyday and it just melts our heart.  She wakes up in the morning smiling and she smiles when you play peek-a-boo with her onesie when changing her diaper. She smiles on her stroller walks and at the different lights in the house. And of course – she smiles at her birdies because she loves her birdies.  It is just so cute what a happy baby she is.  I cannot wait till she starts giggling and yammering about who knows what.  the developments she makes each week just continue to amaze me and Kyle and I are always excited for her next “milestone”.  …but who knows what is next for her.  We sure don’t know. I don’t want to talk too much about her because then what will I get to blab about in her 2 month update?! Which will be here before you know it!  And I do have some cute things to share about our puppies and her!  *TEASER*

Since I am getting my sanity and life back {when McKenna is not napping on me – which she loves to do} – each week I am setting 3 goals for myself. And these are this weeks goals:

1. Read 100 pages of my book {which basically means: finish it.}
2. Start our Christmas Shopping
3. Get a pedicure

I cannot believe that this is Labor Day weekend.  And it feels weird that Alabama is coming to Atlanta for a football game and I have no plans to see anyone I know coming to town and that we are not going to the game. And that I am not participating in the annual 10k that I do each year {in shape or not}.  We are being so “suburban” and are going furniture shopping and TV shopping to upgrade our living room and outfit Kyle’s man cave with our old furniture.  I know. So exciting. but we are  excited to get 2 more rooms in our house filled with furniture and I am excited to start decorating another room in our house!

But! I gotta run.  Kenna is getting fussy because it is almost time for her 1:00 nap!  But we are alive and surviving and so blessed to have such a good and amazing little baby. We fall in love with her more and more every.single.day.

 

McKenna is 1 month old!

I cannot believe how the time has flown – McKenna is officially 1 month old – and getting bigger by the day.  She loves stroller rides through the neighborhood & on the greenway.  She loves making us walk her in circles around the house so she can see all the sights.  She loves her swing and her gym mat – but is not the biggest fan of tummy time (unless she is on mom’s chest) but it is getting better by the day. She met the neighbors and their big dog (and I think they were more scared/worried than we were).  She has learned to accept her nightly bath time, but I think Kyle has more fun than she does.  I have been pooped on, peed on, and puked on so I think I have been 100% welcomed into motherhood.  but – it has been a wonderful, amazing first month.  She is such a beauty.

Current Stats:
Weight – 11 pounds, 14 ounces
Length -  24 inches
Percentile – 97th Percentile

Long story short: she is still a BIG baby!  but she is healthy and happy and that is all we care about!

I don’t want to say it was a hard 1st month, but it also wasn’t 100% easy.  There were meltdowns (on my part mainly) about her meltdowns and not understanding her cries, breastfeeding issues, fears of being with her alone all day long, her stomach issues, my c-section got infected and of course the lack of sleep. 

Kyle is amazing and has been since day one.  I am so thankful to have such an amazing partner in life, marriage, and parenthood.  I didn’t know it was possible, but the love and respect I have for him today is more than I had for him before McKenna. He amazes me more and more everyday and McKenna is so lucky to have him as a dad. 

Now. I wonder what is in store for us for the next month and what developments & milestones McKenna will hit! 

Meet McKenna Marie

now. this is a long overdue post. but, I have some time as “little” McKenna snoozes to bust out a quick post.

After 41 weeks and 1 day (aka, 8 days late) McKenna Marie Shanahan was born!  …I will spare you the gory details, but lets just say there was nothing “natural” about her birth. We checked into the hospital (after a mini mental breakdown on my part) at 7:00 PM Friday night – I took some pill that night & then again late at night/early morning.  Then the Pitocin started at 6:00 AM.  Then there was some balloon catheter thing (aka a legit torture device).  My water had to be broken. And it all ended in 2.5 - 3 hours of pushing (I say 2.5 – 3 hours because Kyle and I do not see eye to eye on how long I pushed for) with a C-Section.  And, I am not good at math, but I know the whole thing took hours – started Saturday morning at 6:00 AM – C-Section was scheduled for 1:20 on Sunday morning. It was long, but there was an epidural involved so I wasn’t in a world of pain all that time.

But.  All that matters is that McKenna is here – she is healthy and happy and such a good little baby.  I won’t go into those details either because I always seem to jinx myself when I brag about what a good baby she is.  So just believe me.  She is good. And she is beautiful – granted, I have a biased opinion – and everyone says that she resembles Kyle. I would love to compare baby pictures side by side.  Her and me.  Her and Kyle.  but, she is precious and a total gift and we are so very in love with her.

Birthday: July 13, 2014
Weight: 9 pounds, 15 ounces
Length: 22 inches

We are so happy she is here! And we really appreciated the help from my mom and dad over the first few weeks – it was a HUGE help – and I have managed on my own now for 2 days (kinda) and I think we may just make it.  And today marks 3 weeks of maternity leave down – 8 weeks to go.