NOVEMBER CATCH UP!
The last time I wrote I was 9 months pregnant so since then I hosted my first Thanksgiving at our rental house in Idaho Falls. It was really fun to have parts of both sides of my family and Billy's family and some friends from Florida there!
My tables..Recognize the decorations....I knew they would come in handy after my wedding!
Billy cutting the Turkey!
I knew I didn't have much time to get Kenley's room ready before she arrived so even though we were in the rental house waiting for our new house to be done I tried to make it as cute as possible to bring her home too! She is having a cowgirl themed room...I can't wait to really get it decorated when our new house is done being built!
My good friend Ashley threw me a Christmas Themed baby shower! It turned out awesome! I think after 3 showers and lots of presents we are ready for this little girl! I got to spend time with some really good family and friends!
These were the cute invites!
With some of my friends!
My biggest goal before the baby came along was to be completely ready for Christmas! So, I am proud to say that by December 1st I had my tree and decorations up and all my presents wrapped under the tree...
DECEMBER CATCH UP!
The doctor and I agreed that I had enough of this feeling like a fat cow business so he went ahead and induced me on December 9th even though I was due until December 15th. I checked into Mountainview Hospital around 7AM and after getting settled in it took the nursing staff over an hour to get my IV in. After seven pokes and many bruises later they started the pitosin around 9AM. I didn't feel anything but boredom for hours until around 2PM I was feeling crampy enough to have some painkillers in my IV. That made me really sleepy. So, I was in and out of sleep all afternoon.
Pre-labor! Still looking pretty good!
Labor took forever because every time I would get some pretty good contractions worked up Kenley's heartrate would jump from stress so they would have to stop the progress until she calmed down. (Little did we know she was stressing because the cord was wrapped once around her body and tightly around her neck!) Billy was there and my mom and Courtney. My dad, Nanette and Blake all popped in and out throughout the day! Around 5PM they broke my water and by about 7 I asked for another round of painkillers in my IV. Not even 10 minutes later I hit hard labor and was begging for my epidural! Once that was taken care of I felt awesome even though my progress was very slow. I was in and out of sleep all night only waking up when the nurse was checking on me! Finally, at 5AM on December 10th they declared I was ready to push! After a few practice pushes and calling the doctor at home the main event started! I delivered a very healthy 8lb 7oz baby girl on December 10th @ 5:29AM! She was 22 1/2 inches long and was beautiful! I'll throw in some pics below!
This would be the way I looked after 22 hours of labor!
A really proud dad!
On our way home from the hospital!
I decided that I had enough of my long hair...It was getting to be a pain in the neck so when Kenley was 12 days old I had it chopped off. 16 inches GONE! I donated it to Locks for Love! It feels awesome having short hair again!
The same day my good friends Ashley MacKay came over and took Kenley's Newborn pictures when she was 12 days old! Turned out really cute if you ask me!
Some pictures of her the first two weeks home...
(She had Jaundice really bad so when we brought her home she had to be on a Billi light for the first 3 days! She looked like a little firefly!)
Most everyone knows where we came up with Kenley's name... She was named after my grandpa Kenneth Dearden and my Grandma LaJean Dearden. So we now have Kenley Jean. My grandpa was 87 years old and when Kenley was 2 days old he made the trip to the hospital to meet his great grand-daughter. His health went down hill after that and our family believes that he was holding out to meet her. He passed away on Christmas Eve surrounded by his family and I am so grateful Kenley was able to spend the first two weeks of her life around such an amazing person. We will miss you bubblegum! This is the last picture we have of my grandpa before he passed away and the other one is the day I was brought home from the hospital 23 years ago! Any similarities?
Kenley
Katie
Even though the loss of my grandfather was really tough it was so nice to spend Christmas with my family and Billy's family! It was fun getting Kenley a few presents that Billy actually enjoyed opening!
JANUARY CATCH UP!
We spent most of January inside hiding from the cold Idaho winter! We ventured out a couple times to watch Uncle Blake's basketball games. Kenley is Blake's biggest fan!
Billy had to go to Kansas City for some baseball business so Kenley and I headed to Billings to spend time with Grandma Molly and Grandpa Kliff. It was relaxing to have some extra help. Kenley cracked her first little smile on January 15! It was priceless!
She passed out sitting on Uncle Blake's Lap!
We packed up everything and moved our belongings either into a Uhaul trailer to head to Phoenix or into the 2nd garage of our new house! This is the last picture I took of our new house before we left for Phoenix! It should be almost totally done by the time I see it again! I can't wait!
FEBRUARY UPDATE!
My dad gave me a FLIP video for my birthday so I can video Kenley while we are gone and keep the family back in Idaho updated! Here are a few of the videos throughout Feb and March!
We moved to Phoenix on Feb 1st it was Kenley's first plane ride!
We spend our days in the warm weather watching her Dad play baseball! Kenley loves dressing up for her dad's games! She is turning into a big Daddy's Girl!
MARCH UPDATE!
We are still loving the warm Phoenix weather and Spring Training is in full swing! We have had lots of visitors coming to see us and watching Billy's games! Kenley modeled in her first fashion show on March 7th. It was a benefit put on by MLB wives and even Aunt Courtney modeled in it!
Mom and Kenley before fashion show!
On the Runway!
Aunt Courtney!
Even Grandma Bare came to visit! We picked her up at the airport!
In her cool sunglasses wearing her "Don't you wish your daddy could RAKE like mine!?!" Outfit!
We are moving to Kansas City for the summer next week! So, hopefully I will get an update up soon!
