June Update

Well, Kennedy Rae McKay joined us 13 days early! I plan to blog about her birth story in detail later this week so stay tuned for that if you're interested. Today is officially two weeks with her and I've never been more thankful yet tired and emotional all at the same time. We love her so much already and can't believe we are actual parents of this beautiful girl!

Baby blues is definitely a thing, and I'm not afraid to admit that it's been very hard but every day is a NEW DAY. I'm thankful for maternity leave and that Heath is on summer break because we are given more time than normal to figure out our routine as a new family of four (I'm including Chief - yes, I still love him). I'm so thankful for my tribe of mom friends who have traveled this road before / are traveling this road right now, and also very thankful for my non-mom friends encouraging me and listening to me at all hours of the night. My friend Claire asked me recently what my highs and lows were so far. I've been thinking about it more so I thought I'd share with you, too:

HIGHs: 

• I love seeing Heath with Kennedy. He instantly fell in love with her and watching him with her is the sweetest thing. We've never been newborn/baby people prior to this (clearly we are now), so it's been great to see a new side of him with her. 
• I also love the kind of caretaker Heath is for me during this pregnancy recovery. (If you think the labor and child birth is the worst part, think again and read this.) He is calm and comforting and consoles me on nights when I just WANT TO SLEEP! Sometimes he says nothing at all, but is present, which is the best thing. 
• It's so true about motherly instincts you naturally have when you think you don't have any. I just started picking up on stuff and listening to cry cues as if I've done this before. How amazing that our bodies are designed to carry and handle all this!
• I'm bias, but I think Kennedy is the cutest thing and is a great mix of the both of us (clearly). Yes, she has jet black hair and oval eyes like me so everyone automatically thinks she looks like me the most but she really does have some of Heath in her too if you stare at her long enough (which I do a lot now on maternity leave).

LOWs:

• Well the obvious is a new sleep schedule :) 
• I'm also trying my hand at breastfeeding and it's going well so far, but it is DRAINING. Personally, it's more the mental and emotional aspect of it than the actual physical act of nursing. It's teaching me A LOT of sacrifice and patience. 
• Pregnancy recovery.... Y'all - I know it's just a stage I'm in right now, but how in the world do people decide to have more children after going through this? I’m being dramatic, I know. This too shall pass!!!
• I cry a lot more now!

Now back to the June update! Enjoy pictures from the month as well as photos of her nursery. We had no idea she was going to join us so early, but we are thankful for the extra time together in the summer before Heath goes back to school.

Taking advantage of our last month together with June date nights

My grandma turned 86!

Chief doesn't know why we spend so much time in Kennedy's room

Thought the changing pad was his new bed

Nevaeh stayed with us a few nights

Chief loves to cuddle!

Date night before our babies get here! (Marshall was born June 20, Kennedy was born June 25 and Knox was born July 5)

Froyo date with one of my faves

Chicken enchiladas from the new cookbook. Not healthy, but so good.

My favorite dog turned 2!!!!

Hobby Lobby wished him a happy birthday, too :)

Made him a cupcake

Snuggles with sister

Dessert date with Zaria and Audrey!

And when your birthday falls 4 days after your dog, you also get the same setup - HA. Heath turned 30 this month :)

Getting a little sun with my sidekick

Heath's best man speech

Forever the baby

We hosted a Donuts & Diapers drizzle (Claire's third babe!)

Can't wait to meet Baby Peters in August!

Sorry these are out of order, but Heath and I tried a new place (to us) in Bedford called Bun n Pita and LOVE it. Can't wait to go back. Thanks to Yelp for the find.

Because I'm crazy (and the doc said it was OK), I went to OKC with Heath at 38 weeks for a wedding - such a beautiful wedding for some beautiful people!

Best date

So good to see family!

Out of order..... but a group pic.

I love these mamas

Matching in floral dresses :)

Good lookin' McKay guys

We also surprised Jess for an early birthday dinner before she had Marshall!!! So crazy because she actually went into labor this night... must've been this amazing dessert

Had dinner at my sisters and got to love on our niece Baby G

K Rae's closet. I got these hanger dividers of sizes as a shower gift that I LOVE so I can separate her hanging clothes by months.

Her crib has been nice storage for her Dock a Tot, Boppy and decorative pillows LOL

And here we are about to leave for the hospital.... our last pic as a family of three. Next time we came home, we brought #4 with us!

And here we go at 10am in the morning on June 25th.... the start of an unexpected and full day of labor.

I'll post about her birth story sometime this week. Thank you Jesus for new life, modern medicine and cherry icees on the hospital's clear liquid diet menu.

Until next time,