Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Bringing home baby {or babies}- part 1

First I must start out by saying thank you all so very much for your comments and suggestions during our giveaway!! I was so blown away and I simply cannot thank each and everyone of you enough!! And we do have another giveaway in the works!!!

One of the most popular topic suggestions was bringing home baby and the first few weeks at home!
There are differences and similarities to brining home a singleton vs. twins.

Because this post got very long discussing both Kendal and Madison as well as the twins I am splitting it into to parts!

First, let me say when my singletons {Kendal and Madison} were born I was in my 20's {with Kendal I was 25 and Madison I was 27} with the twins I was 34!! So quite a difference - I do think age and experience has a lot to do with what its like to bring your baby home and what the first few weeks are like.

Second, as I've said before what I have to say is simply my opinion and what I have found to work for me.

So brining home Kendal and Madison:

With Kendal being our first everything was scary I think we pretty much questioned ourselves A LOT and by A LOT I mean all the time all day every day. We were lucky to have my mom and sister stay with us for the first week home {Quick side note.. I had a schedule c-section.. all went normal and we were discharged on day 4}. I struggled with breast feeding- I wanted to nurse so bad- however I was in severe pain every single time she nursed, I just thought it was supposed to feel that way so I kept doing it I was also pumping {my supply has never been great}.
Sleeping was ok, I don't think we really had any issues, she would wake and we would feed her. I know I pretty much slept with my glasses on for the first few weeks because I was so afraid something would happen. We bottle fed {pumped milk and formula} at night and I would pump once during the night. During the day was probably my most difficult time- after my mom and sister left and hubby went back to work I felt so lost. I remember knowing I couldn't breast feed any longer because I was in so much pain. I felt like I failed Kendal and I am sure I became depressed. What worked best for me was to have a routine - as soon as we put a routine in place I began to feel better. Our routine was pretty simply, it was really just the normal stuff we did before she was born. Cooking, going for walks, ect. The first few weeks were difficult but I truly believe it was because we were NEW parents and we tried to do everything "by the book" for fear of making a mistake!

Forgive me for the "Photos of Photos" I had to take pictures of the photos in the girls scrapbooks all our digital files are packed away!!

Kendal and Daddy

Kendal moments after she was born
Kendal and my Mom

Kendal and my Sister

Kendal at one month

 Bringing home Madison... this was a pretty different experience from Kendal. For starters Madison did a great job nursing and I wasn't in any pain!! Madison was also a scheduled c-section, but she decided to come a day early! Everything went well, we again had family in town to help with Kendal who was 18 months at the time. We left the hospital on day 4. We had family around to help out for about the first two weeks. This time was different though, first Madison nursed very well so I didn't do a lot of pumping. We did the same thing for night feeds that we did for Kendal. We mostly bottle fed at night because this way hubby could help and I could also get some sleep. The biggest difference between Kendal and Madison at night was that I didn't freak out if she didn't wake every 3 hours to eat. In fact I didn't wake her if she didn't wake on her own... that's right I did not wake her if she didn't wake herself. I of course would wake up, If she was sleeping I simply checked on her and went back to sleep myself. She would almost always wake at the 4 or 4.5 hour mark to eat. She did just fine by us not waking her in fact we all did much better letting her tell us when she was hungry. Kendal was sleeping very well at this time so we didn't have to worry about a toddler and a newborn waking throughout the night. I again felt slightly depressed when family went home and hubby went back to work so I did the same thing I did before.. created a new routine for the three of us during the day and it worked. I nursed Maddy for 3 months and I felt comfortable stopping when I did (I went back to work).

Bringing home an new baby with a toddler already at home brings on its own set of challenges. I was very fortunate to have a very calm and easy going baby. The most important part for me was to keep Kendal entertained while I had to tend to the baby. She watched baby Einstein, Sesame Street, and Disney movies {Yes, I let my 18 month old watch TV}. When Maddy was sleeping I made sure to have Kendal sleep as well. It took a few days but I was able to get them on the same schedule. That was a life saver! Maddy dictated the way our day would go so I tried to keep things simple and flexible for Kendal. By about 4 weeks Maddy's nap schedule was "regular" so it became easy to put them down at the same time. I used this time to nap myself.. hey mama needs sleep too!! I also tried to keep Kendal involved in all things baby.. feeding, changing diapers, play time, ect. this was very helpful as well!

Madison on her Birth day

Kendal holding her little sister for the first time

Madison home from the hospital

Madison a little over one month


For 7 years we had two wonderful amazing daughters- we tried several times for baby number 3 after two lost pregnancies we decided our family was complete. Hubby was later deployed and was gone off and on for the next 3 years. In late 2011 when hubby finished up his deployment we began discussing baby number 3 again. We discussed for a while and decided we were read to try again- I became pregnant pretty much right away, unfortunately I lost that pregnancy as well. The very next month the twins were conceived!! 

Part 2 bringing home the twins - tomorrow.

~~ Kristy


Friday, April 25, 2014

Multiple Birth Awareness Month

April is Multiple Birth Awareness Month- so today's post is dedicated to my lovely twins... ok so I think all of my posts have been about my twins.. So while this post may be dedicated to my twins I want to share how much my two older daughters have helped since the very beginning (and by beginning I mean since I was 6 week). 
First a few photos :)

Seriously aren't the just the cutest??? 

From the day we told the girls we were pregnant and having twins its been a whirlwind!! When we found out we were having twins I was so very nervous and all sorts of things worried me {aside from the pregnancy}. How would I feed them at the same time, what if they were crying at the same time, what if I was in the bathroom and they started crying... ect. ect. We told the girls via a card for each of them letting them know they were going to be big sisters to "baby A and baby B" there was a lot of confusion and I have to say it was pretty funny.. they understood there was one baby but the concept of two was way over their heads! When we finally explained there were two babies... Madison was so excited "TWO BABIES.. MOMMY YOU ARE HAVING TWO BABIES?" she shouted! Kendal... oh Kendal... she started crying... I have to stay we believe she started crying because she wasn't exactly sure how to respond from her excitement. This is pretty funny to say the least because when hubby and I were discussing with the girls the possibility of us having another baby Kendal excitedly said "Oh mommy you should have twins that way there will be one for each of us". Oh Kendal thank you for your suggestion!! 



Love my Kendal 

Once we told the girl about the twins and the "excitement" settled all they wanted to know what how can we help? What can we do? When can we feed the babies? So excited I knew everything would be ok. I knew I was going to have helpers and the best helpers I could ask for BIG SISTERS! 



Sweet Sweet Madison! 



They have helped me in every way possible - changed diapers, held bottles, offered to wake up at 3am to help feed (I did think about it a few times). These girls are just amazing to me and every time I ask them to help me they do and they do it with a smile on their face.. they are amazing big sisters I don't think I could have planned it any better. 








I can't believe how lucky I am.. these 4 girls are my everything my heart explodes when I see them together playing and just the amount of love they show each other... I can't wait to see how the twins show that same love as the get older!! 

And since today's post is "Dedicated" to the twins because it is APRIL here are few more photos of the little ladies through the early months...

Olivia

Charlotte

Seriously one of my favorite photos of the two 



Livy during her carseat test



Happy Multiple Birth Awareness Month!!!












Wednesday, April 23, 2014

It's Giveaway Time!!

Giveaway is now closed!! Winner will be announced tomorrow morning!



I am so excited to be hosting my first giveaway!! I love giveaways and all weekend long I have been thinking about how to make this one just perfect for all of you!! You all know how much Charlotte and Olivia LOVE bows and head wraps (usually the bigger the better)- so..... I am super excited to be paring up with not one but TWO of my favorite bow shops!!! 

But whats a  give away without first doing a little product review...

Our first giveaway partner is Sophia & Co. 
I first came across Sophia & Co. on Instagram while taking part in an auction. One of her amazing bows was being auctioned off and I had to have it... So yay for me I won!! Charlotte of course models  it perfectly! The bow was very well made and fit her just perfectly. The shop owner (Shawn) communicated with me perfectly and the bow arrived very quickly. 
I love following Sophia & Co. on Instagram (sophiaandco) as a new shop she is awesome and she has many specials and deals. During her most recent special 50% off (Amazing right??) I ordered two new bows for my little ladies. I ordered these from her Etsy shop (https://www.etsy.com/shop/SophiaCo). Again her communication was fantastic and size and shipping speed was perfect!

Even Charlotte and Olivia want what the other is wearing!




Little cuties I tell ya! They love their Sophia & Co. bows and so does mommy!!


Our next give away partner is none other than Shelby Chic Boutique!!! 
Shelby Chic Boutique is pretty much my go to bow shop. The owner is one of my favorite Instagram mamas, she has really taken care of my girls with her amazing designs and flawless sewing skills. The shop owner Veronica takes so much pride in her work and it shows. I have been purchasing bows and head wraps from Shelby Chic Boutique since before the twins were born!! This Instagram shop (shelbychicboutique) has really taken off and the demand is out of this world, everyone is trying to get their hands on these amazing bows and head wraps. 











I love these head wraps the fabric is perfect- it is so soft and stretchable - the girls can wear them for months! Seriously aren't they just adorable??

Ok, Ok so you've seen the bows on my little ladies and you now understand why I love to put them on my girls so lets take a look at what we are giving away!!

Sophia & Co.


This trio of bows can be made as seen (for our boys) or in pink (for our girls)!!

Shelby Chic Boutique


These amazing sparkle bows from Shelby Chic Boutique are a huge huge hit!! 

There will be two winners and each winner will receive all 3 bows from the perspective shop!


So here is how to enter... I like to keep things simple so this should be easy-
1. Comment on here with your email address and a topic you'd like to see me discuss on the blog
2. Follow both shops on instagram (sophiaandco) and (shelbychicboutique)
3. Follow my instagram page (klynnphoto)

I am asking you to follow the pages so that 1. you can keep up to date on the products you are trying to win. 2. You can get amazing deals and discounts only by following the shops. 3. You can follow me to get updates on the blog as well as future give away and so that I can tag you when you win!

Giveaway rules:
You can only enter once (ie: leave your comment with email address)
You must be following all 3 instagram pages (if you don't have instagram please let me know)
Giveaway begins at 12:00pm EST Wednesday April 23rd and ends 9:00pm EST Friday April 25th.
There will be two winners selected at random
Winners will be notified via email and announced on Instagram as well as this post
You will be contacted by the shop owner via email to discuss item specifics

Thank you all so much for participating in this first giveaway I can't tell you how excited I am to be able to do this for you all!! And THANK YOU to our two amazing BOW SHOPS.... SOPHIA & CO. and SHELBY CHIC BOUTIQUE!!! 

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