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About The McKinley Family

Welcome to our blog! Im Jessica! I am a SAHM and find that blogging gets me connected with the outside world. I journal and photograph most every day in hopes to never forget things. You will find that most posts will be about my children, Harley and Cash. They are the inspiration for this site. However, I will throw in a few random, mommy posts for free! You could easily say Im addicted to coffee and Target. I have a new found love for anything vintage. My favorite colors are yellow and green. I love my jeans tucked into boots. I feel like I am FINALLY starting to figure out who I am in life...thats still questionable!!! Enjoy!!

“The moment a child is born, the mother is also born. She never existed before. The woman existed, but the mother, never. A mother is something absolutely new.” - Rajneesh photo by bethany dawn

Maternity with BABY #3

May 12th, 2012

I had debated for several weeks whether or not I was going to do a maternity session this time.  I really wanted the images to document my last pregnancy, but I also knew that I wanted a newborn session and Fall family session with Bethany–so, I was trying to save a bit of money.  However, I caved and KNEW I’d regret not having her do them–I thought about having Matt take some and then editing them myself, but that NEVER turns out how I think it’s going to.  I am SO glad that I did this…I also chose to only have myself be photographed because…well…my hubby HATES photo sessions and my kids are at a horrible age also!  So to get every one to look at the camera AND look happy was going to make for a lot more work for all of us!  I am beyond happy with every single image Bethany captured :)   These are just a few of my faves!

I watermarked these ONLY as a precaution–in no way am I implying that these images are mine–all taken by Bethany Dawn!!

37.5 weeks | baby #3

May 7th, 2012

I had to have my appt early this week so that I didn’t have to drag both kids with me.  Cash isn’t old enough to know what is going on, but I’d rather not have to explain to Harley what is going on, so I chose to switch my weekly appts to Mondays while she is in school.

The appt went well.  Gained nothing since last week, BP fine, urine fine.  She did strip me “good”, but I still think she was conservative.  She said she secretly hoped to see me at my next appt and, in her opinion, I was still a little early.  I was a full 2cm and 60% effaced this time–so a change in 4 days.  I honestly don’t think the stripping will send me into labor if my body isn’t ready.  I haven’t had any cramping or contractions since my appt and fully expect this baby to stay put til D day!!  However, I do like the fact that I am dilating some with each appt, unlike with Cash…I was stuck at 1cm until he was induced.  I’m not extrememly uncomfy just yet…so Baby J can keep cooking!!

37 weeks | baby #3

May 3rd, 2012

Photo by Bethany Dawn–I can’t wait to see the other shots she took!!

 

Total weight gain/loss: 33 lbs

Maternity clothes? yes…ready to be done with them

Sleep: horrible…God’s way of preparing me for a newborn

Best moment this week: soaking in his movements

Movement: he likes to push his little feet out–ouch!

Food cravings: anything sweet

Gender: A boy!

Labor Signs: a few braxton hicks–but nothing major

Belly Button in or out? definitely an outie now…extremely visible when I wear a t-shirt…turkey is done!

What I miss: breathing normal, walking normal

What I am looking forward to: non-maternity clothes…although i KNOW i will miss being pregnant, so i’m trying to enjoy every last second of it.

Milestones: full-term!!

CERVIX UPDATE: 1.5-2 cm and still 50%  I had her strip my membranes, although she was conservativethis time.   She doesn’t like to aggressively strip them until closer to 38 weeks.  My appt was actually today and not Monday–I do go back Monday now and she said she would strip them good then…apparently, 85% of her patients go into labor with in 48 hours of her stripping.  I’ve never had her at the end of my pregnancy, so I’m anxious to see why her stripping is different.  I was stripped with Harley and Cash and it never did much.  I guess all the prego Dr. go to her to be stripped–she doesn’t mess around!!

He’s TWO!!

April 27th, 2012

36 weeks | baby #3

April 26th, 2012

Total weight gain/loss: 32 lbs

Maternity clothes? Yes…although they are getting smaller!  Or rather, I’m getting larger!

Sleep: I’ve started sleeping in the spare room again…I did this for the last 3 months of Cash’s pregnancy.  I just can’t get comfortable and I know it keeps Matt up.  I got up FIVE times last night to pee.  UGH!

Best moment this week: bittersweet moments that my last pregnancy is coming to an end…

Movement: he has slowed down a bit.  it’s more of him switching sides and feet in my ribs

Food cravings: mexican…although i haven’t treated myself to it

Gender: A boy!

Labor Signs: a few braxton hicks–but nothing major

Belly Button in or out? definitely an outie now…extremely visible when I wear a t-shirt…turkey is done!

What I miss: breathing normal, walking normal

What I am looking forward to: non-maternity clothes…although i KNOW i will miss being pregnant, so i’m trying to enjoy every last second of it.

Milestones: less than a month to D day!

CERVIX UPDATE: 1cm 50%I’m starting evening primrose oil capsules tonight, along with still drinking my raspberry leaf tea.  Let’s see what Monday brings…my next appt.

Casa | Backyard

April 22nd, 2012

This yard is probably triple the size of our last backyard!  We LOVE it!  It’s the perfect size and has enough grass for the kids to enjoy yet not a ton of maintenance.   Of course, when we aren’t outside the toys are picked up and the sand box is closed–per daddy! :)

35 weeks | baby #3

April 19th, 2012

Total weight gain/loss: 30 lbs

Maternity clothes? YES! Lovin’ my maxi skirts and tank tops–still the same

Sleep: extremely horrible lately–my hips are so sore that i can’t get comfortable.  not to mention the horrific heartburn

Best moment this week:  preparing the car seat, putting together the glider and buying things for my hospital bag

Movement: he LOVE to stick his butt out–it’s painful

Food cravings: smoothies

Gender: A boy!

Labor Signs: a few braxton hicks–but nothing major

Belly Button in or out? definitely an outie now…extremely visible when I wear a t-shirt…turkey is done!

What I miss: sleeping on my back…my poor hips are so sore

What I am looking forward to: walking with out breathing heavy!

Milestones: 35 days to go!

I am starting Red Raspberry leaf tea tonight.  I have my 36 week appt next Thursday, along with the GBS test–I’m hoping I can talk her into doing a cervical check.  I’ve been trying to walk more–Cash and I go to Harley’s school 1/2 hour early so I can walk around the park for a while.  I’m getting anxious to meet him and just the past week have become VERY uncomfortable and easily exhausted.  I know I will miss being pregnant, so I’m trying to enjoy every second!  Plus, I know what the first 3-6 months are like with a newborn…and well…it’s much easier taking care of a baby in your tummy then the constant crying, nursing, diaper changing, and making sure they survive TWO other siblings!!

Easter ’12

April 9th, 2012

early morning egg hunt…the “Easter Bunny” set the alarm for 6am to hide eggs outside…the things we do for our kids!

he quickly learned to open the eggs and was done egg hunting once he discovered the candy!

my babies and their baskets!

even though they fight and argue…these two LOVE each other!

cash was mad because he didn’t want to sit and hated the way the door mat felt on his feet…LOL!  harley was trying to cheer him up with peek-a-boo, but he wasn’t having it!!

see what i mean…

we then headed over to grandma and papa’s for lunch where they had another egg hunt!

my first call to poison control

April 4th, 2012

Two weeks ago, on a Tuesday morning, while Harley was at school, Cash decided to use his climbing skills and reach a jar of scented gel beads that I had in the bathroom.  I was picking up toys around the house and when I checked on him, he was sitting on the bathroom floor with the jar shaking it–attempting to get the beads out.  Luckily, he hadn’t tried to remove the lid.  There were a couple of beads on the floor and his mouth was colored red a bit and smelled of “orchard island”.   My first thought was that he hadn’t ingested too many and he’d be fine.  I did a quick google search to see if there was any info but didn’t find anything.  After a few minutes I thought I’d better call poison control just in case.  As I was explaining the situation to the gentleman on the phone, he stopped me mid story and told me how dangerous this was and wanted to know how close we lived to the ER.  Apparently the Glade brand, Renuzit, has been reported to them before and the kids who ingested them became very ill and extremely intoxicated from the alcohols.  Poison control was more worried that the beads release the chemicals slowly so you never know when to expect the symptoms.  He told me not to let Cash sleep unless I could “stir” him every 15 minutes to ensure he wasn’t sleeping too heavily.  He then contacted P.ier 1 Imports to check on the ingredients of the substance.  Below is nap time–I held him for a good 45 minutes and then checked on him ever 15 minutes once I laid him down.   Poison control did call back later in the afternoon to let me know that the brand Cash ate did not have the alcohols they were worried about, but they still wanted me to follow the instructions of not letting him go more than 15 mins of sleep at a time for 24 hours.  That meant Cashie got to sleep with Momma that night–because OF COURSE, daddy was out of town!  Cash did fine and never showed ANY signs of trouble, aside from his normal trouble!!   I’m just glad I was more safe than sorry :)   Let’s hope I don’t have to call PC ever again!!

Casa | living room

April 4th, 2012

This is our main living room.  It is HUGE to say the least.  We got new furniture to help fill the space and had to buy two couches instead of one being a love seat.  On moving day, we have our surround sound installed–this was Matt’s doing, not mine.  Although it is so nice to have the TV out of little one’s reach and no cords showing.  Movie watching has been taken to a whole new level in here!  The stereo equipment is in our hall closet where littles can’t get to either!  I love that the TV is front and center and I can have it on while I cook dinner.  I also LOVE the light that this room gets–so bright and cheery.  The only thing scary in the room–the flagstone top on the fireplace screams “little heads hit me…i hurt”  luckily, the kids are usually in the playroom to watch TV and stay out of here–usually!

 

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