January 24, 2011

Our family picture!

No real post today... just a new picture that I really like right now. =)

January 19, 2011

Good Luck Love!

Today is a big day for Mr. King, this is his first day of grad school!!! Matt has enrolled in an online program to get his MBA. He starts classes tonight and will graduate next June.


We are so proud of you (even if you are goofy!) go get 'em hun! =)




Good luck daddy!!!

January 18, 2011

Today could have been an awful day...

Today could have been an awful day, it could have been my first day back at work and therefore my first day away from my precious baby girl. I can't imagine if I had to leave her today for 8+ hours. My heart breaks thinking about dropping Kinley off at a daycare center.



But instead, it's an amazing day because I get to stare at this beautiful girl all day!!! And I get to do this as much as I want:



I know it's so cliche, but I don't remember what life was like before she came along. How can you not love this little face?!




So to the most amazing husband in the world... thank you. Thank you for providing for our family and making it possible for me to take care of our sweet baby girl each and every day. You are truly a spectacular father, more so than I could have ever imagined. We love you sooooo much!




A big thumbs up for mommy getting to stay home with me for at least 8 more months!

January 13, 2011

6 years ago today

Six years ago today we said goodbye to an amazing woman, Maxine, my incredible grandma. Grandma Maxine and I had a special bond. My grandparents lived just a mile away from us so I was able to spend lots of time with grandma while grandpa and my dad were in the fields. She always made the most amazing lunches! She made great angel food cakes with homemade frosting for every birthday. She let us comb her hair and pretend to be beauticians, even though we would purposely shove the brush in her ear just so we could hear her scream, and then my sister and I would giggle uncontrollably. Grandma taught me the art of making no bake cookies and the art of loving unconditionally.

I will never forget the final moments and days in the hospital with my grandma after her stroke. She had full cognitive capabilities after her stroke, however her speech and other functions were impacted greatly. Although her speech was nearly nonexistent to most people, I was often able to make out what she was saying, probably thanks to many hours with children who are often hard to understand. One of the last things my grandma ever said before she passed away was when we were all alone in her room, she grabbed my hands and in as much of a voice as she could muster, she whispered "You will be a great wife someday."

I have never forgotten those words. I often thought of those words when matt and I were dating and discussing marriage. I know my grandma has been with me in some of my toughest days and helped me through. I still think about her nearly everyday...so when we found out we were pregnant with a girl I knew Maxine had to be her middle name.

As I sit today with Kinley Maxine asleep on my chest, I hope I'm being as good of a wife and mother as grandma would have wanted me to be. I still miss you grams.

January 10, 2011

Wiiiide awake!

The other morning Kinley was snuggling in bed with us and was wide awake so I quick grabbed my camera. Here are a few of my favorites.








"Mom... really, I've had enough"

January 7, 2011

1 Month Old

Our sweet baby Kinley,
My oh my how this first month has flown by! You will never know how much joy you have brought to our lives in such a short amount of time. You are truly the most precious baby. Your dad and I couldn't have asked for a better baby, you mean the world to us. I have enjoyed spending every single day with you and couldn't be happier now that I'm a stay at home mom. You are truly the joy of our lives, your dad and I stare at you and talk about you nonstop, we've never been this happy in our entire lives!
We love you more than you will ever know!
Love,
Mommy & Daddy

And now for your latest stats:

Weight: 9lbs 3oz 50th percentile

Length: 21 1/2 inches 75th percentile

Diaper size: Newborn (but this will probably be your last week in them)

Clothes size: Newborn clothes, but just this week you have outgrown a few of the smaller newborn onesies

Sleep: You are an awesome sleeper (thank you God!) You usually sleep 5 hours, and then 3-4 after that each night.

Favorite activities/things: You love laying in your play gym and looking at the dangling animals and shapes.

Eating: You are quite the little eater! You are eating every 2 1/2 to 3 hours during the day. The last two weeks you gained 2 oz a day, twice the "recommended" amount! The doctors are thrilled with how well you are eating/gaining, we think you're doing a darn good job too. =) You are quite the character when you eat, usually making a full range of noises from snorting to choking, yes... you've been known to try to eat a bit too fast.

Talking: You haven't started to make any new sounds this month, but you have definitely developed your lungs. You let us know with a loud cry if you need something, but then quickly go back to being calm as soon as we accommodate you.

New adventures: This month you have showed us just how strong you are! Since the first week you have been able to lift and turn your head from side to side. This past week you have started lifting your head straight up while on your stomach.

You also experienced your first Christmas! And you got to meet lots of new people, including your aunt Keri and uncle Ben!








We can't wait to see what month two has in store for you baby girl!



And a sneak peek at more pictures that are coming soon!

January 5, 2011

Pediatric Cardiologist Appointment news...

Yesterday we had Kinley's appointment with the pediatric cardiologist. First off, the doctor was awesome, so kind and patient! Secondly, we got GREAT NEWS!!! The hole in Kinley's heart is in the best place that it can be. Her hole is in a spot that is surrounded by 4 walls (of muscle) and not any valves or other "parts". Basically that means that all 4 sides of muscle will, hopefully, continue to grow and close in on the hole. The doctor guessed that her hole will be completely closed by the time that she is a year old!!! We will have another appointment at 6 months so that the doctor can listen to her heart and she will have another EKG (she had her first today).

And, the other great news, Kinley won't have another echo cardiogram until she is a year old, yeah!!! We asked the doctor about the information we have been given, that they routinely sedate kids for the echos (which is why I was a WRECK during her first echo) and he said that it is an oral medicine that will make her drowsy, no oxygen or iv's, and we will still get to be with her the entire time, yeah! Not nearly as scary as I had imagined when I read "your baby may need to be sedated".

He also told us that this should not affect her growth, her level of activity, or her general health. There is a slightly higher risk of pneumonia from the common cold because she has extra fluid going to her lungs (through the hole) but he isn't really concerned about that.

Overall we had an amazing appointment and left feeling great about the situation and couldn't be more thankful for all of the prayers we know Kinley received.