Sisterhood

The beginning...

Harper's first encounter with her baby sister

Kinley was born on a Friday night, so Chris and I stayed at the birthing center for 2 nights. We decided it was best for Harper to wait until the day we left to meet Kinley so that we could all go home together. So on Sunday morning, my dad brought Harper to the hospital. We put Kinley in the bassinet so that we could greet Harper like normal. Then once she saw us, Chris brought Kinley over so they could meet. Once Kinley ended up in my lap, the crying began. Then the tantrums came. And anyone who knows Harper knows she doesn't throw tantrums. It was really hard to watch...I wanted to just scoop her up and let her cry in my arms and tell her everything was okay. But we knew the rules had to stay the same: tantrums aren't allowed. She has had a sister for 12 days now, and the tantrums were extremely short-lived! Now she asks for her sister and doesn't seem to mind when I'm holding Kinley and can't come right when she wants me all the time. She is such a great big sister, and we are so proud of how well she's doing.

Not only did Harper get a little sister last week, she also got 3 molars! Talk about a hard week!! (And the week before Kinley came, Harper had croup and pneumonia!) So far having 2 hasn't been as crazy as everyone says, but we've had our moments. One day in that first week, I was nursing Kinley when Harper woke up early from her nap. She was crying due to another molar that had popped through. So I went into her room, put Kinley in the chair, and took a crying Harper out of her bed. Kinley, meanwhile, began to cry for her meal...which she had not finished. So I sat on the floor holding both girls in my lap as they both screamed into either ear. I wanted to cry myself, until I imagined what we must look like! So then I laughed instead and thought to myself, "well, I don't really know what to do right now!"

I love having my two girls, and all the challenges that are sure to come with it. They are amazing!! Here are some more sister shots from the first 2 weeks...

Harper wanted Kinley to sit next to her while she watched Mickey Mouse

Matching red bows...Harper thought that was fun!

Having a blast at the pumpkin patch...Kinley is such a party animal!

Kinley Patricia Holohan

Kinley Patricia Holohan
October 14, 2011 at 8:26 pm
6lbs 12 oz, 19 inches long

She's here! Sweet little Kinley made her debut 26 days early, making her premature at 36 weeks. But she is very healthy and doing great! Her timing was perfect because my dad happened to be in town visiting, so he was able to be there for her birth.

Everything was totally different this time, which I'm sure is usually the case. With Harper, my water broke last right before she was born. This time, my water started leaking at 2:00 in the morning. I went to my OB, and she said it was time. I went home, took a shower, we packed...we took our time, because at that point contractions still hadn't started. We got to the birthing center at 11:00am. I actually got the same nurse that helped me deliver Harper, which I had been praying for! They had to start me on pitocin, which really upset me. I was afraid I wouldn't be able to deliver without an epidural because pitocin makes contractions so much stronger. But I did it! I will say, it was WAY more painful than last time.  But Chris did a great job at keeping me calm and focused when I would start to get discouraged. At one point I even threw up from the pain. Then at 8:26 that night it was over, and she was here.

This pregnancy was a lot harder than my first, but my recovery has been much better this time. And now I have 2 beautiful little redheads! Harper had a hard time the first few days with Kinley, but it's been less than 2 weeks, and she's doing so well! She's a great big sister, and such a good kid. She gives Kinley kisses and asks for her in the mornings. She also helps us change Kinley's diapers by climbing on her "big sister stool" and handing us the new diaper. We are so blessed, and I couldn't be happier!

Progress

Daddy starting to assemble the new crib

Mommy doing the honors of putting in the final bolt

Harper seeing Kinley's bed for the first time