My sweet baby girl - The First 3 weeks

I have to say from the moment I got you in my arms I was just totally loved you. So tiny and small somehow you were much more delicate than the boys at just 6 lbs. 12 oz. Its amazing what less than a pound difference makes. For the first week I swore I could have another baby because I just loved the experience so much! Now, I am content with my sweet 3 kiddos and think that is just the right number. Good thing because we have planned you to always be the baby unless God really decides to throw us for a loop.

Cuddling is just the best with you and I am not a "loving the baby stage" person. Maybe its different because I know you are my last one, plus as I go through the same things I went through with Dylan and Logan it brings back a flood of all those memories that were tucked away and forgotten due to sleep deprivation. Like tonight when I finally got around to putting the nighttime music on. As it came to song #8 on the cd (yes, it does take that long to feed and get you down at night, just like it did with the boys - another forgotten memory), I remembered a song I had made up for my sweet baby boy Logan that went along to that tune. It really is a little simplistic song, but still got my emotions all up and made me want to go into Logan's room and sing the song to him.

The bows and all the pink outfits that say "Adorable", "Sweet Girl", and "True Love" are lots of fun. You have so much dark hair. That was one of my first thoughts when I saw you. We're not sure where the color came from, and I'm sure it will be replaced soon, but it makes your smoke blue eyes stand out and it is long enough to clip a bow in. Lucky for you because I am so against the total headband bows and was planning to use scotch tape or honey to stick these suckers on. However, the clips work for now and at least I only put bows on you when you are going out on the town.

You really have been such a great baby and working with my scheduling process. ha! You really get the nighttime thing which Daddy says is inherited from me. Either that or I forced it upon you. Keep it up and I can't wait till you drop a feeding. You are already in your bed as Mommy is a light sleeper. Just today I had to start double swaddling you because last night you kicked out of your swaddle everytime! Twice, it was up around your face. I can't believe you are already getting that strong. For such a little girl (8 lbs. now) you have strong legs.

The hospital was great this time. Quite a vacation as usual! Unfortunately, Daddy didn't want to stay the extra day on the not so comfy couch bed so we came home for your full life experience. You had a preview of what was coming at the hospital, but not the entire picture until you got home. The craziness of a two boy household set in and now you know you have brothers who love you as much as they possibly could.

Dylan loves to hold you, kiss you, hug you, and takes time every chance he gets to play with you on your gym. Yesterday morning I peeked around the corner to check up on you two and he had gotten a burp cloth and was wiping up your spit up off your cheek and off the gym so lovingly. Dylan is so sensitive to your needs and really gets a kick out of watching diaper changes and wants you to "sit" next to him at all times. He says the sweetest things.

• "You are such a beautiful sister."



• "Mommy, I don't like you better. I don't like Logan better. I like Kaley better!"



• "She's so cute."

Logan took a little more warming up to you. The first time he really decided he wanted to see you he yelled ,"KALEY!" and ran into your room while you were sleeping in your crib. Of course, big brother Dylan had to join in and they both woke you up. Logan must understand what its like to be around the constant noise of a sibling because he always says "Baby Sleeping. Shhhh!" **putting pointer finger up to his mouth** Recently, he just started coming up to kiss you, wants to give you a hug and kiss at nappy nap and night night. He has even called you "my baby."

Daddy is a little overwhelmed by all the pink. He mentions it anytime we get new clothes. "Ahhh more pink!" He puts on a tough face, but you already have a special bond with you. He even calls you Princess when he isn't thinking. You are so loved by us all!

Well I must get to bed soon since you will be waking me up tonight. I just want to close with my favorite moment of the week. I went to handbell practice on Thursday night and even though I was gone only an hour and half the moment I got you in my arms I realized how much I had missed you and was ready for the newborn neediness again. As you ate for bed time, your little body was up against mine and your arm was over your sleeping face just relaxed. I just wanted to hold you all night. Especially when I was holding you on my shoulder, legs tucked up and in against me with your head tilted back and your mouth open because you were so relaxed.

I love you Kaley Kirby!

True Love

I know you'd rather hear about Lil' Miss Kaley, but I'm just writing a quick note about how sweet my husband is.

Today I noticed online that the new 90210 was coming on tonight so I went to Greg and said, "Can you set up 90210 to record? It comes on CW tonight."

Greg - "Already done it. Its a 2 hour premier."

How cool is it that my hubby knows to record shows I might be interested in? This is especially sweet because we had not discussed it before!

What a great guy!

Dylan Sunday Sayings

"That poop is gorgeous!" (showing me what he had done in the potty -maybe its a boy thing?)

"I'm a chugger!" - He was eating pancakes when he said this. Earlier in the day Greg and I had commented how Logan was a chugger when he drank milk. Dylan naturally applied this to eating pancakes fast!

I am officially checked out

As with other aspects of my life, this blog is falling to the wayside for awhile. I will be back, but since I am exhausted at the thought of doing anything these days (which I'm sure will get worse) I'm giving you a heads up.

So our baby girl is coming on the 21st and for all you who have been pregnant or have had a pregnant wife you understand how absoultely unmotivated I am right now. The following are a testament to how pregnant I am.

1. I sleep with the ceiling fan on high and an oscilating fan on high that I don't let oscilate so it points directly at me. I'm still hot for my afternoon naps.

2. I have to take a nap everyday now. Boo! For those of you who know that I have had more energy this 3rd time around understand how disappointing it is for me to have to go back to napping. I even slept in till 8am this morning, took a 2 hour nap at 1pm, and I'm still tired at 11pm.

3. I have worn 2 different shirts inside out within the last week or two. My friend Kelly has been there both times to tell me. Did I take the time to go in the bathroom and change them back right? Nope. They didn't have tags and she had commented that they were cute before she realized they were inside out. Of course, she does have a 2 month old so maybe I shouldn't have been so lazy.

4. My kids have had a tv show increase. I usually keep it to 2 30 minute shows a day, but now they can wrangle up to 2 hours a day out of me. I have come to the conclusion that in 2 weeks they will be up to that level anyway since I'm nursing so what is an extra few weeks going to do to them? The hard part will be breaking them once I'm sleeping through the night.

5. I warned Greg last week that I will only be cooking dinner every other day these last few days so he needs to alter the budget accordingly. His response was "Okay, no problem." which in turn prompted me to do the same this past week instead of using the original start date as next Monday.

6. I have taken plates out of the dishwasher for the boys twice in the past two days because I thought they were clean only to realize later that my dishwasher had not run. Oops. Once I really didn't turn it on...The second time, I'm convinced I did. Greg is challenging that thought though.

And the worst...
7. I looked in my underware drawer after a shower and thought "If I wear a lighter color undie, then it should be cooler during the day right? Wait, maybe that would be true with a shirt, but the undies never see the light of day." I for sure have prego brain.


Other Updates

• Dylan is doing great with the no thumb life. We even have stopped the bribes. We are just keeping the band aids going until after Kaley/Kailey is born
• Yes, Kaley/Kailey has a name now, just not a spelling or a middle name.
• Logan is super cute these days and my favorite thing is when I am putting him to bed and he says....

L- "Mommy."

K - "Logan."

L - "cuttle" (pats his hand on this mattress and gives the mommy is a sucker smile)

• Greg is being super hubby while I am in this state. I guess the 3rd time around he knows what to expect. Today he pretty much did all the hard work (or anything that required work) with the boys. He was surprised when I got up at 8am and said, "Why didn't you stay in bed?" Also, he is dealing with my list of things to do very well. This past week after work he finished hanging things in K's room AND he rehung some crappy bulletin board squares in the playroom on the same night. That is a big level of effort from him without complaining on a work night! Although, anytime I complain about anything he says, "You should stop getting pregnant!" Does someone need to clue him in on how that happens???? ha!

216 Hours and Counting

My follow up is a bit late, but our ISP has been having problems off and on, plus we had the Katy Duffeys come into town this weekend for a fun boy-filled weekend.

Anyway, Dylan did it! The first night he did great and he has been thumb free for 9 nights and 10 days. Woo hoo! Of course, we are using a big time bribe system. Here is the list he has been rewarded so far:

Dunkin' Donuts
Sonic Smoothie Night
Going to the Big Pool
Making Jello
Eating Jello
Getting a Kite

So we are spreading them out more these days, but now whenever he hits a goal, he asks, "What am I working for now?" ha! I haven't thought of anything yet because we are going to Midland this Wed. and everything there is special. Since we are going to do it anyway, I'm not sure what I am coming up with. I do have electric Bubble wands that I bought on sale at Target. I think that will be the next thing to work for these next 3 days.

It went much smoother than expected. Night 3 was the worst, but I don't have to stay with him anymore for him to fall asleep. He doesn't scream anymore when I leave so we are getting back on schedule except for the fact that he does get up earlier in the mornings now. Ugh!

After night 30 we are taking the band aid off to see if the habit is broken. I've heard that is a good amount of time for it to work. I'll update you on Day 31!

Breaking a thumb sucking habit can be done with a lot of band aids and a smart little boy! Bribery is the key!

P.S. Logan is loving this too as he gets every reward Dylan does. He even claps and says "Yeah!" when we do. Little does he know that he is next!!!

Last July vs. This July

So last year at this time we were just beginning to potty train Dylan (3rd of July to be exact). He really did well with it. We went cold turkey to undies and never went back. I was impressed because for boys he was trained really early. 2 1/4 years is very soon. He is a superstar in that regard. You tell him to do it and without too many hiccups he does it. What a big boy.

Well, tonight as I sit here the poor baby is keeping his band aid on his thumb for Dunkin' Donuts in the morning. If you ever look closely in any picture of Dylan from 2 on he always has a band aid on his right thumb. Why you ask? Its a reminder not to suck his thumb.

We started this when he went to preschool as a Cubbie Bear. We thought, "Hey, he isn't talking much, maybe its his thumb!" Well, I'm not sure that theory is true now, because Logan is a thumb sucker too and he chats up a storm at the same age Dylan was quiet, but the band aid is a way for him to keep it out. Now he definitely talks more without it. He's quite an inspiration to others too (ha!). Logan asks for one at least twice a week and Dylan's friend Morgan in school, a fellow thumb sucker, asked her mom for one a couple of times. It cracks me up.

Anyway, so he wears a band aid in the morning. If he makes it through lunch, which is about 99% of the time, he gets bubble gum. This is kind of just a given now as it really isn't difficult for him to do that. We just were lazy and haven't upped the anty.

We take the band aid off at nap time. When we introduced it, we always said, "Since we are a big boy, we only suck our thumb when we are sleeping." Then when he wakes up, most days we put another band aid on. Yes we need stock in Johnson and Johnson's!

So tonight in the bath, Greg, who has been wanting to do this for a long time, says "Dylan, if you keep your band aid on all night, we'll go get donuts in the morning." Logan of course chimes in at this point, "Donut Holes!" Dylan gets all excited saying he can do it and says, "Dunkin' Donuts." Sure the nearest donut place is 3 minutes away, but for this sweet boy we will drive the extra 10 minutes to get there. Plus, the donuts there are much better.

So I'm sitting at my computer at 10:48pm wondering what he's doing right now. We don't monitor him anymore, but he does have one in his room plugged in so I've got it set to listen to him until I go to bed. I haven't heard anything lately so I'm thinking he's done it. I wish I had a video monitor. Yes, for a 3 year old. It would be a waste of money for one night, I guess.

So far, he's only come out of his room once for a "nail problem." I took care of the hang nail, he went potty again, very slowly, and then we tucked him in again.

This is particularly hard for me because I myself was a finger sucker. I remember how hard it was to give up. I didn't fair too well. I think I did it until I was in 3rd grade and thought, "Hey, this isn't cool anymore." I loved that finger just like Dylan loves that thumb. It may sound silly to those non-suckers like Greg, but there is a real attachment there, like a favorite stuffed animal. Even my friend Robbie, a fellow thumb sucker, and I discussed this a few times.

Anyway, I'm off to pray that he can do it and gets donuts in the morning. I would be so proud of him. It really makes me want to cry because it is so hard for him to fall asleep without the thumb. He's such a trooper and really tries whatever we want him to do. Just like last July, I think this is the hardest thing we've ever tried to get him to do. I'm hoping that I can look back at this milestone, like the last one. Potty training doesn't seem that bad now. Sure, there were accidents and regression at times, but he did it. I know he can do this too!

I love you, Dylan! Good luck. Mommy is thinking of you!

Daily Dylan Happenings - Sweet and Not so Sweet

Dylan Drawing and Description:

"This is a picture of God." (How sweet is that? God wasn't even mentioned before this cute thought.)

Dylan Quote:
Me: Did you throw that car?
D: No.
Me: How did it get all the way over there?
D: By itself.