Our First Week

After coming home from the hospital last Wednesday, we have been settling in at home and figuring out the new rhythms as a family of four. Boomer returned to work on Thursday, but then he took Friday off. He worked Monday and Tuesday of this week, and now we have the five days of the Thanksgiving break together again. We will miss seeing the Kennedy family in Woodstock like we usually do this time of year, but we aren't ready to make a family road trip quite yet. It will be a different Thanksgiving, but I am looking forward to it all the same. While Boomer has been at work and with Emmy continuing to go to school, my mom has been coming over to help during the day. I am not cleared to drive or lift things, so her help has been much needed and much appreciated. On Friday, we went to Eli's first doctor's appointment. We are seeing the same pediatrician that Emmy goes to, and he is wonderful. Even as a second-time mom, Dr. Albright is so patient with all of my questions. Given the initial struggles we had with Emmy's weight, I was most nervous to see the number on the scale. Luckily Eli's weight was just one ounce below birth weight, 7 lbs 6 oz, and after nursing while I was there, it even came up to 7 lbs 8 oz. Seeing Eli back at birth weight is such an answer to prayer! The doctor said that it was a good sign that Eli is getting enough milk from me. Things seem to be going well in terms of nursing, and I am so thankful. Perhaps it is true that boys have bigger appetites than girls!  

On Friday, Eli met several more special people in his life. I forget how much a newborn sleeps, but Eli was surprisingly alert for most of these introductions, especially with Great Grandma Nancy. 

We went over to Grammy and Grandpa's for dinner on Friday evening, where Eli met his cousins and Uncle Zack. It was our first car ride as a family of four, so of course I documented it with a photo! Zander and Maddox were so excited to meet their new cousin, and each wanted a turn holding him. Megan said that when she first told them that I had had a boy, Zander was quite disappointed, saying "Nooooo, Aunt Lindsey was suppose to have two girls. Now it's uneven!" He seems to have gotten over that idea because he was all smiles meeting baby Eli. We were hoping that his and Maddox's excitement would wear off on Emmy, but she still has very little interest in holding or touching Eli. She is warming up to him though; I think she will be more hands-on in her own time. For now she is content watching him from afar and laughing at the funny noises and faces that he makes. 

Here are a few more scenes from our first week: swaddled up for bedtime, diaper changes, playtime with Daddy, and Sunday morning muffins. It's been a pretty simple week focused on our family and home. I feel so blessed to be "Mommy" to Emerson and Eli!

Introducing Eli Daniel Kennedy

Looking back at the post I wrote announcing Emerson's arrival, this story is quite different. No McDonald's drive-thru on the way to the hospital, no hours of waiting; instead a very dramatic car ride and the worry that we weren't going to make it in time. This one certainly made a grand entrance, and we are so excited to welcome our son, Eli Daniel Kennedy! Here is his story...

With a due date of November 17th, I started feeling anxious shortly after Emerson's birthday, wondering every day if it would be the day. I left work on Friday, the 15th feeling a sense of things being in place; I was hopeful that something would happen before returning on Monday. As the weekend went by, we enjoyed two wonderful days with very few plans and lots of family time. We even decorated for Christmas! Emmy was a helpful little elf. 

On Sunday, I was starting to give up on having a due-date baby, but I went to the YMCA that afternoon and then out to dinner at East Coast Wings, in hopes that a workout and spicy wings would help move things along. I had been feeling some cramps throughout the day, and after dinner, it seemed like maybe this baby was going to come after all! Boomer and Megan helped me make the decision to have Emmy spend the night with Aunt Megan. Even if it turned out to be a false alarm, it was important that Emmy was taken care of if things moved quickly. Aunt Megan picked Emmy up just before 8PM, after a normal evening with a bath and reading some books. I was pretty emotional saying 'goodbye' to Emmy, but it was special going through the nightly routine with her one more time. We snapped a few photos as a family of three, and also a last baby bump pic. (Click HERE for the last bump pic of Emmy!)

With Emmy off to her aunt and uncle's, Boomer (after finally putting a few things in our hospital bag!) was watching Sunday Night Football, and I began walking laps around the downstairs. Things progressed very quickly around 9PM, and I started recording the contractions. Within an hour, the contractions were less than 4 minutes apart. 

During one of my laps through the kitchen, unexpectedly my water broke! Boomer, calm and collected, sprang into action, getting our things into the car and helping me get into different clothes. I was pretty not calm so I am glad that he stayed level-headed. It was a little after 10:30PM as we made the 20-minute drive to the hospital. We ran a couple of red lights to get there as fast as we could. When we arrived at the hospital, Boomer parked right out front and, like in the movies, ran inside for a wheelchair. There would be no walking from the parking deck like I did with Emmy! Once in the admitting room, I was barely there enough time to tell my name and Social Security number and for the nurse to say that I was at 7 cm! I was rushed to the labor-and-delivery room, where the whole team was already assembled. After a quick epidural and only 30 minutes of pushing, our little boy arrived! Boomer got to announce the gender, and I think my surprise showed in my reaction: through the tears and laughter, I said "What are we going to do with a boy!?" 

We are so excited to welcome our son, Eli Daniel Kennedy!

Eli Daniel Kennedy

Born November 18th, 2019, 12:30AM

7 pounds, 7 ounces

21.5 inches long

Mom and Dad made it in time to be at the hospital. They came in soon after Eli was born, and both claim that they had predicted a boy. Grammy is even wearing blue! 

After a few hours of resting, Eli had some very special visitors, the most special being his big sister. Emmy went to daycare for the first part of Monday, but then Aunt Megan picked her up, and they went shopping for a new outfit for Eli to wear home from the hospital. When they arrived at the hospital, she was sporting her new big sister shirt, and she got a special bracelet from the nurse that said "Big Sister." Emmy was shy at first. She kept her distance and wasn't quite ready to hold or touch baby Eli. My favorite picture is the one of Boomer holding Eli, with Emmy close by and her arm tucked away from him. It shows her genuine interest but her hesitation, too. She warmed up a little bit by the end of the visit. It seems our dynamic duo just need some more time to get to know each other! 

We stayed in the hospital the rest of Monday and Tuesday, and Eli was cuddled by both sets of grandparents, Aunt Megan, and Caroline. We also received many text messages and phone calls from other friends, family, and coworkers. We were so blessed by the encouragement and excitement from everyone!

We were discharged on Wednesday morning, and we made [a slower] drive back to Kernersville. I was able to squeeze between the two car seats in the back seat so that I could sit next to Eli, just like I did when we brought home his sister three years ago. 

We are so thankful for this most precious gift from God. And now the fun begins as Kennedy Family of 4! 

"For this child we have prayed, and the Lord has granted the desires of our heart."

- 1 Samuel 1:27