Several Posts at Once

I am trying to catch up on my posts, so make sure you read all of them. This is the fourth one in one day, and they are all about Kinley, of course. And, I expect each of you to comment on each post...j/k!!!

Here are all three of my beautiful children.

Sorry about this being sideways...but this is Kinley after her first bath!

Of course, Brianna and Nate had to be right there for her first bath!

I love baby's hands in their Daddy's hands. Her hands are so small compared to her Daddy's.

Oh, How He Loves His Ley-Ley!!!

Well, we weren't quite sure how Nate was going to respond to Kinley, and it took a bit of warming up to her. But now, he doesn't want to leave her alone. About a week or so before she was born, we were trying to get him to say her name, and he started saying "Ley-Ley", pronounced "lee lee", and it has officially stuck as her nickname. It is so cute. When Nate wakes up in the morning, the first thing he asks is "Where Ley-Ley go?" And, when he wants to hold her, he says "Hold Me?" And then of course, I find him like this a lot...

He loves to stop the swing and kiss her and hug her, which is really sweet, except when it wakes her up. And then, there is this...

One day, I found them in pack-n-play like this. Nate had pulled a chair over, crawled into the bed with her, and was going to take a nap with her. Somehow, she slept through the entire process. So, before I removed Nate and talked to him about why he couldn't do that, I snapped this photo. Unfortunately, he has done this several more times, and now gets in trouble when he climbs in bed with Kinley. But, oh, how he loves her. It is absolutely adorable!!!

The Birth Story

So, I thought that I would take the time to share about how the birth of Kinley went. It was very different than either Brianna or Nate's births, which were of course different, but had some similarities. Both Brianna and Nate came very quickly. With Brianna, I was induced and was only in labor for four hours and I did have an epidural with her (at about the third hour). With Nate, I went in for my 40 week appointment, and I was so far progressed that they kept me, broke my water, and Nate was born an hour and a half later, with no pain meds.

So, with that in mind, I was a little concerned about how quickly Kinley could come. And, I had never experienced contractions before my water broke. So, when at 38 weeks, I started having consistent, hard contractions, I didn't quite know what to think. I stayed home for awhile, and then I realized that they were only a couple of minutes apart and were lasting about 45 seconds. So, I called L&D on base, and they told me to come in. So, we dropped the kids off at my friend Nicole's, and headed in to the hospital. Once there, they monitored me for about an hour, and although they didn't want to admit me yet, they also didn't want me to leave the hospital. So, we walked around the hosptal for a couple of hours, and then they checked me again. I was still having consistent contractions, but I had not dilated any more (I was at a 4). But, they did admit me at this time. After doing the paperwork and getting the IV started, my contractions got farther apart. But, when they checked me, I was dilated to a 5-6. So much for my body working together. So, the doctor (whom I had yet to see) came in and was going to pop my water to get things moving again, but then decided not to. I never saw him again. I kinda think he didn't want to deal with it (although I have been told that he is just really laid back). During the next few hours, I labored on the labor ball and in the labor tub. While I was in the labor tub during this time, we were so tired. I would actually sleep in between contractions. During this time, Nathan was kind of complaining about how long it was taking this time. I was like, "Come on, its not like you are in any pain here!" Actually, I think and hope that I just thought that, because Nathan was really a great help throughout the entire process, and I couldn't have done it without him. Well, I could have, but it wouldn't have been pretty.

So, when the midwife, Major Rossio, whom I absolutely love (she delivered, or caught, Nate), came in at the shift change in the morning, she decided it was time to pop my water...I was now a 7. So, she did that, and the real labor began. I labored in the labor tub most of the time...I was going natural again...no epidural. So, about 11:30am I told them that I needed to push. The nurse called the midwife, who was at her office at the other end of the building...she would come soon. The nurse checked me and said I was only an 8 and I couldn't push yet. I told her that I really needed to, but she said I wasn't ready yet. That was at 11:44am. I got up to go to the bathroom, and when I stood up, the baby just started coming. I yelled to the nurse, "Something is coming out of me!!!" and she just said, "Sometimes it happens that fast." Major Rossio had just walked into L&D and heard me yell that, and she rushed in. They got me back on the bed, and Kinley was born at 11:52am. So, it didn't take long once she decided to come.

She weighed in at 8lbs 5oz, was 20 1/2 inches long, and had a full head of dark, dark hair. She is just so beautiful!!!

Kinley's Baby Shower

The sweet ladies in my church here in Eagle River threw a baby shower for Kinley the week before she was born. It was such a sweet time with friends. I am so thankful for the godly ladies of our church here. They truly spoil my children and have been such an encouragement to me. They are always willing to help out...I just cannot say enough about these ladies. We will totally miss them when we leave in May.

The ladies were so sweet to include Brianna in the shower. She (and Nate) even came away with a few gifts of their own. Mrs. Karen made a special balloon for Brianna that said "Big Sister" on one side and "Mommy's Helper" on the other.

And, here is Brianna and me (very pregnant with Kinley) posing with the cake!

Kinley Brooke has arrived

Beth, SEVENTEEN hours into labor, and the spirits are still high. She is one tough cookie!


Two and a half hours before Baby Kinley is born, Beth is starting to feel some "pressure", but the labor tub is helping to ease the pain.
The cute feet of Kinley Brooke and here she is.....

A proud Mama... Beth, you are wonderful!!!

There is Kinley with her Dad, we are so happy to welcome her to the Hendricks family.

The Big Sister and Big Brother couldn't be more proud

Brianna's face says it all, she LOVES being the big sister.

Uncle Josh seems to get along just fine with his little niece.

Taking care of Baby Kinley will wear us all out!!
A sign of things to come.

We thank God for His gift of Kinley Brooke Hendricks, an absolute wonderful blessing on our family. It really is an amazing thing when He entrusts one of His little ones to us, we are going to do everything we can to raise her up so that she honors Him with her life. And along with the great responsibility, we eagerly look forward to getting to know her and watch her grow up in our family.... THANK YOU God!

Life in Alaska

The other day Nathan went to get me some sausage biscuits from McD's (yes, this baby makes me crave sausage) and saw five or so bald eagles in the trees next to McD's. So, here are some great shots of the bald eagles. It is really cool to live in a place where you can just go outside and see these beautiful birds.



On another note, life here in AK sure has been interesting lately. Just in case you haven't heard, Mt. Redoubt is getting ready to erupt...like any time now. Of course, they have been saying that for about a week or so, but they continue to say that it is inevitable. So, what does that mean for us? Well, Mt. Redoubt is really not that far from where we live...just across the Cook Inlet, and a little south. That means that Anchorage will be getting quite a bit of ash fall from the volcano, depending on the winds. Here are some things you are supposed to do/not do in the event of the volcano erupting:

1. Remain inside...this includes driving, because the ash could ruin your car. (So, if I go into labor, how am I supposed to get to the hospital? Just a thought)
2. If you have to go outside, wear a mask or damp cloth across you mouth so that you don't inhale the ash.
3. Do not wear contact lenses, and basically, try to cover your eyes as much as possible so that the ash doesn't damage them.
4. Wear long sleeve clothing to protect your skin as much as possible. OK- this is Alaska, who isn't going to be wearing long sleeves???
5. Cover all electronics to protect them from ash.
6. Have a weeks worth of food and water on hand.

So, that is a short list of what to do. There is so much to think about. And, on top of it all...I am 38 weeks pregnant now, so that means (at least for me), that I could have this baby any day. Let's just say that I am progressed. So, our option is for us to go live at the hospital if the volcano erupts. And, we have to bring all of our own food. And, we won't have a refrigerator. HOW FUN!!! So, the bags, for all in the family, are packed. I have a list of what food to take, we have a case of bottled water in the car. I think, that when this volcano erupts, we will be able to get to the hospital within an hour or so. At least, that is my plan...we'll see how it goes.

So, if you hear that there has been a volcanic eruption in AK, and don't hear from me for several days, don't be to alarmed. I should be able to have cell phone reception, and I will keep in contact with my parents. So, I will ask Dad to post something about how we are on his blog.

My question is...who will erupt first? Me, or the volcano? I am betting on the volcano.

I just saw that my friend Ruth posted about this volcano as well, and she has some awesome pics of the mountain and some interesting facts. Check out her blog here.