Playing catchup over here. Two kids is NO JOKE. Half the time they alternate nap schedules all day long so I am always on call. On the rare occasion that I do get them to nap at the same time, I usually try to take advantage and go for  a little snooze myself. I'm pretty exhausted most of the time, as Leighton is still waking up several times a night. So I'm very sorry sweet Leighton if you feel short changed by my lack of dedicated monthly posts. I will try my best to keep up to date better moving forward. So without further ado...

Happy 2 Months, Leighton! 

2 Month Stats: 
Weight: 11.5 lbs (75%)
Height: 23 inches (75%)
Head Circumference: 39.8 cm (75%)

​Happy 3 Months, Leighton! 

4 Month Stats: 
Weight: 12lbs, 13.5 oz (45%)
Height: 25 1/4 inches (88%)
Head Circumference: 42.1 cm (85%)

Leighton took her 4 month vaccination shots like a boss. Barely cried at all! Proud Mama!

Ok, so this is a pretty weak post, I realize. But don't worry... I have thousands of photos & videos on my camera documenting your every move and a baby book filled with all of your milestones. I'll get better at this blog thing again, I promise!

LOVE YOU SWEET LEIGHTON!

​XOXOXO

Leighton's 1st month was a whirlwind. Recovering from surgery, remembering how to live without sleep, and potty training big sister. Um, yeah...pour this tired Mommy a glass of wine. The main challenge this month was realizing how different each baby is. What worked well for Hadley, Leighton wanted nothing to do with. From soothing to sleeping styles we had to reinvent the wheel for this girl and learn how to roll with the punches. We're starting to figure out what makes her tick, but it's been a learning process, for sure. Good thing she's so cute! ;) 

Happy 1 Month, Leighton!

Stats:
At her 2 week check-up she weighed 8 lbs (50th percentile), measured 21 inches (90th percentile), and was in the 75th percentile for head circumference. 

Clothing/diapers:
Since she is so long, she has already started outgrowing a lot of her newborn clothing, not even getting to wear some of my favorite outfits that Hadley wore! :( She's still a little small though for her 0-3 month clothing, so we are in a bit of an awkward dressing stage at the moment. We're also in between seasons, as well , so sometimes finding her an outfit can be a real challenge! She has also already sized up from newborn diapers to size 1's! Hadley was in newborns for months! What are we feeding this kid!? Ha!

Sleeping: 
This has been a challenge. Leighton has pretty bad stomach issues (I'd maybe even go so far as to call it colic) and prefers sleeping on her stomach (which doctors nowadays advise you against). But really...she'll groan in pain all night if we lay her on her back so I went ahead and purchased a Dock A Tot (a breathable life raft looking pillow) for her to sleep in so that she can more safely sleep on her tummy.  She does pretty well in it, but still only sleeps in it for 3 to 4 hours at a time. Then we nurse. Then she doesn't want to hop right back into it, so half the time we fall asleep with me holding her (which I realize is another no no). We are just trying to survive over here, folks. Mama is tired and Leighton's tummy hurts. 

Nicknames: 
"Leighton Elizabeth" - which isn't a nickname really, but is what Hadley insists that we all call her. By her full name. Every. Time. Or she will correct you. Ha! We also call her "Baby Sister". 

Likes: 

• Being outdoors
• Being worn by Mommy in a wrap
• Big Sister, Hadley
• Car rides
• Tummy Time
• Lamps
• Having her diaper changed
• Baths

Dislikes: 

• Being swaddled
• Laying on her back
• Stopping at red lights
• The hours of 6-9pm

Leighton,
Even though this first month has been tough, you are such a sweet girl when you aren't experiencing tummy pain. You are starting to smile at us and love being held and loved on by your big sister! We look forward to seeing more of your personality in the next month and hope that some of your discomfort will go away, as well. We love you beautiful baby girl! 

​Happy 1 Month! XOXO

"February 21st @ 4:00pm." - The time and date that Leighton was scheduled to arrive, as told to me over the phone by the c-section scheduling nurse.

It felt so unnatural to know her birth date weeks in advance. Like we were playing God and deciding when  best to pluck her from the womb. 

I held out hope until the very end that she would miraculously turn from breech on her own, preventing the need for a c-section. I was already dilating and had been experiencing labor symptoms for several weeks and just felt like when she was ready, she'd make her move. 

Time marched on, she stayed put, and the morning of February 21st finally arrived. A bitterly cold and dreary day.

It is such a strange thing to wake up knowing that today will be your child's birthday and then have to sit around all day and wait until it's time to go to the hospital. No spontaneity, no mad dash to labor & delivery, no frantic texts to family to let them know it's go time. Although there is something to be said for being able to take your time with your hair and makeup ahead of time. 

A little before 2:00pm, Mason and I made the drive to Presbyterian Hospital and checked in. We were taken into a small room where they would be monitoring me and the baby before my scheduled surgery.  

I held out hope until the very end that our baby girl had flipped herself, but a final sonogram proved otherwise. Surgery still on. Upsetting news, but I had some of the very sweetest nurses during these two hours. So hopeful for me, yet so reassuring when things didn't turn out the way I would have liked. Nurses are truly angels on earth. At least all of the ones I've been blessed enough to be cared by. 

The two hours passed quickly and my epidural was administered. It was a little worrisome to me that I could still move my feet, but they assured me, that though I would have feeling, I would not sense any pain. Once I was good and numb and the OR was available, it was baby time. Mason was left in the room to get suited up in his scrubs, while I was prepped for surgery. 

The OR was unlike anything I could have imagined. It was so blindingly bright and sterile, with so many nurses and doctors buzzing around the room doing different jobs. It was also absolutely freezing! I felt like I was being wheeled into outer space.

They lifted me onto the table, put up the paper "privacy" divider, and then brought Mason in to be by my side. Mainly, I remember shaking uncontrollably from the cold and feeling a little bit out of it - like when you have medicine head. I was in good spirits though and anxious to get it over with and meet our sweet baby. The doctors wasted no time and got straight to work. Literally. Two minutes went by and I asked them what they were up to on the other side of the curtain. "Making the incision into your uterus." Wow! A drive thru delivery! 

I definitely didn't feel any pain and not even much pressure when she was pulled from my body. Leighton Elizabeth took her first breath at 5:04PM and was held up for us to take our first glance. 

Our newest beauty. She was born as "Perfect" by Ed Sheeran played on the radio in the operating room. The sweetest song and so very fitting of the moment. 

She was whisked away for only a few minutes while I was stitched up, but it felt like an eternity. I was calling across the room to Mason, "What color is her hair? How much does she weigh? Does she look like Hadley?" Torture. But before too long, we were reunited. 

Once the surgery was complete, we were wheeled back to our little labor & delivery room for more monitoring and a little golden hour baby bonding time. This part is kind of a blur to me. Probably the overwhelment of coming out of surgery and simultaneously being given a brand new baby.

It took us about 12 hours to make a final decision on her name. I just couldn't decide which name was the best fit and as silly as it may seem, I really wanted for her to be bathed first so that I could get a good look at her. Due to my indecisiveness, most of her hospital paperwork and her hospital bracelet just say "Girl Guinn", Ha! Sorry, Leighton! :)

And that's it, the story of the birth of our second baby girl. Thankfully, the c-section was much less traumatic than I had built it up to be and surprisingly even had a few plus sides to it, the most important being Leighton's safe entrance into the world. 

Mason and I have decided that Leighton will be our last baby. And even though our hearts are completely full, it is still a little bittersweet. Giving birth has been the most incredible experience for me, both times, despite things not always going as planned. I am so very humbled to be the mother of our two precious girls and though these baby days are fleeting, I look forward to watching the person Leighton Elizabeth will grow to become. We love her so much already and know she will do great things!

We welcomed our second precious girl, Leighton Elizabeth, at 5:04PM on February 21, 2018!

8 pounds, 1 ounce and 20 inches long. 

She is such a blessing to our family and Mommy, Daddy & Big Sister Hadley just adore her!

Welcome to the world, Leighton! We love you so much already! 

It's finally here! Your birthday week!! We are so excited for your arrival, yet the minutes are ticking by so painfully slow. Only 3 more days (unless you surprise us before then)!

I know I have done a terrible job of documenting this pregnancy even though I had lofty goals of doing it just the same as I did the last time. It has proven to be much more difficult to find the time to write when most of my free time is spent entertaining your older sister, attempting to engage in quality family time, and trying to keep order in our home. 

This pregnancy has also been a lot harder on me than Hadley's for some reason. Maybe because I'm a little older or more exhausted by keeping up with a toddler... who knows? I was more nauseous, more tired and achy, and much more emotional throughout though. Not that it was terrible, just different.  

Lately, we've been struggling with the fact that you are breech and not likely to turn before your birth. I have tried so many different things to help guide you towards the head down position, including inversions, pelvic tilts, hypnotherapy, and even an attempted version. You are just content where you are. Realizing that this would mean a c-section has not been easy to take, as I was looking forward to an easier natural birth experience this second time around since I would know what to expect. Now I find myself in the position of preparing for a surgery and a more difficult recovery, when all I want is to enjoy my time soaking in your newness. 

However, after reassuring conversations with friends, family, my doctor, and lots of prayer, I've decided to give it to God and am at peace with the fact that you will enter the world in your own unique way, however that may be. 

Even though there may be some initial challenges, our excitement is carrying us through the scary unknown as we just can not wait to finally meet you! Especially Hadley! She talks about you all the time and about all of the ways that she plans to take care of you, including changing your diapers! Ha! 

We have spent so much time preparing for you and readying our hearts for your arrival. We have decided to wait and name you when we see you, however. We have a few favorites picked out, but we want to look into your eyes and make sure that your name fits you. 

We love you so much already precious girl and know that you will be the perfect completion to our family! Three more days can't get here soon enough - unless you come before then, which wouldn't surprise me in the least, as you have been anything but predictable thus far! :)

We can't wait to hold you sweet baby! See you soon! XOXO
​

Hadley's excited! Daddy's excited! And I am beyond ecstatic! A perfectly healthy baby girl on the way! I feel like I've won't the lottery TWICE! I've taken up residence on cloud nine at the thought of my two girls growing up together! Sweet sisters! God is good and I am so thankful for our newest pink blessing! 

We're so ready for February to be here! Can't wait to meet you Baby Girl! We love you so very much already! 

The longest wait in the world is the time between getting a positive pregnancy test and having your first visit with your doctor! We found out that we were expecting on June 18th and our first doctor's appointment was scheduled for July 18th! A whole month of nervous anticipation!!

Finally the long awaited day arrived and we got to hear the sweet, reassuring sound of our baby's heartbeat! We also got confirmation that there is only one cooking in there (thank goodness)!! Here are a couple of baby's first snapshots taken at the doctor's office: 

The due date we were given is Feb 27th, which was several days later than I thought it would be, but we'll go with it! ;)

Our only concern at the time with this pregnancy was our upcoming anniversary trip to Mexico. Although it is not mentioned in the media as much as it was last summer, contracting Zika is still a risk in Mexico. We even considered canceling our trip, but we talked to our doctor beforehand and she felt that with the particular area that we would be traveling to and the fact that we would be staying on the resort, our risk was incredibly low. So we decided to just go. I know some may consider that an unnecessary risk to take while pregnant, but we felt that with our doctor's "blessing", so to speak, and by being super cautious we'd be okay. We traveled with heavy duty mosquito spray and hosed ourselves down anytime we left our room. While being sober in Mexico wasn't quite the let-loose, child free anniversary trip I'd been hoping for... it was still nice to get away and I guess it turned into an impromptu babymoon! 

We had our second doctor's visit on August 25th.... more WAITING! But everything was great! A strong heartbeat and not much else to report. :)

Tomorrow we go back for the very much anticipated Anatomy Scan where we will hopefully learn the sex of our baby!!! SOOO EXCITED! Knowing if it's a boy or girl really helps it feel more real to me. I can finally start visualizing our future and making plans and preparations more easily! 

I really don't have a major feeling one way or another... in the beginning I really felt like it was a boy due to feeling way more nauseous than I did with Hadley. I also felt like my hair was a lot thicker than during my first pregnancy, which they say can be a boy hormone thing. But now that I'm not nauseous, my hair doesn't feel as thick, my face is breaking out, and I seem to be carrying high like I did with Hadley I'm leaning more toward girl! Only God knows right now! 

Oh and apparently Hadley! This is her family portrait she made at school earlier this week...

Maybe she's onto something!!! We'll find out soon! 

We really just pray for a healthy baby and know that God will choose what is best for completing our family of four! We're just along for the ride!

Come back tomorrow and I'll let you know! :) 

​XOXO

After I informed the Father-To-Be about our new baby on the way, it was time to start thinking about how and when to break the news to the rest of the fam! I try to put a little bit of thought and effort into how I surprise people with our baby news (makes it more fun/memorable, than just blurting it out) and I also try to capture their reactions on camera, which adds an extra level of trickiness! People tend to be suspicious if you just start video taping them out of the blue, so you have to be discreet! 

Luckily, we had plans to see most of our family (who sadly all live out of town) within the next few weeks, so we didn't have to do any additional trip planning. It was also right around 4th of July time, so I went ahead and ordered this shirt for Hadley to wear during our announcement reveals.

Here is Big Sister modeling her shirt! 

The first person on my list to tell was my Mom. We actually didn't have plans to see her in the next few weeks and I was DYING to tell someone, so I had to let her know over the phone. I got her reaction on FaceTime, though....so no worries! The quality of the video isn't the greatest, because as it turns out videotaping an iPhone or laptop screen doesn't work so well. 

 "So are you still going to Mexico!?" Haha! I'll post more details about THAT debacle later! 

Next on our list was to tell Mason's parents. They kept Hadley for us while we were in Mexico, so we wanted to surprise them after we got back from our trip with a "souvenir shirt" for Hadley! Unfortunately, another blurry video...

Last, but not least we told G-Daddy & Nana and my brother Connor our special news. We waited until we could see them in person in mid-July for our annual beach trip to Port Aransas! 

Ideally, we would have told them together at the same time,, but only G-Daddy & Connor came down to our car to help us unload our things & Hadley was already in her Big Sister shirt. I'm telling you videoing people's reactions makes things a lot more complicated! 

The best part of this, is that even though Connor clearly read the shirt - he didn't get that I was pregnant until about 5 minutes later! Hahaha! I wish I would have captured THAT realization on video! 

We had to capture Nana's reaction separately, since she was upstairs in the condo! 

So much fun! I just love surprising people, especially with such exciting news! 

There is a bit of a plot twist, however! We also were on the receiving end of some surprising news! When we broke the news to Mason's brother Cameron and his wife Keisha - they informed us that they are ALSO expecting in February!!! We are only 2 and a half-ish weeks apart!!! How crazy is that!?! Guinn family baby boom!  

Once everyone was in the know our next thing to look forward to was our first Doctor's appointment on July 18th! More on that next...

The Game Plan
You know what happens when you go around saying that you will NEVER be pregnant during the summer, because it's too hot and you like rosé too much? You get pregnant in May, because God's funny like that!   

Mason and I are big planners, well... at least I AM! I pretty much planned Hadley's conception and subsequent birth down to the DAY, as I wanted and needed a May baby. I had just enough vacation days stored up to ease out of the school year after the STAAR test and not have to come back to teaching with a new baby at home. Obviously, with a little help from above, my little plan worked perfectly!

Fast forward two years later... we definitely wanted and were "ready" for a second child, but wanted to wait to try until later on in the summer, AFTER a few vacations we had planned, including our 5 year anniversary trip to Mexico! We were hoping for maybe a March or April springtime baby. 

What Actually Happened
Maybe a little bit of an over share, but before getting pregnant, my cycles were a little unpredictable, getting shorter and shorter over a few months time. I also had started working out a lot more during the spring to try and get my summer bod back (the surest way to get pregnant is to tempt fate by working on getting skinny again... ha!). Anyway, so when my period was a little late this past June I didn't really think too much about it. I figured my cycle was getting back on track, or maybe it had to do with my new workout routine, I really did not think I was pregnant, AT. ALL, 

I woke up on Father's Day (June 18), with plans of brunch and a day full of fun to celebrate Mason! While I did not believe that I was pregs,  I did find it strange that I had still not gotten my period. Wanting to set my mind at ease and rule that out, I dug out a pregnancy test that I had buried in a cabinet. I took the test, then got in the shower, and well you can guess the rest. A very faint, but clearly positive line was waiting on me when I got out.  

OH. MY. LORD!!!! Are you serious!?!??!??!??! We are leaving for Mexico in 11 days!!!!!!!!! Are you freaking kidding me!?!?!??!??!??!??! I. was. shocked. My mind was racing! Should I tell Mason right away? Surprise him? It IS Father's Day! How's that for irony!? I decided to sit on the news for the moment and got ready for brunch as if it was just a normal day. 

The BIG Reveal 
I will brag on myself for a moment here and let you know, dear reader, that I am an excellent actress. I made it through our morning brunch like NOTHING was going on, even though my mind was racing with what this news meant for our future, for our summer plans, for our Mexico trip! Ha! I locked it up though, because I wanted to surprise Mason later at home when he opened up his gifts. Here he is, an unsuspecting father of one... or so he thinks! 

Once we got home. I dropped the bomb on him, because now I really couldn't keep the news to myself any longer! 

Ha! SURPRISE DAD!!!! The ol' "positive pregnancy test wrapped up in a waterford box" trick! Get's 'em every time! ;)

We definitely weren't expecting this sweet blessing, but as always, God had a special plan in store for us and a reminder that though we might think so, we are not the ones in control! Now that it has sunk in, we are overjoyed and can not wait for our second sweet baby to join the family this February! 

​Thanks for following along! Stay tuned for how we shared our exciting news with family! 

​XOXO

We've been keeping a little secret ALL summer long! 

Hadley has been studying for her role as BIG sister!!

Final EXAM: February 27, 2018

And now, that our secret is FINALLY out. I have so much to catch you up on! 

Lots more blog posts coming your way! HOORAY! 

We are so excited to share our journey towards becoming a family of FOUR! 

XOXO, 

​Caroline, Mason & Hadley