Baby Collin

Welcome Baby Collin!!!

We finally got to meet Collin a little after 11 AM on Wednesday Morning (Nov 26th). I met Renee & Dan at the hospital around 9:45 PM on Tuesday night. After waiting all night - Collin finally decided he was ready to meet the world. He is 7 lbs 4 oz and is Beautiful! Lauren and Kyle are so excited to finally meet the little man. Here's just a few pictures - I'm sure Collin will be seen very often on the Hensley Family Blog - as we plan on him being Emma's future husband!!! :-)

Mommy Renee & Collin - Thanksgiving Day (1 Day Old)

Daddy Dan & Collin

Me & Collin - What a Cutie!!!

9 Months Old

Our 9 month old photo shoot was the toughest by far! It's way too exciting to eat the paper. This is an outfit from a friend of mine and I love the hat - however Zach thinks it's silly!



At our 9 month check-up everything was good except Emma needs to gain weight. She only weights 15 lbs + and has dropped below the 5th percentile. So we're increasing her milk - which has prompted me to decide that it's time to quit nursing. I've though long and hard and it just didn't make sense for me to pump 3 times a day and only make enough for 1 full bottle (with not enough left to make a second). I feel like I've done a good job and I really wanted to continue but her growing is more important. So we're starting to wean her this week and we'll see how it goes - I'm still planing on nursing her for her first and last feeding as long as I can. Hopefully my body will be smart (for once) and it will continue to make a little milk!

Today (Friday) I got a call from daycare at 11 AM saying Emma woke up from her nap with a 102 degree temperature. So I'm home with her this afternoon. She's been really sleepy and clingy - but not all that unhappy. I'm hoping she'll sleep it off for the most part!




Countdown to Turkey day - only 5 days left!!!

Family Update

Emma in her new winter coat - I think she can move in there but I'm not sure!

Emma is officially 9 months old! No picture yet - but coming soon. She has grown so much in the last month. She is quick on the crawl - but prefers to walk holding on to anything. This means lots of bumps and bruises (as you've seen on the last post), but it's too cute!

We Love food!

Nothing much has been going on in the last week, we've just been enjoying some time home all together. About a month ago or so I started a Jazzercise class that meets at a church near my house on Monday and Wednesday nights. I've found that although it's a struggle to get home, feed Emma and get back out the door - and then rush home to feed her and get her to bed - I really needed this time away with other women. Plus the endorphins aren't so bad either! Zach has been slowing down at work and is finding out what the words "off Season" actually mean. Since we've met in 2000 - I don't think he's ever actually had an off season period of time with his job!

Emma has her 9 month check-up tomorrow so we'll update on how much we've grown then!

On another note, I'm starting to wonder how much longer I will be breastfeeding. I've had such a wonderful experience bonding with Emma so it's hard to imagine not sitting down with her in this way going forward. I've found that I'm constantly worried about something with nursing - whether it's being paranoid that I'm not making enough, worrying about when and how to nurse/pump, not being able to go to events without carting the pump (how fun is it to pump in the bathroom during a football game really). Now that we have teeth that is always a worry too - she's normally very nice - but boy when she's not! I've recently changed jobs - which meant my nice private office to pump in became a closet in my new department. And now my office has relocated again which means I'm pumping.....good question!?! I really do not know where I'm going to pump tomorrow when I get back to work. There's always the bathroom - but that's not appealing at all. I'm sure they'll find somewhere for me, but the privacy gets increasingly less, which for me means that I am able to pump less. I know that I've provided the best start for my daughter which gives me peace of mind, but I really had hoped to nurse a little longer. But there's that other part of me that's ready to not worry what I eat or drink, or where I am when she needs to eat, or who might walk in on me pumping at work! I'm really struggling with this part of life, so if anyone has any encouragement or thoughts - please let me know.

On another seperate note, several people have asked me lately so here you go -

Yes - we are still cloth diapering. We only use prefolds and are Very happy and will continue to do this as long as Emma is in diapers. Zach still isn't completely okay with the mess - but he doesn't complain so that's good! And we still make most of our own baby food. With us both working full time sometimes all the home tasks just don't get completed - but for the most part she gets good food!

That's it - not much else happening. Hope everyone is getting ready to eat turkey soon! We'll be installing our new kitchen floor next Saturday so we're excited for that too!

Halloween & 8 Months Old

Happy Halloween - a little late. I finally got a card reader to fix my computer/camera issues so we're back to posting new pics!

Happy Halloween from Emma the M&M!

I'm 8 Months Old

(okay - really almost 9 now but we took these pictures when I was 8 Months old!)

We fell and bumped our head again last week - thank goodness this was a few hours after we got our pictures taken! Ouch!!! But this big girl only cried a few seconds!!!

Poor Emma!

Not much new here - just enjoying having Zach home a little more this winter! We can't wait for our 1st Thanksgiving with Emma! It's coming soon!

Our Little Pumpkin!

Emma's 1st Halloween!!!

So the Annual Hensley Family Pumpkin Carving contest happened this week...

And the Winner is....

Yes - That is Emma in a Real Pumpkin!!! (Mom finally won!)

And Mom under estimated how cold the pumpkin would be after 1st carving it!

On another note - I'm having trouble downloading pictures so there will be more pictures to come! Check back to see our Halloween costume!!!

Vacation to Grandparents!

So it's been a Very long time since my last post and we've been Busy!!! Since last time, we've started crawling, have 4 teeth, pull up on everything and are getting more bold each day!

We took a trip the 2nd week of October to see all the grandmas and grandpas and some friends. We stayed with Grandma Debi a few nights, had a play date with Mira and Griffin in KC and saw Grandpa Randy and Grandma Donna and Aunt Grace and Uncle Randy.

Grandma Debi reading to Emma

Griffin and Emma playing

Mira giving Kissed Goodbye!

Then we spend a few days at Grandma Denise and Granpa Knute's. Our 1st stop in Stanton was to ride in the combine - and Emma Loved it! Emma played with Aunt Al, Uncle Drew, Aunt Carroll and ? Jim...also known as Aunt Carrie and Josh! The Big Kids (or grown adults) even had a pumpkin carving contest which Grandpa Knute judged - Zach and I won. They said we cheated since our pumpkin said "Emma" in the smile!

1st Combine Ride with Grandpa Knute


The 2008 Pumpkin Contest - Winning Pumpkin in the Center by the Hensely's


Great Grandma Pete and Emma - she Loved her necklace!

Emma also had her 1st airplane rides - which went Very Well! We even looked like we knew what we were doing when breezing right through security - I was well prepared!

Emma got sick a day or two before we left so we had 1 VERY sleepless night at Grandma Denise's. She was up almost every 20 minutes so I slept (yeah right) with her downstairs. We were a little more cranky on the way home but the cold didn't last long so it wasn't too bad!


We're busy getting ready for Halloween here. Last night we had a Baby Shower for Renee and tonight Zach and I are headed to a Retirement party for one of our friends. Lauren is coming over to babysit Emma!


We also haven't been sleeping that well lately - waking 1 - 2 times a night. Last night we decided it was time - we had to Cry it out. She had gotten used to me being lazy and brining her into our bed at 4 AM to eat. So this morning we woke up at 5 AM and wanted to come to Mom and Dad's bed. She cried for a few minutes and then Zach went in - gave her a pacifier and laid her back down. A few minutes later I went in and did the same - that lasted for about 20 minutes before we fell asleep - what a hard thing for parents to do - but Necessary for ALL of us! Tonight I expect to be up at least once again like this - but I'm hoping by Sunday we'll be back to our usual - Sleeping from 8:30 Pm until at least 6 AM! I'll let you know how it goes!!!

Busy Times!

Emma in her Sunday Dress! Thanks Marilyn!!!


We have been so busy lately! I know it's been a long time since I've posted - but things have been so crazy around here that I haven't had a lot of time. Since the last real post - we've lost our power (thanks Ike!), had visitors, changed jobs and Emma has been growing like Crazy!



So first, hurricane Ike winds blew through Louisville and knock down a lot of power lines and tress and took out our power from Sunday at noon until Tuesday morning. Our fridge was in coolers and we did everything at night by the light of our camping lanterns. We cooked on the grill outside and listened to the radio at night. Wow - electricity is Wonderful! Monday while the power was off, Emma came to work with me for the day. My office had power, but home and daycare didn't. She had a Great time and I Loved having her there. She was so good - she walked around the office with different people and then I had her on a blanket in my office the rest of the day. She sat there and played and took 2 naps and just acted like it was normal! Wish I could have her there everyday!


The day after the power came back on we had Justin and Tyler visit for the UofL vs K-State football game. We went to the game on Wednesday night while Louisville Grandma Barb kept Emma (Thanks Barb -You're the best!). Then on Thursday the boys went to watch the Ryder Cup practices all day and then Gaslight Festival parade that night. We had a great time at Emma's 1st Parade!

Justin and Emma at Gaslight Parade

Emma and Daddy at Gaslight Parade

Zach, Emma, Justin and Val at Gaslight Parade


The following Monday I started a new job. I'm still with the same company but I'm now the Marketing Coordinator for Semonin Realtors. I changed offices so it's been an adjustment but I'm really liking it so far. I have lots to learn but wonderful people there to teach me. I'm really enjoying getting back to what I enjoyed doing and I think having been in a sales office for a few years will really help to create some valuable marketing for the agents. Although - I Miss my Central office family a ton!


Emma has been so busy growing a learning new things. Everyday I wonder what Zach and I did to get such a perfect little angel. She is the most wonderfull baby and I can't imagine life without her. She and I have been very busy here this weekend trying to clean up and get ready for another work week and Zach has been to work this weekend every morning at 5 AM! Poor Zach! In a few days we'll be headed back to Kansas City and Iowa to visit all our family. We can't wait to see everyone!

Football season is Here - Can you guess who we're cheering for???






I'll try to post more often as things settle down here a little!