Memorial Day Weekend



We started out our Memorial Day weekend by helping Mom and Dad move into their new house!  It was a VERY hot weekend (90+ degrees), but everything went very smoothly.  It is still hard to believe that they aren't going to live at "home" any more, but they are very happy in their new house!  

Today, our little baby girl got dressed in red, white, and blue for the first time!  She is proud to be an American!:)

This evening we had Michele and Shane, Chad and Chanda, and Jon and Nicole and all of the kids over for a cookout!  We played with water guns, buckets of water, and the sprinkler.  It was a fun, crazy time together!:)

Happy Birthday To Me!

Yesterday was my 27th birthday and my first birthday as a mama! I definitely had a whole new appreciation for how my parents (especially my mom) felt on my birthday!:) Alexis and I spent most of the day at home. When Bry came home, we went to Fort Wayne and picked up Penn Station. Baby girl was pretty fussy because she didn't nap well so we ended up eating our supper in the car, in our driveway, while she slept! Bry got me some fun gifts and surprised me with Coldstone cupcakes AND ice cream! It was a great day with my little family!:)

A New Friend

Today we went to the Jones' to meet our new friend, Brody! He was born on May 12th, almost one month after Alexis.

Lexi's First Walk

This is sort of late, but I wanted to document Lexi's first walk!  We took her to Evergreen Park when she was two weeks old to go for a walk.  She loved it and so did we!:)

 

 

 

Peyton and Zaya's First Soccer Game

Peyton and Zaya are playing soccer for the first time this year!  Shane and Bryan are coaching their team.  In their first game, Peyton scored 4 goals and Zay scored 1!  It was so fun to watch them!

After the game, we went over to Mom and Dad's.  Zay was so sweet to hang out with Lex and Lil!

Alexis: One Month Old!

One month ago, Alexis looked like this...

 

And now, she looks like this!

(she looks so goofy in this pic, but it was the best I could do!:)

 

 

I can't believe how fast this past month has gone!  It has been the best and hardest month of my life.  I wouldn't trade it for the world!  Alexis, this is what's happening this month:

• You weigh 11 lbs. 1 oz.!  You gained almost 3 pounds since your one week appointment!!!  You are a very good eater.  You are in the 90-97th percentile for weight.
• You are 22 1/2 inches long.  Everyone comments on how long you are and how long your fingers and toes are.  We wonder how tall you will be someday!  You are in the 90th percentile for height.
• Your head circumference is 38.5cm, which is almost the 90th percentile.
• You are a pretty good sleeper!  You sleep better at night than you do during the day, but you are getting better at taking naps.  You usually wake up between 8 and 9 for the day.  You eat right away and are so happy!  You are usually up for an hour or so and then I put you in your swing for your first nap.  You will sit in there happily for a while and then take a short nap.  You take another nap in the late morning.  Lately, Mommy has been holding you for this nap.:)  Later in the afternoon, I try to get you to take a good nap in your bed.  Sometimes you cooperate...sometimes you don't.  We're all better off when you do.:)  You cat nap through the evening until bedtime.  You usually go to sleep between 9 and 10.  You wake up around 2 or 3am and then again around 5 or 5:30 before you get up for the day.  You eat and go right back to bed during the middle of the night feedings!
• You nurse every 2 1/2 to 3 hours during the day and will go 5 to 6 hours during your first stretch of sleep at night.  One night you went for 7 hours, but that must have been a fluke for now.:) 
• You have taken several bottles of breastmilk now.  Your daddy gave you your first bottle and you scarfed it down.  You like to eat...you're not picky about how it's delivered!
• You have used a binky since the first or second day that we brought you home.  It has been a lifesaver!  You are getting better at keeping it in your mouth.
• You have gotten to meet lots and lots of our friends and family.  You are a loved little girl!
• You love to ride in the car and go for walks.  We go for several walks a week, usually at Evergreen Park by our house.
• You have a flat spot on the back of your head because you always look to your left when you are laying on your back.  Dr. Landrigan said to just try to get you to look the other way and it should correct itself.  You are stubborn and it is HARD to get you to look the other way!
• You often only open one eye when you are sleepy or just waking up.  Daddy calls you "Arrrrrggghhh-lexis.":)
• You turned over from your belly to your back when you were two weeks old!  You haven't done it since, thank goodness.:)
• You haven't liked bright light from the day you were born.  You are getting better!
• You love taking baths!  You weren't sure at first when you just got sponge baths, but now that you can be down in the water you enjoy it.  You hate it when we get you out because you get cold!
• You have a fussy time in the evening, usually around 8:30pm.  It has already gotten MUCH better since you have started napping more during the day. 

Sweet girl, your daddy and I love you more than words can say.  We often look at you on the video monitor and just talk about how cute you are and how we can't believe that you are ours.  You have grown so much already and we can't wait to see what this next month will bring.  You are the light of our lives!  We love you!

Praying Girl

Yesterday was Lexi's second time at church and she's already mastered the praying pose!;) We love this sweet girl SO much!!!

Lexi's First Ultrasound

At Lexi's one week doctor's appointment, her doctor decided that she wanted to get her hip checked out.  When she moved her leg around, she could hear an intermittent clicking sound.  This could indicate some kind of dysplasia that might cause Lexi's hip to dislocate.  She didn't seem too worried, but said that it was definitely better to catch it early if something was wrong.  We took her to Parkview Huntington the following Friday for an ultrasound.  

Here she is in the ultrasound room!  She had to be undressed from the waist down so that meant no diaper.  Of course, she peed all over the ultrasound tech!  We were so thankful that a doctor was in the room with the tech and was able to tell us right away that her hips were normal!  We were so happy!

Kaitlyn's Prom

This weekend, my baby sister went to her high school prom!  Kaitlyn looked beautiful and her and Tyler had a great time!  

The cute couple

With Lexi girl!

Here they are with the girls!  Lily wasn't too happy about this photo op!

This is what the boys did the whole time...avoided the pictures!:)

with Tyler's family

with Mom and Dad

 

with their friends

It's hard to believe that she is old enough to be going to prom, graduating, and going to college!  It seems like she was just a little girl.  I'm so proud of the woman that she's become!

Mother's Day 2012

Yesterday I got to experience my very first mother's day!  I felt so blessed and happy after spending last mother's day wishing so badly for a baby.  I spent a lot of time praying for all of the women that are hoping for their turn to celebrate mother's day!

Here I am with the precious girl that made me a mama!

And with our favorite guy!  They got me sweet cards and are taking me shopping at Hautz's greenhouse for flowers.

We went to Shane and Michele's for lunch.  Here are Mom and Dad with the girls!

Here's Aunt Michele with Lexi girl!

We had Bryan's family over for supper.  It was Linda's first mother's day as a grandma!

Newborn Pictures

Nine day old non-sleeping baby + 2 somewhat stressed parents + 85 degree studio = crazy newborn photo shoot!

Bryan said that Lexi's newborn photo shoot ranked in one of the top 5 of the most stressful experiences of his life.:)  She was just not very settled that day and didn't really want to sleep for her pictures!  Luckily, our photographer was extremely calm and patient so that made it much better.  She got a few awesome shots of our beautiful baby girl!





Holly set up this shot to play off of Lexi's nickname in utero "Rosebud!"

I ordered this little owl hat for her pictures thinking that it would be cute to hang in her nursery.  I love how she's in a nest!:)

This picture is just so ridiculously sweet.  She had her diaper off and had just peed all over herself.  She apparently liked how warm it felt.;)  We love this precious girl SO much!!!

Bye Bye Umbilical Cord

Today, when Alexis was 2 weeks and 6 days old, her umbilical cord fell off! I unzipped her jammies this morning and it was just laying by her belly button!:) She looks more like a "big" baby now!

Lexi's Church Debut

Today we took Alexis to church for the first time! She did great! She stayed in the service the whole time. Many, many people told her how beautiful she was so I think she will look forward to going back next week!;)