7 weeks

This little peanut is 7 weeks old today!


So far life with 3 kiddos hasn't been too overwhelming!
Then again, there hasn't been much required of us but making it through the day... thank goodness for that, because that's easier said than done as it is. Just don't expect us to be anywhere on time. Ever. Again. And it's not for lack of beginning to get ready three hours prior to our expectant time, believe me. We had a hard enough time not being tardy with 2 kids. 3 is a joke. We really try though. :)

Lack of sleep is definitely the hardest part for me. My lovely, already-existing undereye circles are even darker than usual (if anyone knows of a miracle concealer please share!), and having the energy to blog and/or think of anything somewhat interesting to say just doesn't happen. But I'm pretty sure that's in the job description for life with a new baby.  On average she is waking up about twice a night. Not so bad but not good either. :) I pretty much feel like I'm sleep walking through my days lately.

The kids have been so great with her. They really haven't had any jealousy issues that I can pinpoint. They love to hold her and LOVE to watch her take her baths (which Lexi loves!). Parker is especially sweet and tender with her. He loves to rub his nose in her hair and when he was sick he would blow her lots of kisses so as not to spread his germs. He told me today, "Mom, isn't the baby just adorable?".
I guess I'm not the only one that thinks so! ;)

We've gotten to know Lexi's cry pretty well this last week. (Thankfully not in the middle of the night however!). Her fussiness has definitely increased. I'm hoping it's not an indicator of what we have in store. I'm pretty sure it's mostly due to her lingering tummy troubles...my poor baby! I'm hoping she doesn't have any strange food allergies. I always feel so bad for people who have to banish peanuts from their diets... Life without peanut butter chocolate chip cookies and reeses peanut butter cups just can't be near as fulfilling. It would be a sad day for me to give those up!;) If her projectile vomiting and runny diapers continue we'll be visiting the pediatrician soon to have things checked out. 

I am so glad she is still taking a binky...it is such a help in soothing her and those belly aches!

 

Life is awesome with our sweet little Lexi. She has started giving smiles and I just love to sit and cuddle with her. We have much to be grateful for around here and we definitely adore her!

Happy Thanksgiving.

A little rewind

Back in September, the week before I had Lexi, we got together with the Hansen crew. Chris' brother Eric (in the red) and his wife Cindy and their kiddos were in town from Texas so we took advantage of a photo op of the whole clan.
 Of course my child decides it's the perfect moment to pick her nose.
Lovely.
And don't mind my yoga capris. My clothing options at that point were sparse to say the least. :)

It was Becky's (my MIL) birthday so we did some celebrating, some barbequing and some relaxing while enjoying the perfect fall weather.

Oh how I love the Fall!

Lance also took Becky on a blindfolded trek in the backyard to find her hidden birthday present - a new treadmill!

The big group pics above are of Chris and his five sibs (& parents of course).

The Handsome Hansens. :)

A few days prior, Chris' mom had a "Cousins Storytime Party" since our little Texan cousins, Isaac and Atticus were in town. The kids had a great time reading the stories and doing the activities that went with them. Very cute!

Atticus and Isaac are our kiddos only cousins for the moment so we love it when they come to visit! This was our first time meeting Isaac, aka Chunk.

 Isn't he the cutest?

The kiddos had a great time and we're excited to see them again for the holidays!

Kicks

This little man has loved playing soccer this year.

He must take after his Pops... Chris' entire fam (6 kids) played high school soccer and his dad was a high school soccer coach. The game might just be in his blood.

Then again, this 5 year old just loves to be outside, be with friends, and have fun... whatever the activity or venue.  

I love that he has a smile on his face in all his 'action' pics.

Lexi went on her first outing (besides 2 trips to the hospital for blood draws) to Parker's last game when she was not quite 2 weeks old.

She wasn't super impressed and slept the entire time.

 Maybe she'll wake up in time for the spring season.

Then again, with the way she sleeps, maybe not.

 

In hindsight I realize it was a little mean to make these cute kiddos line up for team pics facing the bright sun. Sorry troops. Their squints are kinda cute though right?

Here's to a fun Fall season and lots more fun memories to come!

GO BANANAS!!

p.s. That's not really their team name but I can't remember it right now...maybe when I get some sleep it will register.;)

One month old

Lexi is ONE MONTH OLD today!

Talk about a sweet baby!

It's hard to believe that just over a month ago this cute little munchkin was swimming around in my belly. It's MUCH more fun having her out than in, let me tell you! I feel a million times better than I did pregnant and I am just soooo happy to have her safely here with us! She has been such a fun addition to our family and I feel so blessed at the opportunity of raising such a precious little person. There have been adjustments, as to be expected, but I really am loving having a newborn again! I just want to hold her all day... and often I do...probably more than I should, but I can't help it --I just adore her!  

Parker and Emmie have been sick for the past 12 days or so, so we've been trying to keep them away from Lexi and myself as much as possible so as not to pass on their germs. I have felt guilty with them watching more TV and Parker playing more Wii than I would normally ever allow, but I keep trying to remind myself that it's for good reason and just temporary. That has definitely been the hardest part of this month, but so far the baby hasn't gotten sick so our quarantine efforts have been worth it. Can I say that very few things stress me out more than having sick kids!?
It's going to be a looong winter and sad to say but I don't think Emmie will be going to nursery for the rest of the year! It's just a guaranteed ticket to get sick!

Lexi is waking up during the night every 3 -3 1/2 hours but she pretty much just takes care of business and goes back to sleep without crying (or very little). The sleep deprivation has kicked in for me and I have had a hard time making it through the afternoons this last week. I am not a big pop drinker, but I decided today that I might have to give in to having a Pepsi now and then to help me out!

Lexi does spit up more than my other two did, and seems to struggle a bit with some tummy trouble. She definitely knows how to use her lungs to let us know she's not happy, but most of the time she is very easy to appease -- the tricky part is just having the free hands in the moment to pick her up!

These two are also in love with their new sis! Parker loves to talk to her... the other day I heard him telling her (standing not to close because of his germs) that she is the "cutest baby" he's ever seen, and the "tiniest baby", and that she's his "very favorite" and that he loves her sooo much. He's always concerned of where the baby is if she's not in the same room and always wants to make sure she's okay.

Emmie is just so excited to have a real life doll to play with! She is darling with her and always wants to see the baby and also make sure she's okay. For the first few weeks Emmie would tell Lexi over and over, "HI! I'm Emmie. And this is my Mom. And she's going to be REEAAL nice!".  My favorite quote though in this last month was soon after we brought Lexi home and upon examining the baby for a minute, Emmie let out this huge gasp and yelled,
"She's ALIVE!".
That she is. And we are so grateful!
We are excited for everyone to get completely healthy around here so that we can actually function like a real family again, but besides that,
LIFE IS GOOD!!!
(If half this post didn't make sense, blame it on my lack of sleep! I'll have to proof read when I'm actually coherent...which unfortunatley isn't too often these days.:)

Jake, Izzy, a baby, and a Fairy Godhusband

 Is it really November???
I keep wondering what in the world happened to October, and then after some serious thought (a little more than I'd like to admit), a little light bulb goes off in my head and I remember....


(3 weeks, 5 days old)
"Oh, yah, THAT'S what happened!
ALEXIS!
I had a baby!".
I'm blaming my onset of amnesia of this significant event on severe sleep deprivation. I have no other explanation.

Anyhow, we let the entire month get away from us without doing anything especially Halloweeny. But having had a baby on October 4th, I have a good excuse, right?! Whatever. Still sad...no pumpkin patch, no pumpkin carving, no parties, not even Halloween crafts or treats (not unless you count the handfuls bagfuls of candy corn I consumed)....but yes, having a baby was much more exciting than all of those things combined... for ME at least. I don't know for my 3 and 5 year olds. Or my husband...

Okay, so we DID do one thing. We hit up Cornbelly's at Thanksgiving Point when Alexis was a few weeks old. I've always wanted to go and since we have an annual pass this year, we decided it was now or never.
Never might have been better...

I won't get into it (okay I might!), but let's just say that I was regretting it in the first 5 minutes.
Why so?
 Let's see...the freezing cold wind that none of us were really dressed for might be to blame, or the rocky terrain that made stroller pushing an earthquake simulation for poor Lexi - not to mention had she and I stranded in various spots because we literally couldn't get to the next attraction (it was WAY too cold to take her out of her seat), OR the fact that despite our annual pass "discount" we still paid a whopping $30 (THIRTY DOLLARS!) for some lame, overpriced carnival, might have added to my irritance...!
 But oh well.
 It didn't turn out to be what we expected but in the end the kids still supposedly had some fun and that was the point. 
AND it's good that we went so that we know to never go again! :)


Back to Halloween.
Needless to say I just wasn't prepared for the holiday this year. P and E decided a few months back that they wanted to be Jake and Izzy from Jake and the Neverland Pirates (a show on Disney Jr).
You know, these guys:

And despite the fact that I knew months in advance what they wanted to be, I could not will my oversized, unbendable, nearly handicapped prego body to get their costume digs together before October. I had gathered a few items since September here and there, but never in completion. Fast forward through Lexi's birth, &  before I knew it, and in the midst of having sick, goopy coughing kids for 8 days straight (& still going...),
  Halloween was upon us. 
But no need to fear when the Fairy Godhusband is near!
That's right. My husband is not only handy, but crafty!
Jealous? :)
This guy came to the rescue and made Parker's entire costume.
 While I injested hoards of candy corn.
Don't worry, no sewing machines were involved, but a couple of old shirts, some scissors and yellow duct tape came in quite handy....I owe him big time!

Here is the final product:

Walah!

 Jake and Izzy!

They were sooo excited for their costumes.

And yes, Izzy the Pirate is wearing Jessie the Cowgirl's boots...

but judge not, they were red and that's all that mattered. Phew.
So in the end, Halloween was a success.

And as for this cute little one, she just sat back and enjoyed the chaos.
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!