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!!!

Happy Halloween

....from a couple of pumpkins.

A 2 week vacay... I deserved it, right?

I have spent the last 16 days snuggling this:

and kissing and squishing this:

While eating far too many of these:

(Yes, I know, great for ridding that postpartum belly gush...)

While having many of my meals (that I did not prepare) served to me here:


(For the record, that it is not my bed. And yes, this is the best picture I could find. I don't advise googling 'breakfast in bed'. And is that the hugest tray you've ever seen? Pretty much I think they brought up the whole kitchen table. Just sayin'.)

While Chris took care of them:


...and everything else.
Sound blissful? It was!
Awesome husband? He is!
My mom stayed to help take care of the kids and house for four days after Lexi came home

(bless her),
and Chris was able to be home from work for all of the rest of the days other than 3 out of 15! I have definitely been spoiled and loved spending all that one on one time with my newest baby girl while all other operations around here were taken care of! I think Lexi kind of liked it too.
 She's my newest pal.
And quite possibly my favorite child... for the moment.
Don't tell the others.
She's been such a great little baby!
Okay, so why wouldn't she be when I've been able to promptly meet her every whim and fancy since she's all I've had to worry about for 2 weeks straight? Still, I think she's pretty great. For now I am checking the "great baby" box.

Yesterday it was back to business as usual...no more vacation time (aka snuggling my baby in bed all day while Chris tackles the dirty work). Poor Chris ended up contracting Strep on Tuesday and has since been banished to the basement bedroom since he walked in the door from Instacare on Tuesday.  We haven't seen him since. Really.  Don't worry, I delivered him some pajamas and I leave food and Ib Profen by the door.
We take germs seriously around here. ;) No joke.

Beyond that, life around here has been a big thumbs up!
Okay so a little more sleep would be nice, nursing that didn't feel like a baracuda were latching on to me every three hours would be a huge perk, and a 3 year old who were more proactive about going potty in the potty would make life EXTRA fantastic, but overall I really can't complain!

I mean, how can I when I have this little munchkin staring up at me?

(18 days old)
*Sigh*.
I love her. :)

She's here!!!

We are sooooo happy to announce the arrival of our sweet baby
ALEXIS FAITH
aka
LEXI


(picture taken at 6 days old)

ARRIVED: October 4, 2011

AT: 10:33 a.m.

WEIGHING: 6 Pounds even

18 1/2 inches
Our smallest baby by 9 ounces and a whole inch!

A run down of "The Story"...and please excuse the abundance of bed head in these photos:)

Happy as a clam, bed head and all... ready to have this long awaited for baby!

At 4 a.m. on Tuesday, October 4th, (37 weeks, 6 days pregnant) I awoke to a strong contraction (totally normal for me for weeks on end) and an even stronger need to relieve my bladder. Wincing in pain and just SO BEYOND READY TO BE DONE with by FAR my hardest pregnancy, as I waddled to the bathroom I chanted over and over in my head, "Please let my water break, PLEASE let my water break!".
Well, my wish came true!
Next thing I know, I felt this HUGE GUSH of water. I couldn't believe it! I was SO EXCITED but at the same time wondered if it were possible that I had just peed all over myself, LOL. After finishing my trip to the bathroom and confirming that it was definitely my water that had broken, I poked my head out of the bathroom and urgently told Chris to wake up. I don't think I've ever seen him scramble so fast in 11 years, no joke. My past pregnancies had ended in inductions, so this movie-like scenario was quite the new experience for us.
I was shaking with excitement and just thrilled to have this day finally arrive!

Having been 90% effaced and dilated to a 3-3 1/2 for weeks, we moved FAST not wanting to have this baby in the car! So Parker and Emmie came along for the excitement to the hospital and Grandma and Grandpa Hansen soon after met us there to pick them up. The kids didn't mind being woken up at 4 a.m. and were happy to be a part of all the excitement that we'd been building up to for months.

Upon arrival to the hospital my contractions had stopped and I was relieved to find out that I was dilated to just 5.5 cm. I quickly got my blessed epidural (given via a neighbor in our ward!) and we waited for a bit before starting pitocin so that my mom could make it up from St. George for the birth. As she got closer we turned up the pitocin just a tiny bit and by 10:15 I was ready to start pushing....3 sets of pushes later, our little Lexi was finally here!!!

SO EASY! I have been blessed to have three amazing deliveries! No problems, perfect epidurals to where I am still feeling the pressure and know when to push... I have been very lucky! I was worried that this time would be my "nightmare" labor story since I had not yet had one, but everything worked out perfectly. Including that my doctor even was able to deliver me. Had we had to deliver right when we got the hospital, it would have been one of his colleagues.

The proud Pops!

The oh-so happy mama right after delivery... not only thrilled to have her baby girl safely here, but soooo glad to have that baby out of my belly! This was truly such a hard pregnancy on me! I had been having painful contractions since 28 weeks and my body was in pain almost all of the time. After several recent breakdowns I even went out a few weeks back and bought a belly support band. It really helped - I wish I had found it earlier! Basically I was pretty miserable this last couple of months.
I also had some 'minor' surprises/issues this time around...Do you see the "pregnancy mask" sprinkled all over my cheeks and above my upper lip that I attained during this pregnancy? Cute, eh? Yep, I walked away with all kinds of treats this time. With Parker I didn't even get stretch marks. I thought I was home free after having him. Wow, was I wrong. :) I even grew an age spot on my cheek this time. Serioulsy?! I guess it's true that the older you are and the more pregnancies, the harder it is on your body. Chris has been good to remind me of the older part these last few months. I did turn 32 a few weeks ago so maybe there is truth to it. :/

But in the end it has of course been all worth it for this....

Our precious baby Lexi! We adore her!

Grandma H brought the kids up later that day to meet their new baby sis. They were darling with her and Emmie was beyond excited. She kept saying things like, "she's so CUTE!" and "Oh, I think she wants ME to hold her", and "MOM! You POPPED!"...(she said some pretty funny things but between meds and sleep deprivation I really can't remember...!)

The proud grandparents!

Alexis struggled with low blood sugar those first few days (common for such small babies) and has high levels of jaundice so she is our yellow baby, but she finally checked out good today after another trip to the hospital (although her levels are still 14.3), and now we are just trying to get used to the eating thing...Don't get me started on nursing.... PURE TORTURE those first few weeks I tell ya! 

2 1/2 days old... coming home from the hospital!  It's been such a nice warm Fall here in UT but it actually snowed the day we brought her home (it had melted by the time we left however)! I LOVE this time of year and am definitely having visions of  Halloween/Harvest themed birthday parties in the future. SO FUN!!!

We are definitely in love over here and so happy to finally have this sweet baby girl here!
What a miracle having a baby is!
 I am LOVING having a newborn again (if I can just make it through the nursing thing!)!

Oh so exciting stats

Amidst my pregnancy-related reluctance to blog this last few months, I failed to record Parker and Emmie's 5 and 3-year-old stats.
Better late than never, right?
Not that anyone out there is slightly interested in my children's height and weight but for my own record keeping sake, here we go....

P-Man turned the big FIVE in July (in case you missed like 3 whole posts about his birthday below) and his stats go as follows:

WEIGHT: 41 lbs, 51st % ile

BMI: 15.32, 47th % ile

HEIGHT: 43.5 inches, 59th %ile

I am pleased to say that despite a 5'2 mama, he is doing just fine in the stature department!;)

Missy Em turned 3 back at the end of August and her stats are right up there by her brother's...
WEIGHT: 30.2 lbs, 46th %ile
BMI: 15.3, 36th %ile
HEIGHT: 37.25 inches, 57th %ile

So happy to have happy, healthy kids!
Now if #3 would just arrive, her mom could get back to being happy and healthy too....:)