Eyes wide open!!!

Here's a look at our little girl with her eyes open! Something we don't see too often throughout the day!

Bad habit #1!

Yes, we know...this is not something we want to get into the habit of doing but it was too cute to not take a picture of.

While mommy went to get her shower daddy watched over Alexis. You can't see it in the picture but daddy's eyes are closed and he is providing her with some "white noise" otherwise known as snoring!!!

Oh how she loved it!!!

Alexis is finally here!!!

Sorry for the delay in getting a picture posted. We thought this would be a much easier and faster way to get pictures out to everyone but we didn't realize we would have to find the time to post!

Our baby girl is hours away from being six days old already! She is so incredible and has truly made our family! We are learning more and more every day; what she likes, what she doesn't like, her funny little facial expressions, and most importantly how to be good parents. We have some work to do in getting her back on the right sleepping schedule of sleep during the night and not all day long.

Some cute little things we've noticed about here are...she has one really long eye lash on her left eye. She often times will open her right eye and keep her left eye closed. When she sneezes, she sneezes twice. She has the cutest facial expressions (especially when she's sleeping). Daddy has learned early on that she has a wimper that will get her anything she wants!!! She's loves to be swaddled and cuddled, but please leave her right arm out...she's ok with her left arm being tucked away! She doesn't like her feet being rubbed, unless she is sound asleep! This is just to name a few...we could go on and on about just how beautiful our little girl is!

It's now a waiting game...

Our hope of having Alexis on 10-10-10 is just about over.

I've finished up my last day at work, her room is all ready for her, our house is clean (thanks to Ben), laundry is done and unfortunately I've seemed to give up on the hope that she's going to come early. I was really hoping that I had my last doctors visit but it looks like we'll see him tomorrow.  My new wish is that he tells us to go to the hospital right from his office. I understand we'll still be (three days) early but I don't know how much more of this I can take.

I have horrible back pain, I'm not sleeping, and I haven't had any contractions. We've been doing what we think will help her come along a little faster; walking a couple times each day, doing squats and driving fast over speed bumps. If anyone has any other suggestions for us, I'll gladly try it.

I remember thinking back to our 20-week ultrasound when she was so active and we had to redo an ultrasound in order to get good photos. Why wouldn't she rather be active outside of me, in her new home? I promise to keep her warm, Ben will swaddle her and we'll love her every second of every day! That sounds better to me already!

My biggest fear now is that she'll come late. Please keep your fingers crossed and say a prayer she'll come out right away!

I was asked...

a very interesting question the other week.

I was asked "with all the things first-time moms tend to give up durring their pregnancy, what do I miss the most and can't wait to have once I have our little Alexis"?

I was never a huge chocolate lover, so I certainly don't miss not being able to eat chocolate. It's probably better if I don't eat it, ever again!

Ben and I were never huge drinkers, so not being able to have a glass of Riesling at dinner for nine months (or for the time I will be feeding Alexis) doesn't bother me too much either.

I think what I'm craving the most and what I can't wait to have again is Sushi!!! Ummm I love the Lobster Dynamite Roll at Ooka! Hopefully that will be our first date-night outing as new parents, (just as it was on our very first date)!

Awaiting her arrival...

We have been working really hard to get her room in order. I've washed a lot of clothes, done some rearranging and as Ben says "been nesting like a mad woman". I feel really good about bringing Alexis home and showing her the new room!

I've learned that she won't fit right in to Stage 1 diapers and that she needs the newborn size first! I've also learned that I only need to make room for 0-3 and 3-6 months clothing. (I didn't need to wash everything all at once!) Ben is learning what diapers cost and just how quickly someone so small and precious can take over our condo!

Here are two pictures of her room. Don't worry, when she is ready to sleep in her crib I know to remove the stuffed animals. I've also been told the trick of when she outgrows an outfit, to take it out of the closet and pack it away!

Thanks again to everyone for helping us make her room, her own!

It's Shower Time!!!

We have a lucky little girl in my belly. The first surprise was a shower thrown by my mom and sister-in-law. I was told we were going to Mryanda's birthday party. At the house was about 20 of my family, friends and co-workers!
It brought back memories of a little over a year ago, when we were there for my bridal shower! It was again a beautiful day, fun filled with games and prizes and many, many gifts to open. Our little girl is surrounded by family and friends who already love her so much!

My second surprise came on a day when I wasn't feeling my best at work. It was a busy day, I had so much work to do (planning on my LOA), and I wasn't feeling my best or looking my best. I was asked to go for birthday cake and once I got to the top of the ramp I noticed two dozen or so of my fellow co-workers. I was completely shocked! They got me! I work with very kind and generous people who are also very anxious to meet our little girl. We got gift cards, clothes, hand-made items and books.

Our third and final surprise came when I was asked to come to the Mill because both Ben and Jim were getting a "Sportsman's Award". I was so excited for Ben and was so excited that I was able to make it. When we got down the stairs and rounded the corner Ben and I noticed the balloons and gifts. It was a shower for Ben from his co-workers! Needless to say I was quite upset that he wasn't really getting an award.

We had a beautiful spread of food, my favorite Jewish Apple Cake and a beautifully decorated butterfly cake. Ben also works with thoughtful and generous people who can't wait the arrival of Yarrington Mills 5th generation!

To all of our family, friends and co-workers we say Thank You! These parties were so wonderful. We appreciate the time and effort you gave to make the arrival of our little Alexis so memorable! It's amazing to feel the love that surrounds us both within our families and also within our work families.

I've expressed to some close friends that many years ago I had thought my dream of finding my very best friend & soul mate, and my desire to have a family was lost...and then I met Ben and my life has changed. I tell him all the time that I love the way he loves me! We recognize this next step in our life's journey together is going to be new and a learning process as we go. What I already know now is that Ben's love for his daughter is going to be nothing less than the love I receive and she is going to be the luckiest little girl in the world to have him for a Daddy!