Lexi doing some talking....

So what's been going on??

Hanging out watching deadliest catch with grampy.
"Move mom you're blocking my view!"

Taking a bath in the kitchen sink because I have a sudden
deathly fear of the upstairs tub. Not the water just the tub.
"How do I get this into my mouth?"

Playing in my new Earthy jumperoo!
"Boy my fingers taste good!"

Hanging out with the girls. I guess Lexi wasn't
enjoying it as much as the rest of us.

Going to a bridal shower. Looking super
cute in this outfit I got from my cousin Jenny.
Thanks Jen!

"Oh hello there do you like my flower? My
grampy calls me a sissy when I where one, but
he just wishes he had one too!"


Just looking darn cute.
"Please mommy can I have some more milk?"

Getting ready for my Easter pictures
"Has anyone seen my sheep?


As you can see we have been very busy. I am just enjoying every minute that I have with her. Lexi had her 4 month shots this last Monday and didn't seem to have any reactions to them other than crying. Again though she cried through the whole appointment when she wasn't nursing and then when it came time for the shots she was quiet as can be. She only cried when they poked her and then nothing. At the appointment her weight was 11 lbs 14 oz and 23inches. Since her weight hasn't increased that much her doctor is having her come back in a month for a weight check. She said not to worry though because she thinks that Lexi is just a small baby. Lexi's colic and reflux have gotten a little better, so fingers crossed it stays that way. This is my last full time week with her and I am cherishing every minute I have with her. Luckily my boss is letting me go back part time the first month (only 20 hours). I hope I am saying this in the right way, but to all those who can stay home you just don't realize how lucky you are. I don't say that as in oh boo hoo for me just I love being a mom and hopefully someday I can be a stay at home one. I just love my little fuss bucket! :)

What we were doing last week...

Chilling before going to Goore's and the grocery store.
Goore's is our best friend lately.


First time riding in Grandma and Grandpa's truck!



Visiting our Aunt Carel for lunch. It took us awhile
to get there cuz Lexi would just puke on every outfit
she didn't want to wear (this was outfit #4). Once we got
there Lexi ate most of the time.
Suprise, suprise. :)


Lexi wearing and almost eating her new Easter
hat. Thanks grandma!
I'm gonna have to remind Lexi it's bad
fashion sense to keep the tags on!



Hanging out on the boppy

Passing the time reading a good book.

My other love Toots! She absolutely loves Lexi
and I can't wait until they can play together. Lexi
already watches her zoom across the room.



Naked baby!! This was taken right before she rolled
onto her stomach for the first time on Saturday!!

We had a busy week. On Friday I dropped Lexi off with her GrandmaHolt while I headed over to Kohl's. After I returned home I realized I had somehow lost my license. After calling Kohl's a dozen times and searching my car a thousand times I now have come to terms with the fact that it is lost forever. Oh well. Well I better go get some chores done before Lexi wakes up. Oh I just wanted to note that although Lexi is not crying or unhappy in any of these photos she is what we lovingly call her a fuss bucket, but we all still love her to death! How could we not she is so much fun!

Just some random pics....

Poor kid she was pooped from all that eating! :)


She just loves to hide from me

I feel like she was saying "Come on mom
enough with the pictures!" :)

P.S. Have I mentioned lately how much
I love being a mom?!! Cuz I do! :)

Poor baby....Poor little Lexi not only has to deal with her reflux, but on top of that this week she got a cold. I think it was Wednesday night she was pretty much up all night in either my arms or my mom's (thanks mom I really don't know what I would do without you!!). By last night though she was feeling better though I think because she was up and smiling. It's crazy cuz I can tell she wants to sit up so badly. When I'm holding her she scrunches herself up into a sitting position, its hilarious. I think her reflux has gotten better since taking the medicine....I will admit though their are times like the other night when I thought I was going to go insane. All she did was cry and nothing I did was soothing her even breastfeeding (which if you know Lexi that usually always soothes her). Its amazing how at the time it feels like the crying never ends, but then hours later everything is ok again. This is just the first of many colds I know so I just have to take everything one day at a time and of course enjoy every second I am blessed to have with her. :) Below are some pics I took on my phone earlier this week while we played dress up. :P

"Mom what the heck are you doing to me?"

"Lexi Marie put your skirt down this minute!"

"Ahhhhh my skirt is eating me!!!"


Okay don't kill me mom, but you both
looked so cute!

She giggled for the first time today!
It was so cute! :)

We'll I can't believe it but, Lexi is 3 months old!! The time really has flown by. It's seems like forever since I was pregnant with her. When I was waking up with her every two hours seems like a lifetime ago. I know then I could never picture her falling asleep at 9 and not waking up until 7 the next morning, but now she does....Last week I found out she has gastric reflux. Basically she vomits more than normal for a baby after eating, arches her back, and is abnormally hungry. It's basically because her digestive system isn't fully developed yet. So her doctor prescribed what is basically a liquid zantac for babies (peppermint flavored. It seems to be helping with the spitting up, but she still does the arching of the back thing about 20 to 30 minutes after she eats. It hasn't been a week yet so I'll just have to wait and see. The hardest part of it all is that when she is awake she is eating at the longest every hour and a half. It can be frustrating, but I can't get mad at her cuz she's hungry so what else is she supposed to do?

Sometimes I feel like I should feel bad because my baby isn't always happy and smiling or cuz she eats so much. Like she is a "bad" baby, but ya know what she is who she is and I love her no matter what. Really though all her "fussiness" is worth every smile I get from her and just overall the way she makes me feel. I'm even tearing up now thinking about it. I really am so thankful to have her in my life. I love being her mom....I know mostly I blog about her majority of the time now, but thats because she is my life. However, for a second I thought I would say something about myself. I didn't picture going into motherhood as a single mom and its not my ideal, but I know I can do it (not that I'm saying it will be easy though). I have so much support from friends and family that I know they will always be there for me and Lexi. I hope to someday meet a guy who will treat me with the love and respect I deserve and of course who loves Lexi. Okay enough about me, so I've been trying to download pics from my camera onto the comp, but its not letting me so all I have is this pic I recently took of Lex in her bumbo chair that she got from her grandma.

This is from last week so she is even sitting in it
better now. Thanks grandma! :)

Well yesterday Lexi had her first outing. Let me rephrase that she had her first outing where she actually went into the store instead of staying in the car with someone while the other person went inside. Funny enough her first trip was to Trader Joe's and I have to say I think she loved it. She didn't get fussy at all. Actually I think she enjoyed it because she likes to walk around (well I mean she likes it when someone holds her and their walking) and look at things. Not that she knows what she is looking at, but she is already just so curious about the world. Our cashier thought she was 6 months old and although she is big now at 10lbs 4oz I don't think she looks 6 months. My mom did point out though that must mean I'm feeding her good. Well Lexi is taking a nap now, but hopefully when she wakes up I will feed her and then we can go for a walk with grandma at the park. It is such as nice day out....

I was cracking up when I got home
from being out and my mom had put
her in this after giving her a bath. I think
Julie correctly labeled her as looking like a
creamsicle. Funny enough this is actually
an outfit that my sibilings and I wore after
we had baths as babies. Thankfully my mom
saved this kind of stuff.

Well this morning was full of firsts for Lexi and me. First time I had to sit in a waiting area with a screaming baby and first shots for Lexi. The thing is I didn't mind her crying I just can't stand it when I can't soothe her. Then I figured out is all she wanted was to fall asleep. After I figured that out though all I had to do was nurse her and she fell right asleep. It worked out well cuz she was asleep when I brought her into the injection room for her shots (3 total). I had put her in a sack this morning so I wouldn't have to worry about putting her legs back into an outfit. So they gave her this liquid stuff first to counteract any possible side effects which she woke up for and sucked right down then fell right back to sleep. Got the first shot in one leg, gave one wail then fell right back to sleep. Got two more shots in her other leg wailed then fell right back to sleep. When I came out the other moms were like we didn't even hear her scream. After I nursed her just to get her feeling settled and once we got home gave her some tylenol. Oh I also made sure to rub the place where she got the injections cuz otherwise it can cause bruising. All and all I think it was harder on me than it was on her. I just hate that she even had to feel that little bit of pain. Oh, I almost forgot she now weighs 10lbs 4oz and is 22ins. My little Lexi is getting so big, I just can't believe she is already 2 months. Below are a few pics. Enjoy! :)

Lexi enjoying the 3D commercial during the Superbowl yesterday

Let me just say she is never this happy to be in her car seat, but
Grandma was talking to her so she didn't mind being in it

Sorry about the red eye, but doesn't she look
cute sitting there with her Uncle James (aka Uncle Ratzi)

She just loves it when you talk to her :)

Since Lexi is sleeping in her swing for the moment I thought I would post a quick blog. I know some experts say you shouldn't let babies fall asleep in a swing, but you know what if it makes them feel good then why not. I really don't think its going to make her want to sleep in it all the time. Anyways lets see Lexi is now 7 weeks old and the time is just passing so quickly. I love every minute I get to spend with her. She can be a pretty fussy baby, but I think that kind of thing just comes with the territory. She has one strong appetite, she still likes to eat every two hours. Although in the evenings its closer to every hour. She was sleeping really good like a 5 hour stretch at night, but then I started taking fenugreek a herb to increase my milk supply. Lets just say I stopped taking that after a couple of days because she was not liking it. It's crazy how much of what I eat effects her. Just yesterday she made her first real cooing sounds "OOOO". She also did her first real intentional grab. She grabbed my mom's thumb. I wasn't there to see it (I was in the shower), but my mom took a pic. I think she has started her grabbing phase because right after that she started pulling on my hair. Let me tell you she has one strong grip. Oh last week we went to the lactation consultant and Lexi got weighed and she is now 8lbs 14oz. She is growing to fast. I try not to think about going back to work because I still have a little over 2 months left so I'm just going to enjoy the time I have with her.
She has her 2 month checkup coming up on Feb. 2 and I'm not looking forward to it. She has to get her first shots, three of them. I love her doc though she is super nice and has a 10 month old son herself so I feel even more comfortable knowing she just went through all this stuff.
Oh lexi just reminded me right now of something. One thing I learned is that when they are sleeping and wake up sometimes crying they are not always really waking up. Alot of the time it is just them waking up briefly, but then if you wait a minute they will fall back asleep on their own....My mom, Lexi, Toots, and I have gone on a few walks and although lexi has pretty much slept through all of them, I have loved them. I now we need rain, but I sure have enjoyed the weather we have had recently. Thanks to those who made it possible for me to get the Bob stroller it truly is great! I know lexi will enjoy it too once she stays up long enough. :) These walks were the first time I have got to jog with toots because I was always prego before. I swear that dog was born to run.
My whole life revolves around Lexi and I love it. I am just so blessed to have her as my daughter!

P.S. Thanks to my fam for always helping out I love ya!

We'll lets see in case anyone is wondering I am no longer in labor. Yeah, I know duh. In fact I ended up having her the night I wrote my last blog. I never would have thought it could happen so quickly, but I was admitted into the hospital on Sunday, November 30th at 6:00pm and delivered her that night at 8:36. I ended up having a natural vaginal birth, with everything happening so quickly I wasn't able to get an epidural. They did give me something in my iv (I think it was called fenterol or something) it took the edge off for like 5 minutes which isn't very long, but it sure helped at the time. Oddly enough when they told me I wasn't gonna be able to have the epidural I wasn't upset, mostly I think because I was just ready for her to come out. Thankfully she was ready too, I only pushed for 11 minutes and out popped Alexandra Marie Cox at 7lbs 1oz and 19in long. I don't think there was a dry eye in the room. I just remember crying and saying "I have my baby girl!" and then to anyone I could see "Thank you, Thank you!" My mom asked me recently how I would rate my labor and delivery in reguard to pain. Honestly, the majority of it wasn't painful. Through the early parts while I was at home my fam helped me breathe through it all and drink lots of water. The part that caused pain was while I was in the hospital and was in the transition phase and went from 4 to 8 in an hour and half(this was when I was ready to give up, also when I asked for the epidural). The pushing didn't hurt, it actually felt good in an odd way because I knew it meant she was coming. Although I do recall as her shoulders were coming out say "Ouch that stings". I guess I should say I may remember things diferently and my fam may say I was in more pain, but I think overall it went well. I am not in any way trying to say I'm superwomen though, just that I feel blessed things went so smoothly.

I don't think I can express how lucky and blessed I feel to be Lexi's mom. Everyday I love her more and more. Even though a year ago I never would have guessed that I would be a mom, I now can't imagine not being one. Totally weird I know. I have had a lot of first's in these last two weeks. First time changing a diaper, first time giving a baby a bath (yeah that was just a tad nerve wracking), first time nursing (support is the key to sucess with this), yeah I could just go on and on. The odd thing is that I love it all because all those things alow me to spend time with her. I just can't say it enough I love her! :)

So I'm in labor. You're probably wondering why the heck is she blogging if she is in labor, right? We'll I'm wondering the same thing, but I guess because it's only the beginning so I'm trying to keep myself busy so I don't think about it. So far the contractions have been like really strong cramps I guess is the only way I can describe it. Except at the same time they are different. Every time I feel like tensing up I just try and relax my body and breathe slowly. So far it works pretty well. Fingers crossed it will continue to help me. My fam is being so great they are all just right there for me. I was just thinking dang this means I have to have a name for her and I still have absolutely no idea what to choose. Hopefully I'll see her and it will just come to me.....My little piece of advice for labor is drink as much water as you can handle it helps to keep the labor progressing....

I have just a little over a week to go before my due date. I can't believe it, but I am so ready to meet her. I know that it sounds stupid, but I wish that she would be born before the 1st so that she makes the school deadline. I have a feeling though that she wont. :( I think I have all the little things pretty much taken care of, I even finally got my bag packed. My family is all resting much easier now. Literally my whole family was getting nervous about it even my dad. We'll just thought I would get a short update gotta go bug dad to see if he will hang my shelves.....

I'm just gonna warn you now that the following is just a bunch of boringness about myself so I wont be offended if you fall asleep trying to read it. My sincere apologies.....

8 TV shows I like to watch:
1. NCIS
2. Project Runway
3. America's next top model (yeah I know its sad, but true)
4. Oprah
5. I love Lucy
6. CSI Las Vegas
7. CSI Miami
8. Grey's Anatomy (not anymore but I used to watch it faithfully)

8 Favorite Restaurants
**I don't really eat out so this one is kinda hard**
1. Mr. Pickle (The Hot T is to die for)
2. Mimi's
3. La Mission (I could just eat a whole plate of just beans, rice, and sour cream)
4. Tops Yogurt (Some might not consider it a restaurant, but I love it so yeah)
5. Olive garden (soup and salad yum yum)
6. Selland's (A local catering place that has great salads)
7. La bou' (I love their worm salad. Not really worms, but I don't know the real name)
8. Ike's (It is a little family owned deli near my work that bakes their pita bread fresh everyday. The best part really is the bread, but their thing is sandwiches)

8 things that happened yesterday:
1. I went to work
2. Heather and my mom got me a super soft silk rug for my room
3. I went shopping for a new comforter with my mom
4. Picked up a few things for my pumpkin pal at work
5. Played fetch with Toots
6. Got a call from a Kaiser person who apologized for the teacher not showing up at the newborn class last week.
7. Had the last slice of homemade cheesecake left over from my birthday
8. Was reminded I only have 13 workdays left until I go on maternity leave

8 things I'm looking forward to:
1. Birth of my baby girl!!
2. Halloween our theme is 70's this year at work
3. November 14th my last day before maternity leave
4. Thanksgiving (I love everyone just being together)
5. Friday because then its the weekend!! whoo hoo!!!
6. Kristina coming for her baby shower
7. Tomorrow's lunch with Aunt Carel (I just love having lunch with her)
8. The next ultrasound I have with Julie

8 things on my wish list:
1. To win the lottery so I can stay home with baby
2. To buy my first house
3. For my family to be safe, happy, and healthy
4. To be a good momma
5. To have a husband
6. To make more money
7. To loose my baby weight within 9 months of having baby
8. To be thoughtful and kind toward others

8 People I am Tagging:
1. How about just anyone who wants to do it does it :P

So I took the day off to "rest" and get some errands run. Did I get anything done? Nope well I did go to the bank, but that is about it. Why is it when I try to plan to get things done I actually don't do anything? Things always seem to end up that way....Last night I got my little girl her mattress. It was so cool to see it there in the crib. I swear the girl has a nicer mattress than me. Oh well today while I was home I watched a baby story a couple of times and.....yeah ugghh uhhh nope I'm good the stork is going to come and take the baby out of my belly and that is that. It's not even about the pain its just all very intense and yeah I'm definitely going to go the stork route. I think I am getting to be at the whale stage. I just feel round and yeah round. Hmmmm I can't believe I only have 6 weeks left and then baby arrives. I am still no closer to picking a name this week has been Mackenzie and call her kenzie and yes if you are wondering that is one of the names of my family dogs. She really is a great dog though and I like the name so yeah who cares if the dog has the same name? Time to go eat dinner.....

So I've been thinking I know absolutely nothing about babies. I'm the baby in my family so I was never really around any. Yes I have lots of younger cousins, but thats the thing I know toddlers and up well. Give me a baby though and I'm clueless. Really I mean totally clueless. Yes, I know the motherly instinct supposedly just kicks in, but still I have no idea what I'm in for. I just feel like I'm floating around in a sea of the unknown....

Life....you never know how fast things in your life can change. As most know I've had a lot of change lately....I've lost a lot, but yet I've gained even more and I'm not just talking about my rambunctious yet to be born baby girl. I'm talking about how I have learned a lot about myself things I may not have learned for years if I hadn't gotten pregnant. Its interesting how your priorities change and just you change when you have a baby on the way (or when you have any major life change). Even though as most know I will be raising this baby as a single mom I know that I wont be alone I have the support of so many family and friends that I know will be always willing to help. The way I look at it I feel lucky to have so many people who are there for me. It's not like I have no job or health insurance. I am lucky that I'm in such a good situation.

I think some people think they need to tiptoe around the fact that I don't have a husband, but really they don't it's a fact I don't have one so why dwell over it. Sure I'd love to have a significant other to share this with, but I don't so why cry over split milk? I don't mean to sound bitter I just have learned to be practical about it. Not to say I don't have some sad times, but there must be some reason why I became pregnant so I feel no regrets..........On to other topics. Labor and delivery....yeah maybe I'm not ready yet to talk about that. I'm just gonna go into it knowing its going to involve pain, but yet it wont last forever right? I talked to a girl at the bank last weekend who had an epidural with her first child and her leg was numb for three years until she had her next child and the epidural again where it reversed the effect. Weird huh? Freaked me out and she said she found that its not abnormal for things like that to happen. I do know that I DO NOT want to be induced. I have heard from so many of my friends that it is horrible.....Time to go..... :P

So what's new in my life....well I am 6 1/2 months pregnant....crazy I know. I still can't believe it myself sometimes. I mean I'm the baby so how can I be having one? It's crazy though she isn't even here yet, but I can't imagine her not being apart of my future. It seems like everyday I'm am preparing for her arrival....man I guess that sounded gushy sorry moving on.....Oh! I went to a John Mayer concert in July and it was totally awesome!! Me and my mom were even closer than the last time we saw him. I was standing up for pretty much a whole hour straight. The guy behinde me was quite happy once I sat down, but HELLO it was a concert. Maybe he just needed to loosen up a bit. Really I didn't care at the time I was enjoying the music so much I can't wait till he comes again. He is such an awesome live performer!!....Work is well work. I've gotten used to my job now so it doesn't stress me out like it used to. I mean we have a busy beginning and end of the month, but I know how to deal with it now. The people I work with are great. We had a team building event a couple of weeks ago where we all went bowling and played laser tag. I didn't bowl cuz of the pregnancy, but I did play laser tag. It was fun. I think it really opened us all up to each other....Man I swear Haley (her name for this week) head butts me all the time. Thankfully it doesn't hurt, it just feels funny.....We had office olympics at my work to today. It was a team event I did the paper clip diving. It was intense, but I don't think it took me more than three trys to get my clips into the tiny container of water. It was a nice little break from work....well large and in charge me is going to go feed the dogs...... :P

Please ignore icky girl with long hair she had yet to cut off her hair.

Please pay close attention to the addorable furball next to her though.

This is a pic from our camping trip to Fort Bragg in June. It was cold pretty

much the whole time, but still fun. :)

My Beautiful Baby Girl!!!
Already trying to suck her thumb.

Picture taken by Julie my sis