Pool Party

Lexi went to her first pool party at Olivia's house. The girls all had a great time together - the water was just a little too cool for their liking so they splashed in it instead!

It's been such a long time . . .

since we have blogged because we were getting ready for Auntie Deb to visit! Aunt Deb (Rick's sister) came to meet Alexis for the first time - the two of them had a lot of fun together and Lexi has been missing her buddy. We visited the zoo and went swimming while Deb was here. We also did some shopping so that Auntie Deb could spoil her favorite niece! She brought along lots of new books, toys, clothes, and shoes, too. Thank you Auntie Deb for coming all the way from New York to meet me and for all the new things you brought me!

Aunt Deb reading me one of the new books she brought me about the farm. My new safari hat to wear at the zoo from my Aunt Deb.Splashing in the fountains at the pool.Auntie Deb bought me my very first Elmo doll! "I love this thing and it is just my size."This post wouldn't be complete without mentioning my 1st Mother's Day. Alexis treated me like the Queen (she's the princess going on Queen). It all began the Saturday before when she and her dad went out for a few hours to get some surprises for mommy. She came back with a bouquet of flowers and lots of smiles! The next morning (the official Mother's Day - isn't everyday mother's day?) she woke me up and had 2 balloons for me. We went off to church and then we went to the Westin Kierland Resort for a delicious brunch. She had a few other gifts for me in a bag, but the best gift of all was when she said "Mama" for the first time! It couldn't have been more appropriate than to say it for the first time on Mother's Day. It was a wonderful day and I felt very appreciated and loved.

Going for a little walk after brunch at the resort.
Finally, a picture of her two bottom teeth.Helping mommy with dishes (let's hope she remembers how in 10 years).Look at me, "I'm only holding on with one hand!"

8 Months Old

A day in the life of an 8 month old baby girl:
7 am: Time to wake up and say Good Morning to my Daddy. I tell him hello on the monitor and then he comes to get me out of bed. (Mommy is out jogging so it is just me and my dad) I play and daddy sings to me as he gets ready for work.
8 am: Mommy is home from her jog and it is time to wave bye-bye to Daddy as he kisses us goodbye.
8:30 am: It's time for some milk - I'm hungry (it's been 12 hrs. since I had a drink)! After my milk I have a Goldilocks's size bowl of oatmeal and a jar of prunes. Yummy - breakfast is my favorite meal of the day!
9 am: Bath time. Rub-a-Dub-Dub I love playing in the tub.
9:30 am: All the eating and bathing has me tired. I'm ready for my morning nap.
11:30 am: Time for some more milk and then lunch. Wonder what mom has planned for lunch today: fruit, veggies, yogurt?
12 noon: Storytime, Swim lessons, shopping, a playdate, a few errands to run - whatever activity mom has on the agenda it is time to take a ride and get out of the house for awhile.
2:30 pm: I think I'll take an afternoon snack now. More milk, please. And when I am done with my milk, I would like a few Che*rios and my sippy cup with water.
3 pm: It's naptime!
4:30 pm: Time to take a walk to the park and see the kids play in the splash pad (boy, I can't wait till I can splash around with them).
5:30 pm: I'd like to have some milk and then some chicken for dinner. After I eat all my dinner, I usually get to have a cookie (baby rice cracker).
6:00 pm: Daddy's home - time to give him a rock star welcome! Yeah! (I really love my mom, but it is always nice to see my daddy at the end of the day)
8:00 pm: After mommy and daddy read me a book, I'm going to have a little bedtime snack (aka. milk).
8:30 pm: Night, night mommy and daddy! I love you!Alexis with her "milk mustache". I think she is cute enough for a Got Milk? ad in a parenting magazine, don't you?

Auntie Sage Graduates

On Saturday, Auntie Sage graduated from the University of Phoenix. We went to the ceremony at the new football stadium and then to lunch at El Encanto. We met Sage's family from California for the first time and had a great time socializing with everyone and celebrating with margaritas!
Alexis loves her Auntie Sage - especially when she comes to play with her every week!

Little Fins

Alexis had her first swim lesson this week. She loves the water and enjoys splashing around!

Ready for the pool - with baby crocs, sun hat, and her cover-up.Having a blast chatting with her friend, Olivia!

Creating a Bad Habit????

Not sure if I am creating a bad habit or not, but on Friday, Alexis and I had snack time on her blanket. We just introduced afternoon snack time this week and Alexis seems to be enjoying it. She gets a few Che*rios and some juice. Friday afternoon, I didn't feel like sitting at the table with her while she ate her snack in her highchair so we tried eating the O's out of a bowl on the floor in the living room. She feeds her self really well, it just takes a long time some days. She did great eating on the floor but we probably won't continue to do it on a daily basis. I almost forgot to mention, on Friday morning she did the sign for "milk" to me when we was hungry for milk. This may not be very exciting to anyone else but myself, but I have been teaching her sign language for about 8 weeks and this was the first time she has signed anything to me (at least that I have recognized).

Digging in - "How many can I get in my hand at once?" "Can I get them all in my mouth without dropping any?"She did it, I think she may have more than one "O" in there!Yeah, that was fun!

Peek-A-Boo

PEEKA

BOO

Angela comes to visit

One of Alexis' biggest fans came to visit her on Saturday. Alexis had fun playing with the new toys that Angela brought her. We got a couple of new penguin toys! We know that anytime we see a penguin we think of Angela.

Lexi is a Super Star

and the sweetest baby girl in the hospital according to all her caretakers (of course, we agree). The surgery went very well and Alexis did great! Overall, the doctor was happy with the outcome. He wished he could have opened the valve a little more but the leaflets of the valve are thick and not as easy to push open. Dr. L. thinks that if everything continues to stay as it currently is she will not need to have any more procedures anytime soon.
We weren't able to get to the computer room last night before it closed because we were at Alexis' bedside as she was recovering and waking up from the surgery and it was closed early this morning. We are home now and Alexis is one happy baby and back to her normal self! We are very blessed that everything went as expected and thankful for everyone's prayers because they worked!

One last snuggle with Daddy and teddy before the big procedure.Looks like someone is feeling better this morning.Playing with her Lov-A-Lot Care Be*r balloon before being discharged

We are going home and no better way to leave than in a wagon!

Rescheduled for tomorrow

Alexis' heart procedure has been rescheduled for tomorrow, April 17th, at 2 pm. We will let you know if anything changes. We can't thank everyone enough for all their love, support, and prayers.