Happy 1 Month, Alexis Rose!

December 16 - One Month old today 

(watch me over the coming months to see how I grow.

mom promises to keep taking pictures of me on my chair and blanket 

so we can chart my progress)

Happy 30th Birthday Daddy

Happy almost Birthday Nanny

Can you guess which one of us is enjoying bath time?

Napping with my homey

One month already - where has the time gone? 

Alexis, each day we wake up thrilled and grateful that you have joined our family and blessed us with so much happiness. We can't believe that you've been with us for one month already - the days just seem to whiz by as you develop from our tiny newborn into our sweet baby girl who is beginning to explore her new world. Here are some of the developments Daddy and I have noticed over the past two weeks:

-That tongue - still! Boy how you love to let the world know when you're hungry. That tongue is always out, making sure milk is on its way. You even like to ensure it's captured on camera.  

-You have found your hands, and you love to use them. All day long you are opening and closing your cute little hands, grabbing onto the bottle and mommy and daddy. The world is your oyster and you are reaching out for it with such enthusiasm. 

-Throwing your arms all around consumes much of your time. Whether you're awake and shaking those arms with all your might or drifting off to the land of dreams and flailing them as you settle off to sleep, those arms are always on the move. 

-While you still don't have the chubby legs we expect in another few months, they certainly are strong. When we burp you over our shoulder, you like to test them out. We know that soon enough they'll guide you as you leave your mark on this world. 

-Each day you seem to be spending more time alert and awake. You especially love to look out the window and at the picture frame over your changing table. Those baby blues seem most content when you're looking at us (and our hearts melt) or at the great outdoors and all the possibilities that await you beyond the comforts of home. 

-When we put you on your tummy, you always try and lift that head up, and we are so proud that you're already challenging yourself. May you always maintain that sense of determination.

-You have begun to sleep 4-5 hour stretches most nights for which we are so very grateful, and as we welcome the changing season, you experienced your first snowfall. 

-Next up is your first time with babysitters (Nanny and Grampa) and while we look forward to a night on the town, we already anticipate how much we'll be missing our Lexi Bear.

Happy 1 month sweet pea. Here's to all that still awaits you!

Family of three

Such a cute little butt! 

We promise not to blackmail you with these 

pictures in your teenage years 

Mom, are we done yet?

It's hard to believe that our little Lexi Bear is already two weeks old (15 days today). At your doctor's appointment, you weighed seven pounds, eight ounces and were 20.5 inches tall. Who would have thought that someone so tiny could change our lives completely in such a short time? We have a love for you that we never knew possible, more patience than we've ever had, less sleep than we've ever had, and an enormous sense of purpose and pride. Our family feels complete, and our home is bursting with warmth even as winter sets in. Each day we notice new behaviors and new signs of your emerging personality. It really has been an amazing two weeks. Below are a few of our observations:

-Your tongue is your trademark. Even at the hospital, you would stick out that long tongue of yours to let us know that you were hungry. This has continued over your first two weeks. Everyone finds it quite funny as your tongue is so long.  We love that you already have a way of letting us know when it's time to eat, and we get a big kick out of the big personality that comes with this action. 

-When you sleep, you are filled with facial expressions. We're not sure if you are dreaming yet (we hope they are all sweet dreams if you are), but when we are snoozing, your face tells it all. You have a little pout that we find adorable. You also have a sweet sailor's grin when you first drift off. You like to furrow your brow, and when you're really in a deep sleep, you raise your eyebrows as if to stay in la la land forever. We are fascinated as we watch all these expressions and try to imagine what our little girl is thinking about!

-You are a grunter! When it's time to eat, when your diaper needs changing, even in your sleep, you make cute grunting sounds all the time. 

-You like to give your daddy nose kisses. He plays a fun game with you where he leans in and places his nose near your mouth. Sure enough, if you are awake you'll begin to suck on it. Of course it's just because you think it's going to provide some milk, but we won't tell him that!

-You have just found your hands, and they are EVERYWHERE right now. If I try to push them aside, you remind me that you have a firm grip already. You flail your hands and arms all about as you start to drift off to sleep, you even look like you're throwing an air punch. You now like to sleep with your hands up by your face and sometimes with your arms stretched up near your head. We keep mittens on you so you won't scratch your face as your cute little hands with those beautiful, long fingers explore your new world. 

-You love to be held. With so many friends and family members coming to meet you these first two weeks, we worried that it might be too much stimulation. But, you seem to thrive on the attention and simply love to be held. We hope that you'll always love to cuddle and sleep in our arms or on our chest as much as you do now. 

-Bathtime and changing time are not fun times for you quite yet. We know that in another few months, you will begin to love the bath and all the fun that can be had in it.  In the meantime, you cry your pretty blue eyes out. As soon as you are wrapped up warmly in your "Rocky Balboa" hooded towel or snuggly in your dry diaper and new outfit, you become content, but those few minutes in between are not happy ones for you. We hate to see you upset but know that we have only the best intentions as we clean and bundle you. 

-You love your lamb swing. So warm and snuggly, with sweet music and a sitting position that you enjoy, one of your favorite ways to pass the time is snoozing in your Fischer Price swing. 

-You are the smartest little girl in the whole wide world. At least that's what daddy and I think! You have such neck control already, you eagerly push the bottle in your mouth when you are hungry and often push it out when you need to catch your breath, when we put you on your tummy you sometimes use your feet and legs to push your entire lower body off the floor in sort of a push-up position, you love to open those eyes and observe the world around you when we burp you on our knee. You seem so alert at times and excited to be here with us. (Of course not nearly as excited as WE are to have YOU here!)

Happy 2 Weeks, Alexis Rose! You have grown and changed so much during your time home, and each day is a wonderful new adventure. Little girl, we love you so.