Happiest Baby on the Block

Okay while Alexa is happy and content most of the time I am actually talking about the book, "The Happiest Baby on the Block" by Dr. Harvey Karp. This book is great and since reading it and watching the DVD, Alexa (and us of course) have had a decrease in crying/fussy periods and an increase in confidence in making her happy! I wish I would have read this book back in high school when babysitting. I would have had parents flocking to me to help calm their baby and had a booming business hahaha! Honestly though I think this is a must read for all parents or individuals who are around tiny babies. From the concept of swaddling to white noise and jiggling it just makes sense.

There is not always a lot of talk about how adoptive parents may feel after adoption besides elated that they have a baby in their arms. In many cases, ours included, you have an overwhelming feeling of needing to provide this baby with the very best. This feeling is ten fold in an open adoption with whom you have a good relationship and love for the birthparents. Yes, yes all parents want to provide the very best for their child(ren) but when you throw adoption into the mix a whole new flood of emotions comes to the surface. While many new parents question if what they are doing is right or feel at the end of their rope with their crying baby the mind games many adoptive parents play can be even worse. You want to be able to report that your baby is happy not only to your friends, but to the birthparents and the adoption agency. The truth is all babies cry (duh right?) but there are ways to help decrease fussy periods (or at least shorten them) and in turn increase your confidence as a parent in helping to calm your wailing red-faced angel! Anyways, I guess my point is that this is a wonderful book for all parents and not just first-time parents, that if I may seem overly emotional it is because I love the little girl sleeping peacefully in the room next door and I am overjoyed because when implementing many of the strategies in this book Alexa will sleep for up to 5 hours or more a night! Have a great weekend everyone!

Please take note of the adorable hat in this picture made by her lovely birth grandma :)

Officially Welcoming Alexa!

This past weekend we had a welcome party for Alexa. It was great to see so many people so excited to welcome Alexa into our family and all of our hearts! Here are a few pictures from the past several days...Enjoy!

 Pictures from the party...

Other pictures...

 Alexa apparently really likes my Uncle Dan. He had her smiling like crazy!

 Alexa & Bella face to face

Enjoying some snuggle time with Grandpa Mike

Happy Valentine's Day!

Alexa and I made it out of the house for a bit today on our own. I think we were both going a bit stir-crazy. It is amazing to me how many people (i.e. complete strangers) feel the need to come over and look at a baby they don't even know. I knew this would happen and held my breath each time someone walked over. I am not a germ-a-phob typically but with the nasty flu going around I really did not want anyone getting too close. We have limited our time out of the house because of the weather and illness going around but we can't stay in forever. Anyways, it was definitely a nice Valentine's Day treat!

1 month old!

It is hard to believe that this little peanut is already 1 month old! She is such a joy! She is up about 2 pounds since birth, likes to be swaddled, LOVES bath time, and is really starting to focus on our faces. I may have also heard the beginning of some cooing tonight...we will see!

Growing Girl!

So I am trying my best at functioning day to day on little sleep. Most days I feel good despite my lack of sleep but some days are just plain BAD hahaha. From what I hear that feeling is pretty normal! I wouldn't trade my lack of sleep for anything, especially when I wake up to this beautiful face (although most of the time it doesn't look as content as this when I go flying out of bed and race across the house to a screaming baby).

However, with a full tummy, dry diaper, and few hugs and kisses this is the face we see most of the time. Each day brings something new and as you can tell from the picture Alexa is growing, growing, growing already. I will probably say this over and over again as the months pass by but isn't God amazing? To create something as complex as a human being...every hair on our head, every fingernail, all the tiny organs that know just what to do...it leaves me in awe!

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb." Psalm 139:13