It's Official - A Walker

11 Months Old

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

11 Months Old

It has been a rough couple months. But now, after

many doctors visits, lots of medicine, and finally surgery,

it seems as though our Alexa is back! Although a difficult

time on us all, we still enjoyed everyday and each new

milestone along the way. Alexa seems to amaze us more

and more each day. She has truly brought

us such joy and happiness!

I can't believe I am saying this but we are already

preparing her "Winter-ONE-derland Birthday" party!

I never in a million years would have thought this time

would go by so quickly. To think, this time last year,

we were waiting very impatiently for the arrival of what

we called her then as "Baby Girl Mattoon".

Each month these pictures are getting

harder and harder to capture!

I was basically chasing Alexa around the house

trying to get one picture that met my expectations!

We even made it into the bathroom!

And then she decided to take a few steps as I

am trying to back away to grab another shot!

2 steps on Saturday

4 steps on Sunday...

THEN on her 11 month birthday, Alexa stood up

all on her own and took seven steps. This continued

several times tonight! One time, she took

4 steps, turned around and took 3 more!

11 Months Continued...

"Catch me if you can!" "A picture mommy - I don't think so.

How about I stand on my head!"

"Seriously mommy, I am all done taking pictures!"

"Thanks Papa for my beautiful new outfit! I love it!"

Alexa is so proud of herself now that she has learned

how to climb Lulu. I, however, skip a heart beat...

especially when she stands and rocks. She is not a very

good listener when it comes to the words "sit down".

A Few Steps!!!

Alexa can't climb onto LuLu from the right side...

but watch the video and at the VERY end, you will see

Alexa take a few steps before her crash landing.

The Climb

Bound and determined, Alexa was going

to climb onto the chairs. Of course she needed a little boost...

from her pal Kruzer that is.

With lots of effort...

you have an accomplishment!

And boy was she proud!

"Look mommy, no hands!"

Persistence

Alexa has been trying very hard to climb the

couch and chairs. As you can see from this

video, persistence sure pays off!

One way or another she will find a way!

Baby Steps

Alexa is doing very well standing on her own.

Even from a sitting position, Alexa will stand,

hold her arms out and just balence.

Saturday, November 14, 2009 - 2 steps in a row all by herself

Sunday, November 15, 2009 - 4 steps in a row all by herself

Mommy's Side-kick Shopper

The day after surgery, I had off from work due to

Veteran's Day, so we hit Toys R Us

to continue our birthday and Christams shopping.

Even in the stores, Alexa refuses to keep her

socks and shoes on. (Her right hand is fast at work).

She thinks by talking to me that it will distract

me and I won't notice what she is up to.

Ta-da!

Between banging on boxes, yelling at customers, and
giving her usual raspberries, Alexa kept
the shoppers rather amused!


Needless to say, we did accomplish a lot this day - but
more importantly, mommy and Alexa had
a very good day shopping together!

She gave me lots of laughs!

Headstand

Alexa gets quite a belly laugh going whenever

we help her do a summersault.

But now, she is amused by tring to stand on her head.

A gymnast???

I am not so sure I want her following in my footsteps
down that path. I know I gave my parents many
worries during my gymnastic years...
not sure if I can handle that!

Toy Box

Alexa loves climbing in and out of her toy box.

As uncomfortable as it looks, she will sit in here and

play, pull toys out from under her, throw toys out then

reach and pull them back in. It is quite amusing to us

as we sit back, watch, and laugh at her!

Tooth Number 5 - First Upper

Saturday, November 7, 2009

Alexa's first top tooth, front right, popped through

the gum. It is not yet sticking down to far...

just broke through the gum!

If you look close, you can see a little speck of white...

hard to see in this picture - I know.

Surgery Day

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

After a long battle with a few ear infections that would

not go away even with every antibiotic she could possibly be

put on including injections, colds, croup, and now C-diff...

a nasty illness caused by antibiotics, and several weeks of

cloudy fluid on her ears, today is the day that

Alexa will have tubes put in.

It was very early (6:30 am) when we headed out the door.

More importantly though...Alexa hadn't eaten since

midnight and now that I woke her and dressed her...she

was itching for a bottle. Needless to say, we knew we

were in for a long car ride to the surgery center.

We were the youngest patient which means we

were scheduled first. But, you need a doctor in order to have surgery.

Luckily, the many nurses, anaesthiologists, and who knows

who else that we saw who were all on time and did there part.

So at this point, it was a matter of waiting for the doctor to arrive.

Alexa went back and forth from sitting on her little bed/crib to

crawling into my arms. She did as good as can be expected.

A bit fussy, then happy, then very cranky, then she would

calm down...then she saw her bottle and that was the end of that!

So, Rob and I did what we could to keep her happy.

The nurses were great. They all kept coming in

which helped because Alexa was able to

become more familiar with them.

And then...my worst fears...it was time to say good-bye.

We gave her her blanket, hugs, and kisses, and an few extra

hugs and kisses from mommy, then the hard part...I had

to hand her off. There she went into the OR. Of course,

I peeked around the corner and watched until I couldn't

see her anymore. Then the waiting began.

Boy did the wait seem like forever! I just stared at the clock in

the waiting room. It was the longest 18 minutes EVER!

Everytime I saw a nurse round the corner I was ready to jump up.

Finally, the side door opened and her doctor came out in full

scrubs. Of course, I thought the worst thinking something

happened ...she is walking towards us in full gear. She sat

down, only to inform us how the procedure went. It was a sigh

of relief at that point as tears were flowing down my face. She

told us Alexa did great, but she did have another ear infection.

(Rob and I did expect it as the day before she was stuffing her

thumb in her ear!) The doctor continued talking but honestly,

I have no idea what she was saying. She left and there we sat.

Minutes later I heard screaching and screaming and I knew

it was Alexa...not to mention we were the first to go so it

had to be her. There we sat helpless...listening to her belting

at the top of her lungs. Finally, a nurse came out and called us

back and I bolted all the way into the recovery room and

grabbed her right out of the arms of the nurse who was holding

her. They had a rocking chair ready for me and Rob prepared

the bottle once they gave the go ahead that she could have it.

It was a rough next 45 minutes, but we all managed to get thru

it. Then, finally, we were on our way home and

Alexa fell fast asleep once in the car.

A big Thank you to everyone at the surgery center for

taking such good care of us and Alexa!

5 Hours After Surgery

Literally, 5-6 hours later, and it was like a light

switch flipped. Alexa was a whole new...HAPPY baby!

Our baby was back!

They said she would probably take an extra nap this day...

not only did she NOT take an extra nap, but the naps

she did take were rather short. I was not complaining though!!!

I just wanted to hold her and play with her!

Our Waver

At about 10 1/2 months, Alexa decided to start

waving...with one or both hands.

She sure is proud of herself!

One Sick Baby

Saturday, October 31, 2009

Day two of our round of injections.

(You can see one of the two band-aids on her leg).

Our nurses know me pretty well - her bandaids

weren't pick today - instead they were orange

to match her outfit!

After amoxicillan, omnicef, and augmentin...we are now

trying our final form of antibiotic through injections.

Two shots for three consecutive days. After this,

there is absolutely no more medicine

she can possibly be put on.

A New Way to Shop

October 31, 2009

Halloween Afternoon

The first time sitting in a shopping cart...

yes with all the shopping we do, Alexa is either

in her bucket seat or her stroller.

Not anymore! We decided to let her see

what shopping is really all about!

We couldn't get the seat cover on fast enough...

as you can see her hands are on the cart before

we could get it fully covered. She was ready!

I am not sure what she enjoyed more...seeing everything

freely...or the wind blowing her away!

She had a blast turning this way and

that way...looking all around.


And then she made herself cozy.

Our Sprouting Flower

Alexa's 1st Halloween

October 31, 2009

Alexa was still not feeling well and still had her ear infection...

so she was not thrilled with the whole dressing up idea.

Needless to say, the costume lasted only minutes and

then we had a screaming baby. I think it took me longer

to get her in the costume than she was actually in it.

So, a few weeks later...in November, I re-dressed

Alexa and tried for another picture.

Still, she was a bit uncooperative for a picture.

First costume...flower.

I wonder what next year will bring???

Our Little Pumpkin

Glow in the Dark Jammies