Alex, Nomi and Popi!

While we were at my parents this weekend, some crazy lady came into the house, did something people would call dancing and Alex LOVED it! The crazy lady answers to the name Nomi!

We had a surprise visitor today! My dad happened to be in Navasota for work so he stopped by to see his sweet pea...oh and Alex too!

Alex and Popi talking

She loves staring at people!

Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree

We decorated the tree Monday night! We turned on Christmas music and took turns holding Alex as we decorated!

Alex in her Christmas decorating outfit!

Josh making sure the branches look just right before we start hanging ornaments

Alex looking for the perfect spot to hang her ornament!

Our makeshift mantel

The adorable ornaments my sister made!

The Tree!

(I'm a little picky when it comes to the tree...all the ornaments red or mostly red.)

and she looks like...

Josh and I went through some of our baby pictures trying to decide who we think Alex looks more like...what do you think?

Alex

Josh

Jamie

I of course thinks she looks like me! (except for the peacock-esque hair, thanks Mom!)

quick Alex update...after many nights filled with tears and screaming, we decided to stop trying the bottle for good. This headstrong little girl has more willpower than me, I just can't stand to hear her cry and scream. I made the decision to try a sippy cup instead and wouldn't you know it, she likes it! She started off small, only taking .75 ounces and everyday started taking a little more and more. Yesterday she took 2.5 ounces! So the Nuby sippy cups are our new best friend. My goal is to have her take at least 1 complete feeding during the day from a sippy cup in the next week, then every few days, we will substitute a nursing session with a bottle/sippy cup feeding. Oh, she is getting formula in the sippy cup, she refused to take breastmilk in it. If all goes well, she will be completely on formula by the end of the year and I'll be able to start taking the medication I need to help with the RA!

Long Holiday Weekend!

We had such a wonderful 4 day weekend! Terri, Ray and Gram P came down Thursday morning to spend Thanksgiving with us! Josh and I spent the day in the kitchen working on dinner while Grandma and Grandpa kept the little one occupied!

Alex loved sitting on the kitchen counter with Grandma watching us in the kitchen!

After a long day of cooking and eating, I snuggled up with Cooper on the couch!
Alex had a really bad night on Friday. She was up 4 times! Josh got up with her once and she was up for about an hour (at 3am!). The next morning she sat in her high chair while we ate breakfast and I decided to give her a little oatmeal (the baby kind). She LOVED it! We made a huge mess but she was so cute! Her favorite thing was licking the spilled oatmeal off the top of the tray. Then she decided to take the spoon away from me!
Terri, Ray and Gram P left Saturday morning. Cooper was very sad to see them go, he stood by the window looking out for the longest time! :(

After they left, we got ready, loaded up the car and headed to Nomi and Popi's! Jodi, Laith, Hudson and Isabella were in town from California so we wanted to see them before they left that afternoon! Hud and Izzy have grown so much since I last saw them. I miss those kids so much!

Here is the first picture of Alex with her cousins! They are all so beautiful!

We didn't do anything except relax, play cards and eat at Nomi and Popi's!

Eskimo Kisses!

Popi and his little sweet pea!

Cooper, never starved for attention!

Josh and A watching football!

After a long weekend, Alex was so tired, she fell asleep on Josh while we were eating dinner.

We had the best weekend! We got home last night a little after 10! There was a pointsetta on our porch when we got home last night, it was from Dobbie. We have no idea who the heck Dobbie is, but it was nice of her/him to leave us a plant. We are wondering if they left it at the wrong house!?!?

I am soooo excited, we are decorating the Christmas tree tonight! We took everything out of the attic on Friday and we put the tree up. Tonight we get to decorate it! I love Christmas so much and decorating the house and tree are some of my favorite things to do! Growing up we always decorated the tree as a family while we listened to the Chipmunks Christmas album. This is one of the traditions I want to carry on with Alex!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving from the Stafins!

Gram P, Ray, Josh, Terri, Alexandra Rae, Jamie and Cooper

Our first video of the giggle bunny!

Grandparent Gifts!

Yesterday we enjoyed the gifts both sets of Grandparents got Alex before she was born! Alex is now tall enough to sit in her Exersaucer that Nomi and Popi got her! She loved it! Her favorite thing was looking in the mirror! Girl is obsessed with mirrors!

Then I decided it was time to put together the highchair from Grandma and Grandpa! I thought it may help Alex from getting so fussy when we sit down to eat dinner if she feels like she is there with us! It worked for awhile! We got through most of dinner before she got fussy!

Daddy putting together the highchair!

Mommy, Alex and Coopie kinda watching him put together the highchair!

Big Girl in her highchair!

Alex and Coop hanging out!

What I've Learned (Part 1)

So I've realized in the 4 month, 2 weeks and 2 days that I have officially been a Mommy, I have learned so many things that only a parent can know!

I have a rule when both babies are here, if one is eating and the other one gets fussy I keep feeding whoever is eating instead of interrupting the meal, then I tend to the fussy baby. (That rule does not apply to the adults in the house, if we are eating and Alex gets fussy we rock, paper, scissors to determine who gets to eat with Alex in their lap.) Yesterday, I was feeding Abby and Alex decided she was over sitting in her swing. She has started arching her back when she gets upset. So she was sitting in her swing twisting and arching her back. I could see her so I knew she was ok. So I sat there and talked to her while I finished feeding Abby. Within

a few minutes she stopped fussing. After Abby was done, I put her down and checked on Alex only to find out she was out cold. The girl was all twisted and looked so uncomfortable but I have learned: Just because you don't think it looks comfortable, doesn't mean it's not! Since Alex has been fighting naps every afternoon, I decided to leave her and wouldn't you know it, she slept for an hour! So of course, like any good Mommy, I grabbed the camera and took pictures of my crazy baby sleeping! (I love the hand in her mouth!)