Alexis Rose

Surreal

Alexis Rose Rigby was born Friday, October 9, 2009. 7 lbs. 15 oz. 20 inches long. Healthy and beautiful.

The labor and delivery was long, but great. (No pain thanks to the epidural!) We had an excellent nurse coach us through the entire thing and she couldn't have been more helpful.

Jeff and the doctor talked a little politics and Fox News. Thankfully, the doctor sees things the way Jeff does!

I relaxed most of the day, eating ice chips and taking little naps here and there.

The doctor broke my water (finally) at about 1:30 and from there, things progressed quickly.

She was born with no complications and it couldn't have gone better!

I think one of the most amazing experiences in the world is becoming a parent. It's difficult to describe the overwhelming emotion and love I felt when Alexis came into this world. It was truly humbling. I love both of my little angels so much and am so grateful to have the opportunity to be a mother.

Here are some pictures of the big day:

I'm sitting here at 3:45 a.m. wondering how exactly it is that you are supposed to sleep the night before you know that you are going to be giving birth? I hadn't thought about that when we made the plan to be induced.

How do you stop thinking about the huge life change that is about to happen?

I wonder how Lizette is going to react tomorrow...

Did I stock up on enough diapers?

Will I get my much wanted epidural in time?

What will Alexis look like?

I wonder how Lizette is sleeping tonight at Jamie and Spencer's house.

It feels strange to sleep in our house without Lizette in her little bed.

I wonder if Lizette and Alexis will fight when they are teenagers.

I wish I could go back to the Moppet Togs consignment sale and buy more stuff for my girls.

I still can't get over seeing Nienie on Oprah. What an inspiration.

I wish my mom were here.

Do they have Wi-fi at the hospital so we can send pictures and stuff?

I don't know if we should get the H1N1 vaccine or not.

I hope Lizette likes her birthday presents. I need to remind Jeff to pick up her cake.

Wow, I'm tired.

I hope the labor and delivery nurses are as cool as last time.

I hope the doctor likes the gift we got him.

I'm so glad to be married to Jeff.

I can't wait to meet Alexis.

Tomorrow's the Big Day!

We are so excited to welcome little Alexis Rose! Pictures will be coming soon...

Ode to Cankles...

Today at the doctor's office, I took off my socks and Jeff was in shock to see how swollen my legs are. I hadn't noticed as much since I was able to wear sandals for most of my pregnancy. But now that the weather has turned cooler and I am wearing socks, it is funny to see the appearance of my "cankles". Yes, my legs look like I am wearing knickers or something. (Remember those?) Lizette was intrigued by the whole situation and kept staring at my legs as well.

Aaaah...the joys of pregnancy.

The good news is that we only have to wait a couple more days to meet our newest little angel! I'll be induced on Friday morning.

So long cankles! And heartburn. And maternity clothes. And uncomfortable sleep. And (the embarrassing problem you have to use preparation-H for). No, I'm not one of those people who think pregnancy is the most beautiful time. I don't even have it that bad either! I just complain about every little discomfort. I'm a selfish person basically. I like to be comfortable. I do love to feel the baby move and hear the heartbeat and see the ultrasounds. But, the rest....I could do without!

Wow, I'm really a whiner, aren't I?

:)

My Sidekick

Lizette at one month

Lizette at almost three

These last few weeks leading up to the birth of our second little girl have made me so sentimental about the time Lizette and I have had together. She has taught me more about life than I could have ever imagined. She amazes me every day. I look at her baby pictures and just cry because she is growing up so fast!

I think having your first child is always such a special experience because it is all so new. Everything they do is just amazing. You can't help but feel so proud of every little thing they learn and catch on to.

I am thrilled to be having another one and she will be such a joy for our family. I just wish I could go back and cherish every moment with Lizette one more time. I've loved my time with my little sidekick. I love you Lizette...my little stinker!

Love,
Mom

Grocery Store Etiquette

I just returned home from Wal-Mart not long ago and have to vent about my experience.

As I walked the aisles, it seemed that I could not get away from a family with three of the loudest, most obnoxious kids. Not toddlers. These were older, grade school kids. I mean, Wal-Mart is huge and if you can hear kids screaming from across the store, you know they are being loud. I tried to ignore them and focus on my shopping, but much to my dismay, I ended up having a slight run-in with them and their mother.

I was in the dairy section, trying to get to the sour cream. These kids were jumping around all over the place between the yogurt and other dairy products. I tried to wait patiently until they moved, but they and their mom were oblivious to the fact that other people may actually want to get to the products they were so rudely blocking.

Finally, I made my way around them to the sour cream. As I was reaching for my last pint, their mother pushed around me, stepped on my toe and reached up to grab some cottage cheese. I seriously thought I was going to blow a gasket! I mean, here I am 9+ months pregnant, trying to be polite, and she has the nerve to basically push me out of the way! She gave me a quick apology, but at this point I was furious. I grabbed my cart and headed for the bacon.

As I was walking to the meat section, I could see out of the corner of my eye that they were behind me and gaining on me. I decided that I needed to do something to inconvenience them just as they had been inconveniencing other shoppers all night. So I waited until they were fairly close, swerved my cart over and cut them off! They didn't say anything and probably were oblivious to this just as they were to everything else in the store tonight. But, I have to say that it made me feel better. It may not have been the boldest move ever made, but I was satisfied.

Maybe next time they will think twice about coming between a woman and her dairy products.