Bili Lights..

We were supposed to be discharged from the hospital on Monday morning. When the nurse brought Lexi to me early that morning, I took one look at her and knew we wouldn't be going anywhere. She was pretty yellow! When my doctor walked in, the first thing I asked was what her bili was and he told me it was 15 (we want it less than 10). So under the bili lights she went. The nurse in me knew that she would be ok and that it wasn't a big deal but the new mom in me cried. So they discharged me from the hospital, but since they weren't very full, they let me stay in my room just not as a patient. So we sat all day in the nursery, with our little girl in the tanning beds. She was allowed out every 3 hours for 30 minutes, so I could feed her. Oh how a cherished those minutes!! After 24 hours under the lights her bili came down to 9.4, so he let us go home the next morning. I packed up our stuff so quick!! We did have to go and have her bili checked again that day but it came back 8.3. I took her to the doc again this morning and she was perfectly pink!! I sure love this little girl!!

This is her first try in the carseat...she looks so tiny in there!!

This is her first car ride!

Lexi Grace Harris

***Warning long post***

I was so feeling ready to have a baby!! My sisters and parents had come down for the weekend and had decided it was a perfect weekend for me to go into labor. I was determined to have this baby while they were all here. When I saw my doc on Thursday I was almost dilated to a 3+. So Friday, after I was sent home from work early, I headed over to my sis-in-law's house where my family was swimming and got in the pool. We were trying to figure out how to put me into labor. After a trip down the slide, Jami and Sheridan convinced me to drink Castor oil. I was feeling desperate and SO uncomfortable, I'd try anything!! So Sheen plugged my nose and dumped it down. Later my mom and I went for a walk, then after a second dose of the good stuff, I started contracting around 9. Tip and I went home and tried to get some sleep. Around 1 I woke up and started walking around my house. At around 2 I woke Tip. (Jami had told me that if I wanted to punch some one cause they hurt to go in.) I wanted to punch someone so we headed in. The hooked me up and sure enough I was contracting every 2 minutes. They watched me for 2 hours and finally at 530 a.m. I was admitted, by six am. I had my epidural (which I loved! My iv hurt more going in then the epidural!). my 8 a.m I was a 6 and around 10 am my water broke. I was completely dilated to a 10 at 11 a.m. My doc came around 1130 and the pushing begin. I pushed for on hour! I was so exhausted and didn't think I could keep pushing but I was so ready to have her out! I had a hard time pushing her head out. Finally at 12:34 little Lexi Grace Harris made her debut! The doctor and nurses were wondering if she was going to be a 9 pound cause I was having such a hard time getting her out, but she surprised us weighing in at 7 lbs and 3 oz and 18.5 inches long.

Words can not describe how I feel about this beautiful baby! I honestly love her so so much. She is so perfect!! She looks exactly like Tip!! I have loved watching Tip. The minute she was born he was so emotional. He loves her so much and was a great amount of support! He was by my side the entire labor. We are so blessed to have a such a happy healthy baby!!

During the labor I had the best support. My mom, Jami, Linzy, Tricia, and Sheridan and my mother-in-law (who barely made it down from Tremonton). I was so glad to have such great support. I am so blessed with such a great family!

My Support team (I hope I didn't scare ya)

Mom, Jami, and Linzy
Finally!!

7lb 3 oz

He is such a fabulous husband and Daddy!

First Family Photo!

ETA...2 weeks!!

I can't believe our little baby will be here in 2 weeks!! Not going to lie, I am crossing my fingers she will live by my Grandpa Woodruff's motto "if you're not early, you're late" and surprise us with an early arrival! I am so ready for her to be here! I am so ready to not be pregnant!! We can't wait to meet our little girl! Ready or not parenthood here we come!!!!

PS...We also bought a new car! YAHOO! A '09 Nissan Rogue!! We love it and now are "discussing" who gets to be the main driver!!

Nursery!

I have been working on the baby's nursery since I found out she was a girl! Now all that's missing is her!! We are so excited for her to come and we are counting down the days till she makes her arrival!!

The hardest part of the nursery to get was the dresser. I knew what I wanted and also knew I didn't want to spent much. After much DI, thrift stores, and garage sales we ended up buying one at Ikea. I wanted it to be pink so Tip painted it for me!!

This is before......

during......

and the finished project!! I LOVE LOVE it!! Its got crystal knobs on it and is the perfect color!

This is her crib (thanks to my parents who gave us the one at their house)

I am going to get her picture taking and put them above her bed.

Her toy box/storage. Her closest isn't huge so we needed a place to put toys!

The big picture!

I love her room...I can't wait to finally meet my baby girl!

San Diego....

oceanside pier

dolphins

starfish

turtles

don't confuse me for shamu, I am the one in front.






Shamu Show

Tip had to ride the rides by himself

The baby panda and gorilla. I loved all the baby animals!

San Diego Temple

Since we will have a 3 week old baby on our first wedding anniversary, we decided to celebrate a little early. We headed to San Diego for a couple days. Tip served his mission in Carlsbad (San Diego Area), so we thought it would be fun to go back to that area. While we were there we went to Sea World and the San Diego Zoo. We had a blast!! Since we were there on a Monday and Tuesday both parks weren't crowded and we got to enjoy everything!!! We also made a stop at the San Diego Temple. Tip has been telling me since we met how much he loved that temple. We were excited to get to do a session there. It was a beautiful temple!! The trip was great! I sure do love my husband. Although, this was our last trip for probably a long time without kids, we are so excited for our little girl to get here!! Thanks for the trip Tip and happy (almost) 1st anniversary!

So Long Truck...

We sold Tip's truck. It was a bitter sweet day. With Tip's new job he has to drive around more and we needed a more fuel efficient/baby ready car. SO we put up the truck up on KSL and two weeks later we sold it to a guy here in St. George. We went on our first date in that truck! Tip loved that truck and it will be greatly missed!! We took some farewell pictures of the truck!

Baby Shower and Motorcycle RIde

A couple of weeks ago my Mom gave Linzy and I a great joint baby shower in Alpine. We both got great gifts that really helped me feel more prepared for this baby girl to come!! I got my camera out but did not take one picture!! I am so sad about that! Thanks to everyone who came!!

That same weekend my parents, Zach, Tip and I put on the some leathers and took dinner out to Jami's house on the motorcycles. It was a great ride!! I did take pictures of the ride but don't mind that I look like a big fat girl on the back of the bike in leather!! (sorry I didn't get a picture of mom and dad)

Pros and Cons of being Pregnant...

I am getting closer to having this baby!! YIKES!!! Part of me is so, so excited to see her and hold her! Then another part of me is SO nervous!!! BUT either way being pregnant has its pros and cons....

CONS....

~Sleeping comfortably...I can't remember that! (I can't wait to sleep on my back again!!)
~Taking a deep breath and having my lungs actually fill!
~Shaving not a priority or a possibility :)
~Putting shoes and socks on is now a chore
~Heartburn! (no more chocolate for me or anything really)
~By the end of a work day my poor toes look like sausages.
~Those climbing numbers on the scale
~No I am not glowing, just sweating!
~Having to find a bathroom 10 minutes after I just went as well as throughout the night!

PROS....

~I LOVE feeling her move, roll, kick, hiccup!!
~She gets to come to work with me!
~I have an excuse for gaining weight.
~I get to buy cute little girl clothes!
~I don't have to have any contact patients at work! (no yellow gowns for me!)
~I am sure there are more I just can't think of any....

Easter and a belly picture...

We were able to go up north and visit both families for Easter. We had a great time! We went to the movie How to Train Your Dragon with all my nieces and nephews (I highly recommend it!!). We also had a Easter Egg hunt with my family and got to enjoy conference. We also spent a few days in Tremonton with Tips family. We had a good weekend. Hope everyone had a Happy Easter!!

Ok, So a few people have told me to take pictures of my belly. I have tried really hard to avoid taking any, but some girls at work told me that I would regret not taking any so I finally took one. I am now 7 months pregnant and in my 3rd trimester!! Yeah!! I can't believe we are on the countdown to baby!! I still have a lot to do but I am getting so excited to meet this little girl! She is very active and I love it!! She has discovered my ribs and sleeping comfortably is now a thing of the past! BUT even with getting larger (yes I prefer the word larger instead of fatter), I am enjoying this time.

Kick Scare...

My baby has always been very active. She often never sits still. Even the doctor sometimes has a hard time counting her heartbeat because he will find it and then she will move and then find it again and she will move again! I can sit on the couch and watch my whole belly move as she is getting bigger but still thinks she is small enough to flip and roll, I love it!!

I worked the last three days in a row. They were really rough days at work and I didn't get home till 8 p.m. on Tuesday and not till late again last night. I was so exhausted when I got home last night. I came home to dinner cooked and laundry done! I was so excited to sit down and eat dinner and enjoy my shows! Normally after work and dinner, the baby wont sit still. I love to sit and just enjoy her moving. Last night was different. After I ate and sat down I noticed the baby hadn't moved for awhile. So I poked a little and adjusted how I was sitting, and nothing. SO after about an hour or so I started to panic. So I made a phone call to my baby specialist also known as Jami (sorry Jami to interrupt your vacation!) and just asked what she thought. She told me it was probably ok and asked if I was worried. The tears came, more like sobs, and she told me to go drink something and lay down. So after 2 otterpops, a glass of milk, and sips of Mt. Dew (i know, I know, but it was the only drink that contained any sugar), and many many prayers I went to bed. Tip and I just laid there very still. It had been several hours since I felt her and all the fears and possibilities where going through my mind. FINALLY she kicked. I wasn't sure if I really felt it or just wanted to so bad I imagined it. But when she kicked again, Tip felt it and I knew she was ok. Now tears of relief came and prayers of gratitude. I don't think my hands left my belly all night. She kicked crazy this morning, so I know she is ok.

I guess she was just as worn out from my work as I was. I know that I am not the only mother to panic about my baby's lack of kicking. I sometimes worry because of being a nurse that I expose my baby to too much. Though the panicking turned out to be nothing, I realized how much I absolutely love this baby. I know I haven't met her yet, but I love and want her more than anything. I can't imagine my life without the possibility of her coming into it.

I know this is a long drawn out story that you probably didn't want to know. I just thought I'd share my thoughts for my own memory/journal. Thanks to Jami and my Mom for listening to me cry over the phone and giving me advice. Thanks to my sweet husband who held my hand and worried with me and said a prayer to make me feel better. I love you all!!

P.S. I know a few people wanted too see some belly pictures...If I get brave enough to take some I will post them. I haven't taken any, but I will try to be brave!