Family Fun!

I am trying to remember where I last left off in the blog. Ah, thats right. Lexi was just about 2 weeks old. She is now 1 month! How fast did that go! What a great month it has been. At her 2 week appointment she weighed 8 lbs 1 oz. I weighed her yesterday and she was up to 8 lbs 8 oz. She has gained a whole pound since she has been with us. She is such a porker. She loves to eat. It is the cutest thing to watch her eat. When she gets the bottle she wont let go. I will have to get a video of it..pretty dang cute. I have been a stay at home mom for a month now. I haven't gone to crazy because its been non stop busy.

When she was first home Broc was home for a week and that was fun!

The next week, Broc's sister came to town with her two kids so we were always hanging out.

Now that she is 1 month, my parents are here loving her to death!

 It was such a blast having Brittany, Chloe, and Madden here for 2 weeks. I wish James (her husband) could of been here..but someone has to bring home the bacon I guess! Chloe is almost three years old and has such a little personality! 

I can't wait until Lexi is that age! It will be so much fun! Madden is already 9 months old! It seems like we were just in Seattle watching him enter the world!

While Britt was here we went to the park, swimming, the temple, Anti Gravity, and spent lots of time playing games 

with the family. It was really fun and I wish she didn't live so far away!

Now my parents are here for a week and they are loving Lexi. Lexi  is being blessed on Sunday, so I'm sure that will be my next post! I have to cut this short due to a hungry baby!

DYI pictures...easier said than done!

At my baby shower, the guest wrote down "tips/advise" for being a new mom. I recently just received them. I loved reading them.

"Ashley, This too shall pass. So enjoy every moment! Even when your pooped!"

Grandma Jenkins

"If you ever get stressed or bored call me. I'll play with you or babysit baby Lexi Mae!

Love you!"

Joclynn

"Remember how blessed you are for all you have

Remember there is always someone who is worse off than you

Always remember to keep a smile on your face

Remember who is the boss (inside joke)

Families are forever

Mom is always a phone call or text away"

Mom

" My mom passed this on the me:

When you are thinking of doing bodily damage to a child who is driving you crazy, go in your room, lock the door, put your head under a pillow and scream!

If that doesn't relieve the stress, tell your Heavenly Father you need help. After all he knew your children before you did."

Karen

"It is perfectly normal not to like your kids 100% of the time

Don't even feel guilty about needing a break. It makes you a better mom

Write down the funny things you kids say. I promise you wont remember after the fact

Just when you think it will never end, the kids are grown and gone. Enjoy them while you can."

Tiffany

"Pretty much plan on having lots of stressful days. However, the amazing thing is that it can be wonderful and stressful at the same time. So just re-define stressful. It can be a good thing. You are becoming a better mom and stronger woman when being stretched.

Enjoy the small moments! Don't rush anything!"

-Unknown

" Congrats on your baby girl! If you ever feel down-get dressed up cute and dress the baby up cute and leave the house. It doesn't matter if you go to a park or browse shop at Target. Just get out and see other people.

You will be an awesome mom! You are beautiful!"

Moenika

"Ashley! I'm not pregnant so I don't know what to tell you!

Good LUCK!

Love you!"

Liana

I saw a pin on Pintrest on doing new born photos.

I tried it.

I can honestly say- they didn't turn out! But my baby is to0 cute!

Before

After

Before

After

(Still not brave enough to try it with out the diaper)

The next one is for Broc. He is a Charger fan!

It didn't turn out like I wanted, but then again I'm not professional!

Cute idea though!

First week of parenthood

This time last week, Lexi was brand spanking new! Emotions were all over the place and Broc and I were the happiest we had ever been. Our little girl was finally here! What a joy and blessing she is! I can't believe how much I love her! I love everything about her! Especially her cute faces! There has been some tough times over the first week but that's to be expected.

She is a pretty good sleeper so far. She only wakes up a few times. Although, last night she took an hour to eat 2 ounces! I was so tired! Then 20 minutes later she was ready for more! Talk about a little porker! Our first day out of the hospital our first stop was Walmart. We shortly realized we needed things that we didn't have for her! That was trip one. In the last week we have made about 4 more trips! We already ran out of diapers and wipes! It's all to be expected!
So far, Lexi is a pretty good baby! She sleeps, eats, poops, burps, and hardly cries! She does however cry at bath time! Soon she will love it...I hope! Here are some cute pictures of her first week with us!

It is still weird to me that I am a mother. I am responsible for raising and teaching this child. Talk about pressure! One night, Broc and I were laying in bed talking and our conversation was about how everything revolves around little Lexi now. Shes so perfect and pure. As Broc said the other day, "she was just with Heavenly Father."

How true. I am so grateful that he chose us to raise one of his children.

What a wonderful week it has been!

Welcome Lexi Mae Jenkins

Welcome!

Lexi Mae Jenkins

8/30/2012

1:37 pm.

7 lbs 9 oz.

20 inches

What an incredible opportunity it is to give birth to a child.

I am so glad that I was able to experience this with Broc.

Our little Lexi Mae is perfect in every way.

I am so thankful that Heavenly Father chose us to raise one of his children.

Labor Story:

Warning: I ramble a lot!

Lexi's due date was Sept. 4. 2012.

At about 38 & 39 weeks I was dilated to 4cm. My doctor said that he was surprised to see me still pregnant because I was already 4 cm. (Trust me, I was too!)

By 37 weeks, I was so done being pregnant! I was so uncomfortable and wanted to meet our little girl.

About a week before Lexi came, I had been having contractions almost daily. So of course, daily I thought..."this is it, shes coming today!"

Nope.

Wednesday, 8-29-2012 I was home from work just relaxing around the house because I was feeling crummy after having my membranes stripped the day before.

I had a few small contractions through out the day but nothing consistent.

About 9 pm I started having contractions but nothing to regular. Broc and I went to bed about 11pm and they began to become regular. They started out about 10 minutes apart then moved to about 5-8 minutes apart for the next three hours or so.

These were super painful and I knew either they would go away or this was it!

About 1:30 I woke up Broc and told him that and we decided to go into Labor and Delivery to get checked out.

After being checked in, I was still dilated to 4cm.

Contractions were horrible! So painful!

The nurse came back to check me an hour later...

5 cm!

YES! We were having this baby!

This was about 3:30 and we call family to let them know that we are at the hospital and Lexi will be joining us soon!

I was ready for my epidural! Broc's mom came over about 4ish and Broc ran home to get some things. While he was gone I received my epidural.

This is another story. The anesthesiologist was in the next room about to finish up with a patient and come give me my epidural. Then he had to run off and go do an emergency c-section with that patient so I had to wait. Dang. The nurse gave me some pain medication and it worked great!

I had some mild pain, but I was okay until the MD could come back...

Well...after receiving the pain medication the doc comes in and ended up not having to do the emergency c-section. Yay! Drug time!

I sat up, I was super nervous to get the epidural...

He numbed my back up and started doing the procedure.

" I'm going to be sick..." I said

They gave me a bag to throw up in...(didn't need it)

I started getting very dizzy and couldn't hold my self up. The nurse kept asking how I felt but I couldn't respond..I couldn't describe it.

That's the last thing I remember.

She kept saying my name and trying to get me to wake up. Apparently I passed out! Poor Kiera! (Broc's mom) She was so worried! The doc was still giving me my epidural and the nurse was holding me up. They said that Lexi's heart rate dropped for a few seconds and that's when a few more nurses came in. They laid me down, and Broc walks in to them giving me oxygen and people trying to wake me up!

Eventually I woke up and everything was okay!

Scary! Anyways, where were we?

My doc came by about 10am to break my water. I felt a lot more pain and contractions after that. He said that it would take about seven-eight more hours before she was here. About

12:30 the nurse comes to check me and I am 9.5 cm! Almost time to start pushing. This is when it hit me! I became super nervous!

40 minutes later...

What an incredible day this was. It was so spiritual at the same time. I am so thankful for my little eternal family. Lexi is so beautiful and everything we imagined. We were lucky and went home the next day. It was so nice being home. That first night home was something I wont forget. No more nurses taking the baby so I could sleep. It was all on us!

I think we did pretty good for our first night!

Broc is such a cute little daddy. He loves his little girl so much.

I am so thankful for him! I am so thankful for Lexi!