Alexis says hello to the world

Her vs His Thoughts

This ironically explain both women and men and why sometimes couples fight for no reason.  what do you think?

Happy Chinese new year from isabel

So happy sleeping with daddy

Look at this pair. Such contentment. Alexis Loves napping on daddy and daddy loves it too.

Attack of an elephant

Agnes and I are just having a little fun taking pictures. This time using Isabel's new elephant from her Christmas gift on Alexis

Finally caught her smiling

Alexis has been smiling at me since the very first week. But it has been really hard trying to catch her smile when I have my camera. I finally have this first one on camera. Her smile just makes everything worthwhile. I'm a very happy mama.

Time flies

This is Isabel's baby pictures and now look at her. I can't believe how big she is.

I slept 8 hrs last night

Well not straight through but I'll take what I can get. Last night, Alexis slept for four hours in the first segment. And then I fed her for about 70 minutes. And then she slept for another four hours.

Even though I have to get up pretty much every hour to either go to the bathroom or change T-shirts because I sweat through (residual effect of c section) or squeeze out some milk due to engorgement, I'm very happy to have a total of eight hours of sleep in one night. This is my best night of sleep since Alexis was born.

Hopefully it would just get better from here.

Alexis one month check up

Alexis had a great check up today.

- 9 lb 12 oz 70%
- 21.5 inches. 60%
- head circumference 15 inches. 70%

She got one shot and cried for only 10 seconds. All looks good. We now can start using a pacifier for naps and sleep at night. Just once until she spit it out.

She slept another 5 hrs last night. Yeepy

Alexis is 1 month old

She looks so cute here. We never leave her alone sleeping on her stomach. When she has gas, we put her on her stomach so she can sleep better and watch her closely.

First month with a newborn is A BI*CH

Most people talks and shares about the rosy and miraculous part of birth and new baby with friends and family. I have been as well, but this post is going to be more about the crazy side of life with a newborn. First month with a newborn is a BI*CH simply put. Here is why.

- seriously sleep deprived - at most 2-3 hrs of sleep at a time (I became so tired that I forgot to turn off the faucet one day for 10 min and flooded the bathroom).
- imaging getting woken up 2 to 4 times a night to feed the baby. Sometimes it can take 2 hours before she goes back to sleep. She may be too gassy so burping takes one hour after feeding
- stressed and worried about many things (enough breast milk? Engorgement, etc...)
- baby blues (crying out of the blue is normal) with few people to talk to. Most people had no idea what a new mom goes through.
- feeling claustrophobic or trapped. All the days run together and dominated by feeding 24/7. I forget what day it is and also don't get to go out until maybe 3rd week
- frustration - cant always sleep when I have a window of time to rest. I can be super exhausted but can't sleep.
- pain from c section. Was on heavy meds that cause constipation. Not fun on top of everything else.
- still feel pregnant. Takes the uterus awhile to shrink back. I still look 5 months preggie.
- Eating 6 meals a day become a chore and dig into rest time. I am always hungry and never feel full. If I don't eat in time, I get a major headache and my milk is affected.

Why am I sharing this? Maybe just to vent or to make sure others who want kids know the serious work involved. At least I see a light at the end of the tunnel.

She is one months old today and was able to sleep 5 hours straight last night. I now go out for a walk at least once a day and can go out for a quick dinner nearby with jaime once a week.

Below are more resources to help new moms.
http://www.babycenter.com/404_is-it-normal-to-feel-overwhelmed-by-the-responsibility-of-ca_10018.bc

http://www.babycenter.com/0_stressed-out-life-with-a-newborn_10201.bc

Taking it one day at a time. Seeing Alexis smile once in awhile makes it all worth it.

Lei

Piggyback ride

This is so cute. I laugh every time I watch it. Isabel loves to play with Alexis. Here Alexis is getting the royal treatment.

Isabel helps Alexis stretch

Many faces of Alexis

A very healthy girl

Alexis weighed in at 8lb 8.5 oz today. 11 oz heavier than a week ago and in the safe zone as she is heavier than her birth weight.

She is a very healthy girl - pees and poops at least 5 times each a day. We are going through diapers like crazy. Bad for environment but Alexis is always clean.

Dr says she can cry for 15 min straight without affecting her. We will start with 5 to help her digest and exercise her lungs.

My milk is also set so the hardest part is hopefully over.