Alexis Marie Faith Van Dam

Here are some pictures immediately following Alexis' birth. We started the day at 7am, started laboring at 9am but had still only progressed to about 5 centimeters (half way) at about 3pm. No one had said anything, but we were all starting to worry that things weren't going to work out and she was going to have to have another c-section. But then Sarah found her 'Go' switch and within an hour she was completely dilated and effaced and started pushing. Although she pushed for about 30-45 minutes, it seemed like no more than 10-15 minutes. And then suddenly it was all over and we had another cute little girl. Alexis weighed in at 6lb 3oz, a little under Katie's 8lb 8oz but not too shabby. She was 18.5 inches long. Mom is doing great and glad to no longer be pregnant. Little Lexie is doing well as she adjusts to all these annoying lights and sounds.

Just seconds after birth

Sarah's first look at baby Lexie.

The New Year

So my friend Jamie told me that I needed to post a new blog because it had been to long :)

So the last time I blogged it was Christmas, nothing to exciting has happened since then. I'm getting bigger and bigger, I'm 35 weeks pregnant and I'm ready for the baby to be here. Rob and I set up the nursery and I have washed all the little clothes. I think we are about ready. I have been nesting a lot, I have been cleaning everything and I'm getting really organized.

Katie started a new Pre-school and she really likes to go and seems to be learning so much. She is getting so big and she will be 2 and 1/2 next month. She is talking so much and she really likes to color and read books and play in the snow. I'm very happy she is my little girl and I feel very blessed to be having another little girl. I'm so excited Katie will have a little sister and they will grow up having each other.

Rob is still working at Bluehost, he is a senior programmer! His company moved to a new office closer to our house. He has his own office, it's really nice. It is also nice to have him closer to home :)

I was looking at some old pictures of Katie and Thinking about how much she has grown up!

Merry Christmas!

We had a really fun Christmas, Katie enjoyed opening gifts and watching Shrek the halls.

We hope everyone had a Merry Christmas!

Katie got some cute bracelets from my mom and we were modeling them

Katie got a new book

Opening gifts from Grandma and Grandpa from CA

Looking at through her view finder

Katie loved this view finder, it was her first and favorite gift

Christmas, baby and snow

So as I have been thinking back on my pregnancy and talking about it with my friend Jamie. She reminded me that when I first thought I was pregnant, I took like 10 pregnancy tests and everyone around me thought it was very funny. This cartoon was me ! So today I'm 7 months and 5 days pregnant! I only have about 10 weeks left, it seems so far away but I know that it's not.

So this month had been filled with fun Christmas activities. While Rob's family was visiting we went to Temple Square and saw the beautiful lights. Katie loved them and we had a good, cold time. Then a few weeks later Katie, Rob and I drove through the Thanksgiving point lights and Katie was very very excited and yelled "LIGHTS" the whole time. Then a few days later, Katie and I went to the mall and saw Santa, Katie was a little unsure but she smiled for the pictures. Then while we were at the mall we went to Build A Bear and Katie made a Christmas Deer named Holly, we had fun. We put up the Christmas last Monday and Katie likes to touch the lights and take the ornaments off and put them back on in different places. Katie and Rob also went outside on Sunday and made a sorta snowman, it was very cold and Katie wanted to come in. Last Thursday Rob and I got the go to the Mormon Tabernacle choir Christmas show and we had a wonderful time and the music was beautiful. Also somthing fun that has happned, we put Katie in a toddler bed and she is doing well. The first few nights she got up in the middle of the night and played with her toys but now she sleeps through the night!

We have been having a great Holiday season so far. we are just getting ready for Christmas and a fun new year. Hope everyone is doing well!

It's been a while

Sorry I have not blogged in a long time, life has been crazy. I went to visit my mom two weeks ago and the third day I was there, I woke up in the middle of the night with really bad pain in my back and stomach and I was really sick. So my mom took me to the hospital and they told me that I had Kidney stones and that it would just have to pass. So I stayed at the hospital all night and the next day and nothing happened, so they sent me home. I stayed at my mom's house for a few more days and still dd not really feel well. Then I went home on a Friday and on Saturday night I stared to get the same pain again. So Rob took me to the hospital and they did a bunch of tests and found out that I had Gaul stones. I had to have my Gaul bladder removed Monday morning, they do it laperscopically , so I have four little holes in my tummy. One of them being in my belly button. My mom came to help takes care of Katie and me and she left last Friday. I'm still sore and feel a little under the weather. I can't pick up anything over 20 lbs, so I can't pick up Katie, which has been really hard. I'm just thankful that everything is OK with the Baby and that I had family and friends close by to help. Thanks Joe and Lu and Jamie. Also my mom and Rob. Love you all!





On a happy note, Rob's family is coming for Thanksgiving and we are excited to see them and spend some time with them.





HAPPY THANKSGIVING

What a strong family

My Friend Cheri and her husband posted this quote from Joseph Smith on their blog in reference to their little sweetheart Macie, who passed away last Saturday. I was thinking that they were such a strong family to have these thoughts during such a hard time.


"The Lord takes away many, even in infancy, that they may escape the envy of man and the sorrows and evils of the world. They are too pure, too lovely, to live on earth. Therefore, if rightly considered, instead of mourning, we have reason to rejoice as they are delivered from evil and we shall soon have them again." (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pp. 196-197).

So sad

I'm so very sad today. My friend Cheri lost her sweet baby girl yesterday. Cheri was about 37 weeks pregnant. They named the baby Macie, she was 7lbs. Her husband did not say what happened, just that Cheri was recovering form a C-section. My prayers are with her and her Family. Please say a little prayer for them, I think we can all understand . It also makes my so thankful for my baby Katie and my family!