Corinna Hoffman Family Photo Shoot

Here's Alexsa's OFFICIAL Chair Picture for her first birthday:

We had a great time getting our pictures taken last week and Cori was great enough to have them ready for today, Alexsa's first birthday party!  Check out the rest of the sweet pictures here:
http://corinnahoffman.blogspot.com/

2011-02-09 Pic of the Day!/ ALEXSA IS ONE!

What a strange feeling it is when your only child turns one. Joy and sadness at the same time?  I’m so excited to go through the next stage in her life, but why must it go by so fast? I had to pick her up an extra time last night before I put her down for one last hug as my little Baby Girl. When I see her again she’ll be ONE.  Now we can measure her age by YEARs.  This is why parents still say “My child is 13 months” or “26 months” or whatever.  It’s to hold on to that last glimpse of babyhood that we enjoy so much.

Some of her accomplishments now that she’s one:
·         She can sign “milk”, “bath”, “all-done”, “more”, “change”, and “shoes”.  Change and Bath are her favorites.  We’ve now had to start saying B-A-T-H when we mention it because she’ll start signing away and say “Uh?” like “Can I have one now?”
·         She is SUCH a walker.  She barely will crawl at all anymore, except when she’s playing.
·         She no longer eats baby food.   She started spitting it out and squishing it through her pursed lips.  At first we thought it was a taste thing, but I think she just  likes the way it feels through her lips.
·         She can take off her shirt over her head if I get her arms free.
·         She can get off the couch without tumbling off. She knows HOW to climb up, but isn’t quite big enough.
·         She still only has 2 teeth!
·         She gives the best hugs.
·         She can blow you kisses.
·         She plays “How big is Alexsa?” SOO BIG!
·         If you sing Minnie Ripperton’s Lovin’ You at the “La la la la la… lalalalala… Do do do do do do do” part, she’ll finish with the high-pitched  “AAAHHHHHH!!” at the end. Its adorable and makes us laugh every time.

Happy 1st Birthday, Alexsa Jade. 

How old is Alexsa? "One!"

20101-01-09 Pic of the Day/11 Months!

Can you believe she's 11 months old?? I'm just amazed at how fast she's growing up. I really shouldn't be; everyone said it goes by fast.
Just in the last month you've:

• Really gotten better at your sign language.  Your "All-Done" is very good - you actually rotate your wrists now instead of just flailing your arms.  You also do "more" by banging your fists and do "change" and "milk".
• You can walk!  On Dec 23rd, at Allison and Dave's Christmas Cookie Party, you walked from me to Ashley, taking at least 2 independent steps!
• You've become very loving and sometimes clingy to me.  You are a mama's girl. :)

11 months old!

2010-12-10* Pic of the Day/Happy 10 Months!

*We didn't get a chance to take your chair pictures yesterday :( Sorry we're a day late!

 I can't believe you're so big!!  And I can't believe what a slacker i've been...  I hope I can remember all the things you've learned in the last few months... 

At 10 months, you can:

• Hold your own bottle, yet you choose not to.  Ms. Diva prefers that someone feeds you.
• Use a sippy cup while sitting in your car seat.  Anywhere else you can't stay still long enough to actually enjoy your drink.
• Stand for a few seconds at a time before either falling or setting yourself down.
• You're too tall to stand under the table anymore, but you haven't figured that out yet so you keep hitting your head. Silly girl.
• For some STRANGE reason, you love to drink your bath water.  Just tonight you starting sticking your tongue under the running water - maybe you've watched the cats do it?
• 98% of the time you go down for naps and bed without any fuss and you still sleep through the night. (Thank you!!)  Currently you go to bed around 7:30 and sleep for 11-12 hrs.
• Normally you're down to 2 naps.  Sometimes you'll go down for a 3rd, but if you do its not very long.
• Just today you started making a fishy kiss face - So cute!
• You mimic many many sounds.  You like to mimic the cats' meows too, which is really cute.  You've repeated us when we've said ball ("Ba"), book ("ook"), and cat ("Ka") but you probably aren't saying the words yet, just repeating the sound. 
• EVERY time i ask you to say Mama, you say Dada! Its not very nice, you know :)
• You are a bundle of energy.  You crawl around and are pretty quick.  You LOVE to laugh. I wish I could bottle your laughter and share it with the world.  Its infectious.
• You scream.  It drives Daddy and I CRAZY.  You scream so loud my eardrums hurt, and although most of the time its for a reason (dirty, hungry, sleepy, etc), sometimes its for no reason at all except to hear yourself scream.  Daddy and I would GREATLY appreciate you getting over the screaming thing. Like now. Thanks.
• In the last week or so you've started to pick things up to put them in boxes and buckets and other things.
• My favorite part of the day is when I take that last step on top of the stairs, turn the corner and see you standing at the gate, squealing with delight when you see my face.

Happy 10 months, Baby Girl!

9 Months Old!



Happy 9 months! (I had to hold her w/ my foot - she wouldn't sit still!)


1. What’s her middle name? Jade

2. What food will she eat every time? Everything! She does love her puffs though.

3. Describe a usual lunch for her: 7oz of formula with oats, then a portion of babyfood

4. What’s her favorite drink? Similac Sensitive

5. What is her favorite song? She LOVES Dean Martin and Harry Belafonte.
6. What milestone has she recently achieved?  She just cut her first tooth!

7.  What milestone is she working on?  Standing without help and cruising.

8.  How many teeth does she have? just one is peaking through

9. What are her favorite toys?  Her Lovey Cow, and her activity table

10. When’s her naptime? sometime around 10, then again around 2.

11. When’s her bedtime? 7:30-8pm

15. What’s her bedtime routine? Bedtime bottle, change into a clean diaper and jammie, a book, then she comes with me to turn off the lights and sing a lulliby. She usually goes right down.
16. Besides the obvious, what’s in her bed at night? her lovey, a yellow cow rag that Cousin Valerie and Lyra gave to her.

17. When is her happiest time of the day? almost all the time! but she's really adorable in the mornings.
18. What can make her laugh 100% of the time? Mommy walking in the door from work :)

19. What makes her mad 100% of the time? Wiping her face after she eats

20. What does she do to make others smile? Laugh, give kisses, play "I'm gonna getcha!"
21. What does she do that drives Mommy crazy? Screams like a banchee. UGH.

22. What words/sounds is she making? She says Bababa, Gagaga, Dadada. She also loves to make raspberries.

23. Any signs yet?  she used to do milk but not so much anymore. She does All done.

24. Who are her biggest fans? Mommy and Daddy of course! But I'd say everyone pretty much loves her.  She's especially fond of her Aunts Christy, Denise, and Rachel.

25. What is her most notable physical feature? Everyone comments on her long eyelashes and beautiful blue eyes.

2010-10-09 Pics of the Day!

Happy 8 months Alexsa!

Waiting for Papa at Cracker Barrel :)

We had lunch with Papa today, back from Bolivia! (Doesn't he look like a mountain man? I like the scruff!)

7 months!

My Big Girl is 7 months old!

Alexsa, you fascinate me!  Last week you signed "Milk" to  let us know you understand.  Daddy and I are so excited!  Now you use that sign when you are hungry or thirsty, but it is so so so exciting to be able to communicate with you and have 'conversations' that aren't just one sided.

A few days ago I *think* you gave me kisses. I haven't been able to get you to do it again, but its just another example that you are truly starting to understand language. 

Our favorite game we play is "I'm Gonna Getcha!"  As soon as I get on all 4's with you and give you 'the look' you start squealing and laughing and even snorting! as you crawl away from me as fast as you can.  Sometimes you even stop to let me catch you - I can tell that's your favorite part - when I scoop you up in my arms and give you hugs and kisses. (Its my favorite part, too. :))  You could play that game until you passed out.

In the last month (it seems) you have learned to crawl, stand w/ help, and pull to standing.  During your chair photo shoot you were showing signs that you'll be climbing in the next week or 2.  You are getting better at picking things up with your pincer grip, but haven't quite gotten that yet. 

So far you've eaten: banana, rice cereal, oatmeal, carrots, peas, and green beans.  You actually like oatmeal just plain better than w/ bananas.  You now have four meals a day that consist of a 7 ounce bottle of formula plus a few tablespoons of solids.  I haven't bought you any jar food yet. I actually hand grinded all your fresh/frozen veggies... I want to keep that up but I think I'll have to buy some jar food just for when we're on the go - you can only have so much oatmeal...

Tonight we went to my work's annual Sun's Baseball game outing.  You were very cute until just before the game started. Then there was a 21-gun salute, but for some reason the used a CANNON. It was the loudest thing you ever heard and you, along w/ the rest of us, didn't like it too much.  That was the start of a hungry-wet-tired-hot crying spat and our sign to leave the game.  Maybe next year you'll do better. :)

I can't believe its been 7 months.  I love you!

2010-08-09 Pic of the Day!

Happy 6 months!!

...more to come after her wellness appointment on Monday.

2010-07-09 Pic of the Day!

Alexsa is 5 months old today!

Happy 4 months!

Alexsa is 4 months today! 

Click here here and here for her chair comparisons. :)

When they say it goes by fast, they weren't kidding.  You are growing so fast!  You're 4 month wellness check isn't until Monday, so we'll talk about your stats then. :)  Daddy is still watching you while I work.  Its so hard for me to only see you a few hours a day!  Every day is a countdown to the weekend where I get to spend 2 whole days with you.  I  love seeing your smile when I walk in the door and hear your laugh.  I don't know what it is that you find so funny sometimes! Maybe one day you can let me in on the joke. :)

You have started to become such a rolly polly!  You can roll both ways, going from front to back first, then just a week later going from back to front! Now, you'll roll all over the house if i let you.

You are enjoying being held a lot more than you used to, and i love it because you cling to me.  I love that you feel so safe in my arms. Its such an amazing feeling that I think only other mothers can know. Maybe in 25 years you can say to  me "I know what you were talking about." when you hold your own child.  I'll look forward to that moment with you.

You are starting to grasp at things, but not quite get everything yet.  You can, however, hold your rag dolls very well.  You also like to slobber all over them. In fact, you like to slobber on everything!  We're wondering if you're starting to teethe.  Dad finds it disgusting, but he doesn't hold it against you.  (It doesn't bother me so much.)

You are still very much attached to your binky when you are tired or after you eat.  You'll wake up a few times a night just because your bink fell out, but other than that you're sleeping through the night.  Which  means you go about 12 hours at night between feedings. 

Speaking of feeding, Alexsa, you are very consistent in eating every 3 hours during the day.  You aren't a fan of my boobs anymore, only feeding for a few minutes before you want the bottle.  Its pretty understandable, since my production has gone WAY down.  It takes me all day of pumping to make 1 meal of mommy milk for you.  Its definitely not what we planned, but we have to roll with the punches and do what we can to keep you as healthy as we can.

I'm feeling bittersweet about the boob thing.  One one hand, it really sucks that I can't nourish you the way I want to.  I just hope you don't suffer from it when you're older.  On the other hand, I really enjoy feeding you from the bottle and knowing you're getting your fill.  It is also SO much easier to be able to be on the go and just mix some formula for you, and not having to carry my pump AND your diaper bag around everywhere we go.

I think that's it for now, Baby Girl.  As you lay in your crib sleeping, I hope you're having sweet dreams. I love you!

Pics of the Day, 5/8, & 5/9

May 8th, 2010

May 9th - I'm 3 months old! :)

Two Months Old!

WOW! I can't believe you're two months already.  It has been a whirl wind and the last 2 months have flown by.  You are growing so fast!!  At 2 months:

You spend the day with Daddy because I went back to work 2 weeks ago.  When I come home you smile because you're happy to see me!  You make my day and I can't stop kissing your sweet smelling skin.

You are getting stronger and are getting pretty good at holding your head up. You're not 100% but you 'hold your own'. :)

You are my sweet sleeper.  You consistantly sleep 7-8 hours at night, which is so great for letting me get good rest for work.  Thank you, Baby!

You love your bath!

You're drinking anywhere from 3-5 oz at a meal, and like to eat every 2-3 hours during the day. We call you our Chunk-a-Monk. :)

Alexsa, I love you so much. I love what you've given our family.  Being a Mom is the coolest feeling in the world.  You know that feeling when you're next in line to ride that exciting new roller coaster? Or when you get your learner's permit? Or when you and your love experience your first kiss? When you take the first bite of an amazing dish? Or when you say "I Do"?  You take those feelings, mush them together into one awesome feeling and constantly multiply it.  That's the closest I can describe how much I love you. 

I can't wait for tomorrow. :)

My Angel is Here!

"Today Alexsa (note the new spelling!) is 1 week!  What a whirlwind of a week. "

LOL!  That's when I started this blog... 3 weeks ago!  Sorry for the delay... Today is Alexsa's 1 month birthday!

Without further ado... her birth story:

At our 40 week appointment, my Dr and I decided to induce on Monday night, Feb 8th (40w2d).  Originally our induction date was the 13th (41weeks).  When I told Barry about it, he had concerns that we were inducing too early.  We went to see Dr. Raspa Monday morning... Barry was worried that the reason we were inducing earlier was because of the doctor's schedule.  With the anxiety of wanting to get her out + the fact that my grandpa has been waiting patiently for her and was leaving on the 13th, I was READY to go on the 8th.  Of course, Dr. Raspa said he was going to be out of town the weekend of the 13th.  I was heartbroken that it wasn't going to happen that day.  So the Dr. left us to talk it out and we decided to try a 1/2 way approach - spend the night in the hospital with Cervadil to ripen my cervix.  If i didn't go into labor that night we would go home and just wait it out.

Well that night was hell.  the Cervadil was very uncomfortable and I bearly slept.  Nothing happened. About 8:30 the next morning I heard Dr. Raspa talking outside my door and felt a trickle 'down there'.  I thought , "Hm. what's that?" but didn't say anything.  He came in to check me and while down there interestingly enough said "Hm, what's that?"  They tested the fluid and sure enough my water broke on its own.  But because I wasn't in active labor, they had to give me Petocin to get me started. 

They started the Petocin at 10:30 Tuesday morning and by 3:00, I was still only 3cm dialated with contractions coming what felt like every 3-5 minutes.  They were painful and just down right horrible.  My plan was to give birth under a squat bar, which meant I would have had to go natural to be able to squat when the time came to push.  But by 4:30, the contractions were so painful and the only way I was able to deal with them was on my knees or standing over the bed, yet I was so exhausted my legs didn't want to hold me up.  I broke and asked for the epidural.  It was the most defeating feeling I had ever felt. But Dr. Solomon, the adiminster of the epidural, became my best friend.  I barely felt the procedure and was almost immediately pain feel.  It was the best decision I could've made. 

At 7:30 (i think) they checked me again and I was only 5cm or so, so most of my family went home. But when they checked 2 hrs later i was at 9-10!  So Barry, my  mom, and my sister started taking bets as to what time she would be born.  Dr. Raspa came in a short while later and joked around with us about the bet. They got everything ready and with my husband on my left and my mom on my right, I started pushing at 10:15 or so and Alexsa was born at 10:50pm on February 9th, 2010! (Apparently I am a very good pusher. :))  I never had the urge to push, but thanks to the wonders of the epidural, I was actually laughing though pushes!  The nurse on duty did most of the push coaching while Raspa sat behind her.  At one point he was playing with his phone.  Barry joked and asked if he was texting someone. He said, 'no, playing Tetris.  I'd play Bejeweled but I'd get too wrapped up.' LOL! Right when she was crowning, everyone was talking about how they could see her.  I was the only one that couldn't! So I actually asked for a mirror.  I thought i'd be grossed out and not want to see, but it was actually pretty cool.  They placed her on my chest right away.  She reminded me of an old man. (Her face was so swollen, slimy and purply.

After they cleaned her up a bit, I got to hold her longer than normal.  The reason was because as she came out, her nose caught and gave me what Dr. Raspa called a "starburst tear." UGH.  It took them over an hour to stitch me up.  I didn't really notice - i was holding my baby girl.  At one point, Barry accidentally caught a glimpse and had to get some fresh air.

We brought Alexsa Jade home about 1:00 on Thursday, Feb 11th.  We're sleep deprived and learning her personality, but doing well! 

Now that I have this out of the way I hope to post more regularly on the day to day happenings of being a new Mom.  Yay!