The second year is a big year in the McManus house. It's the year my babies become NOT BABIES! And it is breaking me up. Because I am NOT ready for my baby girl to NOT be a baby anymore.
At the same time, I'm very excited for my little girl and how big she is getting. This week was another big step toward "little girl-hood" for her. She is now sleeping in a big girl bed. She is going on the potty. And now this week, she gave up her BINKY.
This is a big deal in our house. My babies LOVE binkys. I have no idea why, but they all have. When McManus babies turn 1 they can only have their binkys when it is nighttime. And then at 2 and 1/2 it is time to say bye bye binky.
Connor Bryce Alexis
We teach our babies that they need to "give" their binkys away to another baby. That now they are big boys or girls and that another little baby needs their binkys. We have our kiddos decorate a box or a bag, put their binkys in it, and put it in the mailbox. Later the bag or box is gone and we explain that it has been sent to a baby.
My kids have done great with this. They are proud of giving their binkys away and excited that they did it all by themselves. I love it, because I am not the bad guy who took their precious binky away. And we don't really have a hard time with them after they give the binkys away, because they are the ones who did it. They know that the binky is gone and so we don't really have big problems.
Alexis was such a trooper and was very proud of becoming a big girl. She slept perfect last night. (naptime she had a little bit of a hard time, but I expected that) And tonight she went to bed again with no problems. I'm very proud, but a little sad that my baby girl is growing up.
Very excited about the bag she decorated.
Putting the binky in the mailbox. Bryce was a good big brother and helped her every step of the way.
The day after my surgery Alexis had her 2nd birthday. And since I refuse to let this cancer suck any joy out of my life, we had the usual family party. Enjoy some pics and rejoice with me as I take one moment forgetting that I have cancer.
Alexis was a slow present opener and it was hilarious watching the older boys try to "help" her. And then all the boys has to "helped" her play with her new toys. I can not get off the couch until the Dr releases me, so I spent the party here. I also have to wear sunglasses because the drugs I am on make my eyes very dilated. (yeah basically high) So Alexis went and grabbed her sunglasses. We had a pretty low key party. Just out of town family and some Texas family. We enjoyed some good food, playing outside in the pool and trampoline, and hanging out. She was so excited to get some "girl" toys. The Rapunzel baby doll was a hit! CAKE!!
It was a perfect ending to a hard week. Happy Birthday Alexis!!!
I admit it, when I think about raising a little girl it SCARES me to death. It just seems so much harder to raise a little girl. There is so much pressure from an early age to be a certain way and I hate it. That isn't the case with boys. Boys can be jocks, video game studs, computer wizs, Lego dudes, superheros, whatever. But with girls it just seems different, I don't like it. There seems to be one way a girl should be....which is a Disney Princess (I think). I'm far from "girlie" and don't want to push being a tomboy or being a prissy little girl on Alexis. I want her to be exactly what God has created her to be. So she has access to every type of toy, wears lot's of pink but also orange, blue, and green, and will be able to play any sport she wants too(maybe not dance I mean really, imagine me trying to go over her "dance moves" yikes.) But still I worry....
Having a little girl has caused me to do things I never did with the boys. I never looked at what other little baby or toddler boys were wearing to check and see if Connor or Bryce looked "cool" or whatever. I didn't care, we had a McManus boy style and to heck with what everyone else was wearing. But with Alexis I'm paranoid. ALREADY I'm checking out other little girls. Constantly checking to make sure I'm not dressing her like a weirdo or something.
The really sad part is that having a little girl is unearthing insecurities I HAVE and feelings I don't like to feel. And yuck I hate that. I want to write about it more later. But I never expected that having a girl would be so very different than boys.
Moms with girls, do you feel the pressure or is it just me? *For those wondering if I'm FINALLY done with the cirriculum I'm working on for HELP. I am and I am NOT. You see they have asked me to do even more. So I'm trying to blog and write at the same time. Ha this should be interesting!
I love to hate my hair! Always have..... It just might be a girl-thing. But I really do have a love/hate relationship with my hair. You see it's curly, but not cute curly. More 80's frizzy curly. So I straighten it EVERYDAY. Ok ok ok some....umm maybe most days I wear it in a ponytail. But if I'm going to see "real" people I straighten it (stay at home Moms know what I mean when I say "seeing real people).
So when I found out I was having a daughter I WAS SO EXCITED and SO SCARED at the same time. I was scared to death of little girl hair. I can deal with me having bad hair, but my little girl. Oh man the stress kills me. Alexis has hard little girl hair. She has a lot of it and it's thin and stringy and EVERYWHERE. I've cut the back of it once because it was getting VERY MULLET-LIKE. So help me out! Am I doing alright? Be honest and help me out because family pictures are around the corner. The natural look? The Cindy-lou who look? The piggy-tails? Vote now!
Oh my word! My daughter is about the cutest thing I've ever seen. (Yes I do have to say that cause she's all mine, but she really is) She is also the most stubborn McManus baby EVER! Connor was a dream baby and a true first born. He loved talking and obeying and just being good. Bryce was a little bit of a stinker, and didn't talk for FOREVER! But he did do sign language so that worked for us. Then came Alexis.
She does not speak much at all a couple words here and there. She instead speaks some kind of pixie or elvish which almost sounds like little cheeps and chirps. It's adorable but come on the girl has got to talk! So I began teaching her sign language. She is VERY SMART and knows all the signs. But will only use the signs when she wants to. The other night she walked up to Adam and really REALLY wanted one of his chips. So I told him to make her say please. Which he tried to do. But our cute little STUBBORN daughter was NOT going to sign it. Instead she looked down and to the side and furrowed her brow. She wouldn't make eye contact and just stood there. Adam and I busted out laughing which probably made it worse. So she didn't say please and so she didn't get a chip. I know that she can say please because she is very good at it when she wants to say please, but it has to be when SHE wants.
She is a little pistol. Who has learned that screaming when a brother does something she doesn't like means someone will come to her aid. She has learned that Daddy will always pick her up. And that at the gym if she finds the right teacher, she will let her go into the room she is not supposed to be able to be in yet. This little angel is going to be T-rouble!
Happy 3 month birthday Alexis. What a complete joy you have been since we brought you home. You continue to have every male in this house wrapped around your finger. And your Mommy adores having some girlie stuff around. Thank you for lovin' sleep as much as your Mommy does and for being so easy going. Your smile melts everyone's hearts and we love getting small glimpses of your growing personality.
WOW what a week! I still can't believe it's Friday already, did that feel fast to anyone else? Alexis is doing great! Every time we see her there is good news and I'm hoping she can come home VERY SOON. Please continue to pray.
I have decided to share with you all the joys I have personally experienced these last couple of days. I am sure I will blog about this expereince again, but for now I am trying to find joy in every situation. If there is one thing I have learned so far it is that even in my darkness moments God is there forever ready to shower me with love, peace, and much needed comfort. My heart goes out to those who don't know Jesus when times get seemingly unbearable. Trust me I had those moments!!!
1) The night I went to the hospital nether Adam nor I believed that I was going into labor, I really just wanted a nice sleeping pill. So when the nurse looked up and said "You're not leaving here without a baby" it was quite a SHOCK! The next moments calling my husband were quite comical. Remember that it was late and we were tired. We were not prepared so Adam had to pack my bag. Imagine the humor as I tried to explain where my panties were, which shirts I needed, what make-up to bring, and so on. First off I wear make up most days and not a lot, but for some reason my husband still has no idea where it is or what I use. Second, let me just say this, the day after birth when I went looking through the bag I found two bathing suit tops. Apparently I was going to swim. :D It was great fun teasing him! Good job Love!
2) The adrenaline burst I got when I only needed to push for 4 seconds. I would later have many moments when I felt like a complete and utter failure as a mother, but right then I felt like I deserved a gold medal or something.
3) Late night cable TV! Your hilarious ways and silly shows were just what I needed late nights when I had to lay there without my baby and pump. It was just a great distraction!
4) The joy of seeing Connor meet his sister. I was not there there first time and got a play by play from Adam. But the second time I got to see how beautiful it was. A smile never left his face and knowing that he was going to watch over her for the rest of their lives melted my heart.
5) Our friends and family immediately came to our rescue when things got tough. The Sadlers dropped everything and watched the boys allowing us to concentrate on having a baby earlier than we planned. The Minters came over and distracted us, our kids happily destroyed our house and sounds of laughter filled the rooms. Adam's parents got down here as fast as they could and have been taking great care of the boys and our house. I have not had to worry about cleaning, laundry, dishes, or groceries yet! And everyone else who has been covering us with prayer and encouragement. I feel so blessed to have so many people who love us so much!
6) The sweet minutes I get to hold my sweet Alexis. I was quickly reminded how easily I took for granted the pure privilege it was to have unlimited snuggle times with my boys. It also helped remind me that the time I get with all my babies as babies is SO short and to treasure every second when they are in my arms.
7) The hours I spent walking the halls of the hospital. Yes it was the only time during the night that my back wasn't completely burning with pain. But I also got to spend most minutes praying over Alexis and the boys, singing praises, and meditating on my Savior. Little did I know that I would need those moments later when times got so hard. I am still in awe every time I experience a type of pain that makes it hard to breath and how quickly the love of my Savior washes over and melts every bad thought or feeling away. What a faithful and wonderful Father we serve.
8) Finally my husband, Adam. I know that I made an exceptional choice when I married him and I love experiencing the times I am reminded that he is the only person I could ever imagine sharing my life with. But when times got really hard he became that rock I needed to keep me grounded in the Truth. His quiet way that calms my anxious heart, his sweet touches that remind me that he is always there, the way he can get me to smile even when I don't feel like it, and most importantly stepping up as a strong man of God and praying over me and my daughter when we needed it the most have been some of the most important moments over this last week. I love you!
I will continue to find the joy all situations and challenge you to do the same! Now sit back and enjoy some JOY as you watch a video of our BEAUTIFUL ALEXIS. I love you!
Alexis Grace was born yesterday (June 9th) a little after 11:30 a.m. She came about 3 weeks early, so she's a tiny, little girl at 18.25 inches long and weighing 5 pounds 9 ounces.
The whole adventure started late Monday night. Jen was experiencing some fairly significant pain in her back, to the point where she was too uncomfortable to sleep. She decided to go to the hospital for a quick check-up with the expectation of being given some pain medication. After the nurses took a look, they let Jen know she was in labor and wouldn't be going back home without a baby. Needless to say, that wasn't exactly our plan, and we weren't really completely prepared. We have great friends and family though who made the rest of the night worry free. Justin Sadler was a trooper and came to our house after 1 a.m. and watched the boys while I joined Jen at the hospital. Justin's wife, Amanda, took over for him the next morning to watch Connor and Bryce. We're extremely grateful to the Sadlers; they did an awesome job, and it's cool to see brothers and sisters in Christ serve so selflessly. My mom was able to come in later that morning, and she's been doing an amazing job with the boys. They love their "granny," and it helps keep Jen and I from worrying about how the boys are doing. We've also gotten lots of great tweets, facebook messages, emails, texts, and phone calls from so many people. The congratulations, support, and prayers of everyone are overwhelming. Thanks again for living out Christ's command to love others like you love yourself; it means more to us than words can fully express.
Jen was in labor longer than with either of our other two, but when it came time to push she was awesome. It was just a matter of seconds, and little Alexis joined us. Jen is doing great, and the nurses are continually asking if she really just had a baby because she looks so good. It's really simple, my wife rocks!
On to Alexis. Here are some pictures.
The obligatory "why did you people do this to me?" picture.
All three of our children have been delivered by Dr. Gagnon. Jen was adamant he pose for a picture. Yes. Her foot is glowing red. No, it doesn't mean she's a Cylon. At least, I don't think so. That's the thing about Cylons; they look just like us...
Here's a close-up.
Alexis' big brothers at the hospital.
You may have noticed in a couple of the pictures that Alexis is receiving a little extra oxygen. Let me first say that she's breathing completely on her own and has been from the beginning. With that said, she's been staying in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU) for observation since she's a little over three weeks early. She just needs a little time to absorb some excess fluid and get used to breathing all by herself. Her breathing has been steadily improving and her doctors say this is fairly normal for early babies. Alexis will stay in the NICU for observation purposes until her breathing makes the doctors happy, but she's doing great. Thanks for all the encouragement and prayers you've sent our way!
Jen and I get to visit whenever we want, and we're both able to hold her during "touch time." She's quite a bit smaller than either Connor or Bryce, but she's absolutely adorable. As a dad, I'm already dreading the power that little face is going to have over me.
Connor also got to visit his little sister, and he didn't stop smiling or talking the entire time. He explained to all the nurses how he will "play with Alexis Grace McManus when she gets bigger" and "Alexis Grace McManus is my little sister." It was really cool seeing how excited he is about finally meeting her after all these months.
My mom also got to visit Alexis in the NICU. That was a nice break for her from the chaos of a 3.5 year old and 2 year old, and it's a cool moment to experience with my mom and my newborn daughter.
Jen will be adding her thoughts sometime later this evening, but I do want to take a minute or three more to share a few things. It's been a crazy couple of days, with virtually everything completely unexpected and not according to our plan. It would be really easy to become overwhelmed, upset, frazzled, annoyed, frustrated, and confused. That simply hasn't been the case, and it's for one simple reason. God is in control.
I firmly believe that, and it changes how life's curveballs affect you. In my human nature, it was easy to question why Jen would go into labor so far ahead of schedule. In my human nature, it was easy to question why Alexis has to work through respiratory problems. In my human nature, it was easy to wonder why my little girl has to have monitors hooked up to her instead of being held by her parents. All of those questions are perfectly reasonable, and there's nothing wrong with asking those questions. The key is in how we respond. On our own, the expected response would be anger, fear, and frustration. Instead, I've been able to remain confident, satisfied, and excited about this beautiful little girl. In Psalm 139:13, we have the reminder: "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb." Alexis was molded and shaped by the Creator of the universe. I can be completely assured she is perfect. In fact, I can be confident that every second of this crazy experience is perfect because it's God's will and plan.
One of my favorite passages in the Bible is Job 38 through 41. In it, God shows up. It's a mind-boggling reminder of the immensity of God. Whether He's reminding Job that He splits the stars and the sky, directs the wind and rain, teaches the birds to fly, and even controls the awesome behemoth and leviathan; God makes it abundantly clear that He is sovereign over it all. By the end, Job has no response other than: "I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted." That's my belief, plain and simple. Our beautiful little girl was formed by that awesome God. She was formed with a purpose, and I can rest completely in that knowledge. I can know everything is happening according to God's plan, and that His plan is more awesome than anything I can ever dream.
Ok, assuming you've hung around this long, here's your reward.
Well the word spread like wildfire(thanks to Adam and his handy dandy iPhone and Facebook) but we are having a girl. I was completely shocked, and made the technician check for us three times. Our daughter’s name is...Alexis Grace McManus. We always just pick a first name we both love and a middle name from the Bible. I wanted to share with everyone what God has been teaching me these last couple of months and whether or not this 3rd baby was going to be a boy or a girl. I of course wanted a girl in the family. I want a daughter to do all the mother-daughter things with and I looked forward to having an opportunity to raise a Godly woman. I was very tempted to do all that I "could" to try and get a girl this time. At first I had thought that Adam and I would read up on diets, when to have "business time", what position, and to PRAY a lot. BUT after experiencing a miscarriage last June, God did a work in my heart. My priorities changed quickly and when we talked about getting pregnant again, I wanted a healthy baby first and felt convicted trying to play the "pick the sex" game. So we didn't, Adam and I did it the old fashioned way. I also felt convicted about praying for a girl, so again I didn't. Instead my prayer became "God I want your best plan and if that means 3 boys then I want 3 boys, if it means 2 boys and 1 girl then I want that." It was a hard prayer to pray at first because my flesh wanted to add, "but I really want a girl". As I continued to pray this prayer I found God working in other areas of my life. I found myself praying a similar prayer for everything. You see, I am a planner and I want it done my way, but I began to see that God's way was much better than mine. I am still learning this discipline, because it is hard for me. But I felt so great walking into the sonogram room last week, knowing that whether it was a girl or a boy, it was God's best! God is so good! I look forward to see what else God's best has in store for me and my family! God Bless!
Connor
Bryce
Alexis
Very excited about the bag she decorated.
Putting the binky in the mailbox. Bryce was a good big brother and helped her every step of the way.
