First Words

It seems like just yesterday my little one was just learning to roll over, but now she is learning to form words!  Oh boy how time flies, you really don't realize how fast until you are watching your own daughter grow up before your eyes.  Last night in the bath she was babbling away to me when all of a sudden I caught a familiar word come out of those sweet lips.  DUCK!! she was saying duck and after I said it to her she kept repeating it back to me.  Now many of you may think this is a very odd first word, but Alexia loves birds!!! She would rather run after the birds while at the park or zoo then pay attention to the bigger animals that are actually there.  She loves feeding the ducks at the preserve her cheerios and waves to them as they quack at her.  I can't wait to see what words start coming next!!! OH yes, and for those of you who are wondering, still NO TEETH :)

Sicky sicky

Well, I feel like a pretty lousy mother.  Since last Friday I had totally thought that Lexi was just teething.  She had some diarrhea and was extremely fussy and clingy so I just figured this was what it would be like.  Nope I was wrong.  Monday I called the nurse and she informed me that a stomach virus was going around and could last up to 2 weeks and just needed to run its course.  Terrific, needless to say my week was spent with way too yucky poopie and a baby that just didn't know what was going on.  I felt horrible that there was nothing I could really do for her.  Yesterday she finally started acting more like herself.  She is eating way more and having regular bm's (thank goodness).  She was also a totally giggle ball yesterday it was so wonderful.  Despite the diarrhea we actually spent a lot of time outdoors.  I think it kept her mind off things, it defiantly was a much needed breath of fresh air for me.  We went to the zoo two days, yes two, the preserve once, and out to Freestone park.  Friday was so much fun at the park.  We met up with our partners in crime, Becky and Hayden.  We let the girls go wild in the baseball field and then walked around the lake.  It was so much fun and the weather was absolutely perfect.  Prior to going to the park I was checking on Lexi via the video monitor during her morning nap and all I could see was a little arm and hand.  Of course I just have to go in there to see what she has covering up her little head.  So I quietly sneak into her room and this is what I find.....

She has her little purple blankie completely over her head :) I could hear her breathing so I immediately relaxed and went about my business, but left her door open just in case I needed to calm my nerves again without waking her.  She slept this way the rest of her nap, it just made me smile.

Lexi is wanting more and more to feed herself, sometimes she won't even eat her food if I try and feed it to her.  This is what our meal time has become.....a big time mess, luckily she goes straight into the bathtub.

But look at that gummy smile, how can you not let her!!!

chasing bubbles

mommy and daughter

taking Haydens shoe!

enjoying some cheerios

poopie time ;)

Oh My!

I have been wanting to blog for a few days now, but haven't quite found some quiet free time to do so.  Lexi is, as usual, keeping me on my toes everyday.  The last couple of days more so then usual.  You see since Friday things have gone downhill, everything about her has changed.  She no longer hardly eats anything at meal time and most of the time doesn't even finish her bottles!  She has had some wicked diarrhea (TMI, I know, but it is my blog) and is constantly a fussy pants who doesn't know whether she wants to be held or walk around.  Everyday I think.... today is going to be the day that a tooth appears and explains all of this new, strange behavior..... and everyday there is nothing but gums smiling back at me.  Therefore, I keep going back and forth with my anxiety of what am I doing wrong that is causing this or is it really just her finally getting ready to cut some teeth?!?!?!  Since she has turned one I feel more and more like I may not be doing the right things for her.  Am I feeding her enough of everything she needs?  is she on the right track with her speech?  how am I ever going to get her off the bottle if she isn't feeling well and it is the only way to get some food down her?  How am I going to get her off the baby food if she has no teeth and prefers it to most table foods, because it is so much easier for her to eat?!  Gone are those days of just bottles, sleep, and diapers.  Looking back, even though I was scared and anxious then that was so easy!  So keep your fingers crossed everyone that this is simply just her way of teething and once everything starts to finally happen she will get back to normal and start eating and pooping the way she should!!!!  Thank goodness I have such great friends and family that keep encouraging me and letting me know that everything is going to work out okay.

Success!!!

Yesterday was Alexia's first birthday party and I must say it went off without a hitch.  It was such a wonderful time.  So many great family and friends showed up to celebrate with my little munchkin.  As I looked around the party at all of my friends and family I couldn't help but smile and feel warmth in my heart that my daughter has such amazing people to look up to and that she can count on in the future.  These people love her so much and I know would go out of their way to make her feel special.  We are both so blessed to have you all in our lives.  I know there were people who were not able to make it but their presence and love were with us the entire party. 
Cake----- aw yes, Lexi got her first taste of sweets this day and it was so much fun to watch.  She was very intimidated by the incredibly large, colorful piece of cake her mommy put in front of her and it took her a little bit to venture in and give it a try.  Once she got that first little taste of icing she got a huge gummy smile on her face and gave us all a little giggle.  It took a while but she finally got into it and made that wonderful first birthday baby cake mess that we all wanted to see.

Presents----- like Christmas she just really wasn't too into opening the gifts.  She was more interested in sitting in her box on top of her toys.  Luckily Jackson was there to help her out!!  after mommy, who must admit had a lot of fun opening the gifts, got everything opened she played a little bit but then pretty much started to crash.  It was defiantly time for this little girl to have a good nap!  So despite still having guests at her party Lexi went in with grandma and a couple minutes later was passed out. I'm sure dreaming of cake and boxes. 



Blaire--- I have to thank Blaire for coming early to help us entertain Lexi and also get the party ready.  You are so incredibly wonderful with her, she is so lucky to have you in her life!!  You can teach her so much and I can't wait for the summer when we can start swimming lessons!!

Tamara and Jackson-- Thank you so much for making the LONG trek down to our house in FAR east Mesa.  It was such a joy to see you both again and to see Lexi and Jackson together.   It totally brought back memories of our very first playdate when Jackson was just starting to roll over and Lexi just layed there :) I hope there are many more playdates in our future.  Also, thank you Tamara for being willing to share with me everything you have experienced and how you handled the things I am getting ready to experience.  It is so nice to hear from another new mom what she did. 

I want to thank everyone individually for coming to Alexia's party but I am running out of precious nap time to continue and I want to get up some pictures so just know that I love and truly appreciate all of my family and friends.  My life would be nothing without all of you!!! Thank you all for loving my daughter!!!

A year ago today an angel was born!

Oh boy am I so behind on my blog.  I have missed Christmas and New years, but will try and catch everyone up. 
Alexia's first Christmas
    For Christmas we packed up the dogs and the presents and Alexia and headed up to Prescott to spend the holiday with my parents, grandparents, and sisters.  Besides, the fact that it was freezing cold we had a wonderful time.  Granted there was no snow, which was what I was secretly hoping for, to see Alexia in the snow for the very first time.  I guess that will have to wait until next year.  As for Christmas morning, it was not exactly what I expected.  I knew she wouldn't understand what was going on, but I thought that she would enjoy ripping into the wrapping paper and pulling it apart.  For once she was not interested.  All she wanted to do was focus on her book, which don't get me wrong, was adorable.  She tired out very fast and only opened about half of her presents!  It was so great watching her interact with everyone.  She is no longer having separation anxiety while around family.  She had fun with everyone and was a little walking machine.  She had begun walking more and more by Christmas but still crawled around a little bit.  By New Years Eve she was walking everywhere.  She hardly ever crawls anymore and she can get up to standing on her own without the help of objects.  She is smarter and smarter everyday, I can hardly comprehend how much she has changed in just one year.  For NYE we had a little dinner party at our house and Lexi did surprisingly well with all the people there.  She even slept all night, thank goodness because mommy and daddy were up super late!  Now we enter 2012.  Alexia has had a snotty boggy nose and a fussy attitude so I naturally thought FINALLY SHE IS TEETHING!!!  A week later, still nothing.  No redness, no puffiness, not even a glimpse of white in those gums.  Who doesn't love a huge gummy smile?!?!?  I'm think I'm going to miss it once it is finally gone.  So in an incredibly short wrap up that was the end of 2011 for the Izzo family.  This brings us to today.

January 6, 2012 Alexia turns ONE!!!
She must have been super excited for her birthday because she woke up at 230 in the morning to tell me all about it!  She finally had her fill of playing and she snuggled up next to me and went back to sleep shortly before 5am.  Sleeping in a little I had to call and reschedule her one year well check visit for later in the afternoon.  I can't wait to go in and see how much she weighs and how tall she is.  Today we marked her height on the chart I made her and will continue to do it every year on her birthday.  I am also planning on making little clay imprints of a hand and foot today and hopefully making that a yearly tradition?! Who knows.  I can still hardly believe that one year ago today I was in a hospital room with a little new born laying on my chest.  I thought that time flew by before her but oh my, It goes by even faster now.  Alexia is an amazing little girl, changing every day right before my eyes.  I can't wait to see what 2012 will bring for our whole family.