Annual Lofgren-Gunstream Zoo Trip

For most people...this past week was Spring Break. Even though I am off for a while...I was still excited about Spring Break because it meant that a lot of my friends were off of work...which meant lots of lunch dates...and of course...our annual Lofgren-Gunstream zoo trip!

First things first...you have to make sure you have enough Starbucks to survive a morning with 2 four year olds, an almost 2 year old, and a 1 month old. :)

No...they weren't all for Erin and me. 

Three of those were actually for the kids...chocolate milk of course. :)

First stop...you guessed it...the elephants!!!

Carter wasn't feeling like smiling for the picture at first...

There's that cute face!!!

This is how Lexie spent most of her time.

Next up...MONKEYS!!!

Erin took the "big" kids into the petting zoo so that I could feed Lexie.

After petting, brushing, and chasing the animals...it was time for a snack...or four!

While the kids were eating...we used the time to take a selfie. :)

Hey look...it's a cow!

Nothing like climbing on a hippo with your best buddy!

Look at this cute guy...hanging out...waiting to feed giraffes.

Do you think he liked it?

Pure joy...love it!!!!

No zoo trip is complete until you have spent some time at Sea Lion Cove...my favorite!

Before we left we had to get a group shot...huge thanks to one of the zoo employees. :)

Do you think they had fun together?

Erin and her cute kiddos...

and me with my favorite boy in the whole entire world!!!

Another Spring Break has come and gone...another trip to the zoo...and we added another kiddo to the mix this year. :)

Lexie - 1 Month

It is hard to believe that on Thursday, this little one turned one month old!

Here is Lexie in her first picture with our beloved "lion-bear." :)

This first month has flown by.

She spends most of her time sleeping, eating, eating, eating, eating, and sleeping.

Yes, she LOVES to eat...and wants to eat ALL. THE. TIME!

When she isn't eating...she is normally sleeping...very peacefully...

unless it is Thursday night! Yup...for some reason she hates...or loves...Thursday nights. 

Most nights she sleeps fine, getting up once or twice to eat, and goes right back to sleep. Thursday...well, that's a different story. 

She likes to eat, eat, cry, eat, eat, scream, eat, cry, and eat...all night long on Thursday nights.

Unlike her brother she HATES binkies. We have tried them all...several times.

She will either spit it out immediately, make a gagging noise, or close her mouth so tight that you can't even get it in. Also unlike her brother...she is not a fan of her swing. 

She prefers to be held. ALL. THE. TIME! :)

One thing that is like her brother is that she is quite the wiggle worm when she sleeps.

Many mornings she is found in a position similar to this.

She has her daddy wrapped around her finger already!

And this guy...well...he seriously cannot get enough of her or close enough to her!

He absolutely ADORES her and tries to help in any way he can. 

Sometimes he thinks he is helping when he really isn't. :)

He has already "laid down the law" with other boys...one of his friends at preschool was quickly "scolded" when he touched her foot one morning. Such a protective brother already.

One thing she does love...almost as much as eating and being held...is her bath time.

And of course...big brother is always right there to help!

Sweet baby girl...all nice and clean!

In case you were wondering if she looks like her brother...

here is a picture of Landry...what do you think? 

Are they related or what?

Lexie celebrated her first holiday...

Thanks Nawnie for the adorable outfit!

Getting a good shot of both children...not so easy. :)

Speaking of "good shots"...in case you thought it was an easy task getting a picture of a newborn...here are a few of the "out-takes" from our 1 month attempt. :)

The last one is my personal favorite!

Lexie Ann Lofgren

 Monday morning started like any other Monday. Landry and I woke up, I got him ready to go to Tammy's, and I was going to come home, clean, and finish up my "to-do" list before Lexie arrived.
Tammy and I joked about how it would be the last time she would see me with my baby bump...so she took this picture of Landry and I.

You can't see my bump...but it is a pretty cute picture anyway.

Before going home, I ran through the drive-thru at Starbucks and grabbed myself my favorites... caramel macchiato and a morning bun. :)

I had felt a few contractions that morning and didn't really think anything of it...until around 10:30 or so when I realized that they were actually pretty painful. At that point I decided to start keeping track of them on my phone.

By 11:50...I was starting to get a bit nervous. So, I sent Chad a text letting him know that we could be having a baby today...and I called my doctor in hopes of catching them before they closed for lunch. Luckily, I was able to get a hold of someone...and sure enough they said...get to the hospital!

So, I called Chad...told him to get home...tried to throw some last minute things in my hospital bag, Landry's bag, the diaper bag, called my mom and told her what was going on, texted friends that I was supposed to be meeting up with that day and let them know...we were probably having a baby today.

By the time we got to the hospital my contractions were anywhere from  2-5 minutes apart...I was definitely in labor. Since I never experienced this with Landry...I was a "bit" nervous that Lexie might make her debut before a c-section could be done. While the nurses called Dr. Mason, my water broke, and things started to progress. At this point it was about 1:30...I think...and the nurse let me know that Dr. Mason would be at the hospital and my c-section would be at 3:00. Then the texting continued...letting everyone know that everything we had planned for Thursday was out the window...Lexie would be here today!

Here's Chad and me right before they took me in for surgery! 

During this picture I had one of the longest and most painful contractions...

not sure how I am smiling here. :)

A short while later...at 3:26...Lexie Ann Lofgren was here!

While I was taken into the recovery area, Chad went with Lexie to get her first bath.

I love this shot that Chad got...

of my dad, holding Landry up so he could see his little sister for the first time.

All washed, bundled up, and ready to come see me in recovery!

Lexie and her proud daddy!

Finally...my baby girl and me...in our first selfie! :)

**One of the nurses gave Landry the darling lavendar hat. 

They are donated to the hospital and the nurse fell in love with Landry and told him that he could have it for his baby sister. He was so proud to be able to give his little sister a present. :)**

After what seemed like forever in recovery, we were finally taken to our room...or I should say suite. No joke, those of you that are familiar with St. Agnes probably know of "the room." It is known as the VIP room...and it is so nice. It is a completely private room, with an attached living room area, kitchenette, and so on. Not only was Chad able to stay with me...he had his own living area. :)

Once we were settled in the room...

Landry and my mom came in so that Landry could see his sister up close and personal.

He could hardly wait to hold her.

As you can see...he was so excited...and so incredibly kind and gentle with her.

Our first picture as a family of FOUR!!!

Auntie KK and Uncle Ron came in to meet their niece...

and it is safe to say that Auntie KK was just as happy to be holding Lexie.

The next two days were spent hanging out and enjoying our sweet little girl!

Chad was awesome and registered Landry for kindergarten...how is that even possible?

My mom was truly amazing and took care of Landry while we were at the hospital.

I loved getting these pictures...

Landry eating breakfast before heading to preschool.

On Wednesday Landry's preschool celebrated Wacky Wednesday as part of their Dr. Seuss festivities. Chad and I didn't see the note about it until Tuesday night, after he had already gone by the house to get stuff, and I wasn't going to say anything to my mom about it because it was going to be late and didn't want her to stress about it. I literally cried on Wednesday morning when I saw this picture! Landry had told my mom about Wacky Wednesday and how his "wacky wig" was at home. She came up with the idea of wearing his clothes inside out...and he loved it!

He loved it almost as much as he loved coming to the hospital each night to hold his sister.

Have I mentioned how incredibly sweet he has been with her?

Each night he would come running in to my room and go right to Lexie. He'd climb up in the chair, get the Boppy, and wait for us to put her on his lap. Then he would give her a kiss on the head and whisper, "Don't worry Lexie...your big brother is here now."

Seriously. Heart melter!

I mentioned before how one of the nurses completely fell in love with him...well...they all did! They were so incredibly nice and sweet with him. Each of them would rave about him after he left...and they were so funny...they would come in one by one, each with a juice box and graham crackers for him, acting like they had a special treat for him. Little did they know that every nurse was doing this...so he had quite the collection of juice boxes and graham crackers. :)

On Wednesday night we were able to pack up our things and bring our sweet girl home!

We have been enjoying our first few days at home relaxing, trying to get as much sleep as possible, and adjusting to being a family of four. It is so funny to think that we were just supposed to be coming home today...but Lexie had other plans for us. I have a feeling we will be saying that a lot with this spunky little girl.

Here is Lexie's first "bow moment." :)

I brought all of these darling headbands with bows and flowers to the hospital...

but Lexie is so tiny that the headbands are too big.

So yesterday I made some new headbands and was finally able to put a bow on her. :)

It is safe to say that we are all completely in love and can't wait for you to meet the newest member of our family! :)