It's been awhile...

I know, I know. I said I was going to be better about updating this and I'm sorry. Let me explain.....This fall...we were home about three weekends all fall. We had several weddings, our college reunion, my brother Adam's welcome home, I've been finishing up tons of papers and projects for my masters classes, just got finished with conferences, and as always--busy with Miss Alexis. I'll try to be better. Sorry!

We've had a very good fall. Alexis has been healthy, most importantly. She's doing very well without her "tubie"! She's only had one bad cold but other than that, she's been well.

Here are a few pictures from all we've been doing this fall. Enjoy!

Our FOUR Year Old...

September 27th, 2004 was a day I will never, ever forget. The events of that day are more vivid in my mind than what I did yesterday. I will never forget how awful I felt as I was driving to work that morning. I will never forget my co-workers telling me I didn't look like I felt well and telling me to go home. I will never forget "that phone call" Justin made to me while I was teaching at about 11:00 a.m. that day. There are many things I will never forget that day. Even though the outcome of that day was a VERY beautiful one, the memories of that day are not so happy.

It was no fun being "rushed" to the hospital. It wasn't any fun showing up to a hospital room all made up for me and having no clue why. It wasn't fun calling work (with no lesson plans formally written) telling them I wouldn't be back until after the baby was born. It wasn't exactly thrilling having numerous doctors and nurses rushing in and out of my hospital room not telling me what was going it. It certainly wasn't fun being told by the anaesthesiologist that I was having to be put out and there is a good chance I may not make it through surgery. It wasn't fun for me to see the fear in Justin's eyes as they wheeled me down the OR hallway and watching him standing in the doorway as he was shut out. It wasn't exciting to me that when I woke up from surgery, they told me I had a baby girl, but when I asked how she was doing, everyone in the room had a blank look on their face.

BUT--the outcome of that not-so-fun day on September 27th, 2004 was an amazing one. And that one-pound-six-ounce miracle is a true testimony to what God can do if you put your faith in him. This story could have had a very different ending, but I am excited beyond belief to be writing about my beautiful four-year-old's birthday!

We were actually in Omaha at BobbiAnn and Brian's wedding on her actual birthday so we celebrated it this past weekend with about 30 people at our house. We had lunch, cake, open presents and the kids had a pinata (which was a real hit). Thanks so much for everyone who made time in their weekend to come help us celebrate. We know her birthday is a true celebration and we are so thankful for the opportunity to celebrate each year!

Here are some photos from the BIG 4 year old birthday weekend! Enjoy!

Preschool

Slow start to blogging, I know! I apologize. We've been SUPER busy (does it EVER slow down?). I'll try to do better. I promise.

I have a LOT to "blog" about but currently, our laptop charger is in "the shop" so I wanted to blog about something I had photos for...so preschool it is, because I have preschool pics in my email.

In my last post, I admitted that Alexis was turning 4. So--it's already happened....she turned 4! I can hardly believe it. I was looking through some of her pics from the NICU tonight in tears because it feels like I blinked and my baby is NOT a baby anymore! She's so big. Well....all 25 pounds of her, but big for her! :) No...she's not on the growth chart yet but we could care less. She's doing FABULOUS, even for her age. She's doing things that most 4 year olds do...and even some things that are advanced for her age. We're so proud of her!

So...(gasp!) PRESCHOOL! She has had an in-home nurse with her from her first day home from the NICU....so this fall has been a BIG transition for a BIG girl. She started going to my dear aunt Brenda's for preschool. She runs an in-home preschool with 6 toddlers (bless her heart) and Alexis LOVES every minute of it. I am amazed at all she has learned in the short time she's been there. Here is a short run down....

Alexis has learned....

all of her letter sounds
to recognize all uppercase and most lowercase letters
how to write her name
days of the week
months of the year
how to cut, color, paste, etc.
all about insects (and is obsessed with them now)

And MUCH more. We are so thankful that Brenda gets to take care of her. She loves it and we know she is in very capable hands! :)

Here are some pictures of some of her latest preschool ventures....we're so proud! :)


She is so proud she can write her name!


An uplcose look....


Showing off the catapillar she made (all by herself Brenda reported)


Doing some cutting...


She got to be the weather girl (her shirt says mostly sunny) :)

Ready or not....here I come!

Well..I'm officially trying out this *scary* world of blogging. I love reading blogs and I spend all-too-much-time reading everybody else's blogs. So...I've decided to get off of the bench and start my own blog.



Mainly, I'm replacing Alexis "ourbabynews" website with this. She isn't a baby anymore *tear*, thank heavens there isn't much "news" anymore, and it was costing us more than it was worth to keep that site up, so I decided to do the blog thing to keep everyone updated with pictures and such. So...replace ourbabynews.com/alexisbarber with this website.





I know I haven't been the best at updating the ourbabynews website lately so I'll try to do a better job with this one. However, I'm not guaranteeing anything! I'll try to update every week or two with at least new picture and maybe some blogging...but if I don't...please forgive me! Also: I'm starting out small with blogging...It's not as fancy as some of your blogs, but maybe someday, it will be. :) Baby steps....



How did I come with the blog title, Beautifully Blessed?



Great question...glad you asked!



Honestly...It's how I feel about my life, in a nutshell. Four years ago God blessed our family with a BEAUTIFUL blessing and ever since, I've learned to count my blessing...big or small...with whatever comes in life.



Alexis...the blessing I'm talking about...is going to be four on Saturday. FOUR! I know....I've re-figured it in my head 1000 times just to be sure, because it doesn't seem possible she is four. But....2008-2004=FOUR years! I know, I know...I teach 3rd and 4th grade math so my math COULD be off...but I don't think it is on this one.



By her birthday...I will blog about how blessed we have been for these last four years but I just wanted to get my feet wet tonight with blogging. So....stay tuned. I'll post another blog here soon.



Oh....and before I close, I wanted to share some pretty exciting news. Because she is SO SPECIAL....Alexis was chosen as the Central Iowa March of Dimes Ambassador Child for 2009! We are honored and thrilled to step into these big shoes!



Here are some recent pictures of our little blessing....The 2009 MOD Ambassador Child herself: Alexis Ann Barber!










Ok...so I could only figure out how to upload one picture at a time.....so you are....this is what you get for now! :)