Steve & Danielle Jackson

I was so grateful to have my family in town the week before Alexa came. I was overdue and it could have been a really long boring week. Instead we were able to have a lot of fun and Alexa came just in time before my dad and brothers had to head back home! They were great with Alexa! She loves them!

Alright, I'm finally sitting down to post! Hopefully most of you have already seen some pics of Alexa on facebook.

What a wonderful joy Alexa has already brought into our lives! I love looking at her and loving her so much! Steve and I have really enjoyed her and he's being a great daddy!!

So, here's the lowdown. Steve and I went in Friday the 26th at 8:30am. They got us in a room and ready to go so at 11am they started me on pitocin. My contractions had already been pretty regular the last month or so. The pitocin picked up the contractions and around 5pm or 6pm I started feeling them! Soon after that I really started feeling them! I was ready for the epidural (Amazing!) at about 9pm when I was dialated to a 5. The epidural actually helped move things right a long and at 11pm they broke my water. Around 1am I was to an 8 and 3am I was to a 10! They started getting everything ready for pushing to start around 4am. I had Alexa 41 minutes later! I only had to push with 10 or 11 contractions. I was happy about that!

My mom, Steve and I were so excited to see her! What a wonderful help it was to have Steve and my mom there! We stayed overnight Saturday and went home Sunday afternoon.

Alexa Jackson
Born Saturday, June 27th, 2009 at 4:41am
7lbs 7oz, 19 1/2"
Beautiful, healthy and with pretty light brown hair

Alexa has been very alert and happy most of the time. Nursing is going pretty well also.
Thanks to everyone for your prayers and words of support! Enjoy the pics!

So, my due date was last Friday. I'm about a week overdue! Luckily the most uncomfortable thing I've dealt with this week is the sunburn I got on my legs from going to the coast Tuesday. I am having contractions but they don't hurt. However, Alexa seems to be very strong so she has some pretty forceful movements at times.

So... we're just waiting! I think I have everything ready as much as I can. I can't find much else to organize. I'm also working through Wednesday so I don't get bored.

My mom is coming Thursday morning! I haven't been too anxious to have Alexa yet before my mom comes. It will be great when my mom gets here and I'm hoping Alexa will come soon thereafter.

The other day we visited the International Rose Test Garden. It was amazing! So many colors! It was a little drizzly out but that made it kinda fun! Thanks Megan for the pics!

Our wonderful friends threw Tara and I a wonderful baby shower a couple weeks ago! We are both due to have our baby girls mid June! The whole thing was awesome! The best games, food, gifts, and friends ever! Thanks everyone!

We had the privilege of having Steve's parents visit this past weekend! We were lucky to get mostly non-rainy weather! We went to Washington Park and checked out the rose gardens and other neat gardens. We played a lot of games and had lots of fun. Saturday morning we walked down the street to the Farmers Market. The Farmers Market was awesome! I might be going every Saturday from now on! We also saw a celebrity there! Keri Russell! Random!

We have a winner! Alexa Jackson! Let's hope this is the name we stick with because I made this craft that says 'Alexa'! I really love this name! The letters are each a different print from the squares I used on the bumper! I hope little Alexa likes it when she gets to see it in a couple months!

Here's a picture of the crib bumper I just made for those of you who are interested. On the front side I sewed all the little squares together and the other side is just one print. It was fun. I am also going to make matching cushions for my rocking chair and possibly make curtains... we'll see how ambitious I am.

We had a lovely Easter weekend with friends. Saturday we colored eggs and Sunday we had a large and delicious meal all together. It was fantastic! Steve got into his egg coloring and made a football, basketball, and baseball among his other creations. (Sorry, these pictures are from Steve's cell phone and aren't the greatest!)


This is a late picture from my birthday dinner in St. George at the pizza factory! Like my pizza? I'm personally not too sure about the number on it... We were there with my family!

Ok moms out there, what is the best/cheapest way to buy diapers and wipes etc.? Any other ways that you save a little here and there with a new baby? Thanks!!

I can't believe I only have 10 more weeks to go! That seems so short! Steve and I had a wonderful visit to Utah last week! We spent some time in St. George and Orem. Both of our moms threw me wonderful baby showers!! Thanks to those of you who made it! We got lots of cute pink baby clothes and other fun things! We also enjoyed fun and games with our families. Back in Portland now we are really enjoying the 70 degree weather the last couple of days. Steve and I went to Target yesterday and bought a new stroller for baby with gift cards! It's cute, we are getting really excited! I'm also in the process of making a crib bumper and some things with my sewing machine I got for my birthday. Fun times!

I forgot my camera when we went to Utah so here are a couple pics I stole from my mom and Ashley!

This is from the baby shower in St. George that we had on my birthday. We had a great turnout at the shower and that night went to Pizza Factory for my birthday. We had a yummy Cafe Rio lunch at the park by my moms school one day and we even went to play Laser Tag. I was surprised that I had the best score on my team even though I'm pregnant! Steve and Dawson were jealous. It was especially fun watching my mom and dad run around at laser tag having a lot of fun! We also played a lot of out-door games and board games with the fam during our stay in St. George.
We then got to spend some time in Orem as well and meet our new neice Marinn! (The picture shows how sad she was when we had to leave!) We love shooting hoops with Brady and playing board games with the adults! My mother-in-law had a nice baby shower for us there and it was great to see family and friends! We love and miss you all already!

We have some more names we like. Please vote on the sidebar. Let us know what you think :)

I'm getting a little bigger and a little closer!

On Friday Steve was done with school at 3:00. The sun was out so we wanted to take advantage of it. We went to a course in Beaverton with the Scotts and had a lovely hour of beautiful weather to enjoy. Lot's of fun! Here we are with our professional Safeway disc holder.

We are trying to get serious about choosing a name for our baby girl... please vote on your favorite name on the side bar thingy to help us! Thanks!

We're a little late announcing but excited to have a new beautiful niece! Marinn Claire was born January 5th at 2:50 pm to Kim and Ashley Jackson. She was 7 lbs 8 oz. I bet Brady enjoys having a little sister. We can't wait to see them all in a month!

My friend had this on her blog, pretty funny :)

Rules:1. Put your music library on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. You must write that song title as the answer to the question, no matter how silly it sounds! Most of the time they seem to work though, strangely enough. (This is freaky - sometimes it doesn't make sense, but then again..... it does. Don't cheat, stay true to the exact shuffle. It really is freaky!)
4. Ok, go!
5. When you're done, tag your friends.

1) IF SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OK?" YOU SAY? She Was A Big Star – Kenney Chesney
2) WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY? Singing At The Party – Jack Black
3) WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL? Just Watch The Fireworks – Jimmy Eat World
4) HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY? So This is Love – Walt Disney Cinderella
5) WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE? I Like It, I Love It – Tim McGraw
6) WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO? Home – Michael Buble
7) WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR PARENTS? Train My Brain – Lewis
8) WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN? What's It Feel Like To Be A Ghost? – Taking Back Sunday (Yikes)
9) WHAT IS 2+2? America – Neil Diamond
10) WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND? Don't Let Me Go – Westlife
11) WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE? Nothing Else Matters – Apocalyptica
12) WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY? Looking For The Next Great Idea – James Horner from A Beautiful Mind
13) WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP? Hands Down – Dashboard Confessional
14) WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE? Bring Me To Life – Evanescence
15) WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU? Circles – Incubus
16) WHAT SONG WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR WEDDING? Shut Your Eyes – Snow Patrol
17) WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL? Return To Pooh Corner – Kenny Loggins
18) WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST? Waterfalls – TLC
19) WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET? Freak Out - Avril Lavigne
20) WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS? Me Neither – Brad Paisley
21) WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS? Oceano – Josh Groban