Newborn Pictures

We wanted to do some professional newborn pictures of Axel, but we were tight on money, so I found a student photographer on craigslist to try her hand at them. She did a great job and we got some great family pictures! The green chair was my Grandpa, Oscars chair. My Moms held onto it for me until we had a place with enough space for it! Love it and the memory of Grandpa.

The first few weeks

We brought Axel home from the hospital three days after he was born. We did a quick stop at my parents house in Shingle Springs before heading down to Monterey. My Mom came down a few days later to help out. From day one, our little Axel has had a feisty little temper. Change his diaper or change his clothes and it's game over! There's only one thing in this world that could calm him down and that was, of course, nursing. I loved those first few days, even though I was still hurting like crazy. I was able to fall asleep with Axel in my arms and we wouldn't move an inch for a few hours, we were both so tired. Jerid was a superstar. He helped me with everything and I could see in his eyes how much he loved our little boy! After the first four or five days real life hit, the adrenaline and excitement started to ware and it became harder and harder to wake up for those feedings every hour and a half. For the first 6 weeks, as most Moms, I slept only a few hours each night. I was never able to nap during the day for some reason. I wish I could have. Axel was one fussy, fussy baby! I knew there was something different about him. His crying was persistent and he sounded like he had a tummy ache most of the time. I went on elimination diet for two weeks and we visited a few doctors and came to find out he is allergic to milk whey. Poor little boy! After we changed my diet and changed to a special formula, he started feeling better immediately! He is still a "high needs" baby, but he for once started to calm down for a few hours in the day. We were so glad to find out his problem and fix it! Those first weeks, I was in true survival mode. Survival mode didn't start to fade until a few weeks ago for me. Thank goodness we're sleeping more and we have a much, much happier baby!

Coming home from the hospital.

So itty-bitty!

Daddy's little boy!

So sweet when he sleeps!

He only took a binky a few times, unfortunately.

Our baby boy

I'm going to be trying to update my blog since I have a little extra time now. Haven't done a thing since before Axel was born. Bare with me, there's so much to tell...

Our Bundle of Joy!

Born after 12 hours of labor and 21 minutes of pushing! What an exciting, emotional and extremely painful experience! I wouldn't have changed a thing no matter how difficult it was. I'm so grateful for Jerid and my Mom, who helped me through it, even if I did try to kick them out of the room a few times. I wouldn't have made it without them.

Axel Emmanuel Hensley
Born May 31st, 2011 11:43pm
8lbs 11oz. 21 1/2 inches

The sweet boy who changed my life forever. I loved him from the first time I felt his kicks and the first time I saw his sweet, sweet face.

40 Weeks!

I made it to 40 weeks and 1 day. Here is the last picture taken of me before we headed to the hosptial.

39 Weeks

At this point, I thought I was a hopeless cause and he was never coming... it was all a big joke that God had played on me. I was so tired of having baby on my mind 24/7, it wasn't even funny. Here's to my hugeness.

While my brother Don was home we got to spend a lot of time with my family. On my brother Matt's birthday, all the siblings, spouses and parents went out for dinner and desert. I love it like crazy when all of us are together at the same time. Thanks Don and Elise for making the trip out with the girls!

Jerid and I came home from my parents house for the week (We were spending the weekends at home, hoping for this little boy to arrive there so that we could have him at the Roseville Kaiser, instead of having to drive to San Jose when I went into labor), and we found an amazing surprise on our doorstep! An Uppababy Vista Stroller. My favorite baby item by far! This is the best stroller you can buy! Thanks Grandma Darla and Grandpa Tim for your wonderful and generous gift! We are blessed beyond words! Jerid was even more excited than I was. He put the stroller together the second we got through the door and was strolling it all around the apartment.

38 Weeks

Yes, I've already had my little munchkin, but I still need to get my last two weeks in writing before I forget! Here's to week 38.... uhhhh, what an awful week of waiting, and waiting, and waiting!! I somehow thought I could "make" the baby come out when I wanted, which was week 38, but I really learned my lesson. Babies really do come when they want to come. I walked and walked and walked this week, but he just wasn't ready!

Jerid and I decided to go up to Horse Tail Falls to do a little hiking to possibly get things going... I was also getting depressed and stir crazy so the fresh mountain air was just what I needed! It was beautiful!

37 Weeks

Last week (37 wks.) my girlfriend Angie Carter took some maternity pictures for us. I wasn't sure how they were going to turn out because it was so bright out that I could hardly open my eyes and the wind was throwing my hair all over the place, but she ended up getting some really great shots! Here's a sneak peak... I'll put the rest up next week. :)

On Saturday I made a last minute decision to fly down and meet my family at Disneyland for the day. It was only a 41 minute flight so I felt fine about breaking the rules on flying this late in pregnancy. Jerid and I had a bag packed just in case he had to drive down if walking all over Disney put me into labor. We also had the best Kaiser hospital mapped out which was only 15 minutes from the park. I made it until 2:30pm before I rented a wheel chair. I felt great for the most part, but this extra weight did not agree with my feet! I'm still feeling it! The best part of the trip was watching my niece and nephews participate in the Star Wars show. Those were some brave kids to get up there and fight like Jedi warriors!

36 Weeks

Week 36 was great! I've been coping with my fatigue and enjoying the fact that I'm getting so close to getting this little boy out of me. We had a very busy week. Thursday night Jerid and I headed to Sacramento to spend some time with my family. My brother Don and his wife and 3 girls are over from Australia for the month, so we were very excited to spend some time with them. It doesn't happen very often that all of my siblings are at the same place at the same time, but we all made it home for at least a few days. I didn't get very many pictures, but I'll be getting more from my Mom in the next few days. We had a birthday party for Annabelle and Eleanor Friday, Saturday my sisters and Mom threw me a baby shower, and Sunday was a great dinner for Mother's Day.

Here is a picture from the baby shower that I had with all my sisters and my aunt Karen. I have to say, I have some beautiful sisters, sister-in-laws, aunt and Mother! We had a great time and they spoiled us!

Laura's Visit

Laura and Ryen came for a visit a few weeks ago. Not only did Laura and I get some much needed friend time, but Jerid and I were able to meet little Ms. Ryen for the first time! She is more than a love bug! Here are a few snaps of the week she spent here.

35 Weeks

Got a new dress to go with my new "hugeness"...