Alyssa's crib and some cute pics

Alyssa's crib
Doug and I just love Alyssa's cute little face here.

On Valentine's day Alyssa received her 1st rose from her daddy.

Pics of Alyssa with Aunts and Uncles

Aunt Becky and Alyssa

Aunt Liz and Alyssa

Uncle Mikey and Alyssa

Aunt Sarah and Alyssa

Uncle Dave and Alyssa

Alyssa's 1st bath

While in Tucson, Alyssa's belly button had healed so Grandma could give her her 1st bath. Alyssa loved the bath and was so good.

It was lots of fun seeing Doug's family and having Alyssa meet her Aunts Becky and Liz and Uncle Mikey. We also were able to sneak in a quick visit to Phoenix and see our good friends the Nielsen's. We just love them and were sad we couldn't visit longer. Pics are coming, hopefully soon. We have some cute pics of Livy and Alyssa together.

Alyssa meets her Grandparents

My parents flew to California from Hawaii on Friday (the day after Alyssa was born). They were able to take some time off to help with the baby and recovery process. It was lovely.

We drove out to Tucson, AZ over the President's day holiday to visit Doug's parents and introduce the 21st grandchild, Miss Alyssa Kate, to Grandpa and Grandma Higham.

More pics of Alyssa Kate

Here are some more pictures of our sweet daughter Alyssa.

Tiny precious cargo.

Here we are being discharged from the hospital.

The first car ride home.

Doug's girls sleeping in a world of pink.

Great Grandma and Alyssa.

All swaddled up in pink.

Doug's hand looks huge next to little Alyssa.

Where's Waldo? No, where's Alyssa?

Alyssa Kate Higham

So I went into labor at 11PM on Wednesday and on Thursday January 24, 2008 at 9:14AM our little girl Alyssa Kate was born. She was 7lbs. 6 oz. and 19 1/2 inches long. She was wide awake for an hour after she was born. We love her cute chubby cheeks and she truly is a blessing.

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Weekly Visit

So I had my weekly visit with the doctor today and I am dialated to a 4 and at station +1. Kinda crazy, since I feel just fine and have had hardly any contractions. My doctor said that if I were admitted I could get my epidural right now. So slowly but surely we're making our way there. We will keep you posted.

Notes from the Underbelly

Doug and I started watching "Notes from the Underbelly" last year. It's 2nd season just started right before Christmas and we were excited it got picked up for another season. We laugh all the time at the show (mostly because the main couple, Andrew and Lauren, are going through the same pregnancy woes we are). So if you haven't seen it check it out, it's on Monday nights on ABC around 9:30PM. Even if you're not pregnant the writing is pretty witty. Doug and I watched the show before we were pregnant and were still laughing hysterically.

Sleep Talking...

With 11 days to go you could say sleeping has become a bit uncomfortable, so obviously I tend to fidget a lot right now in bed trying to get comfortable (a seemingly impossible task). Last night Doug in his semi-conscious state declared "This has got to end...you should start walking up and down the stairs". Evidently, my tossing and turning was causing him to lose his beauty sleep. Whatever! I'd like to see him lie oh so still when having contractions, back pain, a baby kicking inside you, accompanied with the constant need to pee every couple hours through out the night.

Progress!

Hello, hello! So I had my weekly doctor appointment yesterday and I am making some progress towards labor and delivery (dilated to 2 1/2 and 50% effaced..not bad after last week). So officially I'm working till 2/1/08, so this may pose a problem if she decides to be early...I was not counting on that.

Tonight some good friends from our ward are throwing a shower for me and Doug's firm is throwing him a baby shower next week.

We will keep you posted and will be sure to post pics on the blog once she arrives.

Count Down

Well as you can see by our ticker we are counting down. I've started my weekly Dr. appointments. I can't tell you what a lovely experience those are...just a bit invasive. As of yesterday's visit there really is no change, so I'm thinking baby Higham (we still don't have a name we agree upon) is going to be stubborn (just like Doug and I) and be late. Can't say that I blame her...it's been cold here.

In the meantime Brett and Doug put the baby crib together and I have been washing baby clothes and sheets and will take some pics soon to post. It's so cute..I love it!

The Melting Pot!

On Saturday night Doug and I went to the Melting Pot with Rachel and Brett. It was absolutely amazing! Rachel and Brett gave us a gift card to go and it was such a fun experience. Doug and I have never been to the Melting Pot or La Fondue, but we have heard amazing things. We ate way too much. We started with a cheese fondue one spinach and artichoke and one cheddar. The spinach and artichoke one was so yummy. We then had salad and then they brought out the main course. The entrees included sirloin, chicken, shrimp, ravioli, filet mignon and pork. They had two different fondues that you cook your meat. Yum! Lastly...dessert...we had the flaming turtle (chocolate, caramel and pecans) and the original (chocolate and crunchy peanut butter) with strawberries, pound cake, cheesecake, bananas, marshmallows, brownies...so so good. We had a blast and it was so yummy. Thanks Rachel and Brett for a great Birthday gift!

Christmas!

Here are some pics from Christmas. My parents were visiting us from Hawaii. It was fun to have them here. Next year we'll have an 11-month old running around...crazy.

Here I am with my brother David, his girl friend Jessica, my Aunt Becky and Uncle Mike. We had a fabulous Christmas dinner at my grandparent's house and opened Christmas gifts.

Mom and dad and my grandma and grandpa.

My cousins Megan and Bryan

While my parent's were in town we went to the OC performing Arts Theater to see the Christmas Spectacular with the NY Radio City Music Hall Rockettes. The show was amazing! At the end of the show there is living nativity, which was very well done.

Liz's Baby Shower

My Aunt Debbie, friends Jane and Erin threw me a baby shower...so sweet of them to do so! I had a blast and it was so much fun...little girl things are just too cute!

Our Ward's Far-Out 70's Christmas Party!

Doug and I are members of our church's activities committee and this year to mix it up the committee decided to have a 70's themed Christmas party (not our idea). That's right! So here are Doug and I decked out in 70's gear. Doug is sporting some skin-tight royal blue polyester pants and some sweet aviator glasses..control yourselves ladies...he's taken!

Twister, hula-hooping, a white elephant gift exchange, lots of casseroles, and chocolate fondue were all a part of our evening's events. It definitely was memorable.

Go Utes!

Doug and I went with our friends Brad, Lisa and baby Morley to the Poinsettia Bowl in San Diego last night to watch the Utes play against the Navy Midshipmen. And yes...the Utes were VICTORIOUS! It was chilly but lots of fun. Final score 35-32.

A trial run to labor and delivery...

On Sunday evening I came down with a stomach bug or the flu. Not fun even when you're not preggers. So after keeping nothing down for a few hours and having some nice regular strong contractions, we called the doctor who said to come in. Hopefully the baby wasn't ready to come out just yet cause we sure are not ready for her. Doug says he needs another 6 weeks to prepare.
Anyways, so we arrive at labor and delivery and I get hooked up to everything, contraction monitor, fetal monitor and an IV with lots of fluids. My new best friend is the anti-nausea medicine they put in my IV. My contractions were still pretty strong after I drained a bag of IV fluid, so they gave me a shot to stop the contractions. So after a few hours they discharged us and I'm feeling a lot better. Doug calls this experience our trial run so we know what to expect when the real deal happens.

Cutie Petutie

Hello hello..yes I've promised pictures and I assure you they're on the way. My Aunt and friends threw me a shower and my friend Mary gave me this beautiful blanket. Her sister makes these blankets. Here's her website http://www.cutiepetutieoriginals.com/

Anyways my blanket is a bit different the cow print is light and dark brown instead of black and white, but it is so dang cute and so so soft...I absolutely love it!

We passed!

Congratulations to Doug and I for passing the Preparation for Childbirth class! I find it very humorous that they give you a certificate of completion; considering that regardless of whether you pass or fail you still are going to have to go through childbirth.

So I've managed to avoid all child birth videos in all of my health classes...so not the case here. They made us watch THREE...evidently one video wasn't scary enough. I'm not sure what was more disturbing having to watch the videos or seeing the expression on Doug's face as he was watching each video. Of course Doug was like couldn't they find attractive people to film the birth...maybe the miracle of life wouldn't be so uncomfortable to watch if Heidi Klum and Seal were the main characters. Either way, I give mad props to anyone who's gone through natural child birth. For me..I say bring on the drugs...nubain an epidural, let me have it! Doug says he's willing to test out the pain meds just to make sure they work alright.