Alex Extravaganza!

We just can't get enough of our new baby so we have been snapping pictures left and right! I'm sure it'll taper off but as for now...here's more of Baby Alex!

More pics of the little guy :)

All ready to go to Alex's first doctor's check-up

At the doctor's

Party at my crib!

The proud Grandma!
Just after his first bath
Whatcha lookin' at?

In his bouncer

The sweet angel in his crib

A more detailed update

Hi everybody! So here's the details on this new baby! As Genevieve mentioned in the previous post, his name is Alex.

Full Name: Alexander Thomas McLean
Birthday: 11:53pm Saturday August 19th, 2006
Birth Weight: 8lbs 3oz
Birth Length: 20 1/4"
Favorite Drink: Milk
Favorite Food: Milk
Favorite Thing To Do: Drink Milk

Alex is already an impressionist! So far, he has sounded like the following animals:

-Mouse (squeeking)
-Bird (ca ca ca-ing)
-Pig (snorting)
-Teradactyl (screeching)

Genevieve did awesome during the delivery! Her labor was about 12 hours total and very intense. Labor seems to be probably the most terrifying and rewarding experience on the face of this earth. Thankfully, she did not have to have a C section. She is recovering slowly and has lots of family here to help her. Check out these additional pictures. We'll be posting more and more!

Baby Alex is here!

Just a sittin' and a waitin'

Hello everyone...yes, it's now August 16th. 5 days past my due date (based on U/S) and 2 days past based on my ovulation based due date (August 13th). So, as you can imagine I have been getting pretty antsy and impatient the last few days. I really got my hopes up last night when I was having contractions for about 4 hours. They were pretty irregular but noticeable enough for me to start getting excited. But I woke up early this morning with baby still nice and comfy inside me. Sigh. It seems like I will never get to meet this baby!! But there is hope. Mike and I have a scheduled induction this weeekend if baby does not make an appearance soon. I will check into the hospital Friday night and get started on Cervadil (to ripen the cervix). The actual induction will start Saturday morning so hopefully I will have the baby by Saturday afternoon! Yes! There is a light at the end of the tunnel! Thank you everyone for checking in on us. The anticipation is really killing us! We will keep you posted for any other "significant" events as they happen! Send us labor dust!

Oh baby where art thou?

Friday is the day! I really thought I would go earlier than this but I think baby is feeling extra snuggly. I have not posted recently because I have been suffering from a severe case of pregnancy rash---called PUPPPS. It has been nothing but insane itching the last week or so. I cannot lie that I have not broken down a couple of times crying my eyes out, begging for the baby to come out. Apparently, this rash has an "unknown" cause. Some women experience it late into their pregnancy and the only cure is delivery! You can only imagine me talking and coaxing the baby out. It has improved a little the past couple days but I still have to take ice-cold showers a couple of times a day to relieve some of the itching. My mom, aunt, and grandma have been a God-send, helping around the house, cooking, and cleaning. Mike has been extremely helpful, making sure I don't pass out in the shower at 3:00 in the morning when I am going so crazy with the itch. I keep thinking that it will be all worth it in the end. So, let's see what the next couple of days will bring us!

It's August!

Woo-hoo! It is official, this month is the month we will meet our little bundle of joy! It's definitely crunch time---10 days till my due date. Although this pregnancy seems like it is has lasted FOREVER, it is still unbelievable that I will be having a kid in just a few short days! Ahhh! I am so excited and nervous at the same time. Mike and I have been preparing for the arrival of my relatives which include my mom, my Auntie Abet, and Grandma. As soon as baby gets here, my dad, my brother, Uncle Bob, and Auntie Josie will follow. Angeline and Brian will also be visiting from Phoenix the weekend of the 18th (crossing my fingers the baby will be here by then!)So, it will be a packed house but I seriously would not have it any other way. I love having my family and friends around because I know that the love and support they give will help us immensely. This is by far the biggest event of our lives and it would not be complete if our family was not there! Mike's family will be visiting us either on Labor Day weekend or in October (when the girls have their semester break). I am so excited! The baby will have 5 aunts and 1 uncle (my poor brother!)
I am feeling great other than the fact my stomach has been itching nonstop for about 5 days! My skin has been stretched to its limit. I have tried to keep myself from scratching because it leaves nasty red marks but I find myself waking up at night scratching the tar out of my stomach! Mike has even seen me in action! So, baby please get here early---Mommy is going crazy!

3 more weeks!

The summer heat must be getting to me because I am literally counting down the days, hours, and minutes until our baby gets here! I've reached the point where there really is no hope of ever getting comfortable again. I waddle like a duck and it takes all my energy to hoist myself off a couch or off the floor! I am amazed at how much my body has changed this past nine months, I know the end-product of all these changes is a beautiful baby but I cannot tell you how excited I am to get back to my pre-pregnancy weight. I long to go back into regular clothing stores and trying on cute tops and pants again. Sigh...only a few more months (I've accepted it will take a while to lose the baby weight). I am now seeing my doctor weekly and so far, so good. According to my last appointment, I am 50% effaced (cervix is thinning out). That's progress right? I won't get my hopes up because I know it may still take a while for things to really start going. We also had another U/S to check the baby's kidneys. The doctor had seen some fluid on the last U/S and wanted to double-check that it had not increased. Thankfully, it had not and the fluid seen can be easily treated post-birth.
Mike and I still have one more Childbirth class to go. We've learned some pain management techniques (breathing and massage) which will hopefully alleviate some of the pain I experience. I will see how far I can go without medication but believe me I will be screaming for an epi as soon as I am ready!! We are attending Baby CPR and Baby Care this weekend. Hey, you can never be too prepared right? That's it for now. Only 3 short weeks till my due date, I'm hoping to meet my little baby a little sooner :)

The countdown begins!

So yesterday was officially one month till my due date. Should I start freaking out now? Nah, I am so anxious to have this baby that these days cannot get any slower! But I need to be patient because he/she is still cookin' in the oven. We started our the first of three child birth classes last night. It was very informative, so informative that when we left all Mike could utter was "What did we get ourselves into?" about 10x. We watched a video of a live birth which wasn't bad until they showed the placenta being delivered. That was pretty gross. I know that we can never be 100% prepared for this birth but if I can absorb all the information and all the different scenarios I may encounter, my mind will be a little be more at ease during the delivery.
On another note, Mike's family visited us over the weekend! It was the first time for them to visit us and we were excited to show them our humble abode. The weather was dreadful, it rained all weekend, but we all enjoyed each other's company. Mike was extremely excited to show them our green grass and of course, his pride and joy, the XBOX 360. His sisters loved it. They also bought us some miscellaneous items to complete the nursery. This kid is already spoiled rotten.

The McLean Clan

Monica and Melinda

Noodles and his servants

Dad and Melinda enjoying the Xbox 360

My own little Superman

We watched Superman Returns this weekend and remembered that Mike was a little Superman at one time too. What a cutie!

Nursery Complete!

Yes! The nursery is complete! We have assembled the dresser and the glider and we are ready for take off! :) We just need to add some finishing touches such as more artwork and a mirror on the wall. It is by far my most favorite room in the house! Here are some pics of the finished product and Mike goofing around with the Baby Bjorn! Can he be more excited?

The view from the doorway

The dresser and glider

Added some shelves to the closet

The proud father-to-be!

Hotter than Brad Pitt!

Non-prof pics of the pregnant Genevieve

32 Weeks and growing!

Who snuck into the picture?

We can't wait to meet you baby!

31 Week Ultrasound Pictures

Our 31 week U/S was this morning and we are glad to say that the baby is doing great! He/she is measuring 1 week ahead but the doctor did not change my due date (darn!) Here are a few pictures of the little munchkin...can you see the pudgy little cheeks? So cute!

Crib has arrived!

Our crib finally arrived earlier this week! Mike quickly rushed home on Tuesday to assemble it and it is beautiful! Definitely worth every penny :) We also have our glider shipping to us at this very moment so hopefully we will have it early next week. The dresser is also on its way. Wow, crazy how things are finally coming together. The nursery actually looks like a nursery. Mike and I frequently peek in the room, still unable to imagine that in two short months, a little baby will (hopefully) be napping in the room.

A Thought for the Weekend

I would like this post to serve as a Public Service Announcement. Over the past few weeks, I have encountered several unfortunate incidents of people looking at me wide-eyed and saying "Wow, it looks like you are about to pop!" It has taken all my strength and patience not to take a running leap at them and tackle them with my "about to pop" belly. I know I look like I have swallowed a beach ball and I am waddling like a duck just to support this massive tumor I am carrying, but please people have the courtesy to keep your comments to yourself! It is hard enough to have a body that is out of control with the crazy hormones to boot that I don't really need to hear any snide comments about how I look! I really have enjoyed my pregnancy mind you but enough is enough! If you ever see a pregnant woman, the NICEST thing they will ever hear is "Wow, you look really small for how far along you are!" or "From the back you don't even look pregnant at all!" Take it from me, it will save you from an enraged hormonally crazed woman charging at you at high speeds, ready to suffocate you! Nuff said.

Week 30

"Now weighing about 3 pounds (1,400 grams) and measuring about 10.8 inches (27 cm) from crown to rump, your baby continues to gain weight and layers of fat. This fat makes the baby look less wrinkly and will help provide warmth after birth.

In preparation for respiration after birth, your baby will mimic breathing movements by repeatedly moving the diaphragm. Your baby can even get the hiccups, which you may feel as rhythmic twitches in your uterus. "


It's week 30 for me! Can you believe the baby is all squished up in my tummy like that? I have only ten more weeks to go! We're still waiting for the crib which will hopefully get in sometime this week. I've found myself sitting in the nursery and looking around. It's crazy to think that in two short months, we will have a baby occupying the room. Noodles (our dog) continually sniffs around the room as if to say "I know something's up, what are you guys not telling me?" Mike is in Seattle this week so I am trying to occupy myself with random house chores. It's a bit hot in Denver, a sweltering 95 degrees as we speak, so I've cranked up the A/C and turned on all the fans. Our energy bill may be quite high this summer, but Mike thinks it's worth every penny. He does not want to have a cranky pregnant wife roaming about!

Mike's Superfast Phoenix Trip

As posted yesterday, Melissa graduated from high school this week and Mike was able to attend the graduation. Even though it was barely for 24 hours (left Wednesday and returned Thursday), he had a blast with his sisters. Here's a few pics!

Crazy kids

Mike and Melissa

The graduate

Don't ask

Memorial Day Weekend

It was a relaxing Memorial Day weekend at the McLeans. We started it off by eating at our favorite BBQ restaurant, Jabos. On Saturday, Mike tackled his favorite task of mowing the lawn. Unfortunately, we have some brown spots which made Mike a little sad. He has always been so proud of our green grass but for some reason this season, we have some mysterious browning on some large areas of the lawn. Nevertheless, the green areas are REALLY GREEN. Later that evening, we had our friend John over for some Filipino food. Since I have been out of work for the last couple of months, I have been able to hone my skills in cooking. I am now proud to say I can cook a pretty decent meal of Adobo and Nilaga! It was off to Costco on Sunday to do our monthly shopping there. On Monday, we enjoyed the beautiful 70 degree weather in Boulder. We love to go Boulder because of its quaint little shops and just for the laid-back environment. We took Noodles with us but because of the larger dogs walking the streets, he was confined in his pet-carrier backpack. It has a mesh screening that allows him to survey his surroundings. He may not have been able to walk but he sure got a lot of oohs-ahh's from the people who saw him. Like Mike says, he's a chick magnet.

Happy Graduation Melissa!

Mike and I would like to congratulate Melissa (Mike's little sis) for graduating from Chandler High School! Four down, two more to go! As many of you know, Mike has five sisters--Marianna, Meghan, Melissa, Monica, and Melinda! Melissa is now the fourth McLean to graduate from C-town. The McLean siblings have been infamous for their amazing musical talents especially in the percussion arena. Mike started the trend nine years ago when he put on the blue and whites (marching band uniform). (I still found him sizzling-hot). The girls have followed in his footsteps and has always exceeded our expectations. We wish Melissa all the luck with her new life out of high school. It's a great adventure and we are excited to see what she makes of it!