Alexa was always Shae

Since finding out the gender at our 20 week appointment, Tony and I went through just about every girl name in the book!  Every other day I would text Tony a name I liked while he was at work (oops) and he would give me a thumbs up/thumbs down.  Finally at about month 8 of my pregnancy we had decided on two names for our baby girl - Alexa & Shae!  Alexa was always a name we liked from the very beginning and Shae came later on.  So here's the story about how it all happened :)

About a week before I was due, I asked Tony for his honest opinion in which name he liked better.  He always said that it was my decision, but when forced - he admitted he liked Alexa slightly better than Shae because it had more syllables and more nicknames.  I agreed for the most part, but for whatever reason just couldn't get over the name Shae!  So anyways, that Monday morning (12:30am) when I went in to the hospital to deliver Shae, the doctor asked me in between pushes what her name was!  I didn't know for sure at that point because I figured I'd have a few hours of labor to really think and decide.  After Shae was born, there were a few nurses trying to get her to breathe and pumping her stomach - the last thing I cared about was what her name was!  After we finally got a cry and I started to breathe again the doc asked me again.  I looked at Tony and he said "it's up to you".  I said that we can call her Alexa Louise Brown.  He nodded his head and smiled.  That image still sticks.  Here he was holding Alexa at the time, smiling when I told him her name was Alexa.  How could I not call her that!?  To shorten the story a little bit, basically the next 2 weeks I cried because I would look at her and 100% see SHAE.  I didn't know what to call her.  Alexa? Lex? Lexi?  Nothing came off my tongue with ease.  Tony knew I felt this way.  Finally, the day before we left Okinawa FULL of excitement and tiredness, I told Tony I liked Shae better.  And guess what, HE AGREED!  My first emotion was relieved and happy and my next thought was Sh**, now what?  My sister told me after "Alexa" was born that it was possible to change her name.  Even though at the time I knew I could, I couldn't fathom doing any more paper work or making phone calls.  PCS'ing and buying 2 houses online within a span of 3 months was not necessarily fun...and then to add even more to the mix.  But that day before we left, I made a decision and went with it.  I changed her name through social media at 2:00am before getting up at 5:00am to catch our flight back to the states.  When I woke at 5:00am I turned to Tony and said "I changed Alexa's name last night".  His response was just a shake of the head and a smile.  It felt incredibly right and still does.

Lets try this again.  Meet Shae Louise Brown :)

Shae is 2 Months

This blog is way overdue and thanks to a friend on Instagram for pushing me to get on it!  At 2.5 months Shae weighed in at 14 pounds.  I put away most of 0-3 clothes and of course all of her newborn ones.  I can't believe how fast she is changing!  She continues to take most of her naps in swing and loves to be held, of course.  Amazes me how much LESS time I have to hold her now that I am running after Quinn.  There are times their sleeping schedule is spot on, but when it isn't I try to soak up all the snuggles I can with Shae while Quinn is asleep.

I have a 3 month blog to write in just a week so I've got a lot to share when that one happens :)  In the meantime here are a couple of pictures of our sweet peanut.  Love her more everyday.

 

 

Shae got to meet a very special lady this month.  Norma Hervey was a professor of mine at Luther and we have remained in touch throughout the last 10 years.  I took a class from Norma and traveled all over Europe with her for the month of January my junior year.  She retired a few years ago and now teaches full-time in Prague.  She is such a unique lady with more experiences and stories than you could possibly imagine! 

Quinn turns 2!!

I am back on the blogging after taking way too much time off!  Life has been nothing short of crazy lately.  I have a couple big blogs to write and post, but thought I'd start with the most important one. My baby Quinn turned "2" on July 1st!

Dear Quinn,

Another year has passed and you are growing so much.  This past week your vocab has been through the roof and you are working hard on putting sentences together.  They don't always make sense, but 98% of the time I know exactly what you want or what you're trying to say.  Here are the words/phrases/sentences your dad and I hear alllll day long:

* I want sucker
* Mine too
* No, please (No thank you)
* I want waty (water)
* I want Grace (any of the Huinker cousins)
* No mama me
* I hurt ouchy
* Sissy Shae
* Sissy you alright?
* MIMI! PAPA! (yelling)

You are loving being back in Decorah this summer with all your cousins around.  Mid August after Uncle Andy and Kylie's wedding we will head back to California and live in our new house!  We are sure going to miss all the Decorah activity, but I'm sure you'll love our neighborhood in Murrieta because there's a big pool and a lot of parks!  I hope we meet friends soon after we get there :)

 You sleep about 11-12.5 hours a night and nap for 1.5-3 hours a day.  Favorite thing to eat is pasta, sausage, and pickles.  You haven't watched much TV at all since being in Decorah this summer but when you do, you like Doc McStuffin's and Curious George "monkey". 

You are one of a kind, Quinn.  You are more social than I ever thought you would be.  You love all mommy's and are warming up to men in general.  Last week you actually ran into Uncle Brian's arms and gave him a hug.  I was pleasantly surprised!  You ask about me when I'm gone, but overall you're ok with me not being around.  There was an Art class in Decorah you took the last month and the teacher said you were wonderful.  That was so nice to hear.  Hopefully you save your "sassy" for home :)

It's been such a fun year with you Q babes!  We love you tons!