Kalli Elizabeth Mendoza...

WOW!!! Where do I begin??? I want to start off in chronological order saying something about the baby's room but I have to start off with the most exciting info first...

As most of you already know, we had our little baby girl Monday night. She decided to make an early appearance (not one of mom's traits). She was born 10 days early, 10/02/2006 at 9:19pm to be exact. Both mom and baby are doing AWESOME!


The day started off as a typical morning with neither of us wanting to get out of bed for work. Erica was cramping most of the night and morning, not to intense but still cramping. For some reason we both decided to stay home and play it by ear, not at all a hard decision to make! The morning continued on as normal with both of us being lazy and the dog wanting to play. Erica came downstairs to join my parents and I. Shortly there after, around 10:00, Erica made one of her every 5 minute bathroom stops. She called me into the bathroom and knew it had to be one of 2 things. Either she was excited about the size of something she dropped off or her water broke, I was hoping for the water since I can handle that a lot better. She says "I think my water broke. It's not pee, look." I'm just grateful she didn't ask me to smell. It wasn't a lot of fluid but it was enough to make us wonder and get ready. I got my parents motivated, Erica and I in the shower (not at the same time of course) and called the Dr. After the second try I was able to speak to a nurse and she said to bring her in for a check. I loaded up the car with all of the parafenalia needed and we were on our way...

Once we arrived at the Dr., around 12:00pm, Erica was not looking forward to "the exam" They ran the tests and sure enough, we had splashdown! She was 3cm dilated and 70% effaced. They called for a room at the hospital and we where on our way. Since the hospital is literally in the same parking lot we walked on over to get checked in. At this point in time Erica has still yet to have any sort of contraction or any real discomfort. (in a Napoleon Dynamite voice) Luuuccky! We got checked in and before she could even get changed she was asking for the epidural...

The staff on the Labor and Delivery floor were GREAT! We started inducing as soon as the IV was set. Very shortly there after, Erica felt her first contraction. I was trying to hold her off as long as possible before she got the epidural but that didn't work so well. She sent me out of the room to get her some juice and when I returned she had already called for the epidural (hopefully Kalli won't be as sneaky as her!). I knew she was going to have problem dealing with the pain but I will give her a ton of credit, she handled it like a RockStar! After it was in she couldn't press the happy button quick enough. She was in "mellow land" and not feeling a thing, which was good because the Dr. was on his way for another "exam". Dr. said she was 4cm (which sounded like a generous measurement) and 80% effaced. At that rate he predicted around 2:00am for the baby to grace us with her beauty. Oh, the waiting game is on...

The family gets sent home for some rest before the long night. 7:00pm comes and with that comes shift change. We received another nurse and she decided to be thorough with her first "exam". As she is elbow deep checking around she gets this look on her face that I can only describe as, let's see, how do I put this... WTF or Holy Sh*t!!! She pulls out and says "Yup, you're 10cm and we are ready to push." HOLY CRAP we where not ready to hear this but yet we where SO ready (I know that only made sense to me). I get on the phone and call back all of the troops. Within minutes we had tech's and assistants in the room with us and we were pushing! I say "we" because it was hard not to be breathing and pushing as I was watching her and listening to the nurse. About 20 minutes later we could see hair, from the baby of course. About another hour of pushing and she was crowned! They made her stop pushing because the baby was about to shoot out with out the catcher being there. Dr. arrived, threw the sign to the pitcher and sure enough, caught a strike! BABY WAS OUT! I cut the cord and we where holding what looked like a powdered donut, that cried. She was SO cute!!! Oh the relief...



The first night we didn't get to much sleep, expected of course. My reasoning for lack of sleep was "the cot" which was rolled out for me that I can only describe as a torture devise and a way they can make the dad be in pain as well. It had more hills and rolls then a rolercoaster. Erica had to be up for about 3 feedings spaced out perfectly so she didn't get to rest. Sleep is our friend...

Day 2 and we can't wait to get out of here. I mean we have free day care but that is about it. Erica did not get any sleep last night and what sleep I did get was a joke. "The cot" was yet another interesting experience. Not only was it rolly, as lumpy would be an understatement, it was loud! I would just breath and it would squeak! My spine is no longer straight and spells out the word Mississippi! OH so glad to get back into a real bed...

I would have to say we were VERY blessed with this whole experience being as easy and problem free as it was! We are TRULY blessed! Healthy baby, and healthy mom. I can't ask for anything better. I truly am the luckiest man in the world!!! :). . . (tears of joy!)


Not to make this any longer but i guess there are a couple things missing...

THE ROOM IS DONE!!! OMG, you would have thought I was building a room out of popsicle sticks. My friend Megan came out last week and helped me with the border. What a huge help she was! The 3 of us where able to do all of the finishing touches. Thank God it is complete...



Lexi of course is doing great and is ALL puppy! According to other people, "she is well behaved" I tell them to come home with us so they can change there minds. I also think I just have high standards for her. She is a great girl though and I would NEVER trade her in!

Mom's Lakers jersey.

I love my Girls!!!