Changes

Since having my adorable son, I have not been feeling very good about myself mainly because my body still hasn't gotten back to normal.  I had recently cleaned out my closets and gotten rid of my maternity clothes (I know I was a little hasty in getting rid of them) which only left my pre-pregnancy clothes.  Needless to say trying to squeeze into them tends to be such a chore and I end up with a muffin top which really doesn't look good when your shirts have gotten a little snug as well.  Oh the humiliation!  Thankfully, my hubby is being so good to me and letting me pick up a few new outfits that will actually fit a lot better.

Another change I was really wanting was a new hairstyle.  I found a couple of really cute styles, but I'm not sure how they would look on me.  I have decided against coloring my hair with highlights mainly because 1-I am too cheap to keep it up, 2-I would have to wait forever and a day to grow my hair back out only to chop it to get rid of the highlights and 3-I surprising prefer my natural color anyway.  Below are two photos of hairstyles I was thinking of.  They are basically the same style except one has bangs and has been teased where as the other one is flat and simple.  Okay everyone I need your opinion on which hairstyle to go with.  If you don't like either of them, let me know what you think would actually look good on me.

Thank you everyone for your expertise!  

I look forward to seeing what you have to say!

Our Little Slugger

 Last night I had gone over to my sister's house and she had taken some amazing photos of little Jairus.  Thanks Melisa for taking such beautiful photos of our son.  You are so talented!  We had been planning on how to do his birth announcement since the night he was born and I think they had just turned out so incredibly ADORABLE!  Here are some of my favorite photos.

I just ADORE my little man!

Ewwwie Grape Surprise

Today our family went to Brian's parent's house for dinner.  After dinner we watched his dad play Super Mario Brothers on the Wii.  Jairus was starting to get hungry, so I started feeding him a bottle.  Brian's mom had gone upstairs with Tali to get some grapes to snack on.  They were delicious......well until Tali fed me one.  Since my arms were occupied holding Jairus and his bottle Tali had popped a grape in my mouth (for those of you with a weak stomach, you may want to stop reading now).  The texture was very different from that of just a regular grape.  I then stuck out my tongue and wiped off this strange new texture to examine what it was.  At first I didn't think much of it.  I thought it was just a blossom from the grape.  That's where I was wrong!  I noticed these beady little eyes staring back at me!  I quickly threw it back into the bowl of grapes.  Brian wondered what I had so quickly thrown in there when he examined it also.  To our surprise, it was a SPIDER!!!!  Granted it was just little, but EWWWW!  THANKFULLY, I didn't chew the grape before I noticed the new texture.  It was still alive after I spit it out!  Brian had to play exterminator.  Yes, everyone (especially Tali) had a good laugh at my expense.  Brian joked "well just be grateful it didn't pop."  Tali was so facinated with my reaction to almost eating a spider.  Let's just say it will be a while before I think I can eat another grape again.

Here is the closest picture of what the spider looked like.  All I have to say is GOOOO!

One Week

This last week has just flown by!  I remember by this time last I was in the hospital waiting for our little guy to arrive.  Since we've been home, Jairus has had a few visitors who have also brought delicious meals.  Thanks to all of you who were so generous with bringing the meals and gifts.

The night we came home, Brian's wonderful parents cooked dinner for us and brought it over so we wouldn't have to worry about cooking.  It was a great opportunity because at the hospital, the only visitors we had was my sister (who just came to bring us a gift and found out when she got to the hospital that we had already had him) and Tali.  Here are some pictures we've taken over the past week.

Here is a picture that I am so glad I was able to get.  Three generations of Monson boys.

More Monson boys (the others live out of state)

Uncle Matt & Aunt Abbie couldn't wait to meet little Jairus.

Tali had to get in the picture with her brother.  She's quite protective of him.  In fact, she's so protective that one of the first times we changed his diaper after coming home, she heard him crying and started crying herself because she thought he was hurt.

Jairus with his Nanna & Papa Monson

This past Wednesday, I was so excited to try on my regular pants to see if they fit....also because I threw out all my maternity clothes and other clothes I never wear.  We're not planning on anymore children, so I figured I might as well get rid of them and give them to the DI.  I was so excited because I actually fit into my regular pants.  Sure they were a bit tight, but give me a week or so and hopefully I'll be able to fit in them comfortably again.  

Here is another photo I took of Jairus.  I thought he looked so stinkin' cute!

It looks like he's already got the praying thing down.  He's such a good and sweet baby boy!

New Arrival!

I am so bad at getting behind on my posts.  Last week (HOLY MACKEREL!  It's already been a week???) we welcomed our little man Jairus into our little family.  I had gone in for one of my weekly check-ups and my doctor and suggested something that I was a little nervous but also excited about.  As most of you know I was SO done being pregnant, but I was told that our little guy hadn't grown in three weeks.  They were a little worried that something may be wrong with him.  I was full term in my pregnancy which was good, but they were still concerned so my doctor offered to induce me.  I immediately called Brian and asked him what he thought about the whole thing.  So, after my appointment, I came home packed up the last few things in my hospital bag and we were off to the hospital to have little Jairus. 

Here I am right before being induced.  Yes, I was little scared and very nervous.  I worried that something might be wrong since he hadn't gained any weight and also because I had never had to be induced before.  When we got there, they gave me some Pitocin to help speed things up.  As the contractions became closer and stronger, I was begging Brian to get the anesthesiologist for an epidural.  Apparently the hospital was really busy with a lot of things going on.  It seemed like it took forever to get the epidural.  I felt like a little baby just whining to make the pain stop.  I was so incredibly worried and kept telling Brian I didn't want to have our son "natural."  When I finally got the epidural, I got numbed up just enough to take the edge of the pain off the contractions.  Next thing I know my doctor comes in and she says "okay it's time.  Lets deliver this baby.  He's ready to come out!"  I was really scared because I could still feel all the pressure and a little bit of pain to the point where I would have to catch my breath.  Luckily, it went SO incredibly fast!  The doctor didn't even have time to take the bed apart.  

The little man was born at 9:18 pm and weighed 5 lbs 2 oz. and was only 18 in. long.  Brian and I were so excited to have him here at last!  The thing I remember most was looking at him and noticing this reddish blond hair.  I thought for sure he'd have dark hair of course then again when I was baby I had about his same color of hair too.  Here are some of our very first photos of little baby Jairus. 

Our newest addition! 

My sister came by to bring us a gift after she got off of work.  Little did she know we had already had Jairus by the time she got there.  She was so excited to see her newest nephew.

My experience at the hospital was the BEST!  The staff was awesome!  The recovery wasn't nearly as bad which was great because I needed very few main meds and the food was actually descent too!  I was so glad everything turned out so well!

This was during the little guy's first bath.  He really liked having his head washed, but the rest of the bath he didn't like so much.

Awww!  He is such a good little baby!

Father and son!

Tali was THRILLED to see her little brother.  She already loved him so much.  She does look a little mischievous though.  Maybe she knows she can now blame someone else when she gets into trouble....

I know this photo is a little overexposed, but I still thought it was super cute and sweet.

"Everybody SHHHHH!  My baby brother is SLEEEEEPING!"

I just love this picture.  I think it's priceless!

Our first family photo with the little guy.  I am so thankful God blessed me with my beautiful family. 

Pampered Princesses

Yesterday Tali and I were having a really rough day so today since Brian didn't have school, I asked him if it would be okay if Tali and I went to get pedicures (well at least a pedicure for me) and get our toes painted.  He said yes so I looked up some places close to my house and found one that wasn't very far that was really inexpensive.  I also wanted to get them done for when we have the baby.  I refuse to have ugly feet while having a baby!

The place was called Forever Young Nails.  It was AWESOME!  They were FANTASTIC!  I seriously felt like I was getting star treatment.  I sat in an awesome massage chair while my feet were soaking and then later they rubbed this oil and lotion on my legs and feet and gave them a very GOOD massage!  I was in HEAVEN!  For any of you who have been pregnant, you know how sore your feet and calves get from either the weight or just cramping up.  It was INCREDIBLE!  They then put a hot towel on my feet and legs which was also amazing...a little warm, but oh so relaxing!  They even wore gloves and masks (which is a huge bonus for me because it kind of creeps me out when they don't)!  I was thrilled!  The place was so clean too!  Apparently they had only been in business for two years, but I definitely plan on going back! 

While I was getting my toes painted, I had Tali watch so she could see that it was nothing to be scared of.  I then asked her if she wanted her toes painted and of course she said yes so we let her pick out her own color.  She ended up choosing this reddish color which I thought may be a little too dark, but luckily it wasn't.  

Tali loved feeling like one of the "big girls"

She was so interested in what the woman was doing to her toenails.

I just LOVE her cute little feet!

They even put a little "flowa" (flower) on her big toes with glitter paint.  Tali was loving it!

She kept looking at her toes saying "flowa!"

After her toes were finished, I kind of wished I had done the same thing as Tali's.  I really liked how hers turned out....I liked mine too, but I kind of liked hers better.

Here is how mine turned out.  Don't mind my swollen feet.  I wanted to have blue flowers on my big toes since we're having a little boy.  I thought they turned out pretty cute though.

This is how Tali's turned out!  So so cute!  The cool thing is, when I went to pay for the pedicure and painting, the woman told me that Tali's was a "gift for the baby."  I thought that was really nice, so I made sure to tip them good.  

Today turned out to be so relaxing which is just what I needed!

Independence Day Celebrations

On Sunday I decided to actually do Tali's hair since it was a holiday and all.  She kept wanting to check herself out in the mirror.  She's already a narcissist.  It's okay though because she is just so darn cute! 

So cute!  Check out the curls she got from her daddy.

On Monday morning, we went to a flag raising ceremony like we do every year with Brian's parent's stake.  

I just ADORE her!  This was right after I had done her hair.  Isn't she so stinkin' cute?

God Bless America! 

This picture was taken at the flag raising ceremony.  The Stake Primary in Brian's parent's stake had put on the program and it was just so ADORABLE!  They sang this song America Rocks and it was just so cute with them doing actions and everything.

 They then had all the veterans come up to recognize them for their service.  Here is Brian's dad.  I'm so proud of him!

 They also had the veterans hold and pass the flag before they raised it which I thought was pretty cool.

After the flag raising ceremony, they had all the kids decorate their own bag to catch candy from the candy cannons. 

I don't remember what we were all laughing at (I think Tali tooted or something) but I thought this picture was cute anyway.

I adore my little family!

After the flag raising ceremony, we headed on over to the park so Tali could play on the slides.  She was having the such a ball!  Especially since daddy was there to go down the slide with her. 

We then headed over to the swings and her and I got to have some fun.  

We had planned to go see a fireworks display but the closest ones were at least a half an hour to a 45 minute drive.  So instead we decided to go and see Toy Story 3 which Tali absolutely LOVED!  She's been obsessed with Buzz Lightyear lately so that was fun.

We ended the night doing fireworks in our backyard.  

Tali was scared at first because of the noise, but she loved the colors and everything else.

She was so much fun!

Here is Brian lighting the fireworks.  What a hottie!

FYI:  we watered the lawn as well as the board we lit the fireworks on to reduce any fire hazard. 

I really liked the red colored firework.  I thought it looked pretty groovy in my backyard!

Awww!  Independence Day!  Gotta love the fireworks!

Thank you to all my awesome military friends and family who are so willing to serve!  

WE LOVE YOU!