Jeep Safari 2013 Moab, UT

We went to Moab during Easter weekend for Jeep Safari.  I have to say this was one of my favorite trips down there.  Even though we were only there for one full day it was a really nice trip.  We took Laina with us.  A lot of people thought we were crazy because she is only 8 months, but she loved it!  She is definitely her father's daughter.  She was made for jeeping and the outdoors.  She did not complain once!  No matter how many times she was in and out of her carseat.  We only took her on one trail called Wipe out, but it was like a 9 hour trail.  Everyone was amazed at how well she was doing taking her naps and keeping hydrated.

Here are a bunch of pics mainly of that trail.

Ashely and Justin wearing there sombreros.  It was part of the theme for the day.

Everyone heading out on the trail.

 We stopped to go for a little hike on Tusher Tunnel.

 With the jeep.

Tusher Tunnel is the whole in the rock behind me.

Riding in our jeep, Quinn and Alaura.

Going through the tunnel.

It got really dark partway through.  This is about halfway through.

She couldn't see when it got dark in the tunnel so she pushed her sunglasses up.  So cute!

Us with Ashley!

oops..

 

I love my family!!

Laina thinks she can drive the jeep already.

 Bumper padding.  She did so good!!

 Andrew's Family behind us.

When we stopped for lunch they had a raffle and John won a new coat.

Laina didn't get to go on this one.

Keeping us in line while the boys go watch everyone go down another obstacle coming up.  This was bumpier then it looks.

Laina didn't get to go on this one either.

Ashley and Justin

She was reaching out for me and cooing.  What a cutie!

Our group.

Went shopping when we got back and found this headband.

Nothing like some yummy cheese!  First time trying it and loved it!

 Well that was our trip.  I have to say I have the best little family.  Can't wait for the next family trip.

6 months

I can't believe my sweet girl is already 6 months!  She is changing so much everyday and we are having a blast seeing this girl grow up.  Laina is already sitting all on her own!  The doctor today was very impressed with how advanced she is.  He said in some ways she acts like a 9 month old.   Her stats from the doctor are head 23%, weight: 16.5 lbs 54%, height: 26 in 52%.  For about a week depending on her mood me and John have been able to get Laina to say "Hi".  It's so cute!  She is also becoming very independent.  She wants to hold her bottle and feed herself.  If I hand her the spoon when she's eating she likes to try and feed herself.  It never has food on it.  She may be teething but those teeth have not shown up yet.  I wish they would already so she could get some relief.  She loves taking baths, she loves her daddy the most, she likes to be sitting or standing all the time.  She is very social.  Other little kids and teddy the dog are so funny.  She can't help but giggle at them.  She is giving kisses now too.  We didn't even try to teach her that but we do kiss her cheeks a lot.  She'll just suddenly grab your face and yell as she gives you a nice big slobbery kiss.  It's so funny!

I took some pictures of her for her 6 months.  I have been blessed with the most beautiful girl!

 This is a classic look she makes.

I love her cheeks in this one!

Her daddy is the funniest!

 These two dolls are her favorite.  She fell asleep with them right after I took this picture.

I left the room for just a second and came back to her like this.  Silly girl.

 Wearing her Christmas dress.

Opening Christmas presents.  She looks so surprised.

We opened presents as soon as she woke up but I don't think she was all the way awake yet.  She makes the funniest faces.

She tried to open her presents.

We truly have been blessed so much.  With a wonderful family.  John finally got a job after searching for 2 years.  And I was able to quit my job so I can be home with our girl.  I also sell Avon and have been for the last 3 years just for fun.  I guess as just a hobby, but now it has really taken off.  I'm saving to buy my own computer.  

Me and John were talking the other night saying that this year is going to be big for us.  We'll finally get out of debt and save for a house.  And just feeling better financially.  Since we got married we have always struggled a little financially.  So it will be nice to finally get over that mountain.

The Last Two Months

I haven't posted for a long time so I'm going to do a post mainly of pictures.  Last week Laina had her 4 month appointment.  I can't believe she's already 4 months old!  Time as flown by and she is changing so much!

Here are the stats from her appointment. 

She weighs 14.15lbs (67%),  height 24in (31%), head circ. 15 3/4in (33%)

So she's short and chubby!  She is doing really well.  Super strong and a very happy healthy baby.  She started eating baby food this week.  She loved the rice cereal and pears, but sometimes she would just rather have a bottle.

On October 14th Laina was blessed by John.  It was a beautiful blessing!  I'm so grateful that he holds the priesthood and is able to bless our family with it.  She was so good during the blessing and slept thru the rest of sacrament.

Here are a bunch of pictures we took up Hobble Creek Canyon later that day.

For Halloween Laina was a cheetah.  We went to my parents house and to John's parents house.  At my parents house all the kids had fun showing off their costumes and eating yummy goodies.

I made some pistachio pudding but called it troll boogers.  The kids thought it was grosh and cool!  They ate it right up!

When the leaves started changing and before it got cold we went up Hobble Creek Canyon and took some family pictures.  Me and John had a lot of fun taking turns taking pictures.

This would be a super cute picture if my hair wasn't retarded..  Laina looks so cute!

I am so grateful to have such a wonderful and beautiful family!  Sometimes I think to myself how did I ever live without them!

C-Section

Since Laina was born I have struggled that I missed out on labor and that experience and with the idea that I will probably have to have a c-section every time now.  I have felt like people thought I was giving up and just taking the easy route.  Actually I have gotten that impression from people, not everyone.  I think that’s part of why I felt like I wasn’t doing my part as a woman and a good mother.  Because of societies view on child birth.  If I would have had a choice things would have gone differently.  I was talking to one of my friends the other day about just this very thing.  She is pregnant as well and her birth plan is very different from mine, but she is still very understanding of my choices even before it came down to c-section.  She sent me to someone’s blog to read what this woman wrote about c-sections and she put it in a better perspective for me.  After reading it I feel better.  I was being a good mother and woman.  And it’s not the easy route.  It definitely wasn’t easy for me to make that decision.  I remember as they laid me back on the operating table and tied my arms down like on a cross I thought of Christ and his courage he had to lay his life down for me.  And so I had to have so much courage to make that decision and I would do it again and again!  Because I love my baby!

Here is the link to the blog.

http://avital.blogspot.com/2011/01/cesarean-courage.html?m=1