Life with a baby

Life with a baby is different, thats for sure! We would not change it for anything. Maylee is such a blessing and so darn sweet, we just love her so much! We are adjusting and getting the hang of things now... I think. We have not really gone and done much in the past 2 months but we have absolutely loved being at home with Maylee. A few of my thoughts about parenthood.....

*The first month was way harder than the second month

*Until she is a little older we get to have date night at home, with all 3 of us! AWESOME!

*If you want to go anywhere plan for an extra hour or so just to get ready and get out the door.

* Also, if you want to go anywhere plan on taking a million extra things. Who would have thought a baby needs so much "stuff"

*So much time and effort is put into something so small!

*She seriously gets more beautiful every single day!

*I have a lot more thoughts, but I will save those for another time. Now the past 8 weeks in pictures. ENJOY!

Our little family

Maylee after her bath (she looks like an alien baby)

Sporting her ISU colors

1 month old already!

A ladybug dress for our Maylee bug

Starting to really interact with her toys

LOVES her swing

Maylee still sleeps in our room in her bassinet but she naps in her crib!

Blessing day with cousin Morgann

Beautiful girl

2 months old!!!

Stylish :)

Starting to give BIG smiles!

Little Miss Maylee

Friday, January 7th came and went.... No baby.

Saturday, January 8th came and went.... No baby.

Same story Sunday and Monday.

Monday the 10th I had a Dr. appointment and at that time, He gave us the option of inducing. We were anxious for her to arrive and I felt like my body was ready. So Tuesday, January 11th at 4:00 am, we called the hospital like were were supposed to. They said, Sorry! We are not ready for you, we will call you back. So FINALLY at 10:15 they called back and said come on up! We were so nervous but excited. By the time we got to the hospital, got checked in, and they started my IV it was 11:45 am. So, that was it... labor was started and we didn't know what to expect really. Yeah we took a birthing class, but those mothers shown in the videos are SO dramatic and intense! This was totally different. The nurse told us since I was a first time mom, and I was being induced, we would be AT LEAST 12 hours, but could be a lot more. Well, I guess I did pretty good to have her at 8:45 pm! 9 hours....Take that nurse! Anyway, the point of this is to introduce our sweet little girl!!

MAYLEE ERIS GIRAUD

1-11-11~8.0 lbs~20 inches~8:45pm

We kinda like her! Being a mom is hard but so amazing! I LOVE it so much and couldn't do it without a great husband like Tobin!

Are we there yet?

Are we there yet?! I feel like a little kid... I am ready for January to be here, but then again I don't want to miss out on all of the excitement along the way. I really am excited for the next few weeks. Tobin has finals the next few days, then all of our siblings will be here for Christmas! There are always so many good times had during the few weeks of "Christmas Break" that I don't want to miss out on this year, but like I said... I am ready for January.

Whenever I ask a pregnant friend "How are you doing?" It seems I always get a 30 minute answer of how miserable and uncomfortable they are, and how much pain they are in and yada yada yada.... Then, I regret ever asking. Not that I don't care but.... seriously. So, I have really tried to not complain TOO much to anyone, even my loving husband. Well, I am going to take just a minute and complain....

Tobin told me a few weeks ago (in a loving way of course) that it seems like I had doubled in size over night! And let me tell ya, I sure feel like it! People have said to me several times "Oh that last month is not fun." And I really am seeing what they mean. Its hard to sit, its hard to stand, its especially hard to sleep. I can handle it though, about 3 1/2 weeks to go... It will be worth it I am sure! Ok, thats my 30 minute answer of complaining. SORRY!

A few more pictures....

32 weeks

35.5 weeks

Oh I almost forgot, a few pictures from my baby shower! Thank you to everyone who came and helped, we had so much fun and we got very spoiled!

What would we do without moms?

This is always such a busy time of year for my Mom. She grows a wonderful garden, then does TONS of home canning! I remember always helping mom when we were younger during canning season. Since we have been married, Tobin and I have also done a garden. We have loved having fresh food and being able to do some canning too! I just want to say THANK YOU to my Mom who has helped me to learn so many valuable things. Our pantry and freezer are stocked full of yummy stuff. Here is what we have done this year....

Pepper Jelly

Jalapeños

Salsa

Spaghetti sauce

Pears

Peaches

Apple pie filling

Applesauce

Applebutter

We have also dried some pears (one of my favorite) and froze beans, carrots, corn, strawberry jam, raspberry jam and strawberries!! After all the hard work, I realize it is SO worth the time and effort. I know what we are eating is from your own garden and not all the processed crap! We will be so glad to have all of this food, especially when we have a little one to feed too.

THANKS MOM!! YOU ARE THE BEST!

Gettin bigger!

This is not that exciting of a post, but just a few belly pictures. None of them are very good ones, but its all I have. I will update more about the "baby stuff" when I have time..... someday. I feel like I am getting pretty darn big. Some people tell me I don't even look pregnant (I think that has to do with what I am wearing at the time) And some people who are pregnant and due around the same time seem WAY smaller.... Just goes to show how different everyone is!

18 weeks

21 weeks

24.5 weeks

26.5 weeks

Well, thats all for now...

I am just over 27 weeks and will get more belly pictures as the weeks go on.

Baby Girl

We are having a girl!! What an amazing thing to see our baby girl at the ultrasound appointment last week! We had such a good experience and are so excited to welcome her into this world sometime around January 7th! I am half way there!! (Just about 21 weeks)

We have started getting really excited about buying cute pink things and have a good start already. I have got several things from family and yard sales although its still early, we are getting it while its available! I dont think many people do yard sales in the snow! I have told Tobin several times that there are some things I WILL buy new, although it may cost lots of $$, its our first and she WILL be spoiled, a little! I am a little bit obsessive compulsive when it comes to looking at cribs, car seats, strollers etc... and comparing, and reading reviews and such. But I have some I LOVE! We will wait a little while to get them though!

Summer Adventures of 2010

A lot has happened since my last post in April! I will sum it all up with a crap load of pictures!

It all seems like such old news but I will still post it all.

APRIL:

I graduated from Institute

After months of debating, I decided to finally CHOP my hair to donate.

Before

About 14 inches later.....

Women's Conference at BYU with

Aunt Juanita, Mom, Chelsie, Grandma, and Aunt Crystal

We bought a 2nd car! After 1 1/2 years with just one car,

it has been AMAZING! 2002 Nissan Altima

Tobin found a full time job for the summer at Carquest.

He will be able to work part time when school starts too.

Not the dream job, but we are very grateful!

MAY:

Welp, we found out we are having one of these... a BABY!!

JUNE:

We were able to go to NYC for a week and visit Brandon and Becky!

We did SO many awesome things, like go to Mary Poppins...

Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge...

See the beautiful skyline of Manhattan...

Go to Ellis Island...

And Liberty Island...

We got to enjoy the East River...

Even see the Rockefeller Plaza!

We got to "see"/"get stuck in" Central Park, in the rain... for SEVERAL hours

But hey, we all needed a shower...

A few weeks after we went to NYC Brandon, Becky and Caden

all came to Idaho! We had a great time visiting with them.

JULY: Well, Tobin and I both had older digital cameras. They both broke and it was seriously within a few days of each other. So we don't have ANY pictures from July. SO SAD! We had a great 4th of July in Inkom. We also had a wonderful bbq with TONS of friends. And we got to go camping with some of our friends. What a fun month, too bad about the camera situation...

Luckily I thought "Oh! Chelsie and Keith have an old camera." DUH! Why did I not think of that sooner? Oh well, they were kind enough to lend it to us, so now we have a few more pictures!

AUGUST:

WELCOME HOME ELDER MENNEAR!

Home from El Salvador and lookin sharp!

We thought it would be awesome to welcome Wesley home

to the real world, so Tobin grew out his hair and beard.

He looks like a mountain man, but it all came off the next day!

And last.... I am starting to get big! I don't just feel

fat anymore. I am starting to look pregnant and not chubby.

18 weeks! We find out next week if its a boy or girl~ SO EXCITED!