Well, we have no pictures, but why not update??? Things have been much better here in the city that never sleeps since my last minute surprise trip home to Utah. Bryce is pretty burnt out on school and is doing all he can to just keep on trucking through until school is out. I can really tell he's burnt out because he has been spending alot more time with us and it's not because he has less home work.
We took the kids to see Monsters VS. Aliens last week and they baby did great. Averie kept asking when Monsters inc. was coming on so I think they need to rename the movie cause that is confusing for kids. She did like it though.
I was having a really hard time with Averie last week and was feeling so guilty cause I was thinking about giving her up for adoption (don't tell Bryce I said that, he got REALLY mad at me when I said it to him). Kidding of course but all kidding aside I was truly worried Averie was developing a serious hearing problem. She would say what to me like 5 times in a row every time I would talk to her and was watching the TV on full blast for like a week and a 1/2. She has been one grumpy little girl. I finally took her to the Dr. and she had a double ear infection. One side he said was really bad and covered in puss. The Dr. also said they don't like to treat infections with antibiotics after 2 yrs old. She has also had a cold now for about 2 months which drives me insane about NY cause Averie has been sick so much since we got here. She never even had a fever before we came. I went to the Vitamin Shop and loaded up on vitamins,probiotics, ecchinica and ear drops for her and she is feeling much better already, although she never complained of pain or feeling sick, her attitude shows how much better she feels. I feel really bad that I didn't know she was as sick as she was because she has never been sick and was acting fine besides the attitude. I thought she was just going through the terrible threes, but I guess it was just a terrible cold and ear infection. The day after I took her to the Dr. I noticed there was drainage all over her blanket on her bed. She never sleeps on her pillow or I may have noticed it sooner. Anyway, she's doing good and back to her old self. I just hope when the ear infection clears up all the way she starts talking and singing a little quieter cause man she's one loud little girl.
Pierson has reflux and is doing much better since I implemented the new plan of keeping him at a 30 degree angle after feedings. He still likes to wake up at random times when he should be sleeping but he's been giggling a little so I will forgive him. He is such a little guy. He has the cutest little tiny chicken legs. The biggest brown eyes and the sweetest sad scowl you ever did see.
As for me I have been trying to keep up with life. I am still realized that with each child I gain, I loose more of myself. I have to make a serious mental readjustment priority wise and realize I can't do many of the things I have enjoyed in the past years. It takes alot of focus on my part each day to remind myself my job in life right now is to BE A MOM and a good wife. Making Bryce happy makes me happy and the kids happy, & when the house is clean Bryce is happy, and when Daddy's happy, everyone is happy. I know that's not how the saying goes, but around our house, it's legit. A really clean house has never really been a priority of mine. But I am trying to change that and it actually feels pretty good.
It has been getting warmer which makes me a new woman. Parks and the sun bring out a long lost smile to my day and a sunny headache that does a woman good. I am getting so excited to pack up all the boots and coats, the gloves and scarves are already packed away. I got really sad the other night when I thought about leaving our apartment and the things I have come to love about the city. I will really miss all the new food we have come to love and the strange groceries you can get at any store. I will miss having to walk every where I go and all my wonderful friends we have made. I have recently gotten better at reaching out and talking to strangers which I have always hated doing and so I will miss the way NY has brought me out of my circle of comfort in life.
We are still in the dark about where we will be in the months to come. Plan A: go where ever Bryce gets a job offer. Plan B: move in with mom and dad until Bryce gets a job. We have come to accept that whatever happens will be fine and end up where we are supposed to be.
I am counting down the days to getting my husband back and sleeping somewhere a little more quiet with a little less smells. We are certainly excited for all our company to visit us, finishing out some fun last minute sight seeing, a trip to Palmyra, hopefully we will make it to Mexico and then possibly losing my husband again to working a 12 hour day. That's about all I know of the next 2 months of my life but I've become quite immune to no notice, no planning and last minute life changes. We are always so blessed I can't complain about short notice.
We sure will miss it here but we are sure excited to leave. I'll keep you all updated!!!!!

SOOO BIG!

My Babies are getting so big. My infant is no longer my tiny one. But he sure does have the Wilson Scowl. What a sweet boy!

Well we are finally settling in and figuring out how to work things with 2 kids. Going out is still a chore but we're doing well. Pierson is sleeping through the night from about 11pm - 7or8am. He cluster feeds in the evening and is a great sleeper. He hardly cries anymore except when getting lotioned, bathed, changed or naked. Other wise a very happy baby, smiling and cooing like a champ. Averie has gotten over most of her tantrum issues (coerced by mini marshmallow bribes). She is such a good helper and can even pick Pierson up by herself (kind of) and helps with so much. She can calm him down as good as I can and better than even Dad. She is getting to really love school and has a new best friend Izzy (or Isadora). Finally another girl to play with. Her parents are both actors and her dad in the film program. She wants to play with her everyday after school. She is going to bed much better now as well and has turned her every response from NO to K. Averie named her dolls the funniest names in the world, but they sure are cute. She got Jillabryce for Christmas and BaJessa for her birthday. She keeps herself busy much more now playing pretend preschool, bossing the kids around and she talks non stop all day long. Gotta love it.
Bryce is getting a little more used to the idea that he may not end up with having the best job in the world as that seems to be the way the cookie might crumble. But he's still trucking on and won't be defeated. He works his tail off for good grades, which don't really matter when finding a job, but he's determined to learn and retain all in his classes.
As for me I'm on a mission to remind myself that I have nothing more important to be doing right now in life than being a mom, my email, naps, TV, face book, and blog can wait. My kids can't and it's been the real learning lesson right now. I think that nursing a baby teaches a mother patience in general as you give hours of your day to a baby just sitting on your can while they nurse away. I am almost done reading the Book of Mormon for the first time ever (shh don't tell)and have set a goal to replace my afternoon escape with The Day's of our Lives to reading the Ensign which I have never done. I'm not making any promises, but It's a goal and I'll reach it someday. Bryce and I are both free from a calling and enjoying it for the time. It's nice to go to Gospel Doctrine again and Relief Society, that is when I'm not in the mothers room.
Still no knowledge of where life will take us in the next 4 month, but Faith and Long suffering will only tell. I just hope it's not here in the stinky city. I told Bryce I would stay if I have to but I get at least a free month of crying and whining about it. We miss everybody and are excited to go on a Graduation vacation!!!!!
Don't Miss the Slide show below with some new pictures and some of the birth and Christmas!

Here is my precious baby boy!

Well until I get my other pictures , here is one of Pierson at the hospital that my doula took on her phone. I have to say, he is one handsome little boy. Bryce says he's "perfectly proportioned".

Here is a cute picture of Averie and the Gingerbread House we made for Christmas! She placed almost all the candy on it. Didn't she do a good job!

HE'S HERE!

Well Holy Cow. I never ever in a million years would have thought that Pierson Andrew would have made such an early appearance. Especially on his Daddy's birthday. Bryce had been back in NY for finals. We flew in together for Thanksgiving and I stayed and he went back for 2 weeks to finish his classes. My due date was the 30th and he was due back on the 12th so we had plenty of time.....RIGHT? So the day he got back we went to a party at his brother Andy's house and we did some line dancing.....maybe helped out with some dilation. The next day, Saturday the 13th we had a bowling party at Fat Cats for our birthdays, mine was on the 8th and his the 14th. I only bowled a couple times, Averie took most of my turns but I was running around getting Pizza cake and drinks for everyone. Not to mention I woke up at 7am to make a batch of cupcakes, a cake and a gigantic salad to be at the bowling alley by 10:30. We left fat cats and headed straight to the Marriott in SLC (a surprise for Bryce's birthday). It was snowing on and off all night, we went to a movie at 3:40 at the Gateway, went and walked around temple square, slowly but surely, then went and had sushi (of course no raw fish for the pregnant one) at Happy Sumo. Then at 8:30 we were back at the hotel sitting in the Hot Tub with lots of Kids splashing us and lots of stares wondering why such a huge pregnant woman was sitting in the hot tub. Not the most romantic part of the evening. I woke up at about 2 with some contractions, then 3, then 4, not thinking much of it until I had some other signs of labor (if you care to know diarrhea and loss of some mucous). I woke up Bryce about 4:30 and told him I thought I might be starting Labor and I thought should get up and drive home because I didn't have my bag packed for the hospital, I didn't have any of my Hypnobabies books with me (the hypnosis program I did to prepare for my natural birth)I didn't have my birthing ball to labor on, nothing comfortable to wear, SO UNPREPARED TO BE IN LABOR and so scared I wasn't going to be able to keep myself hypnosis under control in the hotel. I called my doula and she told me to take a bath and see if it eased some the labor I was having in my back and she told me to go eat breakfast. SO I obeyed and they didn't ease up in the bath and they were getting to be more like 4 minutes apart instead of 5. They weren't unbearable so I just kept feeling like we had time to go home but I called my mom and had her pack some things up for me and had Bryce's mom go get Averie from her so she could come to the hospital if she needed to. My doula said she would come meet us at the hotel since it was snowing and we didn't want to drive back to Kaysville in the snow. I guess I should mention I was planning to have the baby at the IMC hospital in Murray so that's why we didn't want to drive to Kaysville because we were already so close to the hospital. Well we headed down to breakfast bar at about 6:45 and I couldn't really eat as my contractions were pretty apparent and getting to be about 3 minutes apart. We headed back up to the room and I layed in bed listening to my hypnosis tracks while Bryce called the doula my mom and the Midwives to make final plans. He was on the phone calling everyone all while I was making him put firm pressure on my hips so I could lift up on my belly (a technique I learned to ease back labor). Men are not the best at multitasking so it was difficult for him but necessary for me to survive. He later told me he didn't even really think I was in labor and he thought I was just sleeping, little did he know I was on the verge of loosing it at any second. But thanks to my hypnosis tracks I was able to remain relaxed and let my body do the work. I got up to use the bathroom and sitting isn't a good position to be in while having a contraction. I gave out a little yelp and Bryce said "Get up, WE ARE GOING TO THE HOSPITAL!" It was a rough drive but I was relaxed and made it to the hospital, when I got there my doula was waiting for me at the doors and I had to stop and hug her, go limp and had about 4 contractions in a row with no break at the nurses station before going into a room. That's when everyone knew it was for real, (everyone else that is, I had known since about 4am). So I got back to the room and they asked me to give a urine sample and get into a gown. I sat down on the toilet and got a cup and crinkled it up and threw it on the ground. The toilet is not a good place to be while trying to be in hypnosis and not conducive to relaxing during a contraction. The nurse said never mind, you don't HAVE to give a urine. So I ripped off my clothes, put on a gown and laid down on the bed flat on my back and didn't move again. The nurse checked me right away and I thought to myself, if she tells me I'm only 5 cm. dilated I just might quit right now. Well she said you are 8 cm and I thought Okay, I can do this for maybe another hour. The midwife walked in a couple minutes later and she checked me and said....You are a nine and I can push back your cervix all the way so with the next contraction or two you may want to start pushing. I then thought PUSH, what I just BARELY GOT HERE AND JUST LAID DOWN. Sure enough the next contraction I got the most intense feeling I have ever felt in my life and with a ho heave ho and a lusty yell I pushed with all my might. I have been asked, how did it feel? I cannot even begin to describe the innate and automatic feeling that comes with pushing a baby out. I asked Bryce what he thought it was like watching me when I first started pushing. He made a great comparison. It may sound weird but he said it was like watching someone throwing up violently where the urge is uncontrollable. I had to agree, but it it of course didn't feel like throwing up, it's just a good comparison to the uncontrollable nature of the desire to push. After about 3 pushes she said she could see the head and it was almost through my pelvis bones and if I gave this a good push then I would almost be home free so I pushed him through the bone. Then she said I could get him to crown with the next push, which he did. So when having a baby naturally they tell you when the baby crowns you will feel what they call " THE RING OF FIRE" which it somewhat did, but not as terrible as it sounds. It did burn somewhat but they tell you not to be scared and hold back because that feeling may make you reluctant to push, but you need to push through it and it will feel much better to push then it's pretty much over. So I pushed again and out he came at 10:37 am after a few short hours of what I would deem completely bearable labor. Let me quote my dear friend Natalie though who also just had a natural birth...."Please don't tell me I am LUCKY" or that "I had an easy labor." Trust me that wasn't the case. The 2 contraction that I mentally let go of my hypnosis and gave into the pain were what others would call unbearable, but through out my intense preparation for this birth I learned how powerful the mind is and because I was able to relax and let my body do it's thing is why I believe he came in good time. Thank you Hypnobabies. I highly recommend the program.
Well they put my baby on my chest and he felt like he was about 2,000 degree's. He lifted his head up and looked right into my eyes and it was so amazing that he just wanted to meet his mommy and take a good look. After about 5 minutes and a little contraction I delivered the placenta. I had two tiny tears on the side which took about 4 quick stitches and I was good to go. The nursery didn't even come in to maul my baby(via my request) Bryce and I cleaned him off ourselves and he stayed with us for the first 2 hours. They didn't even weight him for about a half hour. He weighed in at 6lbs 12 oz., a tiny little fellow and was 20 1/2 inches long. I nursed him in the delivery room then I got up out of bed by myself, went to the bathroom and they wheeled me and my baby up to post partum. They even came in our room to give him a bath and he didn't leave the room again. It was such a great experience. For anyone considering a V-bac, throw your fears out the window and give it a go. It went great as a normal pregnancy and delivery should. And may I say that the midwife that delivered my baby from IMC Midwives, Angel Murdock was AMAZING. She was truly an angel and she's only a year older than me.
We do have some pictures but I'm waiting to get the CD and we got some more done today so stay tuned for pictures of the tiny squirt to come.
I do have to say one thing about having a natural delivery. It is fabulous and all, and the recovery MUCH EASIER THAN ANY OTHER WAY, but.......Everyone thinks you are FINE the second you get home from the hospital. I think my husband was fooled by going to the hotel one day and sitting in the Hot tub, and coming home the next day with a baby. Even though it's an EASIER RECOVERY, there is still a recovery. I still felt very tired, my body was weak and sore and hormones, well lets just leave it at that. Not to mention raw nipples. Put that all together and there is still some time needed to just LOUNGE with out any other responsibility. I have to say the hardest part has been that no one will cut me a little slack. I might have had what seems to be quick and easy labor, but it still took A LOT of work and my body is still recovering. That's my only gripe of the week. Otherwise, my baby is wonderful, has a great set of lungs, eats fast and well, and sleeps a lot. I am one HAPPY NEW MOTHER!!

More Visitors! YEAH! Tanner & Emily

Tanner and Emily (my brother and sister in law) came out this weekend for a little visit. We had a BLAST of course. We always love having company. Especially Averie, she Love's seeing her aunts and uncles. I think Averie has a crush on Tanner. She was kissing him on the lips all day on Sunday and was holding them for a little too long! As you can see in the hilarious pictures. we didn't do a lot (I promise I tried to be a good hostess) but Tanner and Emily just wanted to chill and hang out which was fine with me and still plenty of fun. We mostly went out to eat A LOT! We almost completely FROZE but I'm sure they have thawed out by now in the warm land of Arizona. We got to watch part of the BYU - U game at The ESPN Zone, went shopping and got some fabulous purses and H&M gear, and they came to listen to Elder Holland speak with us. We had a surprise Stake Conference (after we already had stake conference 2 weeks ago) with Elder Holland who gave a FABULOUS talk how NOW is the time to stay closest to the Lord & gospel when times will be hard and are only going to get harder. Thanks for coming to stay with us Tanner and Emily. It was fun to hang out with the only other "STUDENTS" in the family. See you Soon!

DAMN PESKY VERMIN!

This is #4. I should feel grateful, I have friends here who catch one a night. But the first year we were here we had NOTHING. Since we've been back from the summer we've had a large cockroach, a small one, a centipede (Thanks Tara Kerr, I told you I would have a run in with one as soon as I read your post, and sure enough, 5 days later) and now our 4th mouse. They're not a problem like I've heard in other buildings but I'm sure sick of them. And why do they always come out when I'm on the computer. Every time I spot one it's mid morning and I'm on the computuer and I catch it running from under the stove in the kitchen to behind the bookshelf out of the corner of my eye. So the traps at night haven't been working. I realized if I turn out all the lights while I take a nap in the afternoon while Averie is sleeping they sneak out and I wake up to squeaking. The glue traps are really a weird invention and I can't believe they expect you to kill the mouse after he gets stuck on it. Needless to say, Bryce is never around when the little sucker shows his face so I have to go plead with the doorman or superintedant to come and rid of my friend. Well hopefully after we come back from Christmas break with the baby, we'll only have about 5 months left in this dirty city, cross your fingers.