Loa Jean Ruchti Petrell Brewer

Today has been a wonderful day!  Woke up to my little girls "goo goo gaa gaa" -ing, fed her breakfast, started watching "Gnomeo and Juliet" (super cute from what I saw), made Michael breakfast in bed, and finished the day just hanging out the three of us!  As I sat here next to Michael, I started remembering this time last year...

It was October 16th, 2010- my little brother Lucs birthday.  He was turning 12!  I was 5 months pregnant, and went to his birthday party at the karate studio...  Our Granny wasnt doing well at all, had had a bad fall, and a little stay at the hospital.  She was then living at my parents house, had refused any of her medication, and had made the decision to "let nature take its course".  At Lucs birthday party my mom asked me to go to the house and take over a shift of watching Granny.  She was barely even there...  mostly was just staring off in another world.  I got to the house and took over for the Relief Society Pres. Sister Dotson.  The three of us were in that room together, and boy could you feel the spirit.  I was standing next to Grannys bed talking to Sis. Dotson, and Granny shot up from laying down, grabbed my pregnant tummy, and smiled so big!  She gave a sort of laugh like in awe.  And then, just as quick as it came, it left and she laid back down.  She was the most stubborn lady I've ever met!  She was such a trooper!  She stayed as long as she could, in my opinion, so she didnt ruin Lucs birthday.  She died Sunday morning, while everyone was sleeping.  I miss her so much.  I miss her crazyness, her energy, the way she moaned after every bite of her taco bell tacos.  I am so sad I wasn't able to see her with my daughter.  I wish I could hear her laugh again, not only in my thoughts.  But I know I will someday-  Till we meet again Granny!  I Love You!

Making mistakes

A "friend" told me some really awful things earlier this week...

*You're raising a brat
*We all love her now, we'll all hate her later
*You're raising a child that no one will want to watch, even if you pay them
*Well atleast she has your mother watching her while you are working... she'll "right" the "wrongs" you teach her.
*You need to discipline your 6 month old.
*You're the problem.

Gosh... I can't, or rather- I don't WANT to remember what else she said. I was in shock when she said these things to me... I kept it together and when she left I just broke down crying. I have never been questioned on my parenting. I know I'm not perfect... I'M NEW AT THIS. But I know that I am the best MOM for Elayna. And I know she LOVES me. I ofcourse have been trying to pass it all off with a joke, a laugh, and a smile... but it's been eating away at me. I've been questioning myself, am I spoiling her? Am I screwing everything up???

But I have decided just a few minutes ago, to just let it go. Holding onto these thoughts are stunting me... they're keeping me from progressing. They dont help me be the Mom I want to be, they keep me afraid of making the normal mistakes. I'm going to make mistakes. But that doesnt take away from the great parent that I already am... It actually will make me a better parent through the experience of it. So to that "friend"... Thanks for the help on learning which opinions matter, and which do not...

I love my family! I don't know where I'd be without my awesome husband Michael and our amazing and independent daughter Elayna!! I can't wait for all the mistakes I'll make in life, and the lessons I'll learn from them!!

LOVE TO YOU.

Elayna Moiraine is 6 months!!

Our little girl turned 6 months on September 9th!!  Here are a few of her awesome 6 month photos done by Cuppa T Photography!

We LOVE you Elayna Moiraine Vera!

both my sweeties are napping....

So time for me to get some stuff done right? 

Today our little girl is 6 months old.  Everything has been flying through my head all day.  How excited we were getting to the hospital, how freaked out I was when my water broke, how painful the contractions were, how sweet my husband was being to me, how scared I was going into the operating room, how perfect her first cry was, our first "silent conversation through eye contact" as parents, the first hour being parents...  So many wonderful memories in a day...

every single day since then has been even more filled with coo-ing, giggles, jibber-jabber, smiles, hugs, naps, playtime, and it just keeps getting better.

Today Elayna woke up sick, coughing, not wanting anything, and not being happy with nothing.  We think she's cutting teeth right now, but we'll see.  Even though she hasnt been feeling well, I'm so thankful to be able to take a sick day and be with her all day on her 6 month birthday.  I'm such a blessed wife and mommy!

Here are a few pictures of Elayna on her 6 Months!

 LOL!!!  I just realized I had her wearing a "My 1st Valentine's Day" Bib...  hey... it was free.  :)  Thank goodness for wonderful family and "hand-me-downs".  :)  We are blessed!!!!

Squeaky Clean!

There are always milestones in a relationship...

Becoming official boyfriend/girlfriend, first kiss, 

the proposal, wedding day, moving into your first place, 

finding out your pregnant, having a child, etc...

Our family had a milestone this month.

Michael decided to take the missionary discussions, 

and was baptized into the church.

What an amazing day it was!

I am so thankful for a husband who is willing to change

for the better of our family.

He is such an example to me, and to our daughter.

I am so in love with you Michael, and I can't wait to be sealed to you. 

Me, Michael, Elayna, E. Spurlin, E. Booher, & E. Kane

Saturday, August 20th, 2011

A year or so later...

Well... What a year it has been! Michael and I found out late June 2010 that we were expecting a baby.

Pregnancy, holidays, moving, ETC.

We sold and packed up everything we had, ready to move across the country to Chicago, IL. (Where Michael's family is from) All the job leads Michael had fell through, which helped us both realize Chicago just wasn't for us. Michael came back to St George a month before we had our sweet baby girl.

Elayna Moiraine Vera was born March 9th, 2011. Our birthplan was to tough it out and go all natural. Boy were we wrong! After 17 1/2 hours laboring, (12 of which were unmedicated) the Dr told us we were headed for cesarean. Elayna was 7lb 15oz and 21 3/4 inches long. We are so blessed and happy with her!

Everyday with her is the best day of my life! Her giggles, snuggles and smiles keep me going. She's almost 6 months and is sitting up like a pro! She loves to giggle at her daddy, swim, snuggling with her bedtime bear, and to watch Cat in the Hat and Spongebob Squarepants!

I'll write soon... or maybe this will be just an annual thing. who knows?

-Shiv