The Fifth Month

Oh my five month old. Where would I be without her? Seriously though. This little lady has changed my life in so many ways - definitely for the better. And, while I'm being honest, being a mom is fo sho the best thing E V E R. Phew. Glad to get that confession off my chest. ;)

PICTURES!

We have started off our journey into this post with finger-chomping pictures & a flowersuit. Finger-chomping is one of Hannalyn's favorite activities. Her flowersuit was not one of her favorite outfits. She only wore it a couple of times because she was too big! Bummer for me, but she didn't mind. She is still in 0-3 month clothes... I'm contemplating changing them out and getting out the 3-6 month clothes... I haven't decided yet. Right now she fits so perfectly in the 0-3s that putting her in the slightly too big 3-6s seems silly. But I'm really excited for the move up cuz I'm a girl and want new clothes for her to wear, so.... (hows that for lots of ellipses...?)

Hannalyn weighed in at 13.6 pounds on the 25th during our appointment at Primary Children's. Yay! Still growing at least a pound a month. She's getting heavier. I love it. She lost the long black hairs on top of her head while we were in Texas, but it's growing back. It feels like we buzzed the top of her head. She still has long bangs & long hair in the back. People have told me to buzz her head to make it all the same length, but I love the long hairs.

We are very grateful that Hannalyn sleeps through the night. If she does wake up a little, I just readjust her blanket and she goes right back to sleep. She is still sleeping in our room, but I think come May (and hopefully some warmer weather) we are moving her to her crib. I love having her close. It's so much fun to wake up to her babbling and have her give me the biggest smile when I get her out of her bed. I've become more of a morning person because of this girl than I've ever been in my life. I love it!

 *sigh* Time goes so quickly, doesn't it? I mean... I was looking at the pictures in Hannalyn's one-month collage and she is so much bigger and more interactive than she was. Sometimes I miss it, but she still cuddles well & I love her personality, her laugh, that she sits up, rolls from back to front, and is such a good-humored little child. My mom can get her to laugh better than anyone (except maybe me) and she loves hanging out with my dad. Daniel is probably her favorite person. When he is around she has eyes only for him. It is tender to my heart.

We love you, sweet girly. Stay strong & happy. We are so grateful for the blessing you are in our lives.
Thanks for choosing us.
5 months! HUZZAH! :)

Wonderful Weekend

 What a marvelous time we had on our adventure this weekend. It was a grandiose time of happiness & joy.

We left Vernal on Friday morning & drove out to Salt Lake City. We stopped in Heber on the way to eat lunch & Hannalyn experienced a MAJOR blow-out. It was ... disgusting. That's all. We got to Primary Children's about 15 minutes before our appointment & settled in for a very long wait (last time we  went, the doctor was 30 minutes behind schedule). We were pleasantly surprised when we got called to our waiting room a couple minutes early and the doctor came in right on time. We were even more pleasantly surprised when after only 10 minutes of visiting, listening to breathing, looking in ears, and visiting some more, we were told we were cleared to go! The doctor says Hannalyn sounds great, looks great, and if there is any lingering laryngomalacia, she will grow out of it.

We asked if laryngomalacia is something that is commonly seen in siblings and if it's something that we should have looked at quickly with our future children. The doctor said it is not. He said things like tonsilitis or needing ear tubes - those are frequently seen with siblings. But not so much with laryngomalacia. Maybe if we have lots of kids we will have one or two, but the chances are slim. That made us feel SO GOOD. Especially me. I was worried.

Anyway. After the doctor appointment went so amazingly well (and fast), we decided that we had time to quickly drop in on Daniel's grandma. We had a fun chat with her before driving to Draper to have dinner with and spend the night at my grandparent's house. The next morning, we ran an errand in Orem, got doughnuts from Provo Bakery, and got to see some friends from our time spent at BYU. It was fantastic to see the Hanbys and the Larsens. We got to talk with them and catch up. It's been a while and we had a blast. We are so so grateful for the friends we've had, and that we are still friends, and that we realize how much we miss them because they are SO awesome!

Plus. We learned that Hannalyn loves other babies. Or, at least, she loved looking at the Larsen's baby, so... It was good stuff. :)

THEN! We got to go to lunch with my once upon a time roommates Winona & Aimee at the fabulous Macaroni Grill. (Their bread is my FAVORITE!) It was amazing to have Italian for the first time in ages cuz Vernal has no Italian places. Lots of everything else, but no Italian. And after we stuffed ourselves full of awesome-ness, we drove home in rain rain rain rain and some hail. Woot.

Weekend = Wonderful. Check. The end. Huzzah.
And now a Happy Monday to you & yours.
xo

Teaching

I have never once regretted changing my major from Music Dance Theatre to Education. Sure, I was really sad that I didn't get to do more theatre activities while I was at BYU, but that was missing doing things I loved not regret.

Recently, I've realized how grateful I am that I made the switch. For example:
     + I got asked to substitute for the primary chorister a couple of weeks ago. I walked in with nothing prepared because I'd been given no information from the chorister about what the kids were doing. Also, it was a last minute phone call (8:40 am when church started at 9). So I walked in, got an activity board from the primary president, and tried to remember all the songs I could. But the moment I was most grateful for all the classes I took and my education was when I stood in front of the senior primary and saw the challenge in the 11-year old boys eyes. I instantly did a quick mental rewind of all my management strategies, took a deep breath, and we sang some songs. I thought it went pretty well.
      + I have started teaching piano & voice lessons. We bought a used piano. It's not perfect, and we have dreams of a really nice one someday. But it's great for now & I love having it. Anyway. Because we got the piano, we also decided it was time for me to start teaching lessons. I only teach for an hour or two three days during the week, but I love it. My students are fun and very full of personality. I have 6 piano students, 1 voice student, and one student who does both piano & voice. Becoming a teacher again, I have had to remember the things I learned in school. Not because I'm teaching a whole classroom, but because working one-on-one with students is sometimes hard & I have to be creative to come up with different ways to explain a concept.
      + Hannalyn is getting bigger. I am not sure that I am 'teaching' her anything yet, except maybe how to roll & sit up & laugh ... But. I am aware of the responsibility that is upon myself & Daniel to teach Hannalyn about the Gospel & about life & love & happiness. It's something that I think about often and hope that I will be able to do well.

I love teaching. I am so grateful that I have had the teachers I've had in my life that have taught me how to live a full and happy life, because that is what I want to do and help others around me do!

Her Eyes

Hannalyn has the most fascinating eyes. Dark dark dark blue.

Daniel's favorite part is the 'keyhole' thing that is happening. Do you see it? That darker stripe below her pupil? Makes it look kind of like a keyhole, right? We are hoping that it stays that way forever. I have never seen something like that before.

Also, I realized on the day I decided to take this picture that Hannalyn's eyes are dark blue - except for a ring of white or very very light blue around the pupil. Reminded me of the book The Host. If you have an alien in your body, you have a ring of white light around your pupil. This picture isn't the greatest, but you sort of get the idea.

Eyes are just incredible, are they not? Truly the "window to the soul".  At least, I've always thought that.

Easter

I love Easter. To me it is a wonderful time of renewal. It is a time when we remember the sacrifice that our Savior made for us and what it means for each of us. I am so grateful for the knowledge I have of the Resurrection & that each of us has the opportunity, if we live worthily, to be with our families for eternity. I can think of no greater blessing.

Also, I love tulips. :) And that's all I can say about that.

Spring!

Look at what we found! Some daffodils are popping up out of the ground! We also found a couple tulips, but didn't get a picture because when I stopped walking to snap this one, Hannalyn got mad that I was exposing her to the wind. So we moved on instead of being all photographer-creative-stuff. But that's ok, because the flowers are still there smiling for all the world to see.

Spring is here!!!

STATS

Just for your information... because I'm sure you wanted to know... (actually, more because I need to document this stuff in more than one place so that I can find it again in the future...)

Hannalyn is a growing girl. At her four-month checkup last week, she was 13 pounds 1 ounce and 23 inches long. She weighs more than twice what she did at PCMC, is almost double her birth weight, and has grown 4 inches in 4 months. Woot! We love our little weed. :)

name-evolution

Isn't it just fascinating how names change and evolve over time? I mean, we are given names at birth that make us unique and then we take upon ourselves the name of Christ and use that as a beacon for guiding our lives. And then as we grow & change & develop, we are given nicknames. Sometimes it's a shortening of our name or it's a reference to something funny we did or do.

This is the most recent picture of the Pearson clan. Taken just three days before Brother P left for his mission with my camera's timer set on the piano in my mom's living room. It's a little off-center, but hey. It's all of us - we're all smiling - and life is good.

But this isn't a post about photography. It's a post about names, so let's get to it!

Daniel is almost always Daniel. On very very very rare occasions I will call him Dan. But more often than that, if it's not Daniel, it is Danny Boy, Danny Boy Jackson, Dan the Man, Dan the Hus-band Man, or some variation of that. And usually those names only come out if I'm trying to make him laugh or ask a favor.

I don't often get called anything but Nashelle. My family calls me Shelly sometimes, and when I was little I was Shelly-belly. In grade school kids thought it was hilarious to call me Nashville (I did not). And some of my aunts and uncles to this day call me Nutshell.

Hannalyn. That girl has SO many nicknames. I have a few favorites that I call her, but then Daniel uses another, and my parents use even different ones. So, this baby is: Hanna-Banana-Lyn, Havanalanalyn, Lyn, Lynners, Lynnie-lou, Monkey, Munchkin, Munchie, Monster, Monster-moo, Bug, and Bug-a-lyn. Plus a few I'm sure I'm forgetting. :)

We don't call her Hanna. Before she was born, I thought I might, but I tried and it just doesn't seem to fit. A couple nurses at PCMC called her Hanna and it didn't bug me at all, but I just don't. My dad called her Hanna once, then got a confused look on his face and said, "Nope. Not Hanna. That's just not you." We talked about it after and decided it was really weird that although the Hanna part of Hannalyn is very important, it just doesn't fit. She is definitely a HannaLYN. And I love it.


How do you feel about nicknames? Do you have a nickname? Do you like or dislike what people call you that is not your name? How do you feel about nicknames for your kids?

Book worm

I LOVE BOOKS. Always have. Books are some of my best friends. In fact, when I was little, I loved walking around and reading at the same time because I felt like Belle from Beauty & the Beast (who, by the way, is my favorite princess). So, because I love books, I thought I would document all my bookcases & the wonderful treasures they hold.

Top three shelves: books books and more books. Some fiction, some mysteries, some religious, and all fantastic.
Bottom two shelves: Non-fiction. Some from school, some because they are interesting. Also, scripts from the shows I have been in.

Our game & puzzle bookcase.

Photo albums & religious books.

Photo albums, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Anne of Green Gables, and some other random favorites.

Classics, music, children's books, and more music. Yay!

We have one more small bookcase that acts as Daniel's nightstand. It holds his church manuals, scriptures, etc.

Yay books!!!

I can never choose

but I think a few of my favorite talks from the weekend were:

THIS ONE (Russell M. Nelson Sat. PM)

THIS ONE (Dieter F. Uchtdorf Sun. AM)

THIS ONE (Jean A. Stephens Sun. AM)

and

THIS ONE ( Thomas S. Monson Sun. AM)

:) Happy Monday! Have a great week!

This weekend...

is one of my favorites during the year. It is a guarantee that the first weekend in April will be stupendous. Why you ask? Because it is General Conference.

I am so excited to join with people all over the globe as we listen to the voice of the Lord's living prophet. I am sure that it will be inspiring and miraculous and just plain wonderful.

 

VIA

I believe that we have inspired leaders on the earth today to teach us and help us progress. Of course, they couldn't do so without the guidance of the Holy Ghost. We also need the Holy Ghost with us so that we can be touched as we listen to the messages that have been prepared for us. I always leave Conference with pages of notes of things that have touched me in different ways and areas that I want to improve. I am sure that this time will be no different.

 

VIA

I haven't been in Vernal for a General Conference in... years. I can't remember if I was here in April of 2010, but since October of 2010 I know for sure that I haven't been. I have gone with Daniel to his family's dinner, thus spending the weekend in Salt Lake and/or Provo. This time, for the first time ever, Daniel & I will be together in Vernal for Conference. I am soooo excited. I love the food & being with my family will be awesome. I am bummed to not be in Salt Lake - I won't get to see several friends, go to a baby shower, or see Daniel's family - but we decided that in March we did SO much traveling that we need a little break. Besides, I know that I can feel the Spirit no matter where I am. And that is the most important thing.

I hope that you will listen to the words of the prophet with me. Either on tv, radio, or by streaming it online from lds.org. You don't have to be a member of the Church to watch. I know that it will be an inspired meeting and if you listen with an open heart, something that someone says will touch you.

Happy weekend!

Saying Goodbye

Last night, my littlest little brother got set apart as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was so incredible & very spiritual. After, my parents & siblings (including Missionary P) climbed into the car and drove straight to Salt Lake City Airport to drop off Missionary P. His flight left at 12:30 AM.

I have had a long time to get used to the idea of my little brother leaving. I think it is a little bit easier this time than it was last time with Brother T. Then again, it is totally different. Brother P has always been a special influence in my parent's home. We always teased him about being the 'perfect' child and the 'favorite' child and a 'goody two-shoes'. But really, all of these things really make him who he is. I am going to miss my good-natured, fun-loving, willing-to-serve brother. I'm going to miss his smile and laugh and teasing him about taking 20 minutes to style his hair in the morning. ;) I'm going to miss the way he laughs & plays with my baby.

Saying goodbye is hard. I know that my missionary brother is going to do amazing and that he is going to the right place. I know that he is strong in the Gospel and will be guided and protected by the Holy Ghost. I am confident that he will have a wonderful two years and come home better, stronger, and happier for having gone. I am so so proud of him and his choice & willingness to serve.

Yes, saying goodbye is hard, but the promise of the reunion that we'll have in just a short two years and the blessings that my Missionary Brother P will receive from his service make it all worth it.

I'm hoping to help a little bit and do my part by keeping up with my mormon.org profile. Check it out.

April Fool's Day

April Fool's Day and I have had an interesting relationship over the last couple of years. I am not a big fan of the date because I don't like people playing tricks on me. In my experience, especially while in school, it was an excuse to do something mean and then laugh about it. Not my favorite thing.

On April 1, 2012, Daniel & I called my parents and with various misleading and suggestive comments, led them to believe that I was pregnant. We then said "April Fools!" and had a good laugh with each other. Well...

Then April 1, 2013 came along. We had found out a few days before that I was pregnant, but hadn't told anyone yet. I was nervous and anxious and excited and wanted to be able to enjoy it with just Daniel for a little bit. However, I was thrown into a situation where we wanted some advice from my parents. So I called my mom and said, "Hey mom. You know today is April Fools Day and last year we told you something on this day that wasn't true as a joke. Well, this year we will tell you the same thing, but it is true and is not a joke." My mom was silent for a long time before she finally said, "Really?" I was firstly amazed that she remembered and secondly amazed that she didn't sound as surprised as I thought she would be. 

A couple weeks later we had the above ultrasound, and several months later we welcomed Hannalyn into our family and the greatest time of our lives began.

So now we come to April 1, 2014. I have no jokes to share and no exciting news, either. Today is just a regular day with my husband and baby. And that is something that I am really looking forward to.