The count down begins...

School is about to start! Lately I've been working on the overview of the whole year (where and when I'm going to teach what). I have been a full-time mom since Elizha was born, and oooh how I loved it. Unfortunately, it's time to go back! I start my dual immersion training the whole first week of August. This will be what it will feel like when I go back and teach. Poor Jarom will have to find time to take naps with Elizha, because now she is up most of the time. It will all work out, I trust it.

Here are a few things we have done...

Elizha's friend came over for a visit! Karina Field. She is 3 months old (1 month older than Elizha). Karina smiles, plays, and is very strong because she can lift herself up during tummy time! I enjoy seeing Karina because I have something to look forward to when Elizha does those same things.

We have been visiting my Dad down in Clearfield. He's been going to the hospital twice now. It's no fun. I enjoy coming because Elizha puts the biggest smile on his face. We are a great support system for him. We are just staying strong at all times. He will get better. He will be going back to the hospital this upcoming Monday and guess who will be there!?!?!? Elizha Ioana Maiava!

Elizha roaming the hospital hallways with her dad.

We have also stayed the night at my parents house. Here is Elizha resting in my little sister's room...right besides all the stuff animals she owns. Adorable baby, doesn't have a clue what we do to her.

ALSO, on July 19 my dad and his twin turned 50!!! We were able to drive up and celebrate with them. Time sure does fly! It's quite exciting...well more exciting now because of Baby Elizha's growth! I absolutely love life. I firmly believe that things happen for a reason. That there is a perfect plan for all of us. That people enter our life for a purpose. I love the Gospel. I love my family. I love my parents and for all they have and will do for me.

I came across this quote today..."Other things may change us, but we start and end with family." And I do believe that. I was born within my family. I went to school, graduate, went to NZ, found my eternal companion, got sealed and married in the SLC temple, and now have a beautiful little girl. So many changes, yet I still have my family! <3 I love life. Let's make the best of it!

2 month appointment

Elizha is 2 months old! She has grown so so much! I have loved staying with her and being with her 24/7. It will be hard going back to teaching...but life is great! I'll be coming home to a lovely daughter and a great husband...WELL...today was Elizha's doctors appointment at 10 am. I was looking forward to this day to see how she has been doing. I knew that she would be vaccinated and it was quite the experience! The few photos I took will tell how it went...

Elizha was resting so well! She woke up with a BIG SMILE on her face! The usual mornings!

Our ride to the clinic, she was just relaxing in the heat of our car. Not knowing what was going to happen to her at the clinic.

Waiting to be called back to get her check-up

Baby Elizha weighs 13 lbs 8 oz at the age of 2 months :)

Waiting for the Doctor to give her the usual check-up

Resting from the pain...she did so well.

When nurse that put in her shots stretched out elizha's legs and put in the first shot...that is when baby started to cry. It was a lot of crying...it took her awhile to get to a cry. Poor baby was in pain...the three shots took about less than 30 seconds. Two on the left thigh and one on the right. She was a tough baby. I though she would cry all the way home, but she didn't. As soon as we came into the entrance of the buidling, she wasn't crying as much! I laughed when they put the first shot in because baby was just so cute! SHE DID GREAT on this visit. We already set her goals for her 4 month visit.

1. MORE TUMMY TIME!!!

2. Sleep more often in her crib

3. Have her head turn more to the left side to stretch the little muscle.

Next time her doctor sees her, Elizha should put pushing her self up from her tummy to hold her head up! I'm looking forward to that day :)

Stuffed Bell Peppers

This is my first time making stuffed bell peppers!!! My mom would always make them for me because she knew I really liked them. I don't know how she made it, nor did I ever make them myself. What I did know was what the stuffing contained :) So today was the day! I saw some beautiful bell peppers, bought them and gave it a go! AND OH DID MY HUSBAND LIKE THEM...so I hope he did, he told me straight away after the first big how yum they were! Which made me a proud wife!

As you can see I only made three. One for me, and two for my one and only :) It was a good hot sunny day today! Enjoyed it with my little beautiful familY!

WHO IS HURTING MY BABY!?!?!?

It was a beautiful Sabbath Day on Sunday the 12th of June, and baby did so well at church! We left before church actually ended because we had been in the whole time after sacrament (because I teach Valient 10 & 11). When we got home, I changed her out of her dress and started playing!

UNTIL SOMEONE STARTED TO HURT MY BABY!!! Look at the picture below...

Who in the world is making my baby cry?! Who in the world, is pulling my little baby's hair?!?!? HAHAHAHAHAHA she is so adorable! She was making herself cry! She was crying and crying so much! This was the second time that it happened. Jarom witnessed the first one, but wasn't able to get a photo of it. I witnessed the second one, which I had to take this snap shot of what my baby was experiencing! It was a for realz..LOL (Laugh Out Loud) moment for me! She is the best. I absoutley love her! I have since I found out I was pregnant. That is the beauty of motherhood. You love your baby even before you get to meet them. I loved it all! And I continue loving her! I LOVE BEING HER MOMMA!

Visiting the Famm

We went up to visit my family these past two days (Wed & Thur). It was Marjorie's Birthday, and the clothes we got her was too small. Just as i thought this little girl was short and skinny, she is a big girl now. She turned 7 and they say she is size seven. That is when i learned that the little girls clothes size is thier age..USUALLY. Well, baby Elizha is 1 month old now (since June 4th) and we went up from NB to 1 in diapers. So, i wonder if it's the same for babies too! It was fun spending time at home. I get a slight break because others carry her and watch her. I was there to just feed her. Baby was surprised with a swinging chair! It's just what we needed! At night we put her in, and swing swing she went. Did not cry, she just enjoyed the time being in the swing. Also, because it was somewhat hot, my mom bathed her. She looves the water. It'll be fun to see her when she grows and starts to make a big water mess!




Another thing about Elizha is that she sleeps better on her side! I don't know why, but when she is on her side she quickly knocks out and knocks out for good! Also, after eating, and we burp her...sometimes we burp her sitting down. As we do that, she falls asleep on our arm. She is just a cute baby. She makes me laugh so much! I'm excited and looking forward each week as she grows!



Somewhat exciting news...my mom made these quick small tamales, and she gave me the stuff to make some at home...So hopefully they come out yum like hers did...and hopefully Jarom will enjoy them :)

The Start of Our Little Family

IN THE BEGINNING...


It's so amazing how quickly life has gone by. We met back in 2009 and quickly fell in love. The distance relationship brought us closer, because each day gone by was a day closer to being together once again! Reunited again in September 2009, had a beautiful proposal, and planning a wedding began. Many more months passed, counting down the days until our BIG day...and it finally came. 

May 23, 2010

It was a very exciting and happy time for us. The start of OUR life together as husband and wife. It was great to have both our families attend the wedding! It was a moment that was unforgettable and a time we will always look back on.

We traveled to Las Vegas and California with the family before they headed back to New Zealand. It was time to spend together and to enjoy with each other!

To this day we have not been married for a year, but WE GOT PREGNANT!!!! 

The nine months (or 37 1/2 weeks) of carrying this little angel 

was a beautiful experience for both of us!  

Our baby was due May 20th, but she came May 4th 2011!

Elizha Ioana Maiava- 1 day old

IN LABOR...


I went to school Monday (the 2nd), Tuesday (the 3rd), and I was really sick. I was loosing my voice teaching the little first graders. It was very hard for me to teach without a voice that by the end of the day I was exhausted. I spoke with another teacher, and she recommended I take Wednesday off to rest my voice, and I did. Tuesday evening Jarom was working and I was going to start on my sub plans for my maternity leave, BUT my body was just so tired, that instead I laid down and rested. 
Jarom came home at 11:15 and I had a tail bone pain. (Throughout my whole pregnancy I had a tail bone pain, so this pain was common to me).  I asked him to massage my back and I was able to rest....just for a little while
3:00 am-I wake up because that pain came back really strong. I got up and tried to find a very comfortable position, and I couldn't. I thought since I couldn't sleep, I'd get my stuff and plan in the kitchen. As I took my things over and sat down, I quickly got up because I was SO UNCOMFORTABLE! I wake up Jarom to help me be comfortable. He rubs my back...didn't work. He brought the rocking chair...it worked for a second, but the pain came back. He brought me oreos to eat...didn't work. It was then that I realized it was a come and go pain. Jarom said that these pains were probably contractions. With 100% surety, I told Jarom that it wasn't. I expected the "contraction pains" to be in my stomach area. He then said they were probably practice contractions (because I never experienced any type of pain beside my tail bone pain). He decided to time it. My pains were going for 45 seconds to 1 min 10 seconds. The breaks I had were between 2-3 minutes apart. I got to the point where I couldn't take it anymore and someone needed to check why I was getting these pains. My lovely husband decided to call the doctor to see what they thought...and they recommended that we head to the hospital. 
5:30 am-We get to the hospital. Thinking they would send us home, we left our packed stuff in the car and just took our my purse. We walked in..pain...standing in the elevator...pain...checking in with a big smile on my face trying not to show that I had pain. We didn't call anyone yet until we knew for sure what it was. As I dressed into the hospital robe to be checked, I became nervous, and asked Jae to call my mom. The nurse asked many questions. Finally she checked and said I was dilated 5 cm! She said I was staying there and that the baby would come.
Shock mode...I COULD NOT BELIEVE I WAS GOING TO HAVE MY BABY! After checking, she asked if I wanted an epidural. I was considering it, but Jarom said no, knowing that I wanted a natural birth. They started to bring all the delivery stuff (which I knew from the class we took) and the senario I was witnessing was very unreal to me. They called my doctor, my mother came, pains were increasing. 


THE DELIVERY...


The delivery room was filled with so many people. There were about three nurses. On of the nurses was being trained to do deliveries. They rechecked me and I was dilated to 9 cm! I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT!!! She was ready to come! It was funny when the nurse that was being trained would check me after I had already been checked to see what it would feel like. I didn't mind. I was too busy dealing with the pains. They checked and said I was at a 10! Full dilation! They said when I had the feeling to push that I can push. My doctor made it, my mother was there, Jarom was by my side supporting me as much as he could..and I was there making the most annoying sounds...which looking back at makes me laugh. The nurse to my left was so helpful to me by walking me through the best things to do to have her. As I was pushing, the first thing they all said was "She has a lot of hair!" Then I could hear Jarom say, "Oh, we see her head!" She was right there, and I was desperate to push her out! No more breaks and I just pushed until...SPLASH!!! lol, all i felt was liquid stuff splash out on everyone. What a relief of pain it was. I heard her cry, and tears rolled down my cheeks because I was finally going to meet this baby that I had been holding for a long time. 

This was one of the happiest moments of my life. Something so beautiful and hard to express. I remember seeing this slimy baby, and giving her a big kiss. She is ours and we are her parents. The love we had for her and will forever have is immense. Elizha is our little angel!

This was the start of our little family. Where I know we will work towards doing our best as parents and in raising this child. Elizha Ioana is the first grandchild in both families and has been spoiled since she was the size of a peanut. So much love has been given to her, and I know she will be surrounded by love through all her life! <3 We love you baby Elizha. 

The Maiava's