Quick road trip!

Well ever since I had Braxton, I have been dying to get our taxes done and out of the way just because I was so afraid that we'd have to pay something back and with me not working during my 8 weeks of maternity leave I knew that money would be tight for us. So last Monday the 18th, Braxton and I hopped in the car and took a trip to Hagerman Idaho.

While I was in nursing school I made some lifelong friends! I probably would have never been able to become a nurse if it wasn't for these great friends! They've helped me so much and were such a great support for me while I was in school! And one of those dear friends of mine from nursing school is named Susie! Sometime during nursing school years ago I had to of course get my taxes done, which I've tried doing it on my own but I'm such a worry wort about making sure I do everything correct that it probably would have taken me days to file my taxes. So I asked Susie if she wouldn't mind helping me do it that one year, and she was so sweet and kind to be more than willing to help us out with taxes. So ever since that year I have always gone back to her with our tax stuff because she can get it done and filed in just a few hours. Someday Jackson and I will have to learn how to do it on our own but for now we don't mind having Susie help us as long as she doesn't mind.

In our nursing school study group, Susie was always considered the dad/mom of the study group, so I have always joked about how someday I'd give her grandkids and the title of grandma has just kind of stuck with her ever since than. And I truly think of Susie and her husband Dennis as family and love them dearly! I look forward to the yearly visit we get to have when tax season arrives!

This year was extra special because Susie got to meet her grandson Braxton! :) It's about a 4 hour drive, so we got to there house around noon and than we went and got some lunch right after we fed and changed Braxton's diaper. While we were there I snapped a quick picture of Braxton and Susie as you'll see below. It's one of my favorite pictures of Braxton with one of his grandmas! Shortly after eating lunch we headed back and started to work on taxes. Susie once again came to our rescue and got our taxes done in a jiffy and sure enough we did get a refund this year, phew! Which was such a shock to both Jackson and I. I of course had made Jackson think that we would have to pay money back in taxes that when I told him the great new he instantly called me just to confirm it. Such a blessing in disguise for us. And a huge Thank You to Susie and Dennis for having Braxton and I over for a quick visit! Thanx for feeding us and for helping Jackson and I with our taxes! We love you and already look forward to the next time we can visit each other! And hopefully it comes sooner than next year's tax season!

 Well after getting taxes done around 5:30, I thought I would make a quick visit to Grandma and Grandpa Plott's. I wasn't sure how long taxes would have taken or if we would have had the time to stop for a quick visit, so it sure was a surprise for them to have Braxton and I stop by. Grandpa Plott was working at the fire station that night so I called him up and asked if he would like some unexpected visitors. Grandma Plott was able to head on over to the fire station as well. I should have taken more pictures but the thought never occurred to me until we took Braxton outside to get some pictures of him with Grandpa Plott and the fire truck. We fed Braxton a bottle before the pictures but I'm thinking that wasn't quite enough because Braxton looks a little fussy in these pictures. He usually is such a happy baby but he too loves food just like his daddy. With it getting late and me feeling so tired, I decided to stay the night at the Plott's house. Which it's a good thing I did because I slept like a rock that night, in fact Braxton slept really well too! That next morning I had to kind of get Braxton up and moving in order for us to get on the road at a decent time. We had a great night and slept well, thank you Grandma and Grandpa Plott for feeding us dinner and for letting us stay the night!

These next few pictures are just some more pictures of Braxton, I'm like any new mom, I take tonz of pictures because he is my first child and my everything right now. I like the first picture of him because I caught Braxton smiling in his sleep. I also love the one of Jackson and Braxton just cause it shows how much they look alike. Not Jackson's best picture but Braxton sure looked cute!

These next two photos are of Jackson and Maximus. Jackson loves this dog to death. Jackson came home one day from work this week and said, "I'm gonna take Maximus out for a bike ride." I just kind of laughed and said, "Ok, good luck." Because I could only picture the two of them going opposite directions when out and about on a bike. So once I heard the garage door open I decided to stand by the window above the garage and take some pictures. Maximus did pretty good for the most part but by the look of the pictures Maximus looked like he was all over the place. Too funny, I got a good chuckle out of it.

Anyhow, overall Braxton is doing great! At his last appointment which was 2 days before being 2 weeks old he weighed 8 lbs 3 oz which the doctor said he's right on track for his weight. Braxton sleeps for long hours at night and eats lots during the day. Braxton is a great happy baby and Jackson and I are so blessed to have him! This was a picture I took of Braxton at 3 am right after a diaper change, he never cries when being changed. I think he prefers to have a clean bum. We love you Braxton!

Newborn Pictures!

When Braxton was 6 days old, we decided to get his newborn pictures done because many people say they change so much just after the first 7 days of age. The day of the photo shoot I was trying to keep him awake because I think he has such pretty eyes and he overall is a really good baby awake. I thought it would be cool to have some pictures with his eyes open. But than the photographer said, "Oh we want him asleep because the pictures usually don't turn out very well because either some of the pics will look cross-eyed, or you can't get the baby to look at the camera, or the baby will start to cry etc." So I than was worried that I ruined our photo shoot because his eyes would be open in some of the pictures and I didn't have the time to try and get him back to sleep because we had a certain slot of time that we had to take the pictures in. Luckily Braxton is such a good baby when he is awake and hardly cries so I think the pictures turned out great! I was so impressed with the photographer and for her being so quick and creative to get me as many pictures as possible and I'm so happy with the end result of our little man!

Our family has begun!

Braxton Lee Plott

Friday March 1, 2013 at 4:19 p.m.

 8 lbs 5oz and 20 1/2" long

Son of Jackson Lee Plott and Rachel Patricia Hawkins Plott

During most of the pregnancy, Braxton was measuring 10 days ahead of schedule from his actual due date which was March 5th. So near the end of February, my midwife said I was allowed to be induced any day after I hit 39 weeks. So after Jackson and I talked about it and looked at both of our schedules, we decided to go into the hospital on March 1st to have my water broken to hopefully start my labor. My plan was to go as natural as possible with this delivery, but boy did Braxton have another plan in store for me. Jackson and I showed up at the hospital at 7:30 a.m. Friday morning. By the time I got registered into the computer and all hooked up to the monitors it was 9:30 a.m. and my midwife showed up to break my water. At this point I was dilated to a "2". So I labored for the next few hours either walking around or bouncing on the bouncy ball etc. 

By 12:45 p.m. the nurse told me I was now dilated to a "4" but then also said, "You know, the head feels kind of squishy." At this point my nurse wasn't sure if it was the baby's head or butt she was feeling. I then explained to her that the baby had been breach the whole pregnancy but that just recently my midwife thought he had turned and was now head down. So the nurse called in another nurse for a second opinion and she as well thought she felt a butt. Next came the ultrasound machine and sure enough ... Braxton was coming into this world butt first. I was pretty much a mess at this point once they told me this because I knew more than likely that I'd be having a C-Section. At this point my midwife came in and said there were two options; either we try to deliver him breach and put more of a risk on the baby or we do a C-section and put more of the risk on me. Well putting my options into that perspective, of course, I would rather have all the risk be put on me and go with the c-section to have my baby be okay. So I told my midwife, "lets do the c-section." 

So sure enough, we got the ball rolling for a C-section. My midwife works with a group of doctors so she had Jackson and I meet the doctor that would be performing my c-section with my midwife assisting. Jackson and I both had a good feeling about the doctor that would be delivering our baby. At this point it was all kind of crazy because it was then a rush to get me into surgery as soon as possible so I wouldn't end up delivering him breach since I was still laboring at this point. While all this prepwork was going on to get me ready for surgery I kept looking at Jackson and he just looked really scared and worried. So I talked to Jackson and he just kept saying that he was really worried about me. I think when the midwife gave me my options and explained that the c-section would put more of a risk at me that it really made Jackson worried. I of course was holding back tears as well just because I didn't really want a C-section and it just wasn't in my plan at all to go that route unless I had to. So between the two of us, Jackson and I looked like a mess doing what we could to get through the next couple of hours. 

Luckily my parents had offered to come up and watch Maximus for us that Friday while Jackson and I would be at the hospital. So Jackson called and asked if my dad could come on over and help give me a blessing. It was a really beautiful blessing and I am so grateful that Jackson holds the priesthood and could be in tune with the spirit to give me a blessing to help the surgery go well. Quickly after the blessing they wheeled me off to the OR for more prepwork while Jackson stayed in the room to get all gowned up and ready himself for the surgery. 

My midwife has a picture of Jackson dressed in blue that I hope to get from her the next time I see her. Well before we knew it my c-section began and Braxton was born at 4:19 p.m. and he was healthy! Braxton had the cutest little cry when he came into this world; I was expecting this loud yelling scream of a cry and it was more of a whimper low voice cry. You'd have to hear it to know what I'm talking about. Braxton was doing so well after being born that Jackson got to hold him the whole time by my head while they were stitching me up from the surgery. It was a great moment for the both of us and we will never forget it. Jackson is such a proud, happy father and I loved watching him hold our son for the first time. :)

Well there ya have it, Braxton's birth into this world. The next few million pictures that we took are of Braxton with family and friends at the hospital. We had to stay in the hospital till Monday to monitor me more closely after the c-section. They had to make sure everything was healing the way it's suppose to. I apologize again for all the pictures that are posted but it is really only half of all the pictures Jackson and I have truly taken.

Look at all that hair! That was one thing I was really hoping for, was a baby with lots of dark hair. I would have been happy either way but I was really happy to see all that hair.

Braxton's first bath at the hospital; I started off helping with the bath as well but than realized we needed pictures. Jackson did a great job and the nurse we had that day was so kind to us!

The next few pictures are of friends/coworkers and family visiting us on Saturday. I of course forgot to take pictures so I don't have pictures of everybody that stopped by but we do thank everyone that was able to stop by and say "Hi"! It was great to see everyone and we enjoyed the company!

The day we got to go home from the hospital! :)

Finally at home!

Trying out my new breast pump today gave daddy the opportunity to feed baby Braxton :)

This last picture was taken after his first bath at home. We've been home from the hospital for three days now and couldn't imagine our lives any different without him. Braxton is such a good baby and has been such a joy to have around. We are always in for a surprise with Braxton and look forward for the years to come. We thank our Father in Heaven for blessing us with this sweet little spirit and love you so much already baby Braxton.