Big Changes

To say so much has happened since my last post is an understatement. In my last post was telling you all that I would be posting wedding pictures, well that never happened. But you know what did happen since then, the Brinton family grew by one. Yes I had a baby! A baby girl to be exact and she will be 2 months old in a few days so I thought it was about time to catch you all up on the BIG CHAGES in our family.

First I should start with baby girl in the womb. When I first got pregnant I was in denial, I was nauseas for 2 weeks and kept telling myself it would go away but by thanksgiving I was dry heaving and food tasted horrible. It wasn't till the next week that I got so sick I decided to go to the doctors where I found out for sure I was pregnant and had a kidney infection. The doctor put me on an IV since I was so dehydrated and gave me some medicine for the nausea and the infection. The following week was the worst week of my life I felt like death and the thought of welcoming death was better than laying on my bed feeling the way I felt. I was puking all the time and I couldn't eat a thing. But as the weeks went by I was able to manage the all day sickness not morning sickness and get back to work. By my second trimester I never wanted to eat another cracker in my life.

Here's me at about 13 weeks and ready to POP!!

The Second trimester was way better than the first. Like everyone said I had more energy and wasn't as sick. The only thing that stuck with me from the first was the food issue. I still didn't like food much, it all tasted bad and it left the worse after taste like metal. This stayed with me till the end. And then by the third trimester I was just getting so big it hurt to walk. I had this huge basketball sticking out of me and my joints were getting so lose that walking and sleeping was so uncomfortable. People said they couldn't tell I was pregnant till I turned around, I good thing I guess. I left on disability 2 weeks before my due date thinking she was going to come early because I felt so big, also because I just hurt it was hard being at work. I could barely walk around and getting up after sitting all day hurt so bad, my back was not weathering the pregnancy at all. So I got to be home and nest for a couple of weeks, which was very nice. I slept so much and loved it!

Before I knew it the due date was coming upon us and there was one last thing I had to do. The last few months at work I had been working on the Dark Knight trailers and I was due opening weekend for the movie and I just had to see it on the big screen. A co-worker of mine was getting a group together for the midnight showing and he texted me to see if I wanted to go. I called my husband and asked him what he thought and he just laughed. I replied yes, 2 tickets please! My husband and I showed up in Hollywood me being 9 months pregnant and due the next day to see The Dark Knight RISES, one last crazy thing before we really settle down. It was awesome. I had a blast and my sweet husband endured my craziness that evening admitting he had a fun time too.

Here I am 9 months and ready to give birth in line for the
midnight showing of The Dark Knight Rises!

Labor and Delivery:

I did not go into labor that night at the movies, which was a disappointment for some of my co-workers ;) they were hoping for a big story to share the next day. LOL! But Friday night while at the Annie production my stake was putting on I started to feel some tightness in my stomach area. I was feeling contractions for the first time ever. Yes, I started to think that maybe I was going to have this baby on her due date after all. Well, I got to enjoy the whole production of Annie and actually the next day too. She didn't come on her due date in fact Saturday the 21st of July was just an ordinary day, well sort of. Branson and I decided to get some birthing videos from the library and learn a little about labor and delivery since we didn't take the classes. What an educational day that was. So most of Saturday I had barely any contractions, but by Saturday night and Sunday I was feeling them. They weren't terrible and I thought if this is labor this isn't as bad as everyone says. By 10pm Sunday night it was another story. I was not managing the contractions very well at all, they were killing me. I was monitoring them with Branson, but they weren't coming consistently like they are suppose to when in labor. I even called the doctor to see if I should go to the hospital anyway because they hurt so bad. He said I could if I want but there would be a possibility they would send me home. Branson talked me out of going to the hospital just yet and said to try and get some sleep like the doctor said. I didn't last long maybe an hour or 2 and by 1am I was so uncomfortable and mad with pain that I woke Branson up and said we are going to the hospital. So at 1:30 in the morning we heading to the hospital. We got there and they hooked me up to their machines and checked my progress. To my dismay I was only 2 cm! I couldn't believe it I could have sworn I was ready to give birth because it hurt so much. Well they gave me a few options, actually only 1 they weren't going to send me home just yet because I was dehydrated and they were a little worried about the baby so they sent me walking with a huge glass of water. I walked for almost an hour in the hospital halls like they asked me to. After that the nurse checked me again and I was still at a 2. This is were the options came, I could go home, walk some more, or get induced. I couldn't decide, I was hurting so much I didn't want to go home and try and endure it, but I also didn't want to be induced I wanted to try and let the process start naturally. The nurse let me lay there and think about it for awhile. And that's what I did for an hour and my sweet husband sat there with me. After that hour, the nurse checked me again and walla I had progressed to a 3 it was happening! As soon as I knew it was happening I asked for my epidural because I knew I was not going to be able to do this naturally. My back was hurting so bad I could barely lay there on the bed. It took an hour to get my epidural, but when it finally came it was heaven. Loved it and it worked great. My back pain was gone as well as the contractions. I just laid there feeling much better than I did the hours proceeding. And that's all I did for the next 5 hours or so, laid there and waited. My parents showed up the next morning to check in. I was still pregnant, but on my way to having the baby. It was about noon Monday the 23rd of July that it was time to have my baby girl. I could feel it, the medicine was wearing off and I could tell the baby was ready to come in fact I thought she was going to come before the doctor got there. As soon as he arrived, he taught me how I was so suppose to push and we got started. This was the hardest part of the whole Labor and delivery. I pushed and thought this baby was never going to come. I just couldn't get her out, I finally had to get some help from the doctor with a few snips and a couple more pushes this big beautiful baby was out and on my chest. I remember staring into these big eyes and precious little face thinking what am I suppose to do with her. She wasn't there long because I could tell she wasn't breathing. The nurses took her right back and started pumping all the stuff out of her. I remembered her being all slimy and gray, but when they gave her back to me she was pretty and pink. She had a head of hair and she was big 7 pounds 14 ounces. I couldn't believe how big she was, I didn't think Branson and I could make big babies, but we did. She is the biggest baby in our family so far. Let me introduce you to...

Jordyn Nicole Brinton

born July 23rd at 12:28pm

7 lbs 14 oz and 21 inches long

The nurse that helped deliver Jordyn said she was over baked, and I have to agree. I never felt that Jordyn was a tiny little newborn, all wrinkly and thin. She was strong and plump and seemed ready for the world. They kept us in the hospital for 3 days since we were first time parents, but I didn't mind. It was nice to have some help in the beginning. I had Jordyn in my room the whole time the nurses only took her once to give her, her shots but besides that I got to bond with her each day. I was lucky to have Branson with me as well. He didn't leave my side. It took us a day or two decide on her name and even then I was nervous I had picked the wrong one, but each day it grew on us. We named her after me since everyone thought she looked just like me. Well she did when we named her but at 2 months we aren't so sure, there is definitely a lot of her dad in her too. :)

Anyway we were there for 3 days and by the 3rd were ready to get home and start our life with this new precious gift we were blessed with.

It was a little strange introducing our new little addition into our old life, but we quickly adapted and it has brightened it up ever since.

We eat our dinner together in the family room. That's what we have done ever since we got married.
We know eventually we will be having family dinner around the kitchen table,
but for now little Jordyn fits right in next to us.

It's getting late so I will be finishing up the story of little Jordyn in the next installation of "Big Changes"!

Well...

So I finally have my wedding pictures but that will have to be for the next post. There are soooooo many and I haven't been able to go through them all just yet, but I'm hoping soon. There are some pretty nice looking pics. I almost forgot how fun and fabulous that day was. It went by so fast. But I do have a little video to share. I started making it a while back, in fact it was for the reception but I didn't get it done in time. I wanted it playing as the guests arrived. It's a little trailer of me and my man. I finished and I thought I would post it. It's pretty fun. And then I promise next post will be some wedding pics. :)

Engagement

I know this is way too old, but I had been meaning to do it so I'm going to do it. I got engaged earlier this year around the summer time, but officially in August that's when the ring was put on my finger. I should tell that story but it's such a long and agonizing story to tell. Maybe I will paraphrase it...

So I had been dating this guy named Branson Brinton from SLC for a while, in fact our first date was almost 2 years ago. He took me to Disneyland and I thought he was a nice guy, but I just wasn't sure if he had what I wanted. It wasn't till almost near the end of our date at Disneyland when we were in line at Space Mountain talking that I thought he had potential, he was more exciting and interesting than he appeared to be. It was a good date. We continued to go out for the next year and a half maybe a little more when we decided this would be more fun if it was forever so he asked me to marry him a few times and then in July or August of this year I finally said yes and a ring was put on my finger. We had some lovely engagement photos taken of us.

Bieber Siting

A couple of weekends ago one of Branson's and mine's friend celebrated his 30th birthday will a Rolling Stones bash. It was awesome. So much fun. All those attending were to dress as a famous rock or pop star and walk the red carpet when they arrived. We were fashionably late of course, but were still welcomed on the red carpet. I still haven't gotten red carpet pics but I have a few pics of Justin Bieber, Miley Cyrus, and Jennifer Lopez. When we arrived we received our VIP backstage passes and entered the party where we ran into George Michael, Katy Perry, Shakira, the Spice Girls, the Kiss rock group, Hannah Montana, and a few more peeps. Later on we got performances by a few of the attendees and they all rocked it. I have to say Justine Bieber 1 and 2 were the best, although Spice Girls did a pretty good number too. Overall the bash was a blast.

Miley and JLo striking a pose

Justin Bieber & Miley getting a little close ;)

Miley and Hannah switching places

California Girl

So a couple of weekends ago my Relief Society decided to do this awesome activity. My Bishop surfs and he thought it would be great to get the girls in our RS to come out and learn to surf. Our girls thought that was a great idea, we had over 40 girls come out to Doheny Beach and learn to surf it was awesome dude! The Bish got over 20 boards 12 dads and a couple of their daughters from our stake to come and teach us. One of my best days at the beach! I actually killed it out there and had a blast. I truly became a California Girl that Saturday morning and I think I caught the bug. I may do it again and real soon.

Our amazing surfing Relief Society and the Dad's that helped!

Hang Lose!!!!

This is me and my friend Marina. The boards were huge and sort of heavy. It was funny trying to get them into the water, but it made for good surfing. :)

My first attempt to get up, I did pretty good. More than anything I was just nervous, but got the hang of it pretty fast.

I totally ripped it, ha ha ha. I wish maybe some day. :

)

The beach was so rocky it killed my feet. There was a group of us trying to get out there with out killing ourselves. You can see I'm totally leaning on the board I was trying not to stand on the ocean rock floor.

That was on my way in from surfing. By that time there was no way to walk in, I was cutting up my feet so we decided to crawl and float in. It was pretty hilarious.

Thomas William Yearsly

So my sister had her third boy in April, yes this post would seem a little untimely, so sue me. :)

We all went down at the very beginning of June for the blessing. It was a great weekend. Mom and Dad got a hotel so we could all enjoy the pool, but mostly so the boys could play in the pool. I ended up staying with my parents so that Branson could stay at my sisters with the rest of the family. But I had a good time, mom and I partied it up that night and rented Valentines Day and watched that and talked till the wee hours of the morning. I took some great shots of all of us at the pool and then a few family pics at Lauren's house after the blessing.

Thomas is wearing funny swim shorts so I called him my euro baby.

Luke get's scared by Grandpa. ha ha!

Here's just all of us playing in the pool.

Emme and her Dad.

Here's some pics after the blessing

This is a funny video of Emme demanding this stuff animal.

Paris is Amazing Too!!

After out cruise, 6 of us decided to extend out vacation a few more days and spend it in Paris. What an ordeal we had no idea we were embarking. First off, the day we got off the ship was planned we were spending it in Barcelona, which was great. It was perfect weather and bought bus tickets so see as much of the city as we could. We were out all day and saw some pretty cool stuff like building by the famous Gaudi. We saw his cathedral which is still under construction, a few other buildings scattered among the city, then we saw a city park he built which was pretty cool. He isn't my favorite artist because his stuff was so out there, but it was cool to look at. But the story really begins when we get to the train station to catch our train to Paris. We booked to overnight cars, so we could sleep during the night and be refreshed when we arrived in Paris the next day. We were all so excited because non of us had taken a train before and not only that but non of us had gotten a sleeper car before either and we were so excited for that. Well when we tried to pick up our tickets we were told that the French were on strike and the train was not going to arrive. So here we were stuck in Barcelona with no way to get to Paris. We were a little ticked well probably more than that. Plane tickets were too expensive, so that left us the bus. And that's what we did we took a bus overnight and into the day to Paris with everyone else who was suppose to be on that train. Pretty crazy huh. So we hoped on a bus with no bathrooms and rode over night for 15 hours and had the worst nights rest ever. What was also pretty bad was our rest stops. The bus drivers stopped every 3 hours to smoke and of course they didn't stand away from the bus, it was so gross. I was pretty much fed up with the French!!!

The next day we finally got into Paris and it was raining. We tried to catch a taxi, but again every taxi that drove by ignored us in the rain with all our luggage. It was crappy and we were ready to go home. We were dreading the fact that we still had 3 days in Europe. I think we were all ready to go home. Well 2 from our party left the rest of us at the train station and went to get a taxi to bring back, they finally did and almost 2 hours after we had arrived in Paris we finally arrived at our Hotel (which was a hole mind you).

We showered up and set off to at least catch something our first night in Paris, we decided to see the Eiffel Tower. Well I have to say the Eiffel Tower made up for our first impressions of France. The tower was awesome. We got tickets to the top, which was awesome too. I think even better than the top of the Empire State Building. We took so many pictures! After spending lots of time at the tower we did a little shopping, we found some great art and I bought some. We also found a pub and had a nice little dinner in Paris. It got late fast since we arrived so late, and the metro closes around 12:30 or something and we were pretty exhausted so we headed back to the hotel after that. The next day we decided to go to the Palace of Versailles. That place was amazing. The grounds itself was breathtaking. We spend most of the morning and afternoon there, but it was awesome. We did head back to Paris afterwards to get on a river boat and float up and down the Sine River that evening, which too was breathtaking. Before that we did go and see Notre Dame. So amazing.

Our last day in Paris we just explored the city one last time. I went with the guys to The Louve

Museum. We didn't have much time there, but we did our best. We saw the Mona Lisa, and other famous statues and art. We did any other last minute shopping and eating before the day was over. And we left for the states the next morning bright and early. It was a great and amazing trip.