2014 Year in Review

                       

This year has been one of blessings and growth. The highlights have included welcoming Phebe to our family, visiting grandparents in Utah over 4th of July, living with my parents for 5 weeks in August-September while Brent was in Sydney for work, the decision-making process involved in Brent's career future, and visiting CA again this Christmas for my family to be reunited for the first time in years. 

I also accomplished the big goals of finishing the Old Testament (second half only) before my 30th birthday and re-reading the entire Book of Mormon from Oct- December 25th. I have always wanted to study the scriptures consistently, but have struggled my whole life to make this a reality. And this year I felt like I really made good progress. I realized that I need specific goals with deadlines. I feel so much more motivated under those parameters. My study this year was a great experience. Both the Bible and Book of Mormon are amazing texts from both a historical and spiritual perspective and my love for them grew. But more than anything, I benefited from the peace, perspective, and stabilizing effect of studying the scriptures regularly. I'm excited for the coming year to focus on the New Testament. 

Brent and I had many, many discussions this year about the future of his career. After seriously considering graduate school and performing very well on the GMAT, Brent decided not to pursue an MBA for now, but instead to start his own business. July was a pretty crazy month as this business opportunity presented itself in the very same week Brent both took the GMAT and was making plans to go to Australia for a 5-week-long business trip. Talk about timing! We feel so blessed for all the business opportunities that have been offered this year, from multiple avenues at EY (both in Houston and Australia) and others. It has been a year filled with lots of thinking, discussing, and praying. We have chosen a path and feel very peaceful and positive about the future. 

Life with two kids is both wonderful and crazy. I'm glad children mostly come one at a time because I feel like so much growth is needed as parents to compensate for the added responsibility of each child. We love watching Isaac and Phebe interact and I'm looking forward to their friendship developing over the years. But for now, their relationship pretty much consists of Isaac stealing Phebe's toys, Phebe giggling at Isaac's antics, and the two of them trying to out do each other's crying and screaming. 

Other things that have been on my mind a lot this year are how to streamline household organization and scheduling, how to prepare and eat healthy food, how to handle stress better, and the importance of forgiveness in relationships. I've been working on all of these things, but feel like the more I learn the more I realize how far I have to go. 

Sleep deprivation, stress, and minor ppd have been our biggest challenges this year-- and we are grateful that these problems which at at times can seem very big are actually quite small in comparison to the trials life offers. 

We are grateful for our safe home, beautiful neighborhood, wonderful neighbors (really, we have the best neighbors), treasured friends, loving family, healthy kids, and for all the opportunities we've had to serve and grow and love this year. 

Looking forward to the adventures of 2015!

                      

Christmas Letter 2014

Dearest Family and Friends,

We are so grateful for your influence in our lives and for the love and kindness we have felt from you this Christmas season. Here is an update on the members of our family:

Phebe (10 months): Loves snuggles, eating avocados, watching her brother, and clapping. She's not crawling or walking yet, but can reach farther than seems possible. And she is almost sleeping through the night!

Isaac (3): Loves gears, gadgets, building, digging, demolishing, rummaging, and mess making. He starts conversations with strangers and is a big singer and storyteller. His favorite songs include "Big Green Tractor" (Jason Aldean) and "I'm On Top of the World" (Imagine Dragons). He is our curious and busy entertainer.

Sarah: Loves beautiful Houston "winter" weather, deep conversations with friends, quiet time to read, laughing with the kids, and going on dates with Brent. She is a volunteer editor at powerofmoms.com, has done a bit of freelance editing, and participated in a co-op preschool for Isaac this year.

Brent: Loves playing with the kids, going out to eat, and time to work on his ideas. After four great years at EY, Brent will leave the firm in January to start a business. We will stay in Houston to pursue this opportunity and are excited and hopeful about the future.

We have so much to be grateful for-- our lives, health, security, freedom, family, friends, and most of all, our Savior, Jesus Christ. We send our love and best wishes for the coming year!

Much love,

The Monsons

Isaac: 2 1/2 Years

Life as a two year old is quite the roller coaster--one that we get to ride along with Isaac. A good friend of mine says parenting really doesn't begin until 2, and now I'm beginning to see why. I was a really patient mom until recently. 

Isaac is so curious, creative, smart, and outgoing. He loves to play outside, help me cook, build roads with his blankets, and explore. He loved all the fun and attention that came with having many visitors after Phebe's birth. He spent lots of wonderful time with Baba and Jiji, Grandma and Uncle Bry, and Georgia and KaRynn.

Isaac's favorite activities include squirting water outside (water squriters pictured below), reading books, playing with blocks, and watching shows. Kipper the Dog, Daniel Tiger, and Bob the Builder are his staples.

He loves going on walks around our complex. He chases the cats and tries to pet them and collects items to put in his nature bowl. Houston has beautiful flowers year round, but we try to leave them intact for our neighbors to enjoy.

Isaac has surprisingly taken little interest in Phebe, but I consider this a positive thing as we have not had to stop him from picking her up or dragging her around the house, which I know can be common of this age combination. He can be very sweet with her though and will give her toys when she is crying.

And, of course, Isaac's favorite person is Dad. Brent does his bedtime routine almost every night and Isaac loves that. He can't wait until Dad comes home.

This kid loves the outdoors and doesn't care what temperature it is. If it were up to him, we'd be at the park every day no matter what.

We sure love this sweet boy. He keeps us on our toes! 

Phebe: 2 Months Old

2 Months Old

Phebe is an angel in our home. I love these pictures KaRynn took on Phebe's two month mark because they capture her personality so well.

She is a happy, easy baby. She goes to bed around 9:00 pm, only wakes up once to eat at night around 4:30 am, and naps well during the day. I'm grateful for my experience with Isaac because without it, I wouldn't know how amazingly wonderful and uncommon this is. She is cooing more and smiling a lot, and we've even heard a few laughs, which has surprised me because it's a little early for that.

We, of course, think she's the cutest baby in the world and just love her chubby arms and legs. She's about the same size as Isaac was, coming in at 13 lbs 8 oz and 24 inches long at her 2 month appointment. For a girl, that is 99th percentile for height. Considering though how Isaac dropped significantly down the chart as he grew older, I'm thinking that this probably won't mean a professional volleyball career for this girl--unless she can really jump! :-)

Our pediatrician was not concerned about the shape of her head or the ability of her neck because she can turn to the left okay. He told us to position her as much as possible so she will be encouraged to look left. And he said we could put her on her side with a rolled up towel behind her to sleep. This unfortunately hasn't really worked. She wiggles off the towel and then turns her head to the right! So I started wedging her body between two pillows (carefully, of course, to avoid SIDS risks). It sometimes works, sometimes doesn't. But she seems to be getting more used to sleeping on her left because I'm finding that she turns her head back less and less.

Despite what my pediatrician said though, I've still been concerned. Her head is not quite symmetrical, and she doesn't have full range of motion on her left. So, I followed my intuition and started doing stretches with her. After doing some research, I found that the stretches I was doing were actually the same stretches physical therapists recommend, so I've been continuing these a few times a day. We are also doing WAY more tummy time.

One physical therapist website recommends building up to 1 hour of tummy time a day (in spurts) by the time a baby is 3 months old. Phebe was 2 1/2 months old and doing maybe 15 minutes a day total (three 5 minute spurts). So I realized we really needed to change our habits in order for her to strengthen her neck. Now, when I put her down, I almost always position her on her tummy. And I've seen some good improvement in her ability to hold her head straight with her eyes parallel to the floor (instead of at a tilt). She also now can go about 15 minutes at a time on her tummy (if it's a good time of day).

I wish information about how much tummy time to aim for and how to turn your baby's head from side to side when they sleep was more widely published. Almost every baby book I read only said you should do tummy time every day (never how much) and only to put your baby to sleep on his back. But I did this with Isaac, and he developed a flat head (not so bad he needed a helmet, but it really stressed me out!). I was trying to be so careful this time, and here I am worrying about head shape again. Maybe my babies just have extra soft heads. Also, Phebe's position in the womb (she was born with one very flat ear) and broken collar bone are likely contributing factors. In any case, she is one cute baby. And Brent is not worried about her head shape at all.

I now realize how important it is to record all of this because as I think about Isaac at this age, I just don't remember him! Isaac as a baby seems like a long-lost friend-- a different person from the cute, toddler Isaac I know now.

I feel so privileged to raise these children. And I treasure the fact that they are only babies once. Life would have no purpose if we didn't progress, but, oh, how I mourn the fact that babies grow up. In her whole eternal progression, Phebe will only be a baby once. And I'm so glad that she gets to be mine.

Easter Girl

This is what my house looks like on a tired day. . . meaning Isaac gets to do whatever he wants. 

I love baby bellies. And this one reminds me so much of Isaac's (see below).
Don't they look alike?

Isaac around the same age

She was lying on the floor, and then all of the sudden, she was asleep!

I love my cuddle time!

All these girl outfits are too cute!

Picking strawberries with Dad and Isaac.

Our easy-going baby! 

Phebe at 1 Month

1 Month Old

Life with Phebe has been so wonderful. This baby is a d.r.e.a.m.! She only cries when she is hungry, tired, has a dirty diaper, or needs to be burped. She slept so much the first three weeks, I thought something could be wrong. And I had to wake her up even during the day to eat. But it turns out, she was just sleepy and has a very easy temperament.                                     

The interesting thing is that at the very beginning we actually thought she was quite sensitive and reactive-- and that she might have a more difficult temperament because she would randomly scream out when we moved her. I told Brent I thought she was screaming out in pain, and I had noticed that she didn't move one arm as much as the other, but I didn't think much of it. However, at an appointment with the doctor at five days old revealed she had a broken collar bone! Poor baby. There is nothing you can do for it except be gentle, but after that it was very clear that she was crying about that. Since it has healed, she has hardly cried at all (for an infant at least). 

In fact, we used a pacifier in the beginning, but haven't used one in over a week because she hardly cries! When you pick her up, she stops! I'm telling you, it's incredible. And I know it has nothing to do with me. This baby just has a very easy temperament. 

My mom told my sister KaRynn that Phebe could be put to sleep with two bounces, and KaRynn said she didn't believe her. But KaRynn came into town last week and was holding Phebe, and she said, "Oh my gosh! She's already asleep. Mom said she fell asleep in two bounces, and she was right!" 

The truth is, if you put her down after two bounces, her eyes will pop open and she might complain. But to put her to sleep, all I have to do is put her on my chest and pat her back a few times, and she's out. I just chill in an arm chair for ten minutes or so and put her down, and she's down! Can all my babies be like this, please?!

We aren't without challenges though: thrush has been an ongoing issue for over a month. So annoying! But I am very grateful that nursing is still going well. We have her two month appointment tomorrow, and I predict she will clock in at 13 lbs. She's a chunk! And we love it. I never thought before I had babies that changing diapers could be fun, but really it is because you get to see their thigh rolls, and for some reason that is just delightful to me. Ha ha. 

We also are concerned about her head/neck and think she may have mild torticollis. Tomorrow's appointment will help us know for sure. But you will notice that in all the pictures her head is turned towards her right. We work hard to encourage her to turn to the left as much as possible and hope this will not be a severe problem. 

Phebe smiles with a wide, open-mouth smile that is so cute. And she has started to coo. I love it. And the other day, I caught her looking at her own fist with a face that said, "Hey, wait, am I controlling this thing?" 

Brent and I are so much more relaxed as parents. When she was brand new, we knew we could move her or do anything around her and that she would still stay asleep. And I know that if I'm in the middle of helping Isaac with something and she starts crying, she can wait for a minute and be okay. I don't stress out. It's so satisfying to recognize so much growth in myself as I care for this new baby. 

We love her! 

"Stick 'em up!"

First Smiles

Dad and Isaac hanging out at the Pediatricians-- where we spent every day for the first
four days after the hospital because of her bilirubin levels. 

One Week Old

Blessing Day

Blessing Day

Out at a restaurant with Baba and Jiji-- newborns are so easy! 

Phebe's Birth

                                       

Just over a month ago we welcomed sweet Phebe Jean into our family. Phebe (pronounced Phoebe or fee-bee) is named after a fifth great-grandmother of mine, Phebe Draper Palmer Brown, who was one of my first ancestors to join the Mormon Church. She was born in Rome, NY, grew up in Canada, moved to Kirtland, OH, crossed the plains, marched with the Mormon Battalion to San Diego, and eventually settled Draper, UT, where she taught school and was the postmistress. She was a very courageous woman who did many hard things, including losing a child to a fire accident, losing her first husband, and raising three families besides her own biological children. Really, when I think about her life, I am awestruck. I can’t imagine doing what she did. I feel like a wimp! I can’t wait to meet her in the next life and learn from her. 

Phebe Jean is also named after my grandmother, Jean Sheranian, who I grew up next-door to in Los Angeles. She passed away two and a half years ago from ovarian cancer, and was very ill for her last year or so. But I remember her as an energetic, fun grandma. Really, I can’t think of anyone else who encapsulates the word vivacious more that she did. She truly was full of life: serving, planning, working, cooking, vacationing, reading, going to movies and concerts and the theater, and serving in the Church. 

And I feel like these two ancestors of mine were very likely present for Phebe’s birth. I did not have a profound spiritual experience, but I was told in the blessing that Brent gave me before we left for the hospital that I would have the help of ancestors. And while giving birth I felt more inner strength, steadiness, and calmness of mind than I knew I had.

Phebe’s birth was amazing. After laboring for two days to bring Isaac into the world, I was expecting another long labor, but Phebe was born less than eight hours after I felt the first contraction. In fact, we arrived at the hospital just an hour and a half before she was born! 

39 Weeks-- just two days before she was born
Isn't it funny how pregnancy makes your nose swell?

I had been preparing to give birth without an epidural. But since I had an epidural with Isaac, I wasn't sure A) if I wanted to have an unmediated birth and B) if I could hold up under pressure and actually do it, even if part of me wanted to.

I have nothing against epidurals, but my epidural experience with Isaac wasn't ideal. And there was part of me that wanted to do it just to experience it and see if I could. (Kind of like running a marathon, I'd say . . . except I'd never do that. Haha!) I decided to just take things as they went. I didn't set my expectations either way so that I could make the decision I needed to in the moment. But I did practice relaxation and breathing to prepare myself. 

I went into labor a little after midnight and labored own my own for about four hours before I woke up Brent. During that time, I focused on sleeping as much as I could and drinking as much as I could. I learned from Isaac's birth (the hard way) that rest and hydration are essential! 

And really, I was able to rest between contractions and stay positive and calm. It wasn't so bad. In fact, I wasn't worried about getting to the hospital at all. My contractions were manageable and were only 30 seconds-1 minute long. But once I got into the shower, they started coming 3 minutes apart, so my midwife said I should come in. 

Once we were packing up and heading to the hospital, however, it was clear we needed to get there fast. The contractions were really strong. (Thank you to Natalie who came over at the crack of dawn to watch Isaac!)

Brent helped me stay focused and calm and put counter-pressure on my back. But I wanted to get there ASAP. Consciously I didn't think I was that far progressed in labor, but I felt an urgency to get to the hospital. In the car, I kept telling Brent to hurry. 

When we got there, the nurses pretty much attacked me with my IV because I needed to get one round of antibiotics in my system before the baby was born. When the midwife checked me, she said, "You're at 9 1/2. We're going to have this baby before my shift ends (which was in about 90 minutes)." I couldn't believe it. 

In my mind, I freaked out, but only for a second: "Can I do this without an epidural? AH! I'm not sure. . . . Well, I guess I'm already doing it. So, we're just going to do this!!" 

The truth is, looking back, I was already in the zone-- meaning I was caught up in the moment taking one contraction at a time, not really thinking about how long it was going to take or how things were going to happen. In my birthing classes we had talked about this, but I had never gotten to this point with Isaac. It really is a different mental state that is really helpful when giving birth. It's like your body stops your mind from thinking too much so that you can stay calm. 

And with the help of my amazing midwife Titi, and my even more amazing husband, Brent, who wins the Husband Doula of the Year award, Phebe was born at 7:49 AM weighing in at 9 lbs 8 oz, 21 inches long! A big, fat, sweet baby! Brent caught her and cut the cord. Just look at that proud daddy: 

                                             

                                      

                                     

I was pretty wiped out, and honestly didn't even care that I had just had a baby. I was just glad labor was over! But it wasn't hard to fall in love with that sweet face. I couldn't believe how beautiful she was. 

Just look at those cheeks!

                                   

She looks like a 1 month old-- but she really is 1 day old!

                       

Isaac meeting his sister for the first time

Isaac's "Cheese!" Face

First Family Photo

My 1/4 Japanese Blondie Girl! 

After a birth like that, I'm glad we decided to name this baby girl Phebe. Just like her namesake, she has already taught me that I can do hard things!