What did you dream about?

I asked Braden after a nap what he dreamed about and he said, "Heidi, Abi and Brad." While calling Heidi and telling her what Braden had said I asked Braden what he did with Gramma, Abi and Papa in his dream. He responded by saying, "Nevermind." 

skipping christmas

So when you have a baby 4 days after Christmas you're going to forget something in the hoop and holler of baby mania. I guess I didn't realize that I didn't post our fabulous Christmas experiences. However, in the absence of time that I have to blog or do anything anymore I will just post a few pictures and hope that you all enjoy. 

A visit to Santa Claus: "Braden, what do you want for Christmas?" "Woody and Buzz!" (From Disney's Toy Story)

Live Nativity: Braden couldn't wait for the hayride, and a great hayride it was. We went to this nonprofit nativity that a family puts on every year in Alpine. My favorite part was walking into the barn where Mary, Joseph and the Baby Jesus were. Braden was so cute. He knelt by the scene just taking it in. It was a beautiful experience and so real, as if we really were coming to see the baby Jesus. (They used a real baby BTW, maybe that's why it seemed so real.)

The Polar Express: This was our second year to travel on the magical train to the north pole. We had a wonderful time with Papa and Gramma Heidi. Braden was so excited to ride the train and was filled to the brim with excitement to see Santa! I forgot how much I love Christmas and this experience brought back the excitement of Christmas from when I was a little girl.

Lights at Temple Square: Burr....it was cold!

Cristmas Cruise: We took a little cruise/boat ride out by Utah lake. There were lights, treats and a visit from Santa. It was fun to be with the family but we all decided that we would never do it again cause it was pretty lame. Before the cruise we had our traditional Christmas dinner with ham, turkey, the works! Braden ate the turkey leg all by himself. After getting home we were all cold so to warm up Braden and Bo got in the hot tub.

Sledding with Cousin Kennedee:

Family Christmas Party...kissin' cousins:

Christmas Day! We were all spoiled to say the least. Braden did get his Buzz and Woody as well as a train, Elmo live, a tool belt, Little People Airport and Noah's Ark and so much more. I got a sewing machine, a mean little green spot vac and a new camera.  Kam was spoiled with an X-Box, something I said he could never own, a dremmel tool, amo and his favorite cherry Mentholatum! We had a great Christmas spent will all of our family who we love so, so much.

Winter Carnival: Great Grampa Henrie decided that this year he wanted all the grandkids to experience a special tradition that his father and grandfather did every year when he was a child. Grampa got out the sleigh, and tobagan and rented some snowmobiles. We drank hot chocolate, ate fudge and chili and rode to our hearts content. I loved the sleigh ride the best. I'd been begging Kam to take me on the horse drawn sleigh since we first were married and this year it finally happened. It was very cold outside, a frosty 13 degrees, but non of us cared because we all had such a great time. (The last picture shows me in my snow-pants being held up by Grampa's suspenders; two days before delivering Carter.)

Carter Gibb Henrie

Not too bad for do-it-yourself pictures. Actually, I think I did a pretty good job. 

Conversations with a Two Year Old

Me: What's your name?

Braden: Braden Henrie. (Sounds like Bwraden H-aw-nrie)

Me: What's Mommy's name?

Braden: Baby "Tawter."

Me: No, thats' our baby's name. What's mommy's name?

Braden: Honey!

This one happened while in the car.

Braden: Ow mom.

Me: What happened?

Braden: My eye popped out!

Me: Your eye popped out! How did your eye pop out?

Braden: Ow!

Me: Put it back in.

Braden: Oh. I put it back in .

IT's a BoY!

Our baby is finally here! 

I had an appointment with my OB on the afternoon of the 29th. He didn't check me because we were planning a c-section, but I did tell him that I was experiencing another round of braxton hicks (I didn't sleep at all the night before because of them.) He told me to keep watch on them to see if they decided to come more regular; at the time they were very irregular. After my appointment Kam and I went over to Best Buy to exchange the camera that he had gotten me as a surprise Christmas present. While we were there my contractions decided to become real and were timing about 10 minutes apart. After our errand, we took Braden home to take a nap and to clean the house and take down Christmas. During our cleaning up my contractions got to 5 minutes apart. I was in disbelief that they were real contractions so I layed down on the couch to see if it was just the being busy that was bringing them on. They didn't stop, but I wasn't in a lot of pain. After a quick dinner and quickly packing a bag (I wasn't prepared) we all got in the car and drove towards the hospital. I had Kam stop at the mall on our way so I could make a couple exchanges (yes, I am crazy.) 

We got to the hospital at 7:30 and the nurse got me all hooked up. By then my contactions were coming every two minutes and I still was surprisingly not in a lot of pain. The nurse called the doctor who was on call, my doctor just left the hospital and was on his way to Las vegas for the Sugar Bowl. (Why do I always have my babies when he is out of town?) Dr. Froerer told the nurse to go ahead and get me ready and he'd be there in a half hour to do the c-section. I was so unprepared for things to be moving this fast. With Braden I had a whole day of laboring before I was on my way to the OR. My mom, Gary, my sister Megan and her hubby Kris, my brother Peter, and Kam's parents got to the hospital just in time to help watch Braden during the surgery. Kam gave me a blessing and it was time. 

I walked down the hall to the OR and slowly my emotions got the better of me. I stood in front of the doors to enter the sterile environment and just bawled. I couldn't let go of Braden. I couldn't believe that in an hours time my life would change forever. I was overwhelmed with love for Braden and couldn't imagine how I could love another little boy. Kam pretty much had to pry me away from Braden. 

I got to the room and climbed on the table. The anesthesiologist came and gave me a spinal block. I hated it. I went numb so fast. It drove me crazy that I could move my legs. I felt uncomfortable. During the surgery I couldn't keep still. I kept moving my upper half and Kam had to keep telling me over and over again to relax. I couldn't. I was so tired, felt like I couldn't swallow and the block had made me really "loopy." I finally just turned my head to one side and tried to sleep. It helped. 

Then I heard my baby cry. He was really here. The nurse must have taken him away quickly because I don't remember Kam telling me much about him at that point. He went over to take pictures of the baby and I continued to try and relax. I heard someone say that he weighed 7 lbs. 2 oz. and I tried to shout out, "Are you sure?" (Braden was 8 lbs. 11 oz.) I don't remember much else until they moved me to my bed and began to wheel me out of the room. I heard Braden screaming, laughing more like as we came out of the OR. They kept wheeling me to my recovery room and Kam stopped to show off the baby to Braden. The video of this is so tender. Braden was excited! 

During recovery everyone took their turn looking and examining the little guy. He weighed 7 lbs. 2 oz., was 20 inches long and was born at 9:31 pm on Monday, December 29th 2008. My first thought of seeing Carter was that he looked like Braden. But taking a look at him in the recovery room I changed my mind. He looks like Kam's baby pictures (Braden looked just like mine.) He has Kam's long feet and toes as well as long little fingers. I'm pretty sure he has my little turned up nose and my dimples. 

He is such a beautiful little, tiny boy. He seems so fragile to me. For now he sleeps really well and is a good eater. He took to breast feeding much easier than Braden, however I'm sure that's because I've done it before. I am so happy that he is here and that he is healthy. I already can't imagine my life without him. And it's amazing how when you think your heart can't hold any more love, that it opens up and somehow you can love more and more and more.  

All hooked up and ready to go.

He's Here!

Skis for feet.

I look like Daddy.

Mommy and her Boys