The holidays

The holidays are some of the best times of the year. Families make an effort to come together and you can always count on some good food and even better laughs!




In Germany it is a tradition to open gifts on the night of Christmas Eve, This is a tradition that I have always done growing up and plan to do with my children. This works out quit nicely as we are at my parents Christmas Eve and we can spend Christmas day with Bens family. This is something that will never change. Ben and I talked about this before Brayden was even born and I'm glad that he liked the idea too. We spend all day at my parents house helping with dinner, setting the table, or even just talking. This year is a little more special to me because it will be the first Christmas without foster kids in a long time. I don't know if anyone can understand that, having multiple kids act like brats because they have to be in a strangers house for the holidays and not with their own families, can you really blame them?? This is the first year that we don't have to worry about anything and nothing can ruin that for me. Ben and I have our tradition and that is not going to change for anyone. I'm sorry every one cant have what they want but that's just how it is.

I want to see my mothers smile on Christmas Eve because I cared enough not to give up on my tradition. I love her and this is also my parents holiday and I intend to enjoy every part of it with them! I cant wait to see my grandmother although it will be hard with to see her without my grandaddy and I cant wait for her to meet her newest grandson. I know she will love them as much as they will love her!

Playing

Brian is grown so much and Brayden knows it. Brayden will now make an effort to play with his little brother and give him things. When he crys Brayden will hurry to get a bottle and throws a fit if anyone tries to help him. He loves to tell us no as he shows us that he is capable of doing it himself. He is really filling the big brother role well and I am proud that he cares and wants to help care for Brian. I only hope that they will grow to share that brotherly bond and know how lucky they are to have eachother. If Ben and I do decide to have another baby I hope that Brian and Brayden are just as helpful.
Brayden has also gotten to the stage where he wants to give you the phone. When the phone rings I dont have to worry about getting it because Brayden will pop up and run to it, and hand it to me or Ben. He is becoming more and more helpful each day, although he does still have his bad days, he can do so much.

Daddy

Ben loves Brian and Brayden and I love all 3 of them. Ben is so good with the boys and will usually opt out of other activities to spend time with them. I was going through baby clothes and finally putting the small outfits away and getting out bigger ones. Ben couldn't help but to give into to the urge to change Brian into a past favorite outfit that is a size 3-6 month. Well... it didn't fit, we could not button it up in the back. They grow way to fast! Brian is three months and he wont even fit into his clothes! I'm kinda sad, I want him to be older but just not this fast. He wont sleep through the night but i consider myself lucky that Ben gets up with him all night. Where does the time go?

Being sick

Brayden is sick. We ended up taking him to the hospital, which as you all know is the last thing I ever want to do. When I got home yesterday morning Brayden was whimpering in his room. I went to check on him and he was covered in vomit and burning up. I gave him some tylenol and waited. The fever went down for about an hour and Brayden became playful but it was like a clock and when the hour was up he fever went up and he would become lethargic again. I tried to treat him at home but this had been going on all day and and he couldn't keep anything down. I got ready for work and took Brayden with me to the hospital. I was worried that he was going to be dehydrated because he hadn't kept anything down but he had tears so I had doubts. When we got to the hospital they started an IV so they could give him fluids and took some blood. The labs all came out clean which was a relief and his electrolytes where fine so he wasn't dehydrated. They ran more tests which all still came out negative but Brayden looked like he was going to faint. The doctor wanted us to stay in an overnight observation unit, where I work, to watch him just to make sure everything really was OK because he was worried about the way he looked. We decided to take Brayden home but we left his IV in just in case we had to bring him back. Ben took Brayden home and let him sleep in our bed so he could monitor him while I was at work. I got of work early and when I got home Brayden was still restless and crying, I don't know if he got any sleep. I took out his IV to help him and consider myself lucky that he was able to drink and not vomit. Now he is running and playing with no care in the world again and I'm so thankful! He still has a fever but its not at 103 like it was last night. I'm hoping whatever he has will just pass and not spread to anyone else. Wish us luck!

Time Flys

This picture was taken when Brayden was just 3 months old, the same age Brian is now. It is so amazing how fast time goes. When Ben and I got married there were no grand kids in the family, 3 years later there are 7! That is amazing! Two years ago we all thought that mom wouldn't make it much longer but what do you know, she is kicking and fighting all the way! She has gotten so much in the last three years that she has something to fight for. Lena married Kenny, who has two kids that we love to see, and they just had a new baby of there own in July. Dan and Emily just had there newest in addition to the beautiful Madison. Brian has grown so much that I am now putting baby clothes that are too small away! I was looking at pictures of Brayden that we had done on his first birthday and he is still developing his features so much, I just want them to stay little (without the temper tantrums). I don't really remember Brayden being this small, I guess that's why we have pictures.

Benjie and I just had our third anniversary on Saturday. I cant believe its been three years when some times it feels like it has been 20. He is great! Brian still wakes up a couple times during the night but Ben always gets him. He cleans the house, at least most of the time, and does a good job at it too. He will cook for me and the boys and its usually pretty good. I don't know what made me fall for Ben but I'm glad I did, he is an incredible guy. I didn't want to do anything special for our anniversary so we took the trax and walked around downtown. We really had a great time laughing and freezing in the cold. We then went to a local pub just down the street that was delicious! I had my first fried snickers, it wasn't too bad. I'm glad that we didn't plan anything and just winged it on our anniversary. We met some neat people, on the trax and in the pub, and found ourselves a great place to go eat when we get a night out. I cant wait to see what happens on our next anniversary!

Although I live in an incredible house I don't always appreciate it. There is always something to complain about if you ask me, I might just be negative that way, I'm not really sure. I wanted to live in an older house and Ben wanted a new house, I lost. Every time I think of something wrong with the house I just go outside. I have a beautiful view of the mountains that is just a joy to look at and clouds that are ever changing. I have a bay window right by my kitchen table that allows you to see a yellow and full of weeds field. That field is soon going to be a park once the neighbors decide on a plan they want. In short I will live across from a soon to be beautiful park that my children will be able to play in, I should consider myself lucky, very lucky and blessed. Ben trys so hard to make me happy and he does, he loves this house and neighborhood and tries his hardest to keep it in ship shape condition. I really am grateful for my house, my family, and the beautiful things my children show me.

Brian grows bigger and bigger everyday. I love those milestones he reaches and how he is still to little to understand the concept of a camera. I enjoy my little pictures of him and take so many. I know that soon enough when I get out my camera he will turn the other way and run. I really wonder what makes kids do this. Brayden is starting to run so I have to be faster, but I still have my little Brian. I figure that I better get them why I still can. He is a beautiful baby and I love taking pictures with my little Benjamin. He will still pose without knowing that he is posing! GET EM WHILE YOU CAN!

I told you about Brayden stealing my spot in bed in the last blog, well here is priceless picture of him hogging the pillows! I gave him a bath and then he wanted to watch a movie, I saw no harm in that. I put in Stuart Little, his new favorite movie, and went to go get him a drink, when I came back in it had been about two minutes and this is how my Brayden was laying, stretched out on all the pillows enjoying the movie. I figured there was no point in staying in the room if he was happy so I went to go make lunch. Brayden came and got me because he didn't want to be alone, he crawled right back onto the bed and back onto the pillows. I was at a loss. I moved him so I could have some pillows and he didn't mind that I moved him. I finally got my side of the bed back and wished Ben was home from work so he would have to fight for his side of the bed for once, I guess he just got lucky.

The U of U is going to be playing BYU in football this month. As a huge

football fan I will be watching while the Utes slaughter BYU! I am very excited and need to go buy chips and dip just for the game. I can see the U on the mountain from the bay window of my house. Its a nice thing to look at espically because the hospital Ben and I work at is right by the U. When Brayden asks for Ben when he is at work I take him to the window and show him the U and tell him that is where daddy is. I don't know if he can see it or not but soon I know he will!

happy times for everyone!

Brian does not like to sleep at night unless he is in his swing. He is the happiest baby there is when he is in his swing, he loves to smile and babble. Although he is getting better about sleeping he still just wants to be in his swing.

THE HIGHLIGHT OF MY DAY! I work nights and when I get home in the morning Brayden is usually in my bed. When Brayden wakes up he crawls into our bed so he can watch tv and give Ben a chance to sleep an extra hour but then when I get home I have nowhere to sleep, so lately I have been sleeping in Braydens bed. I normally get to sleep until about noon then Brayden comes and drags me out of bed to play. Sense I have been sleeping in Braydens bed he cant find me to come wake me up, its kinda nice, he has never thought to look in his room. The days that I dont work brayden usually goes down for a nap at noon and its not a moment to soon! When you tell him to take a nap he will go to his room on his own and go to bed with little or no fuss, I rarly have to tell him twice to go take a nap. It is so nice to know that I can take a nap in my own bed with no worries of Brayden stealing my spot. One of the most beautiful things to see is Brayden in his own bed!

After Ben took Brian out of his little bath tub Brayden just couldnt help but to crawl into Brians tub. He refused to get out and acted like it was the time of his life. He had a great time posing for pictures and cried when I finally told him it was time to get out. After a 30 second fit he finally got out of the bath. I know that next time I give Brian a bath Brayden will be ready to jump in there with him.

Brayden and Brian took their first offical bath together, It was quite a moment. Brayden loves his bath time and will take any chance he can get to sucker Ben or me into giving him a bath. I was giving Brian a bath and Brayden kept trying to crawl into the tub, I finally gave in and filled the whole tub instead of just Brians little tub. He had fun putting water on Brians tummy and playing with the bath toys connected to Brians tub. Brian sat in the tub for about 10 minutes without a single cry! He didnt seem to mind Brayden at all and smiled for a good part of the bath time, I was a suprised.