A week in Washington (D.C.)

My in-laws gave us a wonderful Christmas gift. Complimentary airfare to anywhere in the country for a little family vaca. As we discussed where we wanted to go, it was suggested that Dad was going to D.C. for a conference and they wouldn't mind if we came along. So, we left Brayden with my parents and hopped on the plane for a week of fun in the nation's capitol! :) (My mom did offer to watch Brayden...)

After our oh-so-exciting experience with Delta last time (if you haven't heard our honeymoon story... you should sometime...) I wasn't too thrilled with the idea of flying with them again. Dad fixed that by getting an upgrade ticket to first class and he gave it to me! (so kind!) I told Bryce I would switch him when the pilot turned off the seatbelt sign... which he didn't... *smile* (I paid him... *wink*) It was quite an experience...

We landed around 3:00 EST so we had some time to see a few sights, get a little east coast clam chowder, and snap a few pictures of the monuments at night! What a pretty sight! (p.s. I LOVE my new camera!)

On the way back from our tour of the warm memorials we took a short cut through a field. Little did we know the other side of the field was completely fenced off by a 7 foot chianlink... What other option did we have? That's right, we all (yes all four of us) climbed over the fence. The only thing between us and our hotel was finding the metro station... which disappeared. Funny enough we walked right by it at least twice... we finally figured it out with 2 minutes until the entrance closed. phew! That is the way you start a vacation! 

When I was asked where I wanted to go, the first thing I wanted to do was the International Spy Museum. It is a blast! They instruct you in the skills of espianoge, give you a "cover" (that you must memorize and remember throughout the exhibit because there's a test at the end), and let you explore exhibits covering everything from disguise to famous people you didn't know were spies. There was even an air duct that you could climb through, you had to be very quiet. You can't help but feel a little paranoid after going though... The rest of the week we would pass someone on the street and Bryce would say "he's a spy..." Naturally, no photos allowed...

We also took a tour of the capitol building with an intern from Senator Hatch's office. It really is a facinating building and it is fun to see where laws are made and passed.

The underside of the rotunda

The original Senate room

Day 3 took us to Gettysburg (my other suggestion). We bought ourselves an audio tour and book (so if anyone plans to go, give me a call! I have it!) and after we went through the visitors center and museum we took it to the field! It was a lot of fun to share one of my favorite places with my new family.

The cemetery where Lincoln gave his Gettysburg Address.

On Sunday we found a ward that meets in one of the oldest chapel buildings in the country. They even had a little frame with original wood from the Smith cabin on the wall! They were such a wonderful friendly ward. We then toured Mount Vernon. This is seriously one of my favorite places in the world. (Monticello is up there too...) It is so beautiful and peaceful and George Washington is truly an American icon, hero, and all-around good man. As my dad put it "Him and Bilbo Baggins... the only two men to willingly give up power..." Well said. :)

Mount Vernon

The rest of the week we spent at the Smithsonian museums and other sites. We saw pretty much everything...

Natural History Museum

Dorothy's Slippers in the American History Museum

Arlington National Cemetery

On Wednesday we got tickets to see 1776 in Ford's Theater! It was a highlight of the week! We had balcony seats that looked straight across to President Lincoln's chair. The play was fantastic too! I am so glad we were able to go!

Sketch of the assassination

Lincoln was sitting there...

The stage!!!

Brayden sent us pictures all week updating us on how he was doing and what he was up to. It was good for me (I missed him a lot!) and, lets face it he's just darn cute!

Dear Mom and Dad, Stay Hydrated!

Dear Mom and Dad, I now control the remote

Dear Mom and Dad, Look at my new play area!

Dear Mom and Dad, I love you!

Dear Mom and Dad, Can't wait to be in my own bed again.

Dear Mom and Dad, They are feeding me. 

We finished it off by attending a session in the gorgeous Washington D.C. Temple. The best way to finish off a great week!

That's it in a very general nut-shell. Thanks again to my in-laws for the amazing time! It was fun to spend some one-on-one time with you.  I didn't think you needed to read every detail! :) Thanks for reading anyway!

Things I've Learned Since Brayden Arrived

First and foremost: my nephew got to go home today!!!! So happy! Congrats to them all!

I was asked a few days ago if I could talk for 5-10 minutes at our Relief Society thing about how my relationship with my husband has changed since we had Brayden (he is the oldest child in the ward). I've been thinking about what I can say... I keep coming back to two things. Communication and how much the baby has been a blessing to our relationship. Sure there have been changes and challenges, but we have had to be more deliberate when it comes to our relationship which has, in turn, has brought our priorities back into focus. I'll keep you posted on what I actually say... :)

Life has changed a lot in the last year. It hasn't all been easy, but I wanted to record some of my experiences and this seems like a good time...

How having a baby has changed my life:

1. I see the world through new eyes. Brayden experiences new things every day and it is all exciting and fantastic to him. Life is much happier when you rejoice in the many things you can learn every day. Each day brings a new adventure, embrace it, enjoy it, and bring it on!!!

2. Showing emotion is not weakness. Brayden is not afraid to show you that he is happy, excited, tired, angry (we love that particular face...), or upset. Things would be so much easier if we just opened up and let people know what we really feel about things. No guessing involved.

3. I know more than I thought I did. Before Brayden arrived I wasn't sure I was smart enough to be a mother. How do I know what he needs to eat? What about getting him to sleep? What happens when he gets sick? Just a few of many questions I had (and still have sometimes). As it turns out, that "mother's intuition" is quite the phenomenon and I am a believer. My confidence in that I know what is good for my child increases daily.

4. Time is precious. Babies grow fast and time flies! Enjoy each and every day, even the frustrating ones. Also, nap time is precious. Its a chance to do what you need and do what you want. Balance it so you can enjoy some time to yourself.

5. "Mommy Guilt" is real. For me it started during pregnancy. I felt guilty that I couldn't cook or do dishes and laundry without throwing up. My husband had to pick up the slack and I felt guilty that I couldn't do my "duties" as a wife. Needing help caused me all sorts of guilt. After all, I'm supposed to be able to take care of my house, husband, baby, and myself or I'm a failure right? Wrong. So I have learned (and am still learning) the art of not feeling guilty and accepting help when I need it.

There are so many more things that I have learned from Brayden. This post is getting long enough. More to come. :) Thanks for listening!

One Year!

"This time last year..." has been a common phrase the past few days for us. Why you might ask? Because this time last year I was carrying a watermelon attached to my body... and then that watermelon turned into the most beautiful baby boy I could ever imagine... Where has the time gone?! I cannot believe that it has already been a year. It seems like just yesterday we brought him home... yet it seems like a lifetime... We don't really remember what life was like before Brayden. That's a good thing.

Brayden gave me one really good step by himself the other day. Since then he chickens out just as he looks like he's about to move that little foot. Its almost there though. But his personality shines through all day, every day. He has the best faces, and he is a curious little one. This one is fast on those knees too. I usually spend my days following him around. He also babbles... a lot.... and he puts things to his ear to talk through the "phone". Its pretty classic. But it makes me laugh.

He loves balls, he loves putting things into other things... he loves to eat. I haven't been able to feed him for months now. He must feed himself. He likes to be one of the guys. He adores his daddy. I love to see him perk up when the door opens and he hears daddy's voice. I know he loves me because I'm the only one he will hug.

Brayden is super social. He loves other people to pay attention to him. He's not terribly shy either. He'll crawl to just about anyone in the ward... any woman that is... and with that little "shy smile" he puts on, he has everyone smitten. He waves "hi" and "bye" and points to things that he is excited about.

His favorite foods are pears, bananas, and... chocolate cake... figures. But he's a pretty good eater. No picky-ness as of yet. (one can only hope)

The doctor gave us a clean bill of help and he is current on his immunizations. He sits very comfortably in the 57th percentile for his weight and height. Right where he's supposed to be at 21lbs 12 oz and 30 inches long. Like I said, growing like crazy!  Life is pretty good. I absolutely LOVE being a mom. This little man makes it almost easy. We have our moments, but I can't ever stay mad at those large eyes for too long...

The boys playing with his new basketball hoop

Brayden's birthday cupcake and the adult Cookies and  Cream  version...

Brayden wasted no time digging into his cake...

His aunt Lindsey gave us these awesome long sleeved  bibs. A godsend.

That cake took 2 boxes of mix... amazingly, he  did  not get sick...I do every time I look at that...

There you have it! Where Brayden is at his 12 month mark. I still can't believe it!

The Holidays

Wow it has been a loooong time. I made a resolution in November to be better at blogging... right after the holidays... and then low-and-behold my laptop hard drive has finally given up the ghost... and the other computer's cord broke... You never really appreciate what you have and enjoy until it all of the sudden doesn't work... I am posting now. Patience as I strive to be better at writing.

Life got really busy around Thanksgiving and Christmas season (as I am sure it does for most people... or am I just crazy?) We celebrated Thanksgiving with the LeBaron clan. It was fun to see everyone and have a chance to catch up with all that is going on in their lives. With 7 kids, 5 out of home, it gets a little crazy. I tried out my new cinnamon poached pears recipe on them and we ate ourselves full of delicious salads, potatoes, turkey... mmm... what more could you ask for?

December was just about as busy as it possibly could be. We decorated our tree at the end of November with shatter proof ornaments and plastic candy canes... They turned out to be one of the favorite toys of the season as they rolled well for chasing and made funny noises when they "bounce".

The "White Collar" tree at Festival of Trees

We did a fun thing this year. Instead of the traditional "white elephant gifts" for the LeBaron party there was going to be a treat gift exchange. We were all supposed to bring a special treat and we traded them around. I ended up getting a plate of "O Henry!" bars. They were gone before the end of the weekend. Bryce and I used my new mini-donut maker to make mini-donuts for the parties and for our neighbor gifts. It was a day full of donuts but it was fun too. We made Pumpkin with a chocolate ganache, Chocolate Orange, and Gingerbread with a caramel frosting. They were all delicious. Recipes over at What's Cooking?

The Barker party was a lot of fun for us, despite Brayden's teeth coming in... I always enjoy getting to catch up with the family and its fun to see how the family changes over the course of just one year. I am excited for Ashley and hope she figures out that whole schooling business. I know you'll do well, whatever you choose! Then there is the ever favorite talent show. We were party-poopers this year and failed to perform... but rest assured, we enjoyed the other talents. The children's nativity is possibly my favorite part. I love to see how excited the kids are to perform their respective roles. Emma and Alicia were quite serious as they practiced their "wiseman walk" up and down the hallway. :)

Brayden couldn't get enough of the snow around the lights at Temple Square!

Christmas was special for us this year as it was our first Christmas with a child. I was pleased to welcome Santa back into our home! :) He brought us quite the haul as he seemed to visit us in our home and at my parents. We woke Brayden up and groggy as he was, he seemed to know how it all worked. He brightened up to see his new rocking horse, and pulled wrapping paper off boxes like a pro. I'm pretty sure every toy but 1 that he got this year sings and makes noise. It has made for some good times since... :) I got some awesome stuff for the kitchen. I can now make my own homemade pasta and raviolis, soups with my new hand blender, and casseroles in my Rachel Ray casseround. :) Bryce got a remote control helicopter , a new sports watch, White Collar DVDs, and his favorite- Dark Chocolate Peanut M&Ms. Mom and Dad LeBaron are taking us to Washington DC this May as our gift this year as well. We did pretty well for ourselves. ;)

We spent the morning at church with my parents and ended the day arriving at the LeBaron home to visit for a day or so. We had to come home Tuesday so we could pack to get ready for our trip to Zion's Canyon on Wednesday. A lot of driving. Soo much fun. Mom, Dad, and Ben met us at a cabin just outside the canyon. The cabin was amazing! 2 full-sized bathrooms complete with jetted tubs, fireplaces, a kitchen... very posh. We did a little hiking, Brayden was introduced to buffalo and horses (up close!), and we enjoyed some 60 degree weather. It didn't end so well for my brother and mom... who both caught some sort of 24 hour bug...  But all-in-all we had a very fun time.

Ben: a regular stroller pushin' pro! 

The Narrow's Hike December 29... 

Brayden loves bread... 

 New Years Eve found us in our little house preparing for some friends to come celebrate with us. As it turns out, college towns become ghost towns over the holidays and most of the couples in our ward went out of town with family. We did have one couple, some new friends, stop by and a few of my old friends from high school came too. We played some games and watched the ball drop. We caught up with each other's life (as school keeps us all very busy) and talked about the next year and what was coming up. Bryce and our new friend got to talking about grad school and he told Bryce about his program which sounds like something Bryce could be interested in. We still don't know much about it, but there's an info meeting later this month and we hope to get some answers there. 

Its nice to be home, back into the normal swing of things... with a few exceptions as we are trying our hand at the new year resolutions thing again. :) We did alright last year, but want to implement a few changes to our routine that we think will help the household run smoother our family function a little better. We look forward to another amazing year together, full of adventure, romance, and fun.

Brayden had his final check-up before his 1 year mark. He is officially 10 months old! I can hardly believe it! He is getting so big! He never stops wiggling (even in his sleep he wiggles) and he is getting to be quite the speedy crawler. He is learning to feed himself and he likes to make a mess doing it. He stands pretty well when he is next to something and he knows he is on the verge of some thing big as he teeters on his toes. He is quite responsive when you speak to him now and often babbles back. Oh, and he is currently trying to cut 6 teeth... 4 on top, 2 more on the bottom...

Oh!  It finally snowed down here and with that came out the little snow suit we got for Brayden. We built a snow man and Brayden loved the snow. He kept trying to eat it and he looked so cute in his little suit! :)

cold on those new teeth... 

my little Tigger :)

PS. Special love to my momma for being so willing to help me out when I needed her. I am just sorry it cost her a wrist... :( You're the best mom in the world!! Love you! Feel better!

Mini Houdini

Today is the day!!! This final interview should be over and passed! Bryce is focusing hard on memorizing everything... with the health care market the way it is... its a lot to memorize. We're praying hard that he will remember it all when the executives quiz him on his knowledge. I know he will blow them out of the water! But a little divine help is always appreciated! :)

Brayden wanted to tell his story... so here he is:

mmmaaaammmmm. bblloobbb *raspberry* oooo-oooo.

Roughly translated that means...

Mom's old friend came to visit and she brought me a new pal. Sterling is 2 months younger than me, but about my same size. Mom and her friends decided to go out to the mall for a girl's night. Since Dad had to study I got to tag along. We were all starving by the time we got there, so we went straight to the food court where mom put me into the stroller. I enjoyed the crackers and cookie I got waiting for the opportune moment. Then, just as I had given up hope of escape my moment had come! Mom turned to look at the baby for a minute, this was my chance! I wiggled down beneath the lap bar, turned sideways and let gravity pull my feet to the floor. Ica had to go and see me as I was squatting to my knees. Never mind her, I'm a fast crawler now I can get away!  I don't know how she did it, but she caught me before my escape was complete. Maybe next time...

Again, that was a rough translation. He might be guest posting again sometime. We'll see. But I will say this, we couldn't help but laugh at the amazing-ness of the whole food court ordeal! He couldn't help but look quite pleased with himself either. lol.

Brayden is crawling for real now... on his hands and knees. It's taken him about a month to figure out that it is faster. We think he still has a harder time on the hard floor, but he's getting the hang of it quickly. I have begun locking our cupboards, and am on to drawers here soon. He also pulls himself up on basically everything, so everything is rising in elevation. Any suggestions on bookshelves?

I have this little tradition for Thanksgiving. I make the table centerpieces for the celebrations. It started when I was in my floral arranging class and I wanted to try my hand at it. This year I was watching my daily dose of Studio 5 when one of my favorite contributors talked about this project. I knew that I would have to try them for the centerpieces. Here they are so far! I'm quite excited about them...

I have been busily working on gifts for the birthdays that are coming up. My mother-in-law had a birthday on November 9, and My mom has one coming up in December. I can't wait to post about the projects I've been working on for them... but I can't give away the surprise. I just want everyone else to be excited too. :)

Thanks to everyone who actually reads my random updates... It means a lot. Lots of Love! XOXO