Braydens first Halloween

We had a great start to our Halloween weekend! Saturday morning we met my cousin and their kids at Boo at the Zoo. Brayden loved it and just stared at everyone in their costumes. He got lots of candy for mommy and daddy too. It was great! So many adorable costumes and Brayden was the cutest Nemo ever!!!

That evening we went to Trunk or Treat in my moms ward. So fun. They always have a chili cook off and then games for all the kids and costume contests. The kids love it but I think the adults like it more since they don't have to walk from house to house all night long they can just go to one parking lot and the kids go crazy and run as fast as they can to each persons trunk for their treat. I love it!

Halloween we woke up and wanted to get an early start since we had so much family and friends to go visit. Unfortunately Brayden got sick at lunch. I thought he was actually trying to perform a scene from the Excorcist but really he did just have the flu. Poor baby boy. We weren't able to go out and visit anyone. He enjoyed all the kids coming to our door though and would smile everytime he heard them knocking!

So all in all it was a great Halloween celebration and we are just glad we were able to make it out a day ahead of time to get him dressed up!

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Carving Pumpkins

NO Brayden didn't get to carve his first pumpkin - yes sometimes I am a good mom and I don't let him play with knives, usually. There is that off chance sometimes when he helps clear the dishwasher and of course the first thing he grabs for is the knives. Doah!

My mom came over to help clean and carve pumpkins with me and Brayden. Unfortunately Gary is allergic so he wasn't able to do much. We had fun though and just did the good old fashioned, draw your own face and go with it! It was fun and I can't wait till Brayden can get his little hands in them and help clean them out next year!

YAY... only a few more days till Halloween! Lovin it!

Chicago in October

My sister, Brayden and I just got back from a fun-filled trip to see my dad and Lynn in Chicago. We had a great time other then the fact that they were having an Indian Summer and it was HOT HOT HOT! Okay so no we didn't have to deal with humidity this trip (thankfully!) But it was much warmer than I thought it would be.

For 2 of the days while we were there we took a mini vacation. My dad rented a house in this town called Galena. It was so beautiful and the colors were so pretty. We had so much fun and they had this cute little old town to walk through. It was a nice relaxing get away!

Right across the street from my dad's house is this place called Sunny Acre Farm. And every year they have a Harvest Carnival/Festival. It was so cute. They have rides for all the little ones, a petting zoo, haunted barn houses and a hay ride. We took Brayden and rode some of the rides. Also rode a pony for the first time and got to feed some animals. He did so good.

Thank you dad and Lynn for another great trip! Can't wait to see you in a couple months for Brayden's first birthday!!!

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He's 9 months... already!!!

I LOVE MY SON!!! I never knew it would be this hard but so much fun and rewarding at the same time! One smile from my son erases 1000 bad days! He is my joy and my light and I am just so truly grateful for my boy Brayden.

I know we have bad days and there are days when it just seems Brayden can't cry more than what he already is. Or why does he have to cling onto my leg all day and not play with his toys while I try to clean house. Sometimes I feel so inadequate and wondering to myself, why did I think I could do this. But then I realize... why do I think I need to be perfect at this? I grow and learn everyday how to be a mother. Some things just come natural and some things definitely don't.

I am grateful to Brayden for teaching me patience. For the first 3 months he CRIED. I was with him 24/7 so to me it was nonstop. I thought he hated me. Now I know he was just a fussy newborn and we made it thru it and I loved him even more when it was all over. :)

I am also grateful for how needy Brayden is, because just maybe when he is a teenager he will think he doesn't need his mommy anymore. And I will be grateful for all these times I get to hold him and get to constantly be right by his side.

I am grateful for his LOUD shrill screams for I know he has a strong voice. And again one day I hope he uses it to stand up for himself and to speak out for what he believes in!

I am grateful for his sleepless nights, it gives one more moment to be with him and hold him and to look at his beautiful little face one more time!

Brayden is growing so fast. We just had his 9 month wellness check done. He is now 18 lbs. 14 oz., 29 1/2" and has his 2 front bottom teeth. He did really well getting 2 more shots. Screamed for maybe 30 seconds! I think he was more mad that he had to be held down. He hates that more than anything else it seems. So now you can only imagine how diaper changes go. ha ha

I took Brayden and his cousin Ravyn to the park the other day and took some pictures! Enjoy the slideshow!

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Montana bound

Labor day weekend we were able to take our first road trip with Brayden. We headed up to Montana to see my Aunt Lori. We left Friday evening thinking it would be best so Brayden would sleep most of the ride. It took us 12 hours and Brayden only had 1 breakdown during the ride that only lasted about 20 minutes. We arrived about 6:30 on saturday morning. Our first day there we stayed pretty low key because, yes, Gary and I were exhausted. We went to the Farmers Market in town and then walked around downtown Bozeman. It was a beautiful day. Our next day we went for a small, hike/walk in Three Forks. It's where 3 rivers meet to make the Missouri River. Lewis and Clark had also stopped here. It was very pretty but also very cold. On Labor day my mom and Jerry flew in and we drove to some old ghost towns. It was cool to see the old homes and to see how the pioneers lived back in those days. Made me thankful for what I have now and where I live. Tuesday my mom and Jerry drove with us to Yellowstone. It was so beautiful. We saw lots of animals and so much beautiful scenery. It's not pictured but we did get to see a bear right outside of Yellowstone as we headed home. Wednesday we went for another hike to Hyalite. We got to check out some really pretty waterfalls and then on the way back down it decided to downpour. It was still a very pretty hike.

Thursday Gary and I drove home and went back through Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons. Brayden stayed back with Grammy and Grandpa so he could fly home on Friday with them and wouldn't have to sit in the car again. He did so good all week. We had so much fun and I'm so glad Brayden got to meet his Great Aunts! Thank you Lori and Deb for once again showing us a fantastic time in Big Sky Montana!!! We had tons of fun!

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