Christmas Day 2012

We went to Grandma and Grandpa Wade's house for Christmas Day dinner. Mom does a prime rib every year and it's pretty good. 

We opened presents first. By now Cael had the un-wrapping down pretty good. Grandma and Grandpa gave him a zebra that he can ride, stand up and push behind, or use as a scooter. Grandma also made him a big pillow with his name on it. Then he got some jammies and some clothes and books. 

Me and mom bought a stainless steel pots and pans set together/for each other. I love mine and needed some good pans. She also gave me a really nice bag for my sewing machine. 

The gift exchanges were fun, but the time spent with family during the holidays was irreplaceable. I loved watching my son interact with all his cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents. Family is such a big part of our lives and I'm so glad that I can share Cael with them. I'm so proud that he's mine and knowing how much I love him, makes me appreciate my parents and Casey's parents so much more. 

Cael made this the best Christmas by a mile. No presents were needed. 

Christmas Morning at Home

I only wrapped three presents for Cael to open on Christmas morning, but he got some cute books for when he is older and we also opened him a savings account with a good chunk of change. 

I forgot to mention that Cael got his first tooth for Christmas. On Christmas Eve when he was crawling around eating wrapping paper, I stuck my finger in his mouth to get him to spit something out and I had a little surprise. I've been telling Casey for weeks that Cael was waiting to get his teeth for Christmas. So he went around with his tongue sticking out cause he was feeling his new tooth.

Here is the wave again.

He also crawled on top of every box he opened and sat on it to play patty cake. 

He played and played all morning and then took a really good nap before lunch. 

Christmas Eve 2012

We spend Christmas Eve at Jay and Becky's house every year.  All the grandkids draw each other for gifts and all the kids draw each other. Tanner gave Cael a "Racin Ramps Garage" and Cael loved the little cars. He played with them for quite a while. Cael gave Jodi some refills for her Easy Bake Oven. Cael and Ava had a lot of fun running around with each other among all the commotion. 

Casey got some boot dryers for our mud room so that he can get his boots dried out each day after work or after he has been hiking. Mindy bought me some cast iron bread pans, an electric knife, and some bread bags. We were all pretty spoiled. Jay and Becky gave Casey a work light, a bench grinder, and a bunch of Cinch jeans. I got a Food Saver with the bags, canisters, and mason jar sealers. We all got Jay and Becky a new "Infrared" Grill.

Cael doesn't see Ava very often but they are becoming pretty good buddies. She is 7 months older than Cael.

Cael knew that he had an audience while he was opening presents so every once in awhile he would stop and wave at everyone. 

Of course he enjoyed the wrapping paper like I knew he would. 

I don't understand men, but Troy has been asking Casey for a set of antlers for like five years and Casey finally gave in when he drew Troy this year. That's what Troy had asked for.

I drew Angie and she is re-decorating her bedroom, so I took a window from their old house and filled it with dried flowers for her to hang in her new room. 

Provost Family Party

Cael got his first experience at the Provost family Christmas party (Casey's mom's family). All the little kids draw names. Cael drew Kimber and bought her a nightstand lamp at her request so she can read before she goes to bed. Jaymie drew Cael and got him some bath toys. He likes to flirt with the girls already and is always trying to kiss his cousins Ava and Boston. He got to swing at the pinata and we let him eat a sucker, which he absolutely loved. Ava is 7 months older than Cael and I like to see how he interacts with other kids. At the end of the night he was tuckered out.

 

The adults take a Man's or Woman's gift for an exchange. This year Casey and I actually got the gifts that we were fighting for. He got some shotgun shells and clay pigeons and I got a 20 quart stainless steel mixing bowl, loaded with a batter bowl, measuring cups, spatulas, hot pads, rags, and dish clothes. It was pretty nice.

 

Healthy Boy

At Cael's 9 month checkup he weighed 17.4 lbs (15%), was 28.25 inches (23%), and his head was 47 cm (83%), his BMI was 15.22

 

He did however have a heart murmur. My doctor could hear it and a second doctor in the office could hear it. My doctor ordered an echo cardiogram at Utah Valley Regional Hospital which would require Cael to be sedated. I wasn't too happy about it but the Pediatric Cardiologist called me and said they would like to do an EKG and other tests before going ahead with the Echo. So we went down and did the EKG. Cael didn't make a peep the whole time, just sat and watched. The nurse blew some bubbles for him and he thought that was fun. The specialist could hear the murmur and he said it was a normal murmur but it was more normal in kids 3-4 years of age. So they sent us to the lab to get an

X-ray of his heart to make sure it wasn't enlarged and it wasn't. Dr. Hoffman thinks he is completely healthy and wants to see Cael back in 9 months. He assumes that the murmur will be gone when he sees Cael again. So no sedation, everything is healthy, and Casey and I are happy about that!

 

My Santa Baby

Cael won't remember his first Christmas but I know that he has enjoyed it so far. He helped me decorate the tree; meaning he pulled all of the ornaments out of the boxes, tried to climb my ladder, played with every little peice of plastic and paper he could find, and looked as cute as he could be.

 

I laid on the couch looking at our tree all decorated and I said to Casey, "this will be the best Christmas ever". Having Cael in our lives just makes everything so much better.