Life as I know it

The last few weeks have been such a learning process. I am not really sure what I thought motherhood meant. I had read many many mommy blogs, read lots of parenthood/pregnancy books (I even own Parenting for Dummies), but never did I realize what being a mother was going to be like. I am not sure even if I would have "rented" a child from my friends would have prepared me for the experience that awaited me once Kai joined our family. It truely is unconditional love.

I thought alot about what unconditional love meant the other night as I snuggled with my baby on my lap at 2:00 AM trying to get him to fall asleep.

I had heard this idea of unconditional love.

I thought I had that kind of love for Brian but I was wrong.

If Brian for some reason cheated on me or abused me (not that he ever would) but if he did- It would be hard to still love him- but I can't imagine Kai doing anything that would cause me to "un-love" him. He is my child and I love him despite anything that he does or could do.

Some moments where I knew I have crossed over to "mommyhood"

The other day the hubbs went to change Kai's diaper. He immediately came out to the living room and said "I can't do it... you will need to do this one". I went to the room to see Kai laying on the changing table with this totally content look on his face, a diaper half hanging off his butt, and there I am looking at his poo trying to figure out what I ate to cause such a commotion in his pants... only a mother could do that.

I have given a spit bath- I used to hate it when my mother would lick her thumb and rub it on my face (especially in public)-- I am totally guilty of it.

I always feed him first. I love to eat and for me to sacrifice my belly gurgling is a true sign of love.

Sometimes when he is totally content sleeping in his bed, I find myself going in and picking him up just so I can cuddle with him a little bit more before I retire to bed.

I love this opportunity to be a mom. I love the learning experience and feel so blessed that Heavenly Father has given us this opportunity.

who could resist this face anyways...

Labor, Delivery, and LOVE

I am happy to announce the Kai Frederick Beaudoin joined our family on Thursday December 30, 2010 at 10:40 AM. He weighed 6 lbs. 11 oz and was 20 inches long and cute as can be.

I went in to be induced on Wednesday the 29th. I had asked my doctor if I could be induced before the new year- partially because I wanted to schedule the birth rather then just wait and wait until my water broke in the middle of the night (I know I am not one that is patient). I would be lying if I didn't think about the tax deduction as well. I had been dialated to 2 cm for two weeks and went to 3 cm and 70% effaced the day before the induction so I am sure he would have come on his own not to much longer. SO anyways- I went into the hospital at 6:00 PM on Wednesday and they thought it would take all night for me to get to a 10 and I would have the baby right when my doctor arrived at 7:00 AM. Since I was already dialated, they didn't start pitocin and instead gave me some meds to slowly start contractions. Once I got to 5 cm. I asked for the epidural. I personally had no intentions of doing the birth naturally. I felt a couple contractions and was beyond uncomfortable so I knew I wanted the drugs and I am so glad that I did.

Once I got the epidural life was pleasant. I rested, watched some tv, spent time with the hubbs, and was anxious to meet my boy. My water broke around 12:30 AM- that was interesting. I was listening to my iPod and all of a sudden felt this gushing. Not really what I expected my water breaking to feel like. They started pitocin around 4 am. When the doctor arrived at 7:00 I was at 8 cm and fully effaced. With my water breaking, the babies heartrate lowered with each contraction so they actually put a tube in and inserted water into the uterus so the baby was a little more comfortable. When I started pushing, they eased the pushed so that I didn't have any "issues down there" afterwards. I felt alot of pressure which I wasn't really expecting. I thought that the epidural was supposed to make me feel nothing but I guess I was wrong. I kept saying "I never saw this on 16 and pregnant". With just a few pushes... the little guy showed up. My doctor said, "put your hands down here and grab your baby". I was not expecting that at all but it was kinda neat (and a little wierd) pulling the baby out.

 It was amazing that he was really here and he is breathing, and he is cute, and he is perfect.

Here are some pictures...

Dr. McKernan is seriously the BEST OB... he sang rap songs to me as he was delivering the placenta and just made the whole experience awesome. I HIGHLY recommend him to anyone who is pregnant.

I just love this picture. His little pouty face is like saying "mom, what the heck I was comfy in there- you are so mean".

But that pouty face slowly turned to this. He was like 4 hours here. Doesn't he look perfect??

Our little family.

Bri with his little man.

love him so much...

Cutie

Life so far with the little guy has been great. He is such a good baby. He is so calm and patient.

He eats really well- although we had some "boobie issues". He latched on really well at first but wasn't doing it right apparently which causes LOTS of pain and he decided he didn't want to latch anymore. So now I pump and we feed him by bottle. I am hoping once he gets a little stronger and my boobies heal, we can try again but if not, the most important thing is that he is getting food.

He loves to just sit and look around at everything

He likes to pee on himself and daddy and mommys friends

He loves when mommy kisses his face (well he may not like it but I like it so thats all that matters right now)

He is awesome.

I love being Mommy.

Baby stuff...

So I have beyond sucked at blogging through this pregnancy. I thought for sure I would be good at keeping up with all the appointments and information but I am not. My mind is like mush and when I get home from working... I find myself wanting to do nothing but lay on the couch. I can't even tell you the last time I cooked dinner (seriously).

Anyways here are lots of pictures of the last couple months...mostly the baby shower and the Kai's room.

The baby shower theme was childrens books- every centerpiece was a diaper cake decorated after a childrens book on top of a recieving blanket that my mom made to match. It was sooooo cute.

The favors were magnets of some favorite words like "Bliss" and "joy" and "Giggle" along with cake pops.

The cake was made by my friends Neil and Megan at Sugar and Spice and Everything Iced. It not only looked awesome, was completely edible, it tasted amazing

My Aunts and Mother who put the shower on for me

LOVE MY MOM!!!

Kai's ROOM!

My mom made this mobile for over his crib. It is painted shower curtain rings and looks AWESOME

My mom made the dresser

My Dad made this book rack for all the childrens books that I love so much.

Yes Kai has a 40 inch tv in his room

More pictures will be on the wall. My mom made the curtains

Kai's custom surfboard from Hawaii

Our Christmas Card picture.

So the little guy will be here next Thursday (the 30th). I will be induced just shy of 39 weeks. I asked my doctor about the tax writeoff if I have him before the new year. Yes... I know maybe bad but heck if he comes two days after Jan 1st or two days before and I can get money from the government... I will take the two days before. Plus- I am ready to meet the little guy and he is ready to come out (I know this because he kicks me all the time like he is trying to bust through the walls).

We have been SOOOOO Blessed this year with the baby and everyones support. I am amazed at the love I feel from people and some that I don't even know. I am so grateful for everything that I have been given and know that this next year will be an exciting and challanging one for us. The hubbs will always turn to me when I get that "oh crap...we are having a baby look" and gives me a high five and says "Team B squared". (thats us...get it Brooke and Brian "B SQUARED"). Anyways- I am so grateful for such a loving husband who has been right there with me through this whole thing. I remember laying in bed crying my eyes out when we were trying to get pregnant and he just held me and soothed the pain away. I am so grateful for him.

Brookies Cookies

I tend to jump from hobby to hobby...

 one day I am a photographer

the next I am a knitter

the next I am a baker

the next I am a quilter

then a crocheter

then a cook

then I am writer

then a gardener

then a food storage master of the universe

then a photographer again

Well whatever- I think I consider it multitalented- or multi "wanna be" talented

Anyways- Last year around this time I wanted to be a "Cookie Maker"

and I was convinced I would open a little shop called

Brookies Cookies (catchy huh?)

My parents bought me this wonderful Bosch Mixer and I just want to say... its AMAZING

I love this mixer... I highly recommend it for all baking needs.

I can't really compare it to the kitchenaid mixer but I love my machine.

I made some fabulous cookies as well that I will share in another Fall Baking post

(make sure you check out the sign in the picture... love it)

The Baby Bump

Me at 28.5 weeks

I made the Hubbs take this picture like 20 times.

me- "I look fat"

me-"I have a muffin top"

me-"Let me change shirts because this one is to tight"

after changing shirts

me-"this shirt makes me look like I am not even pregnant"

me-"Do I look fat to you?"

me-"honey... don't cut my face out of the picture"

me-"honey... my face looks huge"

the hubbs- "you are so beautiful and I love you so much"

Gotta love good husbands

Fall Baking- Peanut Butter Rocky Road Brownies

Another one of my Fall Baking Projects

Heat oven 350 degrees. Grease bottom of 13x9 inch pan.

1 box Betty Crocker fudge brownie mix

(all ingredients for brownie mix- water, oil, eggs)

1 jar marshmellow creme

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

1 tbsp. milk

30 minature peanut butter cups

1/3 cup chopped salted peanuts

1/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips

1/4 tsp veg. oil

Make brownies as directed on box. Let them completely cool once baked.

While baking/cooling- chop up peanuts and unwrap all peanut butter cups. Chop up peanut butter cups into small pieces

Mix marshmellow, peanut butter, milk in a mixer until fluffy.

Once brownies are cooled, put the marshmellow fluff mixture on top of brownies.

Then sprinkle peanuts and peanut butter cup pieces over the baked and cooled brownies

** its very important that the brownies are completely cooled otherwise this will become a messy project of melted everything**

melt the chocolate chips and oil in the microwave for 20 seconds stiring often until all is melted. Drizzle that ontop of the brownies.

I put the brownies in the fridge and let them cool down completely and harden up. Once completely cooled and chilled, I took them out cut into small pieces and served in cupcake liners. These are really rich (but amazingly yummy).

They were a HUGE hit at my Relief Society meething that I took them too.





Fall Baking- Pumpkin Woopie Pies

I love the FALL TIME even though here in Arizona it is still like 98 degrees outside. Ugh!

But whatever... I can imagine a nice crisp fall time.

I have done a little fall baking and everything turned out so yummy so I thought I would share the recipes.

I got them all from here... As you all know I love Bakerella and making cake pops so I was naturally drawn to this little book at the grocery store. If you have never bought these little recipe books- you should. They have some great stuff in there.

Pumpkin Woopie Pies

(these were super yummy and easy to  make)

1 pouch of Betty Crocker sugar cookie mix

1 tablespoon of flour

1/2 cup canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix)

1/3 cup of butter softened

2 tsps. ground cinnamon

1 egg

Mix the above ingredients in the mixer on slow/med speed and then scoop in rounded tablespoons onto a non greased cookie sheet

If you do not have a cookie scoop (looks like a little ice cream scoop) I would suggest getting one. It is an awesome tool and makes your cookies round and all the same size.

You will have to put a little flour on your fingers and push down on the cookie dough balls so they flatten a little.

Bake 8-10 minutes in a preheated 375 oven.

Let the cookies completely cool down

Filling:

2/3 cup of marshmellow creme

1/3 cup of butter or margerine softened

2/3 cup powdered sugar

 

beat these ingredients in a bowl with an electric mixer until fluffy.

Once the cookies are cooled down- scoop a little of the filling on one cookie (the bottom) and sandwich them together (bottoms together). Store them in the fridge until serving. When serving, place them on a plate or cake plate and allow them to thaw a little and sprinkle powdered sugar on them.

Yummy.





28 weeks and counting...

Time flies by so fast. I am 28 weeks pregnant now and starting my 3rd trimester. It seems to be going by so quickly. Just yesterday I was sitting at a restaurant enjoying a nice meal with the hubbs and I looked over at him and said... "uh you do realize that in a very short time our world will be flipped upside down??" I am not really sure if either one of us is really prepared for having a baby.

Neither of us have ever changed a dirty diaper (like the REAL dirty stuff... I have changed wet diapers but not DIRTY ones).

Neither of us have little brothers and sisters that we got stuck babysitting

Neither of us have any nieces or nephews that we been around

Neither of us have ever had a baby (duh). Brian was married previously and his ex had a daughter so he is told me he is good once the child walks, talks, and goes to the bathroom in a toilet (geez thanks hubbs).

Both of us LOVE to sleep

Both of us enjoy going out to dinner

Both of us enjoy coming and going as we want....

But with that all said-- BOTH OF US ARE SUPER EXCITED...scared, nervous, freaking out yes... BUT EXCITED.

Here are some advances we have made in the Kai's room. Still alot of work to do but I thought I would give you a sneak peak.

I love sea turtles... my dream is to swim with them someday. Since Kai mean "the sea" in Hawaiian, we decided (or I decided) to add some sea turtle touches to his room. I have had this picture in my Crafice for a while and love the colors. We used this as the color palette for the room.

My mom found this dresser. I wish I had before and after pictures but imagine an old looking dark brown dresser with lots of drawers. She totally transformed it to exactly what I wanted. My dad helped in working the drawers to that we could have baskets slide in and out. They painted it and changed the nobs. LOVE IT. Thanks Mom.

I just love this piggy bank. The hubbs played football in college and we love football AND it matches perfect.

This is our crib. My mother in law took me and Bri out to pick it out. At the time I did not know if I was having a boy or girl. I did know that I wanted something that was very straight lined. I love it. Now just imagine all the bedding (my mom is making it all) and an awesome surfboard we ordered with his name on it above it.

I still have ALOT to do. We also have bought a LAZY BOY recliner that will go in there but currently it is in the living room being enjoyed by me as we speak. We also bought a 40 inch TV because every baby needs a huge tv in his room-- really?? We went out to get a small 19 inch tv but they had a huge sale on the big tv's so we got one. It will only be in Kai's room while he is a baby and up all night so I have something to watch while I am in there with him. After that- he will get a little one and the big one will go in our room.

Still lots to do.







An Apple a Day....

I have been sorta on an APPLE kick lately. I have been lots of apples and trying different kinds. A friend suggested Honeycrisp Apples and I haven't been the same since. I LOVE THEM. Yummy. I think my baby in utero likes them too...

Since apples are in season and there are so many great prices on them right now I decided to buy a bunch and make some applesauce. I have never done this before so I did a little online research (love The Google) and watched some YouTube and enlisted the help of my dad. He is always excited about any canning project. Here are some pictures of my applesauce canning adventure.

I bought this awesome thing at the local thrift store (for $4.00) and it peels, cores, and slices my apples. What used to take like FOR EV ER now is super simple. You can get the same one from Pampered Chef but its a little more expensive.

After you have sliced or cubed your apples you want to cook them on the stove for about 20 minutes until they are soft. You will need to add a little water to the mixture so it kinda simmers the apples.

I blended my apple mush in a blender and added cinnamon and sugar. You don't really need to add anything beacuse the apples naturally give off sweetness but the cinnamon is a nice touch. Then I filled pint jars and processed then cold packed them to seal the jars. Love it.



I hope Kai likes applesauce because he will be eating lots of it. Now I am thinking about what other babytype foods I can make and store.

DADDY/DAUGHTER FUN

i LOVE My Dad

(I love my Mom too but this post is about hanging out with my dad)

Dad and I have a great relationship. Its awesome because we do lots of fun things together

that are totally different then I would do with my mom.

One of those things is watch Football.
Prior to dating and marrying my husband (who was a high school and college football player)

I never really liked football. But I am kinda one of THOSE GIRLS that

adopt whatever sport the guy I was dating liked.

So since my hubbs loves football...

SO DO I

and my Dad does too (but he liked it long before I dated the Hubbs).

Dad and I went on a Daddy/Daughter date this last week to the

Arizona Cardinals pre-season game

I have been before

Dad hasn't

So it was lots of fun to take him to the game. Plus- we had great seats

and you gotta love Quarterback bums