Our musician

Click on the title above for video of Garrett dancing!



I know I have posted in the past that our boy can boogie but let me tell you about the moves he has when playing his guitar! He shakes it! We love that he loves music and enjoys dancing. It gives us good excuse to boogie with him and be as goofy as we want. He gets a kick out of watching us. I will try posting a link for a video of Garrett dancing! Hopefully it works for me!
Ok it is working but the video is sideways for whatever reason so you will just have to tilt your head to see it! :o) Make sure your volume is up.
To view video just Click on the title Our Musician at the top of this entry and it will direct you to putfile which is the webhost for our video file. It will take a few seconds for the video to load. Enjoy!

Katrina's Aftermath

Navagating through the Ninth Ward
My Hunka Man
The Superdome
HELO Search And Rescue

Brandon said they could hear these ladies through the walls and they had to cut through the side of the building to get to them.

Katrina Pictures

I know this is a long time coming but I am finally posting some pictures from our hurricane experience this summer. I will do a few entries of pictures taken from Katrina.

Here's us playing on the balcony of the Navy Lodge that we evacuate to in Meridian Mississippi. The balcony pictures were taken as Katrina was coming through. We were watching the trees in the background snap and fall before our very eyes. Because the power was out and we needed some air and light we had to keep the door open. We made a make-shift baby gate to keep Garrett in the room. And then we had to pass the time by making up goofy games to play like airplane rides on papa's feet. Ahhhh the memories!

History and Tradition of the Mardi Gras King Cake

Well Brandon introduced me to a King Cake this weekend. He ordered one from a local bakery and it was DELICIOUS! I didn't think I would like it but was pleasantly suprised. Actually I was VERY suprised when I got the baby in my slice! It was my first piece of king cake ever and I got the baby! I was clueless on the tradition and meaning of the King Cake and the meaning of the baby inside so I have copied a description from a New Orleans bakery. Interesting stuff. I feel like I learned something new this weekend!

The Mardi Gras or Carnival season officially begins on January 6th or the "Twelfth Night," also known to Christians as the "Epiphany." Epiphany comes from a Greek word that means "to show." Jesus first showed himself to the three wisemen and to the world on this day. As a symbol of this Holy Day, a tiny plastic baby is placed inside each King Cake.
The King Cake tradition is thought to have been brought to New Orleans from France in 1870. A King Cake is an oval-shaped bakery delicacy, crossed between a coffee cake and a French pastry that is as rich in history as it is in flavor. It's decorated in royal colors of PURPLE which signifies "Justice," GREEN for "Faith," and GOLD for "Power." These colors were chosen to resemble a jeweled crown honoring the Wise Men who visited the Christ Child on Epiphany. In the past such things as coins, beans, pecans, or peas were also hidden in each King Cake.
Today, a tiny plastic baby is the common prize. At a party, the King Cake is sliced and served. Each person looks to see if their piece contains the "baby." If so, then that person is named "King" for a day and bound by custom to host the next party and provide the King Cake.
Mardi Gras Day has a moveable date and may occur on any Tuesday from February 3rd to March 9th. It is always the day before Ash Wednesday, and always falls 46 days before Easter.

Relaxing...

Garrett kicked back on our bed watching Sesame Street the other morning. He had his legs crossed and everything! I thought it was so cute. He looks so serious.

Meeeeeeeewwwww!

Our "Cowboy" in his adorable hooded towel that my cousin Mandy made for him. We LOVE this towel. Who wouldn't? It makes bathtime that much more fun! Garrett gets so tickled looking at himself in the mirror after we wrap him up in this towel to dry off. He has been trying to say "Moo" but it comes out "Meeeeuuuuuwwww" and he wrinkles up his nose. So cute! I have a few more pictures of him in the towel but his little boy parts are showing and I didnt think that would be suitable to put on the internet! ;-)

One more...

Another picture from one year ago. I just loved this outfit on him. He was so cuddly in it! What a cute little ham! 

Taking a look back... Another "Then and Now" post

Some pictures of Garrett at 5 1/2 months old and at 17 1/2 months. Portraits taken one year apart. Hasn't our boy grown so much? One year ago he was so chubby with the tiniest amount of fuzz on his head. That same sweet head that I kiss at leaste a hundred times a day now has a good amount of hair growing on it! Last year he was still trying to master sitting up unassisted, this year he is running around! I look back and remember how fun and interactive he had become by that age and realize that each day with him gets better and better and how blessed I am to have this little boy!

Papa's got a new chair!

Brandon calls his new recliner the "magical chair." It never fails that if Garrett is getting tired, he asks him "Do you want to rock?" and Garrett crawls up in it with him and falls asleep. This recliner is sooooooo comfy. Nice and plush. It was Brandon's birthday gift from Garrett and me. I really wish that I had this when Garrett was a newborn and I was recovering from my c-section and getting the hang of breastfeeding. You just kind of sink into it and say "Ahhhhhhh!" Notice in the picture that Garrett is holding TWO pacifiers... I guess one just isnt enough sometimes!

Family Portraits... Finally!

Here we are! Finally some professional Henderson Family portraits! We have several more but I just wanted to share a few with you! It only took us almost a year and a half to get these done! Wow the time flies by! I personally love the one of my boys together! I will share more pictures from our sitting later. We went ahead and had Garrett's 18 month pictures taken a couple of weeks early. And some Valentine's ones too!

Mothers and Girlfriends...

Here are two of my friends (fellow Coastie wives of MSST New Orleans) Holly and Leia. Pictured from Left to right is Holly holding her baby boy Gunner, Leia holding her little one Cheyenne, and then Me holding Garrett, of course. This photo was taken on our "girls day out" which translated means "girls day out with 3 little ones in tow" And you know what? We wouldn't have it any other way. I came across this picture tonight and was reminicing about what a fun day that was. And I also came to the realization that it is good friends like these that can make a place so tollerable. And with all that we have been through in the last year what with our husbands being deployed for 3 months straight, the birth of two new babies, and Katrina we have stuck by each other through it all. The Martin's, Holly and her husband Mike lost everything during Katrina as the storm surge went through their home and destroyed all of their possesions. They have come back stronger than ever and I really admire Holly for being such a strong person and wonderful momma to her two kiddos! Leia and her husband Ben suffered damage to their home as well. Although it was not as severe as that of the Martin family they were displaced for months and then ontop of that they were informed by their landlord that they would have to find a new place to live. That proved to be a daunting task as undamaged homes were hard to come by in Slidell. But I am happy to report that they have moved into a new house and have made it their home. I am having a lot of fun watching Leia evolve into the mother that she is to Cheyenne. It is fun to see her go through all of the "new mom firsts" and to look back and remember how each first was for me "back when" (I am still experiencing the new mom firsts now!). It's a lot of fun to be able to watch Cheyenne grow into her little personality! Little girls are a different ball game than little boys! I am also grateful that I have a friend to do things with here. Unfortunately Holly and her family are still living on base in Meridian Mississippi. That means we dont get to hang out as often but I keep her family in my thoughts and prayers constantly! I think we all are itching for another "girls day" and I am sure one must be in the near future! Maybe it needs to be a whole weekend affair! Now THERE'S a thought! Think it over ladies! And thanks for being here for me and my family! 

A green hat just like my Grampa's

Well for those of you who are familiar with the famous green sock hat that my dad has worn to work for the 26+ years he has worked for the county you will understand the humor behind this and how totally sweet and cute it is that Garrett has one that matches! Of course Garrett has an airplane embroidered on his though! The first time I put it on Garrett, Brandon said to him " You look just like your Grampa!" And I can't help but think about my dad and smile everytime Garrett wears it!

A Beautiful and Fun Day at the Park!

The playground is back open! Today Garrett and I went to the park. Leia and Cheyenne and Leias cousin Keisha met us there. Garrett had a blast. It turned out to be a beautiful day! It was a bit windy but hot. We had a really great time! Garrett even went down the slide on his tummy by himself! I actually don't think he meant to do it but he was pretty pleased with himself. While we were there a fire engine went by with it siren blowing and lights flashing and Garrett was mesmerized. After the firetruck passed he said "Oh WOW!" and this had several of the other parents next to us chuckling at him! Too cute!

Happy Birthday Brandon and Bobbie!

Today Brandon turned the big 2-6! Today is ALSO his mom's birthday, but to keep on good terms with her I will not disclose her age publicly! (54)

We celebrated his birthday by starting with a "big" breakfast at home. Next we ventured out and Brandon and his buddy from work went to the firing range (boys will be boys) while Garrett and his little pal had a playdate. Brandon also had the windows on his new car tinted as a gift from his mom. It turned out really nice! Then we came home and had triple chocolate birthday cake with chocolate ice cream. Brandons favorite! It was very rich but very delicious! I think Brandon had a pretty nice birthday. Only 4 more till the big 3-0!

Happy Birthday Bebes! Garrett and I love you very much!

Cutest comb over ever!

Some more goofy bathtub hairdo pictures! I imagine this is what Garrett will look like when he's old. A comb over and only a few teeth of his own! But I do have to say its the cutest comb over I have ever seen! Nope, no bias here!
In the last two pictures he has been combing his hair himself... once he tasted the comb and gave it his approval of course!

Mohawk baby!

Garrett's bathtime tonight was so funny! We had a lot of fun giving him goofy hairdos. And he is such a ham when we take his pictures! He loves to see us laugh when he knows he is being funny!