Porter Baptism

I took Porter to have his pictures done by a great photographer in his new suit before his baptism. We sent out these cute invitations to all our family. He looks like a little missionary!!

All Porter's uncles and grandpa's that took part in the ordinance. We have a wonderful family.

Josh coaches wrestling, and these were all the wrestlers and coaches that showed up to show support for Porter. He looks up to them so much, and it was so awesome to see them all there. Best of all it was Super Bowl sunday, and they came, what a great bunch of kids.

Porter before the Baptism.

Porter was Baptized on Sunday Feb. 6th, 2011. He was confirmed by his father Joshua. He is such a great kid, with such a obeident and sweet heart. I am so thankful to have him as my son. I cannot believe he is 8! Josh asked him how he felt after his baptism, and he said he felt " all puffy." He is adorable and was so happy to be baptized.

Porter loves sports, and legos. He plays soccer, baseball and wrestles. He even competed in 2 kid triathalons last summer. He loves to help his dad on the farm, and ride the 4-wheeler. What a wonderful kid, and we are so thankful for him in our family, he is so fun-loving, and funny. He told me a girl in his class told him he should be a comedian when he grows up, we just laughed. He is a great student, the top of his class in math and reading, all of his teachers love him. We are so happy for his choice to be baptized.

Stratton Comes Home!

Halle realizing being "boy trapped" is not so bad....

Halle's first time holding her new brother. She has turned into a great helper- and the second mother of the house.

Porters first meeting of the baby

Stratton 18 days old-in his carseat and ready to come home! Words cannot express how happy we were right now

He looks so tiny

One of the last few days in the NICU

I loved the creative way to keep a binki in his mouth, binki, hat and blanket wrapped tightly around him! Had to have a picture.

Just after a feeding, via feeding tube, Look at his belly, he is a little full I would say!

Our beautiful baby, Stratton spent 18 days at Timpanogos Hospital NICU. They were wonderful, and he is now happy and healthy. We were so glad to finally get him home and get used to life around here with him.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PORTER!

Porter turned 8 in January. He wanted everything football, and an oreo cake-so this is what we came up with. This year was totally low key- we still had the baby in ICU so we were a little fried come birthday time. He loved it though and got lots of legos, just what he wanted.

My sweet little Stratton

First time Josh got to hold him, he was 3 days old.

Right after delivery-before they put him on CPAP and placed the PICC line. I can't stand to look at his legs, they are so bruised and swollen. I guess that's what happens when you come feet first!!

Sweet baby!

Stratton Joshua Wright. Born January 9,2011. 6 lbs 5oz. 19 inches long. 5:55 pm.

This sweet boys birth was an exciting one to say the least. He was born at 351/2 weeks, I started having contractions in the morning, but by the time I thought we should make our way to the hospital it was around 3 pm. we got all of our stuff together and left. It is 1 1/2 hour drive, but I was doing great, and even questioning if we should go in or not (many pre-term contractions and had been on medicine for weeks). By the time we got to payson I was telling Josh he better get off there because I was going to deliver in the car! I was dying. We decided to keep going to timpanogos where my Dr. was, so Josh drove like a madman, and I freaked out the rest of the way. We got there and I was completely dilated, my dr. came right in and broke my water, checked me, and I hear him say "I think thats an elbow, Nope those are feet!" "we need to get this baby delivered" Feet? really? I had no epidural, no pain medicine, I was begging and pleading with the nurse, but to no avail. I was told I was having the baby now, and without anything!

So we arrived at the Hospital at 5:35 and he was born at 5:55, luckily it was fast, and everything went smooth.

He was having difficulty breathing so they took him right to the nursery, then to the NICU, where he remained for 18 very long days! He is doing well now, and we learned so much. The nurses and Dr.'s we amazing, what a great team they have there. We now have a space in our hearts for the families that have to do this long term, or at all, it is an exhausting experience in every sense of the word. We have more gratitude, and patience, and we are so thankful for the miracle that babies are, and the love, peace and joy they bring into families. We take these sweet babies for granted and they are nothing short of miracles, every one of them. We had and do have a great support system. Thoughts and prayers were offered in large amounts on behal of our family- and we know- we saw them being answered each day. And for now we are grateful to have him home, and love this new little spirit that is now part of us!

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Christmas

Sophie and Halle-best friends- at grandpa and grandma's house

Porter and Halle with their Piggy banks. Grandpa and Grandma Stephens surprised us all with a trip to nauvoo in August. We will go back and see all the church history sites. So piggy banks for all the kids to start saving their money for souvineers!

Porter had one of his lego's built so fast on christmas morning

Halle in the mess of all her gifts

Porter and star wars legos-one of his favorites

The Christmas Eve program at Charity and Derek's. The kids did a fabulous job on putting on the nativity.

Porter and Spencer the Shepherds

Halle the Angel (of course)

One more visit from Santa- but no changing the lists!!

We had a wonderful Christmas Season as always filled with friends, family and lots of fun. I was on bedrest with my pregnancy- so low key was our goal this year, but it was still great.

SNOW DAY!!

We had a snow day right before Christmas break, the kids loved it! We got more snow then I have ever seen here-and the power was out for 12 hours. We made a snowman- well uncle Spencer and the kids I took pitures-, made hot chocolate by boiling the water on the stove, and then went to dinner in Delta where they did have power. We finished off the night with lots of games of UNO by lantern. Gotta love days like this to remind us how thankful we are for all the luxuries we do have! (and what we need to get to be prepared for the next one!)

Dance Recital/ Santa

Halle had her first Dance recital just in time for Christmas. We had so much fun watching her and all the other girls "shake it." She was most excited about her costume. And as a special bonus-Santa came at the end and the kids got to sit on his lap.