*Our Boys*

Even though Jaden is not super into Eli yet he still thinks he is interesting to touch and look at sometimes. I was able to snap a few pictures of them together finally, and awww it melted my heart. I can't wait till they are best little buddies and do everything together! Eli has so far been such a good baby, he sleep quite a bit and I have never known a baby that nursed so well so quickly. I think I finally have a child that will be a good eater yeaaaaaaaa. I have not tried to venture out into the world yet with two kids and probably won't attempt it for sometime, but I figure that's when I'm going to find out the real hardships of two kids, that and when they both get sick... YIKES. Here are some super cute pictures of our boys and just some of Eli.

*Eli's Birth Story*

Starting on Monday night (Jan. 21st) around mid-night I started having some pretty regular and painful contractions, but didn't think too much of it till they kept on going into the next day. On Wednesday I had a regular doctor appointment and was 4cm dialated and 90% effaced, and still having pretty strong and painful contractions. Thursday I pretty much thought I was about to die, and at this point had not slept since Monday because of pain every 10 to 15 minutes. Around 4:30 am Friday, I go to the bathroom and there is some blood so I freak out and tell Josh we need to go to the hospital right now cause I'm bleeding. My mom rushes over to stay with Jaden, and we are at the hospital by 5:15 am. We get checked in and all the while I'm still in HORRIBLE pain as in it feels like someone is stabbing my stomach with a knife.

So we get to the triage unit where they hook me up to monitors and at this point I'm begging for the epidural NOW! Of course they would not give me one until I was admitted and blah blah blah (haha that's all I heard coming from the nurse). The nurse then proceeds to check my progress and WHOA my body wants to start pushing immediately. She tells me to stop pushing (like I really have control of my body at this point) and gets on the phone really quick to let them know I need to deliver NOW. From that point everything was crazy fast, they brought me to the delivery room, I pushed twice and he was out at 6:22 am!

ALL NATURAL w/ no epidural (never thought I would do that)and yeah I really don't recommend it. I mean the actual pushing him out part really didn't hurt at all, it's the contractions leading up to it that make you want to die.I just keep thinking if I had waited any longer I would of delivered him at home haha. So he was born pretty small which surprised me because I was two days over due, and I expected him to be 7 to 8 pounds. Come to find out he stopped getting nutrients probably two weeks ago and the placenta was small and was calcified too, so needless to say I'm not very happy w/ my OBGYN for not catching this. Luckily Eli is an AWESOME nurser and will hopefully gain weight quickly. Other then that he is super healthy and very happy so all is well.

Jaden is adjusting well I think. He doesn't really seem to pay much attention to Eli but is sweet to him just the same. He doesn't seems to mind that I can't give him as much attention. However, he is super clingy to Josh, which in some ways is nice because Josh can give him the attention that I can't right now. Having two kids is definitely an adjustment but with all the love and support from friends, family, and our ward it's been AMAZING. I seriously feel so blessed and loved and when things calm down I hope I can re pay the kindness to everyone who has blessed our little families life.

*Eli Jeffrey Bracken*

Our sweet little baby boy #2 is finally here!!! We also FINALLY picked a name after much debate, and of course Josh researching the heck out of it.

Eli Jeffrey Bracken was born Friday, January 25, 2013 at 6:22 a.m weighing in at a tiny 5lbs 8oz and 18 1/4 inches long. Super dark brown almost black hair and not really sure on his eye color yet but I'm guessing brown. He is just the sweetest little thing ever and LOVES to snuggle and nurse (which is good because he needs to gain weight)! His birth story is quite interesting so I'll have to blog about that one next. Everything is good though and we are home and settling into life with two kids!

Here is Jaden meeting his little brother for the first time!!

*Pregnancy Update*

I am officially 40 weeks pregnant tomorrow!! Since around mid-night last night I have had some pretty strong and regular contractions and they have continued throughout today as well. I was induced w/ Jaden so not really sure what going into labor "naturally" feels like, so hopefully the doctor can give me some insight tomorrow (lol if I can make it that long). This pregnancy has been pretty easy and we again have been very blessed by family with the few baby items we needed. My wonderful sister in-law threw me a little family/friend baby shower last night which was lots of fun and a great way to celebrate his coming birth. Sorry no pictures with this post except of Jaden. I hate my picture right now because everything from my face to feet are BIG hahah, so until I have slimmed down there will be no photos of me on this blog. Oh and Jaden gets his little cast off today so I'm pretty excited about that too, he has been a trooper and such a brave boy!

How far along? 40 weeks
Total weight gain: Don't know and would NEVER tell if I did
Maternity clothes? Yes, since around 6 months prego
Stretch marks: Just the ones from Jaden, nothing new!
Sleep: Good up until about a month ago
Miss anything? Being skinny and having energy
Movement: Yes, but has calmed down since he is so big now
Food cravings: Cereal and anything that I don't cook!
Anything making you queasy or sick? When I don't eat for a long period of time and certain perfume smells.
Gender: Boy
Labor signs: Yes, I think?
Symptoms: Stomach cramping and hard
Belly button in or out? In
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or moody most of the time? Happy but getting very uncomfortable
Looking forward to: My sweet little baby being in my arms, loosing weight, and watching how Jaden does with a little brother!

Well there is an update for everyone! Hopefully my next post will be the arrival of our sweet little boy!

*Bad start to a new year*

Last year in January Jaden was in the hospital for being sick, starting off this year he had to go to the hospital last night for a fractured elbow. Josh and I were going on a "last date" before the baby comes to a Suns game with my parents. So we left Jaden with my in-laws and went to my parent's house to eat before the game, and then the call comes. Jaden apparently fell off his little car slide thing and they thought at first that he broke his wrist. So we rushed over to Urgent Care who only told us that we should go to the hospital, thus starting our 4 hour stay at the hospital. Seriously they need to work on the health care system because that 4 hour stay really could of been like an hour but oh well. So they did x-rays and wrapped his little arm in a splint for now, then I have to take him to a specialist to possibly get a cast on it. He was so sweet at the hospital and very brave throughout the whole thing so I'm so proud of him. Awww this really could not of happened at worse time only because the baby will be coming soon, so I will have a brand new baby and a toddler with a broken arm lol this should be interesting.

Is this not the sweetest face ever!?! Love him!!!