*Happy Halloween 2013*

Yes, Jaden was a pirate again this year, and it is a little lame that he was the same thing two years in a row. However, why waste a costume that still fits him perfectly and that he only wore once? I promise next year he will for sure be something different, but there are benefits to having a child that is skinny and that is they fit into there clothes and costumes for a long time hahah total money saver!

Anyways, this Halloween was a lot of fun because Jaden was able to go trick or treating with his best friend Matt and those two together are so cute. Eli of course is too little to get it and was sick (double ear infection) so he stayed home with my mom (not a very good 1st Halloween for my little man) but I'm sure next year will be better for him. I really want to coordinate Jaden and Eli's costume next year since they will go out trick or treating together awww I can't wait to take pictures of that!! My pictures are not very good because I had to use my phone since my camera battery was dead.

*Welcome Home Elder Bracken*

My brother in-law Logan is FINALLY home from his mission in Buenos Aires, Argentina. This was my first time welcoming home a missionary, and wow what a awesome, emotional, and exciting experience it was. The anticipation of waiting for him to come through to the airport waiting area is crazy high, and also very surreal. He looks way taller, and very grown up since I last saw him. It really is crazy how much changes in two years, Logan came home to his new nephew Eli, and Jaden being a crazy 3 year old, his niece Brityn (who he will see very soon) and lots more.

To me the two years went by super fast and I can't believe it's already over. When I ask my mother in-law if it went by fast for her she said "no way" and it was one of the hardest things you have do as a mother and member of the Church. I seriously don't even know how I'm going to handle letting Jaden and Eli go on missions, I told Josh he will have to drag me out of the airport crying when those days come to let them go. Anyways, it is so awesome to have him home and I feel that our whole family is complete again!

*Nine Months Old*

Eli is nine months old! Here are the stats:

Weight: 16 lbs 4oz (3rd percentile, so still a little thing)

Height: 28.75 inches

Still nursing, but I'm kind of over it. Really want to loose weight already but oh well.

Sleeping good, wakes up some times but for the most part he will just take the binki and go back to sleep.

Eli has his two bottom teeth and FOUR front top teeth coming through. I feel so bad for him,  because I know it probably hurts like crazy and he has been a trooper!

Still not crawling yet (my fault, I don't make him do tummy time enough) but I really don't care if he crawls yet, just as long as he does eventually!

He babbles all the time and says babababa, I am trying to get him to say MAMA hahah. He laughs and smiles all the time, very happy little guy.

Eats anything and everything. Loves to drink water/milk from daddy's glass, it's super cute and so big of him.

LOVES to take baths, especially since he can sit up and splash now.

So that's the nine month update on my little man. Hopefully we will have some crawling news for the next one.

*Jaden's 3rd Birthday*

Happy 3rd Birthday to my sweet Jaden!! Can't believe it has been three years already since I gave birth to him in good old Rexburg, Idaho. This year both Josh and my family were out of town for his birthday so we are having three different parties, spoiled spoiled haha. Some stats on Jaden at three years old:

Weight: 25 lbs

Height: 35 inches

Potty Trained: YES!

Likes: Trains, CARS, riding his bike, iPad, helping me clean, riding in the rhino, going to the park, playing with his best friend Matt, church (nursery), books, learning and anything outdoors.

Dislikes: Dislikes belts haha not sure why, the doctor (although he has gotten better) and brushing his hair, putting in hair gel and getting his hands dirty while eating.

Speech: Jaden talks very well and is super smart so no concerns in this department!

Sleeping: Good, but sneaks into bed with mom and dad every once in awhile.

Eating: Awesome! This kid can put it away now, and a good thing too cause the kid needs to gain some weight.

BIRTHDAY PARTY #1

First party was the day before Jaden's actual birthday and we celebrated with Josh's family with a little get together at my house. Good food, cupcakes, and one awesome present from his Grandma and Papa....a MINI TRAMPOLINE! He loves his new trampoline and it came at the perfect time because the weather is nice now so he can enjoy being outside.

BIRTHDAY PARTY #2

Second party was on his actual birthday and it was with all of Jaden's friends! This was the all out party and I think this one tops all of them. As he gets older his parties get funner because now he has friends to come, and he actually gets the whole birthday concept now. This birthday's theme was CARS (Lightning McQueen and Mater) and I have to say I did a pretty awesome job at decorating this year! Now that Jaden is potty trained he often is only in his underwear or naked (he can't put his own shorts back on by himself), hence the reason most pictures are of him with no shorts hahah!

BIRTHDAY PARTY #3

My parent's are still in London since my sister had her baby so party #3 will be next weekend when they get back so stay tuned!

*One of those days*

Today was one of those days where it just sucked haha for lack of better words. Jaden woke up with a cough from hell and nothing I did helped. So I took him to the ER ( big mistake) and sat for six  hours just for them to say he has croup and to give him a steroid shot. Wow something that could of taken 15 minutes was six freaking hours, so mad and wish I would of just went to urgent care but whatever. Luckily my dad stayed with Eli so that part of the day was good. However, Eli is getting 3 or 4 top teeth so he is hurting bad right now and miserable (thankfully he was happy for my dad). 

On top of all that Jaden is not grasping going #2 in the toilet so I end up cleaning gross poop up all over the bathroom and him. Oh and his throw up from when his cough was at it's worst. I realize all this is part of being a mom so I try not to complain too much. But had to vent that today was just one of those days that I am  happy it's over!

*Potty Trained*

September 6, 2013 is the official day that Jaden was potty trained! It really just non intentionally happened on that Sarurday morning. I took his diaper off after he woke up to air out his little bum and then told Josh to take him in to the bathroom and show him how to pee like a big boy (standing up). He totally did it, and I was so surprised and thought why did I not try that before?!? Basically from that point on it just clicked and he has been out of diapers ever since (except for night time) although he usually wakes up dry. He even tells me he has to potty and I rarely have to remind him, which is nice cause I forget to ask for long periods of time  occasionally.

I'm so glad I did not push the potty training and waited till he was 100% ready, it made both our lives easier. So the only thing he struggles with is going #2, which I'm not sure how to tackle that one, so any suggestions are welcome! So that is Jaden's potty training story. I feel so proud and accomplished as a mommy that we have reached and passed this big milestone in his little life, and right before his 3rd birthday too!!!

I wanted to put a cute picture of Jaden in his little undies but Josh said no (I did not agree at all), so I guess this will due haha.

*Hudson Davis Meise*

My baby nephew was born October 6, 2013 at 9:47 am. He weighed 7 lbs 2 oz and 19.5 inches long. I was fortunate enough to watch his birth through FaceTime and it was absolutely beautiful and an amazing experience! Love this baby like my own and can not wait to meet him in December!!!