*All about Jaden*

Jaden is almost 2 1/2 years old and quite the high spirited child! I have to say he can push my buttons and test me like no other, but that is a typical 2 year old boy I guess hahah. I love him to pieces and his sweet little voice always puts a smile on my face, and the child is a genius. Josh and I always joke that since Jaden is so smart he's going to be very successful one day and take care of us financially when we are old ( hey we can dream can't we)!

Such a big boy on the swing!


This sweet little boy of mine also has the most BEAUTIFUL and LONG eyelashes I have ever seen in my life. I wish so bad that they were mine, it really just isn't fair because I really need them and he doesn't hahaha.


He loves his aunts and uncles a whole lot too. When Uncle Jason comes over they always have to have some snuggle time, and his Aunty Bobby (Robyn) well she is his second mommy.


More and more everyday Jaden is growing more fond and loving of his brother. Every time Eli is laying on the floor, Jaden has to go lay next to him and snuggle.


First time together in their new double stroller, and they both love it!

Being Jaden's mother is a blessing that I thank my Heavenly Father for everyday. I don't know what I would do without seeing that sweet smile come wake me up every morning, and hearing that voice say "I love you mama" (which is seriously the most precious thing EVERY TIME I hear it). He is my first and forever and always my baby he will be! I Love you Jaden Joshua Bracken.

*Zoo Day*

This past week we went to the zoo, and it only gets funner and funner as Jaden gets older. Eli's first time was just more than he could handle because he slept the entire time, except to eat once!! When I put him in the baby back pack it puts him to sleep instantly, and he will stay asleep as long as he is in it (which is great for me)!

This is Eli's first smile caught on camera!!

The hat is from Jaden's first time to the zoo



On our way home from the zoo I looked back and saw Jaden holding Eli's arm! Melted my heart that he loves his brother so much already :)

Jaden loves his Rylie and Ashlie

Jaden and his Uncle Tate

*One Month Old*

Our little Eli is 1 month old already! I can't believe how time goes by so fast, but I definitely feel like I'm savoring the moments more because I know how fast they grow up. So far he has been a great eater and sleeping pretty good through the night (about 4-5 hours at a time). He has been more fussy though because of his never ending stuffy nose and his tummy hurting.

As of today I am going to start eating really healthy and exercising, so hopefully with cutting out bad food that should help his little tummy feel better! Jaden loves his little brother, even a little too much sometimes because he tries to maul him to death, so we have to keep a close eye on them both. I will admit life with two kids is for sure way more challenging and am not really sure how we could ever add one more to the craziness of our life, but only time will tell I guess.

*The Boys in Blue*

It's fun dressing these two up alike, that was for sure a plus in having another boy!! I had to promise Jaden a sucker to pose for this picture... can you tell how happy they both are haha!?!

*Happy Valentine's Day*

Eli's 1st Valentine's Day-3 weeks old!!!

*Jaden & Eli*

It's still kind of weird to me saying that I have two kids or just saying the word "kids" but I love it! This is a very random post hahah.

So Maybe all mom's of two feel like this at first or maybe it's just me, but right after Eli was born and we got settled in at home I just have felt that I'm not being there for Jaden 100% and he is neglected now by me. Of course he is still well taken care of but I can't do it all for him anymore and it makes me a little sad. I'm sure I'll get past it but I hope he knows I love him with all my heart and that he is still my sweet little angel.

Anyways, Jaden is really starting to love Eli and become very fond of him. Jaden was super sick pretty much from the time we brought Eli home from the hospital so he was not able to hold him until just a few days ago..MELTED MY HEART!

I love my two sweet little boys, and yes life is definitely more challenging and sleep is hard to come by. But hey it's a short time in life and before you know it they're off on missions, college, and marriage, so I'm trying to saver the moments I have when there young even know it can be hard at times I still love it.

Josh is the most amazing daddy to these two little boys. Especially Jaden since he has been attached to the hip with his daddy since Eli has been born.

Love this little onesie and couldn't resist buying it. One day soon I hope to take a picture of both boys in there big/little brother shirts together.

We heard Jaden crying in Eli's room and found him like this stuck on the floor in the bumbo hahahhaha. Josh and I just stood there laughing for two minutes while he struggled to get out. It was too funny to not take a picture.

*From crib to big boy bed*

I was not planning on putting Jaden into a toddler bed until he was around two and a half or even a little older. He still sleeps great in a crib and can't get out which makes my life easy. However, since little Eli was born and is nursing all the time Jaden will wake up from his nap and I can't go get him right away so he has to sit in his crib until I'm done. So Josh and I talked about it and thought maybe he is ready now for a big boy bed. Well we took the plunge and he is now in a toddler bed, which is so cute and fits him just perfect. He is in no way attached to his crib so taking the crib wasn't hard, but putting him to sleep is definitely going to be more of a challenge now since he has freedom. I put him down for his nap and he cried, and tried getting out of his room for about 10 minutes but after that I went and checked on him and he was sound asleep in his bed. I admit this change is good, but at the same time emotionally a little hard for me because it means he is growing up and way too fast.

From baby to big boy!

*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!!!

*Christmas/Reflections 2012*

Christmas was tons of fun this year and very busy for our little family. The week before Christmas we went to Utah and stayed in the Ophir cabin so we could celebrate with Josh's grandparent's and extended relatives. Jaden LOVED the Ophir cabin this year because there are loads of fun toys for him to play with and an entire train table/set which occupied him for hours. We also went to the SLC Temple to look at the lights and my sister in-law got engaged there! We are so happy for her and can't wait for her and Wade (my soon to be brother in-law) to be married. The trip was short and sweet, and Jaden was a trooper riding in his car seat for the 12 hour trip there and back (got to love the iPad and Leap Pad).

Christmas day we split up between Josh's family and mine (which is getting to be a lot of driving hahha so we need to reevaluate that next year.) So we woke up and did our little Christmas at our house, went to Josh's parent's house and opened presents there, then went to my house and opened presents, back to Josh's house to talk to his brother calling from his mission in Argentina, then back to my parent's house for dinner. Lot's of traveling but being with family is so worth it so really I don't mind too much.

Jaden was fun to watch opening presents this year because he actually does it himself! He doesn't really get the whole Santa thing yet so we didn't go too crazy, but next year I think we will be in full Santa swing so will have to put on our A game starting then.

Next set of pictures are at Papa and Grandma's house opening presents. Josh's parent's got us a new TV, which now fits nicely in our house and is an upgrade from our little TV.

Last but not least is pictures at Grandpa and Grammy's house. My parents got us a beautiful new kitchen table! I'm so in love with it and it's a great new addition to our home. I was also so happy to have my own wonderful Grammy there with us for Christmas. Her health is not good and am not sure how much longer we have with her so was especially happy to be with her this holiday season.

So much to be thankful for this Christmas and this past year. Reflecting on 2012 Josh and I have accomplished many things and have grown a lot as a couple and little family.

Together: We bought and moved into our first home (changed and upgraded it A LOT)
Deciding to add a new addition to our family: baby boy Bracken due January 23, 2013
Celebrated 4 wonderful years of marriage
Gaining patience and learning how to raise our sweet/naughty little toddler
Loving our sweet little Jaden and watching him grow and learn new things

Josh: Accelerating and advancing his career at Boeing
Doing all of the upgrades to our home
Being a wonderful husband/father/and provider
Becoming assistant scout master for his calling at church
Starting his masters degree

Christy: Being pregnant with what feels like the whole year (but worth every moment)
Trying to be the best stay at home wife/mommy I can be
Growing in my new calling as the Assistant Secretary in the Relief Society (which I LOVE LOVE LOVE so much and is definitley the best calling ever!)
Sold my 2000 Dodge Neon (my first car)
Loosing my sister to moving to New York City (Lol still not over it and will never be haha)

Jaden: No more bottle (August) or binki (November) which he gave up both very easily THANK HEAVENS!
Saying full sentences
LOVES Thomas the train and all trains more than anything
Sleeps like a champ
Going to be an awesome big brother
Still skinny but can fit into most 2T clothes now

That is the Bracken trio in a nut shell for 2012. Can't wait to see what fun and crazy adventures 2013 has to bring us! HAPPY NEW YEARS!!!!!!!!!!!!