Brooke's 1st haircut

The day after Brooke's birthday we took her to get her haircut. I had been putting it off because it has taken so long for her hair to grow this long and she has a pretty legit mullet. The hair on the sides of her head is taking a really long time to grow in. We finally decided to cut it since her bangs were almost past her eyes. We went to this cute little place that kids can sit it a car, airplane or motorcycle. Brooke chose the car and the lady that cut her hair gave her a sucker so she was happy. She sat still the entire time! She still has a mullet, but at least she can see now :)

Finished product!

My 2 year old

My Brookie girl is 2 years old today! I can't believe that she is 2! She is such a sweet girl, FULL of personality! She makes me laugh constantly! She says new things and sometimes I have no idea where it comes from...other times she will say things that Tim and I say, but coming from a 2 year old sounds so funny! The other day she saw something and said, "mom, that's humongous!" She loves to watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and tells me when her Mickey and Minnie stuffed animals need a diaper change (which started right after Brayden was born). She loves to put on daddy's shoes and hat and try to walk in them. She is such a sweet big sister. She loves to hug and kiss Brayden and when he cries, she says, "it's ok Bwayden." Today in the car she sang Jesus loves me to him. It was so precious. I am so excited to see their relationship grow and develop.

Now the reality is that we, of course, have our moments...some moments last longer than others...but I know that God is using her to shape me into the mom, wife, and woman of God that He wants me to be. I am constantly praying for patience and the wisdom to raise her to be a woman of God. I am so thankful for her and so thankful that I get to stay at home with both of my babies...well my baby and my big 2 year old!

Brookie's Mickey pancakes for breakfast

Brooke loves her some Snoopy

riding the rides with brother

Family picture

Brookie and daddy

helping with bath time

Brayden is one week old!

My baby boy is a week old as of 11:55 last night! :) He is such a good baby! He is so content...all he does is eat, sleep, cuddle, and poop. He is sleeping well at night, 3-4 hour blocks of sleep. He is a great eater and nursing is going really well! He is having more awake time during the day and I love it when he just stares at me. His eyes are a darker teal/blue-ish color and can't help but wonder already what color they will end up being. I just love holding him and praying over him, for him to come to know the Lord and wondering how God will use him. I am so thankful that God has given him to us!

Brooke likes to sit right by him when he is in the swing

This pretty much summed up how Brooke felt at the hospital. She was really excited to meet Brayden for the first time, but as soon as people started to visit, she was over it.

Thankfully that didn't last long. Now she always wants to kiss him and give him hugs. She even likes to help me burp him.

I love my babies!!

Brayden Tyler Brown

Brayden Tyler Brown made grand entrance into the world on Thursday, September 9th at 11:55pm! We weren't sure what his birthday was going to be right up until the last minute! He weighed 7lbs 14oz and was 21 inches long. He is already such a sweet little boy and I can't get enough of him!

Birth story: (skip to the end for pictures if you don't want the birth details) ;)

So if you had been reading my blog at all before, you know that I had been having contractions for 2 weeks on and off. Well, Wednesday night they started to get closer together, but when I laid down to go to bed they eventually slowed down again. I woke up that night several times with contractions, but none too close together. I woke up Thursday morning and went to my Dr appointment, where she checked and found out that I was 3cm and 80% effaced. I went home, took a nap, hung out with Brooke and then right around 5pm I noticed that I had a few contractions closer together so I started timing them. They were 8 min apart, then went to 6 minutes apart within 40 min, so I decided to take a shower to see if the warm water would help or slow them down. It did not. My mom had come over and brought dinner because Tim had to work, so she was watching Brooke, which worked out! After the shower they were 5-6 minutes apart so I called Tim and told him it was time! I finished getting ready and we left soon after Tim got home. Our ride to the hospital was somewhat painful and a good 45 minute drive. We got to the hospital at 7:50 and were in our room by 8:00. They monitored my contractions, which were 3 1/2-4 1/2 minutes apart and really painful, for 20-30 minutes before the Dr came in. When he finally came in and checked I was 5-6cm, 100% effaced, and baby was in station +1. So they moved us to the delivery room around 9-9:15, where my contractions started to be even more painful. I had a couple of contractions back to back without a break in between, so I asked for the epidural. It took a while for them to put the epidural in, but I was soooo happy once I started to feel it! Almost immediately after the epidural (9:45) I told them I felt a ton of pressure and the nurse checked me and said I was 9 1/2 cm (we found out later that I was fully at 10, more on that in a sec). So Tim and I had a little bit of time together and had a little visit from a friend...I didn't care, I felt pretty good. Then the nurse was stalling because she was off at 11 and another nurse was coming on...again, didn't really care thanks to the epidural...The new nurse came in and after about 15 she checked me and said that I was definitely at 10cm and reason the other nurse thought I was 9 1/2 was because there was some tissue where she thought she felt my cervix. So the nurse had me push 6 times to get the baby all the way down. She called the dr and he got there at 11:45. Tim and I were taking bets on if his birthday would be the 9th or 10th. When the Dr was finally ready I started pushing. I pushed 6 times and he was out!! He came right at 11:55!

There is just something about those first few moments, holding your child for the first time, looking at your husband knowing that you both have never been more in love with each other and knowing that God has blessed you the most precious gift in the world. It's amazing.

These first few days have been wonderful! He is such a sweet baby! Brooke does really well when we are at home together. She wasn't so sure of him when we were at the hospital. She loves to give him kisses on his head and when people visit she tells them that this is her "bwoda bwayden". I have loved having Tim home and am soking up every minute of it until he goes back to work.

Here are a few pics of our sweet Brayden.

3 days...

3 days until my due date! I really thought that he would be here by now, but I am really just trying to enjoy these last (hopefully few) days. Tim has gotten up with Brooke and let me sleep in as much as possible! I am so thankful for him! I have been having regular contractions for a few hours each day, which really messes with my emotions. This past Saturday I had contractions 5-7 minutes apart for 12 hours. I called the hospital and went and got checked out. I was 2 cm dialated and 50% effaced, so at least there is some reason for these contractions. Hopefully that will make labor go faster! If I haven't gone into labor by tomorrow, I have my 40 week apointment with my Dr in the morning. Last time I saw her she said 2 things that I can't seem to forget 1. after discussing how much weight I have gained..."wow, you are just all baby" and 2. " how big was Brooke? I think he is going to be a big one!" I prefered the first statement :)

39 weeks

wishin' and hopin' and thinkin' and prayin'

So 10 days to go until my due date...Ican't believe that it is so close! I am still feeling really good, except for at night. That is ususally when my contractions are stronger and sleep is a battle. Thankfully Brooke is taking really good naps during the day, so I try to get a couple hours in then. I am trying to enjoy these last couple of days with just the 3 of us and the time that we get to spend with Brooke by herself. We talk with her about the baby a lot, but I don't think she fully gets it yet that her life is about to change. I think she will be a great big sister! She loves to be our "helper"! Whenever I go out with Brooke I have a little anxiety over what it is going to be like taking 2 out! I have heard the horror stories...Just the many new adventures life is going to bring us. :) I can't wait to hold my son in my arms and I am so thankful of how God has blessed us!

38 1/2 weeks