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

help!

We are having a difficult time deciding on a middle name for our little boy! We have always loved the name Brayden, but we go back and forth on the middle name. Click here to help us decide!

pregnancy update

So I am 36 1/2 weeks...it's going by so fast and I can't believe it will only be 3 1/2 weeks (or sooner!) until I get to meet my little boy! I am definitely more tired and am back to taking naps whenever I can get them. I am waiting for the whole nesting thing to kick in, but I feel that it may not happen with an almost 2 year old running around the house. We have been talking with Brooke about her baby brother and how she is going to be a big sissy soon...not sure she quite gets it yet, but today she put her hand on my tummy and felt him move and she really liked that!

I went to the Dr today and she said I am measuring a week ahead of schedule, but I am not going to hold my breath! I've gained 35 pounds, which is 5 less than I was with Brooke at this time, but again, having a almost 2 year old running around is helping with that too! I still am feeling pretty good and am still really enjoying this pregnancy...which I am not sure I was saying this close to Brooke being born. So many people have said, " now that you're having a boy you can be done because now you have one of each..." Tim and I always said that we would take it one at a time, but I have thought "what if this is our last one" I want to make sure that I have treasured and enjoyed it as much as I can! (btw, I don't think we are done, but you never know!)

I had my sisters take some belly pictures this week and I thought I would share! Hopefully I will get another blog in before the baby comes, but looking at the date of my last posts...it might not happen :)

36 weeks

2 holidays in 1

Well, since I have been so behind on posting anything I decided to just do a big update that includes 2 holidays, and since yesterday was the 4th of July...let's start there.

We started out the day with church in the morning then we headed home for some much needed family time and rest. Tim barbequed trip tip and we all slept. That night we headed to Davis to watch fireworks with some friends. Brooke loved the fireworks and kept saying "more please" and "ooohhh". It was SOOO cute. By the time we were leaving the park she had learned a new word and would not stop saying "fi-woeks please". I just love her!

Next holiday: Father's Day

Tim flew home from San Diego Father's day afternoon, so Brooke and I picked him up and surprised him with a grill for Father's Day. We had such a great day bbqing and spending time together. I am so thankful for him and the amazing father that he is to Brooke. I can't wait to see him with our son in just a few short months. I am so blessed!

our little boy at 27 weeks (and Brooke saying cheese)

Some other fun things happening at the Brown household recently:

Brooke is talking up a storm...she says new words every day and makes me laugh. Some of my favorite things she says are "AWESOME!, oh no, where'd daddy/mommy go?, apple juice," and just this morning when I was singing Jesus loves me to her, she said "Jesus loves me!" So sweet!

This pregnancy: I am LOVING it! I am 30 weeks and feeling great...aside from the occassional glances in the mirror and realizing how big I am getting! I love feeling him move and watching little parts and trying to guess what they are! The Dr said our little boy is already measuring on the bigger side. I am really hoping that means he is going to come early and not that he is going to be a huge baby!

Name: we haven't decided on a name, but right now we really like Brayden James. We have liked the name Brayden for a long time, and James is Tim's middle name, and his dad's first name. We probably won't decide on his name for sure until we see him, like we did with Brooke.

Cravings: Spicy food!! I can't get enough of it! Specifically Thai food, but anything that has a good kick to it will work. I am also loving ice cream...not sure that I can blame that fully on the baby, but why not :) I still think I could eat a cheeseburger everyday and be very happy, but since I gained 45lbs with Brooke, I try to limit myself to just once or twice a week. I am also loving that it is summer because I can't get enough watermelon or strawberries! (Ok...seriously, I am so hungry right now) :)

That's probably more than anyone wanted to know, but there is the update!