Inside These Walls

She is actually 4 weeks old tomorrow but I never posted these pictures so here they are...

At her 2 week check which actually happened a day after she turned 3 weeks old, she weighed in at 8lbs 9oz... still not as big as Bracken was when he was born. We love our little girl! The Doc informed me that I could come out of hibernation and take her to the store, just to keep her covered and that church wasn't the best idea but if I wanted I could go early and leave late and avoid the people.

So folks, when you see me avoiding you, I can officially say it was the Doctor's orders! {I really still love you all.}

Bracken always wants to hold her and feed her and rock her, I am trying my best to be cooperative but she's mine too!

As for Bracken he is the ham he loves to be. I absolutely love to overhear him 'talking' on his phone... but when he gets a hold of the real phone and calls 911, and have me find about it by the Sheriff's Department showing up at my door? Not so much of the absolute loving going on!

"SHHH!! I'm on the phone!"

He is so proud. He finally figured out how to do it!
'Love You Toooo!'

Hug me. Hold me. Kiss me.

Bracken simply adores his baby "Eh-uh"...

He likes to take her little clenched fist and hold up her pointer and pinky fingers, then he says, "love you too!"

It is very common to find him leaning over and smothering her in kisses. This is probably how she got his cold... although it was only congestion we haven't heard coughs from either of them. Hooray!

Her poor nose.. I made it pretty sore cleaning boogers out so she could breathe.

Just so you know... she does have a bink :)

one mad sister

She is so precious, but the pictures just don't do her justice.
She is so much cuter in my arms!

funny boy

I must share a funny Bracken moment...

Yesterday I was changing Ella's diaper with Bracken standing over us observing. It just so happened her diaper was messy. Bracken was appalled and said, "Gross! Go in toilet!" then he disappeared into the other room. To myself I am thinking, 'right boy you are one to talk it has been months since you've pooped in the potty.' He can pee in the potty on command but we can't convince him to use the toilet for his stinky matters.

Well I finished up changing her diaper and went to find him and make sure he wasn't getting into trouble. I could hear him whimpering in the bathroom. I go in and there he sits on the toilet with his diaper and pants on the floor and he looks like he's gonna cry. He says, "see??" and the next thing I know he's peeing but it's shooting across the room. Ha! He was trying to go potty all by himself and couldn't figure out why it wasn't going in the toilet!

We'll have to work on that one!

{Oh.. about the yellow bandanna: he wanted to wear his sister's headbands and this was my solution :) }

Christmas in the air

Saturday Jason decided to put up the Christmas tree. If it were up to me it probably wouldn't ever get done, I love having it up but decorating isn't really my thing.

After deciding where to put the tree and moving furniture accordingly, it was time to vacuum. Bracken was downstairs at the time watching a movie. I went down and asked him if he wanted to help vacuum so dad could put up the Christmas tree... {this is odd, as it is always Bracken's idea to vacuum not ours, so I thought he'd be excited.}

The response I received was not what I expected. Excited? Oh definitely. About vacuuming? I don't think he heard the vacuuming part. His response was, "PRESENTS?!" Now where he has put Christmas tree and presents together I am not sure, he was only 18 months old last Christmas, does he remember?

Thanks to Bracken I didn't have to help with ornaments, Jason did make sure I put at least one on though. The tree is a little clustered as bracken liked to put the ornaments close together, but all the more fun, right?


Then for the really fun stuff. Last year Jason's Grandma and Grandpa Thompson gave each family a Santa's Express Train.
Bracken was so excited about setting it up!

He likes to sit and watch it go round and round and round and blow his train whistle as it passes by. I don't think the batteries are going to last long.

Oh speaking of lasting, the lights might all burn out on the tree this year as well.
I keep unplugging them cause it's the middle of the day
and every time I walk into the room they are plugged back in.
I think Bracken has his daddy's love for Christmas!

first glimpse of her

I can hardly believe Ella will be a week old tomorrow. She is unbelievable. I want to hold her incessantly.

Big brother is incredibly compassionate towards her and already loves her so much. He doesn’t handle her crying well, but has improved and no longer breaks down in tears but tells her over and over, “be alright, be alright, momma has you” Although it’s a good thing she’s not much of a crier yet, as I think he needs more time to understand she isn’t hurt and he doesn’t need to panic.

Daddy loves her so much and it is especially delightful to watch him adore his little girl. When she was a day old and wouldn’t open her eyes for me all he had to do was speak and she would crack her eyes open to look for him.

She has accumulated quite the list of nicknames, some of those being: El, Sister, Baby, Little Girl, Princess and Precious.

She sleeps wonderfully for at least 4 hours through the night and then her little alarm goes off and reminds her she’s hungry. She doesn’t cry though, just whimpers and has yet to wake Brother up. We couldn’t have special ordered a more perfect angel or be more content.

We have been incredibly blessed with wonderful family and friends and want to thank you all for your love, support, offers and meals. We love you and I will try my best to keep you posted!

Maybe It's Maybelline

I know you'd probably like an update from the very UNEVENTFUL appointment yesterday.

It's true. NO progress. I am terribly discouraged, all this uncomfortableness is supposed to mean something!

I am officially scheduled to be induced on Wednesday though {at L&D's availability.}

BTW: She still has no name. My family is anxious to call her something besides Suzy, as that's what she has been dubbed while in the belly. Yesterday my mom asked again if we had narrowed the names down at all and when I said no she said, "Maybe it's Maybelline!" :)

Approving of 'the move'

The Ninth Month

Being a duplex
I have been happy, my dear,
To loan you half the house
Rent-free and furnished
As best I could.

You have been a good
Tenant, all in all
Quiet, yet comfortably there
Tapping friendly on the wall.

But I hear
You have outgrown the place
And are packing up to move.
Well, I will miss
The sweet proximity.
But we will keep in touch.
There are bonds, my dear,
That reach beyond a block
Or a mile or a hemisphere
Born of much love and labor.

I approve the move
And gladly turn from landlady
To neighbor.
--Carol Lynn Pearson

In case you were wondering... I go to the doctor again tomorrow. Last week she told me I was dilated to 1cm {same as the week before}, and that the cervix was posterior and thinned about 60%. All I have to say is there had better be some improvement this week!!!

Bracken's Everydayness

He has an imagination and likes to pretend. A lot. Just yesterday he was dancing around with a pen pretending to be Peter Pan. A favorite though is being a puppy.

I am not a dog person. But Bracken is developing quite the relationship with Cooper, my family's dog. He likes to yell at him {probably because that is what I do} and tell him to 'GET' or sit or stay. If he is encouraged he will tell him 'good dog' {I am working on that one}

The latest is for Bracken to go over by Coop and say 'take picture!' but when grabbing his tail? EW. I immediately had the sanitizer for his hands. {I did not realize they got pictures of me being fanatical about it!}

I should also mention I say "That is Disgusting!" a lot. This morning Bracken had dropped food on the floor and got down, picked it up and said, 'dissussting' and proceeded to put it in his mouth!

Well. It was fun for him at least. It vowed to be the last time I would take him to the library by myself being pregnant. Omigosh he was a terror! But I did catch him having fun for a minute. We've been back twice {once with Meghan, once with Dad} and when he is pretend playing I hear him say 'Go to Library. Puters!'


It snowed in October. I was sad. I wasn't ready for Fall to be over {it came back!} But oh was Bracken excited. One problem: no boots. His boots are too little and he was very concerned. I convinced him to wear other shoes and he went out and played. By himself. I watched from inside in my PJ's. He had fun.


The day Meghan came and saved me I waited until 30 minutes before she was going to be there to tell Bracken she was coming. This is why! He sat at the window the entire time. I went and proceeded to get ready {I had a Dr's appointment} and could hear him telling his cars to 'wait' and 'wait, patience!' Such a big boy.

I didn't think he could do it!

Frightfully Delightful

This year for Halloween Bracken was a LION!

It was the funniest thing he was sure the 'mask'
needed to be over his face for him to roar!

But we did get a cute shot of him roaring without it down!

I was the 'Great Pumpkin'

While Jason and I went to the Hale Center Theatre and saw Curtains,
Bracken hung out with Papa Greg and Cheyne.
Thanks to them he got to go Trick or Treating!

They walked up and down main street in Tremonton.
I got proud reports that Bracken walked 'almost' the whole time!
{then I got the picture} Although I was assured that
was the only few minutes he was carried cause the hill
coming up from Kent's was hard!

Popeye Pumpkins

Every year for as long as I can remember Grandpa Eli has been the provider of our pumpkins for Halloween.

The last few years have been no exception, the pumpkins just haven't come from his garden! He takes us to his cousin Manuel's Pumpkin Patch...

This year I was terribly ornery {my family will tell you I am that way a lot...} so I stayed home and Granny, Papa Eli {or Pop-Eye as Bracken calls him} and Cheyne went and picked out their pumpkins.

I heard Bracken was quite proud of himself for picking a pumpkin
he could carry just like Pop-Eye was..
by the stem!

Thanks to Granny for taking pictures!


{This year there are no carving pictures,
and there were no pumpkins lit on our porch...
I am pregnant and not very with it!
Although Bracken did get to carve at Granny's
I just never got pictures of him
and the pumpkins we carved didn't make it home with us!}

Beautiful Day

The last week of September Bracken and I went and visited Grandma Jo and Grandpa Gordon. The weather was beautiful and the yard was ready to harvest! We had a blast...

pickin out punkins with Grandma Great

Can't find em!

There's ONE!

I had fun following him around the yard with a camera...

Playing under the Mulberry Tree

Eating fresh picked grapes under the mulberry tree

Grandpa Great

{these pics are really fun if you click on em and see em in their full glory!}

zoo {adventures}

not exactly a 'good' day to go to the zoo, it was a mess trying to navigate a stroller and a wheel chair with so many people, but we made it.

But before I go any further please stop and...

I don't yet have a picture of Bracken leaning against the wall
and crossing his ankles but I figured out where he got it from!

Yes, that's right. I said wheelchair.
Granny, Papa Greg and Cheyne came with us!
(it is true: she is no longer in a wheel chair, nor was she at the time...
just a caution so she didn't over do it!)

to see the baby elephant BUT we did see the baby giraffe!

UPDATE: I got it. Not a very good one but I caught him in action none-the-less.
{Yes this is in a public restroom, right AFTER I had washed his hands. ew.}

Yep, just like Dad!

This is Two

Having a two year old is consuming me, as you’ve probably perceived by each and every one of my posts.

He is either so delightful or so maddening I can’t function properly. It’s quite the daily expedition.

Yesterday we had a pretty good day. When ‘nap-time’ rolled around I made sure not to say the words nap or sleep. I simply told him that after he was done with his snack we were going to have quiet time. He was not thrilled with the idea and after crying for a minute took MUCH longer than needed to eat his craisens and cheese balls. When he was finally finished I took him in and was trying to explain that he could quietly look at books and play but I was going to shut the door and he needed to stay in there. His response? “Sleep little? Please?” Like I am forcing him to play!! I suppose as long as a ‘nap’ is HIS plan it’s a good one! But he also wanted this ‘sleep’ to take place in MY bed. So be it! He went right to sleep and stayed that way for 2 hours! I’ve decided he can ‘sleep little’ in my bed everyday. {Let’s just hope he thinks it is just as good of a plan when I suggest quiet time again today!}

It was so funny when he woke up, he came to me and took my face in his hands and said, “Glad you happy?” I responded with, “Yes I am so glad you are being happy today!” He then gave me a big hug and went about his way. Then on the way into town to drop him off with his dad so I could go to work he was having this conversation with himself, “Dad, good day. Sleep Moms bed. Be happy”

I can’t not mention the ‘excuses’ he uses daily. Whenever he is asked to do something or someone suggests something to him that he doesn’t agree with he will give you the response, “Too Big”, "Not Day" {meaning not today} or “Sick” The funniest was yesterday when in the store Jason wanted Bracken to hold his hand and Bracken stomped his foot and said, “Sick!” Usually this means I am too sick to do what you want me to do but in this context we had to laugh.

Just another sweet thing Bracken did - This morning he got up with Jason around 7 and ended up coming in to bed with me, as I pretended to be asleep. He laid down next to me, put his hand on my face and started to sing, “sun away, sun away, please sun away” it took me a minute to figure out what the song was. Do you know?

That's Right Nick! You Are My Sunshine :)

Makes Me Smile

I must sit down and write about how much fun Bracken is... {when it is NOT nap time.}

We got up this morning and I asked if we should have breakfast before we headed down to hibernate in front of the TV. His response was, "Sounds Great Mom!" I love it.

Yesterday the toaster was out on the counter when we got up and he proceeded to drag his chair over to get the toaster down telling me, "No Bread Silly" {He had wanted toast for dinner the night before and we didn't have any more bread} I proceeded to tell him that if he left it out that we could put Pop Tarts in... "Sounds Great!" as he jumps up and down clapping.

This is a quick and short post because I HAD to write while I'm lovin and cuddling him... give us a few hours when he is totally ornery and needing a nap but won't take one and he'll be locked in his room and I won't be in the mood to share how much I adore the kid!

As for now he is sitting next to me with his hand on my leg, happily entertained watching "Buzz Lightyear McQueen" {as he calls Toy Story.}

I am trying to figure out where the phrase "Sounds Great!" came from. I say sounds good or sounds fine but Great? not a phrase I ever use. Wondering if it came off of a Disney movie we've seen, I just can't place it...

Today

I guess it started out okay. He slept till 8 then played with his barn till 8:30 which meant I got to sleep. That was good. And then for breakfast we had a Pop Tart and chocolate milk. Then we played play-doh. Then I gave in and let him pick a movie. His pick today was "new goove" {The Emperor's New Groove} Then we went upstairs and got dressed, cleaned up his room and even vacuumed. For lunch he requested toast. So I conceded and put bread in the toaster, I even put peanut butter on it and turned it into a toasted PB sandwich when he freaked because I was putting butter and not "p-butter" on it.

I have tried so hard to be someone he wants to stay home with. No avail. Next I tried to empty the dishwasher and he freaked out because we needed to go get dad to make "cakes" and proceeded to throw the dishes out of the dishwasher at me.

He had a time out and then I asked him if he wanted to make cookies with me... yes I know how to make cookies and we have even done it together once before. He slapped my leg and said, "No. Dad. Cakes!"

He is currently in his room crying because he is "wake" and I'm forcing him to nap.

signing off-

Mean Mom

Remembering