3 Weeks Old

Our friend Lethe Kelsey came over to our house last week and took these pictures of Bracken for us. I love how they turned out! I'm glad we took these pictures too, because he's already changed so much, even in just a week. Bracken had a huge growth spurt the last couple of days, and when I look at him I sometimes think "where did my newborn boy go?" In just a couple of days he grew out of all his newborn outfits. We weighed him on Friday and he weighed 8# 7oz, and was 20 inches long. He'd already gained 2 pounds and grew 1 1/2 inches, and in the next couple of days he's grown even more! He's such a happy little guy and loves it when Brian growls at him and takes him on airplane rides. He's started smiling more the last couple of days, and they seem more like real smiles than "gassy" smiles. I love to see him smile! The weather has been beautiful here and we've been going on lots of walks, with Bracken either in his stroller or his sling. He is a noisy little boy. When he's eating, sleeping, laying on his tummy or when we're playing with him he's always making noises and it makes us laugh. He's so cool!

Braken used to make this face a lot, with his mouth in a little "o." It's one of my favorite faces.

Bracken Clay Johnson

We have a new little member in our family! Bracken Clay Johnson was born Tuesday, February 24th at 6:52pm. he weighed 6lbs 8oz and is 18 1/2 inches long. He is so perfect and beautiful! I can just sit and hold and look at him for hours-- his tiny hands, fingers, ears and face. Brian is so excited to have a little boy, or as Brian calls him, his little man. It's so fun to watch him with Bracken.

He was born at my parents home in Richfield and my mom was our midwife. The labor went so well. In fact, I didn't realize I was really in labor until about 4 hours before he was born. I'd had a few contractions throughout the morning, but I didn't think much of it. I went to the gym, got a massage, went to Wal-Mart and the bank and called my Mom around 2:45. When I told her the contractions were grabbing me now, she told me I'd better get to Richfield. By 3:00 I decided, "okay, I think I'm really in labor." We left for Richfield and I had contractions every 2-3 minutes the whole way there. That was the longest car ride ever. I was so relieved when we arrived in Richfield at 5pm. I needed Brian by me all the time. Just having him there helped me so much. Everything went so quickly. When my Mom told me it was time to push I was surprised it was time already. And after just a few minutes of pushing I was holding Bracken in my arms. We stayed in Richfield for the rest of the week and my family and Brian took care of me. It was so fun to see my little brothers and sisters with Bracken. Tyson (2 years old) couldn't get enough of him. Now we're back in our own little home and everything is going great.

We love Bracken so much. Everytime I look at him I just think, "what a miracle!" He is such a good baby and it's so fun talking to him, singing to him, cuddling, nursing and even changing him. We love being parents!

We love you Bracken!

Proud Daddy!

This is one of my favorite pictures. I’d just finished nursing Bracken around 5:30am, but he was wide awake and kept whimpering and then cried when Brian put him back in his crib. After just a couple of seconds, Brian got back out of bed, picked up and cuddled Bracken who quickly stopped crying. Brian brought him back to bed, held him in the crook of his arm, and the two of them fell asleep for the next two hours. I had to take a picture it made me so happy. In fact, it made me feel like crying a couple of happy tears to look at my two boys sleeping so contentedly. The two people I love the most in this world.


One day old
Grandpa Clay and Grandma Lisa -- that's pretty fun that my parents are a grandpa and grandma now!

Looking at Mommy

Family Photo -- 5 days old