Photo catch up

"Parents everywhere realize that the most powerful combination of emotions in the world is not called out by any grand cosmic event, nor is it found in novels or history books, but merely by a parent gazing down upon a sleeping child." Thomas S. Monson

Bracken always holds his head up and looks around with his wide eyes as if he doesn't want to miss a thing. And when people are around and we put him down for a nap. . . well, he wants out of bed because he doesn't want to miss anything then either.

Bracken and Aunt Linsy

Bracken weighs 11 lbs now. He's out of some of his 0-3 month clothes!
Watching General Conference with Daddy

Bracken loves it when I bounce on my exercise ball with him.

Bracken with his Great Grandpa and Grandma Gunderson. He was tired of taking pictures.

Bracken had lots of fun playing with his Grandpa Rob over Easter weekend.

"Hey, that's a cool hat. Can I wear it?" Bracken with Grandpa Rob

Blessing Day

This weekend Bracken got to meet his Grandpa Rob, Grandma Sue and Aunt Kristi for the first time. They came up to spend Easter with us and for Bracken's baby blessing. On Saturday we drove up to Richfield and joined my family for the day. We had a treasure hunt and an easter egg hunt, played games, ate good food and watched "Bolt." One of the highlights of the day was when Linsy and Caleb announced they are expecting a baby! She made cupcakes with letters on them spelling out "Baby Coming November 3rd." We are all excited for them!

It was fun having so much of our family together for Bracken's blessing.

Bracken's Blessing Day

Grandpa Rob, Grandma Sue, Kristi, Brian, Kira and Bracken
The Ellingford Family with Bracken

Bracken's First Easter Egg!

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

Snowman Family

Brian and I were bored last Saturday until he came up with the brilliant idea of making a snowman. Then once we got started we had so much fun we made a whole snowman family. You can't really see it from the picture, but the Mom and Dad holding hands cause they're Valentine's snowmen too. We laughed a lot while we made them. Pretty soon our family will have three too!

36 Weeks!

Only 4 weeks to go! I still feel good and haven't gotten uncomfortable yet. I've been cleaning, looking at baby stuff, going on lots of walks, and just getting excited for our baby to come. At my first doctor's visit the heart beat was at 160, which made us think it was a girl, but now it's down to 145, so maybe it's a boy after all. It's been fun guessing and hearing everyone's predictions of whether it's a boy or girl throughout the pregnancy. I've had everyone from friends, family, people at the grocery store, and strangers at the gym guessing what it's going to be and telling me why. From how I'm carrying to what my cravings are. It's pretty funny. But only a few more weeks and we'll all find out!