Manly Dress Up

I spent yesterday morning packing away the clothes Bracken has grown out of and finding new ones for him to wear from the hand-me-downs people have shared with us. Bracken thought it was great fun, and picked out his wardrobe for the day. A yellow long sleeved shirt, a bright blue football jersey on top of that, then the plaid jacket and the tie. Don't forget the rain boots and the cowboy hat! He was so proud that he'd dressed himself and kept saying, "Mom, I look cute" or "I'm so handsome." Silly kiddo.

One of Bracken's little friends gave him this matching game for his birthday and it's his new favorite thing to do. It's the first thing he asks for in the morning (even before food, wow) and when anyone comes over to visit he says, "Let's play my matching game!" He's pretty good at finding matches and always says, "Look, they're the same!" when he does.

Earlier today I heard Bracken calling for me. I found him in the front room wearing Brian's work boots. "I'm wearing Daddy's ambulance boots!" he said as he tried to walk around.

Bracken thinks it is so cool that Brian works on an ambulance. He has a pair of ambulance pajamas that he always wants to wear when Brian is away at work. He often tells my little brothers, "My Dad works on the ambulance." I think Tyson (4) got a little jealous and told Bracken, "Well my Dad works on the ambulance too." :)

Bracken takes Brian's pen light and checks his stuffed animals eyes and ears with it, asking, "Are you okay, bear?" And if his animals are hurt he "fixes" them with instruments such as his toy saw, hammer, cellphone, piano, and keys. He got all of those ideas from Brian "fixing" Bracken when he gets hurt. Bracken wants to be just like his Daddy.

Growing Baby!

Bracken often comes up to me and pats my tummy while saying, "Mom, the baby is growing!" I have to laugh, but it's true. I had a big growth spurt these last few weeks, and I'm finally measuring where I should be. Thankfully I'm past feeling nauseous as long as I eat protein regularly and take daily naps. It's amazing how much faster this pregnancy is going. With Bracken I always knew how far along I was (weeks and days), and approximately how big he was and what was being developed at the time. This time around I usually have to think for a minute to remember exactly how far along I am, and I don't keep track of the other fun information very well. Probably because I already have a very active little guy to chase around all day. But I love feeling our baby move and kick all the time, and we are all excited for this new little boy or girl to join our family!

Left Picture: 23 weeks

Right Picture: 28 weeks

Alphabet Cookies

We had weeks of decent weather and no snow. Bracken and I went on walks everyday and he would ride around our house and visit our neighbors on his self proclaimed "motorcycle" scooter. We loved being outside. Then this cold spell with the icy wind hit.

Just as winter returned, Bracken's two little friends both got sick, so we were stuck in the house for over a week, and got a little stir crazy.

When Bracken asked me for cookies one morning, instead of suggesting grapes or crackers to distract him, I said "Okay!" and we made sugar cookies...and had a blast together.

Bracken insisted on wearing his "manly" Home Depot apron. He poured the sugar in the mixer and on the floor. He probably ate half a batch of cookie dough. He insisted on cutting all the cookies out of the middle of the dough. He chose which cookie cutter he wanted, and changed every few seconds, "I want a 'T' for Tyson," "a 'B' for Bracken and Bumblebee," "a 'Q' for Quail..." He loves his letters. When they were all cooked, frosted and packaged, he would ask for a cookie by saying, "I want a D for Daddy and Duck cookie!" or whatever letter he chose at the time and he'd look in the cookie tupperware until he found that letter to eat.

Thanks for the fun morning Bracken!

Ellingford Family

Ellingford Family, Christmas 2010

Brian, Kira and Bracken

Kira, Bracken, Kylie and Linsy.
Yep, the cousins were done taking pictures.

Christmas Morning

We spent Christmas in Richfield this year. It was so fun to have our entire family there, and Grandpa and Grandma Ellingford too! With all of the little kids around (My youngest brother just turned 4, plus Bracken and his cousin Kylie) there was tons of anticipation and excitement.

It didn't take Bracken long to figure out what was in his stocking. He was so excited when he pulled out the football and toothbrush. "A bat and a ball!" He said, and started having us pitch the football at him so he could hit it with his toothbrush.

Shaylee, Breonna and Ryan. Gotta love these guys!
Bracken with his new tools and his Aunt Shaylee Dawn. This little guy LOVES Shay.


Grandpa Rudy, Tyson and Dallin. Grandpa and Grandma gave them new bikes for Christmas. They were so excited and spent most of the morning riding their bikes around the island in the kitchen.

Tyson and Bracken in their new PJ's Christmas night.

While in Richfield we made and ate lots of good food, went to see "Voyage of the Dawn Treader," went sledding, Brian went shooting with the older kids, and we all played lots of games. Merry Christmas!

Sooo Pretty

Almost every day when Bracken sees me after I've finished my hair and makeup, he looks up at me, stops, and in a high squeaky voice he says, "Mommy, you look soooo, soooo, pretty!"

I love being a mom!