My New Favorite Picture

One Month!

Yesterday Brennen turned one month. Sometimes it seems like we've had him here with us for so much longer than that but other times I can't believe how fast time has gone. Here are a few things that have happened in his little life this past month.

• He was born. :)


• He went on a picnic in the Laramie range


• He started gaining weight and now at a month he actually has some chub


• He was blessed


• He visited his grandma and grandpa in Lyman


• He went with his dad to catch a fish (well, he and I actually stayed in the car but we drove with dad and we were right next to the creek!) :)


• Once he rolled from tummy to back (it was totally a fluke)


• He likes to visit his grandma Gwen and Aunt Mary (although he always seems to want to eat when we're there... oh wait! He ALWAYS wants to eat!)


• He smiles like crazy now! I don't know how many are actually on purpose but they're so cute!


• He likes car rides and walks in the stroller


• His longest night sleep was 6 and half hours!

What else can you really say about a month old boy except that we love him SO much. We hoped and prayed for this little guy for awhile and I really feel like he's a miracle for us and we feel so happy that our Heavenly Father has blessed us with our little boy. It's amazing to me how much my life has changed and how everything suddenly seems to revolve around one thing. :) I kind of teased people who only talked about their kids on the phone or on their blogs but now I understand! :)

Here's a picture that my cousin-in-law Megan took a couple days ago. I love it!

Brennen's Blessing

Today we blessed our Brennen. Matt gave him a really nice blessing and both of our father's and all of our brothers who are elders stood in the circle. It was a great day. My entire family (minus my sister Christena's husband Rik) came for the blessing and it was a lot of fun to see them all and spend time with them.

Christena's twins, Abigail and Sophia, loved Brennen.

All 7 of my mom's grandchildren.
The whole family.

Family pictures!

Getting Out

Matt and I both really enjoy fishing, camping, and hiking so we've both been getting a little stir crazy this summer because first I was hugely pregnant and now we have a little baby and that makes all those activities a little more difficult. So last night we decided on just going up to the Laramie range to have a little picnic. We didn't stay outside too long but we drove around for quite awhile and it was SO nice to get out. Brennen did really well and slept most of the time we were out (which is probably why he didn't sleep much last night.... he LOVES sleeping in the car).

Matt holding Brennen

Our little family! Too bad you can't really see much of Brennen except his head. :)
Asleep in the car, sorry it's sideways.

And a picture of the Clark family! You can definitely tell I wasn't born into this family. :) Brennen looks like he belongs, though!

One Week Already!

I looked at the clock today at about 3:00 and I realized that exactly one week ago I was in labor telling Matt that I didn't want any more kids and then about two hours later we were blessed with our amazing little guy. And in that week I have decided that I do in fact want more children (someday!) :)
I've had some requests to share the story of his birth but it really wasn't anything too exciting. The doctors thought he was measuing too small so we scheduled an induction on the day before my due date. We got to the hospital at 7:30 and they checked me out and started me on pitocin at about 8:30. Dr. Glode broke my water at sometime around 10 or 10:30 and the contractions started getting really bad at about noon. They checked me at 3:30ish and I was at an 8 and then a half hour later I was at a 9.5 and they FINALLY let me push and Brennen was born at 5:17.
That's all there is to it. I elected not to have an epidural and I didn't even end up getting any IV drugs and it was seriously the hardest thing I have done in my life but easily the most rewarding.
Anyway, I thought I would post a few of my favorite pictures of Brennen.

Our little family (I'm sure we'll get better family pictures soon...)

Three generations
Uncle Brad seems to be amused with his new nephew

Mom and Brennen

Trying to get rid of that pesky jaundice

Kicked himself out of the blanket
Laying with his dad (I LOVE this one!) Just a cutie