Spring Pics!

Well it's about time that I add some photos on here! So here's the deal, or my lame excuse for not having pictures. Ben and I . . . correction . . . I am too stingy to buy a computer. Therefore, we are only left with Ben's company laptop which won't allow me to download anything for security purposes. So, I am stuck downloading photos on my 1990s school computer that takes FOREVER! But hey, here they are. And yes, I am giving myself one big pat on the back for finally getting some pictures saved. Anyway, here are a few of my favorites from the last few months.

Almost holding up her own bottle! Her form almost looks like she is smoking a stogie. Haha!

Sometimes our sweet little Braelyn likes to take cat naps in the tub. Don't ask me! This is her routine; turn the water really warm (she'll scream if it is the least bit cold), lay her down, she gasps for a second to get used to the water, she smiles really big, then she pees, and if she's really relaxed she'll fall asleep. It's hilarious.

This our Easter celebration. Our friends were so nice to have invited us to invade their family's get together. This is Ben and I playing the egg toss. My partner was actually the cutie in the green striped shirt, Aiden. He was so funny. Instead of throwing the egg, he would walk up and hand it to me. I wasn't complaining. Who wants a three year old throwing a raw egg at you?! Later Ben and I played together, and luckily the egg broke on him. Although the whole time I was giving him the look like, "if this breaks on me, you're dead!" He took one for the team.

Ben's favorite picture.

Always sticking her tongue out. I mean ALWAYS!

I'm learning as a new parent that you can NEVER get a picture of everyone looking at the camera. It's impossible.

She loves the superman move. She giggles everytime you hold her up in the air. So cute!

Again with the tongue.

Oh I just love her sweet little face, and that dimple, oh that dimple!

All in all, it's been a wonderful spring! We've had so much fun. We go to the park, go on walks, spend time with friends, and just have fun at home. I can't wait to have some more free time with Braelyn in the summer. Only three more weeks of school left. I'm counting down!

Saturday Park Days!

Ben and I love going to the park on Saturdays . . . well, I love going to the park on Saturdays. I think Ben goes just to make me happy, but he goes! We met some friends last weekend at the park and had a Mexican fiesta afterwards. Yummy! There's nothing better than enchiladas, burritos and guacamole! My friend Erin just got a fancy new camera that takes awesome pictures. That's what she says, but I think it's really just her. She's a great photographer. She was nice enough to practice a few shots on our family. So cute!

Long time!

I've been putting off posting because we just got a new camera . . . well, okay, like over a month ago. We've taken pictures, but haven't figured out how to download them yet. It's a mixture of laziness, computer incompetence, and just being plain old busy. So, here's an update with NO pictures. Sorry, the next one will have some. I promise it will be soon. I can't start slacking now!

Ben got his passport and is all set to go. As of now, he will be going to Peru without me because my passport hasn't come! I'm sure it will get here this week. I'm so excited. So, here is something really lame. I saw Ben's passport and he has this nice picture of himself smiling. I asked him, "What the heck? They let you smile?!" He looked at me like an idiot and said, "Of course, why not?" Here's why! The guy who took my picture was counting to three, I smiled, he stopped and said I couldn't smile, I laughed thinking that he was joking, he said, "no really I mean it. Don't smile", so I didn't smile, he took the picture, and I looked like an idiot who just took a mug shot!!! Now I have a lame-o passport picture that I have to keep for the next 10 years because some photo guy made up his own passport rules. Oh well!

My littlest brother Weston got his mission call. Wahoo! I'm so excited for him. He is leaving on July 14th for Cordoba, Argentina. He's excited to speak Spanish with my other two brothers and Ben.

Our little family had a wonderful Easter together. I was contemplating playing the Easter bunny for Ben and Braelyn, but that didn't happen. Ben LOVES junk food: sweets, fast food, soda, you name it. I was going to buy a bunch of Easter candy for him, but then I thought, "what are just the two of us going to do with all that candy?!" Plus Ben still had leftover candy from his mom. She sent a bunch of trial candies from the movie convention they went to in Vegas. It's like adult trick or treating. You go to all these vendors and they give you sample movie popcorn, drinks, nachos, etc. So I nixed the Easter bunny.

We hung out with some great friends of ours. They not only let us crash their Easter shin dig, but we also crashed their family Christmas right before Braelyn was born. Braelyn's little Easter outfit was so cute! Pictures to follow. It was a little white and blue summer jumpsuit. Loved it! She has this smile that just melts your heart. She is such a happy little girl now. I just want to squeeze her all the time. She still sticks out her tongue constantly, blows spit bubbles, and babbles cute little nothings.

I am so loving being a mom. It is so fulfilling and I adore every minute of it between 7 am and 10 pm. =) Thank goodness Ben switches off with night duty. We've gotten into a nice routine with Braelyn. She really is a great sleeper.

Anyway, this is a long update, but I don't want to forget what has been going on with our family. I really want Braelyn to be able to read this someday and know how much we love her, and all the exciting things that have been happening in our lives since we found her. What a blessing. Our little angel girl!

We love our little family . . .

Can I just say how much I LOVE LOVE LOVE our little Braelyn?! She has gotten to be so much fun. I love the little adorable things she does. We have tons of nicknames for her:

1. Lizard because she constantly sticks out her tongue.
2. LB for "Little Braelyn"
3. Stinks . . . well you know why. She just stinks sometimes.
4. Lil Brae because Ben needs to be a little ghetto every once in a while.
5. Brae Brae which I swore I would never call her (Ben made it up), but somehow it's stuck.
6. Little Missy just because she's a little princess and it fits.

I'm sure that there will be many other names that come up throughout the years!

What a look of shock! She's just camera shy I guess.

Miss Braelyn is ALWAYS yawning. It's so dang cute.


It's so fun to be a family. We love it. Both Ben and I tease that we just want to squeeze her so tight until her tiny little head pops off!!! Of course we wouldn't do that, but seriously, we just want to hug her so tight. My favorite is kissing her cheeks. Love it!

She's laughing! I think it's by accident, but hey, we'll take what we can get. So cute!

We just can't get enough of looking at her sweet face.

I love the "vintage" look in this picture. Cortney is so artistic! What an amazing photographer!

All in all, things have been wonderful for our family. We couldn't have asked for more. Braelyn has turned into quite the happy little baby. She sleeps well at night which makes for a happy mom and dad.

I started back at work last week and that was definitely an adjustment. It's hard not to be with her during the day, but I know she is well taken care of and just down the hall from me. The lady that watches our three babies (my principal's and my other co worker's) is amazing. She is so sweet and attentive with Braelyn. The other two babies like to sleep, but not my child! She is wide awake during the day and definitely gives Sylvia a run for her money.

Ben and I are finally going to go on an exotic vacation! We've been talking for years about going outside the country and really treating ourselves to something special. The time has come! We are planning on going to Peru with the rest of my family to pick up my younger brother from his two year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I'm so proud of Landon for his hard work and we can't wait to see him. We'll hopefully book the trip this week. Yay!

Life is good!

Thanks Cortney!!!

Our good friend Cortney Clegg took some fun pictures with us and Braelyn this week. She is an awesome photographer and she started! You can check them out on her blog at http://www.thetribesofclegg.blogspot.com.

Almost Five Weeks Old . . . Time Flies!

Life with Braelyn has been so much fun! I am definitely adjusting to life as a mom, and I am quickly realizing that you can only plan one to two tasks that you would like to get done each day. I've learned that it takes at least three hours to get one load of laundry done, at least three sittings to finish eating any meal, and at least three times of repeating the DVR to grasp even half of what any show was about. I love it, though!!! We are having lots of fun hanging out together.

I've always said that I don't want to be a "stay at home mom", but rather a "stay with my child" mom. Meaning, I like to be out and about. I want my children to have as many outside experiences as they can. I don't want to be cooped up in the house all day and afraid to venture out with my children. I'll have to say that it is quite scary making that first break out in public with a baby that you don't quite know their schedule, if they're going to be fussy, or when and where they will want to sleep. However, Braelyn and I were successful in our first outing! I took her to the school to turn in midterm grades and all the students ooed and awwed over her. I then met some friends (all pregnant with future friends of Braelyn's) for lunch. I had my first experience of using a public changing table . . . gross! Since then I've been to Wally World, Target, Petco, and the drive through of Chick-fil-a to get a well needed cookies and cream shake. Adventure after adventure!

Here are some of my favorite pictures of Braelyn over the last few days. I can't stop taking pictures of her because I think she is just so stinking adorable! I love the few pictures where I can actually catch her smiling. She's doing a lot more of that lately.


She's such a little fashionista, especially with her little pink sneakers!



As always, Sancho is always in on the action . . . whatever is going on, he is right there!



Her cute little sleeping pose. She fell asleep on the little Boppy pillow on my lap. She stayed this way for over an hour. Thanks Julee for the adorable bows!!!

All ready for bed in her cozy sleeper. Thanks Mom, she loves being bundled at night. She knows it's time for bed when she puts on Grandma's jammies!


Bath time = not fun!

My favorite part of the day is kissing her little cheeks after her bath. She smells so sweet!

A little smile in this one. Those faces are so priceless. We love you little Braelyn!

Rock-a-bye . . . Sancho?!

Okay, so I was putting Braelyn down for a nap today, and I heard Sancho come into the room. His collar always jingles and gives away his whereabouts even when he is trying to be sneaky. I was putting some clothes away in her room, and getting other things organized for a while. I went to leave the room and realized that I hadn't heard Sancho ever leave. I looked around to find him, and he wasn't anywhere. Then I looked under the crib where I had stashed the crib bumper and this is what I found! Look very closely and you will see Braelyn on top of the crib and Sancho's black little nose underneath. I was dying laughing! What a sweet big brother!

Welcome Home Baby Braelyn!

And here she is!!! Yes, baby girl is actually sitting in our living room chilling in her little bouncer seat. Can you believe it?! She is actually home after 3 1/2 weeks of making friends with all the nurses in the nursery. She was the most popular baby there. All the nurses loved her so much and were constantly passing her around. She got such special treatment. How could you not love such a sweet face as little Braelyn's?!

I love this funky little smile she has going on in this picture. She has these adorable little smirks that just make me laugh. She is going to have such a funny personality!



Our sweet little angel just sleeping away. When she's quiet she's really quiet, but when she's loud she's REALLY LOUD!



Our caseworker signing papers for our official discharge. Did we really pass the parenting test?! Are you sure we're ready?! Just kidding, we've been waiting a long time to bring her home. I wouldn't wait another minute.



Does it look like she doesn't want to come home to you?! Look at that sad little face! What a cry!

But in the end, she LOVED her car seat and slept the entire ride home. She even slept long enough for Ben and I to run through the drive thru of Chick-fil-a and get a well deserved cookies n' cream milkshake. The best!


He's a natural! Ben's looking forward to building up those sexy arm muscles of his when he has to lug around this carseat all the time. I know I won't mind the extra definition. =)

And thank you a million times to our wonderful caseworker Hannah! She made everything possible for us to adopt our sweet and precious little miracle. This truly has been an amazing experience for us. We couldn't have asked for anything different. Braelyn is the most special thing that has happened to us in our lives. She was meant to be with us, and we will make sure to always let her know just how special she is.

Thanks to everyone that has offered help and has shown excitement for our family. It's refreshing to know that we have such caring friends. We only hope that we can repay everyone for all of their kindness and support.

God provides miracles for everyone . . . it's just a matter of opening your heart to accepting them. We truly have been given a miracle, a perfect miracle!

Quick Update

Braelyn is doing really well so far. She has done much better than they anticipated, and the doctors think that she will possibly be able to come home this weekend. I am so excited to finally bring her home. She is just so stinking cute!

I have gone back to work for this week. I figure that it would be pretty pointless just sitting home waiting. It gets my mind off of worrying about Braelyn all day, and then I can use my full maternity leave to just spend time with her when she comes home. My students were really surprised to see me, but in a good way! They don't respond to well to substitutes. =) They were really cute, though, when I came back. I showed off pictures and they just thought that Braelyn was adorable. It's nice to come back to work and know that I have a six week break coming up real soon.

Everyday after work I have been stopping off at the hospital to see Braelyn. All of the nurses are so nice. I show up just in time to feed her, and then I just rock her for an hour or so until Ben comes. He sure has learned the skills of daddyhood really quickly. He's got the football hold down packed.

Thanks to everyone that has fasted and prayed for our family. We appreciate all the care and concern. We know that you all are a huge part as to why Braelyn is doing so well. We'll keep everyone updated on when she comes home. I'm anxious to use all the cute outfits that friends have given me!!!

More Pictures!

Wow! What a crazy and wonderful last couple of days it has been. It's amazing how you can be a normal married couple one day, and parents the next! It's a lot to soak in all at once. Ben and I are so excited to start this journey of parenthood. Bring it on! If it wasn't already almost one o'clock in the morning I would give you the play by play of how everything happened. But, I'm TIRED! Yes, it has already begun . . . the exhausting days, and we haven't even brung her home yet. Hopefully this weekend I can go through the pictures and add some commentary.

Just an update, Braelyn will probably be in the hospital for at least another week. The doctors want to keep an eye on her as she is getting the medication out of her system that she was reacting to. They're keeping her on small doses of morphine to keep her comfortable. She seems so peaceful whenever we go visit, and we love holding her. She is absolutely adorable! Please still keep her in your prayers so we can bring her home soon.

Our Miracle: Braelyn Noelle Gundersen!

She's here! Our little bundle of joy has made her grand entrance. She was born 8:00 am sharp on December 28th. She weighed in at 7 pounds 12 ounces and 20 1/2 inces long. She is absolutely adorable! We could use everyone's prayers as she has to stay in the hospital for a few days because of a reaction to a medication. We know that she will be okay, but any extra thoughts and prayers would be helpful. We'll keep you updated.

Busy, busy, busy!

Okay, so I feel really lame . . . like people are going to think that I just stopped blogging ever since we found out we were going to get a baby. I promise that's not the case. Here's the lowdown of excuses for the blog absence:

1) It's the end of school and there is so much grading!

2) Two of my coworkers/good friends had babies in the last month so school has been even more crazy than normal . . . is that possible?

3) Ben got a new job and has been in Rochester, NY for the past week. Hallelujah! It's nice to be employed.

4) Ben's parents came for Thanksgiving and we had a blast. I've never seen so many crafts finished all at once. Kaye = Queen of Crafts. In three days we made pinatas, burp clothes, and a quilt . . . well, I guess I should say that SHE made. I wasn't too much help, but they all turned out to be so adorable.

5) Back to Ben; he has the computer so I can't download pictures and blogs are always lame without pictures. Oh well, pictures will come later.

6) We have a baby coming in TWO weeks! Count that, TWO WEEKS!!!

The last month has been absolutely amazing. I love our birth mother more and more everyday. She helped me go shopping for some baby essentials at Target over the weekend. Then we took a much needed stop at In n' Out Burger. Yummy!

My friend Katie threw the most amazing baby shower ever with the help from my visiting teachers at church. Thank you Rachel and Misty! So many people came to help me celebrate. I was so proud to show off our birth mother because again, she is so amazing!

Ben and I have been so blessed these last couple of months, and I hope those blessings continue to roll in. =) I can't wait for December 28th. What an amazing Christmas gift!

Oh, and the official name will be Braelyn Noelle Gundersen. Love it!