OUR STORY

Colt and I met in the fall of 2004 in Stillwater, Oklahoma while attending Oklahoma State University. I had just started my Freshman year of college and was a Pi Beta Phi pledge. Colt was a Junior and was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon. That fall Pi Phi and SAE were teamed up for Freshman Follies. I had cheered in high school, but hadn't sang since junior high so I didn't think I was qualified to try-out. My high school best friend and now sorority sister Chelsy pretty much forced me to try-out. Thank goodness I did!

Colt was a Follies director for SAE. I remember singing "Skidamarink" and seeing Colt as a judge. Colt says once I auditioned he insisted that I make it. I like to think that I made it purely on my talent. :) Shortly after Follies started I broke up with my high school boyfriend. For the first time in a long time I was single and I decided I was going to enjoy it! I still remember Colt's personality being like a magnet I couldn't seem to stay away from no matter how hard I tried. Colt and I quickly developed a very flirtatious relationship.

One game day we were hanging out tailgating and I was telling Chelsy's boyfriend Jacob (also my friend from high school) how I thought Colt was "so hot and I thought he would be fun to make-out with." After a few brewskies Jacob and I wondered over to the SAE tailgate and Jacob proceeded to try to "hook me up" with Colt. Unfortunately, after two years of "playing the field" Colt had decided he was thru making out with girls for fun and if I wanted to make out with him we were going to have to be dating. (PS I am cringing writing this "make-out," "hook up," "playing the field," a little embarassing but true). I decided to call Colt's bluff and still just try to get him to kiss me. Don't judge...I was a freshman in college trying to enjoy the single life. Later that night we all went to the SAE party and Colt and I flirted the whole night, but no make-out. Three weeks of flirting later and still not even a peck. Finally, on October 2, 2004, Mom's Day, after a long day of tailgating and dinner with my future mother in-law, Colt finally kissed me. I swear it was like a cheesy movie....one minute we were dancing in the middle of a party and the next minute the world stopped and we were kissing. The rest is history.

2 1/2 year later I was a senior in college and Colt had graduated and was working/living in Tulsa. It was Christmas break and I was doing an internship at the Anheuser-Busch wholesaler in Muskogee, OK. Colt was heading home for Christmas so we decided to have dinner and exchange presents the night before he left. I had been working really long hours at my internship and was completely exhausted so I asked Colt if we could just order in dinner instead of going out. So we decided to pick-up In the Raw (our favorite) and watch The Grinch my FAVORITE Christmas movie. As I mentioned earlier I was completely exhausted so I actually started to doze off once we started the movie. Next thing I know I am getting an elbow in the arm and Colt is telling me to wake up. I quickly wake up and it is the part of the Grinch where is heart is growing "3 sizes" about that time Colt suddenly pops up in the movie. WHAT? Yes, he had spliced himself into the movie. I was in complete shock. I just kept saying "now, this is happening now." I always thought I would see it coming but I was so suprised. I look down to see Colt on his knee with a beautiful ring out. Of course I said yes. Once I finally got over the shock I made Colt tell me every detail and we ran home to parents house where my parents were waiting anxiously for us to arrive and called just about everyone we knew to tell them the news.

10 months later on October 11, 2008 I became the luckiest girl in the world and married my best friend!

LATE NIGHT GOSSIP

Everything I've read in baby books tells you how important it is to talk to your baby. So of course Colt and I have been doing our parental duties and talking to Cooper as much as possible. I'm sure you can imagine this is really difficult for Colt...he is so quiet! :)The last few weeks Cooper has really discovered his voice which is so fun. Here is a video we made last night of Cooper talking to his daddy. If you listen close you can even hear a little toot sneak out too haha!

RETIREMENT

In case you haven't heard, I have officially retired from the working world and become a stay-at-home mom....although I prefer to be called CEO of Braden Inc.

Growing up I truly treasured having a stay-at-home mom. I loved knowing she would always be available if I needed her for anything. When I was younger, I remember being so proud that my mom was always at the school helping out my teachers and being involved in all our activites. So naturally, I had always hoped I would someday be able to provide that same security and support for my children. LIttle did I know that actually making the leap to being a stay-at-home mom was a little tougher. For those of you who didn't know I was the Digital Media Cooridnator for Dillard's Corporate Advertising for a little under two years at Dillard's corporate office here in Little Rock. I truly loved my job and couldn't imagine leaving it....that is until this little angel was born.

It was truly love at first sight. Once I laid eyes on Cooper I knew that from that moment on there was no job more important than being his mother. Three months later and I have not regretted my decision once. Now I can only hope than I can be as wonderful of a mom to my little man as my mom was to me.

THE BRADEN BUNCH

It's official...the Braden's have a blog! After just 3 short months of being a mommy I realized that we are creating memories everyday here at the Braden house and I don't want to forget a single one of them. And unless I had a memory like my sister Madalene, (I swear she remember every detail of our childhood) I needed to start writing things down. Blogging not only allows me to keep an online journal but it also allows me share these memories with our friends and family near and far. I hope you enjoy The Braden Bunch!