Baby is HERE!

Here's the before picture....

Here are the after pictures....

Christian James Nielson

8 lbs. 2 0z.

June 2, 2011

We're all sooooo glad he's here!

Visits are good for my soul!

The last couple of weeks we have had the most fun with the Adams' family visiting from Utah as well as my dear friend Ande visiting from Minnesota. It was really, really great to see them all and catch up on everything!

I loved hearing how the family is doing even though we live far away from them. I love seeing how all of the cousins have grown up and matured. I love seeing the kids enjoy their cousins, and wish desperately they got to hang out together all the time.

I love how easy reconnections are when you share so much life history with someone. I love going over lots and lots of details about middle school, high school, college, old boyfriends, bad dates, hilarious mishaps, having babies, etc., with someone who was there for pretty much all of that... and still loves me.

So now everyone's gone and I am....

a) tired

b) a bit let down

c) 33 weeks pregnant

d) all of the above

Yes, you guessed it - d) all of the above.

I dropped Ande off at the airport today and am now buckling down to regular life again. We're starting to get ready for the baby, so that's exciting, we get to enjoy our Easter traditions this week, and overall life is going really well.

I'm just a bit tired. And missing our wonderful visitors.

I hope you all have a wonderful evening! ~ Emily

Top Ten Signs Your Family is Getting "BIG!"

So, I've noticed some changes over the last year or so that indicate to me we are becoming a "big" family. I decided to make a top ten list and share them with you.

Drum roll please..........

Top Ten Signs Your Family is Getting "BIG!"

10. You have to buy a toaster with four slots instead of two.

9. One box of pasta will not feed the family anymore.

8. At the store someone says to you (being seven months pregnant), "Is this your first?" and you say, "No, it's my fifth." Then they look shocked or horrified or some combination of the two.

7. When you make scrambled eggs for breakfast, it takes 15 eggs to fill everyone up.

6. You can consume an entire loaf of bread to make sandwiches for lunch.

5. At a restaurant someone says to you (being seven months pregnant), "Is this your first?" and you say, "No, it's my fifth." Then they look shocked or horrified or some combination of the two.

4. You start to use a griddle to make pancakes instead of a pan. Heck, you just start leaving the griddle on the stove and using it for everything.

3. When you're grocery shopping someone says to you, "You must be planning for some big event." Then you say, "No, I'm just shopping for my family."

2. Everywhere you go, every time you're out in public, someone says to you, "Is this your first?" and you say, "No, it's my fifth." Then they look shocked or horrified or some combination of the two.

The number one sign that your family is getting big....

1. You see a tour-guide vehicle (at least 15-20 seats) go by, and you and your husband laugh and joke that someday you might need that. You both think it's funny, but then you both independently think, "That's not a bad idea..."

I just want to say we're really enjoying these little people we're bringing into the world. It's a LOT of work, but it's good, satisfying work.

And in case you were wondering - no, it's not my first child, it's my fifth!

Nigh-Night! Emily

Spring Break!

Spring break is always a nice time to break things up from the normal routine. I really enjoy seeing what the kids decide to do for some entertainment between friends and outings. I also REALLY appreciate the beautiful weather we've been having!



The kids had a blast building a dam in the (mostly unplanted) garden... there are some peas trying to pop up in the back part of the garden.

Joel is earning his Wolf badge, Gold arrow and Silver arrow in Cub Scouts this month! One of his last achievements was to visit a firehouse and learn about fire safety, so he and Greg went for a visit today. Way to go, Joel!!

Scene 1) The kids love to hang out at the bottom of the stairs when I throw the laundry bags down.

Scene 2) Then they get hit with the bags and they all crack up. After that, Abby climbs on one and the kids give her a ride all the way to the laundry room.

I just never get tired of watching Abby haul around this very patient chicken!

Crackin' Me Up!

Hello all! Emily here - (Not really here at the beach, I'm figuratively speaking from my computer chair. I thought this would be a more enjoyable picture than me sitting in my pajamas.)

For this post, I just want to say my kids crack me up and I love having them in my life.

Abby's at it again!

Sometimes you discover your kids have commandeered the camera without your knowing...

I have no idea what the following is all about!

I accidentally erased the one of Maddie. Maybe they're being mummies?

Anyway, I really like these little people!

Good night!

Emily

Some thoughts on sympathy...

Our morning ritual when Greg heads off to work each day...

A parent loses his opportunity for good to his child, if he fails to have sympathy with this child in that child's weakness and follies and misdoings. It is in every child's nature to long for sympathy at the point where he needs it most; and when he has done wrong, or has indulged evil thoughts, or is feeling the force of temptation, he is glad to turn to some one stronger and better than himself, and make confession of his faults and failures. If as he comes to his parents at such a time, he is met with manifest sympathy, he is drawn to his parents with new confidence and new trust.
~ Charlotte Mason

The first time I read this quote, it really touched me. I think it impacted me a lot because having sympathy and compassion for my children in their weaknesses isn't my first instinct. When they make poor choices, I can be a real lecturer. Somehow I'm always afraid my children won't learn from their mistakes without me reminding them about this or that or how we "should" behave.

I realized that I am operating under the assumption they really don't know right from wrong. I have believed they somehow needed me to point out the distinction to them or there's no way they could learn it.

Charlotte Mason's approach, however, shows an intrinsic belief and trust in the child's own judgment. It proposes they do indeed already know they have done something wrong, and their own conscience is doing more teaching than a parent could ever do. When I first wanted to try this, I actually was afraid that really loving behavior and sympathy (after they've done something wrong) would somehow give them a positive reward for negative behavior. I wondered if it would do the opposite of what I wanted.

However, the idea really spoke to me, so I've been working on this approach with the kids for a while. Sometimes I remember, and sometimes I don't, but I have really liked what it has done for my relationship with the kids. When I discover something wrong, or they come and tell me about something they've done, I try to respond to them with sympathy. It creates kind of a special moment (especially compared to the adverse effect that is usually created), and they really do feel the weight of their choice without anything from me but sorrow and support. I can tell that they feel like I'm on their team, and I'm just as sorry as they are that they made an unwise choice. It makes me feel like they know I love them still in spite of their decision.

To be truly honest, when I make poor choices (which I certainly do), it is very clear to me that I have the same "longing for sympathy where I need it most" just like my kids do. I want to turn to someone "stronger and better" for help with my follies who doesn't judge harshly or reprimand me. I know when I've done something wrong and I appreciate a kind support to guide me through the consequences of the choices I've made.

Hopefully, we'll keep growing in this area. (I especially want to remember this lesson on days like today, when a child stepped on a chicken's foot and broke one of it's large toes!) I think we're all really in the same boat: learning in this life (sometimes from our mistakes) and trying to become better people. Over here at the Nielson house we'll keep floating along, and more sympathy seems like a great lifeline for that.

Have a lovely evening! ~Emily

Weekend Potpourri

Just a smattering from the past week....

Abby's latest and greatest outfits

The kids visited a local news station for a field trip. Maybe we have a couple of budding meteorologists?

Last but not least, Joel gave a talk in Primary. He did a really great job and we were all very proud of him. Here are his first paragraph and last sentence.

Everybody needs to try to be safe from the temptations of Satan. Like if you are in a maze, Heavenly Father is like a map. But Satan, in the maze, is a mistake on the map. We need to be smart about where we go and what we do.

So if you get tempted by Satan, tell him to get out of town.

Sometimes motherhood is really fun.

Good night! ~Emily