This is what my mommy makes me wear when we go walking. She thinks it is funny! 

I love talking to Nana 

I am ready for my first date with my boyfriend Charlie Bowman born yesterday! 

I love bath time 

One Month

Yesterday, Carley turned one month old. I can't believe how fast it goes. It is amazing how much my life has changed in a month. I feel so blessed. At church today, someone asked us how it was going and we told them good. He said, "Parenting babies is true blissful joy and exhaustion in equal parts". I can't agree more!

One thing that I have been thinking about lately is adoption. (not giving Carley away or adopting another) I have always thought that women who give their babies up must be really special and very selfless. Now I feel a huge admiration, respect, and even sense of awe for them even more than before. Pregnancy is...Interesting. It is really hard at times and it does things to your body that change you forever. Delivering a baby is an insane experience (even by C-section) and really the only way I enjoyed those 2 processes was thinking about my sweet baby girl that I was doing this whole thing for and whom I loved already. Women who give their baby up do not get the sweet cooes and kisses afterwards. They don't get to snuggle, cuddle, and rock. They don't get to play dress up or watch them sleep. It is completely selfless. I really do admire ladies who willingly recognize the need for their child to have a better start. What a gift of love!

I will be posting more pictures of Carley soon. Her hair is more wild than before, her cry is louder, and she gets sweeter and more precious every day! Who knew parenting would be like this? :)

"The Ashley Nelson"

Yesterday I received some really cute mailing labels in the mail. I love getting those. You know, the ones from March of Dimes or another non profit organization that they mail you for free where all they ask is a donation back. Well the ones yesterday were really cute. They are Valentine ones with Ziggy on them. The problem is the name on them "The Ashley Nelson" not, Ms., Mrs. or Miss or even Mr.

Cody says I am a chicken for not using them. I just think they are presumptuous and that people might think I ordered them like that.

Would you use them?

My "Mom" moment

This past week Carley had an upset stomach for a couple of days. It was so sad to see a little newborn not feeling good. She is so precious and it kills to see her hurting and sad and not be able to help her. She was pretty fussy on Wed. And Thurs. And it was really hard and super sad. All she wanted was to be held. She couldn't close enough to me. The part that really hit me was that she wanted me. Just like I want my mom when I don't feel good or I want my mom to tell me it all going to be okay, Carley wanted me. I realized that I am her mom and she knows that. You guys in cyberland know my quirks, my strengths, and my weaknesses. You know what I struggle with and what gifts I have. You know my personality. Carley sees none of that. She knows I am her mom and that is enough to make her feel somewhat comforted. I tell ya, clean slates can really inspire you to try and be a better person and really pray that your faults are not passed on to the next generation. It was great to be seen with a clean slate and to be loved by MY daughter, this precious little girl with a mohawk.

The Power of Prayer

Normally I do not post on things like this, but for the past 24 hours I have been thinking alot about things that I am not good about praying for. I have had some interesting converstaions in the past couple of weeks about life, church, motherhood, post pardom, working, supporting your spouce, and it has reminded me that my prayers are often so self centered and only about things that are immediate to me and my needs. Too often I do not pray for others and then I gripe or seem confused when things do not go my way or I can't understand what happens. Too often we fault others for not praying or for not doing what we think God wants them to do, but too often we do not pray for them. I have not done a New Year's resolution post, so I guess this is mine. These are things that I want to pray about more in 2006. Please add anything to the list that you can think of that I am missing oir something that you want to pray more about or to suggest that others pray about this year. (these are in no particular order)

1. Our Nation and Our President
2. My church, the elders, and ministers - often we get frustrated or critical, but not very often do I pray for them
3. Opportunities to bring people to Christ and the courage to take advantage of the opportunities when they arise
4. Marriage- so many are hurting and struggling and all of them need protection
5. Motherhood - the pressure and hormones are a real struggle that I often minimize. I was reminded this week of the power of hormones and the opportunity that they give Satan to maximize your fears and emotions
6. My friends that are pregnant or trying to get pregnant - once again, hormones and female stuff can be very delicate and frustrating
7. Teenagers and College Kids faced with real struggles and battles every day
8. Girlfriends - that we treasure and support eachother in life's journeys of loss, birth, marriage, work, and day to day living.
9. That I can show patience and love to those that disagree with me or are different than me. That I can show love daily to the world around me that they may see a difference.

I am pretty good about praying for my close friends and family and immediate issues, but it is time that I face the temptations and frustrations that the world has and pray for them and for the God's plan and power to reign in our world.

THEY KILL ME!

*Disclaimer-- Deep down I know these are characters and not real people. However, at this point, they are real to me. I know, I am a loser.

Meredith and Derek- You kill me! I love them so much. My sister did a great post about unfulfilled love and I these characters do a great job of leaving me wanting more. I mean the elevator scene when she says, "Our Look". I love it. They so need to be together. They were so cute admitting they aren't over each other. What is your prediction regarding these two? I think that Meredith will start moving on with George at the same time Derek becomes available. Oh, this show! I love it too much! I have got to have some payoff regarding them soon.

Desperate Housewives was great last night. For the past 2 weeks there has been the big twist at the end. It has reminded of me of last season and the way things work together. I t was good. Things I like: Gabrielle getting a conscious and Bree with problems. Things that worry me are Tom and Lynette. I might see an affair coming for one or both of them. It is complicated for sure.

Extreme Home Makeover - LOVE it! That little girl was something else! I love the fact they kept randomly breaking into song. It was funny. I love people with spunk.

Any thoughts or predictions?

Carley is 2 weeks old today. We took her for her big check up. She was definitely the cutest and loudest kid in the lobby. 

It is 3:00 a.m. Why am I the only one up? 

Dear God, Please help my parents to figure the diaper change out faster. They are killing me.  

The Best Things About Maternity Leave

I am now officially on maternity leave. Here are my favorite things about it so far:

1- It is 3:15 and I am still in pjs.
2- I am all caught up on Days of Our Lives.
3- Since Carley is up for a feeding in the middle of the night I have fallen back in love with "Who's the Boss?" It is on at 3:30 am on Nick at Night if you are interested.
4- No alarm clocks
5- A common misconception is that maternity leave is paid. This is normally not true. The law requires your employer to hold the job for you and not punish you, but they do not have to pay you your salary. Luckily I had enough "free days" to take off without being docked. At least Frenship only docks people $50.00 a day, other districts dock you your pay which is much more than that.
6- Disability insurance- I have filed Disability and I am getting reimbursed for the days I am not getting docked for...in other words, I am beating the system! :) LOVE IT!
7- Longer than 20 minutes for lunch.
8- Playing with Carley, feeding Carley, staring at Carley.

Carley is awesome. I can't believe she will be 2 weeks old tomorrow. I will post some new pictures soon! I love this kid!

Is Jesus really my best friend?

Last night I watched the premier of the show "The Book of Daniel". Lubbock news stations had all this controversy and hype about the show before it aired, so my mom, Carley, and I decided to watch it to see what we thought. The show is okay. Not the best show ever, I am not hooked, I wasn't offended, I wasn't really overcome by any emotion, it was just a TV show to me. I think it is risky whenever the entertainment industry tries to take on religion in any way. The main character is a priest who is addicted to Vicodin, his wife is an alcoholic, one son is gay, one is straight and having sex with a minor, and his daughter is arrested for selling drugs. The church secretary is a lesbian. Lots of things that we don't necessarily see at church on Sundays.

Two things stood out to me about the show.
1) Christianity is available to all. What we do with it, how we let it impact us, and our commitment level is up to us. God is there. He is available. The church should never claim to be perfect. The show does almost too good of a job at exemplifying the openness of the Lord. I am confident He does not approve of everything the show portrays, but I do believe that Christ died for all and that we all have the option of choosing to follow.

2) Jesus is priest Daniel's best friend. Jesus appears as a real character in the flesh. They laugh. They talk. Jesus listens. Daniel listens. Jesus warns Daniel about temptations. He encourages him during hard times. He is present in Daniel's life. Jesus is Daniel's best friend.

I have not been faithful lately at viewing Jesus as my friend, yet alone my best friend. There are so many different aspects of Jesus. The best friend is one of my favorites and I have not been pursuing that lately. He has been more of a quick IM buddy, or an old friend from long ago that I have been updating on my life, but not my best friend. Not the one who you share everything with and find joy in the relationship. There was a time when I really viewed Jesus as riding along in my passenger seat in the car or sitting across the table from me at a coffee shop. Now he seems long distance to me. I know that he is not the one who has distanced our relationship. I know he has not moved. I have put my priorities in the wrong order and let that relationship slip.

So the random show, "The Book of Daniel" definitely is not a religious blessing to me, but isn't it amazing how God can use little things to remind you about Him. Spend some time catching up with your best friend today.

I have to brag on Cody...

For those of you in cyber land who know my husband, you have no doubt how great a dad he already is and how lucky Carley is to have him. He is just so sweet and gentle. One of the biggest things to give me peace in my journey into motherhood is that I have Cody as her father and my partner. He is so AWESOME already.

I have to tell you one thing he did that blew me away in the hospital. Cody sent us flowers. He sent me an absolutely gorgeous bouquet of lilies and roses to the hospital. The flowers were beautiful and such a surprise. After surgery a girl does not necessarily feel like a beauty queen, but those flowers made me feel so special. It was so sweet.

The sweetest part of all was that he sent Carley a long stem red rose as well. He told her that he wanted her first rose to be from her Daddy so she knew how special she was. Even as I type this is makes me cry. He is so sweet to her. Last night was their first night a part. He went to the fire station and she did not sleep good. She is so used to falling asleep on his chest or being rocked and sung to by him. I could tell she missed him. I cannot tell you how great of a father he already is and how lucky Carley is to be his daughter.

I attached some pictures of the flowers so you could see how lucky we Nelson girls are.

Cody wanted the first rose she ever received to be from her Daddy. Man, is she a lucky girl or what? 

Cody sent me a beautiful bouquet and Carley a single rose. Between the sweetness of it all and my hormones, I couldn't stop crying.  

Full head of dark hair! It is so cute. She is just precious! Here I am holding her in the hallway for the first time on my way to the room. LOOK AT HER! 

What can I say? I love her so much and feel so blessed! 

Proud Daddy. She looks just life him. Beatiful blue eyes, full lips, cute nose. He is on cloud 9000! 

In the OR right after my C Section. Less than 3 minutes old. 

Carley Alyssa Nelson

She is here. She is amazing. No words can describe how blessed we feel. She arrived on Wed. December 28th at 2:54 pm. 8lbs 10 oz. 21 inches. Can you imagine if she would have stayed in until 40 weeks? She would have been well into the 10 lb side! She is perfect! Healthy, sweet, loving, and cute as can be.

Cody and I are doing well. We got home from the hospital on late Saturday afternoon. Best New Years Eve of my life! :) I have never been so tired before, so this will be a short post. Thanks for your prayers. Please keep them coming as she adjusts to this new world. We have taken over 200 pictures of her in 3 1/2 days so more will come. Here are a few so you can meet her.

We love you all.
Ashley, Cody, and Carley