Our Big News!

We are so thankful, grateful, humble, and excited to announce baby Nelson! I am 11 weeks and due in September. We have seen the baby three times and everything looks perfect. I was released from my specialist today which was a great milestone and very emotional. Dr. Phy and her office have become family to us. The baby has fingers, toes, a strong heartbeat, and a lot of spunk!

We are so thankful to our Father for hearing our prayers (and yours on our behalf) He was so faithful. Even before we knew we were pregnant, we felt His presence and His peace during these past couple of months. This child is to his glory and humbly recognize Him as the creator of this life. I told a friend this week that I felt like one of the Baxters and could run around singing "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" all day long.

Many of you know after my second miscarriage I was diagnosed with Antiphospholipid syndrome. Basically this means when I get pregnant, my blood thickens and forms clots. I have been and will continue to take a blood thinner shot in my stomach every day until two days before my C-Section. I am so thankful that they found this. The amazing thing is that a pregnancy only has a 10% chance of making it to full term and delivery if this is untreated. Over half of the miscarriages occur after 32 weeks. We had a friend recently miscarry at 37 1/2 weeks and she was diagnosed with this after. The amazing this is that I had this with Carley and had no idea. She is a 10% chance! I love that little curly headed miracle running around our home! That being said, we do covet prayers for a healthy pregnancy. Treated with the blood thinner shots, you have like a 90% chance of a healthy pregnancy so we are really thankful to be on them, even though my stomach looks like I have been beaten with a bat! :)

We are all just so excited and thankful for this little blessing already!

I think I am the only one,

but I like Molly. She has been my favorite since the first episode. Most everyone I know likes Melissa. I think that he should pick Molly and Melissa should come back as the next bachelorette.

You Tube predicts Melissa because they say that the video of him proposing shows her pinky ring. I guess we will know in two weeks. I just can't imagine what makes the next couple of weeks so dramatic and the after the rose so private. There is just no telling with nutty reality TV and the smoke and mirrors game they love to play!

Who is your pick?

Also, how good was the Grey's/Private Practice crossover. Some of the best episodes for Grey's all season. I just wish Taye Diggs would come flirt with Baily more often! She deserves some flirting!

Lost has not disappointed me all season. I love what is going on and the connections.

What are your thoughts?

You never know

Last night one of 13 year old students died. He was at a small group bible study for his church youth group. He went to the bathroom, has a seizure, and was gone. He had no history of anything like that. Noone knew he was sick or feeling anything weird, if he was. TJ was a great kid. Smart, funny, charming as could be, cute, hard working, talented, and creative. All the kids liked him. He was just one of those great nice kids. Today was such a sad day at school for our students and faculty. It is so unbelievable to think how life ends in an instant.

I have nothing to say for a wrap up. No life lessons, no adage to sum it up. It is just amazing how life begins and ends out of our hands and often so quickly and without warning. My heart goes out to his parents and little brother who loved him. He had such a bright future. I know that he is in a much better place. (afterall, dying at church is a pretty good place to go) It is still just amazing.

Important Lessons From the Tower of Babel

In bible class yesterday Carley learned about the Tower of Babel. I think she might have missed part of the point of the story.

There is a lot of construction aroud our church building. When Carley was looking out the window and saw construction and said, "building does not make God happy. He does not want us to build". So Cody told her that they were building a really tall tower that God did not want them to build.

Then she looked at our church, which has a tall bell tower and said that our church does not make God happy because God doesn't like towers. We tried (to no avail) to argue with her, but it was ridiculous so we let it go. That afternoon she was watching part of Beauty and the Beast and saw the castle. Well that set her off again. "Belle makes God so said because she lives in a tower. God cries when he sees her tower". So I tried to tackle it again and told her the people were not obeying God and that was why he was sad. They were trying to build a tower all the way to Heaven, where God lives, and he told them not to do it. They disobeyed.

So then Carley said, "God does not want us to go to Heaven. It makes him so sad".

Then began another arguement with a three year old who had no idea what she was saying and I couldn't stop laughing.

The Neti Pot

I have a new obsession that I have to share, have you heard of the Neti Pot? Right before break one of my friends was saying that her three kids has been incredibly healthy in 2008. I asked her why and she told me about the Neti Pot.

Basically it is a small plastic pot that kind of looks like a genie lamp. You place 1 cup of warm water and one of the packets of saline and mix it. Then (are you ready for this) you put the Neti Pot spout next to one nostril, tilt your head to the side and let the water run up one side and out the other. It sounds so gross and painful, but it is awesome! I am addicted. It is a ton better than nose spray and doesn't dry out your nose. Seriously, you have to try it. I think I got the pot and 50 saline packets for about $15.00

I have talked almost all of my family into and they have liked it. Even Oprah and Dr. Oz recommend it!

So I am curious....have you tried it? Any other remedies out there for winter weather?

When all else fails....

......I post about TV. I could and should do big posts about Christmas, Carley's birthday parties, New Years party, back to school, New Years Resolutions and all sorts of other things, but posting about TV takes less brain cells so I think this will be my first post of 2009.

Sundays - Brothers and Sisters - I thought last week's episode with Justin at 2nd grade and Kevin post surgery was great. This show has such funny and charming writing. I love watching the Walker family, yet remain so very thankful I am not a Walker. :)

Mondays - The Bachelor - I have to be honest, I was disappointed in the girl choices for Jason. I could be wrong, but none of them seemed like the right girl for him to me. My favorite was blue dress Molly, but there weren't any that I was totally pumped about. I don't think Deanna is coming back to get Jason. I think she is just going to say, "I made a mistake, I shouldn't have proposed to anyone" or "I made a mistake letting you get down on one knee". I don't think there will be as much drama as they make it seem.
Chuck - I love this show and it's cast. Can't wait for some new episodes. Chuck is so sweet to his sister, Sarah, Morgan, and everyone else. It is nice to see a nice guy on TV again.

Tuesdays - I am giving up 90210 after last week and Eli Stone is ending so I guess it will just be Biggest Loser which I like to watch on the couch eating fattening food. I don't watch it every week from opening to close though.

Wednesdays - LOST IS BACK (well almost, but they are starting the reviews of last year so it will be back in a couple of weeks) I am so excited about this!

Thursdays - Grey's- I was disappointed in last week's episode some. I thought Sloan and Callie's banter was the best part. I really want his chemistry with Lexie to be stronger. I hope they build on that. Also, I like Hunt a lot, but he is a little moody and weird for me right now so I am not quite endeared to him yet. I thought the Chief and Bailey were great last week as well. And McDreamy dancing it out was very McDreamy for me.

Private Practice- It was a little over the top for me last week with Sam and the random health inspector lady and then Violet and Pete. I still cried when that mother lost her child. I could sue Private Practice for emotional manipulation I think. Also Cooper and Charlotte are starting to grow on me.

The Office - I am ready for some fun times in Scranton. Hopefully it is new this week.

Friday - Friday Night Lights is back this week! (at least for those of us that didn't have the channel for it this fall) I am so excited to see the Taylor family and the gang and see what it going on. It is one of my favorite shows.

The bad news for me is that I added a couple of new shows for the Spring line up. Whenever I post about TV, I always get lots of comments that I watch too much TV so I am sure that this will not make those of you who think that happy. I did get rid of Desperate, Heroes, My Own Worst Enemy, The Hills, and 90210 this year so I am making some progress, I think.

What are you watching, not watching, looking forward to, or predicting for our entertainment industry in 2009?

Happy 3rd Birthday!

Happy Birthday, Carley. I can't believe you are three today! Time does fly so much. Beyond words, we are blessed to be your parents. We are so proud of you, so amazed by you, and so thankful for you. Everyday we thank our Father for the true miracle you are. We love you!
Some things about Carley:
- She is a true girly girl. Curls, pink, princesses, tea parties, baby dolls, the works. Any thing girly is her.
-She loves it when we are all together and that makes her the happiest. She loves it when we are all home sitting on the couch or when she can climb in bed.
- She is really expressive in funny ways. She always says stuff like, "Amazing", " Neat, neat, neat", "I cannot believe this", and other ones at the funniest times.
- She is really coordinated. She is good in her dance and gymnastics class and really good at riding her bike. It is funny.
- She can produce huge crocodile tears in a moment. She is drama. Sweet and sensitive. She can cry for you in once second if she wants and she cries LOUD. It is so funny (most of the time)
- She is a daddy's girl. She calls Cody her "prince" and loves to dance with him. It is so cute. For Christmas she got a Cinderella play dress and the first things she said was, "Prince, I can't wait to put this on so I can dance with you". Santa gave her a pink Yankees hat and she said, "Daddy, Santa gave me this so I could be just like you". It is precious.

Merry Christmas

Cutest Cookie Chef in town

Dear Target,

Thank you for putting the cute set of sprinkles in the dollar spot. It was such a fun treat. Next time, feel free not to put in 5 different sprinkles so every single cookie does not have to have 5 different kinds of sprinkles! It is a lot of sprinkling for a two year old and a lot of sprinkles for her mom to clean up.

Thanks,

Holidays 2008 so far...

I never blogged about Thanksgiving so I thought I would do that and then also post pictures of our holidays so far. This has been a really emotional holiday season for us. Carley is growing up before our eyes. She will be three this month and it just does not seem possible. In so many ways she is a big girl. She is really into the magic of the holidays.
On the other note, we are approaching the due date of the baby we lost in May. I never dreamed that I would not only not be pregnant by the baby's due date, but to have had another miscarriage earlier this fall just really makes this a hard holiday season. When I look at the pictures over the past month, it is amazing to see how blessed we are with Carley and what a miracle she is.

We had an AWESOME Thanksgiving here in Lubbock with my parents.

Carley making biscuits with my dad and getting tickled by him.

Reading with her best buddy Nana.

Cody napping. :)

Carley "helping" with the Christmas decorations.

One of her many Christmas shirts

Some family time at the Science Spectrum Christmas Party. It was so fun. Carley got to make snow, decorate gingerbread, talk to Santa, and look at a bunch of animals. We had a great time.

Wednesday we went to Santaland to see Santa. Carley will never sit on his lap or talk to him and gets really scared, but this night she did so good! She just hopped up in his lap and asked for a Princess Bike and then told him Merry Christmas. We were so proud of her. She was so cute. She talked to Mrs. Clause too. The funny part was she asked Santa for a "pink princess bike". It is my understanding that Santa might already have a purple one so Santa and I are a little worried about this small detail. Hopefully she won't remember this at all (even though she keeps talking about the color)

Meet Brooklyn

Please pray for little Brooklyn Hope Beaver as she made her way into the world today. Brooklyn has spina biffida and some other things that need lots of prayers. She will have her first surgery tomorrow. Please pray for David, Jodi, and big sister Reagan as they handle all going on and for this beautiful baby that we have all prayed for for so long.

This has also been a long week for some of my other college friends. This family is so special to me and I am fervently praying for them as well.

What a blessing the internet community is!

Fabulous K is doing a free blog makeover

She is the best! She did my blog as well as many of my fellow blogging friends!

She is having a contest right now so go enter and if you win you owe me BIG! :)

http://fabulouskcreative.blogspot.com/

My funny, crazy girl

I have to blog about the funny things Carley does so that I will remember them one day and can tell her about them. She has SO much spunk in her little body, it kills me.

Here are some stories, that really reflect her personality.

1. On Saturday Carley told us she needed to go potty. But instead of sitting down, she stood up and faced the potty and said, "Today I am going to potty like a big boy". I told her that boys and girls have different bottoms and that girls couldn't do that. She told me to "work on finding a way" so any ideas on that one??

2. On Friday, we were at the mall and she ran ahead of me in the cosmetics section at Dillards. I grabbed her arm and told her to wait for me. She turned around, pointed her finger, and LOUDLY said, "Mommy, you are not being nice. We do not talk to people like that. Do you understand me?" This stranger next to me said, "Ooooooooh she is going to get it", and Carley did.

3. On Friday we were also at Home Depot and once again she was not staying with me. I picked up and told her she had two choices. She could ride in the basket or hold my hand. Once again she darted off so I picked her up and said, "Carley do you want a spanking?" And she yelled "NO at the top of her lungs. Both my mom and I died laughing. Then, of course, she got in trouble.

4. When we were watching the Tech/UT football game a couple of months ago with some firemen and their families, Carley had an upset stomach and an accident. My precious little two year old said, "Jesus Christ, what a mess". You could have knocked us over with a feather. We went on to TRY and explain that we don't say Jesus's name like that and tried to explain context, which she totally did not understand. Then we went on to think the fireman who said that phrase when Tech missed a catch. The next night at church small group, she said, "Jesus Christ, who is going to clean all of this up?". Once again we went over the context and she said, "But, I was praying" and we told her she wasn't. So at 2, my daughter takes the Lord's name in vain. Luckily she hasn't said it again.

5. Carley says the sweetest prayer every night at the dinner table. I don't know where she learned it, but she says, " Dear God, Thank you for this day and everything you have given me. Thank you for Nana and Papa. Thank you for Mommy and Daddy. In your son's name we pray, Amen" Then over dinner if someone's name comes up, she always says, "STOP! We forgot to pray for them".

6. Sunday she woke up from her nap and the first thing she said was, "I am ready to be 18 so I can have a baby in my tummy and then it can be born". Not sure where all that came from. I told her she had to be at least 25.

7. On Saturday, she came running to me, gave me the biggest hug and kiss, and said, "Mommy, I could hug you forever".

8. 5 minutes later I told her she couldn't climb the Christmas tree and she told me, "If you keep telling me No, I am going to go to Nana's."

This little almost three year old keeps us on our toes, keeps us laughing, and keeps us thankful for the true miracle that she is.

Christmas Cards!

YAY! I got my first Christmas card in the mail today! I love getting Christmas cards!!

A couple of weeks ago at church a family spoke about ways that they kept Christ the center of their family while raising three boys. It was a really inspiring and encouraging couple of hours. Anyway, one thing they said that they did was every week the drew a Christmas card they had received that year from a basket and, as a family, they prayed for that family for a week. I thought that was a neat idea, so just know, if you send the Nelsons a Christmas Card, we will pray for you specifically one week of the year. (Not that I won't pray for you more, but I am just saying you get your own special week!) Isn't that a cool idea?

Hope you have a wonderful start to this holiday season.

Carley's first haicut

Big news at the Nelson house....Carley's first haircut. She will be three in a month and I have never cut or trimmed her hair. I finally decided to on Saturday just to get the ends off and even out her hair. Here is what I learned:

1. I should not cut curly hair, especially when I do not know what I am doing.
2. It is true what they say about curly hair kinking up after. I cut off 2 inches in the back and it is like 4 inches shorter.
3. I was a nervous wreck and way too much of a perfectionist.
4. This is why they make salons.
5. Carley is like Samson. I cut her hair and Tech lost all of it's strength. I feel very guilty about this. Sorry Red Raiders. I had no idea.
It turned out cute. It looks really healthy and full, it just seems so short to me.

Here are before and afters.

Preschool pictures a couple of weeks ago. This is a good shot of how long it had gotten.
In the after picture from behind you can see how much shorter it is. Oh well, it always grows, right?

So I saw it....

....opening night. (not like the midnight show, but Friday night)

Me and my gal pals had so much watching it.

So, have you seen it? What did you think? I liked it. Of course the book was better, but I really did like it.

I have to give a special thanks to Kristen for making the shirt for me and surprising me with it this summer. I wore it to school today and all the 13 year olds were so jealous! :)

A TV Post

You asked for it so here is what I am watching and what I think about it:

Brothers and Sisters - What a good season so far. I am really interested to meet Ryan and see what he is like. I totally love Rebekah and Justin. The scene with her in the towel last week was awesome. I also hope that Nora gets a love story with Ryan's dad and that Tommy gets some kind of storyline at all.

Chuck - It is really good right now. The ex-girlfriend is a great twist and I like seeing Sarah jealous. That really is one of the funniest shows on television and pretty clean too. Not much bad words or scenes at all. I wish that Chuck and Sarah could be together though. The drag out on that might get old if they don't do something.

My Own Worst Enemy- I like this show, I just don't understand it. It is high drama and lots of mystery which is good. It is just really far fetched and creepy at the same time. I have heard it is going to be canceled along with Lipstick Jungle. It is good to see Christian Slater again though.

90210- Yes I am still watching this and truthfully I am not totally sure why. I think I really love Annie and Ethan which is really surprising because of the way the pilot opened with Ethan making bad choices in the school parking lot. Naomi is a freak. She looks weird, talks weird, and acts weird. I do like Silver and Dixon too though. It will be interesting to see how the resolve the Kelly/Brenda story lines so their characters can leave. Any guesses on who Rob Estes's long lost son is? My guess...the teacher Ryan. We'll see if I am right or not.

Eli Stone - I still really like this show. I was not expecting the twist last week that Taylor is pregnant. I like what they have done with the firm splitting into two. I also do not understand why Eli does not want to love the sweet little new lawyer that loves him. She is precious. What is the storyline there? Do you know?

Private Practice - I really don't like Sam and Naomi breaking up, but I guess they have to do that. On that show I need one couple I really do care about instead of a few couples that I think are okay to watch. I still need some plot lines that I am really intrigued by, preferably not involving a brother and sister trying to have a baby together.

The Office- YAY! Pam is back! I am so excited. That show is funny, funny. Andy with the drunk dialing was funny and Michael with Concierge Marie was too. I have no idea where they come up with it. My favorite part might have been Kelly's little monologue about not getting with Ryan and then the next scene having them make out. SO funny. Ryan is leaving the show to star in a movie so I wonder what will happen there.

Grey's - So much to say, so little insight. Okay, so Denny is a ghost that is real? What? I love Denny and enjoy seeing him around. Excellent eye candy, but still what is going on there? Will Izzie die? Is she insane? What will they do with that storyline, especially since Alex couldn't be more awesome right now. They could be such a great couple. What are the writers doing? The popular guess is that Izzie has a brain tumor which will be inoperable which will kill of Izzie so she can go make movies. I think this might not happen because it is too predictable and Grey's like to be unpredictable. My favorite character right now might be Sloan. He is so cute and funny and sweet. I think they will put him with Lexie, but there is no telling with him and Callie too. I really like him with both so I am okay either way. I also like Meredith and Derek not fighting right now. They are still good to watch and I enjoy not seeing them freak out on each other all the time. I also like Christina and the new doctor, I just don't know how they are going to build a warm relationship between two such cold people.

Feel free to comment on any of the shows or on what I missed. You guys requested this post, so you better at least acknowledge it! ;)

Also, I am going to see Twilight on Friday night! Anyone else going opening weekend?

Hump Day Post

It is hump day Wednesday and I am ready for a new post, but nothing to post about so here comes my list of posts off the top of my head.

1. I like the Sausage Biscuit dippers at Sonic.

2. Thanksgiving is in two weeks. The Fall is flying by!!!

3. Three special friends told me they were pregnant yesterday. Two of them are bloggers so congratulations to my sweet friends. It always comes in three's I was just surprised to get three announcements in one day!

4. We have been sick around the Nelson house and now we are finally all getting better. YAY!

5. Chuck and The Office are my favorite shows on TV with Grey's in third.

6. My favorite winter nail polish is "I'm Not Really a Waitress" by OPI.

7. I got baptized 19 years ago today. NINETEEN YEARS that seems so long! Somehow on that day I had no idea how much I would NOT know about faith at my age. What a journey we are on.

8. Bath and Body Works Twisted Peppermint is my favorite scent of the season and I have been looking forward to getting it since last year.

9. Hot Chocolate is my favorite drink and I am starting to have a good reason to fix it occasionally on a chilly night.

10. We are getting our family picture made on Saturday and I am stressing about it and hoping it comes out well

That is off my head. What about you?

The Mountains We Can't Climb

Tonight Cody and I went on a double date to the Mercy Me and Bebo Norman concert. It was AWESOME. Both of us were brought to tears several times. The worship was just wonderful.

Bebo had the audience sing "I Will Lift My Eyes" and it was so powerful. Just like so many, I am praying for and daily thinking of some sweet babies that are either awaiting God's healing, in the middle of the healing, or rejoicing over being healed. These children have such a special place in my heart. Brooklyn, Kanyon, Trevor, Ella, Bennett, Garrett and Kathryn, Elise, and others are on my mind daily like I know they are on so many of yours as well. I also am so mindful of those of you, who like us, are longing for a child and feel no answer to your prayers.

"I will lift my eyes to the Maker
of the mountains I can't climb
I will lift my eyes to the Calmer
of the oceans raging wild
I will lift my eyes to the Healer
of the hurt I hold inside
I will lift my eyes, lift my eyes to You"

"God, my God, I cry out
Your beloved needs You now"

Thank you Grey's Execs

Hahn is being fired off of Grey's and the second article indicates that they are doing away with the entire story line. Her last episode is tomorrow.

http://ausiellofiles.ew.com/2008/11/brooke-smith-le.html

http://tv.yahoo.com/grey-39-s-anatomy/show/36657/news/urn:newsml:eonlinekristen.com:20081104:TV-8d220a20f1880b272fa485fbc973f373__ER:1 (thanks Amanda for the tip)

By the way did you know that Hahn was in Silence of the Lambs. She was the one in the well that Jodie Foster saved. Small world.