Rub-a-dub-dub

I should be packing the hall closet right now. We pull of here on Monday, headed to Montana, by way of Utah for Christmas. It will be nice to be home for a while and then head on to our new home in Great Falls.

But before I get back to packing, here are some more picts of our little Eva - whom I like to call Eppi ( short for Esperanza, her middle name). These picts are from her first bath - she just loves the warm water. I especially like the Elvis sneer. But mostly I just can't get enough of how sweet she is and adorable to boot.

Distinguished Graduate

Although Weston is not inclined toward bragging on himself, I am. Weston just recently graduated from his missile training program and was chosen as the Distinguished Graduate. That means he was the top of his class. Eva and I are very proud of him - and since we know that Mom and Dad Nelson will also be very proud of him and would want to know, we are posting it on our blog. Just so you all know, Weston managed to get this recognition despite the fact that he missed four days of class being with me when Eva came. Not too shabby if you ask me!

Weston receiving his award.


Proud Papa.


This is Weston's best Eva face....


She's cute even when she's unhappy.. or maybe she's just crying cause she's so proud of Daddy...

A Gift

Hello All-

Weston and I recieved the sweetest gift from the daughter of a woman in our ward. She is a professional photographer, and being in need of some soul rejuvenation, offered to take photos of our new born and this new little family - making it a gift to us. The picts she took are beautiful. You should all take a look-see at the following web site.

http://www.winslowlane.com/nelson


We are doing well. Eva slept for two four hour stints last night and I am so very very happy about that. Also, her umbilical cord is also almost off. Last and least of all, she is suffering from quite the case of baby acne. I'm hoping she can get that out of the way now, and not have to mess with it in the years to come. A mother has to hope for good things for her child! I'm sure you can all tell that my life quite completely revolves around this little one. It's true. I am hoping to get to the dishes today though... I think Weston would appreciate that. He's been on 100% dish duty since, well, since my folks left... wait, I think I did do them once....

Hope this finds you all well.

Morning Time

Eva and I like to sleep together in the bed once Weston gets up - then I don't have to worry about him squishing her... :) She is so sweet when she is asleep...


Did I mention her in long lashes....


I think little Eva's theme song may be "waking up is hard to do..." After all this fussing, she still slept for another hour or so. She only lets me know she's hungry by fussing in her sleep. She leaves it up to me to actually get her to be awake enough to eat...

Little Eva's First Week

Day 5

Here are some picts we took when she was five days old.

Eva Esperanza Nelson

Introducing Eva Esperanza Nelson. Yes! She finally made it. We first got to meet her at 8:03pm on October 30th after about 26 hours of labor. She weighted 7lbs and 15oz and was 20 inches long. As you can see, she was born with a head covered with dark hair and eye lashes to boot. I have never seen anything so beautiful in my life as she looked to me the instant she was born. They come straight from heaven. That is for sure. I'll write more later, after I've had a chance to write it all down for myself in my journal. And I'll post a few more picts from the last week. My best to you all.


The new Dad. He's a natural. She's lucky to have him. And so am I!


Here's the new Momma - still amazed at how perfect she is.


Measurements. We don't have a pict of them measuring her head, but it came in at 13 3/4 inches! WOW!!! No wonder it took 26 hrs! But it was worth it.

If the question is "Are we ready"... then the answer is....

well.... how can one every really be READY to become a parent. But if the question is "do you have all the baby gear ready for the baby?" - then the answer is definitely YES! I quit working sometime around July I think it was. And up until about two weeks ago was kept very busy with a number of baby projects. These are the results. The only thing left to make is a baby book/photo album, but I'm waiting for stuff to come in the mail. In the mean time... well, yes... I'm waiting for the baby. May she come soon.


The baby will be sharing a room with us for the first several months. Weston has been very patient and even genuinely excited as he has watched our bedroom be transformed into a nursery.

Yes, at least for the first few months, she has plenty to wear!!! All pre-washed and neatly folded.

Weston and I refinished this changing table back in September. Two of those baskets are full of cloth diapers. Wish us luck!

I refinished this dresser a few months back. Weston wasn't so hot on the drawer pulls I picked. I think he is getting used to them. They were cheap and I like flowers..... I think the baby will too....

This is my second attempt at a homemade boppy cover. I'm bad at putting in zippers, thus the ribbon ties. But I think it makes it so cute. The other side is soft fleece, for the baby.

I found a mobile that played my favorite lullaby - Brahms lullaby - for only $10 - but it was all pink with sparkly pink hanging toys. So I switched them out and made new brightly colored stars and moons. I like it much better now. So does Weston. We agreed on this one.

I inherited by parents old mini-crib. It is bassinet sized - perfect for a newborn. I don't have any "before" picts, but this is the finished product. We repainted it and I had a lot of fun finding old 50's style nursery decals for it. I also made the mattress. I wanted one that was made from all natural products and couldn't find one for a good price, but did manage to make one I think will work very well. My Mom also taught me how to make quick crib sheets, so it comes ready with three, all very adorable I think.

This may have been my favorite project. The blessing dress. It is made from left over lace from my wedding dress and ribbon I got at an estate sale. What will really make it worth it will be seeing her in it. This pict is of the front.

This is the back.....
And these are the bloomers.....


Well, that is all..... unless she's too much longer in coming. Then I might have to make something else to fill the time... waiting for something this good can be rough!

Day at the Beach

At 40 weeks and 3 days pregnant, a beautiful day with nothing to do called us to a beach near by - our favorite, called Wall Beach. The sand is soft, there are usually few others there, many birds, and lots of critters. It is beautiful. ....just be lucky we didn't take any pictures of the game of frisbee. My frisbee skills aren't quite what they used to be. Please don't ask me to go long, at least not for another couple of weeks!




...children playing on the beach.... it must have been 80 degrees + that day.....

Weston was soaking in the rays too....


Weston took this one. Isn't it nice. They look so drab until they open and then they are fantastic!

Just me showing off my profile. I don't think this shot does it justice!




Poor lost little ladybird beetle.


This shot is the second of two. For the first one, I pushed the button on the camera, thinking I could make the distance to Weston before the picture took. Needless to say, Weston was the only one in that picture. For this one, Weston pushed the button and look, he doesn't even look out of breath!!!

Our 1950's Bungalow... hopefully!

Well, this is real adulthood, a new baby and our first house in the same month! Weston went to Great Falls Montana over the last weekend to investigate the long line up of houses we thought might suit our needs and our budget - not necessarily in that order. Of that long line up, he came home with three possibilities and one favorite. As soon as I looked through all the pictures he had taken and after talking about all he saw until 2 am, we both knew which house not only suited our needs best, but also which one just felt right. You guessed it, the "favorite" house was chosen. So we made an offer, got a counter offer, and have accepted that. Here are some pictures of what will be our new home, barring any bad news from the inspector and appraiser. Keep your fingers crossed!

We think it is comfortably livable as is, but there is some general updating and also some finish work in the basement that can be done, which we think sounds like fun. People tell me this baby, soon to make an entrance, will keep me plenty busy, but I still think I'll need projects to tackle. The backyard is plenty big for kids, a dog, and maybe even chickens... :) And the house is on a nice, quiet street, so the kitties will get free range, something they will be grateful for. The highlight of the house is the green upstairs bathroom. I think you will all especially love it! And yes, we'll get right on painting that garage... well, as soon as the spring thaw comes.