Throwback Thursday

So not only does James look like this kid that I posted about back in December

But he also looks like this other kid...

I stumbled upon this old gem a couple days ago and yes, that's me. James thought it was himself but was confused by the dress -- as he should have been! Maybe it's just the boy-cut hair that tricked him, but he didn't believe that it was me! 

Enjoy.

Simple Pleasures

It's a relaxing Sunday after church and baby Christina is already a fashionista!

 I love normal, simple days like this to just enjoy my family and new baby girl. We could cuddle her all day!

Baby Christina

Baby Christina Lois was born Saturday, August 24th. She was full-term, weighing a mere 5 lbs., 3 oz. and measuring 18 inches. Her name comes from a matriarchal tradition to pass down the name Christina to the first born daughter. She is the seventh generation!

As soon as she was born, it was immediately obvious to me as the nurses rushed into the delivery room that she had Trisomy 2q Monosomy 13 (Meaning, duplication of 2q on 13q with deletion at the attachment site), a rare genetic disorder that runs in my family line.

Her life started off a bit rough and she needed to stay in the neonatal intensive care unit for just under three weeks. Once the doctors were confident in both baby's health and my ability to take care of her she was able to come home. She was able to avoid having surgery to insert a gastronomy tube for feeding. Getting her to eat is still a daily struggle, but she's improving. (And if anyone wants to sign up for the 1 AM and/or 4 AM feedings we are taking volunteers. The feedings take about an hour. Just kidding. But seriously.)

Because of Christina's trisomy she will have life-long challenges. Every cell in her body has faulty chromosomal material and this caused her to have a very imperfect body. She has multiple holes in her heart, problems with her eyes, kidneys, stomach, and many orthopedic issues. Coupled with her physical challenges, she will also have severe mental retardation.

We hope that friends and family will fully love and adore baby Christina as they would any other child. We hope everyone we know will get to know her and love her. Don't be afraid of saying the wrong thing and don't be afraid to ask us questions! We are still the same old Nelsons!

I know that we are blessed to have baby Christina in our family. I am so grateful to be her mother and I pray that I will be able to give her the care and love she needs. I know we will have challenges and hardships in this life, but that we will also have great joy and happiness. We do not know how long she will be on this earth with us but for how ever long it is we are so grateful to have her in our family.

32 Weeks

By the time my husband gets home from work I am usually (un)dressed in my bathrobe these days, so in order to get a picture of myself actually clothed I have to take a "selfie" (?) But just to be clear, even pregnant, I do believe in putting your best foot forward and getting dressed and doing my hair and makeup daily. I just don't commit to staying that way the entire day. ie wake up, get "dolled-up", run errands and by 2 PM I'm in my PJs, mind you cute PJs and my hair and makeup are still done! All this to say is that I am not a good photographer by any means and especially not of myself! But here I am at 32 weeks! Eight months pregnant and in the home stretch! 

Though it has been very hot in Vegas, I enjoy being pregnant and love trying to find creative ways to stay stylish and doing it on a budget! To report on baby, we are having a GIRL! James is excited to be a big brother and loves saying hi to Sister in my belly. I'm not sure how much he understands, but he's been watching "Call the Midwife" with me and I think he gets some of it! 

James' Third Birthday

The Birthday Boy!

Last week, James turned three and had a super fun birthday. Luckily, he is happy with whatever we do and as long as it includes an outing or two he is happy to go along! From Grandma and Grandpa VanDerwerken he got a Spiderman toy that everyone, including grown men, think is pretty awesome and try to take from him! Grandma and Grandpa Nelson got him a kiddie pool to help stay cool this very hot summer! From Brian and me and got the two things he asked for: a huge Costco container of juice boxes and a bag of fake bugs. 

As tradition we went to James' favorite restaurant, In-n-Out for dinner and then had cake. I was a nice, low-key family day!

Crazy to think my little man is already three! He is such a fun and good-natured boy! We love him so much! happy birthday James!

NY Trip

James and I spent two weeks in New York to visit my family. I wanted to travel before I was too late in my pregnancy to fly and also to give Brian a chance to get ahead in studying for the Bar Exam without our distraction. It turned out to be a little reunion sans Brian which was fun. All four grandkids got to play together. Aren't they all so adorable!?

James and his Auntie Jenny

 I love the very dynamic weather in the northeast. Everyday it was something different and lots of rain which I loved since it rains only about four times a year in Las Vegas. James was confused by the rain and asked why it was dark during the day and he was curious why grandma's car would often be wet! It's funny to see how James processes things in his mind and how he communicates things since he has recently started talking in sentences. 

 A mini photo shoot so grandma could have some current pictures of James around her house.

James with his Spiderman suitcase and favorite Addias soccer outfit. (He saw it at Costco and begged to get it! And Brian says that men don't wear "outfits", so  to be clear that is my terminology not James' or Brian's)

On the plane headed back to Las Vegas. Happy to see Brian again, but James already misses Grandma, Grandpa and Jenny!

Photos of James

A girlfriend of mine was nice enough to take some pictures of James for me. Most of the photo taking at our house are candid ones that are out of focus from my iPod. But luckily my friend is really talented and was nice enough to do a little photo shoot of James!

James is a hard one to make sit and pose for a picture, not to mention keep clean when outside! This park was populated by lots of roaming birds and I found the peacocks to be the most interesting. We must have gone at the perfect time because it was mating season and the birds where "peacocking" and spreading out their beautiful feathers and making these horrible sounding mating calls! All the kids, and myself, were pretty entertained by the birds' theatrics. It was like watching a high school dance!

Being mischievous! 

Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil

James with two of my friend's cute kids.