Introducing...

Noelle Dawn Nelson

Born December 12, 2010 at 2:10 pm

Weight: 6 pounds 8 ounces

Length: 19 1/2 inches

The best Christmas gift God's ever given us!

Denver is in love and his tenderness with her blesses me.

Thankful

I haven't been posting a lot lately - I'd say some serious nesting and maintaining have taken over my life lately!:) We wanted to be ready for this little baby early because we just didn't know what was going to happen since Denver was a month early. So I've got everything pretty much ready and now am just working to maintain the house til the baby comes. I'm in my 37th week - Friday will be 38. We are SO SO SO excited!!!!!! Our little one just can't get here fast enough!

But for the reason of my writing - today I am thankful. Thankful for a husband who will stay up with me all night taking care of a little guy who has a flu bug and was throwing up every 20 minutes to every hour. He rinsed and washed all the bedding for me and stayed up with Denver to catch the throw up in a bucket or wash cloth. I don't know a lot of men who could do that let alone be willing to. So today I'm just in awe of my husband and so thankful for him. I got out of the shower this morning to find Daddy and Denver sleeping on the couch so peaceful. In the midst of a stinky old flu bug I'm feeling very blessed today.

Cute Kids in Costumes

Last night we had our second annual fall fun with the Hofferts, Blanchards, and Williams (minus Brett). The kids all looked so cute in their costumes last year we decided to do it again!

Here is a picture from last year.

And here is this year:

A little harder to get them to stay in one place....but just as cute!!!

(Pictures courtesy of Emily Hoffert Photography)

Our little lion.

 My two favorite people in the world! Denver and Daddy.

Love this little guy to pieces!

So thankful to have good friends with kids Denver's age for him to grow up with. I'm sure there will be many more fun memories in the future!

Potty-Training

There were two major things I wanted to tackle before the new baby comes in December. First was getting D into a big boy bed and second was potty-training. The big boy bed was an easy transition and Denver has been doing awesome in there. I would say he is sleeping better than he did in the last couple months of his crib. It's great. I will get a picture posted later of the way he tucks all of his "friends" into bed with him before he lays down. It is the cutest stinking thing ever! If his tenderness with his animals is any indication of how he will be with his new baby brother or sister it makes me even more excited for having our new one!

So a few weeks ago it was time to work on potty-training! I chose a week where I knew we'd be home and didn't have a lot going on so it could be our main focus. I have to say I think we caught him at the exact right time because honestly he pretty much trained himself. By mid-morning he was running in the bathroom when he had to go without me even prompting him. It was hardly even reward-motivated. He has definitely had accidents on and off but after about two days he is good to go now. It's so freeing not to have to change diapers all day, especially poopy ones and have him take care of business in the potty! So proud of this little guy! I can't believe how grown up he looks in his big boy underwear! Oh my word I still can't believe he's nearing in on 2 1/2!!!!!

Buddy Bear was excited to get his underwear on, too!

Showing off his big boy undies!

Steve's ipod touch is a great way to get him to stay on the potty for awhile. We put Baby Noah on there and he loves it

TA-DA I did it mom!

Best buddy Biscuit.

Deer Hunt

Awhile ago we went down to Steve's parents for the opening weekend of deer hunting.  I didn't take a lot of pictures, unfortunately, but I guess you could say I got the most important one!:) Denver was very enthralled when we got to go into the woods to help Daddy load up the deer he shot that morning. I know Steve is looking forward to the time when D is able to go out and sit in the stand with him!

BIG BOY!!!!!

And when you're a big boy....it's time for a big boy bed!!!!!!!!

Denver has done awesome in his bed (he gets out a few times every night but once he falls asleep he's good to go til morning!) We are so thankful for how ready he was for this transition and how excited!!! It really was pretty easy! He's fallen out once during the night and also fallen asleep on the floor twice after roaming around for awhile, but we can't be more pleased with how he's done! We are so proud of you, Denver!!!!!

--my flash really lit up this picture which was in the dark but this is him sleeping on the floor.

Daddy & Denver

Lately Denver has been all about Daddy. It's pretty sweet. They have found Summer entertainment in watching the construction outside our house. The top picture is definitely a daily scene. Watching golf is always a highlight. And of course checking out the latest sports (or disc golf) updates on the computer.

I came into the bathroom one day and he had Steve's deodorant out. He said "daddy" and proceeded to take off the cap, lift his shirt, and put the deodorant up underneath. Then he repeated on the other side. I about died! He is so observant. It wasn't quite as funny when Steve came into the bathroom and found D with his razor in his hand ready to shave. Needless to say we now keep that in the closet! Ahh!

Anyway, these two are becoming quite the buds and I couldn't be more thankful. Denver, you are one blessed boy to have the daddy you do!

Summer Fun

Popsicles on the front step were definitely a Summer highlight.

D has really started to find interest in helping me in the kitchen. Whether it's when I'm washing dishes, cooking, baking, he always tries to drag one of the kitchen chairs in to help. Usually I love it.:)

This morning we were making homemade blueberry pancakes. Yum!

Such a big boy! (New shoes he was very excited about!)

And of course...sweet corn!!! So blessed to have grown up on the farm and get to still reap all the benefits of country life. My dad picked a bag of sweet corn for us along with a lot of bacon and kohlrabis from my mom's garden. We had an amazing Sunday dinner with BLT's and sweet corn! Yum!!! Another blessing my parents give us is allowing us to help can and freeze so many goods for the year. We are so fully stocked on applesauce (with homegrown apples from our orchard), green beans, corn, and salsa. It is amazing! We also got a huge supply of beef from Steve's parents. His dad raised two calves then butchered them and is giving us all the hamburger, roasts, steaks, etc. we could even want from them. We are so blessed!!!!!!!

A fun place to hang out in the Summer...the clothes basket of course!

Finger painting has been included in several nights this Summer (right before bath!) and he has definitely enjoyed it! Always excited to show his pictures and of course his painted hands!

And last, Cousin Camp! Grami Tami had Denver and Lilly for two days for the first annual Cousin Camp. He came back with all sorts of goodies and plenty of stories to "tell" (since he doesn't talk a whole lot it's more us asking questions when looking at the pictures) He was VERY excited to wear his t-shirt this morning and ran into the room after Dad got him dressed saying "MOM!" and pushing out his stomach so I could see it.

What a Summer it's been! So much going on and I definitely didn't get to document it all but it's been great! 

TWO!!!

I'm playing A LOT of catch-up today getting my blog up to date while Denver naps. Seems I've done that a lot lately!!!

Our little guy turned two last month and we had a lot of fun celebrating his birthday! He was such a big boy and definitely understood it was his special day. So fun! We had our ultra sound on his birthday which was very special, took him to Olive Garden for lunch (of course mom & dad didn't mind the soup, salad, and breadsticks!) :), then had a small birthday celebration at our house that night. It was a very simple yet fun day! Best gift: A real golf club from Daddy!:)

Right before Steve left for Caravan we headed down to his parents in Albia where the family was getting together. This is a rare occasion that all his brother and their families are together so it was so fun! Denver loved being with his cousins and especially took a liking to cousin Kirby! She is at the perfect age to play with him and want to watch him. Here are some pictures of our weekend. We also got to celebrate Denver's birthday there, too. Steve helped me decorate a golf cake for Denver and he loved it!

Before we could eat the cake, D had to roll the ball off the tee over to the flag. It was hilarious!

Steve and I even got a little romantic 4-wheeler ride in!:)

What a fun birthday for Denver. Thanks to everyone who made him feel special and loved! (We did celebrate with my family, too, but I didn't get any pictures of that!)