Snowed In!!! Blizzard 2009

Today was the perfect Saturday! It started snowing last night at 11pm and hasn't let up yet! This morning it was up to my knees, and now its 9pm and I'm sure its up to my hips by now!

It was a great day to get into the Christmas spirit. We played Christmas songs all day, and wrapped presents, and got all our ingredients to bake! We tried to take the truck to the grocery store, but the four wheel drive was not working and we didnt make it a foot out of our parking spot. We got Zoey all bundled in her snow suit, but didn't get far. At least we got some cute pics!

Church is cancelled tomorrow and I am pretty positive I will get at least a 2 hour delay for school Monday! Oh...love the snow! Glad it will be around for Christmas. It just makes the holidays that much better!

snow and lights... must be christmas!

lots of snow

in her snow suit that doesnt quite fit yet

nap time

Ward Christmas Party

The theme was winter wonderland, and jake and i did the lights. It took us all day, but everyone really liked them so we were happy!
Here is zoey... 8 weeks... Santa's little helper!

Jake and Zoey looking festive!

Some Cupcakes

I have been busy working on some cupcake ideas for the future "The Pink Cupcake Dessert Cafe". I am hoping to get it moving summer 2011, but would like to try an online business this summer if I can find the time in the next few months to pull it together. I have everything in my head, its just getting it moving that I am not sure how to do!

These are some chocolate flavors I worked on such as:

Triple Chocolate: chocolate cake, chocolate ganache, with chocolate butter cream

Chocolate Covered Oreo: chocolate cake filled with vanilla buttercream, smothered in chocolate ganache, topped with vanilla buttercream and half chocolate covered oreo

Chocolate Peanut Butter: Chocolate cake topped with peanut butter buttercream and choc candy

oh I love cupcakes!!

if you do too...check out cupcakestakethecake.blogspot.com It's such a fun website!

I love this Girl!

Don't you just wanna squeeze her?! I can't wait to get home from work to hear about how her day went....and she definitely tells me. She just smiles and coos and a goos and ooos and ahhs at me like she is telling me every event of the afternoon and morning. Its so funny. I coo and goo and ooo right back and that makes her smile! We talk like this for a while and then I give her a bottle and off we go to cuddle up together and nap! Its prob against every book I've read, but we love to cuddle and I'm ok with it becoming a habit! :o)

Cream

"Cream the butter and sugar" does not mean ADD CREAM! ( so many students don't understand this!)

Thanksgiving

Here is Zoey enjoying her very special thanksgiving bottle! lol!

On black friday we took Charly, Will and Zoey to get some pictures! Not the easiest thing to do with a 3 year old, 1 year old and infant! But they sure look cute!!

Prince and the Pauper

I was so touched by this article in the Ensign and the story of the Prince and the Pauper and how it related to Christ and his life here on earth. Would I leave all my glory in heaven to be mocked, hurt, poor, rejected, betrayed on earth? I will definatly be thinking of that this Christmas season!

"An important lesson about condescension is found in Mark Twain’s classic novel The Prince and the Pauper. Twain tells of two boys: Tom Canty, a poor boy who lives in a hovel in London; and Prince Edward of Wales, heir to the throne of England.
Tom has always dreamed what it would be like to be a prince. One day he decides to go to Westminster Palace in hopes of getting a glimpse of Prince Edward. Edward comes out of the gates of the palace and greets the waiting throngs. Tom is so excited that he presses up against the gates and tries to call the prince. The soldiers at the palace roughly push Tom away.
Seeing this, Prince Edward becomes angry with his guard. He tells the soldiers to leave the boy alone and then invites Tom into the palace as his guest. Prince Edward gives Tom a tour of the palace, and then, on a whim, the boys decide to exchange clothing. As they look at each other in the mirror, they realize that they are practically twins. While dressed in each other’s clothing, they step outside. The soldiers grab the pauper (who is really the prince) and throw him outside the gates. Prince Edward yells that he is the prince, but all the gathered people only laugh at him. The soldiers then close the gates. Suddenly the poor boy is the prince in the palace, while the prince is the poor boy in the street. Neither one can convince anyone to believe in the mix-up.
During the months that Prince Edward is outside the palace, he endures many trials. Tom Canty’s father finds him, thinks the prince is his son, takes him home, and beats him. Edward experiences hunger that he’s never known in his palace comfort. He travels throughout England, trying to determine how he can be restored to the throne. As he does so, he witnesses the poverty and oppression of his people, and he sees firsthand the grave injustices of the law. He suffers for months as a homeless pauper, and on one occasion he’s nearly killed.
Through a remarkable series of events, the mix-up is finally resolved, and Prince Edward is restored to the palace. In the meantime he has inherited the throne and become the king of England. King Edward honors Tom Canty for his service as an accidental “prince,” and ever after Edward serves as a merciful, good, and compassionate king, having learned to love his people by his suffering.

We too have a prince who became a pauper. The Prince of Peace, the Prince of Glory, the Lord Jesus Christ came down to live among His people and share in their poverty and suffering so that He might be a more compassionate king. As the Apostle Paul said, “Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9).

Back To Work

The alarm went off this morning and up I got up for work. I got dressed, grabbed some random things for lunch, did my makeup, kissed jake and the baby and Linkin good bye and off I went. The bell rang and in came the students and I didn't even act like I had ever left. "Take out a piece of paper" were the first words I said to them. I didn't mention a baby or the fact I hadn't seen them for almost 2 months. I just jumped right in. ( I did pass around some pics though)

It feels like I never left (except for the fact that I was expressing my milk in the back closet this morning during the announcements). I am not sure if that is good or bad. Someone asked me if I cried when I had to leave the baby this morning. uhhhh...Was I supposed to??

Don't get me wrong. I love my baby. Her smiles just melt my heart (which she does mostly when you are changing her, or bathing her, or when she is waking up in the morning and smiles at you like she is saying 'Oh there you are!') Plus, I will see her in a few hours. She is in good hands with her daddy.

So... its good to be back at work. I don't love work, trust me. I am not the type to go skipping out the door in the morning. I am most always fighting the clock and draging my feet to get myself to school. I think what helps is that I teach Foods classes. Its just fun stuff and worth the hard work I put into it. I probably would have been crying this morning if I had to come back to a Chemistry class or something like that! What are we doing in Foods for the next 3 weeks??? GINGERBREAD HOUSE COMPETITION!!

I think I will always be a working mom in one way or another....unless Jake makes millions with all his inventions. :o) I am still really devoted to opening my cupcake shop and we have a business plan in the works. The hope is summer 2011 for the opening, and by 2012 for me to be done teaching and making good money so I CAN stay home with my babies and manage the cupcake shop when needed. (If you know anyone looking to invest in some good cupcakes, send em my way!)

All in all I am proud of being a working mom. I was upset at the whole idea at the beginning of my pregnancy. But, I know that this is what I need to do for my family right now while Jake is in school and it makes it easier to come back when I know I'm doing it for them!

FLASHBACK: First Thanksgiving With Jake

It was the Thanksgiving of 2006. Jake and I were "casually dating". (decoded as me totally crazy about him and him totally clueless how to communicate his feeling with me. lol. )

I was spending the day with Jake's family since it was too expensive to fly home. I had gotten to know his family really well, since Jake and I spent most weekends together.

Thanksgiving dinner was held at Tammi and Mikes. Everything was so good, and Jake and I got to sit at the kids table with Jake's adorable cousins!

Jake and I were hanging out in the living room when I decided I could go for another dinner roll. I walked myself into the kitchen where lots of people are sitting and chatting. I grab a roll and start walking back to the living room. I am talking to the fam in the kitchen and walking and eating at the same time (obviously too much to handle for myself) and I turn the corner to the living room....but low and behold its not the living room.... its a flight of stairs to the basement! Well, it was too late. I had already flung myself down them. I tumbled all the way to the bottom of the stairs heels and all of course making as much noise as possible.

I lay there thinking "this living room looks different", and then I see I still have my dinner roll in my hands! lol. So sad. I ended up twisting my ankle, and completely embarrassing myself as everyone fussed over me. Someone had to go and get Jake and tell him his date was lying at the bottom of the stairs. So hot I know!

Anyway... Jake still married me, and I even went back to Tammi and Mike's last year for Thanksgiving. I got lots of warnings about the basement door being there. They kept it closed for me thank goodness!!!

So lets hope this thanksgiving for minor injuries, and just a little bit of embarrassment.

Zoey Almost 4 Weeks!

This is Jake swinging not only Zoey but Linkin too! Linkin needed to know what was so great about this swinging business that Zoey INSISTS ON when she is grumpy!!

Zoey is working on her baby talk! She makes SOOO many noises. She keeps us up all night withher noises. I am tryin to get her to Cooo on command. Her newest noises is Ahh, which I get her to say in this video. It's cute seeing her form her lips to mimic me. She is really trying.

Halloween Fun

Our neighborhood does Halloween a week early! They have a big parade that comes right down our street with all the kids in their costumes and then down at the park there is a costume judging. After the judging all the kids just go crazy trick or treating in the neighborhood. I have to say, our street is perfect for trick or treating....so many houses close together and lots of fall leaves.

It was fun to sit outside and just hand out candy. Zoey was a giraffe and Linkin was a pirate. It was a good first little halloween for us!

Our Pretty Baby

Here are some pictures we had taken of Zoey by Katie Ash! She did such an awesome job! Thanks Katie!

2 weeks old.

Today Zoey turned two weeks old. She is still adorable and loves to cuddle. She doesn't cry all the time. But when she does and nothing works, I put her into her carseat and swing her back-and-forth. Works every time. Unfortunately, the swing doesn't have as much magic. I guess I'm getting at least an arm workout.

1 WEEK OLD TODAY!

Our little bundle of joy is already a week old! She had her first dr appt. She is 7lb 9oz now which is good cause she left the hospital 7lb 6oz, so she is gaining back weight! She is a good little sleeper (knock on wood) and I have to wake her up at night to feed her. She likes sleeping in like her mommy and daddy!!

We love her more and more everyday. She is so good and sweet, and just content to be with mommy or daddy.

Linkin loves her and is being a good big brother. I can tell he is protective of her.

Linda came to visit for a few days and my mom is coming tonight. Its so nice to have a little extra help!

She is Here!

After a long 4 day induction process that went nothing like the "dream labor" I wrote about in my journal, Zoey finally came! It was quite the experience. I was induced on sun oct 11th, then sent home 24 hours later with no progress. I was supposed to go back in the next night, but there were no beds...too many people ACTUALLY having babies. Wed morning we started again with more cytotec and then pitocin. After another 24 hours Zoey came. I was so exhausted I was falling asleep in between pushes.

Meliss and my mom were there for the birth and of course Jake was there... updating people every hour on facebook about the slow progress! lol. It was really special to have them there..all my favorite Libras there to welcome to newest favorite Libra!

Zoey Faye Nelson was born Oct 15th at 10:07 (11 days after her due date I might add!!). She weighed 7lb 15oz and was 21 inches long. Everyone said she looks just like Jake. I'm kind of bummed about that since I did all the work!! She could at least have a dimple or something! lol.

While I don't want to do that again for a very long time, I am happy to have a healthy little girl! She makes me smile, and I love just cuddling up with her. She is going to bless so many peoples lives!!

Overdue and On Bedrest

So I'm 40 1/2 weeks, and have been feeling really great. I've been working all week and even pulled a 12 hour work day yesterday. Today I had to go to the hospital for a NST test (fetal stress test) to make sure baby Faye was doing ok. Standard procedure for being overdue.

Everything with the monitoring was good. Her heart rate was accelerating and all perfectly. I love the nurses there. They are so loving and concerned. They walked me through it all, and I love understanding everything that is going on.

I also needed to get an sonogram to make sure my amniotic fluid levels were ok. At 38 weeks the fluid will start to deteriorate, which is why there is an increased % of stillbirth after your due date and also the reason they check.

So the levels were right in between really bad and really good. <5>10 would mean there is a good amount of fluid. I scored a 6.8, so the dr wasn't sure what to do. He called my OB and they decided to put me on strict bedrest until tomorrow so they can measure the fluid again.

So I guess I'm not working my last day of school tomorrow. I think people are sick of seeing me come in day after day anyway. I am pretty proud of myself for teaching this late in the game. It helps that I have had such a great pregnancy.

If everything looks ok tomorrow then I will just wait to be induced on Sun night as I had planned. If not, they will get me going tomorrow night or Sat. Not much different, but prob enough to ruin my plans of having Meliss and my parents there the whole time. Its in God's hands and I know that whatever happens will be what needed to happen.

I will keep everyone posted!! Please pray for me and my little Zoey Faye that it will all go smoothly!

My garden cont'd

Had a ton of cherry tomatoes. Mom ate a bunch of 'em when she came to visit.

I started a compost pile earlier this year. It turned into a crazy tomato garden. The ants like this one.

A couple of my many volunteer tomatoes. They don't taste as good as the ones I bought.

My garden

Apparently, gardening is in my blood. I love having a garden. My tomatoes have begun to turn... finally and my green beans are thriving. No pumpkins, though.

Tomato plants got high enough to tie to the old swing set (it came with the house)

Pumpkin plants are growing all over the place, even flowering. But no luck with fruits.

My first watermelon ever. The animals and bugs better not get this one from me... I'll have to get a gun.

French style green beans. They're like 6 inches long.

It took these guys like 2 months to turn red. Maybe we get too much rain.

Blue Moon Cafe

Mom (Linda) told me his place debuted on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives on Food Network. Stacey and I have wanted to go for a while. We figured since we don't have a lot of weekends as a childless couple, we went. We had to get the Captain Crunch French Toast and the massive cinnamon roll; both of which have awesome review, online. I really wanted biscuits and gravy... probably the best breakfast food, ever. We really enjoyed one of our late-night getaways.

Of course I put that hot sauce on the biscuits.

This was so good, I had to eat it before I took the picture.

Linkin and Jake Listening To Conference

Linkin doesn't think we need a baby! He is happy with all the attention on him! He could cuddle all day long, and I love that about Linkin!

I hope Zoey loves to cuddle too!

Our Hopes For Zoey

For Family Home Evening Jake and I sat down and each wrote out some of our hopes for Zoey's Life. We read them to each other and then came up with some more.

Jakes:

Make Good Lifelong Friends

Be Very Coordinated

Have Love for Everyone

Value Hard Work

Know Grandparents Well

Be Best Friends with her Mom

Love tomatoes from Daddy's Garden

Love Music

Desire to Share Talents

Be Left-handed

Staceys:

Have a Carefree Childhood

Have at least 1 Awesome Best Friend

Be Able to Choose Right from Wrong

Will Be Quick to Forgive

Find a Passion and Be Really Good At It

Not Need To Follow Crowd - Independent

Get Her Heartbroken

Have a Great Youth Program with Fun Leaders

Both of Ours:

Marry in Temple to Return Missionary

Be Close with Parents and Family

Like Outdoors (not afraid to get dirty!)

Go to College

Be Good Example to Siblings

Have Respect for Priesthood

Be Very Involved in High School

Have Unwavering Testimony

There are so many of course...I could write forever. Its amazing to think this baby in me will grow up and become her own person. I have had such a lucky and wonderful life so far and I hope Zoey can have all that and more in hers!

Come Soon Zoey!! WE are getting anxious!!!

Candy Corn

Candy Corn! YUMMM....I love it! Not sure why, since you eat 3 and you have hit your max sugar intake for the day, but I still love them.

The other day I was eating candy corn while some of the students were doing presentations. After they were done I look down and all the white parts of the candy corn are sitting in a pile on my desk!

I didn't even notice, but I guess I don't eat the white part. I break it off and only eat the orange and yellow! So strange right????

Happy Second Anniversary

Jake arranged for us to take a dinner cruise on the Baltimore Harbor for our 2nd Anniversary! We had so much fun just sitting and talking. We didn't get to the dancing because well... i'm pretty prego and the only place I've been dancing to is the bathroom lately! The food was good, the view was good, the entertainment good, the hot cookies they served at the end were GREAT and the company amazing of course!

Happy Anniversary Jake! It's the last one we'll have without needing a baby sitter for a very long time!!

Ah...Pregnancy

With only 3 weeks to go, I am almost sad that my pregnancy is over. It has been such an awesome experience! I have escaped heart burn, swelling, constipation, morning sickness, round ligament pains, charly horses, and even a ton of weight gain (only 16 pounds so far). I love feeling her and seeing her moving around in my stomach. I love the way people treat me... so super sweet and helpful with everything. (in boston on the T people got out of their seats to let me sit down! I was amazed!)

If I wasn't on my feet all day from teaching high school, I would be happy pregnant for weeks to come.

So... we are ready for her to come at this point! I belong to a message board with other ladies due in oct 2009, and they basically keep me on the ball. I have had my hosptial bag packed since some lady scared me into the idea of not being prepared!! Not only is the hospital bag ready, but the diaper bag, the snacks, the magazines, books, cameras etc.. The message board has been an awesome resource for me and my questions, but today they are all fighting about someone who made a post and wrote they were annoyed that people were writing "dialate" and not "dilate". Its pretty heated right now! I guess thats what you get for putting lots of hormonal women in their 3rd trimester together!!

To get ready we also have brought home a doll ( "ready or not tot") that the child development students use. The baby is newborn size and weight and it cries and you have to feed it and so on... We got it to see how linkin does with the idea of having a baby around. Well... Linkin and Jake are doing great with it... Me on the other hand had a little bit of an episode when Jake forgot to turn it off before we went to sleep

In the middle of the night it starts crying. Like really loud!! Lets just say poor jake couldn't get the right key in it fast enough to turn it off and it ended with me screaming and grabbing the doll out of his hands and shutting it up! Jake says I told him I hated him...but I don't recall this. EVERYONE don't be alarmed. I will not be doing this with my own child! I did scare the crap out of my husband though!

Besides 1 ugly incident, it has been a smooth amazing ride with Zoey! I can't wait to see her face and hold her! I might not be able to cause we all know Jake won't be sharing her!!

Below are pics of her nursery (jake and his mom did the BEST job!) and some pics of me. I try to take pics of myself...obviously not so good at that . I also included the cute giraffe costume Zoey will wear for Halloween!! (anyone have a tip for arranging these pics better! They are being such a pain!)

Keep us in your thoughts and prayers for a speedy and healthy delivery!