1 Thessalonians 5:18 "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
Friday, November 29, 2013
Thanksgiving Snapshot
1 Thessalonians 5:18 "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Happy Thanksgiving, Friends! I hope yesterday was filled with good times with loved ones, laughter, and tasty food. God has just blown me away with the many blessings in my life. I am so grateful to Him for the grace He continually extends to me every day.
The Nilsson house is now in the Christmas spirit! We spent the morning/ early afternoon in our PJs decorating for Christmas.
Anya found a new lovie in our Christmas bins. I look over at her and she was reading the snowman a Halloween book. Looking at these pictures I can't help but think...when did my baby grow up?! She looks 5 years old in these pictures...she's only two!
And this little lovie....Oh my, does he LOVE the cuddles. This is the only way he wanted to be today. He loves his mommy cuddles and was very interested in everything that was going on. (Excuse the hair...PJ day, remember?)
Daddy put up the tree....
While we put out the Nativity set. It is so special to see our daughter putting out nativity pieces that Grandma Nilsson made and that my husband grew up with!!! Mama, thank you for letting us inherit it;-) (LOL- inside joke)
Anya helped with the Christmas village...our holy village (didn't realize when I bought them that most are churches...!)
Anya put my angel on the top from when I was a little girl.
All that decorating made this guy zonk out!
Cocoa the Elf made his big debut after dinner. Anya loved the letter but more importantly...
the Rolo he left her! I love doing Elf on the Shelf, but I put a Jesus twist on it so our kids know the reason why our family celebrates Christmas.
Poor Oliver needs a stocking still...
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!
Saturday, November 23, 2013
Happy Thanksgiving! Love, Oliver
The other day I got Ollie all dressed in his new Thanksgiving shirt, ready to go show it off...
How did I know this would happen a second later!!!
He wants everyone to know...He's stuffed!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Love, Oliver
Friday, November 22, 2013
5 on FRIDAY!
{ONE}
Thanksgiving is in less than a week? For real? I'm super excited because most of my hubby's relatives will be meeting Oliver for the first time! Plus there's no better day to use one of my Pinterest fave recipes than on holidays. This year I'm doing this one because it's quick and easy...and with a toddler and newborn sometimes things can be nearly impossible to get done.
Instead of caramel dip, I'm making my hubby's seasonal favorite...Pumpkin Fluff!
Again, so easy and so delish!
{TWO}
It's been one week since this Little Miss (seriously) potty trained herself! It's a dream come true. I'm not kidding when I say I did nothing. With Little O I'm definitely waiting until he says he's ready. It's not worth the stress and tears before they are ready.
I related a lot to Mel with the whole "Best Mom EVER"...then I had kids. Wow, SO true! Potty training has been so humbling. Before kids and even with Anya at first, I thought potty training was going to be so easy...that as long as I did exactly what a strategy said she would be trained. After my experience my best advice would be short and simple; the child will be trained when the child is ready.
{THREE}
A BIG shot-out to AUNTIE KATES for being amazing once again. I survived Christmas pictures, but only with her help!
I must say, it's amazing how these turned out considering Anya thought we were there to play with the toys photo props!
{FOUR}
I'm just about to start cloth diapering my little guys bottom in the next week. I can't wait to say good-bye to daily "blow outs" and $ spent on diapers! This time around I'm trying Flips and Econobums, along with a few pocket diapers. This time I promise not to dry them *tear* on high heat again!!!
Flips had an awesome deal...buy 4 diapers for $34 + free shipping! Thanks for the head's up, Michelle<3 div="">
{FIVE}
I love that our radio stations around here play Christmas music before Thanksgiving. I was telling my husband, who used to be anti-Christmas before Thanksgiving, that I'm okay with hearing Christmas just not okay with seeing Christmas before Thanksgiving. I'm obsessed with my 1940s Christmas radio on Pandora. There's nothing better than hearing the classics.
And I'll leave you with this eye candy...
Lindsey inspires me again!
Happy FRIDAY friends!
Sunday, November 17, 2013
A Grateful Heart
Last year for the month of November I did 30 days of gratefulness. Today I look at the calendar and see that it's 11/17/13. Where has time gone? I swear it was just Halloween or summer for that matter!
I want to take a moment to reflect on my life, where God has me right now, and the many blessings He has so graciously given to me.
This picture. Oh my goodness. I am so blessed. Josh is a husband who strives to honor God with his life. He strives to provide for his family. He strives to show me and the kids daily how much he loves us. He strives to spend as much time with us as possible, even when life hits the fan like it did last month!!! It's truly amazing God's goodness to me in Josh. To fall in love with a boy back in our youth, and now to be married to the man I always wanted to have a family with. This is our dream we are living. Two kids. Both are such miracles no one will ever fully know or understand! They are the most precious gifts, joy of our lives, etc etc. Charlie should be in the picture, because he is seriously the greatest dog that ever lived. Our golden retriever that is so sweet by nature and loves everyone. This picture doesn't show that life is definitely not always easy, that there are many challenges we face, but in the end God is good and His love endures forever.
This picture makes me smile. My family. You wouldn't even believe that the first picture taken in this series was this one...the best!
It's been so cool to see my parents become grandparents. Who would have known that in 2 short years they would become Gigi and Papa to 3 amazing kids! I'm so happy for them. They are so good with my kids. My parents are so creative and playful with Anya. A few weeks ago I watched my dad interact with Anya. It was so neat to see. He offered her crayons and a coloring book, even brought the kids picnic table inside his family room so she could color him a picture. I love seeing Anya watch football with him. My mom puts in the extra energy to have backyard picnics with Anya, lets her play in the kitchen sink with lots of bubbles. I love all of the creative things she lets Anya do, just to explore the world and be hands-on. I'm also so grateful for the Aunts my sisters have become to Anya and Oliver. They are seriously THE BEST Aunts everrrr! Katie is our nanny extraordinaire. Oh my goodness this lady is a rockstar!!!
She is the most precious person ever. Constantly giving of herself, her time, her energy, her everything to help me out with the kids and give me a break. No $ amount could ever been enough for what she deserves. She is the most sacrificial and selfless person I know! On top of that she has a heart of gold. She only deserves the best!
Cindy just became a mommy for the first time in February.
She is such a determined Mommy. Determined to do what is best for Mary, to serve her husband Tony, to be an offering for her family. She amazes me at how quickly she has adapted to being a mommy and how easily it comes to her. Anya and I talk to her almost every weekday. It's awesome to be close to someone so far away. Anya gets little notes and stickers in the mail from Cindy often and it's so sweet. It's truly a blessing to have such a great relationship with my sisters.
My brother-in-law Tony. The greatest uncle to Anya (and Oliver)!
Anya ADORES Uncle Tony. I am blessed to have a brother-in-law who loves the Lord and is a strong believer in conservative, Christian values.
My parent-in-loves! 
They have raised my husband to be a God-honoring man. I am so thankful for all of the great influences they have had on Josh...and now my children! They are such great role models and have wonderful advice. How blessed am I to call them my parents too!? I truly don't know what I would do without them!!! It's been so awesome to see them become grandparents. Anya and Oliver are SO blessed to call them Grandma "Mama" and Papa Nilsson! .JPG)
God is so good to bless them to meet two grandkids, something I know they didn't think that would happen, especially Mama! Thank you God for this blessing. Anya loves when Mama comes over to play, and when Papa gives her special treats at their house (Animal crackers!) Again I am SO blessed to get help once a week from my mother-in-love who comes to play with Anya so I can get out or get things done around the house, or just to focus on Oliver.
The list goes on and on for the blessings in my life! Friends, our church, bible study groups, neighborhood, living close to family, Josh's job, my job as a stay at home mommy, my grandma, and on and on!!!
We are so grateful for this full circle moment (pictured below). Josh's birth mother, Diana, meeting our son Oliver for the first time. It's like she is experiencing her son's life (in a way) through our son. We realize Ollie is his own person, but God is so good to allow her to watch Anya and Oliver grow and develop so she can see glimpses of what Josh might have been like as a baby/ child.
We are so grateful to know Diana and her wonderful family. It's crazy that it has been almost/ only a year, and so neat how God orchestrates things in His perfect time! What a journey it has been!
.JPG)
I want to take a moment to reflect on my life, where God has me right now, and the many blessings He has so graciously given to me.
This picture makes me smile. My family. You wouldn't even believe that the first picture taken in this series was this one...the best!
It's been so cool to see my parents become grandparents. Who would have known that in 2 short years they would become Gigi and Papa to 3 amazing kids! I'm so happy for them. They are so good with my kids. My parents are so creative and playful with Anya. A few weeks ago I watched my dad interact with Anya. It was so neat to see. He offered her crayons and a coloring book, even brought the kids picnic table inside his family room so she could color him a picture. I love seeing Anya watch football with him. My mom puts in the extra energy to have backyard picnics with Anya, lets her play in the kitchen sink with lots of bubbles. I love all of the creative things she lets Anya do, just to explore the world and be hands-on. I'm also so grateful for the Aunts my sisters have become to Anya and Oliver. They are seriously THE BEST Aunts everrrr! Katie is our nanny extraordinaire. Oh my goodness this lady is a rockstar!!! 
She is the most precious person ever. Constantly giving of herself, her time, her energy, her everything to help me out with the kids and give me a break. No $ amount could ever been enough for what she deserves. She is the most sacrificial and selfless person I know! On top of that she has a heart of gold. She only deserves the best!
Cindy just became a mommy for the first time in February.
My brother-in-law Tony. The greatest uncle to Anya (and Oliver)!
They have raised my husband to be a God-honoring man. I am so thankful for all of the great influences they have had on Josh...and now my children! They are such great role models and have wonderful advice. How blessed am I to call them my parents too!? I truly don't know what I would do without them!!! It's been so awesome to see them become grandparents. Anya and Oliver are SO blessed to call them Grandma "Mama" and Papa Nilsson! .JPG)
God is so good to bless them to meet two grandkids, something I know they didn't think that would happen, especially Mama! Thank you God for this blessing. Anya loves when Mama comes over to play, and when Papa gives her special treats at their house (Animal crackers!) Again I am SO blessed to get help once a week from my mother-in-love who comes to play with Anya so I can get out or get things done around the house, or just to focus on Oliver.
The list goes on and on for the blessings in my life! Friends, our church, bible study groups, neighborhood, living close to family, Josh's job, my job as a stay at home mommy, my grandma, and on and on!!!
We are so grateful for this full circle moment (pictured below). Josh's birth mother, Diana, meeting our son Oliver for the first time. It's like she is experiencing her son's life (in a way) through our son. We realize Ollie is his own person, but God is so good to allow her to watch Anya and Oliver grow and develop so she can see glimpses of what Josh might have been like as a baby/ child.
Lastly, I am so incredibly grateful for my grandma. Even better, that she has met my children and Anya knows her by name. I realize this is rare and it is so special to me. I love going to visit her and stay at her house. I pray that Anya will have memories of her house just like me.
.JPG)
I have so much to be grateful for. Happy Thanksgiving!
Little O is 3 months!
Dear Oliver,
I'm ten days late on this post, and I apologize! You are now a little over 3 months old, and what a blessing these past months have been! I absolutely adore you. You are such a cuddlebunny buddy. Since your big sister is such an active 2 yr old you are mostly carried in the Moby or in the swing/ pack-n-play. When we first wake up in the morning right before Daddy leaves from work you are so happy. Happy to see your sister, happy to see Mommy, happy to get a diaper change. You are a little morning person, just like Mommy.
Things you love:
-Warm baths
-Paci
- Anya's familiar voice and smiling face
- Mommy
-Milk, milk, milk!
-Sleeping in your car seat
I'm guessing you are about 15lbs already! I measured you at 23 inches, so not much growth lengthwise since two month check-up. You wear size 3-6, 6 month clothes, very few 0-3, size 2 or 3 diapers. You are a chubby little fellow! I love it!
You eat about every 3 hours, last feeding at night around 8:00, and you go until about 3am. I'm so blessed!!! You still sleep in our room, or in my arms. I've totally been babying you, MUCH more than I did with Anya. It's so much easier to just have you right in our room at night. But you are growing out of the cradle, so I may transition you to the pack n play in our room. I plan on putting you in your crib next month sometime, we'll see.
I am so excited to see your little personality grow and change. You love sitting in the Bumbo and watch what we are doing. I think I use that much more than I did with Anya.
Last week we dedicated you at church. Daddy and I are committed to raising you (and Anya) to know Jesus. We are praying for you daily that you will one day choose to follow Him. We had a wonderful party afterwards to celebrate you!
I love you so much little one!
Love, Mommy
I'm ten days late on this post, and I apologize! You are now a little over 3 months old, and what a blessing these past months have been! I absolutely adore you. You are such a cuddle
Things you love:
-Warm baths
-Paci
- Anya's familiar voice and smiling face
- Mommy
-Milk, milk, milk!
-Sleeping in your car seat
I'm guessing you are about 15lbs already! I measured you at 23 inches, so not much growth lengthwise since two month check-up. You wear size 3-6, 6 month clothes, very few 0-3, size 2 or 3 diapers. You are a chubby little fellow! I love it!
You eat about every 3 hours, last feeding at night around 8:00, and you go until about 3am. I'm so blessed!!! You still sleep in our room, or in my arms. I've totally been babying you, MUCH more than I did with Anya. It's so much easier to just have you right in our room at night. But you are growing out of the cradle, so I may transition you to the pack n play in our room. I plan on putting you in your crib next month sometime, we'll see.
I am so excited to see your little personality grow and change. You love sitting in the Bumbo and watch what we are doing. I think I use that much more than I did with Anya.
Last week we dedicated you at church. Daddy and I are committed to raising you (and Anya) to know Jesus. We are praying for you daily that you will one day choose to follow Him. We had a wonderful party afterwards to celebrate you!
Love, Mommy
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