*Labors of Love*

Over the past few months prior to our baby's arrival, Jordan has been talking about "making a bassinet". With nothing much under his belt but an honorary PhD in New Yankee Workshop, This Old House and Home Town program-viewing, I had my reasons for doubt. Well, the months passed by and soon there were only two weeks left with nothing started and the doubts started to simmer. I had already picked out a 'back-up' online, just in case. We decided over the 4th of July weekend, that we would retreat to our family cabin, just our little family, for one last vacation before Baby arrived. Jordan was determined to devote the entire weekend to making this bassinet. Around the clock, he hammered away. He finished the bassinet the day after returning home from the cabin. The time, energy, faith and commitment he put into this project left me speechless. Jordan is a dreamer, just like my father. They have such insurmountable faith in achieving their goals...and they always do! What a timeless treasure he has created for our little family.

A few days before our little one arrived, I found a little playhouse listed on KSL that I have always wanted for my Charly! It had a doorbell, little tables, a phone, a fireplace, a clock...the works! It would keep her entertained when the baby arrived and feed that incredible imagination of hers! After talking it over with Jordan, we both decided not to afford it. My heart was broken, but I knew we needed to focus on our savings as our home is being built. Charly and I left for a while to run some errands and came home about an hour and a half later. I went to take the garbage out through the back door and nearly collapsed when I saw this:


Jordan must have left work immediately and driven all the way down town to pick this up for his girls. I will never forget that moment I opened the door, falling to my knees and weeping while a confused two-year old gleefully welcomed herself into her new little home.:-) Of course, we had to have the "sometimes we cry when we are happy" talk.:-) Such a labor of love I will never forget!

*weottababyitsaboy*

I sure hope we all remember this commercial! It's a classic!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flP-o0ydkvo

It's true, after 9 long months of not knowing what we were having, the curtain was finally drawn on July 16, 2009. Our little Spencer Winston Nelson is here and we have been doing cartwheels ever since. As my dear cousin, Marilyn Williams shared with me after our first, "Having children is like letting your heart walk around outside of your body, experiencing true unconditional love for the first time." I am simply lost in love with this little boy and my angel daughter, Charly Wynn. Oh, how I love them.

Coming home from the hospital is always so difficult, as you leave behind you that "security blanket", where your baby is being cared for and sheltered from the world, to suddenly walking back into the world and feeling more afraid and vulnerable than ever before. How blessed we are to have the Gospel as our eternal "cushion", to offer the peace and reassurance that the world otherwise defies.

So here he is, after four popcycles and one push, Charly Wynn's baby brother made his big premiere.....and he has red hair!!! It's actually the most beautiful copper-tone color. We are so happy! He is named after his Dad, Jordan Spencer, and his Grandpa and Great-Grandpa, Charles Winston.

Oma Dahlquist and her Babies
Opa Charles Winston

Our Family Uncle "Boo" and Bubba (Alex)
Here's Our Boy!
Aunt Jillsie and Charly Uncle Dallas, Ashley, and Halley

Grandma Nelson
Grandpa Nelson

My sweet angel baby boy

Friends, Tyler, Aubrey and Quentin Herd

Chris and Scott

I love this man!! (Dr. Gregory Tanner)

Our Dinner for Two!! (provided by Alta View Hospital!!)

Dave and Jalene Hale

Luvs!!

My Best Friend, Jenna!

At Last...Our "Livvy-Lou" Has Arrived!

Waiting and waiting with Opa

Charly's new baby cousin, Olivia Sue

Hello, Everybody!! I am back from my blogging hiatus, although I am sure I have lost all of my followers...not that I expected to have any before anyway!

Oh my, where has all the time gone?! We are just a few weeks away from welcoming our little "surprise" into the world!! Yesterday, my dear sister, Julie, gave birth to her 4th little baby angel, Olivia Sue. This makes for 11 Grandchildren for the Dahlquist's and one more on the way! "Livvy" is absolutely the most beautiful little baby I have ever seen! I am so happy for my sister and her family!

Tickle Tickle!!

In the Doghouse

The other day, Jordan and I were having a "disagreement" in the kitchen. It clearly effected our little girl because no sooner than 30 seconds into it she came into the kitchen and sternly shouted, "HEY!! YOU STOP BARKING!!!" This just put into total perspective what we must sound like to our kids when they overhear us in the middle of a "disagreement". What would we do without our little mediators?

P.S- NEXT MONTH we'll add another little "mediator" to the fold!!:-) We can hardly wait!!:-)

Hmmmm....

I have been neglecting my blog lately, mainly due to the glorious change in the weather, keeping us extra busy outside in the sun! I have less than 3 months to go with this pregnancy and I am getting more and more anxious to find out what this one is! If it is a boy, we are starting from scratch and he will just have to be fine with dresses and pink bows for a while until we stock up on boy stuff!

Charly is the absolute joy of my life! She is all SPUNK and keeps me smiling all day long! She lives and breathes for the outdoors! I promised not to make my Blog into a "Brag", but I am amazed everyday with how quickly Charly is learning and growing! Oh, how I love her!!!

As far as our "home building" goes, I think that if we all take a minute to hold our breath and cross our fingers, we might get a hole dug by the beginning of next month. It is slowly, but surely falling into place. We are so grateful!

My signing clinics are going wonderful and I will go into more detail later. I am also currently interpreting for the Draper Temple Youth Churchwide Celebration at the Conference Center in May. Right now I'm interpreting for the dance portion (rehearsals) and it is so much fun. Piano lessons are also keeping me busy and I absolutely love every minute of it.

Jordan is training for the Spudman Triathlon with my dad and brother-in-law. The race is the day after our baby is due! Yikes! He wakes up at 5am every morning for training. Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays he runs, Tuesdays he swims and Fridays he plays basketball...(he is still trying to figure out how to fit in the biking!) He also plays soccer Tuesday nights. He has always been such a diligent, committed athlete!

So hooray for sunnier days! I hope you are all out there soakin' up some vitamin D!!

High On the Mountain Top

Truly an experience I shall never forget. My father spoke at the dedication at 11:30 Sunday morning and every one of us, including his angel mother, were able to join him and the Prophet in the Celestial Room of the Draper Temple. Five of my nieces and nephews were also able to attend. I simply can't think of a more beautiful gift than to have my entire family with me in the House of the Lord. Sitting there, nearly 6 months pregnant, I couldn't stop thinking about where our little yet-to-be-born baby was and how I felt at that moment that we were all together in a very celestial place. What a day it will be when we will once again all be united in His glorious Kingdom on high. I am so grateful!

The Dahlquist Family

Oops...

So we drove by the balloons today and I realized they were actually for the neighbor of H&R Block, a new little Used Book Store that had just opened. That actually makes more sense considering H&R Block is apparently a multi-million dollar tax prep industry who I doubt needs the balloons for business! Anyway, I will find out more about this little Book Store on 7th East in Sandy and then maybe we can ALL take a minute and visit this nice old man who took the time to put out balloons for a hopeful day of customers.
Have a wonderful week and find someone out there who needs a little slice of happy!!! :-)