1st day

The first day of school

I realize this post is a month late, but that's life with a newborn for ya.

these 3 were beyond excited to start school.

Gracie is now a grade 6-er, which is considered middle school.

I'm not sure how I feel about that.

I swear I just sent her to preschool.

But she LOVES it, especially having a locker.

Sades started grade 5.

She was probably the most excited - especially to pick out her school supplies. 

I'm not sure what it is about new school supplies that they get so excited about.

But I remember being the exact same way when I was that age.

Ryder is a big grade 3-er now. He is excited that he is in his Auntie Brett's class this year.

And he is pretty dang excited for hockey season to start.

Me - not so much (refering to the hockey, not brett:)

I always get a little sad seeing them walk out to the bus.

They all look so grown up.

But I am looking forward to much quieter days :)

Now this little gal.

She started preschool the next week.

She was SOO excited.

Being the lucky fourth child

I let her choose out of the vast array of hand-me-down backpacks.

And of course she chose the pony one. 

They always choose the pony one.

This backpack has gone through all 3 of my girls 

so I kind of like it.

ok this picture makes me want to cry!

Where did my little baby girl go??

8 weeks

this is what 8 weeks looks like

How is it possible that he is 8 weeks already?

8 weeks when I was pregnant seemed like an eternity.

But the 8 weeks since he's been here has gone by WAY too fast.

things I've learned about Breaker:

1. he HATES to shop (typical boy). All I have to do is walk into a store and he starts to cry. Maysa was the same way. Good thing is it only took her 3 years to grow out of that. Awesome.

2. He does NOT like his carseat. Car rides are so much fun.

3. He's not too fond of sleeping, which equals one tired momma. 

4. He smiles a LOT and I'm pretty sure there is not a better sight than his smile. :) LOVE IT!

5. This little man is AMAZING and we can't get enough of him!

and ps - at some point I will start posting about my other children, I promise I love them too :) 

our little piece of heaven...

let me introduce you to

breaker kincade nelson

born July 19, 2011

1:23 pm

9 lb 11 oz (yah, I know!!)

22 1/2 inches

what is it about these little people that make me want 

10 more of them??

Seriously.

We have been in heaven over here in our home the last 6 weeks 

(yes he is 6 weeks already...sniff,sniff)

I kind of forgot how wonderful it is to hold a baby again.

Just a warning, this post is gonna be major picture overload.

I just can't stop taking this little guy's picture.

Poor kid.

I could bore you with the detailed birth story, but I won't.

That's really only interesting for the one who gave birth.

But I will say that I was finally induced 4 days past my due date, and it was a good thing because this kid was GINORMOUS!

(well, and also because I was a complete crazy lady by then).

Seriously, he was 2 pounds more than all my other babies.

Must have been all that good chocolate I was feedin' him!

I ended up getting the epidural this time, which by the way

was sent from heaven I tell ya.

Everything went great and my recovery has been swift.

So what can I say about this sweet babe?

He's almost always happy...

as long as he's being held

(hence the lack of blogging I've been doing).

So basically my days are spent holding and nursing him.

It's a bonus if I can get in the shower most days.

his charlie's angels pose

But I know from previous experience that these babies grow 

WAY too fast,

So I'm trying to enjoy and soak in his tiny babyness 

for as long as I can.

I had so many ideas of the cute pictures I would take of 

Breaker once he was born. 

But that is so much easier when it's not your own kid. 

He is such a light sleeper, and just like all the rest of the males in this family, hates to get his picture taken.

And the last thing I want to do when I finally get him to sleep

is strip his clothes off him and take pictures.

So I'm just lucky to get the ones that I did.

I've had quite a few people ask me where we came up with his name.

I heard the name Breaker on a show that I use to watch

and loved it instantly. 

Jimmy really wanted Jimmer, but I just couldn't do it. I told him we could name our NEXT boy Jimmer (haha)

And Kincade was my grandpa Balderson's name, 

and his mother's maiden name.

He passed away 2 months before Breaker was born, 

and before he died I told him I was naming my baby after him.

The rest of the kids are completely IN LOVE with this little guy.

They can't hug and kiss him enough.

My little Sadie is about as obsessed with Breaker as I am.

First thing every morning she comes into my room and if he's awake she'll take him and play with him so I can get some extra sleep.

It's wonderful!

She loves to change his diaper (also wonderful)

and pick out his clothes.

I don't know what I'll do now that she's in school :(

It's kind of funny how the minute the babe is placed on your chest, how quickly you forget all the pain

 and are just so intensely happy and in love with this little person that you just met.

it kind of makes everything worth it -

every contraction, every bout of morning sickness, every stretch mark (and there were a LOT this time), every miscarriage, every tear shed, every pound gained, every overdue day - 

it's all worth it when you see their face for the first time.

still waiting...

 Yes I'm still here and STILL in one piece.

Unfortunately.

I don't know why I tell myself I'm gonna go early every time,

because it almost never happens (ryder was the only one early).

I was having contractions all last week and every day I thought

was the day.

But it wasn't and I'm still here, pregnant.

I hate to complain, 

but the last 2 weeks of pregnancy are a KILLER!

Everything hurts, nothing fits, and my brain does weird things.

And I don't even want to see anyone because all I get is the
"you haven't had that baby yet" look,
 and all those lovely comments.
I have no sympathy for my mom who had all her babies 2-4 weeks early.

Why couldn't I inherit that awesome gene?

I guess it's my fault for getting my hopes up. 

I still have 3 more days till my due date and soo anxious

to get this show on the road.

I've tried everything to try to induce labour 

(except castor oil - yuk!)

but nothing works.

I guess we'll just have to wait for this stubborn little guy to decide he's ready to join us.

Until then, I'll be an emotional, uncomfortable, frustrated pregnant lady.

This was the kids and I
the day before maysa
was born

This was us on Sunday.
Crazy what 4 years can do!

36 weeks

so I've made it to the 36 week mark.

I thought I had better get a photo shoot in before

this babe makes his appearance.

this was not an easy thing for me to do.

Getting pictures of my puffy preggo self is not my favorite thing.

And I am very puffy.

I think I retain 80% of my water

in my face.

I feel kind of silly putting so many pictures of me

on here, especially 9 months pregnant.

It's not really my style.

But I knew I'd regret it if I didn't get some pics.

So my little photographer Sadie snapped some of me.

And there is even some of my face (cringe!)

 just to prove that it IS actually me

above that massive belly.

So I've hit that point.

The point where I'm ready to be done.

Don't get me wrong - I LOVE being pregnant

and I am so beyond grateful to be pregnant, 

especially this time.

But it's just time for this little guy to come out.

I have awesome pregnancies for the first 7 months,

but the last 2 months,

well, lets just say I could do without them.

I have been on a nesting rampage lately.

My mind can't seem to rest.

I go to bed thinking about all the projects and things

I need to do before this baby comes.

Yah I'm a little crazy.

But it's been fun and I've gotten tons of things done,

not to mention that it gets my mind off the fact

that I am a very uncomfortable 9-month pregnant lady.

ok this has to be one of my favorite pics of all time.

me and my baby girl.

It makes me kind of sad that she won't be my baby

for too much longer.

But I'm so excited for her because she is gonna completely 

die over this baby.

I can't even say how incredibly excited and anxious I am to meet my little boy. 

I still can't believe that he can come anytime now

(and hopefully he does come very soon!!) 

I can't wait to kiss those 

 little hands and feet

that have been kicking my ribs for the past 5 months.

I'm so excited to have a baby in our home again.

There is seriously nothing better!

have to do the heart on the belly pic

please excuse all the cheesy poses.

I just couldn't help myself.