Baby's First Christmas

CHRISTMAS PARTY We had a great time at the Leavitt Christmas party in Calgary. James was a highlight and was held by many relatives that thought he was adorable. It was so fun being with the family and catching up. We had a white elephant exchange and we scored as we walked away with a brand new teddy bear that had a cute CANADA outfit and had 2008 on the foot. This is baby James' first Canada gift, plus it has the year he was born in on the teddy's foot. How perfect, to contribute to his collection of teddy bears. Uncle Gary is the youngest surviving brother to my Grandma Leavitt. I thought it was neat getting a picture of him and James, as he took on the name Wallace, who is my Grandpa who passes away about 4 years ago. There are not many uncles and aunts alive of our amazing grandparents, Wallace and Helen. CHRISTMAS EVE A family Christmas tradition is to make a ton of goodies and go caroling on Christmas Eve. Each year we also choose a family to pixie. We provide a few boxes of food and stuff that is needed for the family and than ring the doorbell and run. It always such a great feeling to help others in need. Our family seems to get into it a great deal, as we dress warm and wear our Santa hats. Amby's little baby, Skeeter, celebrated his first Christmas too. He seems to be so interested in James and is always sniffing him and wanting to cuddle wherever James is. Amby went to town on her little pug, this dog was the most spoiled little pup I have ever seen. After our Christmas Eve Program and talking about the true meaning of Christmas, we all got to open one present. Each year we get a pair of PJ's from the Elves. Teara(Linz's roomate), Linz, Me and Amby posing in our new comfy pj's. Our cute little family ready for Santa to come. Uncle Mike (or should we say Where's Waldo?) CHRISTMAS MORNING Stockings 72 hour kits- Josh got the big backpack and I got the small one. Thanks mom and dad for getting us prepared. This pack weighs about 50 lbs and has everything you could think of. We are now prepared!! Proud grandma and grandpa. They love pictures of their first grandson. James dressed in the cutest little outfit from his aunty and uncle. A beannie (touque, is what we call it in Canada), cute little boots, nitted outfit and an adorable scarf, was just one of the outfits he got for Christmas. Aunty Amber and Uncle Brad spoiled James to the max. Thanks you guys for everything. Mom and dad you spoiled us too, thanks so much for all you do for us and for all the needed necessities. Baby James loved his first Christmas even though he was asleep for about half of it. He loves the lights from the Christmas tree and loves to be held and snuggled all the time. He is definatly loved by so many because he is just so dang cute. Our little family is so grateful for this season, as it brings family together and we are able to focus on the most important thing we have. We have the spirit of Christ in our hearts and our homes. We love Christ and know that he was born in a manger and lived a life full of the stuggles we all face. We are glad we have him as our example and brother. What a blessing he is in our lives as we are blessed to have him with us always. Merry Christmas and I hope all who read this know that our family feels so blessed at this time of year because we know that god lives and we know he loves us. In all reality that is all we need in life to be happy and to return to our Father in Heaven. Happy Birthday Jesus Christ.

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE NIELSON'S

6 weeks of pure love

Baby James hit the 6 week mark today. Time has flown by so fast and each day has just been so rewarding with our little bud. He brings so much excitement and love to our home. About 3 days ago he gave his first real smile. There were smiles before, but I think it was him just releasing gas. Now I am definate that he has really smiled because he seems to love when I talk in baby talk to him and stroke the side of his mouth. It is so much fun knowing that he is really recognizing his mommy. I have found that a great comfort to him is snuggling. When he is snuggling he also loves to grab my hair and just hold onto it. I have loved nursing him, even though he seems to get so impatient sometimes with the process of latching on. Bath times are a lot of fun. He loves sitting in the warm bath with me and seems to just relax. Yet the first few times he relaxed to the point of releasing an explosion and a waterfall. Almost everytime I change him he has a dirty diaper, I guess that is a good sign of him getting enough milk from me. James is still a big time cuddler and my favorite is when he clinches his little fists around my finger and closes his eyes. I am amazed at his strength. I remember the day he was born, he lifted his head only a tiny bit, yet now everytime we have tummy time or is wide awake he lifts his head with his strong neck and looks around.He is such a champ. The nick names he has aquired so far are big guy and my budz. I have loved being a stay at home mom, even though I do plan to go back to teaching part time (for 4 hours in the morning). I thought I would have a ton of time to get things done, yet I find time just goes by so fast and at the end of the day I think- What have I accomplished today? Well, I've fed him, changed him, bathed him and loved him. Then I do it again and again through out the day, with a bit of cleaning and maybe one or two things I had to do to make that day a little productive. I love my little budz though, he is everything to Josh and I. Life just wouldn't be filled with this true love that really does increase everyday I am with him. I love caring for him and being his Mommy, there is nothing to compare it to. We are now in Canada for the holidays and experiencing extreem temperatures. It has been 40 degrees below zero and there has been so much snow. Everytime we take James out, we make sure he is nice and cozy and bundle him up to the max. For the last week we have visited mom and dad in Raymond and are now in Calgary with my sister, Amber and her husband Brad. James is getting to know his Aunty Amber a lot more, yet her time has to go to her little baby dog too. Her pug seems jealous when she's holding him and just wants the attention. It's always great to return home and be with my family. This weekend and next week all of us, besides Stacy and Josh's family will be together. Love you Stacy and Josh and you will be missed.

Babys Firsts

First and Second Outfit for Church. He looks like a cute little man. First trip to the Festival of Trees. We went with our sisters, mom and all the kids. Wow, one of the first outings with the rest of the nieces and nephews and Mr. James. This tree was pretty neat. It sold as a charity for 26 thousand dollars to the children's hospital. It was made of complete glass. Going to this event and reading about all of the deaths at the hospital made me really realize how blessed we are to have such a healthy little baby. The first BYU game watched on T.V and dressed for the exciting occasion. Daddy is so excited to have a buddy with him for the games. We had a great time with the Gardines watching the BYU game, yet sadly didn't even want to watch the ending because of the disappointment. Here is the beginning of many BYU games for James' future. His first Thanksgiving was celebrated in Hendreson, Las Vegas with every single family member of the Nielson's. It was so much fun being with everyone and eating good food of course. Melisa and Jason were great hosts for about 35 of us. I am so grateful for a family that has brought so much joy into our lives and enjoys our little bundle of joy just like we do. James was passed around all day long and just loved all the cuddling, so the nights were long for me as he wanted to be held throughout the whole night and I didn't want him to cry and wake everyone up. One of the nights while we were there, we all went to the lights and chocolate factory than we also had a gift exchange. Chandler, the oldest cousin bought for James, the youngest cousin. He was so cute as he was so excited to give James his build a bear. James loves his cute little buddy bear that is the same size of him right now. <

Now I know what perfection is

James is so perfect and so so adorable. I know that I am probebly one sided because I am his mom, but I honestly think he is the most perfect baby ever. He melts my heart and I am so proud that he is ours. Thanks God for sending us such a perfect little son. James is growing way to fast. Tomorrow he will be exactly a month. It is long nights and not a lot of sleep. I honestly think that God created babies to be as adorable as they are so you can't get mad at them. James at 10 days old.

Happy Thanksgiving

I am grateful for little toes, fingers, ears, mouths, tummies, eyes, legs and everything that this little boy has brought with him from heaven. Oh, how neat it is to have something so close to heaven in our home, and to know that we get to take care of him and raise him the best we can. I am so grateful for Heavenly Fathers giving heart, for letting us experience being a mommy and a daddy. Everyday I take several minutes (hours)just stairing at him and taking these moment in. How blessed I feel to be a mother and be so needed by this cutie pie. I love being home and only having two obligations, that being my 2 men in my life. I got a little photography happy and took some seasonal pictures of James. This guy better get used to all the pictures I take, cause I am constanlty clicking my camera. How could I resist all his cute little expressions and new moments in his brand new life.

Our Baby Boy's Nursery

This is little baby James' nursery. Thanks to Mamma Rose for the cutest pillows and blanket for his crib. We absoultely love it. I spent some fun hours being crafty and making frames and staining the white furniture to make it look anitque. It was so much fun preparing for our little man, time sure flew. Now it is even funner having him with us every single minute. I just can't stop falling more and more in love everyday with our little bud. Everyday is new and I just love being a mom. Currenly, James sleeps in the basinet right next to our bed during the night. We are still trying our hardest to get him on a schedule,so we don't have to wake up at least 3 times a night with him. He is still just a big time sleeper, at first I was worried that he wasn't drinking enough, but I am now rest assured because his diapers are consistanly full. He is a big time stretcher. Here daddy is trying to wake him up from a wonderful sleep, but having no success. We have found that baths are one of the ways of waking him up. At first he did not like them at all, but today it didn't seem to bother him as much. I love this naked boy. Yet as a mother, I find the skin to skin feedings and cuddlings to be the most special bonding experiences.

Our little guys first week of life

One of our little guys favorite things to do is be swaddled. He loves the warmth and just being tightly cuddled and cozy. He is one big cuddler. He just snuggles right up to anyone at any time. I love the precious moments of cuddling with him. Poor little James has had a bottom rash. So in the mornings we open the blinds and let the sun in. We air out his bare bum and it is said to help with jondice too. He had a little right when he came home from the hospital, but now he is all cleared up. I think James is so funny sometimes, especially at feeding time. He gets so frusterated about latching on and will squiel like a little piglet. It is so cute, yet funny to watch. Or when he has a dirty diaper, he will let everyone know. I know it may sound a little crazy, but ya I did throw a week old party for him, with just Josh, mom and myself. I had to, it was just so wild that a week had passed so fast. Our Snoozer Our poser and Eddie Munster look-a-like (cute little vampire baby) Our deep thinker after a successful feeding. Proud Mommy and Daddy