Then & Now

Then:

Now:

let's hear it for the boy

Look at that happy clam. What's not to love?



Today we celebrate 31 years of Bruce

I'd say it's been a great year for Bruce. He's seen his business grow, bought our first home and has spent many hours working to fix it up. He's even wallpapered!
He said he wanted a baby before he turned 31 and we slipped that in just in time. And now as a father, he's more in-love with our little doll than I think he ever thought possible. He's a fantastic father and despite his weak stomach has only dry-heaved twice*. Very commendable if you are familiar with his true weakness!

*(#1: When my water broke, but instead of clear water, it was meconium stained green. gross)
(#2: When changing one of Claire's first really stinky, poopy diapers that caught him off guard)

But other than those two exceptions, he's changed his share and more of dirty diapers, burped her, cuddled and loved Claire.



So there's many reasons to love Bruce, but don't let me do all the talking.

Wish Bruce a Happy Birthday and share your favorite thing about Bruce.


And if that makes you feel uncomfortable, you can just vote on what you think is his best look:

a.) the young lad Bruce b.) the handle-bar Bruce

c.) the scruffy, flexing Bruce d.) the hard of hearing Bruce

e.) the clean shaven, fancy Bruce f.) the excited Bruce



g.) the two-faced Bruce h.) the mullet Bruce

i.) the full bearded Bruce

reasons for thanksgiving

We do things about a week late around here... (wink)

• I'm thankful for family
• All of our great friends
• A wonderful husband
  
• Good health
• The Gospel of Jesus Christ and our testimonies
• A comfy little home to live in
• That comfy little home nearing the end of renovations ;)
• The beauty of the world
• And particularly this year, a healthy baby

we are so blessed!

not so fast...

This picture makes me laugh everytime I look at it.


We attempted a newborn photo shoot to capture our sweet, peaceful Claire as a sleeping newborn before she grows and changes too fast. The thought of her getting big already makes me sad. Well, it was anything but sweet and peaceful!

Baby Claire was wide awake when we wanted her sleeping and cross-eyed when we were trying to capture her awake. The second we took off her diaper she'd pee then poop on everything. Just as we'd get her calmed down and seemingly asleep she'd start to cry and want to be fed.


This picture captures it all too well. Just when we thought we got her perfectly positioned and sleeping soundly she sneaks one eye open just to make sure one of those little ducks doesn't waddle away. Not on her one-eyed-willy watch!

hate laundry?

Have I got the cure for you! ....


Ditch your dryer for 2 1/2 years and when you use one again, laundry becomes enjoyable!


Yep, the Dickson's here are LOVING soft towels, the delicious smell of dryer sheets and the ability to wash more than one batch of clothes at a time!


We always thought living here was temporary and didn't want to bother wiring our old house for a dryer. So, the clothesline it was in the summer, and drying racks on the not-so-warm days. I actually love the freshness of clothesline-dried clothes and we got use to slightly scratchy towels, but with a baby on the way, and no plans to move, we knew we needed a dryer. Really all we had to do was switch the lonely, abandoned electric dryer we had with a gas dryer, we were both just too lazy to ever do it.


But now.... it's great! And I think I've washed everything even possibly dirty in our house.... all in one day!

a child is born...

Claire Elizabeth Dickson


Born Thursday, November 19, 2009 @ 10:10 pm


7 lbs. 10 oz.


20 1/2 inches

Our sweet little baby girl arrived Thursday evening naturally, healthy and beautiful. We couldn't have asked for a better birth experience as I didn't have to be induced, or deliver an 11 lb. baby!

We've officially joined the ranks of proud parents and couldn't be more in-love with everything about her! It is such an amazing experience to bring a child into the world and actually get to see and hold the kicking little fetus that was in your belly for almost a year.
I'm still in awe!
And I find myself either laughing or crying while mesmerized by her and how much I can already love the little darling! We both knew we would love parenthood but so far it's exceeding all expectations.


We want to thank our families, friends, neighbors, co-workers, nurses, mid-wives, EVERYONE for all the visits, calls, texts, emails, gifts, flowers, hugs and excitement you've shared with us! It's so great to be surrounded by so many loving and supportive people and to know that amid all the bad in the world there is still SO much love and so much good!

Thank you! We love you all!!

Love, Bruce, Melinda and Claire

bygones

Due Date: November 13th

Today's date: November 16th

And so you have it, this estimated date of delivery came and passed as I thought it would. I never really trusted my due date anyway so it didn't come as a big surprise. Nevertheless, I still had that date in my head and have all our baby supplies ready, fridge and freezer stocked and worked my last day at work on the 12th. And now I want a baby. I'm officially on my maternity leave with no maternal responsibilities. Bummer.

I don't mind still being pregnant- actually I love being pregnant, and I have to credit that love to having the easiest pregnancy ever.
The only complaints: 2 wicked leg cramps in the middle of the night and an increase in spider veins on my left calf.
Otherwise I love feeling my little baby move and watching my belly grow with the assurance that my baby is getting bigger and healthier.
Now before you women with a nine (ten) month hell curse my name for my ease of carrying a child, let me introduce you to this little guy:
This is my eleven pound love, the father to my child who is responsible for, can I say 50% of her genes? And by the look on his face you can tell he hated leaving that warm, cozy womb to enter this cruel world. I wasn't a petite baby myself, weighing in at 8 pounds, but now that I'm "overdue" this is what I fear. They've reassured me that I can't have a baby that big because I've been measuring small the whole time- believe me, I've voiced my concerns.
But for now, only time can tell. I really don't want to be induced so I'll hold out as long as I can, but the potential size of my child might thwart my desires for a natural birth.

Wish me luck!