...to a new site!
Hopefully everyone has found our new home, but for those that have not, please see http://thenelsontale.wordpress.com for all future updates on our family. The new site is still under development, so may look a bit wonky from time to time, especially the past posts to this site which have been moved to the new location, but not yet fully edited for that site's specs.
This site will be up for a while, but will eventually be disabled, so please change your URLs/Favorites/RSS Feeds now.
See you on the flip side!
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Halloween 2010: Part 3: Old Town Alexandria
Grandpa John is a HUGE Halloween fan so very much wanted to share the day with the girls. On Halloween night we headed to his and Carolyn's place to show the girls his decorations, enjoy a few pre-trick-or-treating snacks and get ready for the big night.
Grandpa John was very excited about this balloon...hehehe.
Time to head home.
The End.
Getting ready.
The girls.
So, this was almost an awesome shot,
all four of us, decked out for Halloween and everyone happy and paying attention (I was a witch, Keith was Mad-Eye Moody), but I don't think the very nice old man who offered to take our picture knew how to use the camera and unfortunately we didn't discover how bad it was until much later...
Trick-or-treating with Grandpa John.
People kept stopping him and Keith saying how much they loved Aria's costume (yay!).
People kept stopping him and Keith saying how much they loved Aria's costume (yay!).
This couple was sooo excited when they spotted Aria in the huge crowds of trick-or-treaters and party-goers. They had to have a picture (and so did we)!
This was at the end of the night and Aria was a bit tired and feeling more than a bit shy, so wasn't very smiley; afterward, though, she loved talking about this meeting.
Note: The Fish in the Pot side of the treat bag I made is just visible here. I didn't anticipate the number of treats she'd get, though and one of the straps broke towards the end of the night. Next time I must reinforce those seams!
Aria got the hang of trick-or-treating very quickly and
was soon begging to go to that house and that house and that house...
This was to be the very last house, but...
...they were all out of candy.
Thank goodness for this sweet couple.
Aria got one last treat and ended on a (sugar) high.
Ani staying bundled and getting sleepy.
Tired girls.
was soon begging to go to that house and that house and that house...
This was to be the very last house, but...
Aria got one last treat and ended on a (sugar) high.
Halloween 2010: Part 2: Hilloween
Halloween this year was a full weekend of activity, starting with Friday's Hilloween celebration. We've gone to Hilloween since Aria was but a wee little thing and love the community feel and kid-friendliness of this event. Admittedly (and sadly), we are no longer Hill residents, but we still feel so much a part of the community, frequently visiting Eastern Market's "Pickle Man" or meeting friends on the playgrounds, that going to this event was a must.
Halloween 2010: Part 1: Creating the Costumes
Halloween began weeks ahead of time for this mama. Trying to get ahead of the game a bit, I talked with Aria early in the fall about what she'd like to be for Halloween. Repeatedly she voiced her desire to dress up as a cat for the holiday and so I deemed it safe to order her a set of ears and a tail for her costume. The very next day, as we were looking at pictures of various things online, Aria saw a picture of a Cat in the Hat stuffed animal and instantly knew that's what she had to be for Halloween. She was very excited about it and I thought the idea to pretty cool, so I called Groovyland (the Hill's toy store) and amended the order for a toddler-sized Cat in the Hat hat. After that I set out to put together the rest of her costume, sewing a white belly on her black turtleneck, finding just the right shade and width of ribbon and creating a Halloween treat bag showing Thing 1 and Thing 2. This was an important detail as Aria originally thought she could be Cat in the Hat and Thing 1 and Thing 2 all in one night. I talked her down to carrying Thing 1 and Thing 2 in some way and promised her she'd have them for the big night. I settled on a treat bag made up of blue felt (to match the Things hair and the book itself) with a drawing of the Things on a white felt patch. I also sewed blue felt "hair" onto the drawing for a little extra pop. As I worked on her bag the day before Hilloween, the following conversation unfolded.
"Remember the Fish!"
"What fish," I asked, feeling a red flag slowly rise into the air.
"The Fish in the Pot!"
"But Aria," I said, "you are having Thing 1 and Thing 2 on your bag."
"But you need to put three things on my bag, Thing 1 and Thing 2 and the fish in the pot."
"OK..."
"And don't forget the boy and the girl. You need to put five things on my bag!"
Bossy little thing, I thought, but did not say.
"I'll put the fish, Aria, but not the boy and girl. That's too much."
And so I spent a very late night finishing two costumes (more about Ani's in a minute) and putting together a Halloween bag that had not only Thing 1 and Thing 2, but also the Fish in the Pot (I sewed a little fish cutout onto a drawing of the fishbowl from the book, on a white panel to match the Things drawing). I stopped sewing when I could no longer focus my eyes well enough to thread the needle I was using. (So this is what old people feel like, I thought...). The next morning I put on the finishing touches and looked up step-by-step instructions on how to tie a bowtie. It was a lot of work, but also a lot of fun and, in my opinion, the results were worth it:
Ani's costume was another labor of love. I decided early on that I wanted her to be a fairy. I liked that it would be similar to Aria's second Halloween costume but also wanted it to be unique. I bought her a pair of fairy wings and decided to make her a tutu and headband. After a couple of trips to fabric stores to find the tulle and ribbon in just the right colors and a night or two covered in tulle scraps, I came up with this:
I loved making the costumes for the girls. It reminded me of the Halloweens of my youth when we made our own costumes (with Mom's help, of course!) and felt much more meaningful than buying a full costume. Admittedly, there were store-bought pieces to each (when I said something about making the costumes Aria was quick to point out that I did not make her hat or her tail) but even those had a bit of creativity and hard work in them as I tried to incorporate them into the whole costume just so.
Stay tuned for more pics of our action-packed Halloween weekend...
"Remember the Fish!"
"What fish," I asked, feeling a red flag slowly rise into the air.
"The Fish in the Pot!"
"But Aria," I said, "you are having Thing 1 and Thing 2 on your bag."
"But you need to put three things on my bag, Thing 1 and Thing 2 and the fish in the pot."
"OK..."
"And don't forget the boy and the girl. You need to put five things on my bag!"
Bossy little thing, I thought, but did not say.
"I'll put the fish, Aria, but not the boy and girl. That's too much."
And so I spent a very late night finishing two costumes (more about Ani's in a minute) and putting together a Halloween bag that had not only Thing 1 and Thing 2, but also the Fish in the Pot (I sewed a little fish cutout onto a drawing of the fishbowl from the book, on a white panel to match the Things drawing). I stopped sewing when I could no longer focus my eyes well enough to thread the needle I was using. (So this is what old people feel like, I thought...). The next morning I put on the finishing touches and looked up step-by-step instructions on how to tie a bowtie. It was a lot of work, but also a lot of fun and, in my opinion, the results were worth it:
Getting ready at Grandpa John's on
Halloween night.
I love this picture of her.
It's a bit grainy but you can see her whole costume (minus the tail)
and the fire shoes which she picked out and wears all the time.
I think they look great on the Cat in the Hat
- totally fit with the attitude!
Picture taken in Old Town Alexandria on Halloween night.
Taking a breather with Grandpa John.
Note: The bag is somewhat visible in this pic.
You can at least get an idea of what the Things looked like.
More pics to come...
Ani's costume was another labor of love. I decided early on that I wanted her to be a fairy. I liked that it would be similar to Aria's second Halloween costume but also wanted it to be unique. I bought her a pair of fairy wings and decided to make her a tutu and headband. After a couple of trips to fabric stores to find the tulle and ribbon in just the right colors and a night or two covered in tulle scraps, I came up with this:
I loved making the costumes for the girls. It reminded me of the Halloweens of my youth when we made our own costumes (with Mom's help, of course!) and felt much more meaningful than buying a full costume. Admittedly, there were store-bought pieces to each (when I said something about making the costumes Aria was quick to point out that I did not make her hat or her tail) but even those had a bit of creativity and hard work in them as I tried to incorporate them into the whole costume just so.
Stay tuned for more pics of our action-packed Halloween weekend...
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Snowpocalypse 2010
Snowpocalypse. That's what they're calling it. You know it's bad when the description of the storm is a derivation of the word "apocalypse." Comes with websites like these: snowpocalypsedc.com. There's already about 20 inches on the ground and it's still going, not predicted to stop until late tonight.
This is the second blizzard in as many months and we're not done yet. More snow is forecast for Tuesday. I am not a happy camper; I don't deal well with cold. DC is supposed to have mild winters and in the five or so years we've lived here the winters have been surprisingly tolerable - 40 degree days are not uncommon and snow typically comes in 1-3 inch accumulations and melts within a couple days. That's the DC I signed up for, not this. Especially not with two little ones, cooped up inside for days on end. With snow up to Aria's chest it's not like I can take her out during the week with Ani too. Ani would freeze, Aria would get lost and the stroller is just useless. Worst of all, the nearest coffee shop closed early yesterday, is closed today and may be closed tomorrow. All other walkable shops closed as well. Grrr.
Ok, I've said my piece. For now.
All grumbling aside, the snow is very pretty. Keith took Aria out a little bit ago and they had a blast. I went out and snapped some quick pics while Ani slept. Dressed only in pjs, a fleece jacket and a vest, I wasn't planning on staying out long, or becoming the focus of a snowball fight; Keith and Aria had other plans.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Ani's Thumb
Ani discovered her thumb today. She's been working on it for awhile, loudly sucking on her fist or a couple fingers. Occasionally she would get her thumb in her mouth for a moment or two but couldn't get it back in once it was out, which was monumentally frustrating for her. So instead she would fuss or cry and mainly want to comfort nurse, which was fine with me. Today, though, she figured it out, getting her thumb in her mouth in just the right way so as to be comforting and not choke herself. Hearing her fussing this morning, but busy with something, it took me a few moments to get in to check on her. By the time I got there she was quiet, peacefully sucking on her thumb. Throughout the day she's continued to find it and soothe herself with it, sleeping longer than she normally would without it. She does eventually realize that the thumb is not as good as Mama and wakes up to eat, but she's definitely enjoying this new find.
Thumb-sucking concerns us a bit: What about getting too dependent on it? What about affecting her teeth or messing up her thumb in some way? Well, those are considerations down the line. But for now, it's a natural source of comfort. Maybe she'll be hooked on the thumb at 2 1/2 or 3, like her sister is hooked on the paci. We'll deal with that then. Right now, though, it's just cute.
Thumb-sucking concerns us a bit: What about getting too dependent on it? What about affecting her teeth or messing up her thumb in some way? Well, those are considerations down the line. But for now, it's a natural source of comfort. Maybe she'll be hooked on the thumb at 2 1/2 or 3, like her sister is hooked on the paci. We'll deal with that then. Right now, though, it's just cute.
Ani Sucking Her Thumb
January 26, 2010
11 Weeks, 3 Days
Friday, December 18, 2009
To Mother Nature, With Love
Dear Mother Nature,
This evening marks the beginning of one of the biggest snow storms this region has seen in several years, a snowstorm for "the record books" says one of the local weathermen. A gift of a white Christmas comes around only so often so I thank you for making the dreams of many come true this year. My daughter will undoubtedly enjoy the countless snowballs and snow angels she will make this weekend.
That said, I find the level of your generosity - a proposed 12-24 inches of snowfall - to be a bit alarming. While the landscape will no doubt be breathtakingly beautiful, the sheer volume of this could bring the city to a halt for days. Any other year this could be a good thing. Recently, though, we welcomed a new little lady to the family and have spent the last several weeks doting on her and her sister. As a result, I have gotten very behind on my Christmas shopping and a storm of this magnitude will seriously hamper any further progress and delay delivery of those gifts I have been able to squeeze in. In addition, my oldest daughter would very much like to visit Santa Claus this last weekend before the big day.
Aside from Christmas shopping, and even more importantly, I know of at least one friend who is very likely to be in labor this weekend and will need clear roads, warmth and electricity to deliver safely and healthily.
So, Madame Nature, I humbly request that you give a slightly smaller gift to this city so unused to large snowfalls and instead bestow the soft powder to those who need it most - the ski resorts. Thank you.
With warmest regards,
Megan
This evening marks the beginning of one of the biggest snow storms this region has seen in several years, a snowstorm for "the record books" says one of the local weathermen. A gift of a white Christmas comes around only so often so I thank you for making the dreams of many come true this year. My daughter will undoubtedly enjoy the countless snowballs and snow angels she will make this weekend.
That said, I find the level of your generosity - a proposed 12-24 inches of snowfall - to be a bit alarming. While the landscape will no doubt be breathtakingly beautiful, the sheer volume of this could bring the city to a halt for days. Any other year this could be a good thing. Recently, though, we welcomed a new little lady to the family and have spent the last several weeks doting on her and her sister. As a result, I have gotten very behind on my Christmas shopping and a storm of this magnitude will seriously hamper any further progress and delay delivery of those gifts I have been able to squeeze in. In addition, my oldest daughter would very much like to visit Santa Claus this last weekend before the big day.
Aside from Christmas shopping, and even more importantly, I know of at least one friend who is very likely to be in labor this weekend and will need clear roads, warmth and electricity to deliver safely and healthily.
So, Madame Nature, I humbly request that you give a slightly smaller gift to this city so unused to large snowfalls and instead bestow the soft powder to those who need it most - the ski resorts. Thank you.
With warmest regards,
Megan
Friday, November 27, 2009
Halloween 2009
Aria as a Witch
Hilloween 2009
Aria & a very pregnant Mommy
Hilloween 2009
Aria tries on Mommy's costume.
Aria & Grandpa John
(photo courtesy of Carolyn Cason)
Aria & my 39-week pregnant belly.
(photo courtesy of Carolyn Cason)
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Announcing Ani Kathryn Nelson!
Ani Kathryn Nelson
Born November 7, 2009 at 1:21am
8lbs, 4oz
21 1/4 inches
Proud Daddy holding Ani for the first time.
Mama & Ani a few hours after Ani's birth.
Aria & Ani
November 15, 2009
Sunday, October 18, 2009
37 1/2 Weeks
This is what I look like this week, at 37 1/2 weeks pregnant. However big I look, I guarantee you I feel bigger. I have very regular Braxton-Hicks contractions (sooo not "false" contractions, let me tell you), skin so itchy and raw that I can't sleep, and lots of pressure and soreness in places I won't mention or describe. I am a poster-child for the pregger waddle and move at a rate of speed not unlike that of a turtle, and that's when I'm booking it. God forbid I make the mistake of getting down on the floor; getting up again is a struggle of mammoth proportions. My hands are swollen, my feet are flat. I'm done. Aria's Itsy Bitsy Yoga instructor told me that the mark of readiness for labor is when 30hrs of it starts to sound good. Bring it on, I say. Let's get this party started. Whenever this little lady is ready to make her appearance, I'm happy to have her and the sooner, the better.
You Know You're Very Pregnant When...
Facebook friends will have read many of these already, but for those less technologically inclined, I thought I'd post here as well.
You know you're very pregnant when...
...your husband has to help you get your socks and shoes on b/c you can't reach your feet (bring back flip flop weather!).
...the maternity clothes start to get too small in the belly.
...the lady that makes your coffee and that you see at least a couple times a week and has your drink memorized says upon seeing you for the first time this week, "Wow, that baby is getting big."
...people at the local street festival stop in their tracks to say "You look like you were ready to pop yesterday!" and then you have to explain that you in fact have a few more weeks to go.
...people stop making eye contact, instead approaching you with eyes firmly affixed on your massive belly and the greeting, "Hi. Has your baby dropped yet?"
...you lose your pen, look everywhere around you knowing you just had it, then stand up and see it fall out from under your big baby belly. Beware: This same thing can happen with cell phones, small toys and towards the end, the occasional book.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Family Portraits
"Mommy" by Aria
Chalk on Chalkboard
"Aria & Mommy" by Aria
Chalk on Chalkboard
Note that the toddler's self-portrait
is larger than the portrait of Mommy.
Coincidence or is there a deeper meaning there?
"Daddy" by Aria
Chalk on Chalkboard
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Posing at the Park
Aria has never posed for a picture in her life...until now. Suddenly last Thursday everything changed. No longer was she too busy running and moving and jumping and spinning. She saw me with the camera, I asked her to stop and smile and...SHE STOPPED AND SMILED!!! I couldn't believe it. Just look at these beauties! Gorgeous pics of a beautiful girl and not at all blurry from the camera's inability to keep up with a zooming toddler. We were at the park and she was loving the motorcycle-bouncy-thingy, so proud she could make it move and shake and climb up it herself. She was happy to show off. Here are a few of her cheesiest, cheeriest moments:
I love that grin!
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