MinNie Dialogues

 Hey all!  

I am working on updating my blog.

I'm about three months behind if you haven't noticed.

Feeling horrible during pregnancy for months really

did me in, plus having a newborn has been a huge change.

Literally the only thing I do is nurse.

I'm not complaining, but, well...it's all I do.

But my goal is to update and catch up.

For now, an update on baby Minnie, also known as Nielson six:

she arrived safe and sound on January 21st, at 3:21 am

7 pounds 1 ounce, 19 inches, and is beautiful

 and amazing and fussy all at the same time.

Or maybe I forgot what newborns were like?

Or maybe I'm just old and tired.

Whatever it is, I can't wait to share more.

I only take 50,000 photos of her a day,

so buckle up, pretty soon this blog might sound more like

 the MinNie Dialogues.

St. Lucia 2025

This afternoon, Claire and Nate arrived!

They flew into Charlotte and then rented a car and drove home

to Stillestead in the pouring rain! 

(And with a bag of oranges from their backyard!)

Now we're all accounted for.  

Well, except Gigs, who is somewhere in Slovakia, enjoying 

his first Christmas away from home.

(He's doing so good!)

Everyone is settled and ready for lots of family, lots of food,

and lots of sitting around enjoying Christmas.

Tonight, we celebrated St. Lucia.

It's one of our family favorites.

This year was a first; we went out for dinner,

then came home, and had dessert around the table.  

It was super Hygge.

I told the family that I wasn't going to cook much this year.

It makes me feel nauseous, and my legs are starting to swell. 

This is obviously due to my pregnancy, but it's worsened by my burns. 

So, my plan for these last few weeks, 

as I approach the finish line, is to stay off my feet as much as possible.

But the evening was super magical and intimate.

I managed to make my famous liquid gold hot chocolate, 

which is super thick one practically needs a spoon to enjoy it, 

paired with Danishes from our favorite Scandinavian bakery in Chapel Hill.

Lottie was our St. Lucia this year.

A few years ago, I switched our battery-powered lights on Lucia's

garland crown to REAL CANDLES like they do in Sweden.

We sat around the table, with about 100 candles glowing all over the

kitchen and table while

 everyone shared how they felt God's light in their lives.

We sang "In the Bleak Midwinter" and then found and listened to

every single version known on Spotify.

(Kaskade has such a banger version)

I went to bed a happy Mama.

Picking Up Ollie

 This evening in the pouring rain, 

we picked up Ollie and his friend, Lyla, from the airport

then went to dinner to catch up.

Our favorite places to eat are grocery stores like Whole Foods

because everyone can pick what they want to eat, from pizza

to sushi.  It's a win-win for all!

Ollie hadn't seen me since September, when I dropped him off at school. 

so when he saw me, he touched my tummy and said to me, 

"Wow, Mom, you really ARE pregnant!"

I am much bigger than I was in September, that's for sure!

None of my Nies remembers me being pregnant before,

so this is a new experience for them. 

They all love to touch my tummy, and they want me to let them 

know when the baby girl kicks so they can feel her move. 

I just wish I weren't feeling sick.

This would all be so much more fun!

Hands Close

This morning, Christian and I drove from our hotel 

(where we celebrated our 25th anniversary) in Chapel Hill

 to the hospital, where we met up with Jane and Lottie

 for my 32-week ultrasound.

I was so happy they could be there for this one.

Baby girl was active and adorable.

The girls have never seen an ultrasound before, so this was extra magical

and I think in a way, it made it more real for them.

Today is the first day of Christmas break!

It's happening!  It's here!

W E L C O M E  C H R I S T M A S!

Besides baby girl measuring little with "short arms"???,

everything looks great, healthy, and strong.

In my belly today, she is estimated to weigh about 6 pounds.

I say 6 pounds is a fantastic weight, and she could come any day now.

Just kidding.  

I know she needs a little more "cooking time".

All of her ultrasound photos are of her with her hands close

to her face, which I find to be adorable.

I can tell she is going to be beautiful!

After we went to get lunch together, I threw up

Immediately after.

We went home, and I lay down while everyone else cleaned up and

prepared the last-minute touches for our holiday guests TOMORROW!

I am so excited and pray for the energy I need for the 

next few weeks while everyone is home.

My girls promise me they will do everything, and I know they will.

I feel so extra blessed and grateful.

25 Years

 Today, Christian and I share TWENTY FIVE years of marriage! 

We're spending the night in Chapel Hill.

This photo of us several years ago describes us perfectly.

We're still hanging on to each other and supporting each other

with love, patience, balance, laughter, and strength. 

Can't wait for the next 25!

Zero

 This morning, I got a notification from Barre3 about my class

progress.  I completed ZERO classes?!

Zero is exactly how I'm feeling these days.

I know I am growing a baby inside me, and patience is the name

of the game right now.  But it's also a little disappointing.

Gigs called, and we had a nice chat.

He's doing so great!

He sent this ADORABLE photo of himself on a mountainside

of his cozy, cold area somewhere in Slovakia.

I'm going to frame this photo.  

I think it describes him perfectly right now.

This afternoon, I went to the studio to check out the snowflakes

and make sure they are still hanging in there.

Unfortunately, the studio still smells like being pregnant and sick.

I long for the day when I can go to the studio and feel happy again.

Christian promises me it will happen.

Holiday Flannel

 This afternoon and into the evening, we got some last-minute 

jobs done around the house in preparation for our holiday guests!

I got all the beds, new holiday flannel sheets, and blankets.

Just a few more days and we'll all be together!

Jane and I have big dreams for this amazing bedroom upstairs.

Someday.

I need to have this baby first.

Crash

 I woke up this morning to a large crash.

My tree fell over.

Everyone was gone, and I was alone in the house and not to be 

dramatic or anything, but I was took weak to pick the tree up.

I called Christian in tears.  He said he'd come home

 and fix it and then take me to lunch.

Today is St. Lucia Day, but we will celebrate it next week 

when Oliver and Claire are in town. That's a relief, because today 

I don't feel the light, joy, and love that St. Lucia is known for; 

I feel quite the opposite. However, I did manage to 

line up all the Christmas books on the stairs. It's really exciting to

 think that next Christmas I will have a little baby to read them to!

Celebrating St. Lucia later

Christmas Trees

Today, Christian was my hero. 

Before leaving work, he made a fire in the living room, 

made me a bed on the couch with oatmeal for breakfast

 and my water (that I really struggle to drink),

where I lay rather uncomfortably until around noon, when

I got myself in a tub.

Honestly, even tubs are hard to take.

There really is no situation where I feel normal.

It's all hard.

It snowed again, dusting the ground outside.

That made everything cozy.

Before Christian came home, he called me and asked if there 

was anything he could pick up. I said, "Christmas trees."  

So, like the best husband, he visited three different places to 

find our perfect trees. I mean, Christmas was already halfway over,

 but the thought of wandering around a tree lot while

 feeling nauseous sounded awful. Plus, it was really cold outside. 

So he went alone.  

A first in our marriage.

He video called me from each tree stand, and at the first two places, 

they didn’t have any trees that I liked. 

The trees either lacked personality or were groomed too perfectly.

 The third place was the winner! 

As it was getting dark, his truck pulled in with two big

 butterball trees in the back. 

He jumped out of the truck with a huge smile; he reminded me of Santa.

This year, I just used tinsel garland to decorate the tree.

Easy and simple.

The one upstairs is still on our porch.

I was cooked after decorating the first tree.

That one will have to wait until tomorrow.

Or who knows when.

Before going to bed, I checked the weather.

More SNOW!

Three Things Today

 Here is what my life looks like today:
1. Kitty snuggled up to Christian with a huge tub of Red Vines.  

I like those, if only to put them under my nose to use them as a nausea diversion.   

Once baby is here, Kitty and Angus will live outside in our 

screened-in porch. 

2. A little dusting of snow this afternoon.  It was so magical. 
 I lay in bed giddy (as giddy as I can these days).

  

3. Lottie doing homework like a good girl.  
I think homework is easier with a festive house.

No Reason At All

 Tonight we attended a Christmas concert- well, I didn't.

I'm pretty much zero fun these days. I guess I should say Christian attended

 a Christmas concert with his red-headed beauties.  

I stayed home, barfed, and watched White Christmas.  

It's not as fun watching it being so sick.  

I am so ready for this to be over.  

I am also trying so hard to be happy and grateful for a

 relatively healthy pregnancy, because how amazing is it 

that I am carrying another beautiful NIE due in a month's time!?

I am so excited for Ollie, Claire, and Nate to come out!

A few days ago, Ollie informed us that he is bringing a friend with him.

She'll stay for a couple of days before Christmas.

I hope Ollie told her that I was pregnant and sick and therefore,

kinda grouchy.

I hope he warned her that I may throw up at any given 

whiff, time of day, or for no reason at all.

2025 Alternative Christmas Card

 

Remember when I got our family Christmas cards?

Well, I still haven't sent them out.

I'm thinking of replacing them with this 

homemade job:

This is really how I feel.

Meanwhile, Kitty doesn't know it yet, but once the baby comes,

she will live full-time outside with Angus.

No pet fur for baby, thankyouverymuch.

Hi Gigs!

Today, almost everyone (except for Lod, who was at school) 

was on the call with Gigs.

I was at home

Christian was at the office

Jane at the studio

Oliver in Idaho at school

Claire in Arizona.

It was so fun to catch up, like old times.

The first thing the Nies ask is to see my 

growing baby bump.

It's getting bigger every day, and I love showing them 

our progress.  Everyone is SO EXCITED to meet baby six!

Pretty soon we will ALL BE TOGETHER for the holidays!!

Gigs is doing awesome.

Highlights this week were meeting and inviting five new friends

to church, getting a new coat with real fur around the hood

at the local thrift store, and getting his haircut.

 

Also, THIS!

Gotta love this!

 

Was That Even Me?

 I can't explain how horrible I feel.  

And I keep thinking about how AMAZING 

I am because I did this FIVE OTHER TIMES BEFORE, 

but somehow, I totally forgot, and now I'm in awe of myself

 because back then, I had little kids I had to take care of

 on top of feeling like crap every day.

How did I do it?

Seriously, HOW?

Was that even me?

Exhibit A:

This is a picture of me in 2006, living in Arizona

 weeks away from delivering Nicholas.

Look!  I have groceries in my hands, I was being productive, and

responsible AND I had three SMALL children to take care of.

Was that even me?

Exhibit B:

This is a picture of me in 2004, pregnant with Oliver.

Look!  I am smiling!

Not a lot of smiles around here recently, and

it's a miracle if I shower, get dressed, and feed myself every day. 

Was that even me?

I am so thankful for my family here who are soooo good to me.  

They feed me, clean up, take me for rides, show me funny memes & pictures, 

(like the one of Kitty), and they never get sick of me crying

 and/or throwing up at all times of the day and night.

Today, I lay on the floor upstairs while directing the girls with

instructions while they put fresh cozy flannel bedding on the beds

upstairs for our holiday guests.

Wouldn't You?

 I met Christian this afternoon at the studio to 

hang up the other half of the paper snowflakes I made yesterday.

I also hung up the fresh green wreaths on the studio front.

It looks amazing.

When I say "I," I mean Christian.  

I basically just sit there and direct.

 If I didn't know what Barre3 was, but saw the studio,

I'd be intrigued and come inside and check it out,

wouldn't you?

I hope so.

Alert: 20 more days until Christmas.

I'm dead.