The Weekend...

Chillin' in the baby pool

Hangin' in the Pack-N-Play

Friends!

Forever!

WOW

So it's been almost a year since I posted here. After Asher was born, I just felt a need to take a break from this blog, Facebook, etc. Now, after many months, I feel like it's time to reconnect with my online friends and real-life but far away friends!

Lots of changes in the past year. I shut down my design business to go back to teaching science, this time at a Christian school, which is so much different and such a blessing!

Eric is almost done with nursing school, and we're very proud of him for getting only A's the whole year.

Anna is a wild and crazy 3 year old, so we're constantly on our toes trying to figure out how to implement effective discipline with her! It's completely exhausting!

And Asher is my little love... jut a round ball of contentedness and sweetness! I LOVE this little guy and can't wait to see his personality unfold as he grows!

So all in all, it's been a crazy year. Coming home from the mission field a year ago was not easy, but the Lord is faithful to show me His purposes for all of it, and for that I am so grateful!

So stay tuned, I really am going to be a good girl this time and post often... with pics and stories of the craziness of our house!

Happy Birthday Eric!

Today is Eric's 28th birthday! We celebrated last night with his favorite dinner of tacos and a Funfetti cake. Here he is below doing the "snuggie" dance in his new Snuggie... that he requested! Happy Birthday Honey!

Our Little Ladybug

Anna had a great time dressing up as a ladybug and trekking around the neighborhood collecting candy (she loves sugar just like her mama!) And she wasted no time digging into her candy bucket! What a cutie!!!

It's Official!

Eric is in his third week of nursing school and is off to a great start! He leaves the house at 6:20am everyday and is gone all day. With a test (or two!) every single day, he's studying hard and so far has all A's! It's been a little nuts around here with a newborn and a new school schedule, but we're adjusting and just trying to have lots of grace with each other!

Anna and Asher

Check out the hair... this is Anna (left) and Asher (right) both at about 2 weeks old.

Crazy! ...And NO, I did not do anything to style the hair... this is al natural.

Asher David Tharaldson

was born on October 8th, 2009 at 6:31pm, weighing 7lbs 12oz, 19 inches long.

The Birth...
I felt my first contraction at 8:30 that morning, on my way to Kohl's for a last minute shopping trip (did you know I LOVE Kohls?) Anyways, my contractions came steady for the next several hours, and by lunch I was in pretty serious pain about every 5 minutes. I struggled for the next hour to pack a hospital bag and prepare things for a baby that I NEVER expected to come a week early considering Anna was so late.

By 3pm, we decided to head to the hospital, although I didn't feel that I could have progressed far as the pain was much less significant than I had with Anna. The nurses immediately checked and announced that I was 5 cm dilated, 80% effaced. I feared that receiving the epidural would halt my progress (as it did with Anna) so I continued to decline their offers to get the anesthesiologist. For two hours I stood next to the hospital bed, bracing myself against the table during each contraction. Around 5pm, 2 hours after checking in, I sent Eric off to go get some dinner and proceeded to lay down in the bed.

My wonderful Doctor came in at that point, and checked me... and announced, to my utter shock, that I was at 8cm, and she proceeded to break my water. At that point, the contractions were painful, but still manageable... not at all the horrendous, mind-blowing horror that I endured for hours with Anna. Once she had broken my water, however, the contractions became more intense, and I was told that it was still possible to receive the epidural (Praise the Lord!) I called Eric, who rushed back to the hospital, as well as my mom who was able to leave Anna with Poppy and come over for the birth. I received the epidural and about 40 minutes later was ready to push. I pushed literally twice or three times, and out he came!













The entire experience was vastly different than my first delivery, and for that I am very thankful. After 23 1/2 hours in the hospital (and a little pleading) we were released to go home.

This past week has been a blurr... the first few nights were long and hard. We've settled into a routine now, and nursing is going well and I'm actually getting some sleep! Eric began his first week of nursing school, so he has been sleeping in another room so that he can get plenty of rest... he's already had 3 tests the first week!!! (That's another post...)

Eric and I are so in love with our baby boy... and it is such a miraculous blessing that God has gifted us two beautiful, healthy children. I am enjoying each moment with this little guy, and he's already starting to grow and change- I wish I could freeze time!

All 6 Grandkids

37 Weeks

I'm big. I'm slow. I'm cranky. But it's almost over!
I'm on my way to the OB today... for my now-weekly appointment. They go something like this:

Doc: Lindsey, how are you feeling this week?

Me: Very pregnant. But fine.

Doc: Any contractions?

Me: Unfortunately, no.

Doc- takes a few quick measurements. Well, everything looks good!

Me: Great. See ya next week.

Yeah, super exciting appointments. But at least today I'm off to Walmart after to buy some goodies for my new little guy (ie, diapers, wipes, cream, etc.) And then it's back to work this afternoon!

Our New Bed!

The name of my biz, Sour Apple Studio, is a tribute NOT to apples... I actually don't care much for them... but in fact for the color! I've been obsessed with green for as long as I can remember, and it comes through in just about every way, but ESPECIALLY in my decorating preferences. This time, I think I truly found the most delectable, most delicious green color of all time and I just finished painting our new bedroom and we picked up our new bed (our splurge) this afternoon! It needs some accessories and wall decor, but we're off to a good start!

P.S. the color is Homestead Resort Moss from Valspar... yummy!

Are we the only ones...

who give names to our vacuums?

Our large shop vac is named Larry, and the small hand-held is named Larry Jr. Why? No idea. And the funny part is we don't even realize that it's odd to name your vacuum. Here's an example:

Setting: Anna drops a lightbulb which shatters and spreads tiny glass shards all over the entryway.

MOM: "Eric, Anna just broke the lightbulb! I'll grab her so she doesn't step on the glass, can you get Larry Junior to clean it up?"

ERIC: "Sure, be right back". Eric exits to the garage and then re-enters with the shop vac.

MOM: "No, not Larry... just get Larry Jr."

ERIC: "Oh yeah, just a sec." Eric returns the shop vac to the garage and grabs the hand-held from the closet. Then he proceeds to clean up the glass and return Larry Junior it's home.

Does this conversation strike anyone else as weird? Ha ha ha... I love my family.

ETC Cards... A FABULOUS Discovery!

Like probably most moms out there, I rarely splurge on something completely for myself. But when I lost my Bible and needed to buy a new one, I thought it would be so fun to find someone to make a custom quilted Bible cover for it! So I went to Etsy, did a search, and viola! I found ETC Cards!

<-- CHECK OUT MY AWESOME STUFF!

I contacted Stephanie for a custom Bible cover... I picked out my fabric (although she has tons of adorable fabrics to choose from including Amy Butler... love her...) and she was gracious enough to also make me this matching tote (How cute will I be at Bible Study!:) Stephanie has tons of adorable, hand-quilted/sewn items for sale at her store! I've posted some pics of other products below, and wanted to let you know that she is offering FREE SHIPPING to all you guys, if you mention Sour Apple Studio in your notes to seller! I also thought it would be fun to get to know Stephanie and her business a little better, so be sure to check out the interview at the bottom! Thank you girl for making my month!







INTERVIEW WITH STEPHANIE OF ETC CARDS!
1. Tell us about yourself!
I'm Stephanie, mother of a toddler, wife to a wonderful husband, nurse by education, Christian by grace, and creative - somehow! Our family recently relocated to Tampa from Raleigh to help a new church in Tampa.

2. Tell us about your products and how you got started!
My mother was quite the crafter and so I think it was kinda ingrained in me to have a knack for crafting. It wasn't until two years ago that I started selling my crafts to friends and family. Last summer, I stumbled upon etsy and oh, how I fell in love! I started off selling cards on Etsy (hence the shop name!), but after I got the hang of sewing, I started offering handmade Bible covers, journal covers, coloring wallets and TRUTHlets. I truly love sewing and have just recently started combining my love for both and started creating fabric cards.

3. What is your favorite part about ETC cards?
I love when others get excited about getting handmade things. Etsy offers such a personal experience and I've gotten to know many of my customers how have given me such great feedback. Knowing that my customers love their products fuels my passion for it even more. And I just love thinking about all my handmade cards making their way around the country and hopefully brightening someone's day!

Whose Kid Is This?

Certainly not mine!? Her Mommy NEVER acts like this!

Long Time No Post

Hello! Anyone still there? I don't blame you if you've abandoned this neglected little blog! I've been a big, fat, loser and haven't posted here for weeks and weeks! But I'm back and have LOTS to fill you in on!

Here's some of what's been going on these past 6 weeks: (In no particular order...)

-We Moved Into A New House with My Folks! YIKES!
-Eric's Mom Had Brain Surgery at UCLA Medical Center! Please Pray for Her!
-I Have a Big, Bulging Belly!
-Eric Enrolled in Nursing School!
-Erin (Eric's Sister) Had a Baby!
-We Got a Membership to the Zoo!
-We Still Have No Car!
-My Little Business is Crazy Busy!
-Eric's Doing LOTS of House Projects!
-We Now Live With FOUR Dogs!
-And finally, I am Sick of Being Pregnant!

I'll have lots of photos and updates coming soon... so thanks to you stragglers who have actually stuck around during my laziness.

Seriously...

I cannot stand the cuteness. Look at this kid!
Here she is playing with her birthday loot.

Happy Birthday Anna Grace!

Anna Grace, you are truly sunshine in our lives each day and we love you more than words could possibly express. It seems like only yesterday you were born and brought such joy to our hearts. It's been a blessing to watch you grow and learn and dance! Happy Birthday Baby!

Then... July 1, 2007

Now... 2 years old!