My awesome friend Carrie (the one who did my fabulous maternity pics) was also kind enough to head out to our place and do Emerson's newborn pictures! And of course, they turned out amazing!!! I cannot stop looking at them they are so precious! Thank you so much Carrie...I love them! Check them out here (and check out her other work too because she is so good and so fun to work with!)
Yes, it is official, we are no longer two men and a lady...we have reached gender equality now in our family! As Christopher posted, Emerson Marie Selin arrived on Monday, July 6th at 4:20pm. She weighed 5 pounds 15 ounces and is 19 inches long. We went into the hospital around 11am to get induced. Doctor Johnson wanted to get things rolling right away since I got in a little later than anticipated so by 11:30am I was hooked up to pitocin and had my water broken to get things rolling. After that things were going well, I felt pretty good and was able to breath through my contractions and be fine. I decided around 3pm that the contractions were picking up and that I should probably go ahead and get my epidural. At that time I was dilated to a 5. I got up to go to the bathroom and as I did the anesthesiologist came in, so he said he would be right back and went to check on another patient. Well all of a sudden bam! my contractions came hard and fast and I felt a ton of pressure and the urge to start pushing. It was not fun at all and I told the nurse he needed to come in now and give me my epidural. She kept telling me to breath and not push and while she was doing that she was setting up stuff to deliver the baby. When the anesthesiologist was done she checked me and I was fully dilated and ready to go...so in other words I went from a 5 to a 10 in 20 minutes flat and I was at a 10 before I got my epidural. The nurse told me I did all my laboring natural and I could of done it all but I told her no way...it was intense! Major respect to you ladies out there who go completely natural, you are strong tough women! Anyways, the doctor came in and I pushed about 20 minutes and she was here. She came out nice and feisty with a good set of lungs that's for sure. She is healthy and doing well and I am feeling pretty good too. Dawson is very cute with her, always wanting to be right by her, give her his toys, and touch and kiss her. He definitely is getting used to sharing attention now, here and there he has tested us a bit but for the most part has been a big help. I have for sure felt overwhelmed at times and I have no clue how I am going to function when Christopher goes back to work and my family goes home, but I try not to think about it too much now and take it day by day. It is going to be hard at first for sure. I just keep reminding myself that everyone says each day gets easier and after the first couple of months things are flowing. Just don't judge if you come over and my house is a mess and I am not showered :) Anyways, we are enjoying our time right now as a family and trying to relax and rest and bond with our new little gal!
Hey blogger world this is Chris posting my very first blog. I am excited to announce that Emerson Marie Selin arrived yesterday at 4:20 in the afternoon. She was born 5 lbs 15 oz and 19 inches long with quite the set of lungs and good and healthy. She is the most adorable thing I have ever laid my eyes on! Sarah is also doing extremely well too. Dawson came to the hospital to visit and totally adores her! We feel so blessed that everything has gone so well and to have Emerson as part of our little family! I am going to try to post some pictures but I am using my phone so I may not be able to post any pictures until we get home from the hospital.
Here is a quick recap of the things we have been up to and will be doing this week! We have been squeezing in some fun activities with Dawson before the babe comes and we have had so much fun. We obviously hope to continue the fun after she is born but I know things will be crazy for a little while there so I am trying to enjoy everything we can do with the ease of one 2-year old in tow right now!
1. Yard Issues! When we turned on our sprinklers this year we were greeted with a lovely leak from our stop and waste. The only way to figure out what was wrong and fix it? Dig down 6 feet...joy. Thanks to some family and friends Christopher got down there, figured out what was wrong (an eroded part,) and fixed it. He decided to leave it for a couple of days before he buried it to make sure it was fixed and not still leaking, so of course that's when the non-stop rain hit and saturated the hole. Due to all the rain, the hole started to collapse in so Christopher decided to gamble it and bury it so our flower bed wouldn't collapse in. End result? IT'S FIXED! Thankfully it works and he didn't have to dig it up again. Phew.
2. Temple! Christopher and I both got the opportunity to volunteer at the Oquirrh Mountain Temple open house. Christopher was a parking attendant and got to direct people which way to go; and I was in historic records, where I basically collected numbers, information, and data and had to record it for the church. We both had a lot of fun and enjoyed the opportunity to serve. PS We also went to the open house with Dawson and it is beautiful! I love the chandeliers and marbling in it! 
3. Taylorsville Dayzz! Last Saturday we went to Taylorsville Dayzz with the Olsen's, Olsen's, Jesperson's, and some of their friends. We have being going with them for the last few years and I have grown to love and look forward to this tradition! We all bring blankets, chairs, and food and set up a big old picnic in the field where we can listen to the fabulous Neil Diamond impersonator and play football and what not. (Ok, so the boys play football while the girls chat!) This year they had some sky divers too which was a neat treat to watch. The night ended with their awesome fireworks show...one of the best ones around I would have to say!
4. Rodeo! Last night Christopher and I took Dawson to the West Jordan Rodeo. The kid loves cows and horses so he ate up every last minute of it. He loved the fast horses, the cowboys falling, and the baby cows that got roped up. He is still talking about it today. Throw in some kettle corn and the three of us had a fun filled night even though my back was done after sitting in bleachers for 2 1/2 hours!
Coming Up Next: Tomorrow we are going to go to the parade, followed by some swimming; then we will be off to the Olsen's annual 4th of July BBQ for food, fun, games, and fireworks. Then Monday I get induced! Yay! We are so excited to meet our little girl! I had my last doctor's appointment yesterday. I am dilated to a 2 and 70% effaced. The baby's room is ready to go as well as the gear, the house is clean, I have a few meals frozen, and we are ready to go. I'm so glad I got it done so we can enjoy this 4th of July weekend as a family of 3 before we become a family of 4! We are so excited!!
The other day when I went to put Dawson on the potty he sat there concentrating and pushing, trying to go pee. This time, when he started to go pee he looks up at me and gets this big grin on his face and pronounces to me "It works, Mom!" I couldn't help but bust up laughing and say, yep it works! Got to love the way kids think!
Potty Training Update: As long as we put him on the potty every hour he pretty much stays dry all day. BUT if we don't initiate it he won't tell us he has to go so I am just WAITING for him to just have it click in his head to recognize the urge to go...it would make things so so much easier!!
Maybe it should be called Tasty Wednesday because lately it seems like I am better at posting recipes on Wednesday instead of Tuesday. Tasty Wednesday just doesn't flow as well though, does it? Oh well! Anyways, I got this recipe from my friend Summer, made it last night, LOVED it, and I am now sharing it with all of you! Yum, I love Mexican food! PS Since I love good food cooked the easiest way possible, I actually threw everything in the crockpot, cooked it on low for 8 hours, shredded it, and threw it all back into the pot. I think it turned out great and was super easy that way (I'm a crockpot girl, what can I say!) My friend Summer has had it both ways and thinks it's good either way too. You decide how you want to do it!
PORK CARNITAS
1 T packed brown sugar
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp dried oregano leaves
1 T beef base
1 tsp salt
Freshly ground pepper
4 lbs pork loin roast
1/2 C water
Juice of 1 fresh orange
Juice of 1 fresh lime
2 T soy sauce
2 T chopped fresh cilantro, or 1 T dried
1. In small bowl combine the brown sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, beef base, salt and pepper. Set aside.
2. Brown pork roast on all sides in large cooking pot over medium heat.
3. Reduce heat and evenly coat the roast on all sides with spice mixture.
4. Add the water, orange juice, lime juice, soy sauce, and cilantro. Heat to boiling; reduce heat; cover and simmer over low heat for 3.5 - 4 hours or until roast is so tender it falls apart. (can also be put in oven at about 275 degrees).
5. Discard any fat and shred roast with fork, allowing meat to absorb any juices left in pan.
Serve on tortilla shells, and top with pico de gallo (or salsa), onions, cilantro, lime wedges, cheese, guacamole, or whatever you like.
