Friday, November 28, 2014

Thanksgiving: Grateful for Family

This week has been full of blessings for us to reflect on during this thanksgiving holiday.
The greatest of which being family.  Our little Ivan Alan is now coming up on 2 weeks old, and we already cannot imagine our family without him.  Also, Grandma and Grandpa Christensen have been here to visit and help out after baby came for about a week and a half.  We were very fortunate to have them here for Thanksgiving dinner.  This was our first major family centered holiday outside of Utah, and it was wonderful to still be able celebrate with family.
Other blessings on our "Thankful Tree" include (in no particular order):
Jesus, our ward here in Albany, soccer balls (Ellie: "because they give you strength and energy"), chairs (Chris), bacon, birds, nature, nursery, our home, drawing pictures, all our cousins, the swing set, Halloween, glasses...

Soooooo thankful for these beautiful kids!

Trying to squeeze in some updated family pics between rain storms

Grandpa!!!
Having fun with Grandma and Grandpa

Grandma!!!

The moment Ivan came home for the first time Ellie wanted to read him stories

First thanksgiving dinner hosted at our house

Ready for turkey!!!

Our "Thankful Tree"
(Ellie is saying gobble gobble)

Monday, November 17, 2014

Ivan Alan Winter

Today our little Ivan Alan Winter finally came out to play!
He was born at 1:35 PM, after induction and a brief labor (~4.5 hours total from start of meds to baby).  He is 7 lb 1.5 oz and 21 inches tall.
He is named after my (Brad's) great-grandfather (my mother's dad's dad) Ivan, and my father Alan.
Teri is doing just fine.  She did not use pain medications again, and I am so impressed.  She is recovering very nicely.
I feel like I am the most blessed man on earth today.  Although we are far from most of our families, we have felt their support and prayers with us.  And we have so many people here in our new home in Oregon who love and care about us.  A special thanks to the Blunk family for helping watch Ellie and Chris while we have been at the hospital.
I thank my heavenly father for all that I and my family have been given!  Now on to the photos! (the only real reason you are reading this post)

My Beautiful Family

They love their new brother

This is the last night as a family of 4

Required naked pic!

Cute yawn

Cute boy

First bath

They love their new brother so much.