It's a White Christmas

It is certainly a white Christmas! This is a picture of our deck several days ago after a heavy snow storm. There are toys under there somewhere! We decided to get bundled up and venture outside. Here is our little snow bunny Nathan all ready to go. Below you can see our street.
It was quite an adventure. Behind the buried car (pictured below) you can see a main road near our house. It has not been easy to get out to do simple things like shopping. Portland is just not prepared for 17 inches of snow! Someone built an igloo out of snow and the boys had a blast exploring and playing in it.


















On Christmas eve I cooked all day and we had a delicious turkey dinner. Lukah was really tired and after a few bites got down to go wash his hands. Several minutes later we thought things were awfully quiet and we went to check on him, only to find him asleep on the bathroom floor!






























On Christmas morning the boys opened all of their presents. Lukah finally got his electric guitar and Zachary got his legos. Nathan also seemed to enjoy himself.































































We have been looking all over town for a sled and all of the stores have sold out. Christophe decided to make his own sled! After all of the gifts were opened and the boys had played a while we all piled into the car to go to a nearby school playground and sled, but our car got stuck despite chains and traction tires! Christophe ended up pulling the boys on the sled all the way to the playground. Because of Christophe's determination the boys got to really enjoy some sleding









When we came home to get warm by the fire and Christophe told us all the story of the real meaning of Christmas.

Nathan's room

While we have been snowed in, we have put our time to good use decorating Nathan's room. Here is a picture of him snoozing in his new room. I think he likes it!









We have done an airplane theme, perhaps someday he will be a pilot! With some redecorating, and the passage of time, Portland is beginning to feel a bit more like home.

More Snow!

Let it snow, Let it snow, Let it snow! This is our front yard a couple of days ago. The boys used most of the snow to make a snowman. Last night it snowed another 8 inches and our snowman is buried in snow again!





Yesterday Zachary and I had a snowball fight and made snow angels, all of which are totally covered with a new layer of snow this morning!




We took Nathan outside for a while, all bundled up and in his stroller. He seemed to be studying the snow and trying to figure out what was going on.


















Here are some pictures of our house this morning. As you can see Christophe is hard at work trying to remove the snow from our driveway, Not that we are going anywhere, chains are required to go anywhere, traction tires are not even enough! The forecast predicts that the snow will continue until Christmas, so it may be a white Christmas! This is very exciting for a California girl like me!

Nathan's Birth

The night before going to the hospital to have our third child, my family came. It was very special because my sister, Deborah, is also having a baby. She is due the day after Christmas.









The boys were very excited about "their baby." Zachary had prayed for a new brother or sister. Lukah was requesting a brother and Zachary wanted a sister (He was also hoping for twins!). So we went to the hospital not knowing who would get what they wanted.








It's a boy! We went to the hospital for the planned C-section on Nov. 4th, election day! Christophe and Deborah got to come into the operating room with me. We named our new little boy NATHAN HENRY NUSSBAUMER. He was 7 pounds 7 ounces and so sweet. He got to stay in the operating room with me. Our lives are certainly going to be busy with three boys!



The proud papa looks at his new son and then brings him to me. He looks beautiful!








Later in recovery we get a chance to get a better look at him. Amazingly, at this stage, he looks exactly like his older brother Zachary!























The rest of the family is anxious to see the newest addition to the family. The boys were really excited to see their new brother, although, they were concerned about mommie's ouchie. Lukah in particular had a difficult time understanding why everybody had to stay at the hospital. He was well taken care of by Grandma, Grandpa and Tata Debbie at our house but told them "I miss my family." They also really enjoyed spending time with their cousin Alyssa, Deborah's first child. Since Deborah is expecting another girl, it seems as though she will have all of the girls and I will have all of the boys!

Nathan had jaundice in the hospital and had to have light therapy. He seemed to enjoy the warmth of the lights. We joked that he looked like he was getting his first Hollywood tan.


Home at last! We took Nathan home after 4 days in the hospital. Zachary and Lukah were so excited to welcome him home. They took turns holding him.















Zachary in particular has been a "natural" at being a big brother. He talks and sings to the baby and he has been very helpful by going to get clean diapers and even helping take Lukah to the bathroom when I am breastfeeding.















Our little guys first bath at home. He really seems to enjoy bathtime, which is good because he is our first baby that spits up! Zachary always lets us know when Nathan needs another bath.









































All three boys are really enjoying getting to know each other. It is our hope that they will always be close to each other and take care of each other throughout their lives.

December 2008

I cannot believe that it has already been six weeks since Nathan was born. Christophe and I decided that since we are so far away from all of our family, it was time to find a way to stay in touch as much as possible. That is why we are creating this blog. Nathan has been smiling and cooing for the last few weeks and here is my attempt to catch it on video!



It is a beautiful sunny day in December here in Portland with about 5 inches of snow on the ground. This is the boys and my first experience with living in the snow, it is a lot of fun! However, we have been totally stranded at home because of the road conditions. The pictures below are from last Sunday when it snowed all day. It was magical to sit inside and sip tea while watching all of the snow fall outside. The boys made snow angels and used a garbage can lid as a makeshift sled in our yard. Nathan stayed inside where it was nice and cozy. I attempted to bake Bredele, traditional Alsacian cookies, but did not have much success. School has been cancelled so the boys have plenty of time to enjoy the snow and the forecast predicts more snow to follow!












It certainly feels like Christmas! We have decorated our Christmas tree and by some miracle were able to get a Christmas photo of the family. The boys and I also made a Gingerbread house together.