ski machine

So today I went out cross-country skiing for the second time this year. CC skiing used to be my number one sport in high school - I love to ski! Since the snow is so wonderful this year, I think I'm going to start training for the Mora Vasaloppet, a race I haven't skied since my sophomore year of college. I skied the 35K race every year starting in 7th grade. When the winters were brown instead of white, they held the race on Knife Lake and I just wasn't into that. I'm looking forward to it now! (and I have a good reason to get out and do some training).

I found this old picture from years past. It's always one of my goals to have frozen facial hair by the end of the race. There's also a link to the Vasaloppet homepage for any of you who are interested in signing up.


Link to Vasaloppet webpage

christmas with the carlsons

Well we had a great Christmas! It is wonderful to celebrate the birth of Christ and worship him as the one who came to save us from wrath. It's mind boggling when you think about it, he came to die, and to raise from the dead and thus secure for us an inheritance imperishable - how sweet and how free this grace! It IS the most wonderful time of the year.

Emily, Corban and I celebrated on the 23rd as we normally do. We had the special privilege of having Emily's mom here with us (she was still here helping us with Corban - what a blessing!) After we read from Luke and prayed, we exchanged some gifts and then spent the rest of the evening helping our son with his digestion issues - he had some major gas. Man, things sure change after having a child (both good and bad). By God's grace we will get a grasp on this!

As is the custom we traveled to my home town of Mora to celebrate with my family of origin. We had a wonderful time celebrating there. We went to church together and then came home for dinner and fellowship. My mom is such a gracious woman! She truly is an example of someone who gives selflessly and rejoices in the happiness of others. We also sad good by to my step brother Tim who left two days after Christmas for Denver. He's moving there to be near the girl he loves and to start a carpenter apprenticeship (taking after his older brother, even though he's already a better carpenter than I am).

On Christmas day we left Mora and came home for a while before going to my brother-in-law's for Christmas dinner. The Gamble side of the family is a bit larger and a lot more chaotic than the Carlson side. Five siblings, seven nieces and nephews, two grandparents, and Emily's parents - yeehaa! I'm bless God often for the wonderful family that I married into!

Here's a couple pictures for you to enjoy.

family nap time

How sweet is this?

snug as a bug in a rug

I don't know if I've ever been this cozy in my whole life!

christmas memories

The Lord gave me an organizational/cleaning grace today. I was going through the office organizing and getting rid of so much unnecessary junk. I did come across this gem however. Oh the memories of Christmas at the Carlson household. I think the picture needs no explanation - boys will be boys. (my four-wheeling coat is very similar to my high school wardrobe...)

first day home

Corban's first day home was a good one. Emily is feeling good. Renee said that the third day is often the hardest day for new moms because your body finally realizes what just happened, your milk comes in, and the tiredness catches up to you. Emily's milk has come in, but Corban is still getting used to thing called eating - hard work when your so small and only three days old.

It was very special to bring him into his room last night. He likes it obviously, he told us so. It is very nice to have him on the same floor of the house with us. I'm so thankful to the Lord that he provided for us to build the nursery.

Please continue to pray that Emily would heal up and be more comfortable. Pray also that she would be able to establish a schedule with Corban as far as feeding goes.

home

Well, by the grace of God we made it home with our baby. We don't take it for granted that some people don't go home with their children - we are thankful to God for his mercy to us.

Today is going much better than yesterday. We feel like we're getting at least a little better at understanding what Corban is trying to tell us. We know how to change him, feed him, and keep him warm. We also know how to pray for him. I think he's going to be alright.

Thank you for your prayers. Emily is feeling much better than yesterday, and my cold didn't seem to slow me down today.

Here's a few pics of the little guy.

monday morning

I thought I was on the up and up with this cold I had, but this morning I felt like...welll...horrible. I don't want sympathy, just prayer. I know Emily is the one who has been doing the hard work in the family these days. My main priority is to make sure Emily is taken care of. Last night she got some good blocks of sleep. We've been getting as much help as we can with breast feeding. Corban seems to be doing great.

Pray that my cold would subside, and that I wouldn't get Emily or Corban sick.

We're pretty certain that we will get sent home today. I think this will be good for us. Not that we don't appreciate all the help we've received at St. John's, but because we came in later in the day and didn't deliver until 10:00, I think we've slipped through the cracks in a lot of regards. Nurses keep asking, "Have you done this?" or "have you been told about this?" Our answer is always no. I think it will be good to be home.

We are so blessed. Our little guy is so cute and lovable (like most babies). We are growing as a family already, and I've already felt more of a urge to provide, protect and serve my family. Pray that this would always be the case.

Emily is feeling a lot less pain today, but she still needs to take it easy obviously. My wife is so bigtime!

I hope you're all well. Talk to you soon.

update

Emily and Corban are doing great! (Dad's doing fine too). You could pray that breast feeding continues to progress well. He's latching on and seeming to do a good job, but Emily is getting sore. Pray for her to persevere and that Corban would do what he is supposed to.

Emily is just finishing up a meal, and I'm about to go in and change a diaper and get him ready for his next feeding. We also have some other guests coming tonight. Thank you to all of you who have stopped by yesterday and today and celebrated with us.

Pray also that Emily would get adequate sleep tonight. She didn't rest very well last night, and we heard that the milk comes better when mom is well rested.

We're both very excited and very humbled. We feel very inadequate for this task, but we know the Lord will give us grace for this task. "And my God will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus."

Thanks everyone!

Corban Paton Carlson

Born last night at 10:01, weighing 8.18 lbs and 21 1/2 in. long, our son Corban Paton Carlson.


Thank you all so much for your prayers. Emily is recovering well, and all the check ups on both Emily and Corban come back perfect. Thank God for his mercy to us.

We would love for you to come and visit us. We will be here at St. John's Hospital until Tuesday morning. Please call me before you come so we know you're coming - 651.246.7359. The hospital is located right next to Maplewood Mall on Beam Ave.

Thank you again for praying for us.

The Carlson Family

Labor

So far we've been at the hospital since 12:30. Emily need pitosen to start the active labor process. One the pit kicked in, the contractions came on strong. Emily is such a trooper - she's doing really well. The pain did intensify however and she choose to have an epidural. Since the epidural, she has been able to rest a lot more, and the labor hasn't even really slowed down at all. She is currently at 9 cm! Pretty soon I would imagine we would start the pushing.

Both of our parents are here now and have given us some encouragement. Keep praying for us please. I'll update as soon as I can with what's going on, and hopefully some pictures.

a family phoon

When we were on our way to Grand Marais last fall, we stopped in Duluth for a stretch and a stroll down the break water. While on this outing, my friend Josh and his talented son sported this sweet phoon.

another divine night

I posted this song last Christmas, but thought that since it is so uplifting I needed to post it again. This is a recording of some poor soul singing O Holy Night. I think he must be a trained singer because he breaks all the singing rules so perfectly. There's no other way to describe this than "painful."

The first time I heard this, the brother that showed it to me said, "imagine yourself as the pastor of a church, and this song was the special music right before you had to come up and preach. What would you say?"

I don't know what I would say...probably go straight to prayer.

(you might want to grab a box of tissues if you're listening for the first time and if you're a musical person, it may just be too much for you...try to make it through)

Listen here

another site

I just created another sight where you can be kept up to speed with things concerning the baby. Look to the links section of the blog and you will see it listed as "philthecarl.mac"

Later!

the nursery project

Well, it's done - praise the Lord!

Here are some pic's of before, during, and after.

Enjoy!