Cloth Diapering!

When Nicole was pregnant, she looked into cloth diapering. Honestly, I was scared. I was didn't quite know how it would turn out. However, it has been great! The diapers were a little more soggy than the disposable ones, but the more you use them the more absorbant they get. With the right cover (we use Thirsties) we have had NO problems with leaks or blowouts! We like them a ton better than disposables, and they are better for the landfills. He looks way cute in his cloth diapers, too! So, if you are thinking about going cloth, do it. Nicole can help.

The finished living room

It's actually been finished for a month. Oh my, it looks 1,000 times better than it used to. You really had to have seen the living room before to appreciate it. Nicole didn't want to post this picture because the room is all messy. When we get a picture of the living room when it is clean, I'll put a different picture up.

Waiting For Malaki

Nicole's due date was May 23. We know that a due date is actually just a guess of about when the baby will be born, and very unlikely that that would be his birthday. But, none the less, we became quite excited and restless as that day approached.

May 23 was a Saturday. The Saturday before that, Nicole had been very content and patient. People would always ask her if she was ready to pop, and she would say, "no, I can wait tell he is ready. I am enjoying being pregnant." The next day, Sunday, Nicole, Kennedy, and Scott went to the park to get organized for the birth. We put together a hypnobirthing folder worked on Nicole's "special place." A special place is a hypnobirthing tactic to have the mother think about and visualize a special place during labor to help them relax. Nicole's special place is the park. The park that day was so beautiful. We had a great time as a family. Scott tried to find a bird that had the most beautiful song. We think it is a little gray bird with a red head. Kennedy played in the sand and on the swings. Kennedy loved the park. Scott baked chicken and made mashed potatos to eat while there. It was just a great day at the park. It was a start to a wonderful week out in nature as a family. After the trip to the park, Nicole decided, "Ok, I'm ready for Malaki to come."

On Wednesday, we payed a visit to the midwife for a check up. Nicole was really swollen. Her ankles had completely disappeared. Her toes even had fat rolls on them. Nicole had also been having lots of braxton hicks contractions. The midwife was very pleased with Nicole and thought the baby would be coming very soon. She then did a check up only to discover that Nicole was dialated to a 3, almost 4. Honey, our midwife, told us she would be surprised if Nicole made it through the week without having the baby. We were very excited. We thought for sure Malaki would come during the weekend.

Nicole continued to go to work through out the week. On Thursday, during the Youth City celebration Nicole began to have regular contractions and was certain she was going into labor. After she got home, at about 9, the contractions went away. Nicole is very proud about the fact that during the contractions at the end of the Youth City celebration the kids had a dodge ball game. Kids vs. Parents. Nicole of course played for the kids team, and did awesome. She stayed in for a long time and got several of the parents out, and ultimately helped the kids gain victory!

About this time, Kennedy began to become very excited. Scott and Nicole were thrilled that she was so interested. Up until that time, Kennedy kind of seemed a bit nervous, and at other times apathetic. Kennedy did not want to leave Nicole or Scott's side. It was as if she thought that the second she left, the baby might come.

Nicole woke up Saturday morning, the 23(her due date), more swollen then ever, and puked. Nicole felt very different. Even her face was swollen. She was continuing to have braxton hicks contractions every 6 minuets. She was certain that today was going to be the day. While she was shopping at Toys'R'us she thought she was in labor. Because Scott figured that this would be the last Saturday before Malaki came, Scott took Kennedy up to Neffs Canyon in the late afternoon for some good time together. Just the two of them. Neffs Canyon was absolutly beautiful and Scott and Kennedy had some great bonding time. On the way home from Neffs Canyon, Scott and Kennedy stopped at Little World Chinese Food and picked up some fried rice and picked up Nicole to go to the park. Kennedy wanted to know when ever Nicole had a contraction. She kept asking how long her contraction was, and how long it had been since the last one. Scott and Kennedy laughed and played on the swings while Nicole enjoyed her fried rice. We all had a great time at the park

After the park we decided to go for a walk to help the contractions continue. Kennedy was very excited to go for a walk. She was willing to do anything to help Malaki come. She kept asking about the contractions. "Tell me when you have another one. What time is it? How long has it been since the last one?" She was just glowing she was so excited. The braxton hicks contractions continued to be about 5 minuets apart. Nicole was unsure of what a labor contraction would feel like, but she had never had one so she thought that the braxton hicks might be real contractions, and they might get stronger and come closer together. As we walked, we ran into neighbors who seemed to certain that we were going to have the baby tonight.

After the walk we put Kennedy to bed. Kennedy would only go to bed on the condition that if the contractions got to be 4 minuets apart, that we would wake her up and let her know. Before Nicole and Scott went to bed, they packed everything and got all ready to go to the Birth Center thinking that they would be heading in that night.

Nicole woke up at 7 am on Sunday. No contractions. No baby. Kennedy was a bit frustrated. Scott and Nicole were surprised, but Nicole knew that Malaki would come when he was ready. Scott was kind of glad that the baby didn't come on Saturday, because Sunday, the 24 was Grandma Barbra's 90th birthday. He thought that it would be really neat.

After church, Kennedy went to her moms to watch a movie, and Nicole and Scott thought they would go out to nature again and enjoy some time together. Scott decieded to return to Neffs Canyon. It was gourgous again. We hiked around a bit. Took some pictures and found a nice place to relax in the woods. Eventually a thunderstorm chased us back home. Later on Sunday, we sat down to dinner. Nicole decided to eat dinner while rocking on the birth ball. The contractions had started back up. Kennedy was so excited now that she had gotten out pencil and graph paper so she could graph the contractions. With Dads help she graphed the contractions for almost 2 hours. She ran to Nicole and said, "according to this graph you are going to have the baby tonight!" We told her he might not come today, but Kennedy had confidence he was coming. We had a really hard time getting her to bed again. We finally got her to go to bed telling her that she needed to be well rested for the birth and that we would wake her up if we were going to head in to the birth and family center.

Monday came, and no baby, and again, the contractions had gone away during the night. Ok. We were going to get serious about having this baby. We knew that he would come when he was ready, but we decided it wouldn't hurt if we helped a bit. So we (Scott, Nicole, and Kennedy) decided to climb Ensign Peak. Nicole was dialated to a four and having regular contractions (braxton hicks) and we decided to climb a mountain. Ok, it's more of a hill, but still, it was great. We started our hiked close to sundown and it was absolutly beautiful. Kennedy had never been before up there before. Both Nicole and Kennedy did really great climbing. We got to the top just as the sun was setting over the lake. We took some pictures of us at the bottom after the hike.

WOULD YOU WELCOME: One of the Greatest New baby boys, MALAKI SCOTT OLSEN

Malaki Scott Olsen!
Born: Thursday May 28, 2009; 9:37 am
Joining Scott, Nicole and Kennedy Olsen as the newest member of the family!
Momma and Malaki are doing fabulous and wonderful, as are Daddy and sister Kennedy!
Life is sweet; expect details very soon, when Scott and Nicole have 2 minutes to update the blog! Meanwhile....enjoy the pictures!

a regular day here on the farm...

Scott thinks hes a pirate, and sequehenna thinks she is a parrot.

Kennedy loves to get her picture taken.

CFI assignment #3

Question

You have a brand new private pilot. On your very first lesson with them you do a "expectations" talk so they know what you expect them to do and what they can expect you to do. What items would you cover?

Answer

We learned in fundamentals of instructing that one of the principles of learning is readiness. Readiness implies a degree of single-mindedness and eagerness. Outside factors, such as schedule, finances, or outside responsibilities can quickly deteriorate a students ability to learn. It is my responsibility as the instructor to get the student ready to learn.

Expectations I would have for the student:

I would discuss with the amount of time, money and effort that is needed to become a pilot. Learning to fly is an investment. Like any investment, you can't get a good return unless you give towards the investment. With flying, it takes money, time, and hard work. But like an investment, can be well worth the sacrifice. However, if you are if you only invest the money, and not the time and hard work, you are probably better off not flying as flying will be difficult and expensive if you are not fully applying yourself to becoming a pilot.

I would expect my student to be willing to study on there own. I would expect them to read assignments and do research. I would expect them to show up for lessons prepared and ready to learn. I would expect the student to fly at least 2 a week, weather permitting. 3 or 4 times is more optimal. I would expect the student to be open and willing to learn. I would expect the student to be excited to learn to fly as well. I would expect the student to be on time and cancel lessons only when necessary. I would also expect the student to have the financial capabilities to meet their goals.

The student can expect me as an instructor to be professonal. I would be expected to be on time and be prepared for each lesson and only cancel lessons when absolutly neseccary. I could be expected to guide the student by suggesting study assignments, answering questions, and guiding the students learning procsess. I could be expected to take my students seriously and understand that they are investing alot to have me teach them. I will not take advantage of the student and "use" them for flight time. My primary goal will be to help them accomplish there goals. I could also be expected to be honest and follow the laws and regulations.

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