Pictures

We got the kids' pictures done when Lawson was just over 5 weeks old. I think they turned out fantastic! I LOVE THEM!!! Jammie Hansen did them and she did such a good job. She captured everything I hoped she would. There were so many too choose from and I know I ordered way too many, but here are a few of my favorites.

Christmas and Randomness

We had the most amazing Christmas and were so blessed to have our little boy home with us. There is just something about having a newborn in your home during the Christmas season that truly brings the spirit of the season into your home.

My chubbers at 8 1/2 weeks

Will someone please tell me when she got so big?

So sweet

Mom singing on our new Karaoke machine.

Cambree and mom making moms birthday cake with Easy Bake, yeah it didnt turn out so good.

In the big bath

We had a great Christmas

Ben loves Looney Tunes, it is now one of Cambrees favorites.

She was so excited with everything she got. The Zhu Zhu pets were her favorite.

Cambree being white washed by her daddy. Believe me she kept asking him to do it. So strange.

So sweet, she loves her brother.

Hanging with mom while the power was out.

Trying to stay warm while the power was out.

Finally awake, this doesnt happen much yet.

Oh Daddy!

Lawson loves to eat his hands, I think it is so cute.

My little man.

I know I need to update with pics and Christmas and all that jazz but I have wanted to share a few things that happened while trying to get Lawson here. I wasn't able to share any of the leading up to process and want to share some amazing experiences that occurred during that time. What many people may not understand is that I have been trying to figure out how to get my son here for years. Ever since Cambree was born I had been questioning if Ben and I were supposed to have another baby and for years I felt that I was told that He would let me know when the time was right. Finally, in Feb. of 2008 I received personal revelation that I was going to have a son and that he was waiting for me to get ready. During that year and a half before I finally did figure it out I went through a lot of struggles and at one point was nearly without hope and to be without hope is to be without faith. I dont suggest anyone try to get to this point. It isnt pretty. But luckily, I have a loving Heavenly Father that knows me and knows what I need when I need it. At this particular time it was a conference talk that I didnt hear at conference but read when the Ensign came out. The talk was called The Infinite Power of Hope by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf. It renewed my sense of Hope. http://lds.org/ensign/2008/11/the-infinite-power-of-hope?lang=eng It talks about his mother nearly losing her children at a train station and how she was frantically searching for her children. I could feel his mothers angst as I too at that very moment was frantically searching for my child, trying to figure out how to bring him to this earth. Trying to make our family whole. He said, "Her faith overcame her fear and her hope overcame her despair." And I knew at that moment that I read this that I needed to be like this courageous woman. Quoting directly from my journal after reading this talk I wrote: I thought of all that I have been told about having a son waiting for me and that I have to do everything I can to find him, to be able to have him...As I think about this the same thoughts come to m mind, after you do all you can do he will make up the difference. At the time I didnt know that meant my sister in law having my son for me. As I look back at all that lead up to Lawson being here I can see the Lords hand every step of the way. I know that if we try our best, give our all and are worthy and willing He will truly show us the course we should take. My faith has grown 10 fold. I have learned to not doubt the answers I receive and to know that He speaks personally to me. I am so blessed and I am filled with Hope.

Our Christmas Card

Since this month has been crazy we will not be sending out Christmas cards this year. However, this is what I would have sent had I sent one:)

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

What a year the Pehrsons have had! We have been blessed beyond belief and have witnessed first hand the miracles that the Lord can do. This year our Christmas arrived a bit early. Lawson was born November 20th. It has indeed been a wonderful Christmas season. How wonderful to bring a baby into your home this time of year. It has helped us all contemplate the birth of our Savior a little deeper. Abby is an angel sent from above. I am still amazed that she would do this for our family. Ben- Ben has had a great year at work and continues to learn and grow with his job. We are so blessed to have him work so close to home for a great company that really takes care of their employees. He is such a proud little daddy and finally has the son he has always hoped for. He is such an amazing father and husband. He is definitely the fun parent:) Emilee- What a year it has been for me. I went in the hospital last February and miraculously have had one of the best years in a very long time. It has been 9 years since I was able to stay out of the hospital this long. We know that the Lord has blessed us tremendously and pray that I can stay out for a while longer since we have a newborn at home. I am so thrilled to have our boy here and in our home. He has been along time coming. In February of 2008 I knew we were supposed to have a baby and that is was going to be a boy. I have been doing everything I could think of to be able to get him here. It is amazing the plan the Lord has for us if we submit to His will. The peace I have knowing my family is all together at last is something that is unexplainable. Cambree- Cambree started first grade this year and has done really well. Waking up that early has been a challenge but I think we are finally getting the hang of it. She loves to read and is becoming such a good little reader. She is doing great in school and we are so proud of her. Cambree is so excited to have a little brother and so far has been an exceptional big sister. I was a little worried about the transition but she has really surprised us. Lawson- What a sweet little boy. He reminds me so much of Cambree with his expressions and mannerisms. Im excited to get to see his little personality come out, but Im thinking he is going to be a lot like his dad which is obviously a good thing. I'm pretty sure he loves the elephants in his room and is so happy about the football lamp his dad picked out for him. He told me that he would like bottles, diapers, and formula for Christmas so we will see how the big guy does with that. I am so grateful for this amazing Christmas season and the peace that can come with it. I pray that we can all have our hearts open with love and joy as we remember why we celebrate Christmas. I hope you all know of our gratitude and love for each of you for your love and support through our journey this year. We have certainly felt it. Merry Christmas! Love, Ben, Emilee, Cambree and Lawson

He's Here!

I cant believe that my beautiful baby boy is finally here! What an amazing experience we have all been through. I am so blessed beyond belief. I often wonder why me? Why am I so blessed, what did I do to deserve so much? I literally have had all my dreams and prayers come true and it is overwhelming and humbling. Words will never express the love and gratitude that I have for Abby for having enough faith to take this journey with me. I know I will never be worthy of all I have received but will live my life trying. Lawson was born on November 20, 2010 at 8:38 pm. He weighed 4lbs 10 oz and was 17 1/2inches long. He is such a sweet boy and looks so much like his sister did. I feel like I am having deja vu sometimes when I see him. He has been in the NICU for 2 weeks now. He was 7 weeks and 2 days early. I pray we will be able to bring him home soon and get a little bit of normalacy in our lives. What an amazing gift to bring home during this Christmas season.

Meeting his angel for the first time.

Cambree meeting her brother for the first time. Priceless...

Proud mommy!

Lawson was getting ready to sneeze. I think he looks like ET here:)

This pic is one of my favorites. Daddy finally got his boy.

So sweet! His first sponge bath. He was ticked.

Ironic

Definition: incongruity between what is expected to be and what actually is, or a situation or result showing such incongruity. Today was ironic. Why, you ask? Well seeing as how I planned a shower a few weeks ago for this exact day only to find that within 10 min. of the shower starting we get a call to come to the hospital Abby is in active labor. Yes, I find that ironic. The best part of it all was while on the way deciding to turn on the radio only to find Alanis' hit ironic blaring through the speakers. Oh yes, I see irony. I actually started laughing. I really do think God is a comedian sometimes. Im glad he has a sense of humor. It makes me happy to know he gets me:) So I am sitting in the hospital looking at my beautiful sister in law and wondering how we got to this point. My gratitude is beyond anything I can ever express. I cry every time I talk about it. This is an amazing experience and although I thought I knew what I was gettin into I dont hink there is anything that could have prepared me for this and what I would be feeling. I feel horrible knowing that she is going through this for me but beyond grateful that she would. The only thing I can compare it too is the Atonement. I know I will never fully understand either, but I pray that I will spend my life showing my love and gratitude through my actions. My cup runneth over.

Cornbellys and Halloween

This year we took Cambree to Cornbellys at Thanksgiving Point. It was a lot of fun. We had a great Halloween. Cornbellys had a few "scary" things you could walk through. Needless to say Cambree was horrified. Cambree and I trying to be scary. Just Ben and I being our goofy selves. Children of the corn

Me and my girl while getting lost.

Finally we made it! Victory it was.

We had such a fun time!

Cambree loves to get her face painted. I think it turned out pretty cute.

This year my brother Spencer and Ben went as Bert and Ernie. It was hilarious.

Cambree was a witch this year. Such a cute little witch.

The annual Ericksen family Halloween bash.

Carving our pumpkins. My brother is pleased:)

The finished project!

The kids and their craziness.

Halloween night I wore the Bert costume. We went to Bens aunt Kathi's and his uncle Kenny showed up in this bear costume. It was pretty funny.

Just before trick or treating. She had a blast not going to the trunk or teat this year. She loved it.