The Nestel Family
Sandy, UT
What is your favorite family tradition?
On Christmas Eve, we color brown paper bags to be our stockings. I love having the whole family sit together, drawing, listening to Christmas music, and lovingly poking fun at each other's art skills. It's fun to see what everyone comes up with, and to see the kids' creativity and abilities growing over the years.
Tell us about your favorite family story.
We had been talking about having a third baby in a year or two, but weren't quite ready. Then our four year old daughter looked at my tummy and said "Mommy, baby Paige is very tiny. She has to grow bigger before she can come out to see us."
So I took a pregnancy test, and sure enough we welcomed our littlest one nine months later! Our daughter was disappointed that the baby was another brother rather than a sister, but she's come around and adores him. And we chose Page for his middle name in honor of this story.
What is your family's motto?
One day at a time.
Share Your Parenting Wisdom
What's your number one tip for new parents?
Be kind to yourself. Figuring out being a parent is hard - you receive contradicting advice from so many different sources, and sometimes what everyone says is best just doesn't work for you or your baby. And then when you do find something that works, your baby grows and you have to start over again.
Know that there is no perfect way of parenting. All you can do is your best. So on those days when you don't manage to get dressed or do the dishes, your baby has cried most of the day, and you feel you are failing, remind yourself that you've kept a little person alive all day and that is not an easy feat. Give yourself a high five!
What has been the most surprising thing you've learned as a parent?
Kids learn so fast! We are constantly surprised by what one of our littles suddenly knows how to say or to do. We've learned to let them try things for themselves, even if it takes a little longer. Their proud expression when they manage something on their own is such a joy.
Tell us about your funniest parenting story (we all have them!)
That would be our rocket butt incident. It was my first time changing our first baby's diaper. I had her in the crib with her bum towards me, and I naively left her diaper-less for a moment while I grabbed a new diaper. Next thing I know, poop is rocketing from her at a rate and distance I didn't know was possible.There was poop everywhere - all over her, the crib, myself, and the carpet halfway across the room.
I started laughing hysterically because the other option was to sit in the poop and bawl my eyes out. Then baby had her first shower with me, my angelic husband cleaned up the room, and I became much more cautious and efficient at changing diapers.
You can find the Nestel Family on Instagram at @instamegn.