Cute Kids

Grandma Dee gave the grandkids these cute outfits for Christmas, and requested that she get a photo of all of them. So, we did. We (my sis-in-law and I) thought it would be absolute torture, but it actually wasn't too bad. Maybe, unfortunately, lost it shortly after these were taken, but at least for these first few photos, all the kids were cooperative. I took advantage of the moment and got Maren's 18 month photos taken.

Photos!

I went to a baby shower for my sister, Alicia. She is due a week after me, so we had to get a belly shot. Yes, I am short.

Photoless Update

Sorry family and friends, I haven't picked up my camera for several days now, but I wanted you all to know that we are still here. So, here's an update on the Johnsons:

The 'nesting' stage has officially begun. I moved a mattress into Ellie's room for Maren. She has yet to sleep on it, but we keep trying in hopes that she'll stay there one of these nights. She is really excited about it, and Ellie is certainly excited to share a room with her sister, but she just isn't ready to leave the crib yet. We plan on keeping the baby with us for several months, so it shouldn't be a problem.

Speaking of baby, I'm nearly 37 weeks. Can you believe it? I can't. It really has gone by so quickly. As of last Thursday, I was dilated to 1 cm. Only 9 more to go! I'm really hoping that I go into labor on my own this time around. With both girls, my water broke and then I needed to be induced. We'll see what happens.

Maren got a nasty case of croup over the weekend, poor baby. Saturday night I pretty much got no sleep as I listened to her labored breathing. She had a really difficult time sleeping too, of course. By Sunday afternoon nothing seemed to relieve her, so we took her to our pediatrician's office, which thankfully has an after-hours doctor. She got a steriod shot to open her airways, and was breathing again by that night. We all slept wonderfully. Thank heavens for modern medicine.

I took Ellie to her 4 year well child visit today, and as expected, she is a healthy girl. Just in case anyone is interested she is 35 lbs. (48%) and 40 in. tall (58%). She started out so tall and skinny - I knew those genes would catch up with her.

A Photo Shoot

I usually take my kids to get their portraits taken when a birthday rolls around, but this time, I decided to use my very amateur skills to save myself a little bit of money, and a whole lot of sanity... I think some of them came out alright.

Maren was not a willing photo subject (which made me grateful that we weren't in a studio).We appeased her with some cheerios.

Celebrations

Birthday celebrations for Ellie started on Monday evening at my family's monthly combined FHE. My brothers, sister, and parents were all there to shower birthday wishes (not to mention presents) on our big girl. I'm pretty sure Ellie had a fabulous birthday. It started out with her friend Elise coming over to play. These girls were so cute, all dressed in princess garb.

When we were asking Ellie what she wanted for her birthday dinner, she really wanted to go to McDonald's with Abbey and Elise, so that is just what we did, and a great time was had by all. We are so glad to have good friends who live so close.

We came back to the house for cake and ice cream. We were joined by Nick's family.

It was Grandpa's birthday too.

And then, the presents. Ellie opened this and was so excited to show me. I asked her what it was, and she said, "I don't know!"

Our princess Ellie.

Many thanks to our wonderful families who came to celebrate with us. We feel so blessed that our children are being raised with the influence of so many extended family members. So, thank you, thank you for spoiling our girls with presents, and most of all, love.

And as a funny Ellie aside... I took her to my doctor's appointment yesterday and when the doctor came in she said, with lots of gusto, "My mom is tired!" (hee hee) Yes, it is true, but my cute kids make it all worth it.

Happy Birthday Ellie

My Big Girl, Ellie,

You came into our home after 10 weeks of bedrest and 8 hours of labor. We were so excited to have you be a part of our family. That was four years ago (yesterday). Now you are a whirlwind of busyness. You are a happy girl, and add lots of joy to our family. We are proud of the little person you are becoming.

We love you, Sweet Pea.
Mom

What About the Boy?

So, about the boy. I am now 34 weeks pregnant, and I can't believe it. I figure I only have 4-7 weeks left before delivery. The time has gone by so quickly with this one, and it is now only starting to hit me that he'll be here before we know it. I kept saying to myself that I'd wait until after Christmas before I started getting prepared for our little guy, and now that time is here! And I am not prepared...sure I have a few cute outfits hanging in the closet,but that is as far as our preparation has gone. Really, seriously, I have postponed even thinking about it because I am a bit nervous about having a third child. Some days I can barely keep ahead of the two I've got! Of course I am excited to meet our baby boy, and I'm already in love with him, but I know how time has gone lately (way too fast!) and I don't know that I am mentally prepared to have another baby. Maren is still so much a baby herself, and I know that this will be a big adjustment for her and I. We will all survive though.

As for pregnancy and such, I really can't complain. Well, let me rephrase that... I CAN complain (I am pretty good in that department), but I shouldn't, because I've been feeling pretty good. I carry Maren around with me more than I should (this is great timing for her to get all clingy, right?) and that has caused some back pain, but other than that, I've been feeling great. I carry my babies all on the inside, I know that I don't look all that pregnant, but believe me, this baby fills all that space between ribs and hip (and he's still got growing to do!). He is quite low too, so that means quick labor, right? Okay, so maybe that is wishful thinking. I have been contracting for the last few weeks, so that is a pretty constant reminder that it's a comin'. We have been discussing names again, that kind of went to the back burner for quite awhile. We have a name picked for him, but still are not 100% sure. I don't know why it is so hard for us this time around. Maybe we'll just have to see him before it's permanent.

And, tomorrow, my baby girl turns 4. I can't believe it. Wasn't it just yesterday we were welcoming her into the world? Birthday celebrations start tonight so there'll be another post coming soon.