Happily Ever After

Welcome Baby Rylan!

2011-11-24T16:39:00.006-08:00

Rylan Robert-Archie Johnson

Born October 9, 2011 at 2:02 am
Weighing 4lbs 0.1oz, and 17 inches

I love a good surprise as much as the next person, but when baby Rylan arrived 8 weeks early it was both a good surprise and a scary surprise. It was hard for me to believe I was in labor at only 32 weeks. The contractions started while I was at work and by the time I reached home they had become uncomfortable and frequent. I tried soaking in a warm bath, convinced it was all in my head. However, the contractions only grew with intensity and soon were measuring 5 minutes apart.

Out of desperation I called the doctor on-call for guidance, not knowing what to do next. I was instructed to drink plenty of fluids and stay off my feet in an attempt to stop the contractions. Staying off your feet is not an easy task when your pregnant and drinking copious amounts of fluid. Needless to say, by midnight I was back on the phone with the doctor, having what were now painful, frequent contractions. I prayed the doctor would simply tell me to head to the hospital where they would magically stop my contractions. Instead I was told that babies are born all the time at 32 weeks. I'm pretty sure she was trying to reassure me... it didn't work.

I woke a groggy Ian, explaining the situation. He probably thought he was dreaming. In fact the whole rest of the night seemed like a dream. We called the babysitter to stay with Gavin and rushed to the hospital. We were checked in at the ER and taken upstairs to labor and delivery. I went to put my gown on and before they could even attach the monitors I had my first big contraction. I explained to the nurse that I actually had the urge to push and with that the doctor decided to check how far my labor had progressed. Ian decided to quickly run to the car for his phone. While he was out of the room things got really interesting. To my surprise she said it was time. More staff were instantly called and I was being whisked to a new room just as Ian returned.

As soon as we arrived in the new room an IV was started. Thank goodness the nurse was good with a needle because no sooner had she finished when I had what would be my last contraction. The doctor instructed me to push, and without any effort Rylan was born. What happened next seems like a dream. It wasn't like it was when I had Gavin. First, Ian wasn't given the opportunity to cut the umbilical cord. Second, there was no holding him after he was born. Nope... the staff jumped into action and before I knew it Rylan was taken to the NICU with Ian at his side. So there I laid by myself wondering what the heck just happened.

Rylan so beautiful, but so small and fragile. When I was finally able to see him it was hard to hold back tears. My precious little boy was in an open heated crib with an IV, feeding tube, and baby cpap helping him to breath. We weren't able to hold him, which was definitely the hardest part. I felt helpless.

Sadly Ian and I were sent home while our precious Rylan remained in the hospital for 2 months. We visited everyday hoping and praying for his health and steady growth. It was so scary holding him, so small and fragile, but the nurses weren't letting me off that easy. They made me get over my fears by making me get in there and providing general care for him. So despite all the tubes and wires everyday I visited we cuddled doing kangaroo time, skin to skin. Even now looking back at how scary the situation was I loved having that individual, bonding time with him. All of our family and friends took the time to come and love him, as well as provide love and support for us. We are truly blessed!

With Rylan having to stay in the hospital I made the decision after three weeks to return to work. As sad as I was that I wouldn't be able to spent nearly as much time with him I knew it was smarter to save my maternity leave for when he came home. On the days I worked I got up early and spent a few hours with him before work, and then spent my evenings with Gavin. Three weeks after returning to work I was surprised to learn he was ready to come home. I thought for sure it would be another two to three weeks. In fact when the doctor suddenly said "OK are you ready to take him home today?" I actually had to say no, I wasn't quite ready. However, the very next day we finally brought baby Rylan home were he belonged.

Although we were elated to be bringing Rylan home we had heavy hearts saying goodbye to all the wonderful staff who cared for Rylan. With the amazing compassion and love of the nurses and staff taking care of Rylan he slowly got bigger and stronger. I can't thank them enough for all they did for our little baby and for us. The NICU nurses and staff are truly angels, who will always be in our hearts.

Changes...

2011-09-30T09:50:00.000-07:00

A lot has changed for our little family over the last several months.

The biggest is the addition of a new baby to our family. We are pleased to announce that we will be welcoming another boy, Rylan into our family December 2nd. With this great news we also found out that our little bundle of joy will have Down syndrome. Over the last month we have met with several doctors and are happy to report that so far Rylan is healthy and growing steadily. A huge relief for us. Now we just can't wait to meet our precious boy.

Although Gavin doesn't understand that mommy has a baby in her belly, I think he is going to be very excited to have a little brother to play with. Gavin now has a toddler bed, so that baby Rylan can use the crib. Gavin loves to sit and play on the bed but has not warmed up to the idea of sleeping in it. For now he still prefers the comfort of his crib, and even more, the comfort of our bed. Rylan will sleep in a bassinet in our room for a while anyways, so Gavin will have plenty of time to transition.

More big and exciting news is that Ian FINALLY quit Belfor, a company he had been with for ten years, to start his own general contracting company. A move that was long over due.

4th Element Construction was born!

I say this with my fingers crossed, that business has been booming. Ian still can't believe how busy they are. It seems like only yesterday when he landed his first big job. I remember the glow he had as he told his family about presenting the clients with a bid as his old employers sat in the room also bidding for the same job, and Ian walking out victorious.

He is definitely not afraid of a little hard work, or should I say a lot of hard work. He has been working seven days a week. Long days that end with him staying up until the early morning hours to finish paperwork. It will all be worth it though.

I am so, so proud of him.

There are going to be so many changes over the next several months and years.

I'm excited and admittedly nervous to see what will come next.

What I do know is that I have a great family and no matter what the future brings, I know I am blessed to have them in my life.

Sweet Baby...

2011-07-15T20:44:00.000-07:00

Good news we're pregnant again.

Yup... It's a boy!

Mmmm... Ice Cream

2011-07-05T17:13:00.000-07:00

First ice cream cone!
It was so cute, he ate all the ice cream right down to the cone, then tried to give the cone to me as if it was garbage. He didn't realize he could eat it, I had to show him. Darn, with better planning that cone could have been all mine. Now he loves the cone as much as his mommy does. The sticky mess was worth seeing how happy he was devouring his first ice cream cone.

4th of July Celebration

2011-07-04T00:00:00.000-07:00

For the third straight year we celebrated the 4th of July with the Riggs family. Not only to celebrate independence day, but more importantly to celebrate Steve's birthday.

As always there was an assortment of delicious food and even bigger assortment of Tequila. Ian made his own margarita maker, fashioned together by a garbage disposal and bubba keg.

The sunset was spectacular. Almost as spectacular as Steve's firework display. Never to be out done, there were plenty of fireworks for the kids to light and massive fireworks for the adults.

We had a great time!

Happy Birthday Steve!

Water Play

2011-06-21T20:04:00.000-07:00

We spent a fun filled, sunny day at the local spray park with our best friends, Caitlyn and Ashton. It took some time for Gavin to get in there and get wet. Actually it took me carrying him through the water to realize it was fun. He still isn't completely crazy about the water but we have all summer to change his mind:)

Like Father, Like Son

2011-05-26T21:21:00.001-07:00

I think the picture speaks for itself.
I love my boys and their cute butts!

Mini Golfing

2011-05-05T15:26:00.000-07:00

Gavin's first time playing with his orange putter at

Grandma & Grandpa Johnson's Mini Golf Course.

Who's ready to play? Come on guys.

Hold on I'll get the balls.
Slippery little suckers.
I think I finally got a hold of 'em.

I better clean this one off.

...this one too.

This place is so much fun!

School Days...

2011-04-17T08:48:00.000-07:00

We finally decided it was time to get Gavin out of the house and into daycare. We enrolled him at La Petite Academy 3 weeks ago. It's a daycare that also focuses on learning, that why we call it school for Gavin. He had a little trouble, as all kids do, adjusting the first week or so. But now he gets excited when we pull into the parking lot to drop him off. He seems to really like his teacher Ms. Holly and the other kids. He even takes a good, long nap everyday. He attends 3 days a week. They feed him breakfast, lunch and snacks. They have outdoor play time, art time, and do things like learning the alphabet and story time. So far Ian and I are very pleased. We think Gavin is too. It's nice to see him interacting and playing with other kids his own age.

Big Boy with a Fork...

2011-03-09T21:05:00.000-08:00

Gavin is in such a hurry to be independent, and be a big boy. He has decided he will no longer allow anyone to feed him. He wants to use his own silverware and eat like a big boy. I was a little hesitant at first, especially since he decided to exude his independence while dining out at Olive Garden, but to keep the peace we rolled with it. To our amazement he fed himself ravioli using a fork and actually got it in his mouth 90% of the time.

We are so proud of him... one for being smart enough to manipulate a situation knowing we are in public and vulnerable, and two for learning so quickly how to use a fork since we hadn't yet taught him. He is more observant than I give him credit.

We would like to add that no adults or children were injured during the dinner as a result of letting a one year old feed himself with a big fork... sigh of relief.

Has it Been a Year Already...

2011-02-08T23:51:00.000-08:00

A year ago today this perfect little boy came into our world, turning our lives upside down and inside out. From the first moment he was placed in my arms, my whole world changed for the better. It was as if nothing else in the world mattered except him, and the family we had become. Having Gavin in our lives has been the best, and scariest adventure we have ever experienced. Every day is filled with new and exciting experiences. As he has grown and developed into the toddler he is today, we have grown as parents. We can't believe this tiny little baby has already grown into a sweet little toddler.

On the day of his birth he weighed 8 lbs. 2 oz. and was 20 1/2 in. long.

Today he weighs 24 lbs 2 oz and is 30.25 in. long.

Today Gavin is happy, healthy, and excited by all new experiences. He is excited when playing with other children, when trying new foods, and when outdoors working with his daddy. He cruises and crawls all over the house getting into anything and everything he can. He definitely keeps us on our toes. Gavin is the best parts of us, put into the most special little boy.

We love you Gavin! XOXOXO!

Birthday Fun...

2011-02-08T18:35:00.000-08:00

To celebrate Gavin's official first birthday Ian and I planned a day of fun.

We met daddy up in Seattle at Dick's for Gavin's favorite cheeseburgers.

From there we loaded Gavin up in his new red wagon and hit the Woodland Park Zoo.

It was a beautiful, sun shiny day... cold and a bit windy, but beautiful.

With quite a few of the animals in hiding, we did manage to get a family photo with the giraffes.

The silver back Gorilla added a little excitement to our day.
We were standing with a group of other children and parents, with Gavin standing at the window in front of me. Out of no where the Gorilla charged the window, throwing his entire body against the glass, causing it to shutter, where Gavin stood. I say "stood" because I scooped Gavin up as fast as I could. It scared the bejezzes out of me, but Gavin on the other hand didn't realise anything was wrong.

All in all the day was a success.

As soon as we got in the car, Gavin kicked of his shoes, pulled off his socks and settle in for a long nap.

Happy Birthday my sweet boy!

PARTY TIME!!!

2011-02-05T19:30:00.000-08:00

All of our family and friends who have watched Gavin grow over this last year came out to celebrate his first birthday. It wasn't technically his birthday, we celebrated a little early. With his birthday shirt on and bow on his head he was ready to party. Honestly,I don't think Gavin even had a clue it was a party just for him. All he knew was there were tons of people around and kids to play with. My social little butterfly loved it!

We managed to cram 30 some people into our little house. We had toys in Gavin's room for the kids, a kiddie table with Shrek 4 playing in our room, and adults scattered around the rest of the house. Despite all my worrying it turned out to be a perfect party.

Here are just a few of our family and friends who came to party.
Gavin recieved so many great presents, unfortunately he didn't quite know what to with them. That's when mom, dad, and little Leah jumped in to help with opening gifts and reading cards.
The best part of his party for me was being able to make his very first birthday cake. I have to give a big Thank You to Annette, Gavin's Grandma, for teaching me. It meant the world to me to be able to do this for Gavin.

I'm gonna toot my own horn because I thought the cake tasted great!

I think Gavin agreed. He dug in hands first.

What a messy birthday boy! As it should be.
The party was so much fun. It meant so much to Ian and I that so many of our friends and family wanted to help us celebrate his first birthday.

Special thanks to Annette for helping with the cake, and to Erin for taking pictures during the party!

Things are about to get interesting...

2011-01-22T17:48:00.000-08:00

We have been hoping for this and now it seems the day will soon be upon us. Gavin is trying to walk. He is standing independently, without holding onto things for longer periods of time. He holds onto his activity table and pushes it all around the room, same with his train walker. He hasn't figured out what to do when he hits a dead end yet, but he'll figure it out soon enough. We have been looking forward to the day he starts walking, I just hope we are able to keep up.

Monster Trucks!!!

2011-01-15T17:23:00.000-08:00

Dad & me at monster trucks!
Wow! A transforming, fire breathing monster that crushes cars in minutes.This is sooo cool! Did you see that!
You can feel the rumble of the big engines.

I get the ladies where ever I go!

I love Monster Trucks!!!

11 Months and Counting...

2011-01-10T18:52:00.000-08:00

I am still in shock that Gavin is almost a year old.

So much has happened just in the last month.

I have to say this age is becoming my favorite. He is so curious and cute.

A few of Gavin's favorite things would be...

Pressing his face against the shower door while mommy showers.

Playing with Tupperware, instead of all his new Christmas toys.

Pushing the buttons on daddy's electronics, which pushes daddy's buttons.

Eating dirt.

Standing in the bathtub.

Playing with mommy and daddy, like Peek-a-Boo.

He loves eating little Cutie oranges. It is his favorite food.

Some of his dislikes would be...
Having his diaper changed.
Nap time.
Baby food, he prefers to eat what we eat.

Over all Gavin is such a happy baby.
He is cruising and crawling all over the house. We call him our little spider monkey because he's so fast. He has started clapping. He now has a total of 6 teeth. The down side is that he has started grinding them together on occasion, which I hate. We have been working really hard at getting him to sleep in his crib at night, and I think we are starting to see progress. He is waking up less and when he does wake he only cries for a minute before falling back to sleep.

We are hopefully that he will be walking by his first birthday, but the one thing I have learned about Gavin is he does things at his own pace. He is definitely one stubborn little man, just like his parents. He has tested our patience on more than one occasion. The most important lesson we are learning is to be consistent and back each other up. We are learning and getting better at this parenting thing every day. This next year is going to be filled with more fun and adventure, as well as more hair pulling I'm sure.
Wish us luck, we'll need it.

Ugly Sweater Delight!

2010-12-26T08:21:00.000-08:00

We attended the Riggs' annual Ugly Sweater Party again this year. Thanks to my good friend Joni I have pictures to show you. Gavin had so much fun flirting with the ladies. I think he has a thing for blondes. It was fun to have some drinks with my work buddies. Between the jello shots, tequila shots, and keg stands there were lots of funny moments to remember. Erin and Ashley sure know how to throw a great party. Thanks for inviting us, we always have such a great time, maybe too much. I think my husband is under the impression that staying the night at their house is part of the tradition, but it is fun picking him up and recapping all the fun from the night before.
Thanks again for having us, you guys are the best!

Merry Christmas

2010-12-21T16:30:00.000-08:00

ADORABLE!!!

Playing Catch Up...

2010-12-21T15:41:00.000-08:00

As many of you may know our computer took a turn for the worst several months ago. As a result I have not been able to keep you all up to date with our busy lives. The last we spoke Gavin had just turned 7 months old. A lot has changed since September.

OCTOBER

October brought Gavin's 8 month birthday. Gavin had some pretty big milestones this month, with the addition of his first two teeth, one right after the other along the bottom. It's amazing how sharp those little suckers are. To our delight he also started crawling. It was more of an army crawl but a crawl none the less. Now he is on the move and I'm going to have to keep a closer eye on this little guy.

Grandma and Grandpa Johnson came to visit us for Halloween. We celebrated Halloween by throwing our 3rd annual Halloween Bash. We had our biggest turn out to date. It was so much fun as you can see by the photos. Ian built an amazing electric chair that was a hit with the ladies due to it's ingenious construction, a wheel of death drinking game that featured 13 glass skulls of mystery liquor, and the stripper pole was again a hit for the third year running. We had some great costumes from Mr. & Mrs. Incredible to Mr. & Mrs. Claus. We had superheroes, pirates, bar maids, farmers, biblical characters, and leather & whips. There was quite a bit of T&P (tits and penis) at this years party too. The music blared into the early morning hours, until the cops arrived and attempted to shut us down. It was a fun night, with the only drama being that of 14 year old (don't worry their parents were there). Lol! It was so much fun we want to thank everyone for coming. We hope to see everyone again next year!

Gavin got all dressed up for his first Halloween.

He was so adorable as a dragon.

He was such a good sport getting all dressed up just to let us parade him through the mall and collect candy he couldn't even eat. I love this little dragon!

NOVEMBER

Vacation time! This month was met with Gavin's 9 month birthday. We celebrated by taking a family vacation to Maui with our besties the Riggs family. I can't begin to tell you how much fun we had. I stressed about packing and flying with Gavin but to my surprise the flight was pretty darn good, even the other passengers were saying how good he did on the 5 hour flight. What a relief. As for the packing, well I definitely over packed for Gavin but I guess better to over than under pack. We shared a condo with the Riggs family in Kaanapali, Maui. It had two pools, hot tubs, and a beautiful view of the ocean from our lanai.

It will probably sound hard to believe but it was a nice, relaxing vacation. You would think eleven days would be too long but we found ways to keep ourselves entertained. We visited babies beach which was great for the kids and snorkeling. It is a very shallow beach with little to no waves. Erin and I did some snorkeling (just remember when snorkeling do not put face back in water after urinating). Gavin and Ian made a cool sand castle, and turned Gavin into a sand mermaid.

We also made a longer trek to McKenna beach. What a beautiful beach. The waves were definitely much larger (trust me I was tossed twice) and a bit intimidating to the kiddies. Gavin especially didn't care for the ocean. He is more of a pool baby. However, he was content playing in and eating the sand. I learned pretty quick not to try and control the sandy mess or amount of sand he was consuming. At Mckenna the snorkeling is supposed to be amazing, with tons of turtles. Unfortunately, Erin and I chickened out and decided to just hang out near the beach. But, while Erin, Caitlyn and I floated on our hot pink rafts we decided to see if the turtles would come to us by singing "turtle, turtle" and to our astonishment a turtle swam right underneath us. WOW! This was for sure a highlight. We made a final beach trip to black rock were we snorkeled with turtles and played in the waves. The guys even climbed and jumped off the rock.

We quickly realized how much work it was to pack up the kids and all our gear just to go to the beach. Thank goodness we had pools, hot tubs, and new friends from Canada to hang out with.
Even though we were on a family vacation, Ian and I did sneak away for a date night at Dukes. What good food. After the kiddies went down to bed Erin and Ashley taught us how to play canasta. I would just like to say we were kicking their ass until the last night. But it is true, they ended up being the Canasta King & Queen of Maui. Dang it!

We had a great friends, great food, and great beaches. All the components of a great vacation.

Back in Seattle we were greeted by snow covered streets. I was probably the only one excited to be coming home to snow, even if only a little. Now it was time to return to work and our everyday lives.

The weekend following Thanksgiving we went to cut down our Christmas tree which is our annual tradition. It was made even more special this year by the addition of Gavin.

From tree trimming to hair cutting.
The before and after pictures are amazing. I cant believe how much older he looks with his hair cut. We wish we had done it sooner. I was just worried it would look like he had no hair.

He looks so adorable now!

I feel like there is so much more to tell, but I think this covers the highlights of the last few months.

7 Months & Counting...

2010-09-08T16:38:00.000-07:00

I don't know if you have noticed but this little boy is damn cute!

Just look at that face. I was hoping as he got older he would start to resemble me at least a little bit. I mean I did carry him around for nine months and one day, not to mention the whole labor thing with the lemon and the watermelon. I think you get the point. Yet, everyday I hear how much he looks like his daddy. Good thing his daddy is so cute, at least I think so:)

Gavin... Gavin... Gavin...

What can I tell you, he is still growing like crazy.

We have successfully transitioned to solids and most of the time he likes the food. He definitely makes it known when we give him something he doesn't like, which is usually some sort of vegetable. So far there isn't a fruit he's met he didn't like.

I've learned there really is no need to buy your little ones toys... they don't play with them. But give them a spatula or remote control and they are entertained for hours. Gavin's favorite household items are cell phones and remote controls. However, he has made a new friend who we have affectionately named Mr. Cow. Go figure it would be a random stuffed animal at the supermarket. Mr. Cow, as you can see, makes him happy.

Gavin still hasn't warmed up to tummy time. As a result he still isn't rolling over. We are convinced he has figured out that rolling only leads to tummy time which only leads to tears. He gets himself up on his side really good but then aborts mission:( He hasn't started crawling yet either. I can see he want to though, he just hasn't put it all together yet. He has also tried to pull himself up a few times. I'm betting by this time next month he will have things figured out and be on the move. I don't know if I'm excited or terrified by this revelation.

Stay tuned for the new adventures of baby Gavin!

Naked Baby Time

2010-09-04T13:22:00.000-07:00

The cure for this little boys grumpiness is simple... naked baby time!

Works everytime:)

Splish Splashin Water Baby

2010-08-15T17:58:00.000-07:00

Look at my handsome boys playing in the hot tub!

We bought Gavin his first lifejacket.

Ian decided to try Gavin out in the water to see how he liked it before going swimming in a pool with other people. Look how happy and comfortable he looks!

He is our little water baby.

The Riggs family invited us to go swimming with them at their aunt Cindy's house, which was so much fun. Gavin had such a great time splashing and floating around.

He loved it when Ian or I would go under the water then pop up out of the water.

He laughed and splashed everytime.

I love this little man! I can't wait to start him in swim lessons.

Thank you to all of our wonderful friends for having us over to swim and play.
We had so much fun!

6 Months & Counting...

2010-08-12T15:15:00.000-07:00

Like always, I'm shocked another month has gone by and so quickly.

Gavin seems to get bigger and bigger before my very eyes.

At his six month check up Gavin wieghted in at 9 lbs 10 oz. and is 26in.

Crazy right!

Gavin's likes include... going to work with daddy, bath time, and being NAKED!!! Eating solids has been a slow process but Gavin definitely like carrots. However, those carrots turned his little bum bright red and blistery. Poor little guy:(

Gavin's dislikes right now include... tummy time (shocker), getting dressed, laying in the grass, and when toys are taken away from him. It's really cute as soon as I start playing with one of his toys he suddenly has to play with it. Super cute!

I feel like he has learned a lot over the last month. He is sitting up on his own and playing with his toys. Although, he seems to be more interested in anything other than his toys. He loves the remote... go figure! He loves to drink from a cup. He cant hold a cup by himself yet or use a sippy cup, but if we help him hold the cup he drinks pretty well.

Everyday is a new adventure thats for sure. He still isn't sleeping completely through the night...Ughh! We are dealing though. He has been teething since 4 months and yup he still has no tooth, he drools constantly, and we thank god often for infant tylenol.

It is so much fun watching him grow and learn.

Stay tuned for more adventures and stories.
Love you Gavin!!!

Happy Anniversary

2010-08-09T14:07:00.000-07:00

Two years ago today my Lovebug and I tied the knot.

We have been together for nine years now.

Nine years flies by when your having as much fun as we are.

Over the years we have grown stronger as a couple and made additions to our family with the birth of our first son, Gavin.

Lovebug, I love you today, tomorrow, and always!

Congratulations Mr. & Mrs. Parcel

2010-07-17T05:38:00.000-07:00

Congratulations Chad & Kimmerlee Parcel!

What a perfect day for a wedding!

The sun was shining as was the bride, who looked radiant in her wedding gown.

The wedding reception was very appropriately held at the families mini golf course, with gorgeous landscaping, white tables linens and shimmering centerpieces. The whole event was breathtaking.

After a wonderful spread of food and heart warming speeches the bride and groom took to the dance floor, bringing tears to the eyes of guests. What a perfect blend of two families. With Margarita's flowing guests hit the dance floor and partied well into the night.

As you can see even this little guy couldn't resist a good party.
Gavin, with a little help from his uncle Sean, caught the garter belt.
There was no sleep for this tough guy, he wasn't about to miss out on the fun.

The wedding was beautiful!
Many congratulations to the bride and groom!
We wish them a lifetime of happiness and love!

5 months old and counting...

2010-07-08T08:31:00.000-07:00

Gavin is still growing like a weed.

We don't have any official measurements but on our home scale he weights about 17lbs now. Still cute as a button with his butterfly eyelashes, and his big brown eyes.

He looks just like his daddy.
He even seems to have the same temperament as his daddy, needing to be constantly on the move and kept busy. He loves going to work with his daddy several times a week. He has constant stimulation and is always on the move which he loves. Trying to keep him entertained when he is at home with me has definitely been a challenge because nothing keeps him entertained for longer then 5-10 minutes. So we run errands or have play dates with his good friends Caitlyn and Ashton. Gavin loves to play with and watch other kids. He especially loves Caitlyn. Every time he sees her he lights up. It is so cute!

We tried to introduce solids over this last month but Gavin hasn't really warmed up to the idea yet. For the most part he is still a boob man:) So far we have found he does not like rice cereal but will eat oatmeal. He really hasn't eatin much of any one thing, but we keep trying.

One of Gavin's favorite activities is bath time. He could spend all night in there if I let him. He has learned to splash around in his bath. He literally splashes all the water out of his bath. I have learned to lay out a lot of towels.

Not much else has changed this month.
He still hates belly time and still doesn't roll over. He will get up onto his side then roll back. It's like he knows he will end up on his belly. We really try to keep him off his back though as much as possibly so there hasn't been a lot of practice for rolling over. Most often we have him sitting up because we are still waiting for his head to round out. I' actually starting to get pretty worried. Keep your fingers crossed.

Thanks for reading!
Stay tuned for more adventures with Gavin as he grows and learns.

Baby Grub

2010-06-17T16:30:00.000-07:00

Gavin and I got together with Erin, Cody and their kids for a day of play and making yummy baby food. It is sooo much easier than I thought it would be. I'm surprised more people don't make there own. We made butternut squash, acorn squash and sweet potatoes. I cant wait for our garden to grow so I can use the veggies for baby food. What a money saver!

So far Gavin has tried the butternut squash and he seems to like it. Hopefully this trend continues. Thank you to my friends for the fun day of baby food 101.

Congrats Grad!!!

2010-06-16T19:54:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to my niece Courtney Elizabeth Neal on graduating from Gig Harbor High School!

Doesn't she look beautiful in her cap and gown, so grown up and mature.

We are all so proud of her. She has been attending TCC for the past two years for running start, and working on her prerequisites for the nursing program.

The ceremony was better than I expected.

The speeches were actually pretty entertaining. It wasn't the typical boring, snooze fest graduations usually are. And if you were wondering, yes that is a gigantic blown up penis surfing the crowd. Teachers were not happy. I wasn't able to get a picture of the beach ball and rubber chicken that also made an appearance.

After the ceremony family and friends went out to celebrate at the Olive Garden. I finally got to meet her boyfriend. Get this, his name is Ian Johnson. And whats freakier is his brothers name is Seth. How crazy is that!

Congratulations Courtney!!!

Messy! Messy! Messy!

2010-06-16T19:27:00.000-07:00

Now that Gavin is 4 months old we were given the green light by our pediatrician to start solids if we felt he was ready. He has been watching us eat and sometimes even leans forward, so we took those as signs he was ready if not at least curious.

As you can see from his bib most if not all of his food ended up down the front of him.

In fact, I think he was more interested in putting the bib in his mouth, not the food.

We started Gavin with the rice cereal but as soon as he got it in his mouth he made his YUCK face and out came the rice cereal. So, instead we tried the oatmeal which he seems to like better. Next we added in some peas which he also seems to like. However, he still has the reflex to push things out with his tongue, as you can see from the pictures.

Even though he is a messy eater, he sure is cute doing it!

Time to Spare

2010-06-16T19:02:00.000-07:00

Wednesday nights are now resevered for bowling.

Ian joined a bowling league with Ashley, Scarlet, and Ksavara. Apparently there is another player named Phil but I'm starting to think he is a figment of their imagination because I have yet to meet him. When Ashley asked him to join Ian jumped right into character. He got himself a fancy ball, bad ass bowling bag and slick new shoes. It's hard to see in the picture but to improve his game Ian started wearing his hair in a mulhawk in an effort to make him more "aerodynamic" (his words not mine). He is even working the leg swoop when he bowls.

They are better than I think they even realized.

So keep your fingers crossed that they come home with the prize.

4 Months Old and Counting...

2010-06-08T09:06:00.000-07:00

Our little guy isn't so little anymore.

At his four month check up he weighed in at 16lbs 7oz and is now 25in long.

I know I say it every month but he is growing so fast. I just had to buy him all new clothes because he has already grown out of all his 3-6 month clothes. I had to buy him 6 month clothes, all he has is shorts outfits and it is still a little chilly out. Not that I am complaining, he is fun to shop for. Baby clothes are so much cheaper, I actually feel as though I am getting my moneys worth when I shop for him. However, with how fast he is growing if his clothes were not inexpensive I would probably have a naked baby 90% of the time.

Gavin is getting stronger and more balanced every day.

He loves to stand up. He will cry and pout if he is layed down. He will stand for at least ten minutes at a time before needing a rest.

I have been trying to work on sitting up with him, because if he isn't standing then he wants to be propped up in a sitting position so he look around and take in his surroundings.

I've found the mosre we practice the better he gets. He can stay upright for a few seconds before tipping over. He tends to fall forward, but I have noticed he is learning to push himself up with his hands. He just isn't very good at it yet.

Don't let my previous post of tummy time fool you.

As you can see tummy time is still not his favorite part of the day.

The back of his head is still pretty flat. I'm sure he thinks I am a horrible mommy, especially when I let him cry and then take his picture:)

Drooling is his new favorite activity.

He is constantly putting things in his mouth. His fist, my fist, toys, or his favorite Gavin binky tend to find their way into his mouth.
It's actually pretty cute. Except when we play flying baby and I have him up in the air above my head and out of no where I get a glob of drool in the face. Awesome, right!

He is such a happy, healthy little boy. He rarely cries, but when he does he is easily settled down by taking a walk outside. He's like his daddy he loves to be outside and busy is best.

Keep reading to find out what he will do next!

Secrets to Motherhood

2010-06-08T08:33:00.000-07:00

So, slowly but surely I am learning those little things that make motherhood manageable.

Lesson #1 Long Hair

A lot of mothers seem to cut their hair short in an effort to keep it away from the tight little grips of their children. However, as I have learned having short hair means having to do your hair every day. On those days when your hair is a huge grease ball and you haven't been able to shower in three days your going to be glad you have long enough hair to rock the ponytail look. Or if worst... your hair is not only greasy but caked in what you can only guess is spit up, dried buggers, or drool you can fashion yourself a neat little bun.

Lesson #2 Layering

On those mornings when you are trying to keep your self together and look as though you attempted to look polished it is inevitable that you will end up with either spit up, food, a colorful beverage of some sort, urine, or worst... poop down the front of you. I have recently learned the trick is layering. With layering, when you spill your coffee down the front of you while balancing a baby and pushing a shopping cart having an extra layer to work with makes life seem a little easier. You can either remove the layer or add to hide whatever mess is making you feel like a habitual disaster. There is always the option of keeping extra clothes handy but who wants to carry around one more thing.

These are just two of of the many lessons I am learning with motherhood. I feel as though I am starting to get the hang of this whole parenting with ease thing. But that is the misconception because as soon as you think you have found your bearings, something rocks your boat and you loose all faith your yourself. With each new experience I am going to have a new lesson to learn. All those individuals who say motherhood is an adventure weren't exaggerating.

Wish me luck!!!

Sounds of Laughter

2010-05-21T11:03:00.000-07:00

Gavin giggled for the first time this morning.

It actually caught me of guard, taking me a minute to register that he was laughing.

It was the sweetest little laugh I have ever heard.

I am so overjoyed that I was home for one of his firsts.

When I went back to work I was so afraid I would miss a lot of his firsts.

I am grateful to have enjoyed this moment.

Belly Time

2010-05-19T21:48:00.001-07:00

Gavin has had a breakthrough. He went from hating belly time to suddenly enjoying it... at least for a while anyways.

I had started making belly time more of a game for him that I like to call Rolly Polly Baby. I even sing a little song while we play. I would roll him onto his belly just for a minute then roll him again onto his back. It seemed to help because he wasn't crying or getting mad. Then all of the sudden he starting lifting his head up like he had been doing it all along, like it was easy as could be.

I don't know what changed but we're relieved. We worried about being scolded by the doctor at his four month check up. Now it looks as though there is hope his head will take a shape other than being flat.

This month is definitely full of changes. He is growing like a weed, is able to lift his head while on his belly, bear weight on his legs while standing, and can hold his head level with his shoulders when pulled into a sitting position.

Where does the time go. I can't wait to see what he will do next.

Sunday Morning Slumber

2010-05-16T10:03:00.000-07:00

I love this picture of Gavin curled up in our bed as we slept in as a family.
I am at a loss for words all I can think to say is LOVE!!!

Showered with Love

2010-05-15T21:32:00.000-07:00

We thought Gavin loved bath time but I think showers are going to be a new favorite. Ian was brave enough to take him into the shower with him. I'm scared to death I'll drop him, he's a slippery little sucker. When I took Gavin from the shower he just cried and cried. The next time we did bath time he just didn't have that same twinkle of delight in his eye that he usually does. Looks like Ian's going to have a shower buddy.

3 Months Old & Counting

2010-05-08T10:10:00.000-07:00

I can't believe this adorable little man is already 3 months old.

So much has happened in just the last month I don't know where to start.

First, I wanted everyone to be able to see exactly how much he has grown in just three months.

Look how little and orange he is at a week old!
And now...

It amazes me how fast he grew.
He now weights 15 pounds. He is one solid little boy. He is eating around 4-6 ounces. Lately he has been drooling like crazy and has to have something in his mouth constantly. The doctor told us that at four months we could start him on food. Ian is so excited for him to try new things. He was saying the other day he cant wait for him to try cinnamon rolls. I had to remind him cinnamon rolls are still pretty far off. It's so cute though to see how excited he gets.

Gavin is getting so strong. He loves to be sitting up. He can't do it on his own yet but he sure loves to be propped up on the couch with us or in his little chair. He also loves trying to stand. He can bear weight on his legs for a couple of minutes while holding onto our fingers. He is getting stronger everyday. Getting him to do belly time has been a challenge. He either cries and turns beat red or lays there with his fist in his mouth. I tried explaining to him that just lying there defeats the purpose of belly time but for some odd reason he doesn't seem to understand:)

I think the best news I can share is that at exactly three months he started sleeping through the night... or at least what I consider sleeping through the night. He goes to sleep around eight or nine and doesn't usually wake up until six. On occasion he wakes up a little earlier but he usually eats and goes back to sleep. The sucky thing is once I'm up it's hard to go back to sleep. By the time I finally fall asleep he is back up and ready to start the day. This may not seem like sleeping through the night to most people but I take what little sleep I can get and consider it a blessing. I am still hoping he will learn what "sleeping in" means and love it as much as his father and I do.

Over all I would say we have one happy little guy. He isn't laughing yet but he can talk your ear off with his adorable baby babble, and he smiles at us all the time. Around others he tends to clam up and just stare as if taking it all in. I'm sure that social gene will kick in soon enough. We are eager to see what he will do next.

We love you Gavin & Happy 3 Month Birthday!!!

Z is for Zipper

2010-04-19T11:52:00.000-07:00

Y is for Yawn

2010-04-19T11:51:00.000-07:00

X is for X block

2010-04-19T11:50:00.001-07:00

W is for Willow

2010-04-19T11:37:00.001-07:00

V is for Violet

2010-04-19T11:26:00.001-07:00

U is for Umbrella

2010-04-19T11:25:00.001-07:00

T is for Toes

2010-04-19T11:23:00.000-07:00

S is for Smile

2010-04-19T11:19:00.000-07:00

R is for Reflection

2010-04-13T14:57:00.000-07:00

Q is for Quilt

2010-04-13T14:55:00.000-07:00

P is for Pregnant

2010-04-13T13:38:00.000-07:00

Amanda and Ian comparing bellies.

O is for Octopus

2010-04-12T17:13:00.000-07:00

N is for Naptime

2010-04-10T13:19:00.001-07:00

Zzzz!

M is for Marriage

2010-04-10T13:16:00.000-07:00

Congratulations Kimmerlee & Chad on your engagement!

L is for Lounging

2010-04-09T21:58:00.000-07:00

Sexy! Sexy! Sexy!

K is for Kiss

2010-04-09T21:52:00.000-07:00

Great-grandma Johnson giving Gavin loving kisses.

J is for Johnson Family

2010-04-09T21:50:00.000-07:00

Easter Sunday the family came together for Gavin's baptism.

2 Months Old Already!

2010-04-08T13:21:00.000-07:00

I can't believe our little boy is already 2 months old.

Gavin is growing so fast, weighing 12.6lbs and is now 23.25in. long.

He is smiling more and more everyday.

He is getting stronger and stronger as each day passes.

He isn't sleeping through the night yet but at least he only wakes once, maybe twice a night.

Gavin is starting to enjoy playing more with his toys, in fact with help he held his rattle for the first time yesterday.

He loves working in the yard with his daddy while in the baby carrier.

I couldn't figure out how he was getting dirt under his fingernails, but it turns out that daddy has been teaching him to play in the dirt.

We are eager to see what the next month brings and what milestones he will reach.

We love him more and more each day, if that is even possible.

Easter Sunday Baptism

2010-04-04T09:51:00.000-07:00

On Easter Sunday Ian's family came together to celebrate the baptism of Gavin Edward Johnson at the Christ United Methodist church of Great Falls Montana.

It was a beautiful service performed by the wonderful Pastor Kama, who made us feel welcomed and loved as she blessed our son.

Gavin was so handsome in his little sweater vest outfit, looking so grown up. He was a perfect angel without crying or fussing once.

After the service the family went back to Ian's parents house for a delicious Easter brunch with Annette's amazing carmel cinnamon rolls.

After our bellies were filled the Easter egg hunt commenced.

All the kids loaded up on candy, eggs and toys. It was wonderful to spend the Easter holiday with family. As the family grows and grows we look forward to many more good times.

I is for Island

2010-03-28T21:42:00.000-07:00

This is the island at the Point Defiance duck pond.

H is for Hold

2010-03-28T21:28:00.000-07:00

Ian has been trying to teach Gavin to hold his own bottle.

I kept telling him it wasn't going to happen for awhile because he is too young.

I hate having to admit when I am wrong:(

At only six weeks old he was actually able to hold it up for a short time.

Quack! Quack!

2010-03-27T17:47:00.000-07:00

Ian and I took Gavin to Point Defiance to feed the ducks and smell the flowers.

It was a perfect spring day to spend with my family. With flowers in bloom and the sun shining brightly life is good!

G is for Go-Kart

2010-03-22T18:55:00.000-07:00

F is for Fuzzy

2010-03-21T12:16:00.000-07:00

Gavin made a new fuzzy little friend with this baby chick.
I think the little chick liked Gavin more than Gavin liked the baby chick.

E is for Eyelashes

2010-03-20T17:06:00.000-07:00

D is for Dice

2010-03-19T17:10:00.000-07:00

This was Gavin's first dice night with the boys Brian, Zach, Daddy, Mario, Morgan, and Ashley.
Ashley was nice enough to spot Gavin a couple of ones.

C is for Cuddling

2010-03-18T15:00:00.000-07:00

St. Patrick's Day Playdate

2010-03-17T17:30:00.000-07:00

Gavin had his very first play date on St. Patty's Day. We got together with Cody and her baby Leah, Erin and her two little ones Caitlyn and Ashton. Although it may have been hard to tell because Gavin slept for the first four hours, we had a good time.

Caitlyn finally got to meet Gavin and hold him, giving him sweet little kisses as she did. We all took turns trying to wake up Gavin so he could play with his new friends. Leah even tried by sucking his fingers, but Gavin just wasn't waking up. Leah played in the jumperoo, bouncing like crazy. After Ashton woke up from his nap we got to see how good he is getting at walking. He too tried to wake up Gavin by poking (gently) Gavin in the face.

Gavin did finally wake up after four hours, and played for a short time before we had to leave. We had a great time. Especially mommy who really needed playtime with her friends Erin and Cody.

Thank you Erin and Cody. Can't wait to do it again!

B is for Bathtime

2010-03-17T14:23:00.000-07:00

A is for Adorable

2010-03-16T14:54:00.001-07:00

ABC's

2010-03-16T14:50:00.000-07:00

My friend Erin had this great idea to post a picture every day that corresponds to a letter of the alphabet. I hope I can keep up with posting daily but it should be fun. She had the great idea of trying to match the letter with Gavin somehow. So that is what I am going to try and do. Wish me luck!

Afternoon Stroll with Daddy

2010-03-16T14:23:00.000-07:00

Gavin was all tuckered out after an afternoon stroll around the neighborhood.

Daddy put his work hat on Gavin when his little ears were getting cold.

He is so precious when he sleeps.

One Month Already!

2010-03-08T12:36:00.000-08:00

Happy 1 Month Birthday Gavin!

I can't believe he is already a month old.

I see him every day, yet he seems so big to me all of the sudden.

Gavin loves to cuddle with his mommy and daddy.

He loves to eat and eat, probably why he's growing like a weed.

He loves to play and look at his reflection while on his baby Einstein play mat.

He doesn't like his crib yet, but we're working on that.

He definitely isn't a morning person. His way of waking up usually involves crying.

Although it breaks my heart to hear him cry he does have a pretty cute little cry, especially when he sticks his little bottom lip out.

He doesn't cry anymore when we change his diaper or when it's bath time.

In fact he seems to enjoy bath time.

He is a very curious baby always looking around.

He loves to go for walks with his daddy in the baby carrier as long as he can face out and look around.

Thankfully he doesn't cry much unless he is gassy.

I love to see him smile even if it is probably just gas. That little smile melts my heart regardless.

Today it actually snowed. Gavin and I went out and let the flakes fall on our faces. Happy One Month little man, we love you.

We are looking forward to seeing what the next month will bring and what milestones he will reach.

We love you baby Gavin!

No Not a Spray Tan, Just a Little Jaundice!

2010-02-15T17:33:00.000-08:00

When Gavin was born he ended up with a nasty bruise on his head. Because of the bruise the nurses and doctors at the hospital said there was a chance he could develop jaundice, but that his color looked good.

He was born on a Monday and by Wednesday we noticed he was overly sleepy, not eating well and his color had changed from when we brought him home from the hospital. Luckily the doctor was able to see him right away and thank goodness because his jaundice was advancing pretty rapidly. When his bilirubin level was checked on Tuesday before leaving the hospital it was 5.7 and when we checked it on Wednesday it was 17.0. I know lots of babies get jaundice, but I broke down and cried.

The doctors office sent over a nurse that night to the house and we got Gavin set up on a bilibed. My poor little guy had to stay on his bilibed continuously except for feedings. He was so sleepy all the time and not eating enough so I had to wake him up every two hours to eat, which totally sucked at night. I was so exhausted. The only bright side was we were able to put the bilibed between us to sleep at night. It sucked not be able to hold him or cuddle him as much as we wanted.

Every day the nurse came to the house to check his color, weigh him and unfortunately draw his blood. He had to stay on his bilibed for five long days. He is now looking and feeling much better. Thank goodness for great doctors and nurses.

Rub-A-Dub Unhappy Baby in the Tub!

2010-02-09T21:08:00.000-08:00

Gavin's first bath time and he sure wasn't happy. Thankfully daddy was there the whole time because Gavin held on extra tight to daddy's finger for comfort.

Baby Gavin Has Arrived!!!

2010-02-08T16:44:00.000-08:00

I can't believe he is here!

I cant believe we're parents!

I cant believe this perfect little person is mine!

There are so many emotions that Ian and I are experiencing: joy, elation, pride and most of all LOVE!

My labor started the night before around 8:00pm. To keep things moving Ian and I went walking around the neighborhood and tried to keep ourselves busy while my contractions became stronger and closer together. I cleaned house while Ian put the finishing touches
on Gavin's closet. Ian likes to say he waited to arrive until his room was finished. We headed to the hospital around 1:30am and checked ourselves in. From there things started to move fairly quickly. When we arrived I was still only dilated to 3cm. The midwife broke my water to help progress labor. To make me more comfortable during contractions the nurse tried to change up my positions but when that didn't work for me they put me in the tub. I have to say that tub became my new best friend, making it easier to relax in between contractions.

By 5:30 am we were ready to start pushing. Luckily my mom had gotten there just in time. Thankfully I had an amazing husband and my mom by my side. Ian was so helpful getting me ice and wet wash clothes for my forehead. Thanks to him I was able to keep pushing. At one point I wasn't sure if I could keep going, I felt so exhausted. I remember asking multiple times if they were sure he wasn't to big, but at that point Gavin's head was just starting to crown and Ian made me touch his head, despite my protests. That was all I needed, I became a determined woman after that. And it payed off because at 6:52am Gavin Edward Johnson arrived.

Geocaching at Point Defiance

2010-02-06T16:28:00.000-08:00

What a beautiful day to geocach with my good friends Erin, Ashley and Mr. Rychlinski. It was my first time goecaching and it definitely took a little while to get the hang of it. Mr. Rychlinski found the first two treasures in no time but Ashley was able to find our most difficult and creative treasure of the day. Erin and I were no slouches though, it just took us a little longer to find our groove. There was a lot of walking involved but hopefully it will help this pregnancy move along. I had such a great time, I cant wait to do it again.

Oops!!! False Alarm

2010-01-30T18:48:00.000-08:00

I thought for sure my water had broke, but nope false alarm. It's a long story how I came to think that my water had broke and maybe if you knew the whole story maybe you would agree I'm not a complete goober (hopefully).

It all started on a Friday during a staff meeting where I began having mild contractions every 10-15 minutes apart. I was so excited to finally be having regular contractions that I called my husband and other family members to tell them the good news. However, within three hours the contractions just stopped. I should have known telling people would jinx me. Later that night I had just finished going to the bathroom and was standing at the sink washing my hands when I felt a significant gush. Who wouldn't have thought their water had broke, at least the first timers. When I called my doctors office the nurse said to call the provider on call if my contractions returned and were closer together. So I waited and waited but no contractions:(

By the time Saturday came and I still hadn't had any contractions, I contacted the provider on call and she recommended coming into the hospital just in case. So Ian and I packed up and headed into the hospital. We were admitted, hooked up to the fetal monitor and the nurse checked to verify if in deed my water had broken. The next hour and half seemed never ending while we attempted to wait patiently for the lab results. Luckily we had a deck of cards to keep us occupied.

As you can guess the nurse returned with the news that my water did not break. So in other words I wet my pants. Great! Just Great! Now I have to tell people that it was a false alarm because I can tell when I have wet my pants. I am hoping to look back on this someday and laugh but right now I just feel stupid and embarrassed. The worst part was Ian had called his family in Montana to tell them my water broke and even though we told them not to drive out just yet they hopped in the car anyway. By the time we found out for sure that I had just peed my pants they were already in Spokane. Oops!!!

Happy New Years!!!

2010-01-01T19:10:00.000-08:00

Ian and I rang in 2010 in style thanks to John and Mandy. We had a great time. Although I wasn't able to enjoy any of the spirits offered Ian enjoyed them enough for the both of us. By the end of the night he let loose with his finest dance moves. Oddly enough I was the one who ended up feeling hung over on the first day of 2010. It was worth it though.

Thanks again to John and Mandy, as well as the rest of the Rychlinski's for a great New Years!

Christmas Sweater Party 2009

2009-12-13T09:22:00.000-08:00

Whoot! Whoot! The Rigg's 3rd annual sweater party did not disappoint. There were ugly sweaters and creative homemade sweaters. There was great food, friends, and spirits. Sadly I wasn't able to enjoy the yummy jello shots floating around, but there is always next year.

Normally Ian would have loved to make his own sweater but there just wasn't time this year. Thank goodness for women's plus sized ugly Christmas sweaters. I think he looks sexy in his poinsettia sweater, even if it is a girls.

Thank you to the Rigg's family for inviting us and we look forward to next years sweater party.

The Great Christmas Tree Hunt

2009-12-03T10:25:00.000-08:00

This was the third year Ian and I went Christmas tree hunting in hope of cutting down the perfect Christmas tree. This year a lot of other people had the same idea and finding that perfect tree became quite the challenge. In fact at one point we thought we had found our tree but decided to check one other area before committing. Not the greatest idea because when we returned all we found was a fresh tree stump where our ideal tree had once stood. Always go with your first instinct. In the end we still found a great tree. Thankfully Ian brought his battery powered saw, if only he had checked to make sure the battery was fully charged. But this is Ian and he found a way to make it work. With our Christmas tree in hand, we found Santa for a holiday picture and were off to start decorating. Merry Christmas!!!

Pregnancy Craving... but whose craving?

2009-11-23T19:01:00.001-08:00

Yup, you guessed it Ian has been craving big macs.

He calls it his pregnancy craving because he never really cared for the big mac before. I have to agree. Normally I would hate all the onions and pickles but oddly enough the smell drew me in and I couldn't resist a bite. Now we share a temporary love of the big mac.

Gavin's Room

2009-11-01T13:35:00.000-08:00

Daddy to be Ian has been working hard getting Gavin's room just right. Ian has made this his special project. The day he came home with the cool ceiling fan he was so excited. I would have loved to help but Ian says paint brushes and rollers aren't my friend... in other works I suck at painting. That was Ian's way of putting it to me nicely that he didn't want my help. Probably for the best because the room is just about complete and it looks amazing. There are some advantages to having a perfectionist as a husband. Gavin is very lucky to have such a loving and hard working daddy. I can't wait until the room is complete, including furniture so I can show it off. I will post new pictures when everything is done, so stay tuned!

2nd Annual Johnson Halloween Party!!!

2009-10-25T19:29:00.000-07:00

Ian and I had our 2nd annual Halloween party and it was a blast! Thanks to all who came out to party with us, we had so much fun. I thought it would be boring for me since I'm not able to drink right now but watching everyone else having such a great time made this party awesome.

We had a variety of costumes and some pretty original costumes too, such as our friends Joel and Angie who were clever enough to come as HINI. What a great idea! Ian went as the Joker this year and Brian went as his alter eager the nurse Joker. Ian did an amazing job of getting into character and an even better job of keeping his buddies in his pants this year. Erin and Ashley came as Fred and Wilma. Wilma even remembered to make sure her carpet matched the drapes, entertaining many of our guests. Fred and Wilma went on to win our best couples costume contest. Scarlett came as Laura Croft tomb raider, winning the best individual costume. How is it all the Riggs won best costume, I think this costume contest was rigged. There were a lot a great and creative costumes.

The night started off with guests trying out the wheel of death... translation, a wheel of mysterious shots which set the tone for the rest of the night. We were able to convince several party goers to participate in sumo wrestling, paring up Ian (aka Joker) against Brian (aka Nurse Joker), Angie (aka HI) against her sister who came as a character from Beetlejuice, then Ian was able to talk Sue and her husband (aka the Romans) to battle in the sumo ring. Thanks to everyone who was brave enough to enter the ring, it was sooo funny watching the body slams. I hope nobody was too sore the next day. For those who passed on sumo wrestling there was the striper pole which is always entertaining, as well as beer pong and the beer bong.

We hope everyone had as much fun as we did. Thanks to everyone who came and we look forward to next year and hope it will be even bigger and better. Ian is already brain storming ideas for the 3rd annual Halloween Party. Hope to see you all next year!

Sleep... I miss you!

2009-10-14T15:25:00.000-07:00

I have to admit that I have been blessed with my pregnancy, having experienced what I can only describe as the joys of pregnancy. I didn't end up with any nausea, no vomiting and the heartburn that I do experience has been very manageable. I keep hearing about the horrible leg cramps some of my fellow pregnant friends have experienced but so far so good, I haven't had to deal with that yet either.

So really I have nothing to complain about, but when you're used to being able to sleep through majority of the night (with exception to bathroom breaks) and then one night not being able to sleep at all it's a little annoying. It is so frustrating just tossing and turning and not being able to rest. Now it seems my nightly routine consists of position changes every two hours if not more and at least two bathroom breaks a night.

Exhausting!

I know all those mothers out there reading this are either laughing at me or think I'm being a whiner. Both acceptable responses. After reading some of those helpful pregnancy books I've learned that it's my body preparing me for the many sleepless night yet to come. But really I should be able to enjoy my last few months of freedom before my whole life alters forever. But like I said I've had an amazing pregnancy so if this my biggest complaint then thank goodness.

It's Definitely a Boy!

2009-09-24T20:06:00.000-07:00

Yup, you guessed it, that's his little wiener. We are so happy and excited to be having a little boy. It all feels so real for both of us now and I can quit calling my baby an "it". He is definitely his fathers son, during the ultrasound he wouldn't sit still. However, it was pretty cool watching him spin in circles. I think I'm going to have my hands full with this little one.

We're on a Boat

2009-09-24T11:31:00.000-07:00

Ian and I were invited to go out on a boating trip around the sound with Brian, Danielle, Joel and Angie. We left from the Tacoma Yacht Club, traveled under the Narrow Bridge, along Tacoma and Steillacum, then around various smaller islands. While on the boat Ian and Joel finally got a chance to reenact the SNL skit 'We're on a Boat' which made for a lot of fun and a great photo op for them. After a day of boating we enjoyed a nice dinner at the Tacoma Yacht Club. We had a great day on the sound with great people. Thanks again to Brian and Danielle for inviting us.

Sex Count Down - 7 Days

2009-09-17T16:49:00.000-07:00

One more week until we find out the sex of our little peanut. It's going to be like Christmas morning but BETTER! I can't wait. We are looking forward to finally being able tell everyone what we are having. Stay tuned!

Week 19 Rocks!

2009-09-16T21:03:00.000-07:00

Week 19 has been the most exciting week by far. I can finally feel our little peanut moving around. It's the best feeling ever. When my midwife told me I had an anterior placenta the first thing I thought was, uh oh that cant be good, but all it meant was that I probably wouldn't feel the baby moving for awhile. I was pretty bummed at the news but at least I wasn't deformed or anything. Thankfully it didn't take as long as I thought it would to feel the little flutters. I can't wait for Ian to be able to feel the baby, but for now it's just me. That doesn't stop Ian though from rubbing and talking to my belly. It's so sweet! He's going to be such a good daddy.

Shiny, Bubbly New Toy for Ian

2009-09-12T19:08:00.000-07:00

Ian has been talking about getting a hot tub for years and today he finally took that step toward bubbly bliss. He has been buffing and polishing it all afternoon, just like the proud papa he is. Now he has an excuse to run around the yard in his birthday suit, not that he ever needed an excuse before.

Baby's First Photo

2009-09-12T18:51:00.000-07:00

On June 30Th we had our first ultrasound. This is our little peanut's first photograph, isn't he/she precious. Having the first ultrasound definitely makes this pregnancy feel real. You can pee on all the sticks you want but until you get to see him/her or hear the little heart beat it doesn't seem quite real.