Vampires in my home??

Upon closer inspection, Laynee has cut three teeth. All of them are eyeteeth. That officially makes her my sweet vampire baby!

Where has the time gone??

It seems like just a few weeks ago we were transitioning to being a family of four. Time is flying, and while some days that is such a comforting thought, today it makes me sad. My babies are growing up. Rae is two and rambunctious, emotional, and so loving. She can't get enough of her super mean mom, her daddy's fun games, or kisses from her baby sister. Laynee is four months old now. She loves playing with faces, playing in her jumper, and eating. She just cut her first tooth, and I think there may be a second one, but they are both at the back of her mouth and she screams when I try to get a good look. She hasn't had any "food" yet, but she is starting to be very interested in what is on our plates at mealtime. I am not sure how much longer I can hold off on giving her cereal. She is still such a good baby, although she has recently found her voice and loves to let us know when she is bored. We were so excited to bless her this month and have most of our family there. Jeff gave her a beautiful blessing. My favorite part was that she would grow up to be a good friend to her mother. I would love to think my girls could be my best friends someday! Her four month stats are as follows:
length 27 inches 100+%
weight 13.5lbs 50%

We were also able to go camping a few months ago. Obviously it was Laynee's first camping trip (she was only about 10 weeks old), but it was also Rae's first time camping someplace other than the beach. We had SO.MUCH.FUN! It was freezing at night, but beautiful during the day. Rae loved being able to just run, and loved even more that Grandpa was there to run with her! Both girls slept so well. We can't wait to plan another camping trip when it warms up a bit!

Halloween 2009

We had a blast this Halloween. Rae is finally old enough to eat some candy so we hit up both grandparents houses for trick-or-treating and then headed to Grandma's trunk-or-treat. No matter how much I worked with her she refused to say anything until she already had the candy,and that was followed with a polite thank you. (Then she would stick her bucket out for more...forget moving on to the next trunk!) Laynee just was dragged along for all the fun, and she was so good. She loved smiling and cooing at anyone who would give her any attention! I may be a little biased, but I had the cutest bumblebees in the world!!

I may be a little late...

Laynee had her two month well check last week. Her stats are as follows:
Weight: 11lbs 1oz 75%
Height: 23in 90%
Head: ??? small for her age like 25%

My sweet baby decided to grace me with sleep last night. She went to bed at 9 and didn't wake up again untill 7:30. Thanks Laynee! Mommy thinks you are a perfect little baby!!

Why do babies grow so fast? I want this sweet thing to stay this way forever...

As for this one, she can keep growing. I love her to pieces, but she can be an awfully naughty two year old!

Just for journaling purposes, Rae had her two year old doctor visit. Her stats are as follows:
Weight 30lbs 90%
Height 34 1/2 in 90%
Head 20cm 100+%
Rae, we love your big melon head! I think that you need it to hold that big ol smartie pants brain of yours!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Two weeks ago these two had birthdays. Someday I might get my act together and find the cords I need to post this years pictures. Then again, maybe not...I am too busy kissing on this!

Indroducing Laynee Adalia Johnson!!

We have been home for a few days now, and are all feeling great. (It is amazing how much difference two pounds can make on a delivery!) Laynee made her debut Tuesday afternoon weighing in at 7 lbs 10 oz and measuring 21 inches. I was only in labor for about six hours, and only pushed for 10 minutes. Talk about having energy to spare afterwards!! She is such a good baby so far and we are so glad she is finally here!!! Now we are just waiting for the novelty of a new baby to wear off. If Rae is awake, Laynee needs protecting from all of Rae's affection. At least they are starting out as friends...I wonder how many years that will last for me!?!

Tomorrow is the big day. Hospital scheduled for 5 AM. I am super nervous about pitocin, I didn't have to have it with Rae's delivery. I have that feeling that I am forgetting something...that everything isn't ready. I can't wait to meet that sweet baby though (hopefully she is sweet). Here's to hoping she will be the cuddler her sister never was!!

Venter Update...

I was able to take my dad's car in to the mechanic. We were able to fix our Camry for a mere $15. I slept from 9:00 last night until 8:00 today. Today is a new day, and it will be a million times better!! The doctor won't let me go past my due date, but he won't induce me early either. Right now, that is my only frustration...and I can deal with it for now! Happy face and smiles all around!!

Quick trip to Cali

Rae and I decided last week to head to California with Kami and Douglas to stay with Joel and Kristina in their beach house. We had planned on going this week, but decided last minute to head out early. Cupcakes were made (can't drive without some good eats!), bags were packed, and we were on the road two hours after deciding to go. It was a ton of work, and I may have thought I was going into labor, but luckily it took awhile to get there so I had PLENTY of time to relax! Surprisingly enough, traveling with a one year old and a three year old is not bad...if you have a DVD player! Anyways, California was beautiful. The weather was perfect, unlike here. The company was the best. We had a blast! Thanks everyone for entertaining us for a few days. We can't wait to do it again!!

(Never mind my fat preggo self in the pictures. At least Rae is cute...)

Mommy timeout...

The day I thought I had successfully avoided came today. When I put in my contacts after my shower all I could see all over the carpet, my leg, and the wall was poop. Apparently Rae went mining in her diaper and struck gold while I was showering. After scolding her, cleaning her up, and then cleaning up the mess (and showering again) I was still furious. I find myself sitting in mommy timeout blogging away my frustration. Very therapeutic. Now that she has found how much fun her poop is should I expect this again in the future?!?

Easter 2009

We had a pretty uneventful Easter this year, but it was still packed with food, family and fun! We started our festivities at Grandma & Grandpa McKee's house with dyeing eggs. Rae decided the egg dye was much too delicious to waste on eggs. We all thought she would be done after her first bite of vinegar, but she kept going untill she had eaten half of the orange bowl!

When she finished with the dye she decided to go play in the dirt with cousin Alexa.
When all the daddies got off work, Grandma volunteered to hide eggs. I was not too hopeful that Rae would have any intrest in finding them, but she suprised us again. She needed no explanation, and there was no slowing her down. She ran like a crazy woman until all the eggs were found.
On Sunday the Easter Bunny visited our house and left Rae a little basket. She LOVED the Pez he brought her (gross!). She also loved the bubbles, although she just laughes at them and doesn't try to pop them.
We forgot to get pictures of her in her Easter dress before church (can we even begin to say how hard two o'clock church is and how naps rarely happen on Sundays anymore), but got some afterwards on her cousin's camera. When I can get my hands on those copies maybe we will post how cute she was...tears and all.

Vegas Vacation

We had the opportunity to head to Vegas for Spring Break with Jeff's parents and sisters' families. We walked around and saw many of the free family shows at the hotels on the strip. I guess I had high hopes for Rae, and she was good most of the time, but she wasn't much for the shows yet. She would watch for about 30 seconds and then scream to be free to explore. Her favorite thing to see was the ducks at the Flamingo. She has just recently learned what a duck is and what sound it makes and she just couldn't get enough of them! Her all time favorite thing to do while we were there was ride the elevator. She had no fear. Even after her fingers got caught in the door (with no damage done, just one scared little girl) she still wanted to do it all by herself. Try to ignore the whale in a swimsuit with her. It is just my pregnant self squeezed into a swimsuit long after it should have been retired...

Beyond that, we just hung out, swam, and enjoyed the good company. Thanks Janet for planning the whole thing and allowing us to crash it!

(Some more pictures from our trip just for good measure...)

Still rings true...

I have not ever been political on the blog before, but I came across this quote and immediately knew it to be true. If only there were a few more people who could understand this concept in our nation's capital today...

"You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it. You cannot legislate the poor into freedom by legislating the wealthy out of freedom. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving. The Government cannot give to anybody anything that the Government does not first take from somebody else. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that is surely the end of any nation's future."
-Abraham Lincoln

Don't get me wrong, I am not saying there isn't a need for a welfare program or that there is a problem accepting help when it is needed. I am just very pro personal responsibility and believe that maybe there are a few people out there that could benefit from a better work ethic.

* DISCLAIMER * That being said, this is in NO WAY directed at anybody I know. It is just something that has been on my mind lately...so please don't be offended....

And the verdict is....

This sweet little thing has big plans to add to the drama in the Johnson household. We are so excited for another GIRL! Hopefully she can be best friends with Rae...and not mortal enemies!!

A day late (plus a week)....

As always, I am journaling way after the fact. Good thing I only have one kid. My baby is FINALLY old enough for nursury. I didn't know what to expect when I dropped her off. As always she suprised me. She walked right in and never looked back. A tiny (very, very tiny) part of me wanted it to be a fluke, I wanted emotion this week when I dropped her off...to prove to anyone (mostly me) that my baby still needs me. No such luck. We had a repeat of her first week, walked right in and never looked back. I guess I don't need to spend the next few years wondering how she will do her first day of school....

I have no pictures for this event either. The camera was lost...and then found and forgotten. Oops. You'll have to take my word that she was awful cute!

My baby is growing up!

I forgot to write yesterday, but two nights ago when we put Rae to bed she said "love you". She hasn't said it since, so it may just be a coincidence, but Jeff and I both heard it. She is such a cute girl...when she isn't throwing a world famous tantrum!

Help! I need your "Mommy" advice!

This sweet little thing stopped sleeping through the night about six weeks ago due to teething. The evil little teeth have made an entrance, but this time she is holding onto old habits and waking me up 2-3 times every night. All I have to do is turn on her music and find her binkie in the dark and she goes right back to sleep.(I know she shouldn't have a binkie anymore, but we were going to break that habit when I am not sick all day.) Anyways, short story long, I seem to have insomnia this pregnancy. It takes me HOURS to get back to sleep and when I finally do, she wakes me up again. The less sleep I get, the more sick I seem to be during the day. What can I do?

Our Big Adventure for 2009

I have been a lot of things lately. I have been lazy, cranky, tired, sick, and have developed a talent for disappearing soon after we arrive at church. I am so sorry to any of you I may have blown off anytime in the last couple months. I have been busy building this.

Much like the first one, this one doesn't want me to be me for awhile. It wants me to be sick. Hopefully in another couple weeks I can convince It that It will have a much more comfortable ride for the next while if It is nicer to me. I have faith that eventually It will listen, after all, what can be more stubborn than me?!?

Baby #2 is due July 23, but I have an angel doctor who has already agreed to induce labor sooner so that I don't give birth to another toddler. What a good doctor!

Welcome 2009!

I have been a total blog slacker, and I have a good excuse, but that is a story for another day. We had a very merry Christmas at our house, but because we were trying to get some video we neglected the camera. I just realized we don't have even one Christmas picture for Rae's scrapbook. My mom of the year award is already in the mail.

As 2008 came to a close, I began to reflect on the changes it brought throughout the year. It was about this time last year that Rae was finally overcoming her colic...and what a blessing that was. I like to think of it as the beginning of a wonderful friendship. As the economy suffered, our family stumbled upon tight times as well. Jeff and I have come closer together and I have found that he and Rae really are the greatest joy in my life. We are also so grateful for supportive family and friends who understand and love me in spite of my sometimes stress induced grouchiness.

I love that a new year gives me a good reason to try and make simple changes to better my life. My goals this year are really quite vague. No weight goals this year. They don't ever work out for me. In 2009 I would like to be more prepared. I want to always feel like I can take care of my family. I am sure that just a little prep time on my part would help me breath easier during those "hard" weeks life throws my way. My other goal is kinda one of my deepest darkest secrets...so don't judge. I never clean my house. I almost can't remember what color my carpet is. I have a heart attack anytime there is a knock on the door because someone might see in. I am tired of feeling that way. I want to be proud to welcome visitors in my home...or at least the downstairs part of it.

I am excited to see what adventures 2009 will have to offer. Can't wait to create more wonderful memories with family and friends!!

(How is that for a totally long boring post that may be lacking vital information? Check back in a few days for pictures and an exciting story!)