tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60865627788727464662023-11-15T22:22:15.218-08:00Johnson & Johnson& mini JohnsonAJ Johnson: A Family Cohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17612980763801028690noreply@blogger.comBlogger67125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086562778872746466.post-36648942372926303432012-11-17T21:08:00.005-08:002012-11-17T21:14:12.525-08:00Our Weekend VisitI had my work's Christmas lunch in Lehi on Friday. **Love you girls.** Avery was going to go down to work at his dad's for the weekend. Being the geniuses we both are, why not go down as a family and stay over Friday night.<br />
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It's important to remember at this point in the story, we now live in Ogden.<br />
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I arranged to have us sleep over at my dad's, Ave's mom was going to take the little one, so we would even get a free night without a child. Date night? What's that? I scheduled a hair appointment for Saturday with my basically S-in-L. It was all coming together so perfectly.<br />
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I should've known then...<br />
<br />
First, Ave's mom had to cancel on us. Okay, I can deal, arrange for Audrey to stay with us at my dad's, ask dad if he will watch her, so we still get our date night, and find someone to watch her during my hair appointment.<br />
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Crisis averted.<br />
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Enjoy Christmas party whilst wrestling toddler. Pfft... I have been a mom for all of 18 months now, no sweat. Buy movie tickets for date night... James Bond is sexy. Get kiddo settled down for nap at my dad's. Then Ave's mom calls un-canceling begging for chance to watch Audrey again. Tell her she can have her Saturday. We're working on sharing. Pick up Avery, enjoy dinner with extended family, make sure Bug is taken care of, kiss her good night, and off to alone time.<br />
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'Skyfall' review: AWESOME, plus sexy.<br />
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Get back to dad's, Ady-bug has been asleep for maybe an hour, contemplate going to bed early too. Then I hear the crying. No worries. Comfort child, feed bottle, let say 'hi' to mom and dad for a little bit. That's all it was, she missed us. ;)<br />
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Tuck child back in pack 'n' play, get into pajamas, lay down on brother's stolen bed, blissful sigh...<br />
**ONE HOUR LATER** crying... no screaming, 'I'm-going-to-die-if-you-don't-pick-me-up-now' shrieking. Gently cuddle baby, attempt to soothe, offer bottle, offer binky, rock, bounce, threaten, bribe, worry, cry a little too **TWO HOURS LATER** no joke... still crying. Let me clarify, would stop crying if laying on my shoulder, then would sniffle, and relax enough to trick me into attempting to lay her down... then all hell would break loose again, someone was clearly ripping her arms out of her body, had to be to warrant that much screaming.<br />
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There comes a time when in attempt to soothe the poor child, you kiss, you rock, you whisper sweet things... it's not working. Then you grab then by the arms, explain calmly why they should be sleeping, tell her that she is going to wake the entire household with her banshee cries, try to plug it up with a pacifier... it's still not shutting up. Then when you see yourself covering her mouth, only to not let go, just so that she would just be quiet... it's time to wake up daddy.<br />
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Don't judge me. You know you've all been there.<br />
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I can recall every single instance that I've had the distinct feeling that I can no longer handle the crying, and I will do something I regret if I don't walk away. Luckily, those nights can only be counted on one hand. Most were in the first few months of her life. But, last night, she was determined to remind me why we don't yet have a second child.<br />
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Avery took over, tried everything I did. I laid on the bed going through scenarios in my head. She wasn't hungry. I had changed her diaper. She might've been teething or in pain, but I didn't bring any infant pain reliever with us. More than likely, it was a new place, not her bed, not her nightlight, with strange noises, and she was really, really tired. Why she wouldn't just relax and go to sleep then, is still beyond me. I suggested a car ride, and Ave braved the cold and drove around for a little while to no avail. I cat napped, ears still perked for them to get home. Calmer, but still not allowing us to lay her down, they watched television for about an hour. Finally, at about 3:00 AM, he was able to put her in her bed. Whatever it was, she had exhausted herself beyond the point of caring.<br />
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**THREE HOURS LATER** yep... oh, man. This time the comforting and binky worked until **ONE HOUR LATER** when it didn't. No consoling the child, no laying her back down to sleep. Avery begged me to take her for an hour or two so he could get a little more sleep before he went to work. I felt for him, most likely I would try squeezing in a nap at some point, but technically I had been up with her more/longer. Just for score keeping purposes, you know, I win. I attempted the whole routine for about another hour, finally bagged it and called it what it was, an early morning start to a seriously crappy night's sleep. We watched SW: Clone Wars until Ave woke up.<br />
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We all survived the 'Night the Toddler Would NOT Sleep at Grandpa's'. Avery dragged himself through work, I got my hair all did, and then got my little nap. **THANK YOU LORA** As did Audrey, sort of. She was still super ornery and tired all day. Gee, I wonder why? And after finally making it home tonight, promptly went down for the night at 7:30 PM.<br />
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If she wakes up tonight, she can just cry it out.<br />
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<br />AJ Johnson: A Family Cohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17612980763801028690noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086562778872746466.post-52665602071488665722012-11-10T13:32:00.002-08:002012-11-10T13:32:33.683-08:0018 MonthsShe's not a baby anymore. We've got a full fledged toddler on our hands. Complete with temper tantrums, talking, and running away from me at the store.<br />
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Awesome.<br />
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I have yet to take her to her 18 month appointment yet, so I'm not sure on her stats. But I'm sure they won't be good and I'll get in trouble for her weight. She's so tiny. I know she's only barely over 20 lbs, because we weighed her weekly on our scale until we knew we could switch her to the forward facing carseat. We did a dance when it finally hit 20. What do you do? Unfortunately, she is still drinking a lot of her calories by taking bottles. At least we're down to whole milk only, not plus formula, we finally were able to break that money draining need. I'm dreading weaning off the bottle, even though I know she should be old enough to just do the cup, the daycare gets kind of annoyed, she's the only one on a bottle still. But that's the only way she'll take milk, and the only way I know she's getting some calories. Ugh. She's getting better at eating, but not great.<br />
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Currently she eats lots and lots of goldfish crackers, string cheese, red bell peppers, greek yogurt, popcorn, cooked carrots, potatoes, any kind of pasta, small bites of chicken, and big bites of beef. She likes her red meat.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And chocolate chip cookies.</td></tr>
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Along the lines of weaning... she still uses the bink to sleep. The orthodontic assistant in me cringes every night, but I haven't had the nerve to get rid of that either. It's like the immediately-fall-asleep push button.<br />
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She started nursery last week and was a champ. Didn't even look back, just like when she started her new daycare last month. She does so well. She loves being in new places, being with the big kids, and doing the activities. She's really started getting into drawing and has been found with a pen in hand drawing me a pretty picture on important papers. She loves books.... loves!!! She brings me a Boo-boo (book) about every two minutes to read, then turns around and backs her bum right into my lap.<br />
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She loves her doggies, says hello to them every morning. Lately, she's been enjoying Yo Gabba Gabba (cringe) while I get ready in the morning. Along with the standbys of Phineas and Ferb, Sesame Street, and My Little Pony on Netflix. The other day we were listening to music and Aristocats played which made me immediately have the desire to watch it with her. Quick rental online at Amazon and stream to the XBOX (I love modern technology) and we had ourselves a movie afternoon. She sat through the whole thing, almost, but super close. She really only gets about one 'show' a day, but she won't just watch any old boring thing.<br />
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We've both enjoyed the new home and all that goes with it. She helps me put the clothes in the washer, unloads the dishes, helps me cook, and vacuum. Our routines for meals, cleaning, and playing are starting to get figured out and I love it. It feels so... normal. We're planning on getting her the <a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S49874533/" target="_blank">Ikea play kitchen</a> for Christmas. I've been saving links for felt food, to test out my sewing skills, we'll see if it happens. I'd like to try to put together a apron and mitts too, but let's not get ahead of ourselves.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Post shot of a busy day playing</td></tr>
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Her speech skills are coming along, she's got the normal Ma-ma, Da-da, Dogs, Kitty, Turtle, Fish is more like -ish, Car, Cracker, Nose, Socks, and Shoes. I'm sure there's more, but that's good enough to prove she's smart. She knows most of her body parts, loves the belly button, as most kids do.<br />
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Basically she's just super amazing and the cutest dang kid you ever would have the privilege of meeting. You are welcome.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Hi!'</td></tr>
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<br />AJ Johnson: A Family Cohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17612980763801028690noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086562778872746466.post-25564091196824618432012-10-13T14:41:00.001-07:002012-10-13T14:41:10.162-07:00My Ups & DownsLet's get real here for a moment... Life sucks. Sorry, Life. For the most part I love every little bit of you; the experiences, the flavors, the relationships. But you can just be draining!<br />
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Only a few years ago we were struggling to conceive a child, and that always seemed to have me down. The last five years have jailed Avery into schooling ie us being broke as a joke. The last three years we have had to depend on the generosity of friends and family for something as necessary as housing. The last year has been a lot of major changes for my extended family, which has been mostly downs... minor hiccups of lifts. The last five months of unknowns and transitions were at first killing me slowly with stress: no job, no hints of a job, no home, no money, no vehicle. Then suddenly... hope.<br />
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Not the Obama campaign slogan kind. The Godly, "I never forgot you," kind. The kind that drops you to your knees in gratitude. Thank you for not letting us starve. Thank you for not letting us go homeless. Thank you for the many blessings and gifts we've been given to survive this ordeal. I'm sorry when I was angry or frustrated and may or may not have some certain cuss words.<br />
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Avery had a job interview... in August. It looked really positive. A good job, a good opportunity, a good change. The unfortunate side, it was at Hill Air Force Base. The move was not the problem, that's the change. The problem would be, he would be employed by the government. Politics aside, I don't care, his job directly affects the Air Force; the military, the soldiers, and that's a good thing. What I do care about is that like anything with the government, the process takes an unnaturally long time. He interviewed in August, we had tentative contact from his future supervisor regarding gathering necessary paperwork for a couple weeks. Then nothing for four weeks. By the end, we thought the job was gone, another disappointment, and no more hope.<br />
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I think having hope, then losing it... can be far worse than never having it in the first place.<br />
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Then a preliminary offer. Not at all what Avery was expecting, but we honestly had no choice. The job market was not our friend. He accepted. We started looking for a rental home. More downs. Another story for another day. Finally, found a semi-decent one, that would require a lot of work to even be livable. Then the coordination of moving all of our belongings from Utah County, hiding in a 5x10 storage shed and our best friend's basement, to Ogden. Within a week.<br />
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Yeah, no. Sucks. And tiring.<br />
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But... new home! Uppity, up, up!<br />
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Bills. Rent. Groceries. Toilet paper. Cleaning supplies. No income. Depressingly down again.<br />
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Avery started training this past Tuesday. Very exciting, and uplifting. He's bored because it's mostly sexual harassment and security training. But... job! YAY!<br />
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Then we needed a second car to get us to our separate places of employment. More searching. Maybe a yes. Stress about the auto loan. Hand the check over. Drive it home.<br />
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Up?<br />
<br />
Try to register it the next day. Doesn't pass Safety.<br />
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Down.<br />
<br />
Yeah, Life, no you suck. You are just not my friend lately. You just can't let us win one, can you? Everything has to feel like this nail gouging hill climb of a battle to achieve the smallest victories. For every upward movement we feel, there's this sudden rock slide of disappointment to knock us back down.<br />
<br />
But guess what?<br />
<br />
From the bottom, the only direction is up.AJ Johnson: A Family Cohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17612980763801028690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086562778872746466.post-28001297023871458722012-07-05T15:18:00.002-07:002012-07-05T15:18:52.392-07:00My Evening Being Puked OnToddler puke smells... badly.<br />
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Baby vomit, is light and almost sweet smelling. I had lot's of experience with infant puke. Audrey had acid reflux the first 10 months of her life... no exaggeration. Only recently had that little joy righted itself. Even our last bout of stomach flu was during the more infant phase.<br />
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Then last night happened.<br />
At least four times.<br />
And I almost joined her... it was that nasty.<br />
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Toddler puke is chunky, and thick, and smells way worse than anything I EVER remember coming out of me. I have a huge, adult, probably-got-a-ton-of-stuff-floating-around-in-there tummy. But she wins... *gag*.<br />
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And we're not still not sure what triggered it. She's been having some mucus, drainage issues for a bit now. We figure just allergies, since she's not running a fever. She also happens to be growing some molars, my little tooth gardener. We'll hear her cough throughout the night, and occasionally start gagging on some slime, as we run in like frantic first-time-parents, that we are, to tip her upside down. She always hates that, being half asleep and flipped upside down with suddenly bright lights... I can't imagine why.<br />
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Then last night *cough*cough*stomach contents.<br />
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Sick.<br />
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Ave bathed her while I mopped up the mattress. *gag* Brushed her teeth, because I'm a freak like that, and laid her back down. 30 minutes later... AGAIN!!!<br />
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This time, we tried keeping her up for a while to try settling her stomach, she drank some water, watched some Avatar: Last Airbender. Luckily, we had a popcorn bowl from earlier close by, because she wasn't done. A soaked couch, cleavage full, and two hours later her stomach was completely empty.<br />
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Poor baby.<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">Today she's fine, just acting starving and completely ornery, and tired, very tired.</span><br />
And she stole my sandwich.<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">She would only, finally, take a nap when her giraffe lovie finished drying.</span><br />
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I joked with Ave... let's have another!</div>
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<br />AJ Johnson: A Family Cohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17612980763801028690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086562778872746466.post-37698548085356758102012-02-05T19:53:00.000-08:002012-02-05T19:53:35.551-08:00Nine Months Come and Gone<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="320" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoZLV3Kl52iADrODZPaIMM9bCgZr-jfNAd4e0Ik8l9OLB_elQKVyiY8qc3XM5bqNaXOyZt4NYnLzHwO-1XJqHP2ynKGruDOzPqSiPY6VkbvrVXCYnl7H5YGFpk578NXw3i7LW4_9EBM10/s320/mail.jpg" width="240" /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Watching the Super Bowl.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Audrey is nine months old today. Everybody together now... CRA-UH-AZEY. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">How common is it, that the first few months drug on forever.... but the last six have FLOWN? Just me?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">She is so stinking cute. But I'm sure you knew that.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">She's just recently gotten really talkative. Everytime she takes off crawling she lets out her war cry, "Ah, da-da-da, nah-nah, pbbttt!" She's a super fast crawler now, to the point I have to run after her if I turn my head for a second. She's started climbing as well; chairs, bookshelves, couches. She's been a great stander for forever, seriously since she was born she wanted to stand. But NOW she can do it all on her own. She can hold steady on her own feet for a second then she chickens out and plops down on her bum. For Christmas she got a <a href="http://www.fisher-price.com/fp.aspx?st=2341&e=detail&pcat=bubrilliant&pid=44950">walker-stroller</a>, she can cruise with that thing. She also scoots along the side of the couch and ottoman. Even our double french doors to the backyard, she'll scoot from side to side watching the doggies outside.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">So, it's probably only a matter of time before she starts walking on her own.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">*SIGH* I'm hoping since she's such a chicken right now it will postpone the inevitable. It already weirds me out to find her reaching up on the chair, with only one hand holding on. For a such a tiny baby, she looks like such a big girl.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Hi8GcxYmGhq4Ku7xTurgyzpwbfjsANyy5qm9y-_nIUverkRPHZ-TQsFH8CBsIdv4sbxj4ibFEwSNNNQnbWnEusCjSW8mirf8PB5gdz4Qb_wruQeI-ZL25YRaNEfRnIs7NtWyOSg1iC8/s1600/IMG251.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Hi8GcxYmGhq4Ku7xTurgyzpwbfjsANyy5qm9y-_nIUverkRPHZ-TQsFH8CBsIdv4sbxj4ibFEwSNNNQnbWnEusCjSW8mirf8PB5gdz4Qb_wruQeI-ZL25YRaNEfRnIs7NtWyOSg1iC8/s320/IMG251.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Weight wise, she's still tiny. She's just barely over 16 lbs. I just barely switched out her clothes to the 6-9 month size this week. And only because she had gotten too tall for the smaller size, not too fat by any means. Her shoes are still 0-3 months. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">She's still not a great eater. Which probably contributes to the weight. She takes her bottle like a champ, but only if <em>she</em> wants it. She'll drink about 4-6 ounces at a time every few hours to equal about 30 ounces . She refuses baby food. She loves the puffs, pirate booty, goldfish, and animal crackers. She'll eat bread and french fries, sort of. She only sort of mashes it in her mouth, tasting it, and then spits it out. Which is what she also does with any other food I try to feed her; fruits, veggies, meats, pastas, etc. My mother-in-law did get her to drink a smoothie from her sippy cup, which she liked. Normally she won't drink any water or juice. Weird kid.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Her first tooth popped through yesterday. YAY!!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">She is in a pretty consistent nap and sleep schedule now. I lay her down typically at 10 AM, she'll sleep 1-2 hours, then again at 3PM and she'll sleep 2-3 hours. I guess that's not really all that consistent, but it's great for her. She goes to bed 7-8PM. She'll then wake up occasionally during the night, but typically I don't go get her. She'll cry a little bit, or just talk to herself and eventually goes back to sleep. She wakes up ready for the day 7-8AM. It's a great day if I can hold her off until 8:30AM. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I usually only work Monday and Tuesday. Which right now is tricky trying to find some consistent childcare. But then I have the rest of the week to hang out with baby girl. We do chores, she loves the vacuum. Go to lunch with friends, her bestie is probably Kyler. She loves big kids though. If we go anywhere where there are older kids running around, she'll chase them everywhere giggling. She desperately wants to be able to play with them. She doesn't even mind when they knock her over rough-housing. That might have something to do with her being used to two golden retriever siblings.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">She'll sit and watch Sesame Street and Phineas and Ferb... for like two minutes. But anytime the P&F theme song comes on, or the Big Bang Theory theme, she'll drop everything she's doing and come crawling over to dance to the song. She loves music. Her idea of dancing is bouncing up and down on her bum and flapping her arms. She's got talent.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">She loves the bath. Her daddy. She'll give big open mouth, fishy kisses. Peek-a-boo is her favorite game. Or peeking under the baby-gate at daddy. She'll tilt her head sideways and lean down just to giggle at him. She hasn't quite gotten the hang of saying 'hi' on the phone, she's more interested in eating it. Just like any new item or bit of dirt she finds. Straight to the mouth. She loves running errands. She'll only tolerate her car seat for so long, but loves riding in the cart like a big girl. She's never been very cuddly but has gotten to where after she finishes her bottle she'll just lay there with her round, full belly poking out and relax for a second. And then it's arch the back to get down and take off again. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I know everyone says this about their children, but I can't believe how big she's getting. Sometimes I really do miss my tiny little newborn. But she is developing such an amazing, curious, joyous personality... I can't help but love her. I miss her terribly when I'm away from her. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Kind of a turnaround from only six months ago. Which I suppose is a really good thing. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">She's an amazing little girl. What's not to love?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Happy nine months baby girl!!! Don't worry, I'm already planning your birthday party.</span>AJ Johnson: A Family Cohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17612980763801028690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086562778872746466.post-52092848959273191542012-02-02T20:27:00.000-08:002012-02-02T20:28:23.043-08:00My Life Through Others'There are a few negative aspects of blogging. To me, blogging, is mostly about telling the stories. Being a storyteller is strangely enlightening. You tend to see the world in a different light. Reading some of my favorite authors' blogs can leave me feeling giddy and thankful. Both good things in this dreary world. Some of our stories are hard to tell. Sometimes they're painful to relive. Often the painful ones are more or less therapy for me, especially to reread at a later date and remember how strong I actually am. I survived that? I am awesome!<br />
But sometimes those stories involve other people. Actually, most stories involve others to some extent. But sometimes their story overshadows your story. Sometimes telling their story would just belittle their experiences. Or insult their character in some fashion.<br />
I don't wish to hurt anyone by telling my story. My story can include being angry at the action of others. Calling them out on it, doesn't necessarily correct the behavior. It only hurts feelings. Anonymity isn't an option on the internet. Especially, when half the people who read your blog are related to you.<br />
My parents are now divorced.<br />
This has been very painful to me. That story cannot be shared in the fullness because I love both my mother and my father very much. There are no sides. There was a marriage between two people. There is still a family. But the whole dynamic between these parties involved has changed... dramatically. Change is hard.<br />
It came very suddenly, and played out quickly. Announced right before Thanksgiving in fact. Yay... holidays. *SARCASM* Then my grandfather passed away. My father, who was already grieving due to a different loss, now felt the emptiness of losing a parent. The next day, my little brother had to be admitted to the hospital, and was subsequently diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. <br />
Sucks to be him. <br />
No, really. That poor kid. The same one who joined the Marine Corps, got in a horrific, fiery motor vehicle accident, which led to multiple surgeries and years of recovery. Had twin baby girls last fall, at the same time returning to school to support his now family of four. Yeah, sucks. That boy has the worst luck in the universe. Luckily, he caught it quickly enough to cause no long term damage. But his medical costs just went through the roof. And now the Corp will probably discharge him, they don't like liabilities like diabetics. Ouch!<br />
See, makes my life look not all that bad. But then there's the part where it seems like I am playing off his story, or demeaning it in some way. Do you see my point?<br />
Some stories cannot ever be really shared to their full extent. Because some people in your life are too important to ever really be able to explain accurately to the interweb. One day I hope to look back on this winter and wonder how I survived. It was a winter of tragedy. Most of it was spent grieving in some sense or the other: grieving with my siblings about our broken family, grieving with my individual parents and helping them find happiness, grieving with my sister-in-law regarding her sick husband and now unknown future, grieving with my extended family over the loss of our patriarch, and grieving alone about the weight all these troubles carry. Well, that last one is a little unfair. I have a very strong companion in Avery. He is my shoulder to grieve on, and my pulley. When I need to stand back up again, he does all the heavy lifting.<br />
I have a lot to be grateful for: my immediate family is sound. The three of us are quite happy together. Audrey is a beautiful, happy little girl. She brings us both so much joy. Avery is doing so well in school, and is on track to finish his Master's research by the spring. Which means so much for our future! All happy, joyful things! My work has been a blessing in disguise. Our friends have been incredibly understanding. Extended family all still love us and are trying their best to do the right thing.<br />
Is it sad that sometimes the sad stories overshadow all the good?AJ Johnson: A Family Cohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17612980763801028690noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086562778872746466.post-84981647926954820562011-12-31T13:51:00.001-08:002011-12-31T13:51:43.080-08:00Our Year in PhotosI made this for my brother, Ammon, for Christmas. So ignore the Elder Rhodes bit. Overall I find it a good summary of our year... complete with lot's of photos of lil' one. WARNING: Approx 19 min long... you should have control to skip over more quickly, but there's still a lot!<br />
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<table bgcolor="#ffffff" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="http://smilebox.com/play/4d6a67334e7a6b794d44553d0d0a&blogview=true&campaign=blog_playback_link" target="_blank"><img alt="Click to play this Smilebox slideshow" height="303" src="http://smilebox.com/snap/4d6a67334e7a6b794d44553d0d0a.jpg" style="border: medium none;" width="386" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/?partner=google&campaign=blog_snapshot" target="_blank"><img alt="Create your own slideshow - Powered by Smilebox" height="46" src="http://www.smilebox.com/globalImages/blogInstructions/blogLogoSmileboxSmall.gif" style="border: medium none;" width="386" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td align="center"><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/" target="_blank">Slideshow</a> created with Smilebox</td></tr>
</tbody></table>AJ Johnson: A Family Cohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17612980763801028690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086562778872746466.post-3853270199293441722011-11-10T23:32:00.000-08:002011-11-10T23:32:14.725-08:00Under PressureWell... hello there. Long time no see. Of course, ultimately for very good reasons. Buuuu.... uhhhuuuttt... I'm feeling this extreme amount of pressure to blog again. If only to record the beautiful things happening these days, or even the not so beautiful. In my defense I have started like a bajillion posts, including my delivery story and a day by day playback of the first two weeks of the lil' ones life. Because recording how many times she pooed is very important for posterity. You know it is.<br />
Then yesterday she had her six month well child check with Dr. Grandpa. And I was in a panic that I haven't been recording every little thing possible. That all the little changes haven't been shared enough.<br />
There are multiple reasons, one, being the computer I save all my pictures on has been ridiculous about connecting to the internet. And everybody knows you can't write a post after six months without including a picture bomb of the adorable daughter. Duh!<br />
Two through five hundred include: having a baby, recovering from having a baby, feeding baby, getting mastitis twice, changing baby (times one million), not sleeping, cleaning baby puke, going back to work, find someone to watch baby, doing laundry, finding a spare moment to shower, etc.<br />
To summarize: the first three months were HARD. Yes, all caps were appropriate in that sentence. She was colicky, had horrible reflux, breastfeeding was a nightmare, she would not sleep, and cried constantly. I only survived because I had so much help. Avery was wonderful. My mother a life saver, especially when I got mastitis the first time... which happened to be the second weekend home with her, and Avery and my dad were in Moab. Ugh. And Avery's mom, Lora, taking her so many Saturdays just so I could sleep.<br />
I went back to work after six weeks... note to self: way too soon. Luckily, it was teaching only a day or two a week, but still with everything, it was too much for me.<br />
Now don't get me wrong, she was beautiful and tiny and perfect. But I probably have PTSD from the 'newborn' stage.<br />
Then magically she transformed. She decided to wean on her own, absolutely refused, so we switched to formula. Found the perfect one for sensitive tummies, added rice cereal to weigh it down, and poof.... colic and reflux cured. She stopped puking, stopped crying as much, started sleeping. *****HALLELUJAH***** Angels singing, light of heaven shining down. I suddenly had a <i>happy</i> and beautiful and tiny and perfect baby.<br />
She started rolling, then never stopped, started laughing, started smiling, started playing on her own, started pushing herself up, started standing, started crawling, started pulling herself up. All in a matter of three months. Best three months of my life. I love how much fun she has become. We laugh and play and dance. She can still be super annoying, she is very high maintenance, way too independent for a six month old, and way too smart for my sanity. But now I can honestly say I enjoy being a mother.<br />
It might have been a good thing I didn't write a post in those first few months. There would have been way too many murmurings about my mental health. The other day I finally had the thought about having another baby without dropping into the fetal position and sucking my thumb. Don't worry it still won't be for a while. A long, long while. It's interesting how badly I wanted to have a baby, how long I waited for her, how hard we tried, and then how difficult I've found every step. It's not necessarily sad, just interesting. Life is funny.<br />
Things are lovely. I love her so much. She loves daddy more, but you can't always win. I changed jobs, which has turned out wonderfully. I love my job. I love my time with her. Teaching her things, or just watching her figure them out on her own. Which is what usually happens. I know every parent thinks this, but she's a freaking genius. It's insane. Her little serious face when she concentrates super hard cracks me up. How hard she laughs at the silly things Uncle Austin does, is my favorite. How she growls at daddy every time she sees him, because he taught her that, drives me nuts, but it's still adorable. She is my life. And I am totally okay with that.<br />
There are still a few bad, but not nearly as much. Avery is almost done with school, but still has to work a lot on his Master's thesis and project. My work is great, though lately it's been hard to find childcare and I worry about leaving her. Our health has been good, but I'm still not 100% after the pregnancy. I swear my organs are still jacked up. Plus, the amount of Dr. Pepper I drink is unhealthy, and not helping the weight loss. Avery and I are great, doing well adjusting to being parents and partners. He is a great daddy. He comes home kissing Audrey all over, telling her how much he missed her, and how beautiful she is. And then I say "Uh, hello? I'm here too." :)<br />
I can't wait until we can move out and have a place of our own. But will always be extremely grateful to my parents. I worry about my loved ones' health. There's been some concerns lately. Makes you realize how lucky you are sometimes. And makes you realize how fragile we all really are. I have full blown nightmares about Audrey; being hurt, in danger, or killed. Is that normal? I don't necessarily worry as much during the day, but when my thoughts wander at night....<br />
Luckily, my monitor has a video function that I can switch on and look in on her without waking her. And if I turn up the sound enough, I can hear her snore. Unfortunately, she inherited that from me. Like right now, if you could see her, she's all curled up with her bum and in the air and talking in her sleep. Makes me teary, while smiling.<br />
Oh, and PS she weighs a whopping 14 lbs which puts her in the 12% (good for her) and is 25 inches long (44%) and her head circumference in the 50%. We call her 'bobble head baby': big head, skinny body. But we also call her AdeyBug, Bugga, BabyGirl, and DriDri.<br />
You can call her Audrey. My daughter.AJ Johnson: A Family Cohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17612980763801028690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086562778872746466.post-61484591569279025642011-04-08T16:52:00.001-07:002011-04-08T17:21:29.465-07:00Bumpin' TogetherWhat do two VERY pregnant girls do for funsies these days? Well, there's the pajama party we had last week. Complete with about $20 worth of Easter candy and Taco Bell. The best part... no pants. Ugh! I hate pants. Like the real kind you have to zip up and everything. So very tight. Also, sports bras. Yay! Usually, I don't leave the house in one for the general population's sake, but when I'm guaranteed to not see anyone I know... then I'm all over that. Hanna doesn't really count as someone I know, because, well she's in the same upper-half boat.<br />Some days it's just the park or a walk around the cemetery block. This is if we actually get out of the house instead of just texting/complaining all day about how large we feel. I say we... I mean me.<br />This week we decided to be productive girls and head up to Park City for a little shop 'til you drop outing. Which to be honest, I was expecting to have happen after the first store. I have zero energy lately. Negative zero. Vacuuming nearly killed me this week. I changed the sheets and almost passed out on the bed right then and there. When we parked and I recalled really how large the outlets were, I panicked a little bit.<br />But... it was so very fun! I survived! I spent way too much! But hey, what can you do when Carter's has a sale? Say no?!? Pshaw! They get me every time with those summer dresses. My cute little doll/baby has some outfits I'm envious of.<br />Then we hit a few other stores, even grown up ones, and walked around. The most amusing part of all was our reflections in the store windows. The combined girth of the bellies is officially ginormous! In DownEast we were testing out hair accessories (since that's really the only thing in that store I fit into) and I documented part of the swelling.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3wjrb6O41q7XyYAjOavLH6ySotyKDuDeCXFKQgBykkq0hqqs0Fig7EEPu8t-F15Z6Ykz0hBbBSbTYjjvKlQ34dnYVcV-IcUnyg1VdrfJZpwG-T7m3_m5wNdYbUxpTb6DdGd5MNHjw-7s/s1600/DSC02387.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3wjrb6O41q7XyYAjOavLH6ySotyKDuDeCXFKQgBykkq0hqqs0Fig7EEPu8t-F15Z6Ykz0hBbBSbTYjjvKlQ34dnYVcV-IcUnyg1VdrfJZpwG-T7m3_m5wNdYbUxpTb6DdGd5MNHjw-7s/s320/DSC02387.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593365667986113618" /></a><br /><br />Can you say Buh-Elly? Cracks me up though. Do you like how I wore black because it's slimming? Hehehe... it does make it blend a bit better. Hmmm... maybe I need more black shirts.<br />All in all, a good day, the sun was shining, pretty clothes, talk of babies. Oh and this kid...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8lmDW3TBRr78nKdlCKWgeLByphxaphFyKAJSXj58DvCFfKlbOBLGNdZzEl9vsIh_pd2WPa35c0yIaDC4n9a77sKu1j13SUcCI8G8ZDr6apd8P9Zj2u-jdpPbnRXxc213pFHpyQRz2gXg/s1600/DSC02383.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8lmDW3TBRr78nKdlCKWgeLByphxaphFyKAJSXj58DvCFfKlbOBLGNdZzEl9vsIh_pd2WPa35c0yIaDC4n9a77sKu1j13SUcCI8G8ZDr6apd8P9Zj2u-jdpPbnRXxc213pFHpyQRz2gXg/s320/DSC02383.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593365671782613826" /></a><br /><br />He makes me happy. Something about him... dunno. He's one of the coolest kids I know. Maybe it's the fact he remembers my name. Or how he gets the biggest toothy grin when he says, "Jenn!" Or that every time his mom mentions me he asks, "Dogs?" Because he loves my puppies, except when they lick him. I guess in reality he likes the idea of them more than their actual presence. But the coolest is that he remembers my furry babies names' when I show him a picture because he is sad that I didn't bring them with me to our shopping trip. "Apollo." and "Missy" never sounded so dang cute. <br />Hopefully, I'll like my own daughter as much. Hopefully, she'll be as entertaining and clever. Hopefully, she'll be cute and we can enjoy shopping trips together.<br /> <br />I CANNOT WAIT!!!<br />Speaking of baby girl... get out of there already!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH1EnXVqhEsYY92iJCGFeu-v8wqnDe_f_XnCSVB5CATJF9uYluwyTtw4ZrSKVQkzJcRjCt_VkFLk_8p3OpPu2LC8v9RF6C4bXGc0cPdYpau3ES4MVoOyPL5jfGVsvgZfTZgNiBI9mWf2w/s1600/DSC02391.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH1EnXVqhEsYY92iJCGFeu-v8wqnDe_f_XnCSVB5CATJF9uYluwyTtw4ZrSKVQkzJcRjCt_VkFLk_8p3OpPu2LC8v9RF6C4bXGc0cPdYpau3ES4MVoOyPL5jfGVsvgZfTZgNiBI9mWf2w/s320/DSC02391.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593365675550024514" /></a>AJ Johnson: A Family Cohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17612980763801028690noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086562778872746466.post-760831523735401482011-02-08T19:20:00.000-08:002011-02-08T20:17:05.762-08:00My Body Is A WonderlandMaybe I should rethink that title...<br />Our bodies are amazing. No, seriously, think about it. Do you know what kind of crazy stuff we can do to them, and they just heal right back up? I've seen it. I love it. I am that weird girl who was always fascinated by the human body. It is just so cool. How the different mini and not so mini systems work together. How all the little parts fit together. We went to the Bodies exhibit in Las Vegas on our first anniversary, I was giddy. GIDDY! Who does that? ...Me...<br /><br />So last night I was laying there, trying to sleep... again (aren't you glad I didn't blog this time?) and my daughter was squirming around every which way, making me slightly queasy. Fetal movement does that to me. I tell you, I don't love the sensation. Plus, it just keeps me awake!<br /><br />I started thinking about what exactly was going on in there. This whole reproduction deal. Now I am not going to lie. Pregnancy used to gross me out. Having this living creature grow inside you. Reminds me too much of the Alien movies. You know, where the thing squirms around beneath the skin and then SPLACK... pops out and devours everyone in the room. <br />Whenever one of my friends was pregnant and the fetus would push an entire foot or hand through. AAAAHHHH!!!! Kill it!!!<br /><br />Maybe not kill it, but creepy, no?<br />But last night... it was pure magic. The fact that my body could produce another body. Magic. Everything my daughter needs to grow and stretch started out with my body and then her's took off on it's own. She has eyelashes now! Awesome. Somehow my body has just formed this other living being. Even my organs have sacrificed their personal space to make room for the bubble that houses that being. My skin has stretched and expanded to beyond reasonable expectation. I have the stretch marks to prove it. Not so much on my stomach; as my hip, thighs, butt, and... yeah... ahem.<br /><br />Speaking of... The fact that my body could produce something edible. Nasty! Another thing that used to creep me right out. Anything that comes OUT of the human body should not be ingested. I've worked in rest homes before.<br /><br />But now the thought that my body will soon be able to nourish and feed my daughter even after she's out and independent (so to speak), is amazing. (On a side note: has anybody researched selling/donating breast milk? I'm curious.) The fact that a human body can not only form another human body but then continue to help it grow after it ejects, is just so cool. Pretty soon I will have that little girl to hold and snuggle. She just needs a bit more time to bake. <br /><br />For one small moment I treasured the feeling of her poking my ribs on one side and distending my belly on the other. I reveled in the wonder of it all. My body is cool. And guess what... so is hers. How lucky are we? Poor males have no idea what they are missing.<br /><br />Then she kicked me extra hard and I was annoyed again.AJ Johnson: A Family Cohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17612980763801028690noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086562778872746466.post-26342925034066931502011-02-03T21:00:00.000-08:002011-02-03T21:14:53.145-08:00My Reward SystemSince a few of you (I'm sorry) sat through that entire post known as Jenn's brainwaves (again... I'm sorry) I thought I would keep this one light and fluffy.<br /><br />Treat?<br /><br />So without further ado here are pictures of puppy... our new little girl Artemis.<br />And belly... our future little girl Audrey.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0w7cuOPTTJynTmoNAa4af1MMIgGb6fbPBJJEJqawUg3I3fbwcFOk7scKPwqJZo_r5mYLOd0R1d4I_dOK-HNVJe4JjOdYYkybXXOZVqWyXu0BjA2sGck8kE-HvgGcvMxg-LhnUeABt35k/s1600/DSC02314.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0w7cuOPTTJynTmoNAa4af1MMIgGb6fbPBJJEJqawUg3I3fbwcFOk7scKPwqJZo_r5mYLOd0R1d4I_dOK-HNVJe4JjOdYYkybXXOZVqWyXu0BjA2sGck8kE-HvgGcvMxg-LhnUeABt35k/s320/DSC02314.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569695929864006402" /></a><br /><br />I really don't like going to bed alone. Last night, when Avery stayed up late to play his new map pack on Call of Duty, these two snuggled with me. I love furry body pillows.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEqFQxnNuetogCw0nHg4G4mj-aXAXWcOytXcVg_yGhRhyBSzxTkj-ErPLZdE3aY2Y9TXHV8mPfRwabXEaTGnLyTJBAAmmRJwC03Amt6Zte7sBuZYT875VWcf1N_EM7WfKa7B7EDA0-VrI/s1600/DSC02224.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 221px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEqFQxnNuetogCw0nHg4G4mj-aXAXWcOytXcVg_yGhRhyBSzxTkj-ErPLZdE3aY2Y9TXHV8mPfRwabXEaTGnLyTJBAAmmRJwC03Amt6Zte7sBuZYT875VWcf1N_EM7WfKa7B7EDA0-VrI/s320/DSC02224.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569695925767818562" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcOKFbXn5AVuZ2G57YNuJs55DaP8mfmzmGwbfGUJjF6jzBECJpxYrvyWALcxUFTlMxfPhY4-i7M7mquf7qXTAG1D-CJK6ri9iPZJxxxDNzMDVTljXpEMrkVCo8aMAMD-EteFTORRRrmgg/s1600/DSC02282.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcOKFbXn5AVuZ2G57YNuJs55DaP8mfmzmGwbfGUJjF6jzBECJpxYrvyWALcxUFTlMxfPhY4-i7M7mquf7qXTAG1D-CJK6ri9iPZJxxxDNzMDVTljXpEMrkVCo8aMAMD-EteFTORRRrmgg/s320/DSC02282.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569695919115339874" /></a><br /><br />This from the first week we got her. She's so tiny! Aww, they grow up so fast, don't they?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9mXhEqSKNiukHA06TyRMrC3Ae0UeIKAOI2CXSzKBl6zVA3yORTbAvO4NdE4EVnam_Huo2lYDQZCpJSINn8Tzk7sxcN9aAtmd0KII_0Che_8AMtozJHvR2_h7laGHR8wVEhrHaqGDIhOY/s1600/DSC02151.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9mXhEqSKNiukHA06TyRMrC3Ae0UeIKAOI2CXSzKBl6zVA3yORTbAvO4NdE4EVnam_Huo2lYDQZCpJSINn8Tzk7sxcN9aAtmd0KII_0Che_8AMtozJHvR2_h7laGHR8wVEhrHaqGDIhOY/s320/DSC02151.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569695913431838018" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjP71O19lFivN7hngcgPFdk21XXFgk0TJL003RFDqtrv2CljNrwID10u8IoqNVYRsyjMKddrjbfXnc_JyiYhu68VletWSg5PZm_7WB2CgSd2b3QT26rVwc646B5qLs_2tQUzpgh9hElF0/s1600/DSC02321.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjP71O19lFivN7hngcgPFdk21XXFgk0TJL003RFDqtrv2CljNrwID10u8IoqNVYRsyjMKddrjbfXnc_JyiYhu68VletWSg5PZm_7WB2CgSd2b3QT26rVwc646B5qLs_2tQUzpgh9hElF0/s320/DSC02321.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569696447688587362" /></a><br /><br />Why yes, that is a Star Wars shirt (little boy section Target).<br />You know how all the fancy blogs list where they got their clothes... you are welcome.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRxUKfeLTpB7s0Wp7K5wbge5YE8VRq8MoyUF2vkNpDxAYWFcCo9LPjmdgFgzE1Z-C5pQhc_Wd7F8BkjjnOze5Rvmt-8KM8a2O_Sccbukb1nYIuEHfgUwE3kNuh4ZbtVVRaWsQA1eoPj8w/s1600/DSC02320.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRxUKfeLTpB7s0Wp7K5wbge5YE8VRq8MoyUF2vkNpDxAYWFcCo9LPjmdgFgzE1Z-C5pQhc_Wd7F8BkjjnOze5Rvmt-8KM8a2O_Sccbukb1nYIuEHfgUwE3kNuh4ZbtVVRaWsQA1eoPj8w/s320/DSC02320.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569695934936559378" /></a><br /><br />If you look really close you might be able to see her squirm.<br /><br />Enjoy your warm, fuzzies!AJ Johnson: A Family Cohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17612980763801028690noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086562778872746466.post-80371091617880894962011-01-26T01:16:00.000-08:002011-01-26T02:30:43.843-08:00Laaate NightDid you know that in linguistics, technically the term for how I worded that title is representational? You have my... ahem... Avery's Engl 1200 class to thank for that one. Yes, I am the kind of wife that takes entire online classes for her husband. No, I do not do it willingly, nor often. But as he likes to point out, I actually think these sort of things are fascinating and I'm so good at it. No one can ever say that boy does not know how to work me over. A few words and a good kiss, a good one, mind you. Not those little peck things that you give to other members of your family. But the way you only kiss your wife... and I'm buttah.<br />In case you couldn't tell, I haven't been getting much sleep lately. Strike that. I've been in bed, but not actually accomplishing any REM cycles. Something is up. And it's annoying! I love sleep. Sleep makes everything better. And now with so much free time... hahaha, oh wait not allowed to bust out laughing yet, I thought it would come so much more readily. No more having to drag myself to the office at all early hours. BOO! Which is nice. Instead I just lay there all... night... long. Having strange night/day dreams that just leave me feeling awkward. Like the one where I was apparently back on my mission with all my elders, but they were all married, and I was pregnant because even in my daze her kicking me all night was carrying through, and this kid I dated in high school showed up and started trying to convince me he would be a better father, even though I'm pretty sure the life he has led up until now (real life time) isn't what I would want for my children, and all I really wanted was my Avery, and a riisipirakka. Mmmm.... I miss riisipirakka. They are like this rice pastry thing that you put egg butter on. Egg butter is butter that has chunks of hard boiled egg in it. Sooo good. Hey there's that representational term again. <br />Linguistics are interesting. It's not just English. I'm all right with English. We've always had a good relationship. Even up until AP English in high school where we had to write these short stories all the time and one of them, I wrote about walking down the halls of high school and feeling good about yourself and my friends found it and made fun of me for a good three years. Or even until my English 2000 class in college where I despised my teacher and spent the entire semester working on one writing assignment, that I chose to do on the evils of modern healthcare. See, I figured out the solution years ago, what are all the politicians doing? And I would come home and call my boy...friend... I'm not sure what we ever were, and complain but he had no sympathy. Probably why we didn't last. My feelings require constant validation. Even if Avery doesn't really care, he knows enough to lie to me, and give a good ol' fashioned, "That sucks, babe."<br />But linguistics are interesting because it really has nothing to do with English. In fact his/my quiz has examples of Latin, Tagalog, Fijian, Finnish, and German on it. You can imagine I was very pleased to see Finnish. It is after all a very good example of how many cases one can cram into one teeny-tiny language nobody really speaks. But linguistics is more about words. I adore words. Who knows why. It's sort of odd really. But I'm fascinated by how words became what they have, and how they come together to make new words. Like 'jeggings' have you heard this word yet? Seriously, leggings and jeans. Fascinating. Not saying I really want to use it that much, hopefully it'll die soon, like the fashion trend, but still... awesome word. Do you know what the term is for making up new words out of old ones? I do. See why Avery made me take this course.<br />It's making me feel a bit overwhelmed though. What if I mess up? What if he gets a bad grade? It would be one thing if it were to be on my report card. Mine's full of the freshman year overload disaster known as the retake of Precalculus. The first time I think Avery's been truly embarrassed by me was when he saw my grade from that class. Sad. But perfect 4.0 Avery!?! What if I mess up his chances of graduating next spring? What if he won't be able to get the dream job he's been aiming for going on six years now? *STRESS*<br />On top of that there really is a lot going on with my job right now. Yes, I still have a job. I'm supposed to be writing and editing about four power points presentations this week, and two quizzes, and a review, and researching local dentists, and reviewing marketing material, and doing deliveries to offices to pimp my course, and a career fair at a high school. *STRESS*<br />Not sleeping is not helping... at all.<br />Unfortunately, I can only find so much time to shake off the aftereffects due to no sleep. Then the end of the week ends jam packed with the to-do list that I put off and I have to spend hours staring a computer screen to catch up. <br />And then I lay awake thinking... How am I supposed to do all this with a baby? What was I thinking? I can't have a baby right now! How on earth are we going to pay for this? How am I going to survive this? Why won't she stop moving?<br />See right now it's 2:47 AM and I'm slightly panicking. I'm also up late because I started reading this <a href="http://www.natthefatrat.com">blog</a> after it was mentioned in the salon.com article. Have you heard about this article? First I have to tell you how many times I've been laughing out loud in the dark while reading old posts and trying not to wake the puppy because of the author of the blog. A woman after my own heart. Anywho. But the article itself is by a self-proclaimed atheist, childless, 20 something women who adores Mormon Mommy Blogs. And now has brought out all these questions as to why they are so popular, what does it all mean, is it a massive marketing campaign generated by the church and so forth. I felt very deep after reading it and reflecting on it. I also felt very blessed for my life. I am lucky to have it all, so to speak. Even if having it all, is living in your parents basement while your husband finishes his 90th year of school, and you're too poor to even buy a crib, and you really don't know how to sew. Like all the Mormon Mommy Bloggers too. So I guess I'm not part of the in crowd.<br />But my good friend Hanna and I were commenting on the article. Do you know my friend Hanna? She's probably my bestest friend in the whole world and not just because she's one of the smartest people I know, or the only one who I think I could text about this article I read and she says... oh that, I read that last week. And have something intellectual to add to my already deep thoughts. My thoughts aren't really that deep but when I spend a fair amount time on a subject I can go on for a while. Like this post...<br />Hanna and me are sort of complete opposites. No, really, for a best friend you wouldn't believe that, but it's true. There was a time when we roomed together, while she was in college and I was working, that I wondered how on earth we became friends. But then we would talk about things on our way to country dancing and I realized she was my soul friend. Not soul mate. Because A) I don't believe in those. B) If I did, it would be my husband.<br />But we do like to joke that we married each other. My Avery could be Hanna, if he wore a wig and had a pair of vans. Those two think so much alike it's scary, especially when I'm complaining about him and she's on his side! Pshaw. But on the other hand, her man, is a little more the emotional, needy type like myself. That's not to be insulting in any way because her husband is very manly. He owns a woodworking shop. Like a carpenter! Very manly. But his thought processes are probably more similar to my own, than Hanna's or Avery's. So usually I can translate for her what he's thinking.<br />Also Hanna served a mission with me, not in Finland, but she left at the same time I did, more or less, so our attitudes on religion grew up about the same time. Which was very fun to share with someone.<br />Anyways that's Hanna and mine relationship. So you'll keep all that in mind as I say that we were commenting on the article and picking out some of our favorite comments "Mormons are nice people, but their religion is some weird cross between Scientology and Budhism." And then started discussing how the author herself seems drawn to the life probably because secretly it's what everyone woman is programmed to be drawn to in a way, no matter how much they fight it. And how we really are lucky to be able to be mothers. Then we started complaining about the various body parts that hurt today, because did I tell you we are literally due like a week apart? <br />Then I stayed up reading this blog; and identifying with this girl's journey from being unable to conceive to now having a beautiful son and living this life I can only dream of. And I realize I'm living it. <br />And I'm so very grateful. And no it's not staged. Some of it does suck like being in a tiny apartment, or your parent's basement. Some of it is letting go of your pride or impatience (Thanks, Christine =) )and trusting in the Lord, after doing all the hard work. Most of it really is unglamorous with late nights and lack of sleep. Most of it goes unnoticed or unappreciated. But it's my life, my journey, and for the gifts God has given me, I am able to fulfill a small measure of my creation. I am able to find joy. I weep to think of those who do not have this. Who deny themselves this, because they are too scared to think what it could mean or what they would have to change to attain it. I am angered by those who would seek to destroy it or belittle it somehow from the truly precious find that it is. I hope to pass on this knowledge and peace to my daughter, because Heaven knows how much more she will need it than I. Even now as she's kicking the crap out of me, my panic comes not from how will I survive, but how will she. I hope she will find the gift of being a women as beautiful and lovely as I have now only begun to enjoy, and to do so with her head lifted. Pronouncing to the world, this is how God made me, this is who I will be. A mother. Or a Mormon Mommy Blogger depending on your lingo.<br />And all the crazy, late night hormone inducing ramblings that accompany it. Because it is now 3:20 and it's obvious from the length and apparent lack of actual content, I need to go to bed.AJ Johnson: A Family Cohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17612980763801028690noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086562778872746466.post-61660495406893497852011-01-19T20:03:00.000-08:002011-01-19T20:46:56.943-08:00My Nursery AspirationsThe great nesting/purge has begun. Well it started last week; but after a long day of scrubbing, vacuuming, and dusting, it faded a bit. I am so tired. I grow exhausted after carrying a laundry basket. Ridiculous. So, unfortunately, my to-do list only grows exponentially longer as my energy level drops daily. Grumble... mumble. After quitting one of my jobs I had hoped to have more strength and time. Where do all the days go?!?<br />My job as an instructor has been me keeping busy, especially with the additional duties of office work and marketing. And luckily it's been better on my body, the actual assisting was very hard with the long hours standing, sitting, bending over patients. I miss it though. You do one thing for so long, and without it you sort of... lose your identity. I feel very much a mom. If not just old. Which is silly considering my actual age. Maybe it would help to have an actual baby around to faun over. I cannot wait!<br />I hit 24 weeks last week, 6 months! Yay! Only 3 more to go... well sort of. Since the little known slogan of 10 months is thrown around, it sounds better to say 9 months. If you were to tell all ladies everywhere it's more like 10... they might think twice. Double digits are just depressing. Much like my bathroom scale is these days. I feel as though time has slowed down. It might be contributed to my recent part-timeyness, or just the fact that I feel more uncomfortable everyday. And it's only going to get worse. Man, do I complain a lot.<br />It's sort of a let down after finding out what you're having. Now what do you have to look forward to? Get excited about just continuing the journey to whaledom? Lame. It's too far away to get too excited for an actual baby. A little newborn to snuggle and hold. Nope, not really realistic to me right now. Maybe I'm in denial. That would explain a lot. Though I have started my baby registration. Hehehe. The baby shower planning has begun. So looking at all the expensive items I have to have and all the very cute ones I want... is so very fun. Unless I count out the number of hours I have to work to just pay for a crib. Highway robbery!<br />I have found my inspiration for design...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhviIAVJfi-S8gsNDcIOyHtk_cGEfcasK6hUG-QTCDe1kiq1VK5FTJEcwTBwbxuW4snCfiqpCzk8tlNrZZkCEm4VI-HFesKlQwC0wpL4oyHQsF_X9JoGcUyGpND-XRe6V8aZLIphUhb-Ak/s1600/Little_crown_whimsical_nurs.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 219px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhviIAVJfi-S8gsNDcIOyHtk_cGEfcasK6hUG-QTCDe1kiq1VK5FTJEcwTBwbxuW4snCfiqpCzk8tlNrZZkCEm4VI-HFesKlQwC0wpL4oyHQsF_X9JoGcUyGpND-XRe6V8aZLIphUhb-Ak/s320/Little_crown_whimsical_nurs.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564118579096158290" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnn6cUpszx6cMm3P2AQ7bV_eviu3_LZoEzBlDMVHT5Y644cKSUoa_g49CpDNupFASDuMoDNKzAnISyZdbZVZiQXSbL5htY9xSJA_PIlOu2T80Gss5zoZdMMvtklCnLNnma3lQ9ON0qMs8/s1600/4679638602_8e4750355f.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnn6cUpszx6cMm3P2AQ7bV_eviu3_LZoEzBlDMVHT5Y644cKSUoa_g49CpDNupFASDuMoDNKzAnISyZdbZVZiQXSbL5htY9xSJA_PIlOu2T80Gss5zoZdMMvtklCnLNnma3lQ9ON0qMs8/s320/4679638602_8e4750355f.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564118577226781458" /></a><br />What do you think? The room is already painted blue, thanks to my being absolutely certain it was a boy at first. But I still like it. Even for my little baby girl. I love all the bright colors in these, still feminine and youthful without being too... pink. <br />There is also these...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkxZcsvVnXfP8sDeUBJbAT_5bat4v6nugqxrMs_XbRd-uHqxTxqLj7zHtby_mIJ12cZdfJM6zHBAkePgFpQU8YesHuGgkCe6JbUnnxNh1b7V0Rf1OwtObHUpRmZtfxzjiaExlCR5GCzts/s1600/2542_500x375.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkxZcsvVnXfP8sDeUBJbAT_5bat4v6nugqxrMs_XbRd-uHqxTxqLj7zHtby_mIJ12cZdfJM6zHBAkePgFpQU8YesHuGgkCe6JbUnnxNh1b7V0Rf1OwtObHUpRmZtfxzjiaExlCR5GCzts/s320/2542_500x375.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564119431508897490" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4zst-airIUa28ErjOnJObkWMemHWsu3vKkj3rujf7ILuSa93h9-650hDSN3qQCUm7Vutvjh5bEGI7_O9dUEQAqQveWXekoD-v_SFBAB2rmmdNb-w2GOlgsNl5cus_KeFQ92cV4GE-U6k/s1600/2541_500x375.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4zst-airIUa28ErjOnJObkWMemHWsu3vKkj3rujf7ILuSa93h9-650hDSN3qQCUm7Vutvjh5bEGI7_O9dUEQAqQveWXekoD-v_SFBAB2rmmdNb-w2GOlgsNl5cus_KeFQ92cV4GE-U6k/s320/2541_500x375.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564119428190142562" /></a><br />I love the more modern feel. But it might be a bit too pastel for my taste. Well, for what I have taste for a child's room. I do like white. Hmmm...<br />My crib I have picked out is white. I get to use my mother's rocking chair, that is a really pretty oak. And the floors were recently redone in bamboo. So we will have the more modern feel anyways. But I like the pizazz of not really having a theme but just brightness to it. I think I just want white or possibly pale pink sheets. I don't really think I want a crib set. I found these really great bumpers that are breathable, like a mesh, so baby doesn't smother herself. So not very cute, but I don't love a lot of characters or cutesy flowers. I am crocheting a baby blanket in bright red (thanks Hanna) that I think will be the pop I want for the bed without a comforter.<br />When I was younger my nickname was Jennybug. My mom would always get ladybug items to go along with that name. Since we decided on our daughter's name... Audrey... if you didn't hear... Ave wanted to know what her nickname would be. Even when we were considering boy names his question would always be, "And what would we actually call him? What would his nickname be?" Which to me is just pointless. What good is a name if you're just going to change it by pre-deciding a nickname. Why can't we just call each other by our actual name? Soap box kicked aside, I decided it would be fun to carry on the ladybug theme. To an extent. But Audrey can go by little A-D-bug... as in lady without the L. Eh eh? What do you think?<br />My dad already found a cute ladybug nightlight at Ikea he almost couldn't walk away from. Which would have to replace my lightsaber nightlight I already got... I thought it was a boy remember? So since then I've been trying to figure out what type of daughter I will have. Either a nerdy, odd girl like me who would love to have a lightsaber nightlight. Or a normal, little girl that would one day look back at her weird mother's taste in nightlights. Being a parent is scary. Will I ruin my child's life by forcing on her a nightlight. Ahhh!<br />How does everybody do it?<br />So much to think about... good thing I still have 3 months... or more. Grrr.AJ Johnson: A Family Cohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17612980763801028690noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086562778872746466.post-17661513292483776122010-12-09T14:22:00.000-08:002010-12-09T14:51:08.777-08:00Hello there, nice to meet you.Today we had our big ultrasound visit. Ave was able to come, even though he usually has school. His classes aren't normally something he can miss either, but with the semester winding down he had a couple hours leeway. It would have worked out without him, but it would not have been quite the same to call him afterwards. My dad was also invited to meet us, considering he works in the same hospital, and is UBER excited to get to see his first grandbaby any chance he gets. Plus he's handy to have around if I have any questions.<br />We got to see a lot of lovely photos as they examined each one of the organs. Starting with the head, brain, heart, stomach, and so forth. Everything looked so perfect. Two kidneys, four ventricles, and 10 toes. Okay, we couldn't quite count the toes, but the little picture of just the tiny feet was adorable. Of course being the nerd I am, I was fascinated. I could spot the two brain hemispheres, I thought it cool to be able to see the aorta, and just watching my child moving around the whole time up on the screen was a beautiful, happy moment. <br />Everything looks really healthy and keeping at my 19 week mark, ever since my doctor bumped me back a week. My amniotic fluid apparently wasn't superb but nothing to worry about unless it gets lower. I'll have to research how I would be able to tell... hmmmm. All in all, nothing to add to my worries of becoming a mother.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO5_3zvJ9i4Ih0EAG8rzWTYI1r-Pm3DrzOrJhht6IxOix-gpzWRF7UXlkNsxmOAEzUxxB5o9iGFUCTc9ikr2ZhPP5MuPlfuXgK9RI_Bm1LUziQGLiIDOrwnpXQonPEq8YSp1MqxXxXWSg/s1600/JOHNSONJENNIFERLYNN20101209104520665.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO5_3zvJ9i4Ih0EAG8rzWTYI1r-Pm3DrzOrJhht6IxOix-gpzWRF7UXlkNsxmOAEzUxxB5o9iGFUCTc9ikr2ZhPP5MuPlfuXgK9RI_Bm1LUziQGLiIDOrwnpXQonPEq8YSp1MqxXxXWSg/s320/JOHNSONJENNIFERLYNN20101209104520665.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548812191578499666" /></a><br />Then came the true question. The one we have been fighting with this kid for weeks to cooperate. First crossing it's legs, then bouncing around like my insides were a bouncy castle, then just having no insight yet. I became concerned when the ultrasound tech was struggling and telling my child to open it's legs. Not something a mother usually wants to hear, but in this case I agreed. His supervisor, the Radiologist I think, who had been helping/training him the whole time stepped in and started mashing around. I could tell when they would get right over the head because I could feel something really hard all of sudden, when usually I'm all squishy. Not that it's comfortable to have your bladder smashed, but it isn't as hard as a rock. With still no success and Avery starting to say evil things, like that we would be leaving today without knowing, I offered to get up and jump around a little bit. I poked at my belly and told my baby to cooperate. Do not be stubborn today of all days! I also said a teensy prayers. God understands a mother's concern, He does not mock. The radiologist still scanning mentioned maybe he will have me get up for a minute, when all of sudden he freezes a frame. My dad makes a comment I don't entirely understand (jargon) and the doctor starts typing. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIPoYkQIJXweqC8AKur7RWosYWuTgbixWAgp1c8fQYax1hGOARG8Audq1QIl0gCcOENcwfpa4Lud6aJUcSlKL2BLpY-H7ArfxHFl_gCbuKy1W5zmKKWN-zc0jTC18B8WT33curnu2T7tM/s1600/JOHNSONJENNIFERLYNN20101209103118074.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIPoYkQIJXweqC8AKur7RWosYWuTgbixWAgp1c8fQYax1hGOARG8Audq1QIl0gCcOENcwfpa4Lud6aJUcSlKL2BLpY-H7ArfxHFl_gCbuKy1W5zmKKWN-zc0jTC18B8WT33curnu2T7tM/s320/JOHNSONJENNIFERLYNN20101209103118074.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548812186582721474" /></a><br />After the first sentence I was spouting some exclamations such as: Holy crap!No way!What are we going to do? He had heard us the whole time; how I was for sure it was a boy, we kind of wanted a boy, and so forth. So to be honest I didn't quite believe him. Hence the added line. He was a very nice and funny man who gave us some great advice and opinions on girls.<br />Clearing out the ideas of swords and balls and bugs out my imagination, suddenly tutus and dance classes and shoes and hair bows came pouring in, and I got very excited. I could not stop grinning. I am not dissapointed in the least. Just in shock. I really did not think having a girl was in the cards for us. With my three brothers and Ave's four, testosterone was bound to win out. But NO!!! <br />My father is estatic, I was always a daddy's girl. Ave was a little nervous. Mostly because the dollar signs started flashing in his head when I started naming all the cute things I could buy for our daughter. He also still has it in his mind he can still be firm with a daughter. Pshaw! That man is going to melt like butter. It'll be good for him. I told him little girls are much more emotional and he is not allowed to make our's cry everyday. He's going to have to get in touch with his sensitive side. Hahahaha. It's going to be great.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxZB1wMq5up038WYtgTTaZ-LeiOXLdc_wgTWpfOWD48zH402b8E_bFiLOh6s3fKz_DW9gqySnZnNytTgNyPyRzlYI_7EGoQZHEYWi_LcSiXdA_Py1yNVAVczVQuG1iuXgmEZb-zC3ULeY/s1600/JOHNSONJENNIFERLYNN20101209104557228.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxZB1wMq5up038WYtgTTaZ-LeiOXLdc_wgTWpfOWD48zH402b8E_bFiLOh6s3fKz_DW9gqySnZnNytTgNyPyRzlYI_7EGoQZHEYWi_LcSiXdA_Py1yNVAVczVQuG1iuXgmEZb-zC3ULeY/s320/JOHNSONJENNIFERLYNN20101209104557228.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548812179064953682" /></a><br />My beautiful baby girl. I am so excited to get to know you. <br />Even if you do make me nervous.AJ Johnson: A Family Cohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17612980763801028690noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086562778872746466.post-57889565305726924792010-10-24T17:54:00.000-07:002010-10-24T18:12:47.430-07:00A Thank YouDear Incident Management Man,<br /><br />I forgot to ask your name. I'm sorry. You had reddish sort of hair and a scruffy face, and a nice smile. You already know that my tire blew out on I-15. You probably know better than anyone that that can be a little scary getting over to the emergency lane without losing control, and then trying to change a tire with cars zooming by at 60+ miles an hour. I was at least proud of myself that I knew how to change the tire, in theory. I had my jack out and my spare tire uncovered. Before you pulled up and found me, I had in fact attempted to loosen the lug nuts, but they were just too tight for my little biceps/my entire weight jumping on the wrench to come off. I had just finished calling my co-worker to come pick me up of the side of the freeway when you came to my rescue. You probably deal with alot of silly women who don't know how to change a tire, which I assume is why you asked me if I had a spare. I told you hurriedly I had everything I just couldn't get the tire off. Then you told me you would change it for me. I almost cried. You probably couldn't see my 3 month pregnant belly underneath my scrubs, you probably couldn't tell my blood pressure had risen exponentially in the past 15 minutes with the fear of being killed while kneeling next to my tire, you also probably couldn't tell that I had patients scheduled in 5 minutes, who in my line of work, do not wait. You just offered to help, as I'm sure you always do. You proceeded to jack up my car and take out my spare, then testing it you informed me you would go put a little more air in it. I had to hold my hands behind my back to keep me from hugging you. You removed the lug nuts with your handheld rotary, which made me feel like less of a wuss, if you still had to use a machine to loosen them, it wasn't just me. So thank you for that unspoken validation as well. With my spare tire safely back on and the rest of my car returned to solid ground you then offered one last piece of advice, use the shoulder to get my speed back up safely. I wasn't sure what was customary in these incidents, I briefly made a mental check if I had cash in my wallet to tip you with, just a couple ones, not enough. Is that even allowed? Would you take it? Most likely not, you seemed too professional. I thanked you as much as I could. But I want the world to know, okay, just my world, that you are my HERO! And to make it all the more dramatic, my unborn child's hero as well. Thank you!AJ Johnson: A Family Cohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17612980763801028690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086562778872746466.post-4455631121395983652010-09-12T11:23:00.000-07:002010-09-12T11:58:23.055-07:00My EmotionsOK... firstly, I love you guys. Yes, you. All the support and loving vibes... Thank you! Of course I am so excited and so far so good. Thanks for the prayers and thoughts. =)<br />As most of you have experienced personally when you become pregnant, your emotions can become a little... eratic. Do you want to hear about mine?<br />As in just last week I was coming down the stairs... now the other side effect of pregnancy is the tenderness. As in the 'girls'. That's all I will explain, guys read this. So coming down the stairs and with every step ow, ow, ow, ow. By the end of the stairs I was crying... seriously tearing up. Ave was sitting on the couch as I walked over to him he looked up from his homework and asked, "Are you okay?" And I just start crying about how I hurt but it really isn't that big a deal, and I don't know why I'm crying but I am, and I'm sad and don't know why. Ave just watched with amusement and then told me to "Come here." I curled up next to him and after a minute all was back to normal. ???<br />Last night we had game night with some friends. Just to elaborate our game nights do not consist of board games. We have a gaming night. We end up with three x-boxes, two tvs, a projector, and lot's of Halo/Rainbow Six/Gears of War. Game night. We were there until late, but I was starting to get really tired. Luckily we had driven seperately so I went home with Ave saying he'd be coming after they beat this level on Halo Wars. I was so excited to see my bed and crashed. Other side effect... having to get up a few times a night. Not fun... nothing usually wakes me. <br />True story, I slept through a fire alarm, not safe, but sleeping has never been an issue for me, until now. So at 4:00 AM I roll over to get up and Avery is still not home! Pregnancy emotions=full blown panic. I text him, then call... several times. Then I call my girlfriend who's house we were at to see if they were all still there. But nobody answers. I get dressed and sit in bed trying to decide the best way to ask the hospital if they have received any car accident victims lately. I'm trying just to think of the possibilities, but they are all bad. If for some reason he decided to sleep over, he would have called right? Maybe I should just wait until morning to see if he comes home, but then he could be in the ditch all night and I would never forgive myself. If he was still playing he would answer his phone. I start tearing up. The longest 15 minutes of my life later, my friend texts me and says they are still trying to beat this level and he will be home right after. I start bawling, no kidding. Why? No clue. I get undressed and back in bed but can't fall back asleep. Ave texts 10 minutes later to tell me he is on his way home now. I've calmed down enough when he gets home that I just acknowledge him being alive as "Good to know." Ave apologizes for making me worry. And I comment a call could've avoided all the drama of me almost calling the hospitals and driving around looking for the car off a cliff. "Really, Jenn, really?" Ok, next time I'll wait a couple days before I start to wonder, hmmm, I haven't seen my husband maybe I should start worrying. He responds with I knew he playing, I knew where he was.<br />"Yeah, three hours ago! I had no idea you would still be there at this hour."<br />Okay, irrational, yes, do I realize this at the time, probably. Doesn't make it any less real!<br />He tells me good night and I ask for a hug. He then reassures me he's okay, everything's okay. Then I sleep. ???<br />In the morning light it's all ridiculous. What is my deal?<br />But I am not complaining... I could go crazy tomorrow and still be thrilled. We're going to have a baby!!!AJ Johnson: A Family Cohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17612980763801028690noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086562778872746466.post-6787450236646239912010-09-09T19:11:00.000-07:002010-09-09T19:28:21.822-07:00My ApologiesIt seems an odd question but should one apologize for not blogging. After all blogging is usually more of a personal outlet than anything. Especially in this instance where this is not a money-making venture. But then again the only way I keep in touch with some people is by viewing their blogs, so along those lines of thought...<br />I am sorry. I am alive. I have been busy. But not that busy, it probably has more to do with not really having much to write about. How often do you post about work before it becomes boring? Once, twice, daily for months on end? =) <br />I did get a second job. I suppose that's news. I'm teaching at <a href="http://pdaofutahblog.blogspot.com">Practical Dental Assisting</a>. Just on Saturdays, since Ave works and I just get bored. Plus I love teaching!<br />Other than that... Ave started school again. Boo! He started his graduate program so only two years left. Yay! He's been busy trying to finalize his master's project and I've just been trying to be supportive and pay his tuition. I'm a good sugar mama!<br />Hmmm... what else. Oh yeah. The whole sugar mama thing, it's now legit.<br />=) As in I am finally fricking pregnant!!!!!!<br />Ok... So I'm proud of myself for holding it in that long. Two whole paragraphs! Aren't you proud? I'm officially seven weeks so still really early, I should be waiting but after trying for so long and a couple early miscarriages... getting this far feels like a huge accomplishment. By announcing this I'm hoping it makes it more real, not jinxing it. So if for some reason I stop talking about the pregnancy, just assume I don't want to tell you why.<br />But let's think cheerful, happy, positive, baby sticking thoughts! Like I said this is the farthest we've ever gotten. My Dad has been taking me down every week for ultrasounds to ensure everything is coming along nicely. So far so good. It pays to have connections. I'm hoping to have a better picture to post soon. For the moment it's a large void with a squiggy spot in the middle... which is growing so fast!!! He said by next week the skeletal structure starts to form, which it makes it easier to differentiate baby tissue from mommy tissue. Wierd!<br />Now that I have news... I can start posting again. I know you're all on the edge of your chair.AJ Johnson: A Family Cohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17612980763801028690noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086562778872746466.post-29429249131208913242010-03-01T17:37:00.000-08:002010-03-01T17:39:43.757-08:00My Other HomelandFinal Count<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpExCS-jI-o3lDAsAvE8dleZTIpv7R243MBTp2Yp6nOtvsKTFYSvioQldOesCNaZW32-LWrI1Zwh_J2O9VrBh7tKQPKPLxecvUsiMe7HqCrdHsXnzT78NcWoL955HWrVF2YsdrpPiozBI/s1600-h/finnish.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 121px; height: 81px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpExCS-jI-o3lDAsAvE8dleZTIpv7R243MBTp2Yp6nOtvsKTFYSvioQldOesCNaZW32-LWrI1Zwh_J2O9VrBh7tKQPKPLxecvUsiMe7HqCrdHsXnzT78NcWoL955HWrVF2YsdrpPiozBI/s320/finnish.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443844676748456018" /></a><br /><br />Gold-0 Silver-1 Bronze-4<br /><br />Is it treason if I was secretly hoping they could beat USA in hockey?AJ Johnson: A Family Cohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17612980763801028690noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086562778872746466.post-76488409088954484682010-02-15T20:13:00.000-08:002010-02-15T20:40:30.432-08:00So my husband says to me...Last week I am telling him about how one of my co-workers got these beautiful flowers at work (no hints right, purely just sharing) and he says to me... <br />"You know you aren't getting those right?"<br />"Yes. I know"<br />Trust me I did know. Avery is very romantic at heart... I have proof in 18 months worth of love letters (which I never hold over his head) but... he is also quite the engineer. Very logical and calculated. Just because it is a want, does not mean it is a need. Flowers, a want, not a neeed. Shoes, a want, not a need. Affection, a want not a need.<br />Then, get this, he says, "I already got your present."<br />WHAT!!! Again see paragraph above to fully comprehend my flabbergast-ness. <br />"But I didn't get you anything," now I am at a loss, we usually do not do gifts.<br />"You don't need to. Valentines day is just for women."<br />"But...but... ummm..." racking my brain for anything he would want, "Oh I have an idea for your present."<br />"Okay, Jenn," no emotion.<br />"And it involves lace," as I smile and blush simultaneously (it is a gift.) Did I mention how much I like to dress up?<br />"Okay, Jenn." Deadpan. Could have fooled me about being a romantic.<br /><br /><br />Saturday night, Apollo (the dog) carries a little box in his mouth by the cute white bow (name that commercial.) As Avery carries roses in and sets them on the ottoman.<br />"Happy Valentines Day. I love you very much."<br /><br />Then picks up the laptop he left on the couch and starts reading about alcohol content again (him and my dad have this 'project' to make fuel.) <br />Who cares?! I am grinning and find a beautiful pearl ring to match my pearl necklace Ave bought for his future wife on his mission in the Phillippines (I got that for my birthday a month before we got married.) This lady here in Lehi buys the same pearls from the same ladies in the Phillippines and <a href="http://www.myprincesspearls.com/">sells</a> them trying to help better their lives. It is a very sweet story. And now I have an adorable ring to match. Not only do I love my pearl collection, but also their back story and origins. And he got me another piece. How cute is that!<br />Mostly I could not believe he planned ahead. He thought about it! About what he wanted to get me. Found it, bought it, wrapped it. Wow! This is the kind of romance this boy is capable of. This is when he takes my breath away and brings tears to my eyes. I do not mean to brag, but he is lovely. I definitely believe this statement with all my heart.<br /><br />It's the thought that counts.AJ Johnson: A Family Cohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17612980763801028690noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086562778872746466.post-60697217066015459012010-02-13T19:51:00.001-08:002010-02-13T19:58:26.199-08:00My CraftynessCheck out this little gem (teehee, get it?) that I made tonight for my Valentine's outfit tomorrow. Now I just need to put together the skirt, top, shoes, and whatever else a Lover's Day outfit needs... for church... don't be dirty.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXPVkYiInm9rJPJhlC2m-x8hXbzbqbHhshwvzTIlRWf_7FE_vtBQqXRGXVaYy5P4fuQJOeUREhyphenhyphenClM4w0dO_4_EHyG3px3oZ8Cpvb6mHM2c7rNk4-vIv_L4lsh7WIW8eXNO6_-kRUA678/s1600-h/DSC01322.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXPVkYiInm9rJPJhlC2m-x8hXbzbqbHhshwvzTIlRWf_7FE_vtBQqXRGXVaYy5P4fuQJOeUREhyphenhyphenClM4w0dO_4_EHyG3px3oZ8Cpvb6mHM2c7rNk4-vIv_L4lsh7WIW8eXNO6_-kRUA678/s320/DSC01322.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437942679076953410" /></a><br /><br />All you need is some tulle, rhinestones, and hot glue. Going <a href="http://yourheartout.com/?p=654">here</a> helps too.<br /><br />Happy Day o' Love everyone!AJ Johnson: A Family Cohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17612980763801028690noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086562778872746466.post-62640958379248851042010-02-11T20:08:00.000-08:002010-02-11T20:35:58.195-08:00My BailoutLookie what the government gave me. Okay technically they only gave me a portion of the money they have been borrowing over the entire 2009 calendar year.<br /><br />Semantics.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjotwgzbq9-S8ZSy6zKh9anV4NcS-zcVHcrFHIFDnDq9pEQYzuyAluVveF0u08M_dQWFA2Z7yySfgp0lvHPyc2Iqt01_dJnappdbgecEnpkkdpo0W6V6wSyBKXBQdAoyEyqKu7HzU40UBQ/s1600-h/DSC01296.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjotwgzbq9-S8ZSy6zKh9anV4NcS-zcVHcrFHIFDnDq9pEQYzuyAluVveF0u08M_dQWFA2Z7yySfgp0lvHPyc2Iqt01_dJnappdbgecEnpkkdpo0W6V6wSyBKXBQdAoyEyqKu7HzU40UBQ/s320/DSC01296.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437205066840416146" /></a><br /><br />Peek-a-boo, I see you.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRiwWvZrUjr_vo2tnCBmuBsRlOViLeCd0h4EJgT3baXre7r6XtELDa3bjjSr7qgJkacEh8wzpKgeQnlNPY1-VdQzKX58SppV2nQgcHHcc7J1837HtLCS6CP7yoLMphpdtAIH70vUvH7Ng/s1600-h/DSC01299.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRiwWvZrUjr_vo2tnCBmuBsRlOViLeCd0h4EJgT3baXre7r6XtELDa3bjjSr7qgJkacEh8wzpKgeQnlNPY1-VdQzKX58SppV2nQgcHHcc7J1837HtLCS6CP7yoLMphpdtAIH70vUvH7Ng/s320/DSC01299.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437205696885727250" /></a><br /><br />This reminds me far too much of those damn stickers on cd cases.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNMVq3xquaJhHWarjzZOgErnZ4wxnxgDVaWrvp9W2sFmgBjdKQ0AoNLAyLpw6njzRXlwHKq1Avn6MxUmd-ykqoPDjuGw08qArRmi_-teb1pOIPyizZvcb9qou2DJGrdepgrsVVmqzyYOY/s1600-h/DSC01306.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNMVq3xquaJhHWarjzZOgErnZ4wxnxgDVaWrvp9W2sFmgBjdKQ0AoNLAyLpw6njzRXlwHKq1Avn6MxUmd-ykqoPDjuGw08qArRmi_-teb1pOIPyizZvcb9qou2DJGrdepgrsVVmqzyYOY/s320/DSC01306.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437206906163802258" /></a><br /><br />In all its shiny glory. AHHHHHH... (choir of angels singing.)<br />Side note: this was meant to be my Christmas present originally, but Avery thought a few other things were more important (read that with a snide little voice) like car registration and university tuition. BOO!<br /><br />I feel like a new mother. I am so proud, and cannot stop staring and caressing it. That is how new moms feel right? Plus, just so you also realize how all important this moment is for me, I was an i-pod virgin. This is actually my first ever MP3 player!!! Yes, you may officially welcome me to the year 2010. And for even more sympathy votes, I never had a walkman either, parents did not think I needed one. Do I need to say it is a touch? Is that apparent to apple-savy peeps? Well it is. I think that makes it even better. My first app... the lightsaber... who could have guessed? Only anyone who knows me. Should I name him? Yeah, I think he should be a male. He is far too shiek and slim to be a curvy female. Something with an I... Isaiah... naw...Ignacius... Iggy for short... hmmm... that might be it.<br /><br />And just so you know it is not just for me... someone else has been tickling Iggy all night. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxIXNmhspVbgUK6-J0y9CamR_wHqveAPf1UShW03WxwDiD4TgMe8f30l2Q_tpBBadG2dhM9P88YW00sQD2cgdnoQ9Ew9HtN-JJWk1_XjyaS65gwFstCRhCw3peDGXbGc1iCh_wOxbYyPg/s1600-h/DSC01308.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxIXNmhspVbgUK6-J0y9CamR_wHqveAPf1UShW03WxwDiD4TgMe8f30l2Q_tpBBadG2dhM9P88YW00sQD2cgdnoQ9Ew9HtN-JJWk1_XjyaS65gwFstCRhCw3peDGXbGc1iCh_wOxbYyPg/s320/DSC01308.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437206919186666306" /></a><br /><br />Awww... Male bonding time.AJ Johnson: A Family Cohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17612980763801028690noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086562778872746466.post-43189720666218619772010-02-08T18:34:00.000-08:002010-02-08T19:09:10.190-08:00My SupurrrHow did everyone enjoy the game? Anybody lose money gambling? What an upset!<br /><br />Honestly I can say I was impartial. Manning is cute and nicer than that cheater Brady (who I know is not the QB for the Saints, so no comments correcting me, I was merely pointing out he sucks). But I was also slightly annoyed by the whole people-are-still-suffering-from-the-disaster-that-was-five-years-ago-and-since-we-have-been-through-so-much-we-totally-deserve-to-win. Does that mean I am a jerk? Probably, or maybe I just never heard we had changed the name to the Pity Bowl... bwahaha. Avery does not laugh at my jokes either, do not feel bad. Although he usually just stares followed by a, "You think you are so funny." Returned by a, "I am funny." With all the usual dripping mess of sarcasm.<br /><br />My favorite part is the spread. I am required by law for every family gathering to make deviled eggs. Seriously I have been sent home before because I forgot. My mom rounded it off with teeny-weenies, 7 layer bean dip, chili with homemade true to life southern cornbread, and shrimp (which she did not make, but placed so nicely in a bowl surrounded by a bigger bowl with ice, plus I like shrimp so I had to mention it.) My uncle and aunt brought bucket loads of homemade cookies, brownies, and cheescake... mmmmmm. Probably the most memorable commercials were the ones that said 'See you tomorrow' with the Golds Gym logo.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUppZ3iF1H1RjUNiXGPHCjYmBD0yebKUfFQ39v9QN0sCAYCJiu2HUchyphenhyphenWciSNxNOxrStyGKGmjsRRVb8m4oc6J6ovaeR-tw7hjzvaY8RE_J74cDgyAB8leaqENfFSVqsNirvKp-vmJf3A/s1600-h/DSC01285.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUppZ3iF1H1RjUNiXGPHCjYmBD0yebKUfFQ39v9QN0sCAYCJiu2HUchyphenhyphenWciSNxNOxrStyGKGmjsRRVb8m4oc6J6ovaeR-tw7hjzvaY8RE_J74cDgyAB8leaqENfFSVqsNirvKp-vmJf3A/s320/DSC01285.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436070539668379266" /></a><br /><br />No, wait! I also liked the commercial with all the guys just staring at the camera going over the list of everything they do... "I will shave. I will wash out the sink after shaving. I will put the toilet seat down. I will carry your lip balm.... etc. And because I do all this I get to drive the kind of car I want to drive." Probably does not hurt that almost everything they were saying I nag Avery about, especially the washing out the sink after shaving bit, all those little black stubs on my freshly cleansed sink drives me to violence. The commercial was for a Dodge Charger... pshaw... no guy I know would choose that as their dream car, but kudos to their marketing team for making me giggle.<br /><br />Yes, Avery I said kudos... I am witty.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ULAbChCjauh3c3nz_YzEmfqO7DHC4oqa7BIZmnDUtMwPtarXh-doU-P1ENvyGtIKIv8RpcHu5Bvvohm1-lHs7HoH_er_mCYihlcJryjBTX0y1f-8V1qPhiwzQrtp95Nc7AjJ8AQ5VHk/s1600-h/DSC01286.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ULAbChCjauh3c3nz_YzEmfqO7DHC4oqa7BIZmnDUtMwPtarXh-doU-P1ENvyGtIKIv8RpcHu5Bvvohm1-lHs7HoH_er_mCYihlcJryjBTX0y1f-8V1qPhiwzQrtp95Nc7AjJ8AQ5VHk/s320/DSC01286.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436074026693712562" /></a><br /><br />Oh, and the 'punch buggy' for volkswagon. Classic game and Stevie Wonder! HILARIOUS!<br /><br />What was your favorite?AJ Johnson: A Family Cohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17612980763801028690noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086562778872746466.post-8677830558269663992010-02-01T21:38:00.000-08:002010-02-01T22:02:16.861-08:00Do you ever find...That you escape to another world/life through movies, books, or games. I feel I have an extremely active imagination, more so than the majority. Not something I am necessarily proud or embarrassed of, just stating it as a fact. I think that makes these escapes more real for me. For instance it takes me days to get over a particularly emotional movie. I become so engrossed in the characters, I almost am the character. Not always a pleasant side effect, "Avery, why did you leave me for 10 years after stabbing your own heart, just to become captain of the flying dutchman!?" There is the other side as well and sometimes when life is difficult... I find it peaceful.<br /><br />Not saying my life is particularly challenging, more so than others, someone always has it worse. Still... little things can add up. That was not the point of this post. Merely I was wanting to mention a few of the most recent.<br /><br />First I got to go with girlfriends to see this tonight... Happy Birthday Celina!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju9L81SNEbVuVPtAJcOCuSrAhvxG4ct3UAEmI_P0EkQ0gr2hnV_i6ISw7R0-XAgKkmwAqi4NYyjQS-b4CYkVQQ-XIocOH2r9wPQLnF2Xq2vm2ADGPDnrtfsVfesNyZugvrdUf8H2ffgQw/s1600-h/imagesCALHGU45.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 124px; height: 92px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju9L81SNEbVuVPtAJcOCuSrAhvxG4ct3UAEmI_P0EkQ0gr2hnV_i6ISw7R0-XAgKkmwAqi4NYyjQS-b4CYkVQQ-XIocOH2r9wPQLnF2Xq2vm2ADGPDnrtfsVfesNyZugvrdUf8H2ffgQw/s320/imagesCALHGU45.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433519795727351986" /></a><br /><br />Cute. A lot of slapstick comedy, but a happy little predictable chick flick.<br />Left me in a better mood, after working a full monday.<br /><br /><br />And just in case the whole nerdiness issue was still an... umm... issue.<br />This has been the newest...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtklegOa6HRiDoMcdwfr4WGl2v905qS9VRI8Rj0ZvtDCEudVHevWyWEYcSzpYCVMyPRrpVtxaGj9oI1dk8FfIff0nq68rmcvAPBPQaAObSR0bP6eXToPxHCymu3bDsw3C0rLZlhNoA_00/s1600-h/imagesCA3784WC.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 100px; height: 140px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtklegOa6HRiDoMcdwfr4WGl2v905qS9VRI8Rj0ZvtDCEudVHevWyWEYcSzpYCVMyPRrpVtxaGj9oI1dk8FfIff0nq68rmcvAPBPQaAObSR0bP6eXToPxHCymu3bDsw3C0rLZlhNoA_00/s320/imagesCA3784WC.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433519790535225490" /></a><br /><br />Saving the galaxy gives me a huge self esteem boost when I am feeling low.<br /><br />So here's to whatever gets you away from it all some days.AJ Johnson: A Family Cohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17612980763801028690noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086562778872746466.post-11119199608539236952010-01-25T11:20:00.000-08:002010-01-25T11:42:00.323-08:00My Quest for TruthI am one of those people that need constant reminders. No matter how many amazing experiences I might have had; after awhile I will forget about them and start to wondering again. For instance my relationship with hubby. Challenging, and sometime I forget how great it can really be. Which is why I guess I am grateful for scrapbooking, journaling, and now blogging. I often go back and read our letters we wrote to each other during my 18 month trip. They remind why this man is perfect for me.<br /><br />Now take my relationship with Christ, and the church. I suppose the lay person would suppose it easy for me considering the previously mentioned Church mission, but like I said... I forget. I forget those feelings I have received so many times, that tell me what I believe to be true. I need reminding, and I am pretty sure my Heavenly Father knows this. <br /><br />I enjoy reading and even I guess you can say 'investigating' other religions. I am curious, plus I enjoy seeking truths. I like understanding what they believe and why. I will always remember the quote by President Hinckley on how other churches have the truth, "But let's see if we can't add to it." It makes me smile. So with that being said... I still have alot of questions that I cannot always find answers to. If you wanted to hear my testimony on how I know that being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the only way I know I will find those answers eventually, I will give it to you. Oh wait... But still questions, comments, concerns that I would like addressed one day. So I seek. There are those times when so much information can cause you to become troubled. There are so many different opinions, and truths, just how is one supposed to know.<br /><br />All of this was building up until yesterday. Like a good girl I went to church, mostly because I feel the responsibility for the 15 child class we teach. Which I can see is another way of God helping me out, He knows that is what it takes to get me there. And then once I am there... Whammo! I am sitting in sacrament, and there again... that feeling. I was not even pondering about it or asking. But all of a sudden... peace. I was doing the right thing, I was in the right place, I believe in the right truths.<br /><br />I might be still seeking my answers for awhile yet but that is what makes this life so exciting. Further growth. Unfortunately sometimes I need a bit of a backtracking... stupid me. Luckily I have someone looking out for me who understands my needs and desires. And for that I am eternally grateful.<br /><br />Now if He can just help me with my new years resolution.AJ Johnson: A Family Cohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17612980763801028690noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086562778872746466.post-70925530112135608772010-01-17T20:43:00.000-08:002010-01-20T19:49:49.214-08:00My ContagiousnessMy past couple weeks have been spent working and becoming gradually more and more sick. I suppose being in people's mouths all day exposes me to more germs than the average gal, because I seem to get sick alot. I guess it is my indicator I have been working too much lately. =) I will be sure to inform my boss first thing in the morning.<br /><br />Anyways, I felt the need to post in order to publicly apologize to my friends for my lameness. I miss them and need girl time... soon... after I heal... oh, and it will have to wait until the next time I have a day off... which I think is next week. BOO!<br /><br />On the plus side all these hours are helping us to pay for yet another car repair bill. And a $2,900 tuition bill for Avery school's... for one bloody semester. *Note to self, it is worth it, it is worth it.*<br /><br />I did venture out with my family for dinner, to finally celebrate my bigger/younger brother's 22nd birthday, which was two weeks ago. Punk cannot make time for his family anymore. He has made the decision to re-enlist in the marine corps, maybe. If you know him at all, you know that might change a good 2,3, 45 times.<br /><br />Well, after reading blogs and facebook to feel social again I am off to bed.<br /><br />Cheers.<br /><br />Post Script:<br />Whilst 'resting' this past weekend as my fantastically generous husband taught our 15 children sized primary by himself, I started this little diddy that my brother got for Christmas. Better than the first one by far and causing me to ask Ave what his definition of addicted is.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc8j4Rwr6fmqbQlif3j0IZOSyLKjgMkGbYatI-JsWx6GL4hK8xsG4cRWn0mMkybW21r-ySkOcLpkngFHdOKVZ_Fg5DdwmKppwozStdKwIuA8TkkPiM4vr3lhwBFiFSviK2g_durwwJhkA/s1600-h/assasisns.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 98px; height: 122px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc8j4Rwr6fmqbQlif3j0IZOSyLKjgMkGbYatI-JsWx6GL4hK8xsG4cRWn0mMkybW21r-ySkOcLpkngFHdOKVZ_Fg5DdwmKppwozStdKwIuA8TkkPiM4vr3lhwBFiFSviK2g_durwwJhkA/s320/assasisns.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429035183337591634" /></a>AJ Johnson: A Family Cohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17612980763801028690noreply@blogger.com0