Valentine's Day Weekend

We enjoyed a nice weekend in Albuquerque last week. We stayed across the street from the Uptown shopping area which was a convenient to walk across the street to some of our favorite shops and great food. It was nice to be able to visit Borders books like old times on both Friday and Saturday night. Sarah did well at the hotel with sleeping in a double bed on her own like a big girl. We brought our portable bed rails and lined them with pillows to make it difficult to roll off the bed. She loved it! We visited the zoo and aquarium which were hits with Sarah. She had a great time at both but I think her experience at the aquarium topped the weekend. Sarah is a brave little girl (much more brave than her mother) and pet a baby sting ray four times. She will tell you how big and brave she is too which is cute. We look forward to our next opportunity to return to Albuquerque most likely with baby sister in tow.

Everyone is doing well otherwise with health, work, 'school', etc. I have an appointment on Friday for a check up. When folks ask how I'm doing, my response has been "I'm large and in charge". The baby is very active and seems to favor one side over the other with kicks and pokes. My lower back and pelvic areas still remind me that I'm pregnant especially if I walk a bunch during the day. I've started my nesting a bit this weekend with gathering the necessities needed for the baby's arrival. I've managed to misplace or give away a few items that I had to break down and buy today. And I'm feeling the need to clean every nook and cranny in the house. :-)

Quick update...more to come

Just a quick update on life in the Johnson household.

All is well with everyone on the mend from the latest round of illness except for Ms. Sarah who is in the midst of another mild ear infection. So we are wondering if our follow-up appointment with our family practice doctor later in the month should include a revisit of the ear in tubes discussion.

Baby J is doing well. I met the OB who will deliver the baby and I love her. She made me feel super comfortable instantly. We scheduled the delivery for Thursday, April 22nd. Baby J will join the rest of the Cristofano and Johnson family who seems to occupy the months of March, April and early May with birthdays. I failed my first glucose test so spent half a day last week in the hospital doing a 3-hour glucose tolerance test. I found out today that I passed with flying colors which was great news. So I will continue on with eating various holiday treats (in moderation of course, ha ha ha).

We are off to Albuquerque at the end of the week, fingers crossed, for the first time. We have our sights set on the zoo, aquarium, shopping and dinner at PF Changs. We are looking forward to the change in scenery.

Busy Month

It's been a busy month and I can't believe January is almost gone. Here's a brief catch up...

I was able to resurrect my mommy vacation, that was originally scheduled for September, to Anchorage the first week of January. I flew north for 4 busy days of visiting friends, shopping, pedicures and eating at some of my favorite restaurants. I brought my camera with the intention of taking several pictures but remembered after the fact even though I was carrying it the whole time. But I did manage to get one picture of our old house to show Kirk the changes done by the new owner (which look great). Kirk and Sarah did well at home and it helped that I prepared meals in advance for easy warm up after long days at work and daycare. I had a wonderful time and look forward to our next trip in the future. Seeing my girlfriends was the perfect therapy a soon to be second time mom really needed!

Once I returned home, work went into hyper drive for both Kirk and I. I'm excited that a leadership workshop I facilitated to kick off integrated operations went very well last week and the bosses were pleased. Work should slow down a bit towards the end of the month but pick up early February. I did provide notice to my supervisor that my last day in the office will be the first of April. I was able to work out a one year leave of absence with the company which was nice to leave the door to return partially open. I'll use the remainder of April to nest and get things ready for the baby's arrival (plus get a couple of last minute massages in). Right now the 39th week is April 19th. So sometime that week, baby Johnson #2 will arrive unless she decides earlier is best.

As far as baby goes, all is well. We are both growing in size. My lower back is still reminding me that I'm pregnant along with the sciaticia. I had a minor melt down after my last appointment when I found out my doctor of choice was going to be in Spain the week of April 19th therefore, would not be performing my surgery. So, I will have the opportunity to meet another doctor in the practice on Friday to hopefully start establishing a relationship over the next three months. I was proud of myself for keeping it together in the doctors office when he told me he would be gone and waited until I got to my car to let the waterworks flow and snot fly while I babbled to Kirk on the phone. Ugh, so frustrating.

We enjoyed a nice dump of snow this past week. It reminded us of Alaska with the daily snow and shoveling. Sarah was loving it as well!

Finally, I'm on the mend from another round of sinus and middle ear infection which followed me home from Alaska. The middle ear infection came with a bulging ear drum on the verge of bursting. That made hearing out of my left ear difficult but Kirk and I tried to make light of it though he had to repeat himself more than usual.

Sarah enjoying the snow.

Our little artist.

Happy Camper

Kirk had amazing fishing trips this past week with his dad and our friend from work. The fish were unreal and Kirk was pulling them in like nobody's business. Life is good.

Monday December 28th - San Juan River

Thursday December 30th - Smiling even though it's snowing like mad on the San Juan River.

Belly shot

OK, OK...so here it is. This is a belly shot from a couple of weeks ago. As requested, I posted a picture. Enjoy.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year! We celebrated low key at the house. Before Sarah went to bed, we made plenty of noise throughout the house with noise makers while wearing hats. Once Sarah was in bed, Kirk and I watched "The Hangover" for the second time in hopes to catch bits we missed the first time we saw the movie. Again, we laughed so hard we nearly pee'd our pants. We made it to midnight, though snuggled in bed watching the ball drop on the TV. But we did it!

We look forward to the New Year and wish everyone the best as well. We have so much to be thankful for especially the love and support of family and friends.

Cheers!

Merry Christmas 2009!

We hope everyone had a nice Christmas holiday. We had a great time at casa de Johnson.

We started out with a cocktail/desert celebration with friends/co-workers from COP at our house. Kirk's parents arrived the 23rd and stayed through the 28th. We had a nice visit and truly enjoyed the spirit of the Christmas holiday.

On Christmas Eve Sarah, Gaga and Papa made her first gingerbread house. Sarah loved decorating the house once it was assembled. After dinner, we made reindeer food (oats and red + green cookie sprinkles) and proceeded to sprinkle the food on the front steps to lure the reindeer into the house. Cookies and milk were left for Santa. Sarah went to bed that evening super hyped up with visions of Woody the Cowboy and Buzz Light year dancing in her head.

Christmas morning was a hoot. It was amazing to experience the holiday through our daughter and see the joy in her eyes. Plus she is now a HUGE fan and believer of Santa along with his elves because they brought Woody and Buzz Light year. She also received an easel with all the accessories along with many other goodies from ol'Saint Nick. Our family and friends once again spoiled all of us, particularly Sarah. We were very thankful for the gifts received and the love that was put into some of the handmade items especially from my mom and Papa. The rest of the Christmas break involved eating a bunch of hearty meals and many desert choices along with adequate napping. If I were to go in for a weight check with the OB today, I'm sure he would just shake his head.

Here are a few pictures from the holiday:

Sarah busy making sugar cookies. She was a huge helper dressed in a Snow White outfit over her pajamas. (explains the crazy hair). And in true Snow White form, she sang songs the entire time.

Sarah writing a letter to Santa.Making reindeer food.

Sprinkling reindeer food on the front steps.

Sarah decorating her first gingerbread house.

The scene after Santa left the house.

Christmas morning!

Sarah showing off her artist skills.

Finally, our princess with her cell phone refusing to be photographed so she hides in her play house. It's already started at the tender age of 2.5 years. She is wearing one of her dress up outfits my mom made - the coolest Snow White costume with coordinating headband. And the cell phone is her new stocking stuffer from PB Kids.