Samuel Turned Two Months Old...

and he is getting so big, so fast.

In his 2nd month, Samuel:
Learned to hold his head up on his own.
Rolled from his stomach to his back.
Twice.  Hasn't done it since.
Ruined many a outfit with "messes."
That's because he outgrew the Newborn diapers.
I just kept using them until there were none.
Moved into size 1 diapers.
Began wearing 0-3 month clothes.
Newborns were getting snug.
Started smiling...  a lot.
Cooed.
Loved his Avent pacifiers.
Wanted to be held all the time.
Celebrated his Daddy's 30th birthday.
Slept through the surprise AND the party.
Visited with his cousin, James Evan.
Met his neighbor and friend, Jaden Max.
Stayed with Aunt Jessica while Mom, Dad, and Daniel went to the zoo.  It was HOT.  Samuel decided it'd be best to stay indoors.
Went to Gatlinburg for the first time.
Saw fireworks!
Tried his bouncer out.
Liked it.
Started noticing the mobile.
Smiled at the giraffe on it almost everytime he saw it.
Played "footsies" with Daniel.
Cried when Daniel head-butted him.
That happened OFTEN.
Smiled right at Daniel.
Then at Daddy.
Smiled all the time.
We just ate it up!

Laying with Jaden

(Jaden is two days younger than Samuel)

Sleeping through Daddy's birthday party

(Grandpa is a great pillow)

Looking at James Evan -

Saying our goodbyes

In Gatlinburg on the 4th

Leaving the Park with both boys in tow

At the mall with Addy -

She was worried he lost his paci.

Trying out the bouncer for the first time.

Making a "Pappy" face

(in loving memory of Pappy, Thomas B. Johnson)

Smiling at Daddy

Looking big, waiting for Mom to get ready to go!

I Love My Brother from Jenna Johnson on Vimeo.

Every Bit of 15 Months

Our sweet, ball of energy turned 15 months old today!  I say "ball of energy" as a complete understatement.  Spend 15 minutes with our Daniel, and you'll completely understand what we mean. 

Here's what Daniel's been up to in his 15th month:
Found out his Aunt Kim was going to have another baby!
Went to West TN to pick up his cousin, James Evan.
Got to spend some time with his great-aunts.
Spent the week with James Evan!
Met his neighbor, Jaden Max, for the first time.
Celebrated his Daddy's 30th birthday!
Started dancing this month...
He would stomp his feet and turn in circles.
Started pointing to tell you EXACTLY what he wanted...
If he didn't want peas, he'd point at the peaches.
Fed himself his very own peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
Loved being in the tub.
Went to the zoo (finally) with Mommy and Daddy.
He loved the giraffes and the play area.
Went to Gatlinburg on the 4th of July weekend.
Fireworks didn't scare him.
Visited the Aquarium, and loved watching the sharks...
Favorite animal was the penguin.  By far.
Ate the fire out of some ham and pancakes...
Would "sit" in a chair to watch t.v. and be fed breakfast.
Had his first McDonald's Happy Meal.
Played in the creek.
Cried when I wouldn't let him stay in it.
Rode on Mom's back in the Beco baby carrier.
LOVED. IT.
Started a bad case of separation anxiety.
Always wanted to be outside.
His Mimi bought him his FIRST SWINGSET!
Loved eating ice pops with Daddy.
Spent a lot of time with Paula and the girls.
Played with Addy, Kenz, and Kameryn at the mall, Chick fil A, etc.
Was in a book phase...
He pulled one with him almost everywhere he went.
Said "Uh oh" all. the. time.
Dropping his snack.  Uh oh.
Throwing his cup.  Uh oh.
We're WORKING on NO NO.
Broke the DVD player.
Would SEARCH for Thomas the Train toys.
Attended his first VBS.
Still 7 teeth.  Drooling like crazy.
Had fun pulling off his shoes.
the. second. after. I. put. them. on. 
When going to sleep, had to have a blanket pulled to his face.
Liked sipping through a straw.
Said, "Hey," "E-I-E-I, (was missing the O)" and "Bye, Bye."
Called Mommy, "Mum."
Called Daddy, "Da. Da. Da-da-da-da."
Made the sounds to Aunt Jessica's name.
Ran.
Favorite movie was "Meet the Robinsons."
He'd laugh out loud when the boy ripped pages out of his book.
I'm realizing JUST NOW that maybe this is the reason he's started tearing pages out of his own books...

With his cousin, James Evan

Meeting Jaden Max (in the middle)

Helping Daddy open his birthday present

Playing in the bathtub

Pointing at the giraffes at the zoo

Trying out his new float and pool toys

Very interested in this Happy Meal situation

Playing in the creek

Eating breakfast AND watching t.v., both while ACTUALLY SITTING in a chair.

Eating ham and pancakes in Pigeon Forge

Pointing at his favorite thing.

Playing at the mall

Loving his books...

MORE PICTURES SOON

A Diaper Just Made Me Cry...

Seriously.

I ran out of newborn diapers (I literally can praise God for the fact that I've got friends who've provided us with two whole months of diapers), and I realized I had a pack of 1's (of course from friends) to put on Samuel this morning.  I teared up, not because I ran out of diapers, but because my baby is already growing up.  It happened that fast...

I realized how quickly time was passing the other day when Daniel and I were sitting at the kitchen table, he in his booster seat and I in my chair, and I handed him his own peanut butter and jelly on wheat sandwich.  I watched for what seemed like hours as this almost-15-month-old handled his own sandwich.  He fed himself his entire lunch, and though I knew these times were coming, I wasn't exactly sure how I'd feel when they hit.

I didn't know that having children would make me grow up.  I didn't understand how deeply my heart could love and how desperately I want to raise them "right."  I didn't realize how I badly I could worry and how much it hurt to see them cry.  I didn't know it would make me love my husband more and appreciate my parents more than words can express.  Most importantly, I just didn't know that God could care for me this much...

I look into the eyes of my children and feel so blessed, and yet I am so humbled by the fact that God loves me more than I could ever fathom loving my own.  I cannot imagine how much He hurts when I break His heart or end up outside of His will.  I cannot picture what it must be like watching Your own children have kids of their own, yet knowing YOU created both of them must be more fulfilling than anything this world has to offer.  What does it feel like to know that YOU hold their lives in YOUR hands and that YOU are in charge of time? 

So, today as I slipped that size 1 diaper onto my ever-changing, constantly-growing son, my eyes filled with tears knowing that these moments are quickly passing, and God, I cannot thank You enough for each second I have with them.  They are such amazing gifts, and God, YOU are the gift and the giver.  Help me always to cherish this time.  It's going by so fast...

Gatlinburg Babies

For as long as I can remember, my family has always vacationed in Gatlinburg.  Dad's company owns a condo, and they draw names for when each employee gets to go throughout the year.  Needless to say, after all these years Gatlinburg has somewhat lost its appeal to me.  That is, until I took my 14-month-old on 4th of July weekend with both his 6-week-old baby brother, his Mimi, AND his Aunt Jessica.  Here's our trip, in pictures:

Waiting on his food to arrive at Bubba Gump

Riding in the Beco -

literally, the best thing since sliced bread.

Our ONLY time swimming in the pool -

a.k.a. my worst nightmare.

Who puts a pool on the roof?!

Our hotel did, that's who.

YIKES.

Samuel actually started smiling on this trip.

Not in this picture, but he did.

For real.

His very first Happy Meal on the Gatlinburg Strip -

He was in AWE!

This is the life.

Taking it easy in his stroller on the 4th.

Playing in the creek after dinner

With both of my boys on the 4th in Gatlinburg -

getting ice cream, of course!

What would the 4th in Gatlinburg be without

a trip to the Aquarium?!

He spent the entire time doing this...

<------------

Pointing at e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g.

He pointed so much that I started pointing.

Look, we're BOTH pointing!

And then, we met the penguins...

The most exhausting exhibit I've ever visited.

Because you actually crawl through the exhibit.

Penguins swim underneath and above you.

Daniel. would. not. get. out. of. the. penguin. tunnel.

I promise my knees are STILL bruised from chasing him.

You just have to take this picture.

I don't know why.

The boys and me at the entrance to the park.

Okay, Daniel really enjoyed his breakfast

at the Pancake house we always visit in Pigeon Forge.

He ate every last bit of that.

ALL OF IT.

Don't believe me?

Told ya.

Those pancakes and ham are in. his. belly.

It's nice NOT to have to clean the table.

Remind me NOT to visit Gatlinburg on a holiday.

This picture is the reason why.

I mean, we just wanted to go HOME.

Daniel did too -

At least he was a comedian about it.

My sleeping boys as we arrive home...

Brian's 30th Birthday... Belated.

Not only did my son turn one this spring, my husband had a birthday of his own in June.  I planned (behind his back) to throw him a surprise 30th birthday party.  Nevermind the fact that I was busy giving birth and bringing home a newborn during the days leading up to the month of his big day, but I was able to pull it off - WITHOUT Brian knowing a thing about it.  Here are a few pictures from the party:

The "Burnout" cake -

Brian's nickname on the court has always been "Burnout." 

So, I thought it'd be great to do a b-ball themed party

 based on his nickname and turning 30!

More of the decorations -

included basketball chocolates!

When I picked Brian up,

I blindfolded him.

Didn't want him to figure out where I was taking him!

He thought just the two of us were going out...

After walking in,

Brian was in shock!

Samuel decided to sleep through his Daddy's party. 

I think Grandpa may have fallen asleep a time or two!

Daniel was busy taking center stage!

Always the center of attention!

Brian "Burnout" Johnson and his cake.

Special thanks to our dear friend Lori at Cakes and Dainties!

Special friends who visited for the surpise and dinner:

Brian and T-Roy

Matt (Brian's high school friend), his wife Erin,

baby Hannah (in her car seat) and Brian

Mark and Brian

The Ball Family (minus Ethan), Brian, and Brian's cousin, James Evan -

THANK YOU BALL'S for helping pull off the surprise!

Bro. Bill and Bro. Brian

My uncle Ricky, Samuel, and Brian

The two of us

My 30 gifts for Brian's 30th -

and yes, each one had a number and a clue!

Daniel really wanted to help -

and see Daddy's high school b-ball pictures! 

HILARIOUS.

The best gift of the night - #29, I think -

His Sesame Street "All My Homies are from the Street" tshirt

Thank you to all of our friends and family who helped make this such a special night for Brian.  There are so many people who helped pull this off that aren't in the pictures, but I was so humbled by your generosity.  Also, Brian cannot thank you enough for all of the thoughtful cards and gifts!  We love you all dearly.