10 Months

 10 months old, wholly cow! First Birthday is just around the corner, I can't believe it. The party store in our neighborhood is moving locations so I even went and stocked up on some ultra clearance items for the big day.

 Fun facts of little miss personality:

-Still taking two naps typically 9-11 and 2-4 give or take a half hour with both and bedtime from 8-6

-Nurses in the morning and at night, and has bottles in between of Enfamil. No particular reason, although I have found Enfamil dissolves faster than other brands we've tried.  

 -Loves to wave hi and bye to everyone she sees especially when they say hi or bye to her

-Dances to music by bopping or waving her arms up and down
-Loves to clap her hands

-Is back to sticking out her tongue, or most recently bringing it in and out like a little lizard

-Can spend an hour in her bedroom looking through all her books and doesn't even rip the pages anymore, knock on wood!
-Does high five

 -Says Dadda, Momma, baby and hi all in Johanna baby talk she also has a word for cat but it sounds nothing like cat more of a mix between gasps/grunts/and her attempt at meow
-Likes to pull Pazzo's fur (our cat) then gets upset when Pazzo runs away from her
-Laughs when Fiona sniffs her head with her big wet nose

 -Love cheese of any kind, and any other big girl foods that we feed her but is getting less and less interested in baby puree foods

-Gets to have her own kiddy cup at restaraunts with water

-Is now eating the 'full' egg instead of just yolks

 -Cruises on anything she can pull herself up on; the ottoman, the banister, her crib, the windows

-Plays peek-a-boo on her own (caught her doing this while she was watching baby genius, so cute!)

-Gives 'smooches'
-Cries when she falls over when we are watching even though it doesn't hurt

-Has quite the temper when someone takes her toys and lets them know she is not happy but yelling very loudly

-Thinks it's okay when she steals toys from everyone else...

-Still has a chunky little butt hehe...couldn't resist taking this photo!
-Now wears size 4 sensitive diapers on that chunky little butt

Happy 10 Months, Peanut!

My Gym Update

 We started My Gym back before Johanna was even crawling. Boy have things changed since then! Jeff likes to take her on the Saturday's that he is home and I usually sleep in, but this time I decided to come along to take some pictures of her progress.

 Even during her less mobile days she loved her gym class, but now that she is a little cruiser she thinks she owns the place.

 Her tongue has made a recent appearance. We thought she'd retired the Michael Jordan look, but it is back in full swing.

 On Tuesday they set up a circus tent and had dozens of stuffed animals hiding inside. On Saturday  she knew exactly what was waiting for her so she zoomed over to the tent as fast as her little legs would allow her.

 It didn't take her long to gather up her own little stock pile of animals.

 This girl loves anything that involves swinging! Every week the teachers comment on how strong of a grip she's got. My little monkey!

 Pointing her toes, such form.

 Working on her core with the balancing swing.

Finishing off the class with separation time. She loves the drums, and notice how the sticks are NOT in her mouth? She was actually drumming along!

Baby Bean

Today I had my second prenatal visit with our Doctor with the company of Jeff and Johanna. I had lost a tiny bit of weight but Doctor said he wasn't concerned yet about this and that it is probably from the morning/evening/night sickness that I am so blessed to have again with this pregnancy! All kidding aside, it really isn't that bad... I have heard of others having it much worse so I will keep sucking on my preggo pops and sipping my mamma's tea and keep my fingers crossed that it will be over with in a few weeks. The Doctor found the heart beat right away with his doppler and it was nice and strong at 170 bpm. Ten weeks (practically!) done and 30 more to go- we love you baby bean!

Double Trouble

We are going to have so much fun watching these two grow up together. They are already such great pals! This past week Johanna and I picked up Kara and the boys and headed over to Gigi's for a lunch date. The true purpose behind us going was for me to drop off a borrowed suitcase and some pictures but of course silly pregnant me forgot both of these things which means next week we get to have another date :)

 Gigi has a whole assortment of toys she's picked up at various consignment sales and they are always a hit with the kids. Here they are checking out the 'sit and spin' remember these from when we were kids?

 Awww sloppy Johanna kisses...she really does love her cousin :) Nathan even returned the favor later on in the day but I wasn't fast enough to get that one on film, darn!

 Tyler was very interested in what Gigi kept in her pantry (or maybe he was just interested in finding Latte the cat) so we set up a barricade to block off entry. This didn't set him back though, he decided to play the tossing pillows in the air game. The little ones were quick to scurry over to see what all the commotion was with their big brother/cousin Tyler.

Later that night we headed over to Brian and Lori's for some pizza while the boys put together a crib. Johanna is going to have her first sleep over this weekend while Jeff and I attend a wedding and Grandma needed to be prepared! Last time we were over Johanna crawled up the stairs and had a blast poking her head through the banister. We brought both kids up this time and they were both hysterical with laughter. It was the cutest thing ever!

God answers prayers!

     I was driving along in my car earlier this Summer, Johanna in the backseat humming contently away to some unknown song in her head. Hearing her singing and the innocence and happiness behind it, I was struck with an overwhelming feeling of gratitude. I am blessed with such an amazing daughter who has taught me so much; patience, selflessness, eternal love. As I continued down the road I really started thinking about my Johanna Faith. Faith I thought to myself, what did this name really mean? It was a pretty name, went well with Johanna and something that Jeff and I both thought had a positive vibe to. But then I got to thinking, really thinking. What is faith? So then I did it. I said a prayer to God to show me what Faith was.
   
     Fast forward to today. A few months have gone by since my silent conversation with God, the Summer is coming to a close and Johanna is getting bigger every day. Jeff is still traveling for work 2 weeks away from home with 1 week at home which really translates to 5 full days at home, 16 days away. It has been challenging to say the least but I have unconditional support of my husband and the hard work he is doing to provide for our family. While away for a trip to Ohio I just felt like something seemed a little off. I had one of those hunches... you know the feeling we women get especially those who have been there before... that I needed to get a pregnancy test. Much to my disbelief, after waiting my respected 2 minutes I was greeted with a big fat positive. Immediately my mind goes back to the one week Jeff was home. Yes alcohol was likely involved, no this was not planned and how in the world does it happen that fast?! I thought frantically to myself. But there it was, no going back, we were going to have another baby!

     I struggled with it at first, the first few days were a whirl wind of mixed emotions. Is it too soon? Will Johanna have enough of my attention? Will this new little one have enough of my attention? How will I do this while Jeff is away all the time? But then I thought back to my simple, sincere prayer "God give me faith." So there it was plain and simple, He was answering my prayer!

     We have had several weeks to soak it in. To tell our families and close friends and now our extended family and friends. We are so excited and feel so extremely blessed to have this new addition on the way. As my dear sister-in-law Kara put it, what better gift to give Johanna than a sibling? He/She will teach her to share, to learn responsibility and practice empathy. She will have a built in play mate, someone to grow up with side by side.

     So as I sit here writing this explanation of sorts, I am gushing with excitement. I am no longer fearful of the future but thrilled with this blessing of Motherhood again. I have learned that faith is our confidence that we will receive the things we hoped for, it is opposite to fear, doubt and worry. So even though the future may hold some bumps along the way I know it will all work out in the end!

 Jeff posing with his birthday presents that I brought him back from Ohio. I wrapped them up in between a shirt I had gotten him at the Mud Hen's stadium gift shop. He opened up his present, pulled the shirt out to take a closer look and out popped the newborn onesies...SURPRISE!

Johanna wasn't sure what we were so excited about, but it was so infectious she couldn't stop herself from squealing with glee!

Baby bean at 8 weeks 2 days, due March 25th. We got to see his/her little heart flicker and hear it beating and even saw little arms wiggle. We love you baby!

9 Month Photos

Johanna hadn't had any photos taken since her 4 month shots so I knew I needed to run her over to get some taken. I still owe a few people some pictures of the little peanut so I knew now was better than never! An hour before we were due to leave Johanna was busy exploring our bed frame and bumped her head, go figure. Luckily you can't see it too badly in most of the pictures! As usual our scanner doesn't get the black very well. The green dress is from Johanna's Oma, isn't it perfect for the beach! And don't you love the naked butt bath scene, hehe...

Cherries