Jingle Bells

Enjoy our little king singing "Jingle Bells" at her Mother's Day Out Christmas Program. Merry Christmas!

I Don't Want to be Mary!

Today was Cameryn's Mother's Day Out Christmas Program. You can imagine how excited I was to see that Cameryn was playing the role of Mary. What a privilege! (I always secretly wanted to play Mary when I was little). But, Cameryn didn't see it that way. I begged and pleaded (and bribed) her to settle down and have fun with her new role. Plus, she would be the only one who could hold baby Jesus. See scowl below. . .nothing was working.

Even after holding baby Jesus, she still wasn't feeling it. All of a sudden I heard a thud on the floor before the program began and turned to see Cameryn throwing baby Jesus on the floor. Hard! Not baby Jesus!!!! Not my child. . .

See picture below and you will notice that Cameryn was quickly given a new role - that of one of the Wise Men. Which she loved! It had to be the "crown" issue. But she did great as a King and loved every minute of wearing the crown.

They sang Rudolph the Rednosed Reindeer, Jingle Bells and Happy Birthday Jesus!

Serious King!

Cute little angel who has no problem playing a male king.

Happy Birthday Papa!

Cameryn made the cake and Spiderman Brady made a surprise visit!

Papa has his helpers - licking the candles clean!

Super Spiderman Brady

"Da da da da da da da da Tequila!"

We love you Papa! Happy late B-day!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Snowing in Houston! This is not a site you see everyday. But it has been snowing for an hour and I am a kid in a candy store! Cameryn didn't want much to do with it and probably thinks her mommy is going crazy - but I love it! Big flakes and not sticking to the ground. Typical snow for Houston every couple of years. I guess Cameryn didn't realize that she was witnessing history in the making. The best part was going outside and hearing the kids scream "snow" when they were leaving school (it was 3:30pm when it started). Back to watching it out the window before the fun ends. . .

Go Huskers!

There is nothing like a Husker home game day!

Go Big Red! Pregame was exactly the same as it was when I was cheering. Some things never change and that is nice!

Pregame tailgating!


Go Huskers! Finally a New Year's Day bowl game again. Go Nebraska, beat Clemson!

It's a BOY!!!!

It's a Boy! I still can't believe it...

I had it in my mind that I would somehow con my doctor into allowing me to have an ultrasound at 17 1/2 weeks - "just to check on baby and make sure everything was ok before our long trip to Nebraska for Thanksgiving. I would feel much better and less stressed if we could do that before we go." My real reasoning was to find out the sex so we could announce it at Thanksgiving - how cool would that be!

Anyway, my plan worked and I was able to get in for an ultrasound before we left. Tyler couldn't make it but we talked about the possibility of me finding out what we were having and he was ok with that. I think we both had a feeling it would be another girl - he could skip it - we had been there before - we knew what "girl parts" looked like. You can imagine my surprise when the tech asked if I wanted to know and she pointed out the "not-so girl parts!" This baby definitely looked different - it is clearly a BOY! I was shocked!

There was no way I could tell Tyler over the phone that it was a boy so I tried my "lying skills" which anyone who knows me, knows I am horrible at. "I am so bummed - baby wasn't cooperating, maybe we will see in a few weeks." (even though I had already told him earlier that morning that there was a 99% chance we would find out - oops).

The best way I could come up with to tell him was to have Cameryn give him a little cupcake that said "It's a Boy!" She could do this at her Thanksgiving Mother's Day Out party - we planned it with her teachers. It was great! She cried all the way through her little pilgrim performance but she carried over the cupcake with a huge smile - even though she dropped it frosting first on the floor before she got to daddy. He was thrilled!

Funny thing - after he got the cupcake and hugged Cameryn, he handed me a little note that he wrote at work that day. He even timed and dated the note so I knew exactly when he wrote it:

"I think you know and you are messing with me and will surprise me later. Love, Tyler." I guess he does know me pretty well!

Go Rockets!

One of our favorite things to do as a family is to go cheer on the Rockets. Thanks to Daddy's connection to tickets, we get to go every once in a while - "Thanks Dad"

This was the 1st home game of the season and I think Houston won the Guinness Book of World Records for "the most faces painted at a sporting event." We tried to get there early so Cameryn could take part in the fun - but the fans were way to crazy for even Cameryn when we got there. But tonight - Cameryn did learn how to put her hand over her heart for the national anthem. So cute!

She even met a Rockets cheerleader - she was super excited! (or was that daddy?)

Say Cheese!

Halloween 2008

Cam with cousins Brady & Berkeley

Daddy & Cam after a long night of "Trick or Treating"!

The first knock out of many!

"Is your bag full yet?"

Neighbor Jacob & Cam

Cameryn was so proud of her puppy bag!

Mommy & our darling Dalmatian

Costume Day at School

Mommy's version of "handmade"

Cameryn & Brady are pro "trick or treaters!" I think they went to almost every home in our neighborhood to fill up their bags as full as they could. They even remembered to grab a few pieces of candy for little Berkeley!

The Cameryn & Thomas Show

I am trying out publishing a video on my blog and ran across this cute little song from Cameryn & Thomas this summer. I guess you could say that it was our theme song during their 2 week visit to see us. Can you guess the song?

Baby #2 - 15 weeks

We had our monthly OB appointment yesterday and Baby #2 is doing great! I got to hear the heartbeat - 152 bpm. We should find out the sex in December and I can't wait! I am having a hard time with our new OB. It is so hard to get used to seeing someone new when I was so attached to our old Dr. Because of the fertility issues, our specialist thought it would be best for me and the baby to see someone who has a speciality in fertility and can keep a good eye on things before delivery and ensure a safe delivery. Our new OB came very well recommended from our specialist but doesn't quite have the same (or even close) bedside manner that our previous OB did. Wish me luck - maybe he was just having a bad day. Our next appt. is right before Thanksgiving. More about baby #2 then. . .

The Last Few Weeks . . .

Broad Hollow Ct. Halloween Party

Cousin Berkeley, Cameryn & Cousin Brady

Saturday night our cul-de-sac had its 1st Halloween party. Thanks to a few neighbors, it was one we won't forget! There were over 100 people there and an exciting haunted house maze in the backyard for everyone to enjoy - or freak out in! It was pretty scary and very well put together. There were games for the kids and lots of food and fun. Hopefully it will become a Broad Hollow Ct. tradition!

Berkeley hanging around

Oooo, yucky monster guts!

Skeleton crafts

Neighborhood Garage Sale

After preparing since the beginning of Summer, we finally had our garage sale. (The garage sale was one of the 1st things I wanted to do while I wasn't working). It was supposed to be the day that Hurricane Ike hit so it was postponed a month. Bethany and I set it up the Friday before so we would be good and ready for the Saturday rush. Also - mom and dad's costume party was the night before the sale and I would probably be the only one not feeling yucky the next morning and I needed it ready to go. But - Tyler was very helpful and helped me open it bright and early on Saturday morning at 7am. (it was still dark outside -and we rolled in at 1:30am the night before!) Needless to say we were very busy and managed to make around $500 all together. We have never had a garage sale since we have lived here - 7 years - and I am already excited about the next one!

Our little helpers!

Pinkalicious Tea Party with Mimi

Mimi invited Cameryn and mommy to a performance of one of our favorite books Pinkalicious and a tea party to follow. If you haven't read the book - you have to! Especially if you love the color pink and CUPCAKES! This book is one of favorites to read at bedtime. Cameryn wore her Pinkarella dress and loved watching the play on Mimi's lap. She was very well behaved and animated through the whole thing. After the play we went to the tea party to meet the cast and of course eat the famous Pinkalicious Cupcakes. It was a day Cameryn and mommy won't forget. Thanks Mimi!

Cameryn's Flower Pink Cupcake that Mimi bought for her.

Finally tasting the pink m&m's and Pinkalicious Cupcake!

Meeting the cast of the show!

Yummmmmmy!

Mommy & Cameryn before the show

Mimi & Cameryn - we love our Mimi!

Getting ready at home before the show. . .

The Children's Museum with Brady

Cameryn and cousin Brady had a blast at the Children's Museum! It is exhausting trying to keep up with them when they want to play teacher, be a doctor, dentist, waitress, banker, and of course dig for dinosaur bones! Aunt B (Bethany) and I have fun watching them discover and play. We should do this more often!

(Stopping by the ATM - Taking after mommy already!)

Baby Johnson #2 Update

A few more pictures of Baby Johnson #2. We had a 12 weeks ultrasound a few weeks ago and were able to see the baby move around a lot and almost suck its thumb. Guess he/she wants to take after their big sister Cameryn! We should find out what we are having in December.

I am starting to feel much better - I don't feel as sick in the morning and I think my most uncomfortable time is at night. That is when you can really tell I am starting to show. It makes me a bit nervous since we are only 14 weeks and I am already feeling like a bowling ball at night. But it is very well worth it! I am anxiously awaiting the first kick and I swear I have felt something (not gas!). We have our next OB appt. on Thursday so we should have more updates after that.

Baby News!

Well - after 2 & 1/2 years trying - we are finally expecting Baby Johnson #2! We are super excited and feel blessed that everything is moving along great. Our due date is April 27th (2 days before my 34th b-day) but we will have a planned c-section that could happen anytime 7-10 days before that date. (Maybe he/she will be born on Grandma Johnson's b-day!) That would be really neat since Cameryn's b-day is on Grandpa Johnson's b-day.

Not to bore you with our fertility history but it makes for an interesting and amazing experience so here it is in a nutshell. About a year after Cameryn was born we decided since we were enjoying being parents and laughing with and loving Cameryn so much we would start trying for #2. After about 8 months of trying and nothing happening we went to see my OB. We worked with her for about a few months and she suggested we go back and see the specialist we saw before Cameryn. After about 3 months with that specialist, we were not happy with the response we were getting and was a bit nervous about what she was suggesting we try. So...we went to specialist #2. Test after test and there was "no reason" we shouldn't get pregnant. I was healthy, and Tyler was healthy. Specialist #2 suggested we try "Insemination" or IUI. So - we did. Yes - that didn't work either. We decided to give up "trying" a while and focus on each other and the family (especially Cameryn). I think we both came to a place that we were so blessed already and if Cameryn was the only child we had - we were fulfilled.

OK - fast forward 6 months from that and God gave us a good feeling about talking to another Specialist (specialist #3) that came very well recommended by 2 of our friends. Thank God for Dr. Dunn! We met with him and without doing any tests and just reading my history, he was pretty sure it was an issue with my uterus and that he could fix it. So after 2 surgeries we were cleared to start trying again on our own. We got pregnant on our 1st try!

I think the moral of our story is #1 to be patient (which is very hard to do when you are struggling with fertility issues) and most of all to trust God. He has a miraculous plan for everyone and just from what we have gone through - Cameryn and baby #2 are proof of His promise.

Johnson Family Reunion in Nebraska

Click Here to view the photoshow of our recent trip to Nebraska.

We decided at the last minute to surprise Tyler's mom and dad during the Johnson Reunion weekend. Tyler, Cameryn, Tyler's brother, Greg, and his 3 kids and I piled in the minivan and made the 10 hour trip to Hebron, NE. The Grandparents were so surprised they didn't even know what to say. Hebron is such a relaxing town. From the minute we got there - we threw off our shoes, ran barefoot in the grass and took a deep breath of fresh air. There is nothing like watching the kids catch fireflies at dusk and spending time with family. Can't wait to go back!