The Johnson Family

2010 begins

2010-01-05T20:54:00.001-07:00

So i have completely neglected our blog and i apologize to all who have been longing for something new. I am going to start off the new year with a quick post and a link to some pictures.

We went to Florida on NYE to visit with my family down there for a few days. A great time was had by all and we are hoping to get there again this fall. The link i am posting is full of Christmas and Florida trip pictures. if this doesn't work i will try to post again tomorrow with more information but probably less pictures.

hope everyone is doing well!!!
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=135502&id=538714518&l=e2d797b4eb

Mom's Day weekend

2009-05-11T08:55:00.004-06:00

I am the lucky recipient of a g.c to Massage Envy as my Mother's Day gift. I can't wait to use it.

Although it was Mother's Day weekend right after my birthday - it was really all about Gabriel :-)

He pointed out my eyes and nose while saying the body parts correctly. He ran into the kitchen yelling ma-ma and gave me a hug!! And he had a Christmas revival - we put fresh batteries in all the toys that were "dead". Finally, we hit Toys-R-Us for the first time - he isn't a baby anymore, folks.

It was the best Mother's Day weekend I could have ever asked for!!!!

Rediscovering the Elmo sing along toy

Showing off his toofs

Gabe and his BFF Missy in the new tunnel w/tent we found at TRU

Missy LOVES this helicopter thing Keith got Gabe last weekend when I was really sick and they went shopping. Gabe and Missy run around with this every night!

Mommy's bday

2009-05-11T08:48:00.004-06:00

I had a great birthday. Mani/pedi, girly movie, Chinese and hanging with the boys. The next night we had a grown up evening of baseball, beer and fun. Not bad for 33.

flowers from my mommy and husband

mani/pedi

Gabriel eating from my chopsticks - he loved California roll!!

15 month doctor visit

2009-05-11T08:43:00.002-06:00

Gabriel is doing great - healthy, happy and a great sleeper :-)

Stats:
height = 31 inches (50%) (12 month visit was really 30 1/4 inches)
weight = 23 lbs (25%)
head = 49.1 cm (90%)

Our monster baby boy is now evening out a bit - well, except for the big melon!

He is one the best eaters ever - even started trying sushi! We are very blessed to have such a fabulous little boy. I feel like everyday is an adventure that puts a smile on my face. Oh don't get me wrong, he can be a real turkey but it doesn't last too long :-)

April at a Glance

2009-05-11T08:38:00.002-06:00

Gabriel is very busy. His vocabulary is growing everyday and we are always amused! So here are few of the highlights from April that I captured with the camera.

Starting him young - loves playing with Daddy's football helmets

Gabe feeds himself - always! He is working on the art of using utensils for but now we end up with days like this.....Easter Sunday Mommy made homemade lasagna and he loved it!

Mommy's little helper - those drawers are full of towels, napkins, potholders and bibs so he can go nuts and does almost every day!

Iowa Trip

2009-05-11T08:30:00.005-06:00

So, I haven't updated this in a long time.....my updates are on Facebook but I will try to keep up a bit better here too.

We went to Iowa at the end of April to visit friends, do a Pampered Chef show and see Daisy, Kate's horse. It was a nice trip and we had tons of fun seeing everyone. Gabriel got to show off all his new tricks for Gma/Gpa Busby - and they taught him some new material.

I unfortunately we sick almost the entire time we were there......darn spring cold! Luckily, while I was down and out, Keith had help from everyone around us.

I have become a horrible picture taker in the sense I forget to take them......sorry.

Here's a couple from our visit with Daisy. Rob and Branden came over to Ankeny to see us and join in on the horse fun.

Trip to the Zoo

2009-03-23T09:06:00.004-06:00

We took Gabriel to the zoo over the weekend. It has been a year since his last trip....boy how things have changed....

It was a beautiful weekend so lots of interesting people at the zoo, along with the animals. Gabriel seemed more interested in the geese than anything else. The seals were really active so he was explaining to Daddy what they were doing.....

I also took Gabe for a nice long walk yesterday on the trails around our house. The thought was he might sleep since napping wasn't really going well (darn teething!) - it didn't work - instead Gabriel was telling stories to all that could hear....it was hilarious. But before he could get cozy in his stroller, he needed a hat.....sucks being so pasty!

First Haircut

2009-03-14T16:11:00.003-06:00

It was time to cut Gabriel's hair. He looks so different as you will probably see better as we post more pictures....today he wasn't very cooperative.

Monkey Bizness

2009-03-14T16:06:00.002-06:00

Gabe and mommy went on their first play-date today. Daddy would rather it be called boys-day-out cuz there weren't any girls on this date. Whatever. We went with some daycare friends to Monkey Bizness - an indoor playground type place. It was really fun and we learned it pays to be there when it opens and only stay a couple of hours. Here's some pictures to show how busy they were....these are all from the little kid area (2 and under). I was too busy chasing Gabe in the big area to snap photos.

Party - bday/baptism

2009-02-20T09:29:00.005-07:00

Thank you all for making Gabriel's first birthday and baptism so special. We are truly blessed!

On February 15th we had Gabe baptized at our church. There will be video of the whole thing posted as soon as Keith breaks it up into chunks that can be posted on here.

After church we had a little get together at the house to celebrate this wonderful event and his first birthday. The party was a ton of fun - it was nice to have our friends over to the house for food and stuff.

Gabriel wasn't much on opening presents but he did play with everything - or at least one of the kids did!

As the afternoon wore on, Gabriel didn't. He needed a nap! When he went down for his nap the Timmerman's made their getaway back to Iowa. We will miss them and hope they come back soon.

I have to admit I don't have a ton of pictures from the party. I know other people do so I just need to get them and post some more later.

Valentine's Day

2009-02-20T09:23:00.002-07:00

We spent our Valentine's Day at home with the Timmerman's. Amy & the boys brought over treat bags and gifts for everyone which was super fun too. That evening we baked heart shaped sugar cookies - Elizabeth had a blast and was very creative.

Also, we purchased a dining room set from our realtor - it's not new but it's new to us - so Keith & Erik went and picked it up Saturday. Gabriel wanted to help daddy put it back together.

Timmerman's

2009-02-20T09:15:00.003-07:00

Our good friends the Timmerman's drove from Des Moines to Denver to see our new house and be here for the big celebration - Gabriel's birthday and baptism. Erik and Melissa are Gabe's godparents and we were thrilled to have them visit with their daughters, Elizabeth & Emily. Emily and Gabriel are about 5 months apart and were two peas in a pod all weekend. Gabe even taught Em how to throw your arms in the air for touchdown. Elizabeth is going to be 4 this month so I decided to spoil her rotten while she was here - it might be a good thing I don't have a daughter. Of course there were Valentine's day presents, birthday presents and well, just cuz I said so presents.

While they were here we went to visit the Children's Museum and it was a big hit w/ all 3 of the kids.
Train conductor Gabriel

Deep sea fisherwoman Elizabeth

Basketball rising star Emily (sorry for the back of the baby shot - oh and that is Erik!)

Feb 5th - another year, another big day

2009-02-20T09:07:00.003-07:00

What a difference a year makes. Gabriel is walking, talking and getting into everything. Last year all he could do was eat, sleep and make a mess in a diaper (all things he still does well). He went for his well-baby visit and here is what we found out -

Height - 31 inches
Weight - 21.6 pounds

Our 9 lb 10 oz monster is now on the small side for his age. He is a very active boy with a healthy appetite but it just isn't sticking to his bones. No worries though - he is a very healthy boy. And here is my moment to brag - he is in the top 10% for his age developmentally. He is able to stack blocks, put toys away, sign a few words and speak 4 words. We never know how he is doing unless someone else points it out....it's nice to hear. We, of course, think he is just amazing but it's nice to know he is moving right along the way he should be.

So, the other portion of February 5th is that we closed on our house. It was a great day! Our closing was a bit of an episode of Jerry Springer (short version - the couple are divorcing and the wife showed up w/ her girlfriend!) but at least we walked away with our new home. We moved in on Saturday and quickly unpacked since we were having house guests on Thursday for the weekend.

Tubes

2009-02-20T09:01:00.003-07:00

Well, after many months of battling ear infections we put Gabriel under the knife for tubes. The whole experience took less than an hour from arrival to departure. We did really well before he went in but the waking up from the drugs part put mommy in tears....it wasn't fun. Gabe was a trooper and since the surgery we have been to the doctor twice (ped & ent) with reports of clear ears. That is so nice to hear after being told they got snot like stuff out of his ears when they did the tubes.
Playing before surgery

Dressed for success with his moose slippers - he is sad they don't fit anymore

Standing Tall

2009-01-15T20:09:00.003-07:00

I think we have a toddler on our hands........

Our First House

2009-01-10T19:46:00.003-07:00

The Johnson's are finally grown ups - Keith is part of management, we have a child and a family pet AND are about to take on our first mortgage. The process has definitely been a learning experience but all in all we are having a blast. Dawn had been doing tons of research online about houses on the market in our price range so it was pretty simple to meet with our realtor and start touring the properties. We are under contract, thru the inspection and finalizing all the lending documentation. So for Gabriel's first birthday (February 5th) we thought we would buy him a house - so we close that day!

After we close and move, Keith and Dawn will be taking the following week off to settle in before the next big family event - we are having Gabriel baptized February 15th. On that day we will also have his 1st birthday party!!! So much excitement in February for us - second year in a row :-) It's hard to believe Gabe is just about a year old...wow!

Here's a couple pics of the house - with other people's stuff still in it but it's the best I can do for now.
Front living space

front living looking back

Family room

Outback Bowl fun

2009-01-10T08:03:00.005-07:00

New Year's day we had the Hill's come over for the Iowa game. Kickoff was 9 a.m. so it was interesting to be eating wings and such before noon. Hawks won and we had a great time.

Keith with Holden and Zooey chilling during the game.

Christmas 2008

2009-01-10T07:29:00.004-07:00

Gabriel's first Christmas was wonderful. We are in the apartment so we needed to go get a smaller tree - but it was cute! Gabe wasn't so sure about all the presents until he realized he could rip paper w/out getting in trouble. That afternoon we went over to the Hill's for Jesus' birthday cake and exchanging gifts.

Random December Pics

2009-01-10T07:21:00.002-07:00

Naked baby drooling

The kids helping organize baby clothes

Sporting a little KC Royals love

When you hands are full just use your mouth.

The "Champ" has battled ear infections

Missy - life is tough

2009-01-09T22:05:00.003-07:00

Okay, so Missy is a spoiled cat that we love dearly. She has always been sweet and a bit confused about being a cat versus a dog. she has been known to demonstrate dog behavior. Well, life for Missy changed dramatically when Gabriel entered the Johnson family. So, I thought it was time to blog for her, about her.

aw, cuddling w. the adults is so much better than playing w/ Gabriel

All Missy would like to do is lay around her house but oh no, she has to share it with Gabriel. He loves her so much but it's a tough love....bordering on abusive. She gets kisses which aren't so bad and he has been known to give gentle pets....but for the most part he loves to hold her tail even as she runs away.....or kick her a bit so she paws at him....he laughs.

Missy's favorite part of the day, aside from when were aren't here, is when Gabe goes to bed and she can have us all to herself again. Oh but wait there is the times when Gabriel plays w/ his talking Eeyore with flapping ears and she paws at them - I am bound and determined to get that on video because Gabe claps during the whole thing....it's hysterical.

All in all I think she loves us all......even Gabe.

Kisses.

Turkey Time - Part II

2009-01-09T21:55:00.004-07:00

After our time in Iowa we made a stop in Nebraska to see Pete and the kids - then over to see Mike, Nicki and the kids. Gabriel is really fond of Uncle Pete....after seeing him in Hawaii and then seeing him a week later....he was all smiles!
Gabriel w/ his cousins....trying to escape :-)

Hanging w/ Mike although he is in a Vikings jersey - yucko!!!

Nicki and I made a trip to Target while we were there and well, I fell in love w/ the carts! Seriously the entire thing was plastic, brand new and fabulous....I wish i would have had the camera with me so everyone could appreciate them w/ me.

After all the fun for the holiday we hit the open road back to the Denver area.....once in Colorado the wind was crazy....tumbleweed EVERYWHERE!!! It was the first time i ever experienced something like that....it was insane and really hard to drive! No pics of that either....i am really good at telling stories and not having any documented visuals :-)

Turkey Time - Part I

2009-01-09T20:45:00.003-07:00

The Johnson's drove to Iowa for Thanksgiving this year....and most likely will do the trip every year. We were blessed with great weather both directions and got to see many of our friends and family. Our first portion of the trip we were in the Des Moines area. As always it was great to see the Busby clan, Scottie and his family, Rob, the Timmerman's, Holly and her munchkins and Joanna w/ Dylan.

An afternoon at Melissa's w/ Holly's clan too.

Dylan helping Gabe look cool!

Boy does the kid love to swing.

Keith and I actually took our 4th outing w/out Gabriel that week and had an adult dinner w/ Joanna and the Timmerman's. It was this great tapas type place where the food was good but the company was even better.

TobyMac

2009-01-09T20:37:00.002-07:00

It's been awhile but finally a reunion with Jay Williams occurred in November. Keith and I took a night out and meet up with Jay and his lovely wife Lauren. We all went to the TobyMac concert - it was fabulous and we all had a reunion with Tim Rosenau. It's been way too many years since our Summer Games years but wow was it amazing to see them again. Hopefully we can all get together again sooner rather than later.

Hawaii

2009-01-09T20:23:00.005-07:00

We took a trip to Hawaii in November. It was my grandmother's wish to have her ashes scattered off of Diamond Head on Oahu after she passed away.....so that is what we did. It was an interesting trip and Gabriel loved all the attention. The trip was five days and we did as much exploring of Oahu as we could.....including a drive along the North Shore, Dole pineapple plant, Waikiki beach, a dinner cruise, body surfing in some REALLY big waves and just relaxing as a family. Keith finally met my mom's sister and her daughter which was great. Mom and Peter were also along for the fun.
Gabriel trying to be like his dad.

Pete, Susan and Keith braving the HUGE waves on the North Shore

Gabe sure liked hanging out w/ his grandma

Had to stop by and see if Dog was around

The boat ride out to say good bye to gramma was nice and it felt good to honor her wish. We also dropped flowers in the water to mark where she was as we circled the area. It was really pretty.

9 months & counting

2008-11-06T12:44:00.003-07:00

Today I took Gabe in for his well baby visit. Stats look like this -

Height = 29 in. (75%)
Weight = 20 lbs. (45%)
Head = 46.5 cm (85%)

No worries on his weight - he is extremely active for his age and is getting all the necessary meals. The doctor said we will just keep an eye on him to make sure he keeps taking bottles and eating his meals.

To celebrate his 9th month Gabriel decided to take 8 consecutive steps towards me yesterday at daycare....yep, I cried! I get wet eyed typing it now. Hard to believe it's been 9 months!!!

So, here are some Gabriel factoids -
1. 6 teeth w/ the 7th just poking thru
2. walking a bit
3. saying uh-oh often cuz he is dropping things, including himself like crazy
4. loves to play w/ daddy no matter what they are doing - flying baby, dancing, climbing on daddy, etc
5. has a different tone of voice when he speaks to Missy
6. reaches for us, claps his hands, points, picks up EVERYTHING off the carpet w/ two fingers
7. loves to push the laundry basket around the house
8. still loves hanging out in the window looking at the outside stuff.
9. chews, doesn't suck, his thumb!
10. loves to cuddle w/ clean laundry, blankets and his parents :-)

Halloween 2008

2008-11-04T19:34:00.003-07:00

Sorry for the few day delay on posting Gabriel's first Halloween.....Keith and I have been a bit sickly.

Gabriel worn a cute sweatsuit to school for their little parade and was a big spider for the evening events. We went over to the Hill's house for pizza and such. We pushed Gabe halfway around the block and he was asleep. Hopefully he will enjoy it more next year.

Mom's Day Off

2008-10-31T13:03:00.002-06:00

I was lucky enough to get a day away - 31 hours actually. I went to Chicago and hung out for the day and spend my first night away from Gabe. It would have been more traumatic if I hadn't been up until 1 a.m. and then out the door at 7:30 to meet Carrie for coffee.

Shelly and I went to lunch and then shopping on Armitage. We spent part of the afternoon lounging at the hotel and then hit Michigan Avenue. Around 7 we met up with Tammy and Becca for dinner. The dinner conversations went on past midnight. I had a fabulous time.

Carrie and I got to catch up over coffee - she is pregnant w/ her first child and had recently had her baby shower. The joys of figuring out where all the new stuff is to go and what you are going to need first.

I took my camera to Chicago but left it's battery in the charger at home so no evidence of the adventure. Next "Mom's Day Off" will probably be around my birthday in May (post holidays and post home purchase).

Keith and Gabe had a nice time together.....boys watching football and playing at the house. I believe they had lunch w/ one of K's employee's and his wife at Chic-fila - Gabe loves chicken!

Next post will be all about the Halloween extravaganza!

Vail

2008-10-12T20:27:00.003-06:00

Well, there really wasn't much snow in Vail but we had a great time. Gabe got to meet Aunt Diane and Johnny.....and see Mindy again. The weather was fabulous - lots of sun and as you can see Gabe wasn't the biggest fan! Oh and that coat is a 12 month but for 35 degree weather it was the best we could do!

The mountains are just breath taking and we really need to spend more time up there!

First word, I think

2008-10-09T08:46:00.002-06:00

So, does uh-oh count as a word? If so, Gabriel is saying his first word and using it appropriately. Yesterday he dropped something and said uh-oh!!! It was very exciting....for us, not so much him. I also noticed this morning that he has started standing unassisted. Last night he started walking holding Keith's hands and if Keith stopped Gabe growled! Hilarious.

We are taking him up to Vail this weekend to hang out with some Busby's and there will be snow - which means there should be some pictures next week.

Hilarious

2008-09-29T20:07:00.002-06:00

I have laughed at many people and their children due to the child finding something fun to explore....baby powder, toilet paper and lotion. Well, Gabe loves to use the wipe container as a drum.

If you turn your back for a minute it turns into a kleenex box and a snack.......

bath time fun

2008-09-29T19:58:00.004-06:00

I keep saying I will be better at this and now it's been over 10 days since my last post. Really not much has happened around here except....Gabe got his 3rd and 4th teeth, a double ear infection, feeding himself all sorts of food, drinking from a sippy and is working on standing unassisted......oh and can clap open handed and play peek-a-boo by himself. It's been amazing to watch him grow and learn. We now understand the idea that each month/phase gets better. I cry at each new thing he figures out.....it's going to be a long haul and I should buy stock in Kleenex now.

The best thing that happens every night is bath time. He starts to get cranky so Keith will go, take down the gate, turn on the bathroom light and start the water......Gabriel will then crawl his fastest to the bathroom and stand the the tub's edge....it is so cute!!!

Keith and I are doing well. Still trying to find a babysitter for some grown-up nights out.....hopefully soon because we want to go see Jersey Boys during the holidays!

First MLB game & 2nd Jessica Visit

2008-09-18T21:14:00.010-06:00

Jess rocks....she took all of us to the Rockies game last weekend and is the only person to come to visit us twice since Gabe was born! I am hoping to go visit her in October for an overnight away from my boys.

Gabe had a blast at the game....then slept for over half of it. After the game we found a cute place to grab a latin snack before taking Jess to the airport.

Third tooth

2008-09-18T21:14:00.007-06:00

The third tooth has made an appearance....not a big enough for pictures to capture it but trust me, it's there. Upper left

He is doing better with eating off his tray....loves the puffs and banana pieces. tonight we was all about the sippy cup and actual drank from it too.

Random Gabriel Fun

2008-09-18T21:14:00.004-06:00

He is one busy boy.....happy as can be but busy. He is starting to notice and care if he can't see us but still could care less about going to daycare. He has an entourage there of friends that he pals around with all day.
playing so hard he fell asleep on the floor

Bath time is so fun.....Missy even likes it....she gets to drink the water too!

He loves to stand in his bedroom window so Keith went outside to get the view in.

Charity

2008-09-11T20:05:00.003-06:00

We walked in the Colorado AIDS walk last weekend. Gabe had a great time checking out the crowd and riding on Daddy's shoulders.

Gotta love his new hat we picked up in Iowa!

Uncle Scottie's return

2008-09-11T19:59:00.004-06:00

We went to Iowa for Labor day weekend to welcome Uncle Scottie back to the good old US of A. On the way we stopped in Omaha to see Pete and the kids...who ended up coming to Des Moines for the weekend. Rob was also in town for the visit. Saturday I met up with some old and dear friends....it had been way too long. Then the afternoon was full of a family party.
Sunday we had another family outing to the Icubs game.
Julie and the kids joined in the fun too.
On the way home we stopped back in Omaha to visit with the Parks family.....gotta love Mike and Nikki!!!!

Standing

2008-09-11T19:54:00.003-06:00

Gabriel has taken to standing any chance he gets.....and then walking along things.....the couch, the window, his exersaucer. It's amazing to me how much he is doing each day. Still the happy child too. We are blessed.

climbing & sitting

2008-08-21T20:34:00.005-06:00

Gabe is doing something new everyday. We moved him to a regular car seat and were using his infant seat as a barricade....he decided to crawl into it and thought he was funny. We put up a gate and got rid of the infant seat gate.....so he crawled over to Missy's mouse toy....luckily, she will share. Today we heard from daycare that he would sit up so we tried it tonight....they were right. they say he can get that way on his own but we haven't witnessed that yet. I don't have a picture yet to prove it but the kid pulled himself up to standing at the couch tonight.

work is going well. Gabriel has so much fun at school that I don't feel so bad working. We will see how it goes. Looking forward to the trip to Iowa.....then it will be full 5 day work weeks!! Yikes!

Photo shoot

2008-08-14T20:25:00.009-06:00

Okay, so we all agree I have too much time on my hands right now....luckily I am going to work next week.....anyway, Gabe has really been entertaining so I took way too many pictures yesterday. We usually play in the living room but I decided we needed a change of scenery without leaving the apt....so we played in Gabriel's room. We crawled there - he is up on all fours and using his legs but isn't using his arms "correctly". Oh and today I realized he can sit by himself!!

Mama's little helper

He couldn't stop looking at himself in the mirror

that's my Iowa boy (it vibrates when he chews on it!)

all these toys and I want the rug strings

My kids :-)

the only dog he can have right now

26 weeks

2008-08-06T16:13:00.003-06:00

Six months....wow! I can hardly believe it's been that long....but then again we have had a few changes.

Stats:
Weight - 18 lb 5 oz
height - 26 1/2 inches
Head - 45.6 cm

He use to be 75th percentile all across the board but now his height is 50th and his head 90th. He is a monster! Here's a couple pics from today - he was trying to grab the wrist strap to the camera :-)

Friends Forever

2008-08-01T21:05:00.004-06:00

Gabe and Mommy self-portrait :-)

Gabe's favorite "person" right now is the cat, Missy. He lights up like a Christmas tree whenever she is in the room. He has even shared his toys and sleeping space with her (keith is standing there). It is so cute...we will have to get some video too.

Today Gabe couldn't decide between his seahorse toy or one of his socks....this debate went on for a long time!

Better pic of teeth

2008-07-26T12:33:00.003-06:00

some people weren't impressed with my last picture of Gabe's teeth so here's one from this morning.

Rockin' & Rollin'

2008-07-25T09:50:00.002-06:00

Gabe is definitely getting ready to move.....he is up on all fours and rocking.

And now the swing is a toy, he doesn't actually ride in it anymore.

I also thought there hasn't been a bath shot in a while

Gabe's Girlfriend

2008-07-25T09:42:00.005-06:00

Last Friday Keith, Gabe and I were able to watch the McGuire kids while Michele and Brian attended a rehearsal dinner. They made the long drive from MN for a wedding so we were thrilled to see them. Gabe however is a fast mover and is already trying to hook-up. Paige is an older woman, by 5 days, so Keith was very proud.

here's how the relationship developed -

Tooth #2

2008-07-25T09:39:00.003-06:00

It's a bit blurry but it's there.

Sunday relaxation & baseball

2008-07-14T20:22:00.002-06:00

Keith and Gabe were able to enjoy Keith's father's day gift on Sunday.

Gabe thinks sweet potatoes and baseball are a great combination. We went to watch Keith play baseball so I got to feed Gabe solids in his stroller. There were many distractions which equal a messy feeding.

Tooth #1

2008-07-14T20:19:00.002-06:00

In the previous post you do not see any signs of a tooth in Gabe's smile. However, the next day we were out running errands and Gabe was chewing on Keith's finger when he realized there was the makings of a tooth. Here's a shot of it from the beginning of last week. Tooth #2 is on it's way in too so I will try to get a better shot at the end of this week.

Gabe's first 4th of July

2008-07-08T16:54:00.001-06:00

we are officially suburban peeps. we attended the highlands ranch 4th of july parade and little carnival this year. Gabe loved the parade - he yelled and talked to everyone that went by. Next year should be really entertaining. Maybe we will make the trip to Osceola to share the holiday with the Johnson clan like Keith did as a kid.

The second picture is of the Hill boys - Zooey wouldn't look at the camera but Holden is full of grins.

Big boy toy

2008-07-08T16:52:00.001-06:00

Gabe has become very fond of his exersaucer (thanks Scheiners for the gift).....he will even roll all over the floor to be in the right position to kick it. the toys move and he goes crazy. It's hilarious....actually most things he does lately are funny.

Solid food

2008-07-08T16:49:00.000-06:00

There really hasn't been any doubt Gabriel is our kid.....but wow does he love food! He has tried cereal, carrots, peas, sweet potatoes and bananas so far. Bananas were not that big of hit.

Florida

2008-07-02T20:20:00.000-06:00

Gabe and I made a trip to Florida for a visit with Grandma - after the passing of my own grandmother we thought it best for Gabe to spend time with his. He loved the puppies, the pool, hanging with Nana Peggy, meeting Dale and starting solid foods. It was a good trip - it was nice to sit with my family and tell stories about my gma.

June Adelle Dolman

2008-06-20T16:46:00.000-06:00

Yesterday my grandmother passed away. My mother had moved down to Florida to care for her just over a month ago. In an odd turn of events, grandma went from showing signs of Alzheimer's to falling at home, injuring her shoulder to breaking her hip to passing away.

She will be greatly missed by all that knew her.

Gabe and I are traveling down to help my mom with things in Florida on Tuesday. We figure Gabe will give his Gramma some loves to cheer her up.

The picture is of the rainbow yesterday that ended at my Grandma's house.

Rolly-Polly-Olly

2008-06-17T10:48:00.000-06:00

Gabe had rolled over a couple of times last week but today he is really on the move. Keith went in his room to get him this morning and he was on his stomach. I laid him on the floor while I picked up the living room......he rolled from one end of the blanket to another. Oh and then spit up :-) Maybe he made himself dizzy with all the rolling around.

Back

Front

Back again

Week 19

2008-06-16T20:42:00.000-06:00

Stats -
Weight - 16lb 7 oz
Height - 26 in
Head - 44.5 cm

He is staying in the 75th percentile for height/weight and 90th for his melon. All in all, the doctor said he looks great and we should be very proud of our healthy son. We are. Today I gave him his first taste of cereal....he wasn't a fan. we will try again tomorrow.

Our little man needed to represent the home state today - our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by the floods.

Gabe's feet

2008-06-16T20:35:00.001-06:00

Gabriel loves to snack on his toes. He spends much of his day talking to them and stuffing them in his mouth.

Keith loves Gabe's feet too. He decided to take the footprints that the hospital did at birth and turn them into a tattoo on his upper arm.

Oh and I added a picture of their hands.

General update

2008-06-15T21:01:00.000-06:00

We are doing great out here. I am starting to look for a job and Keith is loving his. Gabriel is already a nature lover - loves to lay on a blanket and talk to the tree leaves. Missy too is enjoying that there are trees outside our windows where she can chat with the birds.

There are many family members (ours and our friend's) that are facing medical troubles. Please keep them all in your prayers. In some cases a speedy recovery would be great and in others a speedy end would be better.

I will try to be better about updating this now that we are settled. Tomorrow is a pediatrician appointment so I will post a current photo with Gabe's stats.

1st Father's day/Rodeo

2008-06-15T20:58:00.000-06:00

Today for Keith's first father's day we went to the Evergreen rodeo.....which was Gabe and my first rodeo experience. It was fun.....warm and smelly but fun. Gabe proved once again that he enjoys all aspects of life and can go anywhere.

Gabe and I bought Keith a hammock that does not require trees that he can set up on our deck....too bad we don't have a western view of the mountains. Then again, he would sleep out there at night to see the sunrise.....hmmmm, maybe we need a western facing house :-)

Michele Visit

2008-06-15T20:54:00.000-06:00

My friend Michele was in Denver for a bridal shower so we met up for breakfast. It was great to see her, meet Paige and connect with Erin (the bride-to-be) again. Poor Chele and Paige - they had a horrible airport experience and got home a day later then planned. Luckily, Paige is angel and didn't give her mommy any trouble.

Michele will be back in July for the wedding and I might get the honor of watching both of her children while they are at the rehearsal dinner. I will make sure to get pictures so everyone can see that I am capable of taking care of three kids at once but that I am will most likely be choosing not to have that many kids.

Iowa - Hite's/Johnson's

2008-06-15T20:47:00.000-06:00

Memorial day my aunt, uncle, cousin and her daughter came over for a lovely brunch - they brought the whole spread with them and it was delicious! It was a wonderful visit and it was sad to see it end.

That afternoon we went over to Uncle Marv and Aunt Jo's to visit with the Johnson family. As always, it was great to see everyone and hang out. Our time with them is always too short!

Tuesday a.m. we made the drive to Denver - both Gabe and the cat were not thrilled to be back in the car. It was a long drive but well worth it. We were very happy to arrive in our new home town.

Iowa - Busby/Cooper/Forgy/Winter

2008-06-15T20:36:00.000-06:00

The Cooper's/Busby's
Great-Aunt Jan

Papa

Charlie - not sure how we missed a photo of Maddie & Cameron

We drove from Jersey to Iowa for a visit with family. Our voyage started a day later than planned and surprisingly included a lot of driving in the rain! We got to Ankeny Thursday evening so Linda and I went shopping Friday for everything needed for the party. Saturday we had 30 people over to Denny & Linda's house for a BBQ get together. It was fabulous to visit with everyone. Gabe loved meeting all of his family.

Mark drove from Illinois with the twins - unfortunately Kate couldn't make the trip. Matt, Jaime and Cameron spent most of the weekend with us too. Unfortunately we never got a picture of all the grandkids together....it's a bit nuts with four kids under 2 in one house.

I apologize that there are not any pictures of my brother and his son who came to visit that evening. Keith will post the paintball stuff but there isn't a pic of them with Gabriel.

On the move

2008-05-25T20:57:00.000-06:00

We are in-transit to Denver and having a fabulous time visiting everyone in Iowa. Pictures will be posted once we get a little settled in Denver next week. Tonight we are glued to the tv watching the severe storm updates - it's been a long time since we have experienced storms like this.....golf ball size hail! Gabe is sleeping through the whole thing!! Gotta love that kid.

Week 14

2008-05-16T11:25:00.001-06:00

Gabriel is trying to be good so Mommy can get some packing done. He is good but the packing is going really slow. It's crazy the stuff you have to do for moving - like getting no parking signs from the parking authority to post on the street so the moving semi can park. That was a nice long adventure. Oh and getting copies of Gabe's birth certificate from the department of health - another interesting place.

Here is one of my favorite Gabe pics.

Chicago Part 2

2008-05-16T11:20:00.000-06:00

On Sunday, Keith played paintball with Scott McClaskey while Gabe and I participated in the MS Walk. Becca's family gathered in Highland Park for the walk and we tagged along. Gabe slept through the whole thing but then had a quality visit with Becca for the afternoon. While at Becca's, her brother Eric brought his son Caden over while they had an Open House at their place.
Eric hanging with Gabe
Becca taking care of Gabe
Caden fixing up the deck

Chicago Part 1

2008-05-16T10:35:00.000-06:00

We took a trip to Chicago so that everyone could meet Gabriel. That Saturday we invited everyone over for an open house type party with Portillos yummy food! It was very nice to see everyone and not have to cart the baby all over Chicaoland - thank you everyone for hauling yourselves out to Barrington.
Here are some of pictures from that day -
Tammy and Kory Futa

Ivelise & Jorge Garcia

Aunt Sissy & Nate McClaskey

3 Months

2008-05-09T12:50:00.000-06:00

We took Gabe for his 3 month check up and all is good. He didn't seem to mind his two shots and he flirted with the doctor. She was impressed with his tone and how strong he was - he likes to stand when given the chance.

Stats -
weight = 15 lb 7 oz
length = 24 1/2 in
head = 43 cm.

I forgot to find out the percentile for all of that information but my guess is he is still in the 75th percentile.

Keith is working from home today so we are all hanging out in the living room watching the Cubs on WGN although we should be packing - but it is a cold rainy day in Jersey so it's a perfect couch day :-)

Moving

2008-05-08T06:11:00.000-06:00

We went to Chicago last weekend so Gabriel could meet our friends and so we could see everyone before we move.

Yep, we are moving again....the Johnson's are Denver bound....in two weeks!

I have pictures from the trip that I will try to get on here soon but packing, etc is getting pretty serious since the movers will be here on the 20th!

Week 12

2008-05-08T06:08:00.000-06:00

Week 12 was very relaxing for Gabriel. He and Missy have been big helpers around here lately....

Mommy's Day Out

2008-04-28T07:49:00.000-06:00

Jessica came to visit us last weekend and it gave Mommy an opportunity to have a day out. We went to the Mets game - neither of us our fans BUT love baseball so it was fabulous. The weather was decent and the beer was cold. We also stopped at a bar in Manhattan for a whiskey pickle - shot of whiskey followed by a shot of pickle juice - it was better than I imagined.

Hanging out with us can be exhausting for Jess and Missy needed a nap yesterday before we took her to the airport.

Week 11

2008-04-22T08:34:00.000-06:00

There's nothing like a nap with your friend.....

Gabe is hilarious

2008-04-18T13:22:00.000-06:00

The little man has started "talking". Check out the video....

Week 10

2008-04-15T08:21:00.000-06:00

Wow - week 10 already! Gabriel is doing very well. He is starting to get on a schedule which is great. I have three pictures for this week. The first is Gabe talking to his best friend, the light-up ladybug on his play mat. He has very long conversations with him on a daily basis....it is hilarious. The second is from yesterday when he was filling in the bird on the mobile about his morning and then noticed I was standing next to his crib. The final picture is the little man sitting in his swing today - a little sleepy :-)

Week 9

2008-04-12T18:28:00.000-06:00

The visit to the pediatrician went well for Gabriel on Friday. He received three vaccinations, two of which were shots....everyone said he would sleep and maybe run a fever.....not our kid. He barely napped yesterday and was a happy camper until about 7:30 - he slept for a few hours while we were in the city visiting Keith's office then we woke him up for a bath, bottle and bed. After kicking around on the couch for a while, he slept 6 hours straight - we were thrilled. Today however has been nap city.....hopefully that isn't bad news for tonight.

STATS:
Height - 23 1/2 inches
Weight - 13lbs. 7 oz
Both put him in the 75th percentile
Head - 41 1/2 cm
Yeah, 90th percentile - no real shock though - have you seen Keith!

Otherwise things are going well around here. Gabe is more and more entertaining everyday and I think even Missy would agree. This weekend we are just hanging around the house and will maybe hit the movies tomorrow.

Uncle Scott

2008-04-08T05:55:00.000-06:00

Scott sent a video from Iraq and asked me to share it with all of you. I posted it to youtube, just go to this link, and you will be able to see it.

Hope all of you are doing well.

Daddy's gone again

2008-04-03T23:21:00.000-06:00

After spending a whole 25 hours at home after the Denver trip, Touchbase needed me to head up to Boston to help rescue a project. While it is an honor to know that they feel I (and Kyle) am qualified to do this, it sort of stinks to be away again. I am posting this at 1:30 in the morning..... from the office.

Week 8

2008-04-03T21:12:00.000-06:00

Gabe is a happy child who loves to eat his hands - no complaints from his parents this week. We are glad to be home and are sure Missy is glad we are back too.

OPENING DAY

2008-04-03T21:08:00.000-06:00

Oh joy - baseball season has officially begun....Gabriel is in for a real treat - his parents teaching him all about the sport while hoping their teams do well, which isn't usually the case. In this picture Gabe is wearing a nice Nike baseball shirt....I am sure you will see many pictures through out the summer that have him in some sort of baseball outfit........we are BIG fans and will express that through outfitting our child. As you can see, he was really excited about the days events.....we went to see Horton Hears a Who (he did great) and watched the Cubs blow their chance to start the season off right.

First Zoo Trip

2008-04-03T21:06:00.000-06:00

We went to the Denver zoo with Kyle and Kim - it was hard to decide if the animals or the people at the zoo were more entertaining....nice weather brings out some really interesting people.

Easter / Denver

2008-04-03T20:56:00.000-06:00

Gabe on the plane in his Easter hat :-)

The Johnson's took their first big trip - Denver for what should have been 6 days and turned into 10 - gotta love Keith's job! Thankfully we were able to go up to Kyle and Kim's for wings and to do laundry. We had a fabulous time visiting the Hill's, walking around downtown and shopping. Most of time Gabe had fun - he has taken to screaming a bit when he is tired yet doesn't want to miss anything.

Gabriel started sleeping 6-8 hours a night which has made for happier parents.

Someone is getting really good at holding his head up.

Week 7

2008-04-03T20:54:00.000-06:00

As you can see - Gabe is smiling machine!! That is probaby the biggest news - he is cooing and smiling all the time which is fabulous.

Gpa/Gma Busby Visit

2008-04-03T20:50:00.000-06:00

We had a fabulous visit with Grandma and Grandpa Busby.....it was very low key except for "Gabe in the city" - we took Gabe into NYC for the first time - unfortunately Daddy had to work and missed all the fun. The picture of Gabe was his first subway ride.

Week 6

2008-04-03T20:47:00.000-06:00

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Gabe has started to enjoy his bouncy seat....thank goodness - it makes feedings a little easier during the day.

Delays in updating

2008-03-23T20:33:00.000-06:00

Apologies for not updating the blog in awhile. I have week 6, Busby grandparent visit and Gabe in the city to post....but we are in Colorado for this week and I left the cord for the camera in Jersey. I might be able to post pictures later in the week but am not making any promises. If I have the energy tomorrow night I will at least do the descriptions of what has happened....tonight we are beat. Our flight was at 9 am and it's now 8:30 denver time and Gabriel isn't tired....we are but he is not.

Giggles, Strength and TGIF

2008-03-14T11:12:00.000-06:00

Gabe has been giggling and smiling a ton this week so I thought I would share the only picture I have from the first time I noticed it.....the video camera wasn't charged so no video - glad we spent the money on that thing!

Also, here's a picture of Gabe getting burbed by Daddy - look how strong!

Finally, it's a stressful Friday as you can can see by these picture of Missy and Gabriel.

Week 5

2008-03-11T19:43:00.000-06:00

Gabe & Mommy pic - he wasn't thrilled with picture taking today.

Stats -

Weight = 11 lb 4 oz

Length = 22in

Doc was impressed with his neck and head control - she said he was really advanced for his age!! Gabe got his Heb B shot and was a trooper. Mommy cried more than Gabe.

Our other big event this week was the past two days were just Gabe & Mommy! Daddy was in Denver for work. It was interesting for us but overall a good time.

Oh and he had two poop blow outs today - the first in 5 wks (still haven't been peed on) - thank goodness I keep extra clothes in the diaper bag!

That's about it for this week - next visitors arrive a week from today - Gma & Gpa Busby!!!!

Photo Shoot

2008-03-10T06:12:00.000-06:00

Here are two photos from Gabe's session at JCPenney's for his week 4 pictures.

Week 4

2008-03-04T16:47:00.000-07:00

Week 4 has been big for Gabriel. He has started to enjoy spending time laying around the play mat we have for the floor. He kicks his feet and lays there content for up to an hour at a time. Gabe he continues to love the swing for his daytime naps or laying on my chest too.

The biggest news this week is he decided that sleeping in the bassinet was no longer his thing so he is now in his room in the crib. It was a bigger adjustment for mommy than Gabriel.

We took him into JC Penney for one-month pictures. I believe I will have them to post in a couple of weeks. It was an adventure and probably not the best pictures he will take in his lifetime :-)

Next week we will have an update from the pediatrician on his progress but there are no complaints from the home front. Life with our son is going well and I am really looking forward to seeing what he does over this week.

Visitors

2008-03-04T16:37:00.000-07:00

Gabe and I were visited by my friend Jessica and her daughter Lauren last week. Unfortunately my little peanut slept most of the time they were here. Lauren had tons of fun with Missy though. Jessica made some very yummy chicken salad and brought it for lunch - so sweet of her to think of me cuz I still have days where I don't eat enough!

Also we were visited by Grandma (my mom) over the weekend. Gabriel loves his granny and was so glad she came by for a visit. They took a nap together and she gave him a fun sink bath too. Not to mention she brought him tons of wonderful clothes for this summer. We were all sad to see her leave this morning.

Week 3

2008-02-26T19:25:00.000-07:00

Not much to report this week.....Gabriel is still doing well. He has started to notice things like the mobile in his bassinet. Baths have gone better - no more crying. We haven't gone out much - the weather hasn't been great and I am getting scared of the flu.

My mom scanned a picture of me at three weeks that I am posting with a picture of Gabe helping Keith study tonight. He does look like me a bit - yippee!

First Sleep Over

2008-02-24T09:44:00.000-07:00

Aunt Sissy came out for a visit and I am calling it Gabe's first sleep over. As documented by the photos I am going to post he spent all of his time sleeping - Aunt Sissy was a fabulous pillow. Keith and i really enjoyed having her out here for the extra set of hands and the wonderful conversation. We all miss her very much and look forward to our trip to Chicago in May!

Gabe seems to think sleeping on his tummy while being held is the best thing on earth. It makes him sleeping in the bassinet difficult so I have spent a couple of nights sleeping in my Lazy Boy with the baby. Not the best sleep for mom but Gabriel is doing great!

Next week Jessica and Lauren are coming up from Philly for an afternoon and Grandma Barb will be here on Friday. My goal is to clean this house before they get here - wish me luck!!

Week 2

2008-02-19T16:56:00.000-07:00

Week 2 has been great. Gabriel is an angel and his biggest challenge is the daily dose of the hiccups. There appears to be an outline of a schedule in our house which is a pleasant surprise. Keith started back at work today and I am sure he missed all his quality time with his buddy.

The cord stump fell off a couple of days ago so last night was Gabe's first real bath. He hated it! Hopefully he will get use to it because he smells so good after we are done. That and the amount of dirty diapers warrants a bath often! After the bath Keith was in charge of putting him in his PJs and well, he decided Gabriel needed a mohawk. His hair dries fast and doesn't move after that so in his pictures today you can still see it.

Tomorrow Aunt Sissy arrives for a visit. Gabe is very excited to start meeting all of his family. We are excited to show him off and have someone to hang out with for a change.

Our Little Valentine

2008-02-14T14:29:00.000-07:00

So, Gabe sleeps a lot so it's tough to get a picture with his eyes open. Hopefully any picture at all is better than nothing.

We took him to Target today - his first outting in public. Yep, he slept through the whole thing....probably because he was up for about four hours this morning so that means he will sleep most of the afternoon.

Week 1

2008-02-12T17:19:00.000-07:00

He is a week old, and we thought this was supposed to be harder. I am sure I just cursed the rest of our lives by saying that, but so far, this isn't so bad. Gabriel has decided that sleep is way better than staying awake to cry, and he sleeps like his mother, long and deep. Gabriel has had several spates of 4 hour sleep in the first week, and most of those are happening over night, so that is working out well with our schedule.

Gabe had his first trip to the pediatrician yesterday and he is healthy as an ox. He has managed to put on two ounces since we left the hospital on Thursday. The doctor said that she didn't even want to see us for a two week check-up. She just told us to schedule an appointment for his one month check-up.

While we realize that we are now second class citizens compared to the life and times of Gabriel, we are both doing well. There are times that this seems like a dream because it has finally happened. Our families have been nothing short of wonderful, even though they are all a thousand or more miles from us.

For all of you that have been complaining about the lack of pictures, here are a few more to hold you over until the Gabriel Johnson collection is published....

Gabriel Robert Johnson

2008-02-09T10:34:00.001-07:00

Gabriel Robert Johnson was born February 5th, 2008 at 4:11 p.m. He tipped the scales at 9 lbs. 10 oz. and was 20 inches long. He took his sweet time joining the world by putting mom through 27 hours of labor ending with 3 hours of pushing. It was rough but well worth it.

He shares his birthday with Dawn's father, Bob Vanderzyl. His middle name is also in honor of the late Robert Busby and Keith's stepfather Dennis Robert Busby.

We will work on getting some pictures posted here over the weekend. We are trying to get the basics down first - sleeping and eating for him and us.

38 1/2 wks

2008-01-30T15:23:00.000-07:00

Doctor's visit today was not as exciting as I had hoped. 50% efaced but no dilation. My weight is nuts with water weight gain but he says I am okay. Also there was a bit of protein in my urine and my pressure was higher than usual. He said I am good to wait until my next appointment to see how things are going.

He is cautious about the baby's weight but not ready to act on it so as always time will tell.

Otherwise, things are good. Just waiting.

Nursery is Done

2008-01-27T19:57:00.000-07:00

The chair was delivered yesterday! So we put the finishing touches on the baby's room, for now. I am sure there will be enhancements as time goes on but for now I can't fiddle around in there anymore.

The last picture is Keith showing off his new guitar skills to Missy. Who by the way not only loves hearing him play the guitar and whistle the MASH theme but has already taking a liking to my new chair and the carpet in the nursery.

Wishing and Hoping

2008-01-23T18:15:00.000-07:00

Weight gain = 3 lbs in one week.
Blood pressure = 120/80
Exam = external, not internal due to my strep issues and worries of making the infection worse.
Evaluation of issues = it's normal to not be able to feel your finger tips at this stage.
Dr. guess of baby size = 8 lbs. yep, now not at due date

Ultrasound Info
Measure of baby's belly = 40 wks
Head = I believe the tech said wow that is a big head
Overall weight calc = 8lb 12 oz

SERIOUSLY - I hope they are wrong!!!

That's all until next week. Here's hoping this kid decides to bless us over the next week so we don't have to discuss induction or a c-section.

37 Weeks

2008-01-17T16:26:00.001-07:00

Our doctor's visit was on Wednesday this week so it was a short week between visits. I tested positive for strep so that means antibiotics will be administered when my water breaks to get rid of it before the baby makes the trip into this world. Supposedly this is common - 40% of women have it when pregnant.

The baby is still in position and I am still measuring ahead. No trip under the hood this visit. After the doctor pushed around my belly and stuff he believes this baby to be around 7 lbs. already. Fabulous - that is bigger than either of us when we were born. The ultrasound next week will tell him more. Oh and the baby hates going to the doctor - it is agitated the rest of the day after we go there.

No other real news....I am uncomfortable but seem to be sleeping better than the past few weeks. I have completely lost my mind. Forgetful, clumsy, etc. We had lunch at Arby's last weekend and without my knowledge I somehow put cheese in my hair that my darling husband had to get out with a napkin and it was crusty! I am a mess.

Three day weekend coming up for both of us. I suppose I should pack a bag for the hospital and finish up some stuff around the house before there isn't any more time to do such things. I am determined we will go to the movies at least once this weekend and out to dinner.

We will watch football too but after the Cowboy's loss last weekend my prediction that Keith was going to have to watch them in the SuperBowl from the hospital isn't coming true so I don't care as much. However, for once in my life I will cheer for the Packer's - can't stand the Giants (sorry James) and do not want the Patriots to win the whole thing. It's all just baby steps to getting closer to pitcher/catchers reporting to Spring Training!!!

36 weeks

2008-01-12T17:17:00.000-07:00

Friday was the beginning of my weekly doctor appointments. As Keith likes to say, the doctor "went under the hood" to check my progress. The head is down. My cervix has softened which he said was good at this point and is still thinking a week early. Now, we all know this baby has a mind of it's own so God and baby are the only ones who know when we will be blessed with the arrival.

I am measuring on track, weight is okay considered all of the swelling - however I swear to all who will listen that I will never weigh this much again in my life. I am having some cramping and random contractions but nothing to get excited about.

The car seat is in the car - we just need someone to check it out. Btw, our car was made the year before the Latch system was required....I am not happy about it but what can we do. I am not nuts enough to think we need a new car. I am sure it will be fine.

Thursday my office gave me a baby shower since I will be working from home from now on they had to do it now I guess. It was nice and thoughtful of all of them to pool together for some baby stuff. We were very happy with the gifts.

My chair is in but can not be delivered until the 26th - which stinks because I could sit in it while I work at home. Keith bought me a very nice lap desk thing from Brookstone to help me be comfortable while working from home. It would defeat the purpose if I sat at the kitchen table all day since sitting at my desk is killing me.

Next doctor appointment is Wednesday - short week this week but then the following Wednesday is the doctor and an ultrasound so that is exciting.

Photo Fun

2008-01-07T19:39:00.000-07:00

Thanksgiving laziness at my Mom's. I am sitting with Tegan, who turned four over the weekend. Rob has Wynter (6) and Branden (4) lounging with him.

We took pictures at the Rockafeller Center tree while Nick was here

And here I am today - five weeks from my due date. Boy is that belly getting big :-)

General Baby Info

2008-01-06T16:16:00.000-07:00

We have completed the nursery as much as we feel should be done before the bundle of joy arrives since it won't be sleeping in there right away. Yesterday we got the car seat and a bassinet. It's hard to believe we are 5 weeks from my due date. Then again, I am not sleeping hardly at all and everything hurts so it is easy to believe I am 5 weeks away.

Friday will start my weekly appointments and I am really going to try and update this the evening after each appointment. We are to the point that if I neglect this site no one will know anything until the baby arrives.

At my last appointment the doctor said the head is down and I am progressing right on track. Hopefully on Friday he will have more to say.

We toured the hospital where I plan to deliver. Palisades Medical Center is affiliated with Columbia and seems nice enough. The coolest part is that my room will have a view of Manhattan....I am sure I won't care once I am there but on the tour I thought it was cool. It will take us about 45 minutes to get to the hospital so that should be fun.