Just Rewind and Press Play.

The fourth of July was a “picture perfect” day for our little family. One of those days where I, Mom, just sat back and smiled as I made every effort to soak up all the memories I could afford. A day filled with family, friends, parks, fireworks, picnics, treats, and games, all in the great outdoors made all the children as happy as can be, and such angels. Perhaps on one of those not so good days where I spend the day sending the kids to time-outs, I’ll just press pause and rewind to the morning of July 4, 2011 where I’ll press play and sit back and watch just one more time.

 As is the tradition when we have a new baby, we welcomed Anya Susan home with her very own personalized photo shoot.  We tried a variety of different angles and postures to show each of you the brilliance that she has to offer the world.  Being quite photogenic like her mother and sister (and maybe even her brother), she was well behaved and only fussy when a brush of cool air glanced off her exposed skin.  We, like most parents, realize that pictures are very important.  As our children get older though, there is less and less picture taking and more videos made as they keep doing the funniest things that suprise us and keep us on our toes.  So here are the starts and makings of our next Johnson princess just days after birth.

A whole new adventure

I think someone forgot to remind us that life continues to move forward even when we don't blog about all the important events that occur in our lives (And lacking internet in rural Illinois didn't help).  How in the world are we supposed to keep up with everything now that we have our latest addition?  With two children, it was next to impossible to write about all the cute and wonderful things that they did.  Now our little Anya is here and we are getting blown away.  Only one month after her birth and we still haven't put up pictures, sent out winning notifications for our little guessing game that the family does, or even commented on how darn cute she is.  So now we begin anew. 

Anya is a little angel that fits into our quirky family perfectly.  She's quiet, patient, and completely understanding.  Three things that the others of us struggle with.  Just kidding, I know for a fact that Katrina is all those as well.  However, Nathan and Alexis are finding new ways to torture each other as they have both discoverd the dreaded word ... "Mine!"  It has become a constant battle to take away the treasured toy with a triumphant "Mine" of my own.  This alleviates some of the burden of the warfare, but the one bright star is and hopefully will always be that each of our children have an eternal love for their family even when they don't always express it in words.

Anya is of course the center of attention.  Katrina and I still manage to divide our attention with Nathan and Lexi, however they are constantly concerned about her.  If she wimpers, immediately one fo them chimes in, "Anya crying."  Then there are the attempts to retrieve and replace the pacifier that has dropped out of her tiny mouth.  Just today I watched as Lexi successfully placed the pacifier in Anya's mouth and then pulled her hand away ... with the pacifier still gripped in her fingers.  I chuckled.  Lexi then looked at me to show her how the pacifier needs to remain in Anya's mouth after being placed there.

Yes, life has dealt us a fateful blow.  We have grown in another member that will be cherished and will change us forever.  We love our family and look forward to raising all of our children in righteous ways.

~Seth

"Now, Now, What about ME???" -Nathan

It's Lexi's birthday and when we get singing "Happy Birthday" to Lexi too many times we occasionally need to take a time-out and remember the ever important Nathan, by dedicating a few of the songs to him as well, so...Happy Birthday Nathan! ...
watch this one...

HOORAY: LEXI CAN WALK!!!

About one month ago Lexi was "walking" but with help...

Then this last Sunday, the 26th of Sept we caught the first video of Alexis walking alone!!! (she'd been doing it since about Thursday)

And here she is just this morning, walkin' around on her birthday!!! To me she just seems to small to be walking. She is the right age...she is just so stinkin' tiny.  17 lbs. was her measure at her doctor visit today, which puts Lexi in the 3rd percentile of average weight for her age.  And get this...not a meal goes by where she doesn't eat more than her big brother Nathan. Funny little girl!

Way to go ALEXIS!!!

Are you looking for a reason to smile?

Nathan and Lexi get along really well the majority of the time.  Mom and Dad are hired on as referees occasionally, but Mom's smile goes ear-to-ear in moments like this...

And yet another reason to smile...just watch our little princess practicing her manners, Lexi has learned to say "please" and "more" in sign language here is proof. Mom and Dad are very proud.

Spotlight on Alexis

Just posted on Nathan's potty stories, and realized poor Lexi needs her time to shine as well.  So take a look...isn't she cute!?

In all reality she is very deserving of a spotlight (and not just because today is her 11 month birthday). But because, Lexi is learning the art of walking.  4 steps!!!(all her steps have been for daddy by the way) But she is gaining in confidence and occasionally tries without our proddings.  She is so petite that even though she is a couple weeks behind Nathan's records, she just seems too small to be walking.  She does the best when destracted by a doll or stuffed animal...her favorites, and she just loves her walker (which is on loan to us by our friends.)  Hooray for little Lexi!