Happy Holidays!

Halle is 8 weeks old today, and I am in SHOCK at how fast it's flown by. We've had Thanksgiving, my birthday, Christmas, and New Year's, and it's already 10 days into January.

For Christmas I can't even tell you how excited "Santa" was to give Cash his new 4-wheeler. This is the real deal, gas powered, all terrain vehicle. Santa couldn't sleep for the 2 nights before Christmas! Of course Cash loved it, and Marley... and of course we've had our first accident. Marley ended up with some pretty good road rash on her face. When I was cleaning up her face she was chewing on something and when I asked her what was in her mouth she sweetly replied, "the road."

Cash is awesome, and almost 4 years old. It scares me! He's a very sweet boy, and so smart. Marley is a character... She has a muppet voice, and says the funniest things. She and Cash get along pretty dang well for the most part. Halle is a perfect baby. Seriously, I can finally understand why people crave babies, when the baby acts like she does. :)

I am at a loss for words, so I'll post some pictures.


I just ADORE this picture.


Halle sleeping so sweetly.


She was so excited to go build our snowman!


Our lovely Frosty!


Stockings are the best.


Cash could have been satisfied with just his stocking!


I don't think I've ever seen a girl so excited to get a doll... She also got a barbie house to go with it.


Ryan totally shocked me and spoiled me and got me a gorgeous ring with my birthstone. Don't mine the terrible picture of me. :)


Cash letting us know he loves us...


SANTA'S SURPRISE!!


Christmas Day. I love it when my dad brings Thunderjet to let us ride...


I have a hard time deciding who is the most excited about this!


This was taken right before the road rash!


After the accident...


We blessed Halle on the 2nd of January. Ryan gave her a fabulous blessing, and she looked so beautiful! It was a special day for sure.


I hope she keeps those blue eyes.


Halle is smiling all the time now... it's so stinkin' cute.


Marley being Marley! :)


Cash's first day in Primary!! He's such a big boy.


I just love the shoes she is wearing. This is our most recent picture.

Halle Johnson

She is almost two weeks old and I am just getting around to posting pictures! Better late than never.

So, here's the skinny on how it went down.

My due date, November 8th (Ryan's birthday) rolled around and I did everything in my power to get her out. I went to the gym and did the stair climber and walked forever, jumped on the tramp, ate spicy food, rubbed my reflexology points... no baby. But, we did have a good time celebrating Ryan's birthday and playing his new Playstation Move.

I had a doctors appointment on the 15th, and I was sure that I wouldn't make it to the appointment. Serves me right for being sure about baby stuff. I made it to my appointment and he checked me and I was still a 1 with little effacement. Not news I wanted to hear being a week over my due date. He set it up for me to be induced that Wednesday morning. I really didn't want to be induced though... I don't like pitocin. So, I went home a little defeated, but at least having an end in sight.

The next morning, the 16th, there was a sale at Macy's I really wanted to go to. I woke up around 6 am with a couple contractions, but that wasn't anything out of the ordinary. At 8 I met my sisters at Macy's (Ryan is awesome and watched the kids for me) and proceeded to do my shopping. I was having contractions pretty regularly, and wondered if I could possibly be in labor. I doubted it though because it really didn't seem like she'd ever come out. Pretty soon I couldn't walk through my contractions anymore. I'd have to stop and wait for them to end. After I had a total hormone surge and started sweating profusely while talking to a salesman about suits, my sisters convinced me it was the real thing. So, about 11-11:30, I called Ryan and told him and headed home. I got home, we ate lunch, and played with Cash and Marley for a little bit and put them to bed. Then I really had to start working through some contractions. Ryan already had everything ready to go in the car, we were just waiting for the right time. I didn't think anytime was the right time to go to the hospital because I didn't want to get there and them tell me I was at a 2. So, we waited until 3 and Ryan was inspired and wouldn't let me wait any longer. We headed to the hospital, got checked in, and I was between a 4-5. But, within 20 minutes, I was between an 8-9. Thanks to Ryan, my mom, and my doctor, everything went VERY well and very quickly, and Halle was born at 4:30, 8 lbs, 4 oz, 21"long.

She is a very sweet baby and I feel so blessed to have her here! Cash and Marley do so well with her and LOVE holding her and giving her kisses. Ryan is amazing and gets up with the other kids so I can sleep with Halle so I don't feel like a complete zombie. Truely a miracle.

Visitors and Halloween

The past couple weeks have been fun! (Today is my due date, and I wish I was announcing the arrival of our baby girl right now, but no action yet.) But, we had some visitors, Brooke & Luke, on Halloween weekend, and it was awesome. After a couple failed attempts, we finally found somewhere to shoot some clay pigeons, and ride the 4-wheelers. I must say, even with the belly and all four of us on one ATV, it was very enjoyable! I wish they could have stayed longer, but we did our best to show them a good time. Cash and Marley loved played with them and acting like they were here to visit JUST them.












For Halloween Cash was a Lion, and Marley was a Tiger. Might I saw, they made the cutest big cats ever. Cash would say, "Happy Halloween! Trick or Treat!" at every door, and then they'd say "Thank you!" every time they left. It was adorable. They would stick their animal heads in the windows next to the doors waiting for people to answer. Seriously, I LOVED Halloween this year.