Potty success, a preschool program & baby Andrew!

Daniel did pee-pee's in the potty! He picked out a chocolate santa for a treat. We haven't been pushing the whole potty idea, but he is watching Nathan and likes to get up and try on the big potty. I think it was kind of an accident that he went, but he certainly was excited! I hope potty training him is faster than Nathan was. I don't plan to push it- we'll just let him decide. Side note: Its kind of funny what parents get excited about isn't it? Peeing in "the potty" is quite exciting for all those changing diapers, especially now there are 2 boys wearing diapers!

Now to the rest of the family. Mostly, I want to share pictures of our wonderful little boys! Andrew is growing like a champ- he was up to 9 lbs 7 oz at his 2 week checkup! So he is eating well. He is almost grown out of all his newborn size clothes already! He is sleeping pretty well at night too- from approx 10pm til 2am, then up between 4-5am. Give and take- some nights are better than others! He looks like a Johnson baby; I see features of both Nathan and Daniel in his face. It is so fun to cuddle a little baby again!

This is my little brother Erik- he is in the Provo MTC right now learning spanish! Next month is off to Portland Oregon to be a missionary for our church- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He and mom were delayed in getting here because of the volcano ash clouds from Iceland. We were all bummed about the delays, but I am glad that Erik was able to meet Andrew before he left. And we were so excited to have Oma here!

Daniel has figured out how to stick his finger in the pacifier- and likes to try and shove the whole thing in Andrew's mouth! We are working on the soft concept. This picture showcases Daniel's smile really well.

Oma with Daniel and Andrew. We loved having her here! Daniel keeps telling me, "Oma, park. " I think he really remembers the trips to the park they took.

Nathan with Andrew. He is very conscientious about making sure Andrew is buckled in. I think he remembers when Daniel was a baby and not buckled in the bouncy chair- and he bounced him out of the chair! That is why all the swings, bouncy chairs, etc. have 5-point harness buckles- to keep them in the device even when siblings try to knock them out!

Andrew in an old bread bowl. Isn't he little?

Nathan at his spring sings preschool program. He did so well- he sang almost all of the songs! The cutest part was when he was standing center stage with the whole class, and was doing the pee-pee dance! I thought he was going to pee his pants or cry not knowing what to do. But, he told his teacher he had to go potty and bolted down the hallway. They waited for him to get back before continuing the show. He seemed so grown up, I was almost crying to see my baby so big!

We went to get shakes after with the Barneys. Notice the sign and then look at Daniel. He was not happy that we took him down!

Trying to get a family picture with the newest addition. I guess the more kids you have, the harder it is to pose for a family picture. I love how happy Nathan is in this picture. Daniel wasn't so sure, and Andrew is just a little face!

A picture with Oma! Andrew was tired of posing- the older boys were having fun!

My wonderful mother- I am so glad that she could spend time with me and my family the last 2 weeks. I love you mom! Thanks for teaching me and helping me learn how to be a mother. The transition from 2 kids to 3 is hard- all the sudden there are 3 kids needing attention, and only 2 ( or 1) parent to decide how to give them the attention they need. Having mom here made it easy, there was a 1:1 ratio! Now I am learning how to prioritize and realize that someone might have to wait for help until their brother is settled. But not being pregnant makes life so much easier- I am not sore or as tired as I was a few weeks ago. I am not back to normalcy quite yet, but every day is better. I am looking forward to feeling good and healthy again! Even a healthy pregnancy by the end feels so exhausting that you just don't feel that good for very much of the day! But, it is worth it! I look at my 3 boys and am so happy to be a mother! There is nothing better that I could be doing with my life than raising a happy family.

ANDREW ARRIVES!

Andrew Dennis Johnson arrived yesterday, Wednesday, April 21st in the early afternoon! He arrived at a healthy 8 lbs. 9 oz. and measured 20.5 in. long. Once the doctor broke her water Elizabeth only took about 75 minutes before she delivered our beautiful baby boy! Elizabeth did so well during the delivery and had her confidence restored in the epidural. She looks great and is doing about as well as can be expected! I'm sure we will update more later, but for now enjoy the pictures.

Wednesday is the day!

I went to my apt yesterday, and am only dilated to a 4- but I am scheduled to go in tomorrow morning for an induction! I am excited and I think it is going to work really well for us to have a plan. It certainly takes a lot of the worry from my mind. I think I can handle all these contractions (even if they aren't doing much) knowing that tomorrow is the day. Scott cleared his schedule and we got help lined up for the boys for the next few days, so we are really ready! Hopefully the next post will be the BIG announcement!

pregnancy update

I made it thru bedrest and thought that I would have had the baby with all the walking I have done this weekend. But, I am doomed to slow labor I guess! Contractions every 7-10 minutes during the day yesterday and this morning so far...The contractions are getting uncomfortable, especially when Daniel tries to climb on my lap. I am waiting for them to get closer together, or until my apt this afternoon. I hope I am dilated and contracting enough that I can have a baby today! Wish me luck!

almost one week of bedrest...

Right now Scott is outside enjoying the sunny, warm weather while I am laying in bed. It has been hard to just lay around. Thank goodness for a wonderful husband, sister(thanks so much for spending the day with me yesterday Stella!) and RS sisters helping out. And the phone calls from my mom to keep me in line too! Scott is so great to make sure I am not doing too much. Who would have thought that getting up and doing things around the house would be appealing when I have a great excuse to stay in bed all day?? I get so sore/uncomfortable just laying in bed or on the couch. I did start Pres. Hinckley's biography and am enjoying that, found a cross stitch kit I have had forever to work on, and started uploading pics to snapfish so we can get caught up on photo albums. (its been since Dec. 07 that I have printed any pictures!)

I do wish I could do more with Nathan and Daniel. Nathan is always reminding me that I need to be laying down. He is pretty content to play with his legos and playmobile by himself. But Daniel, he looks at me, and then does things he KNOWS he is not supposed to do. Like, when has it ever been okay to take off his pants and diaper and run around naked?? It is his fav. thing to do lately. He looks at me and just gives this mischievious smile, like he is checking to see what I will do. Not much I can do. I think he really notices that I am not picking him lately, or playing with him as much. He is such a busy bee that sitting on the couch playing or looking at stories doesn't have much appeal for very long.

But good news is we are getting so close to 37 weeks, which is when Daniel was born. He had a little bit of trouble, but was home after 4 days. So if I can make it at least a few days longer, I am sure this little guy will be okay. Hopefully I can keep the contractions from getting regular and closer together. I can get them going 10 min apart pretty easily when I get up and do too much. But when I lay down and rest, they slow down and stop. I know I was having contractions before bedrest, but I wasn't really paying attention to how often. I think when we are ready, I can just get up and play with the boys and do some cleaning, and then be ready to go have a baby! Kind of nice knowing we can plan our own, natural induction!

April news

Here is my watermelon tucked under the shirt picture. I realized I don't have many pictures of me pregnant, so here is one!


Last friday I had my 35-almost- 36-week Dr. apt. I told the my dr. that I have been having contractions and it feels like I could walk myself into labor if I wanted. So, he checked me and told me it was time to lay down- for the next two weeks. Then, after that I can do whatever I want.
It has been a long 3 days already-its hard to just lay around and not do anything. But, I don't want to have our baby this early! Scott is doing a great job keeping up with everything that he has and then taking on the responsibilities of the house and the boys. The RS pres. is helping us coordinate play dates every morning this week for the boys. Daniel is just too little to understand that I can't chase him. And he is the ever-moving 2 year old into everything! Nathan is being such a great help. He likes to tell the baby "stay in mommy's tummy even if she is walking around, ok?" He helps as much as a 4 year old can, which is turning out to be more than I thought!
So, this morning I am home alone laying in bed, feeling very lazy. I know it is good to be laying down, because when I do get up and move around, the contractions start up. Then it takes awhile for them to go away. I just hope I can keep labor at bay for another week at least. 2 weeks would be awesome. I decided I should use this time to catch up on those projects that always get pushed to the end of the to-do list!
Other Johnson news- we have found a house! We are closing on it April 30th, with plans to move in the end of May. We are really excited about it. It is not too far from here, in West Jordan. It is 10 years old, almost 3000 sq. ft, has a nice yard, neighborhood looks nice, the house is well-kept. We'll have to post a video tour sometime, I don't have any pics yet! It was one that we felt good about it after the first time we looked at it. It wasn't one that we were really excited about just from the listing, and we hadn't had plans to go see houses that night, but our realtor showed up and said he had apts to go see 3 houses. This was one of the them. It just seems to be the one! The boys are excited about the new house; they have a ball running around over there when we are there.

And the best part of any blog posting- the pictures!

Last sunday the boys wore easter outfits- since I can't pick cute easter dresses, I have to pick cute vests for my boys! It was hard getting them to cooperate for long, but I think these turned out pretty well.

We asked how Daniel did in nursery today, they told us he was on one. We didn't ask what that meant, but figure they will come get us if he really is being a troublemaker, right?

This is from my birthday in the beginning of March. Nathan was soo excited to pick out and give me a present. He gave me a little snow white doll- polly pocket size. Its fun to see him so excited. Daniel had some help from daddy and gave me a candle.

A scary face of Nathans....

Speak no evil, see no evil, hear no evil!!

Here is Daniel's scary face!

Erik- headed out in the Spring!

Erik got his mission call last week, we got to watch him open his call on the webcam. I was happy to be a part of the experience. He is coming to the Provo MTC on April 28th to learn SPANISH- then he is off to the Portland, Oregon mission! I am so excited and proud of my little brother. He has always been my special buddy boy. He was born 2 days before my 8th birthday. A nice birthday present I think!!

We have had a good week, both the boys are getting over their colds. Hopefully they will be healthy for awhile. I don't know where we have been picking up all the germs, but they have both been sick a few times too many this winter. I am ready for warmer weather and a healthy family!

Nathan is as much a soldier/knight/pirate as ever. He has enjoyed church basketball season and going to the church during practices and games to play with the other kids. He always wears some sort of costume and takes a sword or light saber. Daniel went one week as well and came home with a bruised nose after big brother threw the light saber his way! Daniel fares pretty well in his tumbles with Nathan!

Nathan went to his cousin Easton's soldier birthday party yesterday. He loved being able to dress up and be a soldier!

Scott was having lunch the other day and Daniel really wanted to join him, even after having already eaten a big lunch! This kid could eat all day long; he is always pushing the chairs around in the kitchen to get to any food left out. He enjoyed playing with the valentine chocolates more than eating them; he took a bite of each one and liked taking them out of the box and then putting them back in.

Daniel is cute as ever. He is 20 months old almost, and learning new words everyday. He is very thoughtful and helpful. Yesterday he spilled water on the floor and he got a towel and was cleaning it up by himself! He has learned how to say "Bela" and likes to give the cat her treats. He loves following Nathan around and is especially excited when "daddy" gets home. One day he even set up a chair in the hall outside of Scott's office and was eating a snack and waiting for daddy.

Scott has been coaching the YM team in the ward and also playing on the Elder's Quorum team. I think he likes the coaching better! He does a news write-up after every week for the team. I think the boys like the attention and recognition.

I am counting down the weeks til baby boy Johnson arrives! Mom is flying in on April 21st with Erik, so anytime that week would be perfect! I will be 38 weeks then, so we'll see if we can have good timing! We haven't decided on his name yet. I feel pretty good most of the time, just starting to get to the big belly awkward stage! Actually, the other day my nephew was here playing with Nathan, and Nathan told him there was a baby in mommy's tummy.Tyson was pretty concerned and said, "well, you better go to the dentist and have him get it out." I told him a dentist only takes care of our teeth. Tyson said, "well go see the doctor then." Its cute what little kids think about life!