Sunday, September 20, 2009

LILY"S HERE!!!!



Well I have I said throughout my pregnancy that Lily would be different than the other two because so many things in my pregnancy was different. I was very sick the first 4 months, felt pressure early on with her didn't gain as much weight and actually lost weight towards the end, and had Gracie and Ella at 38 weeks! VERY DIFFERENT! So I should have not been surprised about Friday. We went in Thursday night to be there early Friday morning to start the induction ( I have not had to be induced before). So Friday morning the doctor comes in breaks my water and we are all expecting a baby by lunch. Well Little Miss Lily had other plans. I would not progress in my labor even with my pitocin at max levels. All staff was surprised as well as my family. Hoping to get some sleep, I asked for the epidural with the hopes of helping things move along. I realize now that as much as I have wanted to deliver one of my children naturally the Lord answered. By the time I had Lily the epidural had worn OFF!! Glad He allowed me to get through the contractions! I am very thankful for my doctor and for the wonderful nurse the Lord provided for me. Their patience through Friday was amazing and really set my mind at ease. I just knew I was going to have to have a C-section. They were confident they could get the baby here without all that. The nurse knew just what to do to help her progress and to get me ready. She knew how bad I wanted something to drink so towards the end of my progression so she rewarded me with a popsicle. All I can say is that that was the best tasting popsicle I have ever had!!!!! 30 minutes later Lily was in the world!
There is no better feeling in the world to be able to see and hold the wonderful creation that the Lord has been forming inside of you for 10 months. Absolutely the best feeling in the world! As I look back on the long day and think about the many times I got poked with a needle (veins kept blowing), shaking excessively from the epidural, throwing up because of the medicine in my body and most of all the waiting, it was ALL WORTH IT!!!!!! I wouldn't take it back for the world.
She is so precious and such a gift from God. A miracle that has come from above. I am sometimes without words when I look at her and cannot help but just sit and thank the Lord for our precious miracle. Thank you all for your prayers and encouragement through the last few weeks. I was amazed how how many or our family members were able to share in this day with us and stuck with us until the end! We are so blessed to have friends and family like you all!
Here are some snapshots from the day, hope you enjoy!


Lily Claire Johnson
9lb 5oz 22 inches
10:02 pm


Ella was amazed that she was actually seeing Lily!


Gracie thought she was afraid of us because she wouldn't "come out"!
Her favorite thing to do know is sing to her especially when she is crying. She was so upset that she couldn't take her home with her that night!

Cass took off work and surprised me when she showed up to my delivery room! She is such a blessing to me!


Daddy came at 8:15 in the morning thinking she would be born early, little did we know! He stayed until she was born!


Couldn't say enough words about this special woman in my life! What a blessing she is to me and to my children! She has been the girls "babysitter" and they are loving it. She might need a vacation but what love she gives my children! I couldn't thank her enough!


My nurse and encourager! What a blessing!


Too cute!


So tired!

A little sisterly love!


Gracie showing Mary Katherine her baby sister!


Lily's great grandmother Gran


Ella does not like to hear her crying. She was loving on her telling her she would be okay!


The family of FIVE!!!

Sunday, September 6, 2009

Awaiting Lily's arrival!!!

So I decided that since the girls were always wanting to paint and get creative that I would let them paint my belly. All I can say is that it was an experience. Cass really painted the smiley face and we then let the girls do whatever they wanted. Of course all the paint ended up on me and not them. Gracie was really careful and Ella was well.. she was Ella. Hope you do not mind the bare belly!


Ella still thinks she has a baby in her tummy!


Too cute not to post!!!


And the fun begins!!!!











Ella is so concentrating on her part. She wanted to paint the upper half along with my shirt! Gracie was just so excited to be painting my belly.


The final masterpiece!

I cannot believe that in just a few short days, hopefully only days, that I will have three precious, amazing and beautiful girls! I have been truly blessed by the LORD!!!!!


Princess Tea Party

I can remember a little over 4 years ago, waiting for the arrival of our first child. We were so anxious and nervous. Certain things started to happen and we were textbook ready. Everytime something happened we got out the book and read it. Like every birth is like the book!! We spent all day in the hospital on Sunday thinking I was in labor only to be sent home in despair. Six hours later I was back in the hospital ready to have her. So much for the doctors knowing when you are ready too! He said it would be at least a week before I had her. My mom and sister all went home only to get up at 3:00 the nest morning to drive back to Birmingham. They were in the parking lot when she arrived!
All this to say, even though I am about to have my third, I still remember that day like it was yesterday. I remember the way she looked and how she looked up at me for the first time. I didn't want to stop holding her and four years later I still do not want to put her down.
SHe told me the other day that she didn't want to grow up because she wouldn't be able to fit into my lap! I love those times! She is so much fun to be around and is always the life of the party. She loves to perform for everybody and is such a big helper. SHe is tenderhearted and has such a repentant heart. SHe loves to sing, dance, read books and play the guitar with her daddy! The truth is I do not want her to grow up but reality is she is! The Lord has blessed us with an amazing daughter and I am always reminded that she is HIS child. He has such a plan for her life and I cannot wait to see what that plan is going to be.
For her birthday we actually had 2 parties. Since all my family is 2 hours away, Ryan and I decided to drive to Evergreen and have a small family party so everybody would not have to drive to our house. She had so much fun! We gave her a bicycle and she did not want to get off of it. My mom also gave her a kitten. (Ella got one too since she got rid of her paci!) Those were the highlight gifts for sure. If those poor kittens last another month at our house we will be doing good! Here are some pictures from that party!




My dad and brother are popping Ella's toes! I can remember them doing that to me when I was little. It really hurts!

One proud little girl!


Singing Happy Birthday!


Getting everything adjusted!


He would kill me if he knew I put this on here. Ryan actually is the one that told Gracie she could have a kitten. I was shocked because Ryan does not like cats. He goes outside with the girls all the time now to pet them! He loves them!


Riding our bike a few days later.

We then had a Princess Tea Party on her actually birthday with a few of her friends. I wanted something a little less low key than in the past and for sure something that we could do inside! A friend of mine's mom had all the tea party accessories and the girls had a blast. It was all worth it when we decorated and Gracie saw it for the first time and her face lit up!!! I would do this again in a heartbeat! Here are some pictures from that party!



Tea party is set!










So many pretty princesses. We even had Belle come!




We actually had tea! Those girls drank that stuff up. They loved it. I think they mostly loved the sugar cubes and milk they could put in their tea!











WHo would have thought that a girl would be so excited about a tool set but this little girl was! She had been telling my mom for months that she wanted a tool set like Daddy's so she got her one that could be safe!




I decided to do something a little different this year. We made a craft. I got the girls to decorate a frame with rhinestones and Ryan printed off the picture we took of them. They then got to carry them home with a gift from the party. The girls were super excited and loved making the frames!





We had lots of fun and were all tired by the end of the day! THanks to all my family and friends who helped me get everything ready and cleaned up. I will have to post pictures later of Gracie's other favorite present. Cass came and painted polka dots on the wall in her room. She LOVES polka dots and was super excited about them.
Hopefully the next post will be about Lily's arrival!!!!!!

Saturday, September 5, 2009

Twinkle Toes!!!!






Well I have never been the most coordinated person in the world and to none of our surprise Gracie has taken after me. SO when she said she wanted to take dance I was a little worried about her coordination and how she would perform. I was totally surprised! SHe did awesome and I couldn't have been prouder! We went to get her outfit and she told everyone we passed in the store that she was going to be taking dance. We got back home and she immediately put on her leotard and shoes and would not take them off. THis was three hours before her class! While at class, she could not stop smiling. Concentrating the whole time on what she was suppose to be doing. I loved it! On the way home she thanked me numerous times for taking her. So worth it!

Ready to go!!!

She is in a small class with only four girls so she gets lots of attention!

Always watching her feet!


The bar is so much fun to her. They get to tell it "Hello".


SHe practices this move all the time!


This was her all time favorite thing in the world at dance class. She got to show different emotions and her favorite was grumpy! Every time we go back to dance she wants to do this!

All in all we had a great time and are ready to go back every week! I cannot wait to see her at the end of the year and all that she will accomplish!