Back to Tumblr...

Moved back over to Tumblr-if you want to keep up with us here you go!: 

 www.jellenjohnsons.tumblr.com

Big boy, happy boy!

Our little baby is growing up fast!  I know in past posts I've lamented over these changes happening but honestly, it's gotten to be really exciting to see him reach new milestones!  Here are some of the latest things our little man has been up to:

-First word was Mama (I think at 6 months-have to check the baby book-is that awful or what?) now, he is OBSESSED with saying "Dada"!  Says it constantly.  Also, big daddy's boy as of late.  Love seeing the relationship grow stronger between Josh and him.  (although, I did get a little sad the first time he wanted to go to Josh over me.  Josh was quick to remind me that he's been "preferring" me the last 8 1/2 months so I should quit it!  Always the voice of reason... :))

-Recently started "growling" at us-if we growl back, he returns it with a huge smile...and more growls.  Fun game-definitely our child.  (we're a little weird but most people still like us)

-Started crawling this week!  Had been crawling backwards for the last couple of weeks but went forward yesterday and since then has gone nuts!  Likes to try to pull himself up to furniture.  Not very interested in playing with us as often as he used to because he is too "busy" but every once in a while gives us his full attention.

-Still an amazing sleeper.  I try not to write about this too much so I don't jinx anything!  (or annoy anyone who is in the opposite boat) He has a great bedtime routine and sleeps 11-13 hours a night. 

-Loves eating puffs!  (I think this is common across the board though)  Working on finger foods...mom and dad are still cautious but taking baby steps.  Still breastfed in the morning and at night, takes bottles 2-3x a day while I'm at work but also eats solids 3-4x a day.  Pureed foods, puffs, small cut up fruits or veggies and occasionally will eat/suck on fruit or veggies from the mesh container.  (can't think of what it's actually called)

-Loves his daycare!  Such a relief.  We love it too.  Teachers have told me he loves the music classes (YES!!!) and really starts dancing and getting excited when they have their "Shabbat's".

Here are some pics from his day with Nana!  These made my day:

Making up for lost {blogging} time

I can't even get over how much I love this picture. I really need to write an actual blog post where I can give updates but for now, here is just a sweet, recent picture of my babe. ❤

New favorite word...!

...is "Dada!"

8 months already?!?

How has it already been 8 months since my baby was born?! As always, bittersweet. Bitter because time flies too damn fast and we all want to be with our babies more than we can be and sweet because this baby is growing into such an amazing little man. He holds both of our hearts. Love him to the moon and back!!

Missing this view right now...

Monday's are always rough for this mama. Missing my baby today.

Latest and greatest!

Here I am again, apologizing for taking so long to update this blog!  Oh well - here are some pics that will hopefully make up for the wait ;)

First trip to MN as a family of three! (ignore the yellow pollen stain from a bouquet of flowers Josh got me that will never come out of this dress!  I was on vacay...)

My boys!  One of my favorites...

So happy all of the time!  His smile melts my heart.

Playing at home with mama on her maternity leave :)

Someone is feeling a little left out..

My attempt to get a pic of the two of us while visiting Aunt Jenny!  It never happens :)

Wild baby on the go

First official *selfie* with mama - makes his eyes look hazel but they are actually still dark blue

Riding Sookie around...she's not as amused as we are!

Big, slobbery baby kisses.  The best.

One day this pic will be featured on ESPN!

Love this thing-makes it a fun little ride for him when we take him shopping now!

Favorite pic as of late.  I keep saying that, don't I?  I can't help it.  All of his pics are my favorite.  This one has gotten a lot of Facebook attention though. haha!

What we've been up to...We took our first family trip to MN with the Bruggeman side and our family friends, the Wilkins.  (Ten Mile Lake in Northern Minnesota - if you ever go to a lake up there, this is the one to go to!  Beautiful.)

Mad props to him for enduring the 9+ hour car drive like a champ!  Cried maybe one time and it was very brief.  He had me and the DVD player to help keep him entertained!  While we were up there, he turned 7 months AND got his first tooth (bottom, lower right) while we were up there!  Did not enjoy getting in the lake though-maybe next year!  (I think it was too cold for him) Had fun with his cousins-can't wait for them to be able to play with him more!

I had an additional week off for maternity leave and we enjoyed every minute of it!  This is the best age, by far.  He has such a big personality already (I know I keep saying that) and constantly surprises us with something new and exciting!

Right now he is testing out different "laughs".  When we pick him up from daycare, he immediately stops what he's doing and gets really excited!  He jumps up and down, screams, laughs and reaches out for one of us.  It's my favorite part of the day.  The kids at daycare are a little older and mostly girls so they love having "their" own baby around.

I'll update more later!  XO

Best buds

Pics from last weekend at the zoo, on a walk and at home.

Just kidding...

I've come to realize that I barely have enough time to blog, let alone figure out my new Tumblr blog so for now-I'm keeping everything on this blog.  I'm attached to this blog (see: all of my pregnancy and early months of Julian posts).

Anyway, things are great with the Johnson family!  Julian continues to grow and amaze us each and every day.  I'm finding it harder to remember the early months the further away I move past them...this is more reason for me to blog.  A couple of co-workers who just had babies came into the office yesterday with their newborns and as I held both of their babies, I sat there thinking back to my first moments with J...it was so hard to remember him being that tiny and delicate.  He is so big now!  I remember, but at the same time, I don't remember all of the details.  It makes me sad.  I'm so glad I've been crazy about taking pictures and videos (so has Josh) so we won't ever forget these moments.  I still struggle with how fast time is moving.  It's hard working full-time and realizing that we only see him a few hours a day for most of the week.  But I know it's what we have to do to give him a good life.  And most people do this, especially at our age.  More motive to follow our dreams and start that business we've always dreamed of (or get famous by auditioning for American Idol! haha KIDDING.)

I've also come to realize that I can still blog without writing a novel.  I put too much pressure on myself to write "amazing" blog posts to look back on...it's okay to just post a picture with a small caption or memory.  I have to remind myself of that.  (notice any patterns from this post?) So...in order to keep in-line with the original reason of starting this blog, I am going to blog, big or small, as often as I can.

Here are some of my favorite pictures from Julian's 6 month photoshoot:

Moving on...

...to Tumblr!

Kind of sad to leave this behind but it will forever live in internet land.  It's like a digital scrapbook and all we're doing is moving on to a new one.  :-)

Showing our support for Yahoo! by moving to Tumblr.  If you'd like to keep up with our lives, you can visit: http://jellenjohnsons.tumblr.com

First post here:
http://jellenjohnsons.tumblr.com/post/52993704202/ebebe22-first-official-post-naturally-i-had#notes

Dressed up and no where to go.

The best they could do was take me to Nana's?  Geez, I'm in a tux!

Solids? Mush shush...

Not a big fan of baby rice cereal! Maybe he will like the Guamanian "red rice" and not this tasteless stuff.  LOL!

Family Vaca

I went on my first Airplane flight to Orlando.  Even though I was sick the first day I had so much fun and grew up alot!  I love Disneyworld!!!

I'm taking over.

Happier note

I thought a happier post was needed after my last one.  Here are just a few things that are making us smile lately:

• Smiling/Giggling: Julian has always loved to smile but the past few weeks another big development happened: he started giggling!  Nana is really good at finding ways to bring out this new-found talent :)  Mom and Dad still get the occasional giggle too, though!
• Curiosity: He is extremely interested in everything going on around him...a lot of times he wants us to move out of the way so he can focus on what's happening behind us!
•  Grab/Touch: Julian loves to reach out his little arm and grab or touch different things.  He loves touching the lamp by his changing table that has different pictures of sports on the shade. 
• Feet: Obsessed with these.  He loves to bring his knees up to his chest and grab his feet!  Sometimes he'll laugh if you tickle them.
• Personality: this boy has a HUGE personality already!  He knows what he wants and lets you know it!  We can tell what he wants just by the sounds he makes and facial expressions.  He loves to babble under his activity center or in the exersaucer. At the same time, he is very "chill" and has an easy-going personality as well.  Perfect combo-just depends on his mood!
• TV: Don't judge.  He loves Baby First TV.  If you have Direct TV-highly recommend it.  Lots of good shows for development.  Trying to not have it on too much, but it does come in handy sometimes!  Music channel has been a good substitute. (Kind of the same subject-he is starting to notice our cell phones-how crazy is that?!  haha!)
• Sookie:  Loves watching her!  Especially when she starts rolling around and throwing her toys in the air.  He thinks she's hilarious.  They had their first "moment"last week and it was so sweet...he reached his hand out to touch her and she laid down and bowed her head for him to touch.  She also licked his hands and he thought that was so hilarious!  (don't worry, we washed them right afterwards)
• Tongue: Another new obsession.  Loves sticking it out all.the.time. !! 

Some of my favorite pictures taken the last week:

Playing with Daddy

Probably watching one of his funny shows :)

Oh hi tongue!

Sweet babe sleeping-check out those lashes!

I like this pic because I think he looks a lot like me :)

What a stud!

Big smiles!

Handsome like my daddy!!