jeffrey's new hobby!

I am so excited that Jeffrey has taken up photography in the last month! It has been so fun getting fun pictures of the kids, playing with the camera and tinkering with Photoshop. In such a short time he's learned so much. I am so proud of him! Here's a couple more he's taken.

Big yawn!

3 weeks, already!

Where does time get away to? It seems the last three were but just a vapor. Today, Joel is three weeks old! In the words of Kayleigh, "Seriously, how is that possible?!" Not only is he three weeks old today, this evening, he lost his cord, giving him a precious little belly button. I won't elaborate on how much this event upsets me. Suffice it to say I'm sad that the itty-bitty newborn phase is officially over.

It has been a great week so far, I have to say. I hit it hard with the BabyWise program with Joel this week. I had caught myself really setting myself up for heartache down the road with how much I had been holding him and rocking him to sleep. Sweet, sure, but he was never going to learn to fall asleep on his own that way. There were a couple days where he was up for 4 or 5 hour stretches and was getting really fussy. Of course he was, he was exhausted. But I hadn't been following my plan and allowing him to learn to sleep on his own. Enter BabyWise-nazi. I started this feat on Monday, and he has not missed a beat so far. I am so thankful! I may just have another great sleeper on my hands...thank you BabyWise. You are my hero! Here is a sampling of the fruits of my labor...

The Best Big Brother...

Here are Ethan and his little brother Joel. Oh how I love matchy outfits! I digress...anyway, Ethan loves his little brother so much! He doesn't always know how to show that love, ie. sitting on him, patting him on the head a little too hard, shaking his hand and saying "nice to meet you!" It may be unconventional, but it's love all the same! I know they're my babies, but can you honestly say you've seen two more handsome little boys? I submit you have not!

Another post by Kayleigh...

Joel sleeping in his bouncer.
Ethan is very fond of his little brother.
He thinks when Kayleigh holds him he can hold him too.
Not so much sometimes.
-posted by Kayleigh

The Best Big Sister...

Kayleigh is a total rock star-awesome big sister! She absolutely loves her little brother! She knows how to hold him, feed him, and change his diaper, though she is hesitant to take on that just yet! Joel doesn't know how lucky he is yet to have her! She makes me so proud. It is a joy and blessing to have such sweet children.

However, I have had a really tough time getting adjusted to life with three, not because of Joel, he's the easy part. But the older two are the challenge. It's hard to discipline while in the middle of a feeding, or keeping Ethan out of the fridge when changing a diaper or bathing the baby, etc. Slowly I'm learning. Maybe in another two weeks I'll be an old pro. Talk about baptism by fire! I'm so thankful to have been forced into this so early with Nana out of town and Gigi having to help Bob-bob with the estate sale. It'll make the long term easier not having too much help and therefore delaying the inevitable. Don't get me wrong, we're ready for all of our chickens to be back in their respective nests! But it's good for me to do.

Here's a pic of Kayleigh doing what she loves! Taking good care of her little brother!

Joel Thomas: 4 days old!

It's amazing how quickly these little guys change! Joel doesn't look anything like he did when he was born. He has gotten the most beautiful skin and those eyes! Gorgeous! We are so in love with this little man!

Looking at his Momma!

It's been a really hard day!

Part 2 of "Introducing Joel Thomas Johnston"

Here is a look at the day Joel was born, starting at the hospital and continuing through Thursday and Friday when we went home. We have a ton more pictures to post in the next few days, so make sure to check back really soon! We really miss our Nana and can't wait for her to get home a meet this precious little treasure!

We were supposed to start the induction at 8 am, but the hospital called and were totally full, so we got put off about an hour and a half. Once we got in, the room we were supposed to have had a leak, so we waited even more. Finally, a room, no leak, and ready for baby brother to get here!

Jeffrey explained how the contraction monitor worked to Kayleigh, so she began to monitor them for us. She took this very seriously, bless her heart. She knew when the line went up, Momma was hurting.

After much waiting and delays from emergency c-sections or nurses having to be in other rooms...He's here!

This is Ethan's new smile, little turkey!

Those little toes! Ah!

Ethan has really surprised us! He absolutely loves his little brother!

The morning we got to go home! We can't wait to bring him home and start life as a family of 5!

I hope you enjoyed all of these! I'll post more once Jeffrey gets them converted. We have some really sweet ones from when we were leaving and from Saturday. He is such a sweet, sweet little boy. I can't tell you how much we are already in love with this little guy. He just melts our hearts!

Introducing...

Joel Thomas Johnston

Born July 7, 2010
7:48 pm
7 lbs. 9 oz. 19 1/2 " long

Wanna know how we celebrated July 4th?

Well, we spent July 4th mostly inside since it has been raining here for over the last week. Not only did we get to spend some "quality" time with the ol' fam, Jeffrey and I got to spend the first few hours of Independence Day in our attic fixing a leak that was running down between the wall in our kitchen and bedroom from the skylight. Not cool. Not what we wanted to be doing at 2:30 am! And certainly not when I'm a very full 9 months pregnant! Hopefully today the roofers will be back to get it fixed for real, not just rechannel the water to the attic instead of the skylight!

As for the kids, I think a combination of factors have started getting to them. The constant rain, being cooped up in the house, a momma that can't run around with them anymore and the impending birth of their baby brother is about to really get to them! They spent the day fussing and Kayleigh was just at her wits end with everything, as you can see! Though frustrating, it was hard not to laugh, it just became overboard and hilarious. Sorry Kayleigh, but you are one funny girl when you are this dramatic! Then there was Ethan. Not emotional like Kayleigh, but just needing to burn off some serious energy! He ran around the couches, no lie, about 30 times. Needless to say, great nap day! He is such a sweetheart though. He always consoles Kayleigh when she's upset. Sweet, sweet hearted boy.

Ethan watching Kayleigh act like a drama queen!

Consoling sissy.

After we got over the tenderness of the start of our day and Ethan went down for a nap, we went out for a few minutes and blew some bubbles. It was one of the first breaks in the rain we had, so it was great! Hello humidity!

Jeffrey took this picture yesterday to document the largeness! And Kayleigh was ready and willing to love on her to-be baby brother! Sweet girl.

Part 2 of "Our Beautiful Children"

Here are a few more of the photos that Jeffrey captured this week. I hope you enjoy them!

The kids found some interesting things over by the fence, most likely a bug!

Ethan got himself a new baseball cap this week!

I can just imagine the kids peeking into the crib looking at baby brother! I can't believe it's only three days until we meet him!

Our beautiful children...

Though our third little ankle biter is very nearly here, I had to share the beauty that is our two oldest. Wow, that sounds really weird. Anyway, I digress...here are a few of the photos that Jeffrey has gotten lately in his quest to capture some of their beauty. I just love these kids! Can you honestly say you've seen anything more precious???!!!