Nursery in the making!!!

The nursery walls are DONE!!!! YAY!!!! I'm sooooooo blessed to have a husband who is VERY handy and can do everything himself and it's cheaper! :-) Anyhow, below are pics of the nursery walls and bead board! I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!

Chris hard at work!

Here is a picture of the nursery bedding we are ordering. My MIL is making us navy curtains and we are going to use boat rope to tie them back just like the picture.

Here is the rug we are putting in the nursery too! It's the same rug that is in the picture above with the bedding.

As you can see, Chris and I are very excited and everything is coming along GREAT! Luke is one lucky baby so far, but not as lucky as us to be his mommy and daddy! :-)

On another note, my friend Danielle asked me for help! Her BIL and SIL have started an organization to help couples adopt. Please check it out and pray for them! www.becauseofisaac.org

Oh the side effects!

Well, I guess I spoke too soon! I have more and more side effects now! :-( Other than my feet, I have back pain and my sciatic nerve on my right side is excruciating! I can't even walk or lay down on my right side. And forget sleeping!!!!!!!!!!! Once I fall asleep I wake up with the absolute worst leg cramps known to man!!! So I just sleep for about an hour, wake up for an hour and the cycle repeats itself. So frustrating! Okay, I'm done complaining now as I would take ANY AND ALL symptoms for this lil man!!! I STILL FEEL SO INCREDIBLY BLESSED!!!

25 weeks and Christmas!

This past week has been VERY busy!!! I went to the doctor on Monday and Baby "J" is doing FABULOUS!!! I'm not though! My back is killing me and my feet are out of control swollen. I wake up with them swollen and go to bed with them even more swollen! :-( :-( :-( However, I wouldn't change it for the world! It's sooooooooo worth it!!! On another note, after many months of deciding on a name, we finally chose one! We prayed on the perfect name! Luke Robert Johnson. We pray Luke will be a Gospel of Christ just like Luke from the Bible! In addition to the doctor visit, I was having 9 people over for Christmas dinner and I had to cook, shop, bake and set up! I LOVED every minute of it and I plan on making it a tradition for years to come! Enjoy some of the pictures!!!

25 weeks!

Proud Daddy and I

The Foster Family!

The Johnson and Foster Family!

My Beautiful Tree!

As far as Luke is concerned, here's what's going on this week in HIS world!!!

Head to heels, your baby now measures about 13 1/2 inches. His weight — a pound and a half — isn't much more than an average rutabaga, but he's beginning to exchange his long, lean look for some baby fat. As he does, his wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out and he'll start to look more and more like a newborn. He's also growing more hair — and if you could see it, you'd now be able to discern its color and texture.

24 weeks

Hi all!!!

Well, today marks 24 weeks!!! According to what I've read that if the baby was born now, he would have some chance of survival. However, I plan to keep him in for for another 16 weeks or so. :-) Once again, there has been nothing too eventful this week other than my feet are still swelling. They are swelling soooooooooooo bad that I had to buy new shoes. BUMMY! :-( Other than that, I've been great. I have two more gifts to buy and then I'm done Christmas shopping. YEA!!! Speaking of Christmas, I feel awful but I didn't even do Christmas cards this year. Chris and I decided that we should save the money for the nursery, which has painted walls and the bead board/chair rail is going up today!!!! SO EXCITING!!!! In addition, I'm doing Christmas at my house this year for the first time! I can't wait to cook for the 9 of us and use my fine china for the first time! HEHE! MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!

Here's what's going on with "Nemo"

Your baby's growing steadily, having gained about 4 ounces since last week. That puts him at just over a pound. Since he's almost a foot long (picture an ear of corn), he cuts a pretty lean figure at this point, but his body is filling out proportionally and he'll soon start to plump up. His brain is also growing quickly now, and his taste buds are continuing to develop. His lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" as well as cells that produce surfactant, a substance that will help his air sacs inflate once he hits the outside world. His skin is still thin and translucent, but that will start to change soon.

How Far Along? 24 weeks

Total Weight Gained/Loss? GAINED 13 pounds!

Maternity Clothes: STILL my best friend, but I'm growing out of the ones I have!

Sleep: Don't sleep ever!! It's so hard to turn from side to side. I make some funny noises! LOL

Best Moment of the Week: EVERY TIME he kicks mama!

Movement: All the time now!

Food Craving: RED VELVET CUPCAKES! I'm addicted!!!

Food aversions: FINALLY...NONE!

Gender: BOY! BOY! BOY!

What I miss: Wine, Sushi, Sweet Tea and soft cheeses! I also miss deli meat!

What I'm looking forward to: Tomorrow's appointment and my baby showers! I'm so blessed to be having 3!!!

23 weeks!!!

Today marks 23 weeks!!! My life has already changed (for the better) and I just KNOW it's going to get better!!! Have I ever mentioned I LOVE being pregnant??? Yes, I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT!!! I enjoy waking up everyday to see how big my belly is! HEHE! Anyhow, this past week has been a busy one for sure! We bought all of the supplies (paint, paintbrushes, crown molding, bead board, etc.) for baby "J"s nursery! Chris started painting the room and is actually working on it right now. He's such a good daddy already! We also went to the Pompano Yule Tide Christmas parade with my brother Chris and his girlfriend Mariah! We ordered a pizza, propped up our lawn chairs and watched the parade in the cold! MY FAV!!! Friday night was quite an adventure as well. I had my annual Christmas party from work and it was at the Hardrock!!! At 23 weeks pregnant, the Hardrock takes on a whole new meaning! LOL!!! It was great being able to dance and to watch all of my other friends dance from a barstool. :-) We had plans to go to the Ft. Lauderdale boat parade on a yacht, but after Thursday and Friday, I was T-I-R-E-D, so Chris ended up running the boat instead of being a guest on the boat for extra cash.

PS. We're down to two names....FINALLY:

Luke Robert Johnson

Cole Robert Johnson

Anyhow, here's what's going on with "Nemo" this week!!!

Turn on the radio and sway to the music. With his sense of movement well developed by now, your baby can feel you dance. And now that he's more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound (about as much as a large mango), you may be able to see him squirm underneath your clothes. Blood vessels in his lungs are developing to prepare for breathing, and the sounds that your baby's increasingly keen ears pick up are preparing his for entry into the outside world. Loud noises that become familiar now — such as your dog barking or the roar of the vacuum cleaner — probably won't phase him when he hears them outside the womb.

22 weeks and a crib!!!

I've made it to 22 weeks!!! I can't believe I still can't believe I am pregnant and going to be a mommy soon!!! My life couldn't be better! I truly have EVERYTHING I want!

Anyhow, Chris and I decided to take advantage of "Cyber Monday" to purchase our crib! HERE IT IS!!! Too bad it will be here tomorrow (Monday) and we've done ABSOLUTELY nothing to the nursery! LOL! In addition to buying the crib, I had my first Pea in a pod experience this past Saturday (Thanks Amy) and boy was it AWESOME!!! We saw Amy's "friend" Devon at the store. She picked out outfits and helped us try them on for 3 hours!!! I caved and bought a few things and they TRULY are the most comfortable clothes I have EVER put on. I might shop there after Baby J is born!!! LOL!!! Here I am at 22 weeks with my new outfit!!

Baby J has been very active these past couple of weeks! I feel him EVERYDAY and LOVE LOVE LOVE it!!! It is such a great feeling! :-) Here's what's going on with him this week!

At 11 inches and almost 1 pound, your baby is starting to look like a miniature newborn. His lips, eyelids, and eyebrows are becoming more distinct, and he's even developing tiny tooth buds beneath his gums. His eyes have formed, but his irises (the colored part of the eye) still lack pigment. If you could see inside your womb, you'd be able to spot the fine hair (lanugo) that covers his body and the deep wrinkles on his skin, which he'll sport until he adds a padding of fat to fill them in. Inside his belly, his pancreas — essential for the production of some important hormones — is developing steadily.

He's the length of a Spaghetti Squash!

More than half way done-Hello 21 weeks!

I am now more than half way done!!! :-) Everything is pretty much the same except that my ankles, legs and feet now swell almost EVERYDAY! How annoying! LOL!!!

Anyhow, we decided to spend Thanksgiving with my grammy this year in Saint Simons Island, GA. We had a very quiet, but nice Thanksgiving with my mother and brother Chris. On black Friday, we did a little shopping for the lil guy and got AMAZING deals! :-) Overall, we enjoyed a relaxing mini-vaca playing scrabble, eating and shopping. In addition, it was my 30th bday! Chris had originally planned a HUGE bash on a yacht with dinner, drinks and a DJ, but...I am receiving a MUCH BETTER AND BIGGER gift...MY SON!!! In lieu of a birthday bash, Chris gave me The Nook (I'm a HUGE reader) and sewing lessons (HOW FUN)! Lastly, Chris FINALLY got to feel "Nemo" kick tonight (11/28)!!! We have been trying for over a week! :-)

My Nook and the cutest bday card EVER! The cupcake bounced up and down and sang a song!

Chris and I on a walk in GA!

3 almost 4 generations!!!

Here's Nemo's growth this week!!!

Your baby now weighs about three-quarters of a pound and is approximately 10 1/2 inches long —the length of a carrot. You may soon feel like he's practicing martial arts as his initial fluttering movements turn into full-fledged kicks and nudges. You may also discover a pattern to his activity as you get to know him better. In other developments, your baby's eyebrows and lids are present now.

I haven't done a survey in a few weeks, so here it is!!!

How Far Along? 21 weeks

Total Weight Gained/Loss? GAINED 6 pounds!

Maternity Clothes: STILL my best friend, but I'm growing out of the ones I have!

Sleep: Some say overrated, but I would LOVE some! I can't sleep...EVER!

Best Moment of the Week: Chris finally feeling our son kick!

Movement: All the time now, especially right before I try to go to sleep or when I roll over in my sleep!

Food Craving: EVERYTHING...all I do is eat. :-(

Food aversions: FINALLY...NONE!

Gender: BOY! BOY! BOY!

What I miss: Wine, Sushi, Sweet Tea

What I'm looking forward to: Christmas break! I'm off for 16 days and starting on the nursery!!!

20 weeks and more!!!

Stephanie and I

Baby's first trip to Disney!

Mommy and Daddy!

20 weeks!!!

Well, On November 19th, we went with Max, Stephanie and Princess Emily to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party and boy was it Merry!!! I felt like such a kid again!!! They had free cookies and hot cocoa, snow on Mainstreet, shows and SANTA!!! It truly was a magical 30th bday! The only compliant I had was that my feet swelled BIG time for the FIRST time ever! Chris and I kept calling them "sausages"...it was gross! :-) While there, we purcahsed our yearly Disney ornament. Chris and I always buy an ornament that has something to do with the year. So far we have Cinderella and Prince Charming on their wedding day (the year we got married). Mike and Sully (the year I became blind out of one eye) and this year we purchased...NEMO!!:-) This will also be baby "J" first ornament. We plan on buying him one every year as well so that when he's older, he'll have a collection for his tree.

Anyhow, praise GOD that I've made it this far. I'm 20 weeks, which means I'm half way done already! We still have EVERYTHING to do. :-) We don't have anything except our highchair, travel system and one outfit that a friend from work bought us. I guess we better get on it, but not until after we get back from Thanksgiving in GA with my grammy! Here's what's going on with NEMO this week!

Your baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. He's also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom and about 10 inches from head to heel. (For the first 20 weeks, when a baby's legs are curled up against his torso and hard to measure, measurements are taken from the top of his head to his bottom — the "crown to rump" measurement. After 20 weeks, he's measured from head to toe.)

Nemo is as long as a banana!

19 weeks and 2 days!!!

I'm 19 weeks and 2 days today!!! Just 5 more days and I will be half way done! Yes, you read that right....HALF WAY DONE ALREADY!!! Not much to report other than I'm LOVING being pregnant and loving my life!!! I have a GREAT family, AMAZING friends, a FUN job, one HECK of a husband and a NEMO on the way!!! :-) We definitely serve an AWESOME GOD!

Here's what's going on this week!
Your baby's sensory development is exploding! HIS brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. Some research suggests that she may be able to hear your voice now, so don't be shy about reading aloud, talking to her, or singing a happy tune if the mood strikes you.Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces and measures 6 inches, head to bottom. HIS arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of her body now. HIS kidneys continue to make urine and the hair on his scalp is sprouting. A waxy protective coating called the vernix caseosa is forming on her skin to prevent it from pickling in the amniotic fluid.

Here's how big he is this week!

IT'S A....

BOY! BOY! BOY!

Yesterday, November 15th, we went to our anatomy scan!!! BOY....was he active! It was the coolest thing to see him jumping around my uterus! :-) The tech asked if I could feel him moving around, and it was at that moment that I knew what I was suppose to be feeling when people ask if I feel the baby move. I always thought what I was feeling was gas! LOL!!! Now, I feel him move all the time. It feels like when your eye twitches! IT'S SO COOL!!!! We also got an added bonus. We will be able to meet our son (WOW...SON) a little earlier. He is measuring a week ahead!!! :-) My new due date is April 10th. Lastly, Chris started on our nautical themed nursery today. Did you really expect anything less than a nautical nursery? WE CAN'T WAIT TO MEET OUR ISLAND BOY!!!!

18 weeks....almost half way done!

Today marks my 18th week of pregnancy!!! WOO HOO!!! I went to the doctor yesterday (not by choice) and found out that I gained 3 pounds!!! For the first time EVER, I was excited to see the scale go up. LOL!! Anyhow, we have 4 days left until we find out what were expecting! I've been thinking blue this whole time, but lately I'm not too sure! :-) I got an added bonus yesterday at the doctors office, they told me my results from my bloodwork. We have a less than 1:5000 chance of our munchkin having Spina Bifida or Downs Syndrome. They like to see for my age 1:730 and 1:3000 chance. As you can see, I've surpassed their numbers!!! PRAISE THE LORD!

What's going on in my belly!

Head to rump, your baby is about 5 1/2 inches long and he weighs almost 7 ounces. He's busy flexing his arms and legs — movements that you'll start noticing more and more in the weeks ahead. His blood vessels are visible through his thin skin, and his ears are now in their final position, although they're still standing out from his head a bit. A protective covering of myelin is beginning to form around his nerves, a process that will continue for a year after he's born. If you're having a girl, her uterus and fallopian tubes are formed and in place. If you're having a boy, his genitals are noticeable now, but he may hide them from you during an ultrasound.

A little scare

Well.....we had a little scare this morning when I woke up. I began spotting. For some reason, I wasn't worried, but concerned. I went to work and had to wait until the office opened to call the doctor. After calling the doctor, I was able to get in at 1:20pm. Anyhow, we were able to hear the heartbeat and after my exam, the doc said everything is PERFECT! They're not too sure what caused the "scare" but I do have an ultrasound scheduled for Monday to find out the sex and the nurse will check to make sure everything's okay with the placenta too!!!! :-)

17 Weeks!!!!

Another uneventful week in my belly! I go to the doctors tomorrow for my second half of bloodwork to make sure everything is okay with "Nemo". I JUST KNOW IT IS!!! Here's "Nemo's" update for 17 weeks!!!!

PS. 12 days until we know what were having! SO EXCITED!!!

Your baby's skeleton is changingfrom soft cartilage to bone, and the umbilical cord — her lifeline to the placenta — is growing stronger and thicker. Your baby weighs 5 ounces now , and she's around 5 inches long from head to bottom. She can move her joints, and her sweat glands are starting to develop.

Nemo weighs as much as a turnip!

Monday's Appointment-16 weeks!

Hi All!!

We went for our 16 week check-up on Monday and everything is PERFECT so far!!! We heard the heartbeat, checked my weight (still the same), checked for infections and discussed some questions I had. My doctor laughed at me with my questions. He said, "Man, you're an EARLY planner." Chris' response was YOU HAVE NO IDEA! Anyhow, the doctor gave us some pediatrician recommendations, told me I don't have to have a C-section (I had ovarian cysts removed years ago), told us when to register at the hospital and what classes to take! Less than 3 weeks until we find out if we're team PINK or team BLUE! We both think BLUE. Even the doctor "guessed" BOY! WE CAN'T WAIT! Anyhow, here's "Nemo's" update!!!

Get ready for a growth spurt. In the next few weeks, your baby will double his weight and add inches to his length. Right now he's 4 1/2 inches long (head to rump) and 3 1/2 ounces. His legs are much more developed, his head is more erect than it has been, and his eyes have moved closer to the front of his head. His ears are close to their final position, too. The patterning of his scalp has begun, though his locks aren't recognizable yet. He's even started growing toenails. And there's a lot happening inside as well. For example, his heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, and this amount will continue to increase as your baby continues to develop.

MY SURVEY!

How Far Along? 16 weeks

Total Weight Gained/Loss? I've maintained my weight thus far, but I KNOW that won't last long!

Maternity Clothes: STILL my best friend!!

Sleep: Easy to fall asleep, but hard to STAY asleep. 2:00am is my new wake up time!

Best Moment of the Week: Someone telling me that I look FABULOUS and of course hearing my Nemo's heartbeat!

Movement: I think so! It felt like a "fish" swimming and it tickled!

Food Craving: Same as last week!

Food aversions: ranch dressing, the smell of un-cooked chicken

Gender: we find out on November 15th, less than 3 weeks away!!!

What I miss: STILL my WINE!!!!

What I'm looking forward to: November 15th!!!!!!!!!!