Retro

Now we're going WAY Back! It's now 2:46 AM and I'm blogging away. Back in mid-October my Mom and Dad came out on some church business and we got to hang out with them a little bit. Again, another blast! Here are some pics from that party...

Reading a story with Grandpa

Elsa meets her Grandpa Dunn

After a long night at El Torito, our favorite Mexican spot.

Can anyone say "Time for bed!"?

No, she just wants to play with her "Rella" book.

Playing a game with Grandpa at Cheesecake Factory.Grandma and Elsa: Aren't they Pretty in Pink? No, seriously, doesn't Mom look beautiful in that color?!

Ava, Grandpa, Grandma and Elsa

The Johnsons Meet Elsa

I guess it's time for a new post, huh? I'm telling you, it's 2:22 AM right now and this is the first chance I've had to even consider writing a post. I don't know what it is. Maybe I just run slower than everyone else, but I can't seem to fit it into my day! I'm pretty sure I run slower than everyone else. There is at least one other member of my family who struggles to move quickly, particularly in the morning...and she knows who she is. So, I'm now rambling as I write this...Let's get to the point!

Jared's family came out to visit a couple of weeks ago and we had a blast. It was great to have them get to see Elsa! Here are a few memorable pics...

Great Grandpa Myers and his girl Elsa

Note the remains of a delicious In and Out Burger meal.

Grandpa and Grandma Great with Elsa and Ava

(wearing the Minnie Mouse outfit they gave her)

Grandma Beth with her namesake

Elsa meets her Aunt Cheri

Elsa gets re-aquainted with Uncle Matt

Aunt Kylee and Elsie

Uncle Luke was sick, and smart enough to say so

and not try to hold the baby.

I knew we made him Godfather for a reason!

Matt goes up the hill on Splash Mountain.

He thinks he's in for a real treat!

Now he's just soaking and cold!

(But always smiling!)

Not smiling now that a nasty seagull got his new

Disneyland sweatshirt.

The rest of us got a good laugh, though!

BOMBS AWAY!

Manhattan Baby Bracelets

So, some of you may already know about my little business: Manhattan Baby Bracelets. They are only the the classiest, most adorable bracelets on the market! Anyway, I was just posting some of them on eBay for sale and thought I'd put a little post on my blog about them as well. I have two lines, the original Manhattan Baby Bracelets featuring many styles for everyday and special occasion. I also have the Manhattan Baby Bracelet: Birthstone Collection featuring bracelets representing each month's birthstone. They make fantastic baby gifts and are great keepsakes for baby books. I have created a blog to showcase my bracelets and I have added the link to this website as well. If you see something you're interested in, let me know!

http://manhattanbabybracelets.blogspot.com/

Hallow-week!

Okay, so one of the things I've noticed this year is that holidays are no longer limited to just a day. It's more like a holi-week. We've had a blast going from party to party and wearing costumes as much as possible. Here are some pictures from our ward's Trunk or Treat and also from the actual Trick or Treat on Spooky Halloween Night!

A Milestone

Last night my beautiful little Elsa Beth slept through the night! She slept from 11:00 pm to about 7:00 am. Hooray Elsie! Jared had been gone on call for 24 hours, so I really needed some solid sleep. What a little angel!

Getting Old!

Yes, I realize I'm doing a lot of blogging for one day, but I decided to finally sit down and go for it. Both girls are asleep, so I thought I'd take a minute to shirk my duties and have a little fun.

So last night I went for my maiden voyage to the UCLA gym. We got a family pass to use their swim & tennis club along with the gym. So, I go walking in there in a sweet pair of red shorts that I bought at some outlet in the Pocanoes with Leslie and an old Chi Omega shirt that doesn't show my post baby #2 belly. I'm all pumped up and ready to work a little junk off of my trunk. I start looking around and I'm thinking, "Okay, these guys don't look that much younger than me. I'm not sticking out too much...hopefully!" So I get on my eliptical machine and start working out to my special "Runnin'" playlist. Then I realize all my music is kind of oldish. You know, like what I thought was cool in college. And it hits me. It's almost been ten years ago that I was a college freshman. YIKES! In my head I still kind of think that I'm there until I look down at my Bid Day '99 shirt and realize that I'm an Old, Old Lady!

Fall Festival

Once a week in our apartment complex we have story time under the tree. Yesterday we had a fun little Fall Festival. It included...

A Picture Station

Ava's the scarecrow and Elsie's the cat

Cookies

Painting with Leaves

Jumping in Leaves

A Hay Ride

And Carmel Apples

As you can see from Ava's pink cheeks in these pictures, it was really hot, so we polished off our October day at the pool! I LOVE CALI!

Elsa's First Smile

These are pictures that I took of my happy little baby last night. Elsa's first actual smile was Friday October 12th, but these are the first captured by a camera.

The New Potty

Hooray! Ava went on the potty for the first time yesterday! That could make life much cheaper and easier (eventually) for me. Keep up the good work Ava!

A Little Change of Plans

I would like to re-introduce the newest member of our family....

ELSA BETH JOHNSON

Yes, we've decided to change her name. Hopefully no one will be too traumatized by this change. So far, Elsa doesn't know what's going on and Ava mostly calls her "Baby" anyway, so it's up to the rest of us to be able to pull it off. We're really excited and happy about the name change. Elsa has been a long-time favorite for us both and Beth is after Jared's mom. So, no more changes between now and Blessing Day in November....We hope!

The Arrival of Elsa

Here's the story of Elsa's arrival. Steve and Matt Johnson came into town on Saturday the 8th to go to the UCLA vs BYU game. Jared took off with them and a couple of buddies for pretty much all day to see the game. I teased a little bit about going into labor while they were gone. In the mean time Ava and I had a fun day and then went to pick up my mom from the airport that evening. Sunday we all went to church and hung out all day hoping I would go into labor. No luck, so Monday morning Jared and I went into the hospital for my appointment to be induced.

Jared and my mom spent the whole day with me keeping me company. Grandpa and Grandma Johnson and Uncle Matt took Ava for a fun Ava day. It was so nice to know that Ava was with people she loves having fun! I started receiving pitocin around 10:00 am and got an epidural around 4:00 pm. I started pushing around 9:45 and Elsa was born at 10:15. I had a fabulous doctor and nurse team and two great cheerleaders... Jared and my Mom!

Ava, Steve, Beth and Matt came in a few minutes later to meet and hold Elsa. It was a little bit too weird for Ava. She didn't like all the tubes hooked up to me and she was really tired, so she kept her distance.

It was such a great experience! I couldn't have asked for anything to have been done differently. I feel so blessed to have my two beautiful girls here and healthy and to be feeling so well myself!!!