I have a free minute!?!?! Time to post a blog real quick. Let’s see – we haven’t been up to much at all ..just working, taking care of little man, and getting ready for Christmas.

Jake turned 15 months old a week ago. He is such a ham, I laugh at him constantly. My sweet, precious little boy is growing up way too fast! I’m so so so happy I made the decision to stay home with him more. I am loving every second. He is on the verge of talking up a storm. He tries really hard. He’s starting to say more words – more clearly if that makes sense. He can almost say Lola – which is a hard work for a kid… it sounds more like Wola, TOO CUTE! He’s been saying momma and dada for a long time. His first actual word after those was “Buck” wouldn’t ya know it. ha! He points to any deer and says “BUCK”. He has been saying “Ouch, Dat Mine (ugh), Shhh (for shoe), book, bye bye, bite-bite, and I’m sure I’m forgetting a few. He is incredibly smart. I know, I’m sure every mom says this about their kid… but I just can’t get over how he can see something or hear something once and know exactly what I am talking about. He learns fast. It just amazes me. He waves at everyone and flashes a HUGE smile with his sweet dimples. I mean, melt MY heart! At Wal-Mart yesterday he had all the old ladies who were Christmas/grocery shopping just laughing it up! ;) One funny story – we went to eat lunch last week and in a booth right behind us there was a little girl in a high chair right next to Jake – so they waved at each other, laughed, cut up, cut his eyes at her, then he grabbed my arm and looked at her and said “dat miiiine” HA!!!!!! I thought I was going to fall over! Heeeelarious! Of course I think everything he does is funny. So if you are bored reading this, I’m sorry ;)

Poor baby had strep throat all week. He is still on antibiotics. I’m glad we caught it early enough to where he wasn’t real sick with high fever. I could tell he felt bad though. Plus teething on top of that, always! Blah!

I am SOOO excited for Christmas – now that I am done shopping that is! ;) Jake is going to be so much fun! Santa brought my present early this year… a new big camera. YAY! I’ve been using my phone for a year and it just doesn’t do the trick. I love love love taking pictures even tho I am not good at it! Maybe I will be hitting up Mrs. Wendy White for her class she is offering in Jan. I will have to post more pics when I get the hang of it. I took a few at the creek a couple of days ago…. It was like 60 degrees so Jake and I played in the mud .. he was a major fan.

Here are a few pics from the past couple of weeks (from my phone.. sorry they are blurry).. I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas! Enjoy family time!
~Lindsey

Ok, this is what I find in Jake's room everyday. He loves taking this stuff from the kitchen into his room. And he brings his leggo's into the kitchen. lol

trying on his hat - goof ball

His new favorite place in the house, on the barstool!

Sick baby, fell asleep on momma. :/

Tried to upload our Christmas card (which I wasn't going to send but did at the last minute) however; it didn't upload. Dangit.

Decisions!!!

All our lives we make decisions... big and small! Being a grown up is hard! My sister, Payton, seventeen, young, and thinking life is so hard, she makes me laugh. I know she doesn't know...and the things that are hard for her, they really are hard (at the time). I try to tell her to slow down and enjoy this precious time in her life because it gets harder and harder the older you get and being done with school and working is not easy. She can't wait to get out of high school and go off to college... esp for the social life! I told her just today "You BETTER finish school, make good grades, and focus on what's important"! She laughs at me b/c I treat her like my kid or something. I just don't want her to make the mistakes I have! ;) I wish I could have finished school... but oh well! What's done is done! Maybe God had/has different plans for me.

I've been a mother for a year now. Best DECISION I've ever made! I've been struggling with the choice to stay home or to keep working, I say struggle b/c of money, budgeting, and how tough life is nowadays. More than anything I want to raise my child and spend these precious times with him and have these memories... that will slip away so fast.... I want to have every memory with him! Or try to have! :) I've been praying and asking my family and close friends for their thoughts/prayers. I have an amazing job with benefits that blow most people's out of the water! I barely pay anything a month for insurance and they cover 90%. I just got a raise and I will get more vaca days next year. BUT after many nights of worrying, crying, talking, fighting, sadness, for the past year...I've finally made the choice to stay home. I gave my notice. I was sad but SO happy all at once. I know I gripe about my job a lot... but who doesn't?! Who loves getting up and going to work? I really don't know of anyone!? They offered me part time (maybe) so I am going to think some more over this. MORE decisions! I have a lot of support and I am thankful for my family who is behind me.

Soo... if anyone wonders "where is Lindsey" - I will be in the mountains... not coming to town much! ha! My nights out - will involve going to see someone at their house! ;) I'll bring brownies. LOL!

No pictures today - just wanted to share my news (which I haven't told many at all.. don't want to make a big deal out of it).

~Lindsey

Calling all party animals ....

I know I’m horrible at keeping up with my blog. I never have time. :/ I try to post something every once and a while! I had a WONDERFUL 4 day weekend. Jake turned ONE! We partied down all 4 days! So much fun! Thursday was his birthday so we stayed home and played all day and cuddled ;) Then we went to get his pictures made at 4:00. That was fun. I can’t wait to see them all! We had dinner with some friends and Jake got his favorite mashed potatoes and mac -n- cheese. Friday I shopped all day… got some last minute party stuff and got everything ready. Saturday was PARTY day! It was a blast and we had a good turnout. Jake is so blessed with many of friends and family who love him. For the party we had chili and hot dogs – can’t go wrong with that! The weather turned out just right for chili too! I could have done without the rain but at least it didn’t rain alllllll day. Overall – great day! The rest of the weekend we laid around being lazy and playing with new toys. I wish that weekend could have lasted forever. Haha! I hate Monday’s and I hate work! bleh!

This past year has BLOWN by! I mean, seriously?! I feel like I just brought a baby home and now my sweet boy is 1 and running everywhere and trying to talk! How did this happen? Makes me sad that life goes by so fast. I know I have been all emotional about Jake turning 1 and Josh doesn’t get me lol! he thinks I am crazy. I guess it’s a mommy thing… and don’t get me wrong, Josh loves Jake more than anything but he will never understand a mother’s love! =) It’s different. This past year has been the hardest but BEST year of my life. Jake is absolutely the light of my life and I can’t imagine him not in it! I wish I could stay home with him and capture every single moment. He has brought so much joy into mine and Josh’s life. Along with all his other family members! That little boy is so loved it’s not even funny! It’s overwhelming to me how someone could be so loved. I wish every kid in the world were loved like that!

I am one proud momma and look forward to every new adventure with my sweet family…. Jake is growing so fast everyday – here are a few pics from the weekend….

Love this picture! Daddy pulling Jake in his new wagon.

Excited to open presents!

This little farmer loved him some cake!!!

and he was nice enough to share haha



His sweet cake!

Sarah and Ruby =)

Farm animal cookies... yum!

Month by month of his whole first year!

*Farm Party Birthday*

I wish I would have had more pictures of guests! I was too busy running around like crazy! I needed a photographer!

Another month and a 1/2 gone by!!!

I am horrible at keeping up with this blog and don’t ever know where to start when I type a new one! Jake is practically running now! He has been taking steps since June 24th! Around 9 ½ months! He just took off and started walking a few weeks ago! It’s so crazy to see my little baby walking around the house! Like a little toddler now! It’s all he wants to do… and his favorite new game is to play chase and walk as fast as he can and hide! Too cute. I love that boy so much I can hardly breathe! He is eating more and more finger foods too. He still loves his baby food but he likes to try new things and I know when he doesn’t like it – he shakes his head no and spits it out! HAHA! He’s not real big on textures… I can definitely tell that. I’m sure he will outgrow it though!

Josh and I have just been working – same ol’ same. Nothing new. His sister got married a few weekends ago … that’s about it! Lil’ Jake looked so cute in his pearl snap shirt and jeans. We took that off right after the ceremony though b/c it was way too hot for that! He showed everyone his dancing skills on the dance floor – he had fun!

I don’t really have too much to talk about – all we do is work and stay super busy and on the weekends see friends sometimes and stay home and catch up on housework! Fun fun! I’m really struggling on staying positive right now… sometimes life just gets ya down… but I’ve been praying and hopefully the Lord will help me with all this! I’ve seen a lot of people lose loved ones recently and it has really made my heart ache for them =( Life is too short and we need to tell the people we love- just how much we love them every single day.

On a happier note – lil man is about to turn 1!!! Omg! Where has time gone?! Pretty sure I will cry my eyes out that week! I think we will have a party at the house – with hot dogs and cake ;) Nothing too fancy! I just can’t get motivated to plan!? Maybe b/c I am sad he is turning 1?? Haha!

Here are a whole bunch of random pics over the past few weeks...


My sweet VB friends! love these girls!

Jake waking up from his nap!

Food all over his face!

"I didn't do it"

My VERY best friend and her sweet baby girl, Ruby! Jake didn't know what to think of her! ;)

This is an old random pic - idk how it got on here... ha!

My other best friend/husband and I! ;) Love him!!!

The bride and us girls! ;)

=)

My TWO handsome guys in their pearl snaps!

Jake and mommy swimming! This boy loves to swim!

Where has June gone?!

I’m getting lazy… too much going on to blog! Let’s see…. Josh had a wonderful first Father’s Day! Jake got him a pecan tree to plant… so they can always remember their first father’s day together. It will be neat for Jake to see it grow and produce pecans and eat them! I remember as a little girl sitting with my Pop and cracking pecans open and eating them! Not a big deal to some people but those memories are in my heart forever. I miss my Pop. He passed away a few years back. He pretty much raised me. My mom had me very young, she still went to school and worked so I spent a lot of time with this man. I wish he could have met Jake. My mom took Jake to the gravesite and got a sweet picture!

What else has been going on?! Jake turned 9 months on the 15th. He is getting SO big! He’s trying so hard to walk. He actually took his first few steps on the 24th!! Very exciting! I will really be really tired when he starts walking… I bet he is majorly into everything! He already is! =) He’s babbling new sounds / words… he says Nana, Wowa (Lola the dog), Woah, and some other gibberish! It’s too cute. I can’t believe he will be one in just a few months!

On June 20th my very best friend Sarah had her baby. Ruby Sloan Inman – she is absolutely beautiful and perfect. I’m thrilled for the Inman’s and their new addition the family! I can’t wait to see them again this weekend! =)

Josh has been working hard on our first garden at our house. I helped him this weekend a lot and boy was I tired! Pretty sure I couldn’t move on Sunday!! I haven’t worked that hard outside since before I was pregnant HA!

This week is dragging by! I’m so ready for the 3 day weekend ahead. We have a lot of family and friends to visit! I hope everyone has a good week and 4th of July!!!!!!


Sweet Ruby sucking her thumb!

I mean, she is BEAUTIFUL!

Our garden - we have lotsa rocks to pick up and lotsa hoe'ing to do! ha!

mmmm mmm my favorite!

Now this little boy is laughing real hard b/c he has learned how to spit and when I get onto him he thinks it's funny. It's real hard to keep a straight face and tell him NO!

He just looks mean doesn't he? ;)

Josh, Jake and the pecan tree!

My sweet family on Father's Day 2011

Jake sitting next to Pop's grave =) so sweet

Ready for my 4 day weekend!

Last weekend mom watched Jake Friday night and Saturday morning so Josh and I got to hang out some and ride 4 wheelers. We went up on Whitewater Rd to see the creek and how much it was up. I love riding and wish we could every weekend… I was really wishing that Jake was a little bit bigger and he could go on longer trips with us – rather than just out in the pasture lol! That little boy better be glad his momma likes the outdoors! ;) I will play with him all the time!!!

Saturday night was Alma graduation. I mean, I’ve always been a cry baby but it’s gotten worse since I’ve had a baby. I sat there during graduation… sweating and trying to keep Jake calm and still cried when they called my cousin’s name. I cried again thinking how next year this would be Payton… then I cried some more thinking how I will blink my eyes and this will be Jake! I was telling mom how I literally feel like it was me sitting there just yesterday. It’s been 10 YEARS this year since I’ve been out of high school, my!! how time flies!

This week has been rather stressful and tiresome. We’ve been without power since Monday afternoon. Storms and tornadoes have hit and affected so many people. It’s really sad. I am thankful to have my family safe and my house still standing. My job on the other hand has been pretty dang annoying. I am just a little too mouthy to listen to these people whine about not having electricity for a day. Could they for ONE second put themselves in Joplin family’s shoes… or OK… or the people who got hit last night in Denning?! They not only are without electric… but homes, clothes, their FAMILIES are missing… I can’t even imagine. Sickens me to think about it. Especially the family who was still searching for the baby boy! UGH!

Tomorrow is my Friday and I couldn’t be happier! After this horrible week! 4 day weekend is just what I need and I hope it goes by slooooowwwww. J

One more thing… I’m anxiously awaiting Ruby to get here! She’s been making progress… her momma has been making me nervous lol! ;) Maybe she will come on Friday which is Payton’s birthday or Sunday would be Jared’s birthday! Ruby born on her daddy’s b-day!?!? That would be sweet!

Happy Memorial weekend everyone! ;)

~ Lindsey

My handsome little man ready for graduation

They have grown from 10 years ago!

CUTE!

Whitewater rd - creek overflowing!

*8 Months*

Jake turned 8 months old yesterday! WOW! 8 months already?! That means Ruby will be here in one month! They will be exactly 9 months apart! I think she will come early ;)

This weekend Jake and I went to Fayetteville to see Sarah and go to her baby shower brunch and I got to see some sweet girls I haven’t seen in a while! Jake had fun too! We went to Sarah’s after the shower to try and help her with the nursery a little and he went and ahead and slobbered on Ruby’s clothes, diapers, toys, anything he could get his hands on. Poor girl….I said “Jake NO, that’s Ruby’s…” Sarah laughed and said “Wonder how many times we will hear this…” HA!

The rest of the weekend we stayed around the house… cleaned and played and napped. It was nice. I hate running on the weekends. I feel like I run and gun all week and it’s really not what I want to do on the weekends at all! I will be running my head off next weekend… Friday night birthday party, Sat HOPEFULLY going to the state championship softball game (Fingers crossed they win today in the final four), graduation Sat night.. my sweet cousin is graduating.. I can’t believe it! Then Sunday… a baby shower! The weekend will be gone in a blink! Oh well! Lots of fun times! At least the following week will be a 4 day week and into a 4 day weekend! WOOHOO! I plan on doing a whole lotta nothing!

Josh has been working hard too… story of our life. Ready for summer weather and summer activities! It was cold at our house this weekend! So we didn’t get to play outside much!

Guess that’s all for today…. of course I will attach a few pics…. ;)

8 months old

He is such a HAM!

Love his duck.. which is getting huge!

Sarah and I ;)

First of all – we are loving this weather! Woohoo! With all the rain, our creek is overflowing with water and since it has been so warm we have been really taking advantage of some creek fun! Jake LOVESSSS IT! I can’t tell ya enough! The kid cries when we go inside! No joke! Pretty much throws a fit! We have to spell the word outside around him! ;)

Not a lot going on with the Johnson’s! Same ol’ same – work work work and play with Jake every minute we get! He is now saying Nana and Lola. Two new words! He is getting more fun by the day!

I have so many pictures to share but haven’t had time to upload! Boo! I have lots of pics from Sarah and Ruby’s shower… which turned out amazing! Pictures from Easter and Mother’s Day! All I can share today are some from my phone…

Speaking of Mother’s Day- it was my first and was great! Spent the day with family and my two boys – what more could this momma ask for! Got some sweet cards from special people in my life – made my day!

We are going to be so busy every weekend… something always going on! I’m so ready for life to slow down! Does it ever!? I’m taking off the Friday before Memorial weekend so I can have a nice 4 day weekend!
Have a great rest of the week! ;)

This was at the end of the day! Yep- passed out on the 4-wheeler!

I'm a lucky girl to have these boys in my life!

Dad- look Jake it's a crawdead (sp) haha
Jake - ooo let me touch it!

This boy was in Heaven!

Crying to be outside!

LOVES the rocks and dirt!

=)

LOVE my boy!