Happy Halloween

Our Halloween was rather uneventful. We had our typical day of Nels going to work, as for the babe and I we did our thing at home. Then went to our ward trunk or treat. It was my first trunk or treat, and I have to say they are LAME!!! The kids came by twice in about 10 minutes and then they were bored. So we packed up and went home. We did get some pictures of our little babycakes as a cute little lady bug.

I decided I wanted some pumpkin pictures, Nels was kind enough to go along and carved the pumpkin for me while I painted my minions. Cordelia doesn't look like she likes whats going on, but she had just waken up, she didn't like that she couldn't move her legs, and she is a baby. :)

Baby Girl

As we all know, I am a HORRIBLE blogger. I never get around to actually blogging even though I have every intention of doing so, then when I do get around to it it's too late or usually I'm to lazy. I'm also a terrible writer so what I want to say and what is written are two very different things.

Anywho, can I just tell you how much I love this little girl. This has honestly been three of the best and hardest months of my life! She is the best baby. She sleeps well, eats well, and honestly just makes everything better. She only cries if she needs something. She has started giggling lately, and it is melt your heart deliciously cute! You have to work really hard to get those giggles which makes them just that much more sweet.

Cordelia has slept at least a 4-8 hour stint every night since we brought her home from the hospital. It has definitely made things easier. We're still exhausted, but I can't imagine life with a newborn that wakes up every two hours to nurse. We are so lucky! I'm sure the next one will be colicky to make up for us being so spoiled.
Not only is this little girl adored by all, but my favorite is how she adores her mama. She follows me with those dark little eyes everywhere I go. Daddy can be holding her talking to her, but her eyes are following me around the kitchen as I prepare dinner. She has started to hold my hand, if she's in her swing falling asleep she likes to hold my fingers, have my hand resting on her chest or rubbing between her eyes.

I can't say enough about how much I love this gal. She really brings so much happiness to our home. I love seeing Nels being a dad. All the things he said before we had a baby of how babies aren't cute, or how he thinks he's tough all went out the window when he laid his eyes on his baby girl. She has him wrapped around his finger. I love it!!!

I'm going to try to blog more.....we'll see. So here's a quick wrap up in pictures of our first 3 months.

Birthday!

The story is actually very long and detailed, but would take me days to type it all up. So if you want the real thing we can chat.
Basically my body wouldn't dilate and I was at an almost 1cm for 4 weeks or so. My doctor thought that an induction would be best since we were over 41 weeks, almost to 42. They don't like you to go much further than that because of safety of the baby.

 July 19-Scheduled our induction for the 21st at 7:00am
Saturday July-21 6:00am- wake up really early to get ready, while in the shower the nurse from the hospital calls and says there isn't a bed available and to call back around noon. Nels' parents were in town, and mine were on a plane heading this way.  So I picked up my mother in law and headed to the airport to get the parents. We were going to go waste some time at the farmers market. (of course Nels and his dad didn't want to go so they stayed at the hotel and hung out)

• 12pm- call the hospital, they have a bed!! Yay! We leave the farmers market excited to get this show on the road. Call Nels to tell him to meet us at the hospital.

• 12:45 arrive at the hospital, get all ready, lay in bed and wait for Nels to arrive. Meanwhile getting an IV put in. OUCH!! Nels arrives. 

• 3:00pm they put in a drug called cervidel. It is put near your cervix in hopes to help dilate you from a 1 to a 3. It is in for 12 hours at that time they take it out and start pitocin.  Fast forward 12hours later.

Sunday July 22 3:00am  they check me. I've progressed from a almost 1 to a 1.5. Not what is supposed to happen. Most women actually progress when on this drug.

• 6:00am start pitocin. Which they come in every half hour and up the dosage. 
•  10:00am I guess we decided to get an epidural. I actually didn't tell them I wanted one yet, I wasn't in pain yet contraction-wise, just bum-wise :) My bottom hurt so badly from sitting in one position for so long. 

Anesthesiologist comes in to give me the epidural. Screws up and it doesn't work.(again ask for details if your curious) Nels goes and gets them to come back. It instantly works! Hallelujah! Now we wait.
Meanwhile they check me for any signs of progression every so often. I have dilated to a 2. By this time I am a wreck and can't handle waiting anymore. I hurt from sitting in one place and was frustrated  since I was going nowhere in the dilation area.

• 4:30pm doctor checks me and says that my bag is bulging (his words not mine) He walks out of the room and I feel a gush. I tell Nels and he gets a nurse to come check. She checks me and my water has indeed broke. Also the baby had a little poopy so now they have to watch that closer. 

• 9:00pm they check me and I have dilated to a 2.5 by now. I'm so frustrated, uncomfortable, and just tired that I have Nels call our parents to come back to the hospital to help give me a blessing. I got my blessing and instantly felt peace. In the blessing though I remember distinctly Nels saying this was not easy and wasn't going to get easier, but that I would be able to stay strong and have peace.

•  11:00 they gave me some pain med that makes you sleepy, but the more you take it the quicker it wears off, I had already had it a few times, but Since I didn't sleep the night before that was just what I needed.

 They checked on me all through the night, but I was able to just go back to sleep each time I was woken up. 

Monday July 23

• 6:00am The nurse checks me. I haven't dilated a bit!!! Still at 2.5cm. So frustrating, but I was calm and at peace and felt that I could wait longer. Nels and I talked about our options at that point, yet again. We decided that we would see if I could progress at all and if not then we would go ahead with the C-section.

• 10:00am. They check me again and I am still at a 2.5. We called the parents and told them to get to the hospital, because we were going to go ahead with the c-section.  They were 20 minutes away from the hospital and the doctors were ready to start.

I'm not sure of the time, but it was fast! They wheeled me into the O.R and Cordelia was born at 11:16 am July 23,2012. It was an amazing feeling of instantly falling in love with her. 

We ended up having to stay in the hospital for a few extra days because every time they would get close to discharging me I would spike a fever. Then right as twenty four hours of fever free it would spike again. So they had me on heavy antibiotics to make sure there was no infections from the surgery.  We finally were able to come home on Thursday the 26th.

Pregnancy

Well the baby is here, but I do want remember what I looked like to be large with child. So these are just for my own sake, and so they are saved somewhere else rather than my phone taking up storage space. The tail end of pregnancy was the easiest for me, besides the waiting game. I stopped being as sick, I felt pregnant instead of just fat, and I loved feeling her move. These pictures are not flattering, and now seeing them I was HUGE!!! If only I would have known that before posting them on facebook.

Newest addition

The newest addition to the Johnson Family is a 2000 Chevrolet 2500.  Nels and I have been talking about the need for a second vehicle. We have had his dad's 1971 Ranchero, but that is being sent back, sadly for LaVarr (younger brother) to learn to drive on. Nels has loved having the Ranchero.
     When the truck came into his view he had to have it. It helped that it was a good price, in great condition and what we need it for it will work. Getting used to the gas prices of a truck unfortunately are not as easy to get used to. Yikes!!! Luckily it is just our secondary vehicle and only used for short distances and when the corolla isn't available.
     This weekend we packed up the back of the truck with pillows, blankets, our love sac, and headed to the drive in. It was so much fun! We got a great, comfy view and I got a few hours of uninterupted snuggling. Which I'm a sucker for. :) I figure the days of snuggling are going to be few and far between fairly soon so i'll take what I can get.
     Have I told you how much Nels loves this truck? He is like a giddy school boy in it. If he's talking about it, he's smiling, if he's riding in it, he's telling me "we're truck people now honey." If I didn't know he loved me I might be slightly jealous of his love for this truck.

     

The best three years!

This last weekend we decided to take off on a little road trip for our anniversary/getaway before the little bambina arrives.
We started down to Solvang Friday night after work, we got in really late. We crashed and then spent Saturday at the beach walking through the sand looking for tidepools and just enjoying warmer water and the sunshine. It was fantastic!!! We ended up sitting on some rocks by "the point" and just watching the surfers catch some rather small and unimpressive waves. It was pretty entertaining though because we spent almost 3 hours doing this.
The next morning we headed to Victorville, one of the armpits of California in my opinion. :) Nels has a mission companion that lives down there with his little family and they were blessing their 3rd baby and had invited us to come down. We stayed at their house for the day and then headed off on our drive back home. Which we decided to split into a two day trip.
We ended up just making in time for one of the passes through Yosemite opening!! I have only been to Yosemite once, but LOVE it there and would gladly take any visitors for a trip there if you come visit us! Inccentive? I hope so! If Yosemite doesn't thrill you then at least the chance of seeing a real life wild BEAR should!!! Which is just what we saw! He was just walking around sniffing the grass. Happy as can be.
We then continued on our way home. It was such a great few days. I love spending time with my Nelsie, and getting to go on a real roadtrip with just the two of us was the best. Especially because that was one of the first things I fell in love with about him. His sense of adventure and love for the road and driving. Nels is the perfect man for me, he knows me better than anyone ever could. After three years he still makes my heart go pitter patter.

I love you Nels!!

Looks like we've made it!!!!

           I don't really have anything new to say, but that we've made it to 30 weeks!!!! This feels like such an accomplishment, yet at the same time a little anti-climactic. 30 weeks is almost ther, but yet still 10 weeks away. I keep reminding myself that it could be longer or shorter than 10 weeks and that is both exciting and terrifying at the same time. I'm ready to see her, hold her, cuddle her, feed, diaper, rock her to sleep, and all that other fun, and not so fun stuff. Then I look at what we still need to get for her, newborn clothes, blankets, binkies, and such and then I realize we're not ready at all.
           Also can I just say I wanted an October baby, but now that I'm getting a July baby and the heat is coming a little quicker than I had planned, I am more than pleased to be having a July baby. I sweat I am sweating like a sinner in church most of my day. I breathe and I get uncomfortable hot. I have a fan blowing on me in my air conditioned office at work, and I'm still warm. I don't know what I would do if I had to be hugely pregnant in August and September. So to you, my little perfect surprise baby, Thank you, I couldn't be more grateful we are getting you when we get you.

27w 5days

Baby girl is definitely growing, her kicks are very noticable now and my stomach is no longer "suck-in-able." (Not that it was before)
We are getting more and more anxious for her to be here! My body is starting to feel the aches and pains of carrying a baby and I'm getting a little bit more uncomfortable. We are actually now at 28 weeks 3 days. Getting so close, yet so far.
We are slowly, but surely getting things ready/bought for her. Actually we haven't bought much, everyone has been very nice and given us hand me downs. We finally have a place for her to sleep. A friend gave me her old bassinet, so she won't have to sleep in a dresser drawer or laundry basket!!!

We had our first baby shower and were spoiled rotten. Baby girl is going to be one chic dresser. We were down in Solvang for the weekend and let me tell you those ladies were very generous! We got a stroller car seat combo, can I tell you how real that makes this feel? I mean I know were having a baby, but it feels way more real when you finally realize she will be wearing these things, wrapped in these blankets, and sitting in that stroller. CRAZY!!!

Chubby bunny

Baby Girl is getting bigger!!! I must be doing something right. The sickness has finally left! (I hope I don't jinx it) Three weeks of no Zofran, and no pukies. I can't tell you how excited this makes me. I can finally start to enjoy my wakeful hours because I can eat and not worry about the aftermath. Oh and did I mention the sore ribs?? I don't know how my mother did this 7 times!! I told Nels early on if this didn't stop soon, this would be our only biological child.
I've forgotten enough of what it feels like to be sick 24 hours a day, so there is a possibility of other future Michelle and Nels'. (not sure if that's a good thing)

We went to the doctor today and he said she was growing and doing well. What more could you ask for? I keep looking at my belly in the mirror thinking "that's no way that's her" but then I realize when I try to suck in my gut that it doesn't "suck" in too well.

So here we are at 24 weeks and 2 days


I was brushing my teeth so that's what's in my mouth. Unattractive, I know, but at least we all know that I do brush them.

70%

Well....we went to the dr's yesterday and found out that we are having a.......baby....girl! Well they are 70% sure it's a girl. When the Tech was looking saw little girl parts, but then when she went to confirm the gender baby had closed her legs. When she started to poke my belly to get baby girl to open her legs, baby girl refused and crossed her legs in protest to being bothered. At this moment the ultrasound tech is saying come on baby girl open those legs, to which Nels quietly under his breath says "good girl, good girl." She's as stubborn as her mama and papa already! We have another appointment with our regular doctor next wednesday so I'll ask her to confirm then.
When they first put the wand on my belly we could see her opeing and closing her mouth like she was chewing or talking. She's back talking already! She is definitely the daughter of Nels and I if that's the case.
So for now we are expecting a little girl, that could change in a week I guess if they see something different, but either way we are thrilled!

p.s pics will be posted later, they are in a folder in Nels' van.

HALF WAY!!!!!!!!!

Tomorrow is the BIG day!!! I hope this little babe cooperates. I am so excited! I've had a hard time sleeping. I don't feel like this is real, but then I feel a little jellyfish move in my stomach or get nauseous and remember "oh yeah, we're going to be parents!!" YIKES!! Does that scare anyone else?
Half way has never seemed so far away, yet the first half went by so quick. I can't wait to meet this little person, and to find out what this little person is.

We find out what the little bambino/bambina is on Thursday the 16th of February!!!! I know it's a long way off, but I'm SOOOO excited to buy something!

BABY MAGIC

WE ARE HAVING A BABY!!! We are very excited and terrified at the same time. Well I am. I have always been ready to be a mom, but now that it is 6 months away it's a little scary. The rest is a novel, so if you don't care stop here.
We found out a week or so before Thanksgiving. Nels was gone for the weekend on a "guys trip." His brothers, dad, and he get together in the fall to go to a football game down in San Diego. He left on a Thursday, and before he left I told him I was going to take a pregnancy test, but expected it to be negative because the few I have taken in the past are always negative, even when I think I HAVE to be pregnant.
We weren't trying to get pregnant in fact we taking precautions to not get pregnant. TMI? I just always think MAYBE. I was waiting for a morning to take the test, because it says levels are higher in the morning. Saturday I went to the dollar store to buy a couple test. Why waste $10 or more on a stick I'm going to pee on and it not even be positive??? I woke up early; peed on my stick, waited the 3 minutes, checked, and then proceeded to freak out!! I called Nels immediately but seeing as it was early morning and he didn't have to be up he ignored my call. Can you believe it?
I decided since he didn't answer my call I would wait for him to get home to tell him he was going to be a daddy. I got ready, went to church and then decided after church I was going to go get a REAL pregnancy test. I ran to the store(I feel it was justified, shopping on Sunday. Judge as you will.) got a REAL test and went home and proceeded to get a positive.
I waited all day for Nels with the tests sitting on the bathroom counter. He got home late that night, went into the bathroom and then back to the bedroom without even noticing the pretty little pee sticks on the counter. I was surprised he didn't notice so I said "go look in the bathroom."
He looks at me puzzled and goes to see.
"what is this?
"I'm pregnant!"
"Yeah right! You've been home all weekend. How do I know you didn't get one of your pregnant friends to give this to you?"
"It's mine!"
"Take another one, I don't trust this"
He's of course smiling and joking the entire time people.
I Took yet another one and confirmed his suspicions. We have been discussing names since we got married. He is convinced that if it's a boy we are going to name it Battlehammer Magic Johnson, so for short we call the baby, baby Magic.
I am due on July 7. So we just reached our 15 weeks. I am still sick which is a bummer, because it's hard to work full time and be sick full time. I can't wait to see what were having and to feel this little bambino/bambina kick and move.