June 30, 2009- 22, 11, and 6

What a week for numbers! First, for those of you who are itching for a baby update, I had my 22 week appointment yesterday. It was one of the "quickie" ones with nothing too exciting, but everything looked great nonetheless. Here are the stats.
Bitty Brother:
Heartbeat- 145
Measuring- 21 weeks (that's fine)
Mom:
BP- 120/70
Weight- +13 pounds (Doctor was happy; I'm thinking I need to lay off the cheeseburgers and french fries for a few weeks.)
Babycenter:
How your baby's growing: At 11 inches (the length of a spaghetti squash) 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.

Now, for the 11 and 6 part of the blog post....
I can honestly say that I never thought that today, June 30, 2009, would come. It's been on our calendars at work on and off for three years now and always just seemed "so far away." Many of you know that my company, the Girl Scouts Tarheel Triad Council, is going through a realignment this summer/fall. On October 1, we will become Girl Scouts Peaks to Piedmont and merge 4 councils in western NC. Because of this huge merger and the "over abundance" of staff, the national company offered an "voluntary early retirement incentive package" (VERIP) to staff members serving 10+ years. About 15-18 staff members qualified for the VERIP- 11 are choosing to take the option and are leaving the council. They must sign that they will never work for Girl Scouts again- anywhere- to eliminate anyone trying to "double dip" later on. These 11 staff members are pretty much the heart and soul of the council. They have literally hundreds of years of experience and committment among them. [EDIT: We counted...its 225 years of employment with the Girl Scouts, not counting volunteer years they may have had prior.] Not to mention, they hold very vital positions in the current council. The CEO, the COO, the Director of HR, the Director of Membership, the Director of Adult Development, the Director of Admin....just to name a few. As you can see, lots of DIRECTORS and important people. They have a huge dedication to the council but were offered an opportunity that many of them just couldn't (and shouldn't) pass up. It's bittersweet for many of them (some taking retirement probably several years earlier than they ever imagined that they would) and unbelievably sad for those of us left behind. I have several dear friends taking the option and leaving. They have been such a huge part of my life- and my family's life- for years (definitely the 6 years I have worked for the Girl Scouts, but some for a while longer). Unfortunately, we are saying goodbye to 6 staff members today. (June 30 is the last day of the VERIP "window" so this is officially their last day of work.) FORTUNATELY, we have 5 staff members staying on in their positions through September 30th (or until they find other employment) so we can transition to a new council without a "skeleton" crew. So, I am fortunate that today's goodbyes will be not to EVERYone, but in some ways, this just prolongs the inevitable, and I have a feeling I will be wearing waterproof mascara for the rest of the summer. So, to the 6 who are leaving today- Mike, Sherrill, Gayle, Kim, Kathy, and Elaine- God Bless, good luck, and you will be missed! To the rest of you, SEE YOU TOMORROW AT WORK!

Week 21 update: Over the hump and growing a big one!

Week 21 is going well for us. Chad has been working hard on the upstairs of the house, painting the rooms that we never got around to painting when we moved in September. As soon as painting is done, then we can start getting the JUNK moved around all the rooms so that we can get the nursery set up. Luckily the nursery was already a pale yellow- good enough for me- and we just have to get the computer out of there and set up in the bonus room. So, lots of nesting going around the Johnson house! The baby has been very active....almost enough so that Chad can feel him. We were so close last night, but as soon as Chad came over to feel, he stopped moving- typical. :-) Brooklyn is doing well. She is staying busy at school and has two birthday parties this week for friends in her class. She continues to stay excited about the baby and is actually pretty patient with the whole "waiting thing." I think she realizes that in 19 weeks, her life is about to CHANGE, so she is enjoying being an only child for as long as she can.

Here's what Babycenter.com says is going on with our Little Man...
How your baby's growing: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.

Ultrasound Pictures....finally!

Thanks to my wonderful friend, Debbie, and her scanner, I now have pictures from our three ultrasounds of Baby Brother Johnson. Here he is!

1st Ultrasound (9 weeks):
*This is a full body shot (head is to the right, arms to the sides). He was less than an inch long.


2nd Ultrasound (12 weeks):
*He's looking straight at you in this one. It's a face shot. He was about 4 inches long here.


*This is a 4D shot of the whole body. He's sitting up looking to the left.


*This is a profile shot of the head. He is looking to the right. Very fuzzy.


*This is one where he is laying on his back with a leg extended (far right).


3rd Ultrasound (18 weeks):

*As mentioned in a previous post, this was the BIG ultrasound. He was declared a HE, weighed 9 ounces, and was about 5 inches long. This is a 4D shot with him facing forward.

*This is a profile shot of the head and upper torso.

*This is a 4D shot of the head and face (looking right).

*This is a shot of his cute little feet.

*This is another 4D shot of the upper half of the body (arms included and fists in a ball).

*And the money shot....it's a BOY!

Keep scrolling down for this week's Way Back When-esday post!

Way Back When-esday!

I just love Way Back When-esdays! What a trip down memory lane!

Year: June 2005
Age: 4 months old
*Brooklyn started sitting unassisted for a few seconds (when propped up like a monkey) this week. Year: June 2006
Age: 1 year, 4 months
*This was Brooklyn and Chad at Allie's birthday party at the Skating Rink. Though she couldn't skate, Brooklyn had a great time eating the snacks.

Year: June 2007
Age: 2 years, 4 months
*She got a hold of Chad's glasses and decided to try them on. Too precious!

Year: June 2007
Age: 3 years, 4 months
*This was Brooklyn's first visit to New York City (and Central Park).

Staying Cool...

On Saturday, Chad, my Dad, and my "cousin" Sean played in a charity golf tournament- in 95 degree heat. We (me, Brooklyn, my mom, my grandmother, and my Aunt Patty) decided to do everything in our power to stay INSIDE on this sweltering day. We took a road trip to Winston Salem in the mini van and visited Sci-Works and then Hanes Mall. It was a fun day!

Brooklyn on the Sci-Works tree slide.
"Whooooo" is that cute girl?

Trying on African costumes.

Playing with the bouncy ball machine.

And then at the mall...trying on some unusual sunglasses....she kinda looks like a rapper!

It was a fun day- very cool in the AC! Sorry guys! :-)

Random Updates

1. Feeling the baby move so much more now! I cannot wait when Brooklyn (and of course, Chad) can start to feel him, too.

2. The baby now goes by several nicknames by various people including Verrazano, CJ, Bitty Brother, Little Man...if you need an explanation, let me know. :-) His real name will probably not be decided on until oh, about Week 39.5.

3. Had a great Girls' Night last night at the Olive Garden with my girlfriends....including questionable Breyer's ice cream posing as gelato, three flies (all killed by us and a waiter), stuffing myself silly with black olives, and baby belly comparisons.

4. Brooklyn had a little stomach bug yesterday morning that resulted in staying home from school and not eating anything "heavy." By 2pm, she was riding her bike around the house and asking for Doritos. She went to school today.

5. Prayers are going out to the Boone and Depp families (friends from church) this week....Mary Ann's sweet mother passed away Sunday night, and we are just thinking about them (and a safe travel for Jenny back home).

The halfway point....seriously? (Weeks 19 and 20)

Week 19 kinda slipped me by. Work was a bit busy (we are "spring cleaning" among our other many jobs), and we are slowly getting the house ready for our wee one to come in TWENTY weeks. Yikes! I really need to get all my ultrasound pics loaded on the computer to post...maybe later this week if I can convince someone at work to show me how to use the scanner. :-)

I'm feeling great...lots if energy. (Last week, I went through all of our baby clothes 0-2T to see if our little man could wear anything. The rest is going to McKenzie's baby, Ansley.) I've been eating like a horse (see pic below), so I am a bit worried about my weight when I go to my next doctor's visit on June 29th. :-)

Here's what Babycenter says happened last week (Week 19) and what is happening this week (Week 20):

Week 19:
How your baby's growing: Your baby's sensory development is exploding! His brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. Some research suggests that he may be able to hear your voice now, so don't be shy about reading aloud, talking to him, 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 — about the size of a large heirloom tomato. His arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of his 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 his skin to prevent it from pickling in the amniotic fluid.

Week 20:
How your baby's growing: 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 — the length of a banana. (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.) He's swallowing more these days, which is good practice for his digestive system. He's also producing meconium, a black, sticky by-product of digestion. This gooey substance will accumulate in his bowels, and you'll see it in his first soiled diaper (some babies pass meconium in the womb or during delivery).

And just so sweet Brooklyn was not left out...here is a picture of her and her god-sister, Allie. We ate dinner at PF Chang's with the Henzlers on Thursday night (Lettuce wraps- yum!) and then spent the day at the pool with them for Allie's (early) birthday on Saturday. I cannot believe I did not take any pictures at the pool, but for once, Brooklyn was all about being in the water so no time for lounging around taking pics. I was on guard watching her.

I hope everyone has a great week! Hopefully I can get everything together so I can participate in this week's Way Back When-esday. I love looking through the old pics every week. It makes me even more curious as to what our Bitty Brother will look like when he comes out!

Week 18- The Big Reveal

Yesterday was my 18 week doctor's visit and full screen ultrasound. Here are the results (in addition to the obvious fact that yes, we are having a BOY!):

Mom's Stats:

Weight- +9 pounds (right on track...yay!)

Blood Pressure- 120/70

Starting to feel the baby movements stronger and more frequently now

No major complaints- yay!

Bitty BOY's Stats:

Weight- 9 ounces

Length- 11.2 cm (almost 5 inches long)

Heartbeat- 153

Healthy as far as we can see....and has all his parts where they are supposed to be!

Babycenter.com Stats:

How your baby's growing: Head to rump, your baby is about 5 1/2 inches long (about the length of a bell pepper) 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. NOT OUR BOY- HA HA!

Thanks for all the prayers and well-wishes. What an adventure that we are about to embark on!

Way Back When-esday!

Way Back When-esday time! (and trying to keep busy all day since at 3:30 this afternoon we have our BIG ultrasound!)

Year: 2005
Age: 3 1/2 months
*Such a happy baby...she loved laying on her activity mat.


Year: 2006
Age: 15 1/2 months
*Bald, but beautiful, with that cheeky smile


Year: 2007
Age: 2 years, 3 1/2 months
*Just enough hair for a teeny "pebbles" hairdo


Year: 2008
Age: 3 years, 3 1/2 months
*And all of a sudden the hair came in...getting ready for Brooklyn's first trip to New York!

Way Back When-esday!

Lots of posts today...so keep scrolling down after this one for Way Back When-esday!

Year: 2005
Age: 3 months old
*She just started sitting in the exersaucer...being a little "heftier" than the average baby helped her out. :-)

Year: 2006
Age: 1 year; 3 months
*She was so fun feeding finger foods. Some of her favorites were chicken nuggets, french toast sticks, green beans, and carrots.


Year: 2007
Age: 2 years; 3 months
*For Memorial Day, we had some friends from church/Teens Encounter Christ come over for a cookout. The kids, though not VERY familar with one another, had a great time. Not too much success in a group picture, though. :-) (From left to right: Beca, Sylva, Taylor Anne and Anderson, and Brooklyn)


Year: 2008
Age: 3 years; 3 months
*She and Allie love "dressing up," even if it's just in PJ's.

Week 17- What is Bitty Baby doing in there?

Here are my preggo stats for Week 17:
*We received a letter last weekend stating that my AFP results came back normal, so that rules out a high chance of spina-bifida.
*If I haven't gained weight this week, then something's wrong with me. I have been eating like a horse!
*Food cravings: ANYTHING! But...
*Food aversions: Mexican, wintergreen mints (and the smell), and Japanese
*Fetal movement: Very faint and sporadic...but I will usually feel something about 1-2 times a day.
*Brooklyn's observations/comments: The baby will sleep in HER room in HER bed- close to the bed rail because she wants to sleep near the wall. She has a VERY cute way of hugging and kissing just the baby- NOT Mommy, she says. :-) She goes back and forth whether she wants a baby sister or brother. (One more week to wait!)

What the net says:
How your baby's growing: Your baby's skeleton is changing from soft cartilage to bone, and the umbilical cord — her lifeline to the placenta — is growing stronger and thicker. Your baby weighs 5 ounces now (about as much as a turnip), and she's around 5 inches long from head to bottom. She can move her joints, and her sweat glands are starting to develop.

It's not a great picture...I think I will have to enlist Chad's help from now on, but here's the baby bump:

Life, Death, and all that comes in between...and by the way, we are on Week 17.

Not 24 hours after the little life was once again confirmed living in my body, did we lose the life of another. On Wednesday, May 20, my grandfather passed away due to respiratory failure/asphyxiation in the brain. Basically, his heart stopped beating, he stopped breathing, and his brain did not have enough activity left to sustain life. He was on support for three days, but on Wednesday with almost 10o% of his family present at Moses Cone Memorial Hospital, plus members of our "adopted family," he was taken off life support and passed away.

What a week this has been. The past 7 days have been nothing short of hopeless, yet also inspirational...devestating, yet uplifting...unbelievable, yet a reality check. Wednesday night, my cousin, Jessica, and I went down to eat a late dinner at the hospital and found ourselves looking for God's grace and mercy in all that was happening one floor above us.

We found the following:

1. My brother and his girlfriend came up for an inpromtu visit Mother's Day weekend from Florida. That Sunday, the 10th, we had all my grandparents over for brunch, where Eric and my grandfather spoke at length about any and everything. Had Eric come a different weekend, who knows if we would have gotten together with my grandparents, but Eric had one last visit with Grandpa.

2. On May 12th, for my grandparents' 53rd wedding anniversary, my grandmother's brother and his wife surprised them by driving down to visit. They had not seen each other in YEARS, so this visit was so exciting. They left Sunday evening, May 17th, around 8pm. My grandfather was admitted to the hospital just a few hours later.

3. My cousin, Alex, graduated from high school two Fridays ago. Because he was at Early College, his graduation was much earlier than a normal high school graduation. We had his party on Sunday afternoon, May 17th, where my family gathered at High Point City Lake Park. My grandfather was there in all his glory surrounded by his (rather large) family. That was the last time most of us saw him conscious. Had Alex been at a "regular" high school, we would not have had this special reason to gather May 17th. Again, my grandfather was admitted to the hospital that night.

4. My grandfather suffered from Parkinson's Disease for almost 15 years. There could have been many paths that God could have taken him on in his final years, months, etc. But God showed mercy on this man and allowed his death to be quick and somewhat comfortable. In one week to have attended a picnic, visited with out of town relatives, and watched your favorite programs on TV to have then breathed your last surrounded by your loving wife and five children. His life was full until the last day, and now his next life is filled with health, happiness, and the promise of everlasting life.

So many things to be thankful for, yet so much to mourn. I thank God for 29 years with four grandparents, especially for 29 years with a man that taught us all how to laugh, love, live, and "close a good deal."

Week 16- AFP Test and More Fun

Thank the Lord! We are at Week 16...which means doctor's visit (and thus anxiety reducer). I had blood work done today to test for spina-bifida and other diseases. Fun. Then, I met with the doctor.
The stats:
Baby's heartbeat- 152
My blood pressure- 122/70
Weight gain- 6 pounds since pre-pregnancy (though no weight gain this month, right on target with our "plan"...I mean, who am I kidding? I'm Ok in the weight department.)
Complaints- lower back pain and headaches
Solutions- exercise pamphlet with lower back pain exercises and take Zyrtek again for allergies = relieves sinus pressure/headaches

What Babycenter.com adds:
How your baby's growing: 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 about the size of an avocado: 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.

Week 15....where did it go?

As looooong as Week 14 was, Week 15 went by quick. I cannot believe it's Friday already, though unfortunately, my weekend will be spent working between Archdale and Eden.

Brooklyn news:
-Growing up tooooo fast
-Enjoyed watching her daddy play two softball games this week (which also equals too later bedtimes)
-Doing well at school (learned to be an author this week)
-Finally asked the question "How will be the baby come out?" (er, well, we'll get to that another week)

Baby news:
-I thought I felt the baby move once or twice this week....maybe....I think.....
-Growing by the day, but can still wear some regular pants if I wear them real low with no belt. Shirts are another story.
-Cannot wait until my doctor's visit on Tuesday so I can hear the heartbeat and put my anxiety to rest (at least for a few days)
-Had a dream the baby was a girl....but that doesn't really hold any weight with me :-)

BabyCenter news:
How your baby's growing: Your growing baby now measures about 4 inches long, crown to rump, and weighs in at about 2 1/2 ounces (about the size of an apple). She's busy moving amniotic fluid through her nose and upper respiratory tract, which helps the primitive air sacs in her lungs begin to develop. Her legs are growing longer than her arms now, and she can move all of her joints and limbs. Although her eyelids are still fused shut, she can sense light. If you shine a flashlight at your tummy, for instance, she's likely to move away from the beam. There's not much for your baby to taste at this point, but she is forming taste buds.

Girls' Nights (a Way Back When-esday tribute)

I have the benefit of having my 5 wonderful college girlfriends live fairly close to me (and the benefit of having a wonderful husband who doesn't mind our almost weekly dinners out). Some times it's just 3 of us, sometimes 4 or 5, but last night, all 6 of us were together...well, 8 if you count Baby Ansley in McKenzie's belly and Bitty Baby Johnson. I could dedicate a post to each of them (and may do that one day), but their beautiful faces will show you just a glimpse of why I love each and every one of them. None of these pictures were from last night, but since it is Way Back When-esday, here are some pics of me, Marisa, Loryn, Heidi, Jennifer, and McKenzie from the last few years.

(One of McKenzie's birthday celebrations....maybe 2007)


(Marisa's rehearsal dinner....2006 or 2007)

(Christmas Party 2008)

(Pool Party at Jennifer's parents' house 2006)

*IT'S A THREE POST WEDNESDAY SO KEEP SCROLLING DOWN!

Week 14- We're slowly moving along...

It seems like Week 14 has been draaaaagging by. I have had some stomach pains (may or may not be Chick-Fil-A related from Monday) and some light cramping/stretching. So, I take back what I said last week about "not feeling pregnant." I am feeling it now. :-) Pants are uncomfortable and sometimes I can get away with the "rubber band through the button hole" trick, but other days we just go elastic. In fact, last night Brooklyn noticed my rubber band and had to go to dinner with her pants fixed the same way. :-) I tried Mexican in honor of Cinco de Mayo yesterday.....not a good plan. That may also have contibuted to the stomach pains. I'm sleeping pretty well, but still getting up 1-2 times to use the restroom. I'm fine with that, though....I actually appreciate my body adjusting to waking up in the middle of the night so I don't have to go cold turkey in 26 weeks. :-) No cravings this week......and I don't have another doctor's visit for two weeks, so I am weighing myself with the Wii Fit.....they say +0.2 pounds last week. Not bad. My goal for this pregnancy is 20 pounds. I am hoping that I will have time to work out regularly soon, but with a crazy schedule last week and this week, I only made it on "Ellie" once.

Here's what the web says:
This week's big developments: Your baby can now squint, frown, grimace, pee, and possibly suck his thumb! Thanks to brain impulses, his facial muscles are getting a workout as his tiny features form one expression after another. His kidneys are producing urine, which he releases into the amniotic fluid around him — a process he'll keep up until birth. He can grasp, too, and if you're having an ultrasound now, you may even catch him sucking his thumb.In other news: Your baby's stretching out. From head to bottom, he measures 3 1/2 inches — about the size of a lemon — and he weighs 1 1/2 ounces. His body's growing faster than his head, which now sits upon a more distinct neck. By the end of this week, his arms will have grown to a length that's in proportion to the rest of his body. (His legs still have some lengthening to do.) He's starting to develop an ultra-fine, downy covering of hair, called lanugo, all over his body. Your baby's liver starts making bile this week — a sign that it's doing its job right — and his spleen starts helping in the production of red blood cells. Though you can't feel his tiny punches and kicks yet, your little pugilist's hands and feet (which now measure about 1/2 inch long) are more flexible and active.

Way Back When-esday!

These pics of Brooklyn for Way Back When-esday made me laugh!

Year: 2005
Age: Almost three months
*I was soooo excited when she could finally wear her "Future Girl Scout" tshirt!

Year: 2006
Age: Almost 15 months
*OK, this is kind of cheating since it was the same event as last week's WBW for 2006, but I just loved this picture with my mom and Brooklyn grinning at each other.

Year: 2007
Age: Almost 2 years, 3 months
*This was taken at B's school during their "Mother's Day Tea" where they all wore funny hats. The one B picked out makes her look like Vanessa from The Cosby Show.

Year: 2008
Age: Almost 3 years, 3 months
*She thought she was big stuff wearing Daddy's ball cap.

Week 13- The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

So, I am now in my last week of the first trimester. I have to say that this has always been and continues to be my least favorite "Tri" out of all the "Mesters." Here's the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly....

The Good:
-The Nausea has left the building!
-Zantac has become my best friend (see above reason as to why).
-I don't seem to have the need to eat everything in sight 24 hours a day.
-The weather has been beautiful, so the family has enjoyed some much needed outdoor time.
-I started working out again and feel GREAT!
-The house is coming back together, as I now have the desire to clean again.
-I actually cooked dinner two nights in a row this week.

The Bad:
-I am currently in the "in-between" stage with clothes...it's like I am in that awkward "Are you pregnant or just fatter?" stage that just causes problems all around and makes getting dressed in the mornings a pain.
-I am also in the stage where, though the pregnancy nausea has subsided (minus an occasional morning dry heave), I have no real indiction/sign that I am pregnant (ex: feeling the baby move). This causes anxiety in that I ask myself several times a day "Am I still pregnant? Do I think the baby is OK? etc." I can't wait for the next few weeks when I start to feel even a flutter and can go "Ok, there you are, Bitty Baby."

And The Ugly:
-My hair! The roots are atrocious...I cannot wait to color it this weekend!

Food Stuff:
-Still cannot really stomach Mexican...ahh, La Fiesta, how I have missed you!
-The egg/toast craving has subsided for now and nothing new has taken its place....kinda boring this week, actually. :-)

And, as always, here's what the internet says:
How your baby's growing: Fingerprints have formed on your baby's tiny fingertips, her veins and organs are clearly visible through her still-thin skin, and her body is starting to catch up with her head — which makes up just a third of her body size now. If you're having a girl, she now has more than 2 million eggs in her ovaries. Your baby is almost 3 inches long (the size of a medium shrimp) and weighs nearly an ounce. How your life's changing: This is the last week of your first trimester, and your risk of miscarriage is now much lower than earlier in pregnancy. Next week marks the beginning of your second trimester, a time of relative comfort for many women who see early pregnancy symptoms such as morning sickness and fatigue subside.

Way Back When-esday!

I cannot believe we are already at the end of April....here are some Way Back Wednesday shots from 05 06, 07, and 08!

Date: April 30, 2005
Age: 2+ months

Date: May 2006
Age: 1 year, 2+ months
(This is Allie and Brooklyn at Emily and Luke's baby shower for Zoe!)

Date: April 2007
Age: 2 years, 2+ months (BUT STILL WAY TOO YOUNG FOR BEER!)

Date: April 2008

Age: 3 year, 2+ months

*Here are the Shout sisters (Zoe, Allie, Allie, and Brooklyn with baby Callie on the way!). See the last post on Easter to see the girls this year! What a difference a year makes!

Easter Update....better late than never

Whew! You would have thought it was Christmas with all the Easter celebrating that went on the weekend of the 9-12th. First, on Thursday, Brooklyn's class had an egg hunt and Easter party in the afternoon. The kids were primed and ready to go!

Then on Friday, Emily and Zoe came over to dye Easter eggs. The girls had a great time and the eggs turned out beautiful.

We moved our Family Easter Celebration to Saturday (since Sunday is so crazy with church on both ends of the day). We had a great afternoon with family and friends (and another egg hunt!).

On Sunday morning, the very tired Easter bunny brought Brooklyn a basket with lots of fun stuff, including chocolate bunny pops that she decided to eat in my bed. :-)

And we went to church...

...two times! This picture below was taken of all the "Shout Sisters" after the Easter Sunday Shout Service. If this new baby is a boy, he will have to deal with not just Brooklyn, but FIVE big sisters (Zoe, Brooklyn, Allie, Allie, and Callie).