Doing Her Thing

 Claire's been taking a little gymnastics class with Mommy. It's been fun - and enlightening to see exactly what a challenge it is to keep this little ball of energy focused on one thing for a period of time. She's trying - bless her heart - but so far I've found that 20 minutes is about the maximum amount of time the poor thing can devote to following any form of organized direction. After that it's all over...

 Guess which one is doing it "right"?

 Ball pit!

 Running and Jumping! Her favorite combination!

 "Peek-a-Boo!"

 

Waiting for stickers... the only time she'll sit still!

1st Day of Preschool

Just a few weeks ago we released our baby girl into the wild. It's really just Preschool... but having her out of sight and out of my control for 3 entire hours, two days a week, is both liberating and terrifying. She absolutely loves it and we love hearing all about her new adventures!

Family "Relocation" - Done Right!

SO... last week, (OK... last MONTH)... we embarked on our 2nd Annual Michigan "Relocation". We were determined to make it better than the last disaster, and I'm happy to announce that we were most successful! It helped a great deal that the girls had matured a year, the napping schedule was far less constricting, and we were better prepared and closer to the beach this time around. The yellow house in the photo above was the place we rented - and it was perfect for us. Just a couple short blocks and we were at a private beach. We grilled, ate on the porch, watched movies, and just did exactly what we wanted... when we wanted to. We had such a good time, that while it was still in many ways a family "relocation", we could honestly call this adventure... a vacation as well. And we cannot wait to go back! Here comes the photo album!

Coloring at the Silver Beach Carousal.

Pizza dough to keep us entertained while we wait for pizza!

A little too much waterpark for such a small girl...

Ella LOVED her bunk bed...

Eating breakfast on a lazy morning...

My animal lover...

"Race ya!"

Popcorn and Cannons... why not?

"Back off sista!"



Best seat in the house.

Getting used to the water...






First taste of cotton candy... for some crazy reason neither of them were fans...

Petting the baby foal.

After a 1.5 year boycott of the merry-go-round... the joy is restored...

Might as well jump!
...and jump some more!

Is this terrifying to anybody else??

Ella Johnson, DVM

The actual awakening...

Berry picking - or eating - with Daddy.

The more accurate depiction.

"Too hard."

Swim lessons have taken a turn for the worse. We were doing well there for awhile... but that was quite possibly because we really weren't "doing", much of anything. There's a new instructor in the pool and Miss Katie is not one for coddling. Ella had the weekend off and was no doubt praying we'd forget about the next session of lessons altogether. Unfortunately for her, I did not - and Monday brought forth a whole new set of challenges. It seems Miss Katie actually wants her to learn to swim, which inevitably means complete immersion... and this is not something my daughter is the least bit interested in.

Her personality is becoming more and more evident these days... and there are a few key things that make her stand out.

#1) She must be prepared at all times. She always prefers routine, but if you're going to switch things up on her - she must know ahead of time if there is any hope of making it through a situation drama-free. (If there is such a thing). If we talk her through something that is going to happen - over and over again - it seems to make a world of difference to her.

#2) She is paralyzed without trust, and outgoing as can be with it. Last swimming session there were 4 instructors in the pool with her group. All of which she seemed to bond with. Suddenly 1 of them is replaced with another, who also happens to insist on pushing her in ways she doesn't want to be pushed... and we're back to square 1 complete with tears, excuses of needing more suntan lotion on, or band aids that "might come off if they get too wet".

#3) She is a fabulous bargainer. 5 bites of asparagus can be negotiated down to 1 PLUS a Popsicle, before we even knew what hit us.

I've reassured Miss Katie, that I completely support her desire to force Ella out of her box a bit... but I have to admit that watching my baby pulled completely under water, than brought to the surface, sobbing hysterically - look up at me and say "It's too hard, Mommy"... pretty much ripped my heart out. It's so hard to know where the line is between respecting their insecurities and pushing them to work past them. What's fascinating to me, is how some kids seem to be born with tremendous confidance, while others have so little. We had a little chat about why sometimes God (or Mommy), asks us to do things we really, really don't want to do, because it makes us stronger in the end. Her fine bargaining skills did their best to convince me that "when she gets a little bigger", she'll be able to do such things...

Here's to hoping she notices a growth spurt in the morning... because Miss Katie will be waiting on her tomorrow.

Posts Galore!!!

WooHoo! This could be my record!! Scroll down for post after post of long-awaited, nail-biting updates from the Johnson Family!!!

Claire

Does it even seem remotely possible that Claire will turn 2 in just 2 months??? What a crazy couple of years it has been! This little girl is the sweetest, funniest, most affectionate, headache you'll ever meet. :) I know without a doubt that the Lord sent this child to me to ensure that if I ever at any point thought that I had even a remote clue about parenting... I was wrong. I have been searching all over for the instruction manual that must have been misplaced upon her arrival... but it has yet to turn up.

First of all... Claire gives the best. hugs. ever. Truly. They are the sweetest. And not only that, but her timing - is usually impeccable. I've decided she's got to be one of the smartest toddlers I've ever met. Not because she can speak in full sentences (she can, but we can't understand a word of them)... but because she's figured out how to use affection to get herself out of trouble. Place the child in a time-out, and as soon as you go to get her out, she will (with solemn face), plant the most tender of kisses right on your lips. than throw her arms around your neck and squeeze for as long as you will let her. I'm quite certain she does this to avoid the lecture that inevitably follows, and I will admit she is successful on many occasions. I hold back giggles every time she solemnly mouths, "sorry Mommy", and then, yes, another hug.

Claire, unlike her big sister, has been sick a LOT. We discovered early on that she had a lactose intolerance (we originally thought is was a milk allergy)... and since then it seems it has been one thing after another. This past winter she came down with RSV and battled several ear infections. We finally had ear tubes placed a month ago, and not long after she contracted Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease. Once we finally got that out of her system, she somehow managed to pick up an awful intestinal virus that has taken us 2 weeks to beat. It's crazy to me how one child can have a super-human immune system, while the other catches every bug that blows her way. Poor Claire just can't catch a break. You know you've visited your Pediatrician too much when the receptionist recognizes your voice when you call to make an appointment. Claire's so used to visiting that the second they call her name, she runs through the door and jumps right up on the scale. *sigh* I'm hoping that a 2nd Birthday brings with it some physical maturity that helps her fight things off a little better. Now if we can just make it through the 2 year molars...

Here's a few shots of the little cherub who now answers to the name, "Trouble".