Operation Lush (Part 2)

We have the spring bug around here and are already dreaming of enjoying hot summer days on our patio.  This led to us undertaking what we now refer to as "Operation Lush".  As the dreary, grey winter days are coming to a slow end here, we've realized that we'd like to have more year round color and coverage in our yard.

So we took advantage of the wonderful sunny weather and took to working in the yard today.  Chris did the backbreaking work of planting another 12 arborvitae along our fence line.  We picked out some evergreen bushes including some flowering rhododendron. I prepped my vegetable garden and planted some spring bulbs and ferns. I grew up with fresh roses in the house all summer long and so I am also really excited to plant some new rose bushes that I picked out.  

My loot!

Bella enjoyed herself too. Notice any pattern with her? She loves this orange barbell (aka "ball").  She carries it around with her to every corner of the yard and rests it on her foot, under her chin or close by.   Bella and her ball are never far apart.

It has been hard to not be outside getting our hands dirty and feeling the sun on our backs. Today was a wonderful treat and one that I think we both needed.  Nice pregnancy camouflage eh?

We may still be living in a dreamland because it snowed just this week, but I think that we both think that if we will it, spring will come!  The first signs are already on their way. My yellow forsythia is blooming, the tulips are just beginning to take off, and flower buds sit on our trees like little kernels of popcorn waiting to pop and show us all their glory.  I cannot wait!

The Results Are In

The results are in and it was very conclusively determined that, to my surprise, we have a little boy in there!   It took the ultrasound tech about 5 seconds to tell us that we were going to have a son and to show us the evidence.  Despite my thinking that it was a girl, we are both thrilled to be expecting a boy, the first boy in the next generation to carry on the Johnson name.

Our ultrasound tech said our baby photographed beautifully, which I am sure she tells everyone.  But we did walk out with what seems like quite the extra long strip of photos and a DVD.  The highlights (including a semi-inappropriate gender photo and the first waive to the world) are below.

The bonus of having a little boy is all of these adorable clothes from my sister.  His dresser is going to be full before he even gets here!  Thanks Auntie Erin.

  

Now it is time to turn this neutral room into a bright room fit for a little boy.  We've made the first trip to Home Depot and Chris has some painting in his near future.  Also on the list is coming up with a boy name!

Today is the Day!

Today is the day that we get to find out if we are going to blessed with a little boy or a little girl.  I figured I had to get this post up before we go in because it may take a bit for us to spread the news to our friends and family before we shout it out to world publicly.  I love that people have chimed in with their guesses.  The best guess yet just came from a text from my sister this morning.  She was discussing whether it was a boy or a girl with my 4-year old nephew Tyler.  While they were discussing, my other 2-year old nephew Owen chimed in saying "It is not a boy....it's a baby."   He is adorable and right on with his guess.  All we want is a baby so we don't care either way what it is.  It has been fun imagining either a little boy or a little girl in our house and it is a little sad to say goodbye to half of those little dreams.  My "if its a boy then ____ and if it's a girl then _____" ongoing conversation with Chris will come to an abrupt halt today and he is probably grateful for that.  We will cross 50% of our potential names off the list, we will decide on nursery colors, and we'll know a little more about that baby who has been growing and kicking me (which Chris can now feel too!).  Now that little baby better cooperate today and show off its parts!

In other news, spring is finally coming around here (kind of).  We had a beautiful Saturday where we golfed in spring clothes and enjoyed some sun.  It was glorious!  My golf game was not so glorious.  Although I have heard from some women that they were better golfers when pregnant, this was certainly not the case for me.  I am pretty darn bad to begin with, but it was a pretty ugly sight this weekend. I think that I even embarrassed the pair of 85 year old men that we golfed with.  Nevertheless, being outside was wonderful.  My tulips and daffodils are starting to come up and Bella is coming into the house after playing fetch with green paws.  Spring is showing its first signs and I could not be more pleased.



  

Stay tuned for the big reveal. 

Pop goes the baby! (week 18)

In these past two weeks, I feel like my baby bump has really popped out.  There are still days that it looks like I am sporting quite the muffin top, but most of the time I look pregnant now, which I love!   I can also now feel the baby move.  For weeks I have been wondering if I have felt those first little flutters, but now I am certain of it.  It is amazing and has made the whole thing even more real.  Chris is still patiently awaiting to feel the first little kicks from the outside world.  I am so excited to share the experience with him.

Now when people comment that they can see my belly, I tell them, "I know, I am totally pregnant."  Before my belly really popped out and before I could feel the little one move, it all still seemed a little unreal to me.  But now, there is no denying it, a baby is on the way. Less than two weeks until we find out the gender of this baby. Then, the race will be on to go to Home Depot to start baby Johnson's room.

In other Johnson family news, Chris finally got some skiing in this week.  He spent a great day of skiing up in McCall with my dad and Robin and then went night skiing this week with a couple of buddies from work.  I am glad that he at least got a few days in this year, even if I am kind of ready for tulips, daffodils and sunglasses. While Chris skied, I enjoyed a lazy Saturday in McCall with the Bells and her cute new friend Shada (my dad and Robin's darling new dog).  Although going to the cabin in the winter has always meant skiing, soaking in the hot tub and enjoying a beverage or two, I had just as much fun cuddling with the Bells and dreaming of sharing the snow and the memories that come with it with our child in the years to come!  Snow brings with it magic, and I cannot wait to share with our child the joys of sledding, building snow igloos, the first ski lessons, and laying in the snow and watching the stars at night.