Update...

Here are some recent pics from the past month...

Is she not the cutest Snow White you've ever seen? She wanted to be a Snow White/Toothfairy, but on Halloween day Mommy talked into being just Snow White.

Aunt Jennie and Kaylee came out to visit for a week. So much fun! How cute is Kaylee?! When she smiles at you, it makes your entire day.


Ari & Kaylee


One of my favorite pictures. Sisters taking a nap--well one of them was. Ari always wants to cuddle and love on her sister. While I was supervising the cuddle time, I looked at them from this angle and it was too cute! I had to take a picture.

First thing in the morning! (I do not touch her hair. It does it's own thing.) She is the happiest lil thing in the morning. She smiles all the time. Now she's learning to coo and laugh.

Gabriella Lisa Johnson

*Tim-I am NOT doing this because you told me too! Just wanna make that clear!*

Introducing...

Gabriella Lisa Johnson

Born October 6, 2009

7lbs 13oz - 20in

We absolutely adore her! I will post the 'labor day' story...another day. But here are a few pics of the big day!

(I posted all these pics backwards, oh well)

The day she came home from the hospital. I took this right after her first bath. She loves her baths. Whenever she's really fussy, I just put her in a bath and she calms right down.

I love this picture! Daddy and Baby Gaby.

I took this pic w/my phone. I love it so much I have to share it. Ariana and her new sister Gabriella.

We switched doctors half way through the pregnancy (another story for another time). I love this man. He is the sweetest man on Earth! So cute! --Dr. Babb w/Gaby

This is the only picture that you will see of me on this day. I was SO incredibly swollen. It's just one of the perks of being pregnant. This was taken right after she was born. She's not even washed yet. I loved that they let us bond w/her for about 1/2hr before they came in and washed her. She's so perfect!

My 3 to your 1!

Okay, so I haven't been very good AT ALL with keeping up with the blog. I have turned over a new leaf and I will start, again, posting regularly. We are still going to go 'private', but until I have the time to do it, I'll just keep posting. Okay, so this is what's new with out fam:

I am 30 weeks pregnant with our second; another girl. We are so excited for this lil one. We had been trying for almost two years for another one, so when we finally got pregnant, we couldn't believe it! Finally! We've had a bit of a bumpy pregnancy with this one. The first five months were very stressful. But, after months of testing, switching to a new fabulous doctor, we are happy to say that our baby is healthy. Our official due date is Oct 13th.

Ariana is so excited to be a big sister. She really wanted a baby brother at first, but she's really excited it's a girl now. She talks to my belly all the time. She thinks my belly button is where the baby hears. So when she talks to the baby, she talks into my belly button. TMI? I think it's cute.

Believe it or not Brad was dying for another girl. He said that he would be perfectly happy with a family of all girls. I didn't really care. I was just excited to be pregnant. This addition to the family will make the running total for the Tolman's= 1 boy (Hunter) and 9 girls; Johnson's= 7 boys (including Tim & Katie's soon-to-be) and 3 girls. Poor Hunter. Someday he'll get a male cousin.

The title of this post is 'My 3 to your 1' in honor of Brad; sort of. Whenever we get into a 'disagreement', he has these sayings that drive me CRAZY! He'll blurt out the word 'Seven' or 'My 3 to your 1' or 'My 5 to your 3'; anything like that. If you're confused, join the club. It doesn't mean anything! It has nothing to do with anything, and he gets a kick out of it. He does this when he doesn't want to say anything or if he's losing the battle! It makes no sense, and it drives me crazy! Then I usually growl at him and quit. So he thinks he wins every time. But this lil one will make 3 girls to 1 boy. Hence, My 3 to your 1! Ha! I WIN!!

Pics coming soon...

Miss Ari

Okay, the changing the blog to 'private' will happen...some time. After copying down everybody's email address, I just don't have the energy right now to submit ALL those email address. It will happen though.

I the mean time, I decided to be good and continue posting. I sat Ariana down and asked her a series of questions, and her answers were so random! I couldn't stop laughing. I am posting this for you entertainment.

Mel: Ari? Mommy has some questions for you.

Ari: Questions for me? You got some questions for me? Okay, i'll help you.

(There are no typos in this. It is exactly how she answered each question)

1. What is something mom always says to you?

Port de bras (A ballet term, and i've never said it to her before)... Mommy draw a 3! I love 3's!

2. What makes mom happy?

When I say 'Yes'- I don't say 'No', that's a mean one

3. What makes mom sad?

When I say 'No'- I say 'Yes', that's a nice one

4. How does your mom make you laugh?

Because you make me laugh

5. What was your mom like as a child?

You were like Nanny (my mom)

6. How old is your mom?

Your 3!

7. How tall is your mom?

Umm, your tall

8. What is her favorite thing to do?

You cooking

9. What does your mom do when you're not around?

3?

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?

Daddy?

11. What is your mom really good at?

Cooking

12. What is your mom not very good at?

Umm, No

13. What does your mom do for a job?

Yes?

14. What is your mom's favorite food?

Chicken!

15. What makes you proud of your mom?

Because I love you

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?

A purple one! I would be a pink one, and Daddy would be a black one. I love pink superhero shirts!

17. What do you and your mom do together?

Umm, cooking ... I love when my Mommy comes home. (I'm never gone?!)

18. How are you and your mom the same?

Port de bras!

19. How are you and your mom different?

Port de bras... just kidding Mommy! Umm, Daddy!

20. How do you know your mom loves you?

Because I miss you!

21. What does your mom like most about your dad?

He's laughing! (She meant 'his laughing')

22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?

To the park and to the slides. .... Mommy, i'm getting hot!... What's the first question Mommy?

Update

Sorry, sorry, sorry! It feels like we are just barely getting back to our normal lives since our Christmas break. We managed to avoid getting sick the entire time we were in Utah/Wyoming/Idaho. We all got really sick the week after we came home. We had terrible colds. It was expected, so I wasn't surprised. I haven't the time or energy to sit down and update the blog.

I did something to our desk-top computer and it isn't working properly. It's at the computer doctor's getting fixed. I have a ton of pictures that I need to put on the blog, so I will do that as soon as it's back.

I swear I will get back to updating the blog regularly. As soon as the computer's back, and I have the patience to do it, I will be switching the blog to private.

Last Post Before Going Private!

I have been so busy lately! I haven't had the time to switch the blog to private. I decided to write one last post, before we switch. I saw this on my friend Bek's blog, and thought this would be the perfect Last Post.

Here's an update on our lives:

Brad is down to 2 finals (he's actually taking one of them as i'm writing this). He's been working part-time at the public defenders office, working under an attorney. He really likes his job, but would never want to there permanently (after he graduates). Brad is on the Environmental Law Journal, and has hated every minute of it. He has to write so many papers for the journal. It has been very time consuming, but it will look good on his resume (that's what I keep telling him). He is still the Secretary in the Elder's Quorum. He only has to teach one Sunday a month, which leaves him free for when I need a sub! Yeah!

I (Melani) was recently called as the Primary President. I love my calling. I love working with the children in our ward. They are amazing kids! I've been trying to get everything organized for the new year before I leave, and let me tell you, it's been stressful; but worth it. I love being a mommy and wife. I have a wonderful life that I could gush about forever, but I will spare you.

Ariana is almost 3yrs old. I can't believe how big she is. She is growing up so fast. She is a very cuddly, loving, happy girl. She loves to sing, dance, clean (yes, I said clean), and play with her friends. She loves learning. Ari is probably the smartest person that we know. The lil' Monkey is SO smart! She knows all her letters and sounds. When we read, she sounds out all the letters to figure out the word. She's learning Spanish through her father and her friends Dora and Diego. She'll ask me things in Spanish all the time, and it takes me a second to realize that she speaking to me in Spanish. Again, I could gush about her forever, but I won't. She is the most amazing thing that happened to Brad and I. We are so grateful to be her parents. There is one more thing that I have to share. Since Brad has been in law school, I have found him to be, umm shall we say, more argumentative? We will be 'discussing' something, and Ariana will come in the room and say, "Guys, Guys, Guys! Be NICE to eat-uf-ur!" It makes us laugh every time! (You should know that one of our (Brad and I) favorite past-times is to debate. Keeps the relationship interesting. :) )

We love our friends and family. Thank you for everything that you do. We really hope you all have an amazing time this holiday season. For those who are in Utah/Wyoming, see you soon. For those Okies, see you when we get back! Merry Christmas!

I saw this on my friends Bek's blog and thought this would be fun to add to the 'Last Post'.

1. Real tree or Artificial? I love real trees! I love the experience of going up to the mountains and cutting down your own tree. I love the way the tree smells up your home with the yummy pine scent. I just love the traditions that my family made with having our own Christmas tree. However, we put up a 3'ft artificial tree this year, because we won't be here. (I don't think I've even seen a real Christmas tree here in OK!)

2. When do you put up the tree? The day after Thanksgiving.

3. When do you take the tree down? Usually a couple days after the new year. I put on Forgotten Carols 'I Cry The Day I Take The Tree Down', and sob. :)

4. Do you like eggnog? Yummy! For me, yes please! Bradley does not like eggnog. Never drinks it.

6. Hardest person to buy for? Brad! He'll NEVER tell me what he wants. He would probably say the same thing about me.

7. Easiest person to buy for? Ariana. We love getting her stuff, because her reaction is so cute. She hug it, and with her eyes closed she'll say, 'Oh Mommy/Daddy! I love it!' Total overreaction, but that's our girl and we love it.


8. Do you have a nativity scene? Four of them.

9. Mail or email Christmas cards? We usually mail out cards, but I didn't have time this year. I'm so stressed trying to get everything in Primary ready before we leave, that the Christmas cards got the axe!

10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I can't think of anything.

11. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? I get a box of Chocolate Raspberry Sticks in my stocking every year. I love snacking on those. Brad likes his Jerky.

12. Lights on the tree? Pretty white lights this year.

13. Favorite Christmas song? Anything by The Carpenters. When I think of Christmas, I think of the Carpenters. I don't know about Brad. I'll have to ask him when he gets home. :)

14. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Travel. Can't wait to see everybody! I'm so excited!

15. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? You know Dasher, and Dancer, and Prancer, and Vixen, Comet, and Cupid, and Donner, and Blitzen. But do you recall, the most famous reindeer of all? (da-da, da, da) Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer! Love that Song!

16. Angel on the tree top or a star? Neither. Tinkerbell sitting on top of big red Christmas bulb. Oh, and she's holding a snowflake. Can't forget that!

17. Open presents on Christmas Eve or morning? At the Tolman's we open our family gift exchange the night before, along with our new PJ's. We open the rest of the gifts right when we get up the next morning. At the Johnson's we open all the presents after we've eaten lunch? (can't remember) on Christmas Day. When the year comes that we decide to stay home, we will do it the Tolman way, because I'm the Mom and I said so! :)

18. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? When people (us included) forget about the real meaning of Christmas. That's why we never shop on Black Friday. People get mean at stores and it just puts me in a bad mood.

19. Favorite Ornament theme or color? We have all my Mum's old wooden ornaments. Nutcrackers, Toy Soldiers, Toys, Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus, etc. I love them!

20. What do you want for Christmas this year? To see my family that live in Malaysia. I haven't seen them in almost 2yrs? Has it been that long? Crazy!

Going Private

Although I try really hard to not post any personal information on the blog, i've decided to go private as well. My Dad has been telling me to do it for awhile, so i'm going to listen to him. If you want an invite, leave a comment or email us at johnson.mb@gmail.com. Thanks!

P.S. Julia (Lyle & Julia), I lost your email. What is it?