Heart Full

As my belly gets bigger, my patience level for unfiltered comments gets smaller.  I've gotten all kinds of comments from "this is your fourth?!?" stated in a very loud and incredulous voice, to "What are trying to do, keep up with the Duggars?"  All I'm sure are meant in good humor and I am able to shake it off or have a little jovial comment in response.  But there has been one comment of late that has really irritated me more than anything else.  The comment usually spews out of an ignorant mouth when I am out in public with one or more of the kids.

"Well, I guess you're really going to have your HANDS FULL"

Sure our lives are busy and full of appointments, extra curricular activities, sicknesses, homework, birthday parties and all the many other things that come along with having kids.  And sure there are days when MY sin nature takes over and I don't have the patience to endure the day to day trials that arise while raising a family.  But when did having children become a burden?  It really breaks my heart to think that this comment is stated in such a way that people feel sorry for me or are judging me for the choices Matthew and I have made in bringing multiple children into this world. 

So I have finally found a response that seems to put people in their place without me having to go all Preggo Hormonal on them.  It is something I have found very comforting for myself as well on those days when I am not fully appreciating the fact that the Lord has blessed us with these beautiful children.  My response to these people stated with a smile on my face is:

"Not a hand full a HEART FULL"

My children are a heart full of memories that no one will ever be able to take away from me.  A heart full of dreams for what our days ahead will be filled with.  But most importantly a heart full of blessings that can only come from our Lord and Savior above and for that I am truly grateful!

Crazy Haired Fire Cracker

It's hard to believe that in just two short years you have gone from this baldy little baby...

...to this wild haired fire cracker. 

Dear Kinley,

You have grown so much in this last year.  You are funny and ornery as all get out.  I have never seen a two year old with quite the ability to get under peoples skin just to get a rise out of them.  It's actually quite scary to see you manipulating people in such a way.  There is a girl on Abbey's golf team who loves you to death, but you purposely call her by another girls name every single time you see her.  And you do it with a twinkle in your eye and a sneer on your lip.  It makes her so mad and it just eggs you on even more.  I'm pretty sure that is a Johnson trait you have inherited.  You're becoming a "pot stirrer" just like your Daddy.

On the other hand, you are so loving.  The minute you hear the back door open you come running to welcome Daddy home with the biggest hug ever.  You won't go to bed at night without running to every one's room to give them "night night" hugs and kisses.

You are very active like any two year old and you don't seem to need much sleep.  You go to bed like a champ, but you're up very early (around 6:30-7:00) no matter what day of the week it is and you don't nap much during the day.  I'm hoping that might improve some over the summer when we don't have to always be on the go-go-go.  You are showing some readiness signs for potty training, however I'm not quite ready to make that leap.  Anytime you have a dirty diaper you bring me a clean diaper and your wipes.  You ask to sit on the potty numerous times, although most of the time it's just to discuss the sesame street characters on the potty seat.  Maybe this summer or fall I will re-think potty training, but for now I have reconciled myself to having two in diapers for a time.

You are talking up a storm.  Despite Bro. Chris' best efforts to get you to say "huh" you have learned to ask "ma'am?" if you don't hear someone or don't understand them.  It's hilarious to get you and Lindsey together and listen to the conversations the two of you have.  I'm shocked at how well Lindsey understands you and vice versa.  You talk about Baby Johnson all the time lately, so I'm really excited to see how you react once the baby gets here.  I know it will be a big change for you, but I really think you're going to like being a big sister...you have the bossy attitude that fits well with that role.  You have also started calling your siblings by their first AND middle names...especially when they are ignoring your demands requests.  Your favorite sentence right now is "What are you doing, Mommy" or whoever it is your talking to. 

You're very independent and think you should be able to do whatever Abbey and Brady are doing.  Which often leads into some temper tantrums when you don't get your way.  But you have learned that crying gets you a trip to your crib until the fit has stopped.  When I go in to get you, I usually find you standing in your crib dramatically wiping the tears from your face and announcing in a very proud voice "Mommy, I not crying". 

I'm sure there are so many milestones and accomplishments from this past year that I'm forgetting.  But despite your attempts at antagonizing people, you truly capture hearts where ever you go.  You are a joy and blessing each and every day of our lives and we're so thankful that God chose us to be your parents.  And yes, I know this is a week late, but I was waiting for her doctor's appointment so that I could fill in her stats!

2 Year Old Stats:

Height: 32" (9%)

Weight: 22 lbs (2%)

Head Cir.: 18" (10%)

33 Weeks

I had my 33 week check up today and although everything is still going along pretty well, I felt a little deflated afterwards.  Baby's heart rate was 138 today.  My blood pressure was great at 98/64.  My glucose test came back awesome at 75 (anything under 135 is passing).  However my weight according to the scale today is 2 pounds less than what I was two weeks ago.  For a grand total weight gain this pregnancy of 8 pounds.  So of course the doctor grilled me on whether or not I'm eating  or if I'm getting sick to my stomach a lot.  Now this was a different doctor than my normal OB and she uses a different scale than my regular doctor so she agreed with me that I probably haven't "lost" weight but I definitely haven't gained any either.  I explained to her that I am eating, I just don't really eat a lot because I feel full very quickly plus I'm chasing & running after 3 kids every day.  She took my stomach measurement and asked me what the size of each of the kids at birth was.  Now get this, she then told me that I'm STILL measuring a week ahead with this baby AND this baby is in breech position.  She said they're not concerned about breech until 36 or 37 weeks because they still have room to turn.  But isn't it ironic that she was getting on to me about my weight gain and yet this baby is measuring big?  So now I'm stressing over this baby being "too big," and the fact that he/she is not head down and that they'd really like to see me gain about 15 pounds in the next 7 or fewer weeks.  I go back again in two weeks and then I will start my weekly appointments.  Please pray that this baby turns around (I really don't want to have to have a c-section) on it's own, I've heard the procedure they use to manipulate the baby is pretty painful.