Hello Again

So its been some time (yet again) since I have written and I have a new URL so if you have links to my old one update it to my new one!

thejtownjournal.blogspot.com

So get ready to follow the J Town Journal and find out whats new in the J Town!

Ringing in 2013

We finished 2012 hanging out with friends. We had dinner at a little Italian place and then went over to their house and played Apples to Apples. And the party animals that we are we headed home at about 1030 or so and then welcomed in the New Year. On New Years Day both Neal and I had the day off so it was nice to be able to spend the our last day of our vacation hanging out together. Welcome 2013 we are excited to see what this year has in store for us.

Christmas

I know better late then never, but here is what we did for Christmas. We headed to Colorado for a week of leisure and spending time with family and friends. We went shopping at REI which is always on our list of things to do since we don't have one in Kansas City. We also went to Golden. Then on Christmas Eve we went over to my aunt's house and Santa came. We have had Santa visiting our family Christmas' since I was about 3, so I have memories of his visits from when I was little.

 On Christmas Day we woke up to fresh snow which was great to have woken up to a white Christmas. We also were able to spend part of Christmas Day with Neal's dad.

Then on Boxing Day we headed up to the Mountains and visited my Aunt Debbie.

We then headed down to Colorado Springs and was able to hangout with friends. Then as the week was coming to an end I did my first Cross Fit work out and I do have to say that it was awesome but did kick my butt! And finally Sunday came to quickly and we headed back to Kansas. It was so good to be able to see everyone!

Oh so Many Lights!

After watching 'Christmas Vacation' I found where the Griswolds live! So if you have been frantically looking for them you can breathe a sigh of relief and follow the glow of light to this...

A Surprise for Him

This weekend was Neal's birthday and I had a weekend full of surprises planned. Ok well only part of it was a surprise. On the 9th his birthday I made him lasagna rolls and salad for dinner and an almond cake per Neal's request for dessert and decorated in Vikings football colors.

 
Then on Monday I had one of our friends mention that we should get together and do dinner at Oklahoma Joes. But little did he know that we were meeting a bunch of friend and do dinner together then we had everyone over to our house and had cake (I told him I was making cup cakes for work so would not get suspicious on why I was making a ton of cup cakes). I do have to say that on the way over to Oklahoma Joes I was really glad that it was dark outside since I had an excited grin on my face. I think that he was totally surprised and did not suspect anything. Happy Birthday Neal!

Thanksgiving

This year Thanksgiving has such a different meaning to me this year. I am so very thankful for everyday that God has given me, for my amazingly wonderful husband and for all the people that God has had in our lives.

For our holiday weekend we were able to visit Neal's brother Luke, his wife, Elise and their kids and spend the long weekend with them in Minnesota. We were also able to see Neal's mom and we all got to enjoy an amazing Thanksgiving dinner (thanks Elise). It was so nice to be able to catch up with everyone and meet my new nephew, Boaz, for the first time. Ne-J and Vienna were like great long lost friends and were buds the whole weekend! On Black Friday we decided that shopping was just not worth it so we just bummed around, and the guys went and got a Christmas tree and then that night we helped decorate their home for Christmas.  We also got to experience our first snow of the season. So now I am officially ready for the Christmas season.

Ne-J and Vienna enjoying the street view

Then on that Sunday we went to the Chiefs/ Bronco football game here in Kansas City. It was definitely not a pretty game but the Broncos won so we were happy with the outcome!

Watching the Broncos warm up before the game

The Big ??

Oh, you though that I would reveal my age. Well you are wrong. A girl never reveals her age! For my birthday we just kept it low key. Neal took me out to dinner at Dodge City Distillery. Then when we got home he gave me my birthday/ anniversary gift. He got me a beautiful necklace. A heart, with one half rose gold and the other half white gold (these signify us) and cradled in the middle, a ruby  signifying Gabrielle. Thank you honey for such a wonderful birthday I am so thankful to be able to celebrate another year of getting older with you.

Two Years!

Two years I said 'I Do' to the love if my life, my dear hubby Neal. The time has just flown by and it seems like only yesterday I was walking down the aisle. This last year has been wonderful and so extremely hard at the same time.

Since our anniversary fell in the middle of the week we had a week long anniversary celebration. The week started off with Neal bringing me home a beautiful bouquet of flowers. Then on the 10th I came home to more flowers, a gorgeous bouquet of roses then we went downtown and had dinner at Westport Cafe and Bar. Neal had taken Saturday off which is such a nice treat, since we hardly have Saturdays off together, and we headed to Weston, MO. Weston is a quaint little town with a ton of little shops that we went in and did some shopping. We also went to a winery and did a tasting. It was wonderful to have a week long celebration that I think that we might have to do it every year!

Healing

I don't even know where to start. These last two months have been an enormous test on my faith and my heart. Through our loss of Gabrielle I could not have made it through with out turning to and relying completely on God. I don't know how people who do not have faith in God go through extremely difficult trials and make it out on the other end okay, because I know I sure could not have. Some days are definitely better then others but through God's grace I definitely have more good days than not and am thankful for that. Neal and I have learned to lean on God like never before, as a result we, as a couple, have grown much closer as well. I know that through all these trials God has a purpose, I do not know what they are and may never know, but I know he has plans for us.

'For I know the plans I have for you,declares the Lord, plans for wholeness and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me. When you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.'
                         Jeremiah 29: 11-14

Gabrielle Ann

Our precious daughter Gabrielle Ann Johnson was born into God's hands on Friday July 20th 2012 at 440am. She weighed 4 pounds 12.8 ounces and was 18 inches long.

You are so loved by your Mommy and Daddy. We wish that we were able to have more time with you. Even though you were in our lives for such a short time you have left an amazing impression on our lives and taught us so much.

We love you so very much
Your Mommy and Daddy.


We will be having a Memorial service for Gabrielle Ann on Saturday August 4th at 2pm at
Providence Community Church
10113 Lenexa Dr.
Lenexa, Ks 66215

Bump Update version 1.34

This week as the baby grows ever bigger we are starting to get thing ready for its arrival. So we have done are first load of baby laundry. Everything is so tiny and precious. I can not believe that soon a little human will be able to fit in them. Neal was helping me fold the clothes, I gave him all the socks to match and fold. It was such a great moment to see these tiny socks in my husbands hands and soon those hands will be holding our baby. With teary eyes and my heart full of love I cherished this moment with all my heart.

Baby's sock in Daddy's Hand

Week 34

Bump Update version 1.31-32-33

Wow, how time does fly by so quickly. It seems like we have so much time left, yet I know that it will go by so quickly. Over the last week or so I have had my first bout of heart burn. Its only been one or two nights in which I have woken up and had to take some tums. I do have to say that I feel pretty lucky that I have not had it too bad so far and hope that it stays that way.
For the last few weeks we have slowly been getting things ready by doing one thing at a time. It is taking along time to go through things and organize but in the end it will be completely worth it not to have a bunch of piles to go through after the baby comes.

Week 31

Week 32

Week 33

Our Colorado Trip

I do have to say that whenever we go to Colorado we always have a ton planned!
First stop... Neal's brother Nathaniel and his now wife Katelyn get married. The wedding festivities started Friday night with the bachelor and bachelorette parties. Then on Saturday the rehearsal, rehearsal lunch and finally a BBQ that evening. Sunday was their big day. The venue was located in Evergreen in a great red barn. The wedding was just beautiful.



Later that week we headed down to Colorado Springs to visit our friends Mike, Mallory and their kids. Where we (meaning the boys) played on the slip n slide and just hung out. Also while we were there the Waldo Canyon Fire burning and during the evening we actually watched the fire come over the ridge. It was so surreal. Then on our way out of town we were able to stop by some other friends and say hi.



Friday night we went to an improve comedy show with my parents, my brother and his wife Lindsey and my aunt and uncle Susan and Brian and their kids Tori and Xander. The show was great and super funny!



Then on Saturday my mom threw me a wonderful baby shower. It was so nice so be able to see everyone who came. It was amazing to see how blessed we are by all of those who came.


Finally our trip came to an end and we had to head back home. And as always I wish that we had another few days.

Again thanks to everyone and Congrats to Nathaniel and Katelyn!

Bump Update 1.30

As the baby grows bigger its acrobatics are becoming much stronger. For me, with more powerful movements it means a bigger baby thus a bigger belly. And with a bigger belly sleeping is getting so much harder making it more difficult for me to find comfortable sleeping positions. I seem to be waking up about 3:30-4am and can't fall asleep until about 5 or so and I feel like I am just barely getting good sleep in time for me to get up in the morning. Being tired is just one of the things that I am dealing with. Another thing I am finding is that things I was able to do easily just a few weeks ago, like doing my weekly cleaning/ laundry now kick my butt and then I am completely useless for a day or two. So I think this is my body's way of telling me that I need to slow down and not feel like I have to get everything done in one day like I use to.

As the arrival of our little one quickly approaches (we only have about 10 weeks left) we are frantically (for me frantically in slow motion) trying to get everything ready. We have started to get our nursery ready. As of right now it is our office, so we are cleaning out/ rearranging our spare room so we can move things from the nursery to the spare room. By doing this we have been able to donate a ton of stuff to Goodwill and toss a ton of other things. I do have to say that I think that Neal loves this since I tend to want to keep things and now I am just wanting to get rid of things! I also feel really good about this since I know that most of the boxes that I have stuff in have been in those boxes for a long time and I have not missed them; thus, getting rid of things that I have not missed has been wonderful.

Week 30

Bump Update version 1.28-29

Oh, WOW! We have made it to 29 weeks and now we only have 11 weeks left. It is crazy how fast the time has gone and now we are in the third trimester. During week 27 we had another doctor appointment where I had to do the glucose test where they test to make sure that I am processing sugars properly and I am so that is good news! I am also measuring right on track as well.

Now our baby's movements are becoming so much stronger. Neal has been able to see the baby punch and kick as my belly spontaneously moves. The movements are more like jabs and pokes instead of little flutterings. I think that Neal likes these movements better since they are so much easier for him to feel.

Week 28

Week 29

Memorial Day Weekend

Over the long weekend Neal and I headed out to Cincinnati for my friend Kelly's wedding. The day of the wedding we really had no plans, so we found this park that was on the bluffs and overlooked the city. We walked around the park for a while and took some pictures.
 
Then we got some pizza for lunch then we went to the pool. After that we got ready for the wedding and headed to the Taft Museum where it was held. It was such a beautiful wedding.

Also while we were there the taste of Cincinnati was going on downtown so while we were there we walked around it for a little bit. And as with any new place we visit we have to find a local coffee shop to try. We were headed to one shop that ended up being closed for the holiday weekend and as we were headed to Starbucks we actually stumbled upon a pleasant surprise and found a coffee shop called Tazza Mia. I do have to say that they had really good coffee.

The day after the wedding Neal and I headed to St. Louis to spend the night and visit the Gateway Arch. That night we walked around the monument and took some cool pictures and also got our tickets to go to the top of the Arch. On Monday we headed to the top of the Arch. We took these little 5 seater cars to the top. It was such an amazing view.





We also got an unexpected surprise by seeing cars from the Gumball 3000 which is a race from New York to Los Angeles. These cars are not just any cars they are Bugatti Veyrons, Lamborghinis, Ferraris and a ton of other exotic cars. Since they had a pit stop in St. Louis we were also able to take some pictures of them. Then we decided we needed to head home. About a hour and a half later we see some of the cars coming up in the rear view mirror and were able to get some more pictures of them passing us.


Once home we picked up Ne-J from camp and she was so excited to see us and once home she took a loop around her yard then came in and was then out for the count for the rest of the evening.

Bump Update version 1.25-26-27

If you would have asked me a few weeks ago if I was craving any foods I would have said 'No' but after talking with my mom I was telling her that I have probably gone through at least 15 pounds of grapes in about the last 5 or 6 weeks and so my cravings so far has been grapes and fruit in general.

This last week I was just relaxing on the sofa and the baby had been moving quite a bit. Its movements have gotten so much stronger in the last few weeks. So I was looking at my belly and the next thing I see is my belly moving at the same time that I feel the baby move. I do have to say that it is pretty cool seeing the baby move. I then told Neal to look at my belly to see if he could see the baby move, but as usual the baby got stage fright and decided that it was done moving for the time being.

Week 25

Week 26

Week 27

An Amusing Day at the Amusement Park

Again this year Garmin sponsored a day at Worlds of Fun. So Neal and I and our friends John and Lauren headed down there and started right out riding the roller coasters. Well everyone but me. We made it through all the big roller coaster and some of them even twice. Since the park was closed to the public the lines were incredibly short. I was able to ride the train that goes through the park which was a nice ride.


Then we played some games. Neal tried to win me a frog but atlas his efforts were for not, but he did win me a clown fish stuffed animal by playing darts.


Right before we left the park we got our caricatures done. It turned out pretty good. The artist captured Neal's smile just perfectly!

Baby's First Baseball Game

Last Thursday May 3rd Neal and I went to the Royals/ Yankees game. We had great seats off of the first base line in the outfield. We were in prime foul ball area but unfortunately we did not get one, but there were some that came close. It was a close game and the Royals won 4-3.

Bump Update version 1.22-23-24

Since There has not been a Bump Update for a bit you get versions 1.22-23-24 all at once. These past few weeks have gone by pretty quick. Not much new just growing a baby that's all. During week 23 we had a doctors appointment and everything looks good. Measuring right on track. I also made all of our remaining doctors appointments. Its kind of crazy to think that we only have 9 left and one of those is after our due date so there maybe even less.
I am able to feel the baby moving a lot more! Neal has even been able to feel the baby more easily as well. He says it feels like feeling a heart beat. I thought that that was a good way of explaining how feeling the baby move feels.

Week 22

Week 23

Week 24