don't postpone joy :)

saw this on a bumper sticker today....& thought it was pretty awesome!!

we're keepin' our fingers crossed that we won't have to "postpone the joy" that our vacation holds due to Irene..

quick recap from a post many months ago:

 March 5, 2011
~the only worry in the world...is the tide gonna reach my chair~

heard these lyrics on another blog today...& oh how i'm ready for that to be my "worry." we finally booked our summer vacation this week! it's still another 5.75 months away, but MAN i'm ready!! we were able to rent the same house we stayed in on our 1st beach trip together...we are very excited!!

ready to be crossing this bridge again :)

fun things lately...& 2nd Trimester!!

I just got my "sick" computer back this morning from the "doctor" (aka, my brother)...so, I'll just combine the past two weekends into one post :)

These have been busy weekends, but with a vacation on the horizon, i figure i'll have plenty of time to rest & relax while sittin' on the beach watchin' the dogs run, dig, swim & waller! cant wait...it'll be Stein's first beach trip :)

Last weekend, Mom & I headed down to Myrtle for some early birthday shopping! & man did we do some shopping! I haven't shopped that much in two days since..well, since I don't know when! We came across some awesome deals & should be all set for the rest of the summer & most of the winter months (depending on just how big I get!) We found $79 & $89 sweaters for $4.88! We racked up :) Other than shopping, we watched the new movie, The Help...it was one of those movies that'll make you laugh, cry & hold your pee for almost 2.5 hours just so you don't miss anything :) We layed out by the pool a little, ate chinese, ate pizza, ate burgers & more! We like to eat :) It was a great weekend...thanks Mama!! I Love You!!

Here's a few pics from our "shopping" weekend..

fabrics for Mama's prayer quilt ministry ♥

some new decor for our home!

how cute is this frame?..mama found it in Belk's while I was trying on clothes :)

our lil' peanut is growing!!

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This past weekend we celebrated Lee & Alesha's wedding ♥ It was beautiful & we couldn't be happier for them!

Their ceremony was very intimate & sweet. The reception was held at Second Empire in Raleigh. It was beautiful & their cake was delicious (as a pregnant woman, the cake is a very important part!)

We wish them a lifetime of happiness!

not really sure what I thought was so funny!

We are also celebratin' 14 weeks!! 2nd trimester!! Thank you Lord for keeping our little one safe & healthy! Please continue to pray for a healthy pregnancy :)

Hope everyone has a wonderful week!!

Countdown till vacation has officially begun...6 days & counting :)

our "low key" weekend..

Not too much excitement going on here at the Johnson household this week-end! The rain & cooler temps was definitely the highlight :) Thank you Lord for the rain!

Friday evening Matt & I stayed in & threw together a hodge podge supper...quesadillas, mac&cheese, tater tots, a salad (to throw in a lil' healthy eatin), & peanut butter delight for dessert. (thanks Mom!) Since all I want these days are "comfort" food, this meal was right on time :) Once my belly was 'bout to bust, I stretched out on the couch, Matt found some boring movie he liked & I was fast asleep! That was some goood sleepin :) Even when he finally woke me to come to bed I staggered to the bed & was right back to la-la land. Normally, if I fall asleep on the couch I can't go back to sleep once I go to bed...I musta been very tired!

Saturday started with lots of cleaning! We (I) have been feeling very sorry for Murphy & Stein lately due to this heat, so we (I) have been letting them in the kitchen to beat the heat...we've gotta find a plan B! Matt got up Saturday mornin' to find them both curled up on the couch! Evidently, when the thunderstorm came through Friday night, one of them (probably Stein b/c Murphy isn't this smart) figured out a way to move part of our barricade & find safety on our couch...Murphy followed Stein's lead. Hence, all the cleaning Saturday! I can't handle the dog hair where I lay...makes me sneeze! Seems like all I do these days is sneeze...missin' my Zyrtec dearly! Saturday evening was nice...we had the neighbors over to grill some wings & I was able to hold lil' Tyler (their almost 11 month old baby)..he's so cute with his two lil' teeth that shine every time he grins :)

The rest of the weekend was very lazy! Matt got some much needed rest..he's been workin' 6 days a week & was exhausted! I don't know how he does it..I'm trying to get him to slow down b/c I know once this lil' one in my tummy makes his/her appearance he'll have no choice :)

We have a busy week coming up, but I'm looking forward to it. My next dr. appt is Tuesday. Doesn't sound like a fun one...full physical exam & discussing insurance coverage..whoopie! Maybe I'll at least be able to hear our lil' one's heartbeat :) That'll make the visit much more interesting! I'm looking forward to dinner with Traci on Wednesday & Mom & I are leaving Thursday for a weekend of shopping at Myrtle!

I was just looking through my calendar this week at the rest of our summer..& man is it full! Weddings, vacations, concerts, birthdays...before we know it Thanksgiving will be here, then Christmas, then it'll almost be time to have a baby! Time is flying! I'm already 12 weeks along & almost to my second trimester..can you believe it?? I guess since I haven't been sick, time has gone by much faster..thank you again Lord!!

Please also keep my cousin Angie in your prayers. She was diagnosed with breast cancer this week. Angie is only a few years older than me & is facing this with great faith! She has two very busy daughters, so I know it's gonna be quite an adjustment for Angie to focus on herself. She is always doing for others & has a heart of gold. Some things are so hard for me to understand, so instead of questioning why this is happening to her, I will just pray that God would heal her body & guide her doctor with great wisdom in deciding the best treatment for Angie.

Here's a few pics from our week-end..

Murphy enjoyin' his haircut..or maybe he's just happy to be home from the groomers :)

Madison's first day of early college...only two students from her middle school were accepted!

I'm a very proud aunt :)

..enjoyin' more thoughtful "pregnancy" cards from family & friends ♥

celebratin' 12 weeks!

..Matt declined to have his 12 week pic taken

Hope everyone has a wonderful & blessed week! Stay cool :)

our weekend..just call me "waterworks"

Well...I made it all the way up to week 11 of my pregnancy before I had an emotional breakdown..

some would say that's doin' pretty good :)

Actually, I made it almost through the entire weekend feelin' good...Sunday was my breaking point.

I didn't make it to church, didn't make it to lunch with the family, didn't make it to the grocery store either.

I just needed to be left alone...is this normal??

So, I went shopping & to the movies...yes, by myself! & it was great :) I would normally not do this alone, but for some reason, it didn't bother me one bit to sit by myself in the theater :) It's a good thing I picked a funny movie because I don't think I could make it through a sad one...heck, I couldn't even make it home without crying when some sad song came on the radio! I do not like being this way...I am NOT a crier & do NOT like to cry in front of people! I didn't even want other drivers to see my red eyes, so I wore my sunglasses home, in the rain!

I am told this will only get worse in time, so I guess I should just get over it & start packin' the Puffs in my purse! Please pray for me & my sanity as well as Matt & his safety...I thought I just may kill him at one point this weekend...Lord help us all!!

On a much sweeter note, we did have a wonderful Friday evening! Matt & I babysat John & Ella so Seth & Traci could have a rare date night :) These babies are so precious & WELL MANNERED!! Can I just say how awesome it is to still see children like this?? I mean, when it was bedtime Matt & I said, "it's bedtime"...& John did not even hesitate..the child just walked upstairs & got in his lil' bed!! The only time he got up was to find his new wallet he had dropped between his bed & the wall :) "I lost my money" were his exact words...that tickled me! & Ella only woke up because she lost  her paci mid-sleep. See, this is the kind of example I want to set for my child(ren)...have a bedtime & STICK WITH IT!!! Let me just leave it at that :) Seth & Traci...please keep doin' what you're doin'!...& take notes! I'll be needin' some tips in the near future :)

Here's a few pics from our weekend..

sweet Ella! ♥

John enjoyed Matt..& vice versa :)

I enjoyed watching them...it confirmed even more how great a Daddy Matt will be!

Our first baby gift!!!

Thanks so much Seth & Traci for this AWESOME camcorder!!

We cannot wait to play with it & soon have videos of our lil' punkin to share! ♥

BIG thanks to The Fisher's for lending us some awesome baby toys/seats/etc!!

I know it will all be used ALOT & we'll be sure to take good care of it so y'all can reuse it one more time...or two!...depending on God's sense of humor :)

Baby books!! Thank Traci for lending me these..I've already gotten halfway through "The Girlfriends" book & it is hilarious!! My favorite advice so far would have to be..DO NOT CUT YOUR HAIR OFF WHEN YOU ARE PREGNANT! That sounds JUST LIKE something I would do :)

workin' on my "signs" for my every other week belly pics!

been meaning to get this up for quite some time...I love it!

our most recent ultrasound! you can already see "her" little arms, legs & nose!!

I love the side profile pics!



I'm so ready to find out whether we're having a boy or girl!! Matt & I think its a girl, but everyone else says a boy!! Either way, I'll be tickled "pink!"

Hope everyone has a wonderful week & please continue to keep us in your prayers!!