18 Months!

Addison and Caroline turned 18 months old on June 8th!  We are loving this time in their lives.  They are so fun to be around because they are becoming more and more goofy and their personalities are really coming out more.  There is better communication as they continue to say new words and become better at expressing what they need/want.  They love to chase each other around, read books, dance, watch for birds, squirrels and trains outside, play on the playground all by themselves, sing baa baa black sheep, do the motions to the Itsy Bitsy Spider, Head Shoulders Knees and Toes and Away in the Manger.  They also love to take all of their toys out of their baskets in order to get in and out of the baskets.  Because of this game I cam constantly cleaning up after them!  They still continue to be shy around other kids and adults that they don't know or see all the time but it does not take too long before they warm up.  However, they don't usually cry when they see people they don't know any more.  Currently they don't like to walk on the grass barefoot but they tend to warm up to this too after a while.  It is just fun to see them get older and older!

We went to the Dr. for their checkup yesterday and they are doing great developmentally.  Addison currently weighs 17 pounds 9 ounces and is 29.5 inches tall.  Caroline weighs 18 pounds 12 ounces and is 30 inches tall.  So the difference between them continues to be the same.  The Dr said that they are in a "normal" range for their height and age but still at the low end and they continue to not make it on the chart with their weight but are following their own curve so they are healthy.  They are long and lean!

Here are two of my pet peeves at the moment...the first is that people continue to think that they are boys. Come on! How much more girly do I have to dress them??? They still don't have much hair, I get it. I am just over it. The worse is if they are wearing the same thing (again, very girly clothes) and someone asks me if they are a boy and a girl! I just say politely that they are both girls. The second pet peeve that has been happening more lately are comments about how good they are at walking which is then followed by asking how old they are said with shock. I get that they look a lot younger but not that much that it would be so crazy to see them walking. I guess they are currently wearing 9 month clothes and 9 month olds are not usually walking.  ok, I'm done.

Here are some recent pictures of them playing and just being them!  We love them more and more even when we think that is impossible!

Addison started giving hugs with her arms instead of just putting something on her shoulder to hug them.  Though, she still does that too.  Here she is giving Caroline a hug.

And Caroline pushed her away.  Silly girl.

Addison tickling Caroline

Caroline likes to hoard her snacks!

Addison saying "cheese"

I love catching them doing something together which is often.  They were just hanging out together on the coffee table.

Reading at church together.  Caroline saying "cheese"

Playing with water on a hot day

Addison

Caroline

This is a new game that Caroline and I play.  I say "strike a pose" and she does a quick pose with her hands near her face.  Too cute.

Strike a pose!

Snack time together on the treadmill.  Again, Addison saying "cheese"

Memorial Day and Mayfest

We had a fun filled Memorial Day which we spent at my parents house with my family. The day started with a parade.  Here we are about ready to leave.

At the parade with Sonja and Gwen too!  Addison and Caroline had fun waving and clapping at people as the parade went along.

Cam staying out of the sun with Naomi

An afternoon nap outside

Gwen and Sonja trying to stay cool

This past weekend I introduced Addison and Caroline to Mayfest.  Scott was golfing so I braved it on my own.  Well, not totally.  I knew that Elsa and a bunch of other friends were going to be there if I needed help.  It was a great success!  We stayed there until 9pm (2 hours past their bedtime) and I was trilled they lasted so long.  We all had a great time!

Here is Addison cheering Leah.  Don't worry, the mug is empty :)

Caroline pointing

Playing

Miss Ainsley was there too!

Mr. Nolan was there as well.  So not only did I have friends there but Addison and Caroline did too.  So fun.

Celebrating Gwen!

Gwen turned 5 on May 2nd! I can't believe she is already 5. Just crazy. We had a great time celebrating her with family a couple weeks ago. She still does not like Happy Birthday being sung to her so we did not.  Gwen also had her first ballet recital before the party. It was just a joy to watch her and she really did a great job! She was even right in the front and no longer the girl who hates being in front of people.  I was so proud of her!  Not to mention how cute she was!! We love you Gwen!

Here she is after her recital.  How cute was her costume!

Gwen and her friend Elsa

Her hair in a bun.

Did I mention that the party had a pirate theme...some party attenders dressed the part.

Addison and Caroline's shirts had a skull and crossbones on them so they were dressed up too :)  This was Caroline (right) smiling for the camera.

Mother's Day

This year for Mother's Day Addison and Caroline were old enough to paint cards for all the Grandma's that they have. Here they are hard at work. Both of them did a great job but Caroline really had a good time.

Caroline                           Addison

After church we went to lunch at Hackney's with my whole family on the my dad's side.  I love getting together with all my aunt/uncles and cousins.  It is so fun that as we welcome spouses and kids that this group just keeps getting bigger and bigger.  After lunch we went to my grandparents house to just hang out with each other.  I love being there with my family at their house.  It makes me think of when I was growing up and we would spend almost every Sunday there playing with our cousins after church.  Their house is such a special place to me.  It was a great Mother's Day spent with family, Scott and my 2 beautiful daughters :)

Naomi in a cradle at my grandparents house

Apparently this is becoming a tradition because here is Caroline in the same cradle when she was 3 weeks old.

Naomi is just so darn cute!

Fun in the backyard

Attempting various groupings of sister and cousin pictures.  These next few I love the expression on Sonja's face.

Caroline was not so happy about the cousin pictures

Gwen is such a great and loving big sister.  Well, we already knew that.

Johnson family of 5 :)

Sonja and Nolan.  They actually stayed like this for a little bit

Fun Times

Some randoms...

Addison climbed up in the chair at church and Emmett decided to join her. At first Addison was not happy about it but she eventually calmed down.

Then Caroline joined her.

The other day I heard some giggling coming from the play area.  I came around the corner and saw their feet hanging out of the bookshelf.

They were pulling themselves to the back of the bookshelf cubbies, looking at each other and laughing.  They would then scoot back, drop back to the floor, look at each other and do it again.  It is really funny to watch them do this.

More fun times at the zoo.  This time we went with Elsa.  It was a lot of fun and nice to have an extra pair of hands and eyes.

This was the first time I have seen a peacock with the feathers out like this!!  It was so beautiful and definitely the highlight of this zoo trip.

Naomi Linnea Johnson!!!

Naomi Linnea Johnson is here!! She was born Saturday night at 8:31pm and weighed 7 pounds, 10 ounces. She is just adorable.  Congrats to Cam, Linnea and big sisters Gwen and Sonja!!!

We were able to go meet her Sunday afternoon when Addison and Caroline were taking their naps.  When we got there Gwen was looking very happy holding her new baby sister.  She loves Naomi!!

Gwen was very excited and made sure all of us noticed when Naomi was holding onto her finger.  So cute :)

Love her!!!  She was so light.  I can't even believe our girls were a few pounds lighter than her.  Crazy

Happy Mormor and Grandpa

Scott holding Naomi.  This would not have happened if we did not have kids of our own :)  He is a pro now!

I think everyone has agreed that she looked like Sonja with Gwen's coloring.

Happy

She is just too cute.  So far she has blue eyes and I would expect them to stay blue.

Can't wait to introduce Addison and Caroline to their new baby cousin!!  So far they love looking at the pictures of her :)