Life Update :: Strep Throat & Golf Lessons

It's been quite a week here in the Johnson house. I feel like it should almost be February, but alas, it's January 9th! Jacob got sick last week and it turns out he had Strep Throat! Poor guy! We're finishing up antibiotics this week. In the meantime, I also got sick (again!) with the same stuff I had before Christmas, so I'm doing what I can to feel good (my medicine options are limited thanks to breastfeeding).

On Monday, I took my Mom on her birthday trip. We went to Top Golf for some golf lessons (she's always wanted to learn how to play) and it was a super fun trip. I listened in on the lesson as best as I could with Jacob and then we played a couple of games. I think I probably enjoyed the two hours in the car there and back talking to my Mom, but I hope she had fun!

Yesterday, dance resumed for me as did a new schedule for my siblings (and Mom). I have a new student in my older class which is exciting for financial reasons and so my sister isn't soloing it anymore.

Today, we're finally back to a more "normal" schedule. Jacob and I went grocery shopping this morning and I've already got crock pot pasta fagioli cooking in the crock pot. He's taking a nap, so I'm enjoying some down time.

My Very Own Planner

So this year, I decided to forego the planners sold in stores. They just never met my needs perfectly and I would end up using other things with the planner and it was just too much. This year, I made my own for $3 plus the printing.

I subscribe to ListPlanIt and also a couple of blogs that giveaway printables as well as have stores that sell them (Clean Mama, iHeart Organizing, Life Your Way). One of the blogs gave away a cover sheet, and I printed out everything I thought I'd need and want for the first three months. Then, I took it to Office Depot and they spiral bound it for $3.

The first page is a "Goals" page. I have 11 "areas" of life that I want to better and I wrote down 3 action steps that I want to take or need to do to. For instance, "Crafting" has catch up on Project Life, make holiday banners and treats, and try a Pinterest project.

Next comes the Monthly calendar, followed by a page from ListPlanIt called Routines. It has a spot for my daily routine (nap times and meals), my weekly schedule that doesn't change (dance every Tuesday and Thursday), and a monthly spot for re-occuring monthly things (like giving the dogs their meds, holidays, birthday, anniversaries, etc.). After that, I have another page from ListPlanIt called a Month of Blog Topics.

For each week, I have 4 pages. The Weekly Schedule broken down by day and hour, A To Do List with spots for each day, my Menu Plan and a Grocery List. Now, everything is one spot, it's easy to use (that's why I got a spiral binding) and in 3 months, I'll re-evaluate and add or take away as I see necessary!

Getting Older Makes You Grateful

This thought crossed my mind last week while laying in bed trying not to cough and wake Jacob up. I was furiously sucking on cough drops in an attempt to stifle the coughs that wouldn't go away, no matter what I did. We were visiting family for Christmas so Jacob was sleeping in our room, right next to us. I'm so grateful we put him in his own bed from the first night home. Hearing his every whimper and movement is not ideal.

But, I was laying there thinking about all the gifts our family had gotten. Christmas is big in our family. But I think for the first time, Christmas was more about what we were doing and not what we got. I am so thankful for the gifts: after having kept my Christmas budget under control, I'm so thankful for those that spent their hard earned money on things for me. It made me think twice about the things I "wish" for. 

I had gotten word that one of my siblings said that all he got for Christmas was "stupid clothes." It was a good thing I was 4 hours away because I immediately wanted to pound him. How could he be so ungrateful? Kids everywhere would have done a lot for those "stupid clothes." We also had to delay our travel home because of bad weather. I was heartbroken because I wanted so badly to be with my family. 

After really thinking about it all and praying about it all, I came to this conclusion. Christmas will be what you make it. If it's all about the gifts, disappointment can be sure to be found somewhere. We aren't perfect gift givers, after all. I want to make it a priority to raise Jacob to be grateful. I want to make it a priority to make the Christmas season about Christ and the perfect gift He was to the world that so desperately needed him, that still desperately needs Him, today. Sure, I'll still make my Amazon wish list every year; there is nothing wrong with giving and getting gifts. It's one of my favorite things to do, actually! It will not, however, be the focus. The focus will be Christ, gathering my family around me, even if it means multiple trips across town or across the state, and spending time with the ones I love.

5 Year Anniversary

On the 29th, Jim and I celebrated 5 years of being married. We are planning on taking a weekend trip once baseball season starts and Jacob is weaned. We went to eat dinner at a dance restaurant with beautiful views of the Texas countryside.

My gift to Jim was to organize and decorate his new office, including new desk accessories that are wooden (the traditional 5 year gift). His gift to me was super awesome!

After putting Jacob to bed one evening, I came back into our room and found a note and gift on our bed. Jim was giving me a "12 Days Until Or Anniversary" gift. Each night, I got a note and corresponding gift that had something to do with one thing he loved about me. I was super impressed.

You should be too! I'm married to a pretty stellar guy and I'm so thankful, proud and honored to be his wife. He does an exemplary job at cherishing me, serving me and loving me; he speaks truth into my life, laughs at my jokes (which are not always funny), has deep conversations with me and isn't afraid to listen to the sometimes ridiculous ramblings that my brain comes up with. He is a great Dad; Jacob lights up when he drives up or walks into the room. He loves the Lord and makes it a priority to spend time with Him every morning so that he can be the best husband, dad, worker, son, friend and man of God he can be. I love you Jimbo! Can't wait to spend another 5 (and then some more) by your side!

Jacob :: 11 Months

Jacob is 11 months old today. I cannot believe that I'm planning his first birthday party. Jacob is still not crawling in the traditional sense, but he can navigate around on the hardwoods by scooting. We haven't been sleeping well this past month- a combination of teething and traveling has been hard on him, I think. There are no teeth to show for these hard nights, though.

Jacob loves being outside. He loves watching the birds and cars. He actively points to the door and grunts to go out there. He got lots of new toys for Christmas, and especially loves the puzzles and this v-tech learning station he got from Jim's cousin Jenny. He is still taking 2 great naps a day (around 9:30 and 2).

The diaper we ordered to try was too big, so we're using a disposable at night. He is still wearing mostly 24 months and 2T clothes. His newest favorite food is yogurt and fruit. We tried the table food again last night, and he seemed to do better. He also has down drinking water from a certain type of sippy cup (the cheap one that leaks) but its progress and only has it at the table.

He also continues to set himself up at night and starts crying. He never does it during the day, only in his bed. I can only assumes he is using the bed to help get himself up. We'll be dropping the bed any week because I don't want to wait until he falls out of the bed to discover that he has learned how to pull up.

Christmastime is Here....

I can finally exhale (for the most part) and enjoy the rest of the week knowing that I am completely ready for Christmas to be here! All of my gifts are purchased, made, and wrapped under the tree! Don't get me wrong- I've enjoyed every minute of the season so far! I haven't been stressed out to the max or anything. It's just nice to know that it's all done. The list has been checked twice and I'm excited for people to open the gifts we purchased or made for them.

I can't get too relaxed, though. There's still 17 things on my list of things to do today! Sheesh- I will never be ahead again. That's okay.

In other exciting news, Jim surprised me two nights ago with a note and a gift. He said it's the 12 Days of our Anniversary. I mean- what a guy! Sweet notes and little gifts... love my man! He didn't even use Pinterest... Yesterday, I went all around the house looking for my gift, but it turns out I get them at night. Ha.

Oh, shout out to my little brother, Alijah. He turns 11 today! Happy Birthday Dude!

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Today is my Mom's birthday! Happy Birthday Mom!

Jacob and I took her Starbuck's and flowers this morning. After Jacob's nap, we're taking her to lunch. She didn't want a big party, so I honored that. Instead, she wanted some golf lessons. Yup, golf lessons.  Plans are being made for a trip to DFW to get that done. I could seriously go on and on and on about how awesome my Mom is. If you know her, you know these things. She is one of the most giving, selfless people I know, she's a great Mom (I know she would disagree, but I turned out pretty good!), she's a great nurse and soon to be Nurse Practitioner, she loves her kids and her grandkid (probably more than us kids somedays- but he's still all cute and no "real" work save for carrying him around), and love her animals!! She's a good cook, a great listener and gives super awesome wisdom when you need it.

Today is also her sister's, (and my aunt, obviously) Lisa, birthday! Kinda cool that they were born on the same day 4 years apart, huh? Aunt Lisa is just like her sis in many ways- sometimes she's a little bit crazier (in a good way of course!), but she's had a tough year of taking care of her husband and dealing with everything that comes with that and still gives to her church and her family with a smile!

Happy Birthday Girls! We love you!