Food with Flare

Month five brought several fun things: a visit with the grands, a trip to the Creative Discovery Museum, and Maggie’s first flavor-full foods.


Granddaddy Shannon and Grammy Becky Moats came with the great grands, Jim and Nina Herrington for a day of fun at Famous Dave’s for a family lunch and a little Sweet Frog’s for dessert. The babies love some fro-yo! Our days with them are short but oh so sweet, we love our families so much.

 

Our local children’s play museum is the Creative Discovery Museum. It’s been a long time since any of us had been so we decided to check it out again. On the second Thursday of every month ALL folks are let in for FREE! We decided to pack up the baby and head out. Mom worked for Bubba so he, Jamie, and Parker all went with. They had lots of neat exhibits: water works, play house, dino dig, tinker toys, science and engineering, tinker toys, and bee keeping. We loved the museum but decided to avoid the excessive amounts of children we may just pay to get in the next time. After that we headed to a delicious dinner at The Big Table.  Daniel and I had never been and Anthony's former mentor is the head chef/owner.  It is an amazing home style cooking restaurant.  We thoroughly enjoyed an almost adult dinner with sleeping kiddos.  All in all it was an amazing night of family fun.

Finally this little girl got some pureed foods. I’ve typed it before and said it a hundred times over but I’ll say it again… This girl LOVES her food. She does hummmm sometimes like my cousin Megan did when she was little but moreover she screams at you if you do not move the spoon at her warp speed eating. We have tried over and over to re-assure her that we are not going to take her food from her but I really think she’s hungry. At home at night she doesn’t really get snacks like she does in the daytime and I’m convinced that is why she screams for me to feverishly feed her in the evenings. Anyway, I digress, her first non-cereal food was zucchini from a church friend’s garden. We steamed it and pureed it and quite frankly she gagged on it but to her credit it did smell like fresh cut grass. For the most part, both Maggie and Parker ate/eat homemade baby food. We just puree what we eat and they seem to LOVE it! I feel like we have conquered this baby stage as our little girl accomplishes each new change, habit, and stage of her life. It is both exciting and saddening at the same time, she’s growing so much but too fast!

 

During this month, the babies also were invited to their first birthday party for a buddy at church.  Brody turned three and his mommy had the cutest Thomas themed birthday party.  A certain little girl also decided to take a stand just before the party.
                            

Month Four...We're back!

Month four was chaos with all the events that just come with Summer.  We had an out of town wedding, VBS, our Anniversary, and it ended with a bang at our Fourth of July celebrations. 

Amanda's cousin Eric was having a backyard wedding just outside of Atlanta.  This meant an outdoor wedding in 100 degree heat and a night road trip with two babies which brought anxiety to all involved. Anthony couldn't attend because he was running the restaurant, so we had Parker, Jamie, Maggie, Amanda, Daniel, Nanny, and Papaw all in the car for the day trip.  Despite record breaking heat, that definitely prevented naps, we had no meltdowns during the wedding.  The ones that did occur happened during the reception where the noise level masked the outbursts of hungry cries.  With two over heated babies we headed home, the trip back was horrible!  We stripped both down to their diapers and headed out. Maggie cried and made Parker start crying. We stopped several times to nurse, change, rock, etc. my little whiner.  Parker finally gave up and settled in for the long ride home thanks to a horrible wreck.

Everyone was so excited to see our growing little ones.  Maggie was a little more friendly and went to almost anyone.  Here Kara had her for the entire ceremony.  Blaine, Sydney, and Kyle had fun entertaining her to keep the little ones happy.

The next week began VBS.  Daniel, for the past few years, has done a teen VBS to coincide with our normal kids VBS.  This was also our first time to get to know our new pastor a little better.  We snuck in to sing at the opening of VBS most night but we really were there to see daddy.  We missed him for our night-time routine this week.  The end of VBS always ends with a water slide picnic celebration.  Parker and Maggie took part in the fun for their first VBS!

At Maggie's four month appointment, by her height and weight the doctor was astonished that she was still surviving on MILK alone.  As the nights got more restless, we decided to start cereal at night.  At first it was not so pleasant but within minutes she got to loving it and cried for more when her bowl was empty.  As I write, she is now eight months old and that crying at an empty bowl has not gone away.  Our little girl LOVES her food!

Toward the end of the fourth month, Mommy and Daddy celebrated their anniversary by an overnight trip to Birmingham Alabama.  I know that it is not what you think of when you think of romantic cities but we had a fun family weekend planned.  Zoo, Mall, and a Hotel with a POOL!  We had so much fun even in another record breaking hot day!  We also got to see some old friends, the Pugh's.  They were youth leaders for Amanda growing up, and the previous owner's of our home.

 

The trip was so fun and the travel went well.  Maggie had her first trip to the zoo, first"swim" in a pool, and our LEGO store.   

 At the zoo, we saw lots of fun animals and Maggie loved watching them through their enclosures.  The Birmingham Zoo was fantastic!  The majority of the exhibits had both indoor and outdoor viewing areas which was nice since it was SOOO HOT!   We made sure to wear our sunscreen and keep hydrated, in fact Maggie had her first bottle of juice.  At 100+ she needed more than what milk I could generate.  Her favorite animals were the monkeys because they were quite active. 

At the mall we visited some kids stores that we don't have:  Buy, Buy Baby, Crazy 8's, GAP Baby, etc.  We bought a few Christmas presents, and a few clothes.  All in all just a fun time leisurely shopping.

We ate at local places:  Roly Poly (a chain but we didn't know that at the time) for lunch, an Italian pizza/pasta shop for dinner, and the following day a creole place for lunch.  That was a story in itself. Maggie hadn't been herself all day, she slept in, she didn't really want to nurse, she took a long nap, etc.  We were heading back home and stopped for lunch.  She had been napping so we took her in, got a large booth, and laid her down in the bench.  She woke just as we began to order.  I cuddled her into me chest in a seated position.  She was fidgeting as we ordered. I had just quieted her when all the sudden projectile puke.  Down my dress, on the floor, pooled in my lap, and a tad on our waitress:  I felt horrible for my baby, the waitress and let's be frank for everyone who had to witness that.  I had lost my appetite and it was my kid, I can't imagine everyone else's appetite.  I quickly cleaned her off, wiped up the floor thankful it was concrete, and passed Maggie to D.  He snuggled her while I ran to the car.  The one time I ONLY packed enough clothes for the day.  So I ended up in my PJ's:  athletic shorts and a nursing tank, a far cry from the red sundress I entered in.  Nonetheless we finished lunch and headed home.  Along the way we discovered a poopy girl, no shoulder, no exits, and a cranky girl for 45miles!  Really, I know Alabama doesn't really have booming metropolis written all over it but 45miles!  Finally we exited along with the rest of the weary travellers, took care of baby, pottied ourselves, and were back on the road. 

Later that week, was the Fourth of July!  We had a cookout but no fireworks due to wildfire conditions, and oddly wicked rain.  But aren't these little firecrackers too cute?

Our Three Month Old

Tonight our baby girl is three months old.  Here are some things I know now about our baby:

Physically:

• She kicks and pulls with all her might, especially at toys on a playmat.
• At 2months weighed 12lb 6oz and was back to 21 3/4in long.   That was 75% for both height and weight.  She will be a big girl!
• She smiles with purpose.  She has the most precious smile that would soften even the hardest of hearts.  She smiles and it stretches across her face showing top gums and her right dimple.  If big enough you'll catch a glimpse of the left dimple too.  Here's a funny smile story from this week:  Nanny was holding Parker giving him a bottle.  Maggie was in the swing.  As the time grew on, Maggie's cries grew louder and her face grew redder.  Parker finished his bottle and was placed in the exersaucer.  Nanny approached Maggie to cease the crying and as she got inches away the crying stopped and the cheshire grin appeared.  She has Nanny wrapped so tight around her little finger. 
• Her hair,which had depleted on her crown and forehead at 2months is coming back thicker, longer, and darker brown than before in just the past two weeks.
• She eats and for the most part sleeps regularly.  She eats at 2-4am, 6am, 9-11am, 2-3pm, 6pm, 10-11pm.  She goes to bed around 9pm and gets up around 9am, with a nap from 3-5pm.  We still nurse when mommy gets home from work until she goes back to work in the morning.
• She chitter chatters especially with mommy and only if facing her.
• Her infant shoes are almost outgrown, as well as her 0-3month and 3month clothes. She outgrew her clothes torso length wise well before the waist. 
• Her eyes have always been DARK, and are gray or brown in color.  I think she's gonna have her daddy's hazel eyes.
• She spits up very little.  There has only been one major sickness.  Nanny's birthday was celebrated on 4/16.  4/17 Mommy went back to work and Maggie was given bottles for the first time.  4/18 Maggie was epically sick.  She had been sleepy all day and didn't feel well (the inside of her eyes turns blueish purple).  At about 8pm she finally went to sleep in Mommy's arms.  Moments later, a rumbling burp came from deep within carrying with it a lot of vomit.  So much so she was choking on it as it came up from deep within.  I quickly held her up to avoid suffocating in her own vomit.  It was all seeming so surreal.  Faster than I can even remember, she, I, the bed, my pants, my shirt, my bra, all our bedding, were COVERED in puke!  I actually stood over the bathtub and poured puke out of my bra.  Yep, it was really that bad.  Never since then has she really had more than a dribble of spit up.
• Maggie Grace and Parker both are drooly, drooly.  They drool to the point of soaking their onesies. 
• Her fingernails grow super fast and have to be cut at least weekly, most times twice a week.
• A daily BM.  Hey, it happens, and unfortunately for Parker it didn't come so regular for a while.  At 2months old she ad one every other day, in the past two weeks, it has occurred daily.  FUN for Nanny!

Likes:

• Tummy time on her boppy.
• Playing on a playmat hitting at toys, or Parker.
• Paci, especially her wubbanub.  She loves to massage the fabric or holds it's sweet legs(she has the ducky with little skinny red legs.  She only takes it sleep or hold off hunger pains.
• Fabric.  She chews on her clothes as she leans her head down, fabric toys, ribbon decor on toys, etc.  She has a special affinity for silky fabrics too!
• Swaddling.  She will hardly sleep without being swaddled.
• Cloth diapers.  (This is actually a mommy likes.) They get softer with each wear/wash. 
• Gowns.  She loves to have her feet free to kick with ease.
• Music, crinkly toys, noisy toys, momma's whistle, being talked to (only if she can see you). Her favorite toy is a Donald Duck.  He sings and dances to Peter Cottontail and if you pick him up by the ears he screams "PUT ME DOWN."  She smiles so big when he tries to wiggle free.  She doesn't even care that it's an Easter toy.  ;)
• Tickling or kissing of her feet.
• Rocking, patting, and momma's singing. 
• Sleeping in a big bed.  Don't worry she doesn't roll well, isn't lying with sleeping parents, and no loose bedding is around 
• Kisses.
• Breast milk.  Although mommy doesn't pump enough to supply each day's demands, mornings and nights are all about the comfort, snuggling, and caress that nursing gives both mommy and baby. 
• Reading books with mommy and daddy at night.
• Watching Bella!  She follows her with her eyes and even reaches for her on occasion.
• Tasting table food:  mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, ice cream, etc.  Just a lick off the tip of mommy's finger to get her used to the taste of the food that is to come! 
• Talking with mommy and daddy.
• Eating her fists. 

Dislikes:

• Shoes.
• Bring put down for anything on days where she feels bad. 
• Onions, pizza, large amounts of dairy, curry, spicy foods, etc.

In general we are loving life with our sweet girl!

Dedication

In the Nazarene Church we do a "dedication" ceremony for babies as opposed to other religion's christenings, first communion, etc.  It is in this ceremony that we as parent's promise to raise the baby in the church.  The family promises to be a shining example of God's LOVE and direction in the baby's life.  The church promises to LOVE and guide the baby as well.  We hope our church family always shares in the guidance and discipline of our little Maggie Grace. 

It is such a special occasion!  We "Johnston's" named our babies after our maternal grandparents who are shining examples of God's LOVE in our lives.  They are both still very active with their Nazarene Church in Hendersonville, NC.  We were blessed not only to have grandma make their precious outfits but also to have both grandma and grandpa with us for this special day.

Our hearts too were being lifted to our IDAHO family on this day as sweet Carolina, or Lina as she's commonly called, also was dedicated in her church on the same glorious day.  Blessed are we to have family that sings the many praises of our LORD!  We love you Lina and are happy that although the miles separated us, our hearts were joined for such momentous occassion!

Below are pics from our fun day!

Greatgrandma Margaret with baby Maggie Grace.  Great sewing greatgrandma!

Parker's outfit was super detailed too!

The "Johnston" Family

All of Maggie Grace's family in attendance April 15th.

Greatgrands with their namesakes.  Such a priceless picture! 
Donald Boyd with Parker Boyd and Margaret with Margaret!

After the ceremony, we went on a lovely spring picnic.  The weather was supposed to be in the 80s said the meteriologists, but God said blustery 70s.  Oh well, we didn't let it stop the fun and fellowship we woud have that day.



Sweet Baby Girl.



Smiley Little Parker.

Maggie Grace Winn

Parker Boyd Johnston

Magggie was first to get her pictures, and at this point she was DONE.
She was also ready for her lunch, which waits for no-one.

How precious they are together!  Even screaming they are ADORABLE!



Parker's story kinda began here.  This is the park where
Anthony and Jamie wed in 2010.



Our friends, Charlie and Dianne Ellis and the Brown family: Geron, Lydia, Cora, and Cohen, 

joined our picnic.  We were happy Geron and Charlie performed the dedication ceremony, especially since our church has been minus a lead pastor since just after Maggie Grace's birth.  We also LOVE their sweet kids!

Cohen Brown

Cora Brown

Sweet Kidos.  Fast forward a few years and there will be
a couple more kidos in the picture playing in the dirt!

Special thanks to Jamie Johnston for the pics. I'm sure this celebratory day was a bittersweet pill for her to swallow since the tragic passing of her sweet momma just weeks before. We love you Aunt Jamie and are so happy you are part of our growing family!

Spring Has Sprung

Our sweet little butterfly! She is really blossoming in the past two weeks becoming more vocal and gaining more head control. She's had rolling over down almost since birth!


Another picture of our sweet beauty taken at the begnning of spring.

Maggie Grace looks startled but really she was hungry and eyeing her mamma. She wore this sweet dress to a friend's bridal shower the Saturday before Palm Sunday.

Pre-Easter picnic... photos taken at Riverfront Parkway Park on Palm Sunday. We had fun getting the babies out for their first full day of adventures in our 80+ degree weather.

Parker looks so much like his daddy in this picture...

The Saturday before Easter both Maggie and Parker had their own Easter Bunny pictures taken at the church Easter Egg hunt. No hunting eggs for them this year but next year should be lots of fun!

Our Easter baby! Margaret "Maggie" Grace Winn.

She isn't afraid of the flower but was smiling sweetly at it as her daddy reached in to tickle her with the flower, she would pull back and smile wide. So sweet that she is starting to REALLY smile with meaning this week.

Nanny with her sweet girl! She has to snuggle anytime she gets to see her.

At the beginning of our outdoor photo session she was doing okay... the longer we went the hungrier she got.

Maggie Grace had finished her lunch before the pictures for Easter, or so we thought, she wasn't so sure though.

Parker "Bunny" would NOT have his pic taken in his EASTER basket... no way, no how!

Aunt Jamie got Maggie Grace this SWEET headband for Easter... she makes one cute flower!

Parker's mommy got him Bunny Ears, and although they weren't his favorite they were ADORABLE on him and actually fit him REALLY well in addition to coordinating with his romper. Note: He is wearing his daddy's baby shoes... so sweet.

The Winn family... our first Easter as a family of three.

The Johnston family... also their first Easter photo as a family of three.

Nanny with BOTH her babies on Easter Sunday.