"Just 5 more minutes, Mom..."

"What are you doing in here? This is MY room...!""Really, Mom? La, la, la... I can't heeear you!!!"

"What's that? It's time to eat? Then we can play?"

"Okay! Get me outta here!"

Hanging Out

Lainey was just happy as a clam hanging out in her swing this morning...
I went to pick her up when she had had enough and no wonder... a very stinky surprise for her mom so we went right into the tub! This was Lainey's first time in the big tub at home. How I managed this on my own, I'm not sure but she was LOVING it. I'm so thankful she no longer screams through bath time! I can't wait for her to start playing with her fun bathtub toys.
I love love LOVE spending my days with this sweet pea!

First Road Trip!

Last weekend we ventured north for the first time as a family of 3. Thanks to our good friend Kelli, we only had to worry about figuring out how to travel with a baby, not a baby and a dog since she stayed at our house for the weekend with Simon. [THANK YOU KELLI!]

I really failed at taking very many pictures but I did get a few...
Smiles for Grandma on Saturday morning
I feel like if she could talk (like a baby gangster), she'd be saying "Yeah, you know... I'm just chillin here with my homie...me and my Gramps..."

The whole point of traveling to Minnesota this weekend was really for the Carey Golf Invitational. My family is crazy (about golfing) and my parents got both Jed and I new golf clubs last year for Christmas. I haven't put mine to much use but Jed has become quite a golfer! He sunk a 30some-foot putt on the final hole and said he golfed the best he's ever done! While everyone was golfing, Lainey and I hung out with my Aunt Barb who couldn't golf because of a back injury. We had a great time! After 18 holes, we all gathered at my aunt and uncle's house for some yummy food. Lainey obviously missed her Dad...
And her Grandma...
She got to meet the whole Carey clan....
Overall, I'd call the weekend a smashing success. Lainey did really well in the car and only had a very brief 15 minute meltdown on the way there. Otherwise, she was a champ. It's a lot different traveling with a newborn baby though -- lots of stops to feed her, change her, etc. so it took a bit longer than normal, but it was definitely manageable. And I think Lainey LOVED the busy-ness of the weekend. I think she was really glad to be home on Sunday night but I felt like she kind of looked at me on Monday like, "Mom, you're kind of boring. Where are all of those other fun people?" :) I guess we'll have to make the trip again soon...!

Video Debut!

I know every parent thinks their child is especially special but this video is just too cute not to share. Lainey already knows how to wave hello! Enjoy!

Uncle Bud

Lainey had a special visitor come to meet her this week come alllllll the way from Jacksonville, North Carolina, over 1,200 miles away. Her Uncle Bud! My brother-in-law (Emily's husband) is a very special guy and I am so glad that Lainey got to meet him before his deployment. Bud is a Sgt in the United States Marines and he will be deploying to Afghanistan in October for 7 months as an EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal). He took a long weekend to travel from NC home to Minnesota and visit his family before he leaves and kindly spent the majority of his day on Thursday on I35... driving down to Iowa to meet his first niece, Lainey! She spent the majority of his visit sleeping but did wake up to play before he headed back to Minnesota.


Please feel free to keep the Thomas family in your prayers ... that Bud and his team would be kept safe, protected and encouraged during the entirety of their deployment, that time would go quickly for Emily and Claire and they would enjoy their girl time together while Bud is away. I have a hard time thinking about their circumstances without tearing up. Thank you to Bud for sacrificially serving our country and to Emily for being a supportive military wife so that Bud is able to do his job and do it well. We love you both very much!

Sweet little...

baby burrito...

1 month!

Miss Lainey Charlotte is now 1 month old! I will say with confidence that this has been by far the FASTEST month ever in my whole life. The hours, days and weeks have flown by. We have loved welcoming Lainey into our family and are so thankful for her. We have both learned A LOT and more importantly how much MORE there is to learn about babies and being parents. I am thankful too that I don't have to rely on myself or even on Jed for wisdom in how to be a good mom, but that I can go to the Lord for wisdom and patience in figuring these seasons of life out! Here are some of Lainey's likes and dislikes as of 1 month...

Dislikes:
Pacifiers!
(We have bought 3 different kinds and she is not a fan of any of them. Advice? Should I try other kinds? We've tried the soothie, nuk and mam. I don't want to give up but I suppose it's possible that she'll never really take one...?)
Bottles
(She took a bottle well the first week of her life but has not since...)
Baths
(Getting better though!)
Being swaddled
(She does not love this but I feel like she sleeps better if she's wrapped up a bit so I wait until she's almost asleep to swaddle. I'd say the success rate with this is about 75% and I'm hoping it gets better...)
Sleeping before 11 or 12pm
(I am trying but failing a lot at getting her to go down in her crib before 11 or 12. It seems no matter how awake she is in the evening, she still fights sleeping before this time of night. For some this wouldn't be a big deal, but we Johnsons are NOT night owl type people...)
Likes:
Laying on her changing table! This is definitely where we get the most smiles and coos!
Hanging out in just a diaper
Eating - she is a good little eater
When Dad holds her like a football
Tummy time
Being outside
KISSES! She LOVES when we kiss her sweet cheeks!
When Dad calms her down after bath time
Dad's silly songs
(Fortunately, Lainey sounds a lot like the word "lady" and every song with the word "lady" in it can be adapted accordingly)

We LOVE you Lainey! I can't wait to see how much you grow and change during the next month!