She is Here!!!

She arrived today at 2:23pm. 7 pounds 2 ounces, 18 inches long and BEAUTIFUL! She has the prettiest hair and the longest eyelashes!
This was her about 1 hour old....

Momma, Daddy and Baby are doing great.... just really worn out.

Finish line....

Here it goes.... the final 5 photos...

Day twenty-six: a picture of something that means a lot to you.
OK- I have posted this pic once because of the floors- but those 3 pics in the background- those are my kids 1 year portraits and should my house ever burn down- those will be on the top of my things to grab list (but not before the real kids themselves... or JD... but next)


Day twenty-seven: a picture of yourself and a family member.
Juliah Dee and I - she is like my little sister. I love her to pieces :)


Day twenty-eight: a picture of something you're afraid of.
Life's uncertainty..... you can't picture it and that is the scary part....

Day twenty-nine: a picture that can always make you smile.
This is one of thousands (literally) of my kids and their personalities....I LOVE IT!!!


Day thirty: a picture of someone you miss.
Brother David- we all miss him terribly.


Glory, Glory I am finished!!!

Pray for Chad and Emily- they are waiting at hospital to be admitted. Ms. Karsyn will be here (hopefully) some time tomorrow.
(and I confess that I did this tonight so I could have a Karsyn only post tomorrow :)

25....

A picture of my day....

depends on which day you are asking...
Sunday is usually church- this past Sunday we sang (ok- NH sang- I clapped ;)
at Mrs. Amy's church. Such a sweet congregation. We love the Johnson's!



Monday- catch up on reading the Sunday paper because we aren't home to read it when we get it...

Tuesday- get some play time outside because we don't have to get ready to go anywhere...


Wednesday- get everybody ready for church super early so we can meet Granny, Granna and Daddy in town to eat supper before church....


Thursday- TV night- everyone gets bathed and ready for bed earlier than usual because it is Mom's night to watch Grey's and Private Practice (it is Nick Jr and Disney every other night)...and yes Kaden plays church in the bathtub.....


Friday- singing or hanging at home because we don't have a singing and no one wants to get ready to go anywhere.... see above pictures....

Saturday- who knows.... this one varies week to week.... this Saturday consists of me doing a walk for MS in honor of Becky (Marquetta's bff) Kaylee has a b-day party , I need to find the boys Easter outfits..... then getting ready for church...... then stopping by to squeeze Ms. Karsyn because she should be home by then..... whew....... and before I finished this post my Mom informed me that it is both of my nephew's birthday party....
whew again....

Days 20-24.....

Whew- this is taking FO-EV-A !!! And I am not doing pictures because these were more easily answered with words.

Day twenty: a picture of somewhere you'd love to travel.
Up the East Coast- Rhode Island, Maine, New York (not so much the city as the shore
line)

Day twenty-one: a picture of something you wish you could forget.
HA! I can't remember yesterday hardly - so most things that I wanted to leave my memory
have already done so by default..... I have a TERRIBLE memory! I have considered taking
herbs for it because I know this can't be normal at 29!

Day twenty-two: a picture of something you wish you were better at.
You can't take of picture of it- but I really wish I was patient. I am NOT in the least.
This is one of my biggest faults!

Day twenty-three: a picture of your favorite book.
I will put the Bible here- not that I read it often at all- but I know it has all the answers. ( I feel like these questions are my confessions.... first no patience and now I don't read the Bible!)

Day twenty-four: a picture of something you wish you could change.
I would change the carpet and bathroom flooring if I could snap my fingers and it be finished without me having to semi-move out of my house!!

Six more questions and I will have finished this thing..... hmmmmmm..... guess my "non-patient-self" is showing through on this too.......

Different perspective.....

You know you can come across one little line that can change the way you think about things- well I did that this morning while doing my "be real quiet and enjoy my coffee before the sleepyheads wake up" moment. A friend of mine had written a line- one line- saying that she had to leave work to go home to take care of her sick 4 year old all night and she was sitting by her side to make sure she was better- And that was one of her favorite things about being a mom. I have spent countless times over the past few months thinking "Not again, please don't be sick AGAIN" Being annoyed at germ spreaders- having cabin fever like no other- thinking I may likely kill over if one more person coughed in my face or wiped their nose across my clean shirt. I do LOVE being my kids caretaker and I LOVE even more that they want me to be there- this just said "Hey Drea- quit whining- you GET to do this- it is a privilege that I gave you (and must have thought you were doing OK because I trusted you 3 times) Am I saying I want the flu, stomach virus and RSV over again so that I won't complain this time? ABSOLUTELY NOT! I am just making note of this so that I approach it with a different attitude next time. And maybe next time will be 10 years from now :)

And now for updating- as you have seen in the other posts- we did complete the hardwood floors (with a slight set back from the top of the hot water heater being knocked off....no time for all that) We still have many many repairs to be done- but that was hopefully the biggest and hardest because JD and I almost didn't physically survive that one. Poor Tim- we owe him BIG TIME!

We are all sitting on ready waiting for baby Karsyn to get here! She should be here some time between now and next Wed/Thursday. Kaylee is ecstatic that there is another girl joining the family (Cantrell/ Jones family- Lord knows my family is blessed with girls!) Please pray for Momma and baby (and Daddy because his nerves just might get the best of him on this one!)

My three amigos are doing great. Kaden will be turning 2 in just a couple of weeks(tear*) and I can tell it- he was throwing himself down on the floor last night because he couldn't get Kyle's shoes to stay on his feet :) Kyle got the Good Citizenship Award at school because he is a sweety pie! (and he has went 2 weeks without a major injury knock on wood) Kaylee is still on All A's Honor Roll and has decided that Will (in her class) is no longer gross.... and she turned down Sam's offer to marry him- or date him.... I can't keep up!

Kaden decided that Allie and Brody weren't going riding without him so he squeezed himself in!


Look at this- I found out that if my kids look all dirty and mis-matched that they will smile and act good for a picture......

Day 19.....

a picture of you when you were little....

I decided to do a collage on this one just so I could have some of these pics on my computer.... you will laugh and I do understand!!

6 months old


2 years old with my sisters (Danielle was 4, Candace about 5 months or so) My mom had 3 kids in 4 years.... she earned her crazy FOR SURE!!


Headstart (Pre-k) 4 years old and sleepy faced


uggggghhhh..... this is why I don't do church pictures...... how terrible are those bangs! Or are those even considered bangs???? 80's gone terribly wrong!!


JD and I at his senior prom. Looking at this makes me realize we are getting middle aged!!!!

This is one post I could have worked on all day! Notice I skipped ages 9-13.... those pics are for my memories only.... they are WAY worse than these!! Imagine
(if you can) bad home perms, really short hair with some type of rat-tail, growing out the home perms, and trying to "become myself"...... mercy, mercy, mercy....

Days 12-18

OK- I really am trying to get this over with....

Day 12- something you love- I am going material on this one.....



I LOVE my new floors- LOVE- walk around on them just to feel them under my feet and
to Thank the Heavens that the old carpet/vinyl is gone....

Day 13 a pic of your fave band or artist...

The Isaacs

Day 14 someone you could never imagine your life without....

My little family the Lord gave me. JD is very included in this- but you have already seen a picture of him :)

Day 15 something you want to do before you die.....
Have everything paid for. I don't have a picture of that..... but the one in
my head is NICE :)

Day 16 a picture of someone who inspires you.....
Sis Lillian Stephens. I don't have a picture of her that I know of but I credit her
to alot of my spiritual upbringing.

Day 17 a picture of something that has made a big impact on your life.....
The Lord- he wasn't available for a picture today :) He is what and why I am who and
what I am. If you don't know Him- I suggest you make a "friend request" to Him because you don't know what you are missing.

Day 18 a picture of your biggest insecurity....

I feel certain this is on the top of every woman's list!
***Sis Sherrill pointed something out to me..... this is NOT me on these scales!! bahahaha I only WISH that was what the scales said when I stood on them! I googled a picture of scales and this came up- I never thought about it!***** I did get a good laugh though!

I am stopping here for now....... plan to finish this ASAP though....

Day 10 and 11....

because I am behind (& really thinking I will never make it to the 30 day mark)

Pic of the person you do the most messed up things with....
SKIP

Pic of something you hate.....



Dirty dishes. Dirty Sheets and Dirty floors are also included in this catagory.

Ooooooo- I am so excited about the #12....

Just a blog....

I am doing a "not 30 pictures" day post today. I will never get you caught up on what we are up to if I wait 30 days and I would HATE for you to miss that ;)

We have started the madness at this house- REMODELING! At the moment I have about 20-something boxes of hardwood sitting in my living room. I have 4 gallons of paint in my kitchen along with a bag full of misc. supplies. I finally finished my front door yesterday (and when I typed this I remembered I didn't paint it down the side because I had to close it so it really isn't finished..... grrrr) I have 2 new lights in my kitchen. And I have so much more to do it ain't even funny! We are doing everything that I have wanted done for 5 years- and even though I have a sense of "we are doing this for SOMEBODY ELSE" I am still thrilled to see it finished. (JD was thrilled until he saw how rapidly the money was being spent.... the thrill left him and was replaced with a nervous twitch :)-

The kids are great! Kaylee and Kaden are in a race to see who grows the fastest- good thing it warmed up because they are busting at the seams in their winter clothes. I had a dress that I put up for next year because it was so big on Kaylee (even the sleeves were too long) and I just happened to think of this growth spurt and let her try it on.... it fits.... and would have been too short for next winter!
Kaden wore a pair of shorts yesterday that Kyle could still wear LAST YEAR! (Kyle will be 6 in a few months- Kaden turns 2 next month) And Kyle- well- he can actually wear some size 5's now! The doctor even commented that Kyle should be really nice to Kaden because it isn't going to be long until Kaden is the "bigger" brother!

I am off to the big city of Scottsboro today to eat for Juliah's birthday. She is precious and I hope she has a good time. She is so busy with school, etc. that we don't get to see her much. I stay on the look-out for a her a boyfriend and have YET to find someone whom I think is worthy of her. If you have a resume of any potential guys- you may run them by me for approval ;)

Happy gorgeous Friday! I hope we all get to run around in the sunshine! (I actually took the kids dirt-bike for a run yesterday.... ummmm..... Kyle must have gotten his riding skills from me...... that was scary!)

We had a "new spring outfit" photo shoot. You can only imagine how well these kids cooperated..... if I could only learn how to USE photoshop I could transfer heads and make it appear that my darling children all looked at the camera and smiled at the same time!!!
One of the better ones.....

How the rest of them turned out.....

Day Nine.....

A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most....



JD wins this one. The longer we are married the more I understand when you unite in matrimony as one- that really is what it is. When I am upset, hurt, disappointed- he is too and vice versa. If he has a bad day- he can walk by me and without saying a word I can usually sum up how his day has went. We basically grew up together- some days it is very evident that we are still growing :)

Dee, Heather, Holly and Kerri are my runners up :)

Day 8.....

A picture that makes you laugh.....


You have to know Scott and Josie to appreciate this one. He goes on and on about how loud she is. I laugh every time I come across this one!

Day 7.....

Technically- I am 6 minutes shy of Tuesday and I don't what time zone this blog is on but it always shows the incorrect time of when I posted to it- but I have a house full of babies tomorrow that will most likely keep me from blogging so I thought I would get a jumpstart on it.

A picture of your most treasured item.....


My wedding set- mainly my engagement ring. Yes, I love it because of the obvious- but it has a very precious memory behind it. Joe David picked this ring out at the jewelry store and called his PawPaw (Bro David) and asked him to go take a look at it and see what he thought about it (and I think to see how much he could get the jeweler talked down on the price). That same day JD got a phone call and it was his PawPaw and he said "I went and looked at your ring", and JD asked, "What do you think?" Bro. David said "I got it!". JD was a little surprised to say the least (scared to death was the thing... looking at a ring and having one in his possession was a totally different thing... he knew it meant there was no going back ;) JD asked me to marry him the next day I think. I always joked that if Bro David hadn't bought my ring (which JD sold alot of insurance and repaid him for it) I may still not be married! I loved that he did that - it was typical Bro David- you never really knew what he was thinking or what his true point was. He and I always had a special bond- I thought the world of him and I know he loved me just like his own grandkids.

I was 14 the first time I walked into Huntsville church with JD , Bro David was shaking hands and greeting everyone as they came in and he took my hand and said "You gonna marry Jabbo?" I turned 50 shades of red and giggled and said "I don't know"..... sometimes I think he already did....

Days 6....

A person you'd trade places with for a day......

No picture required- I wouldn't do it! I am content with being here and being me and living my life...... and a whole day..... do you know how long it would take me to get caught up if I missed a whole day of MY life..... not worth it I tell you :)

If possible I might wouldd fast forward a month or two until all this work is finished on my house. We are starting a repair/update/clean-up job on our house and this weekend that means tearing out old carpet/vinyl and getting ready for (drum roll please....) HARDWOOD!!!!!!!! Those of you who have had any convo with my regarding my house knows that I have waited almost 5 years for this. I think I will have some type of celebration as we throw out the stained beige carpet and the hunter green tile printed vinyl (I know- GROSS)
I just got one of my two new light fixtures hung in my kitchen this weekend. These are the last two brass lights to be replaced.

And by the time I get it all fixed and pretty and just how I wanted it.... we are going to sell it...... just the way the world turns I reckin'!

Happy Monday!!!

Day 5.....

Photo of your favorite memory.....

I have many favorite memories- but the day I (finally) got married was definitly one
of the best!


The day I recieved the Holy Ghost, the day I became a momma for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd time, when we moved into our first house, the list goes on and on.... I have been blessed with a life full of favorite memories...... Thank the Lord :)

(I am going to TRY to get some different pics for this thing because so far I am 5 for 5 for re-posting the same pics I have already put on my blog...)

Day 4....

A picture of your night...


Giving baths, cooking supper, doing timed reading, refereeing fights, cleaning up
messes....

one picture could NOT capture all of that....

and last night I was that crazy lady with a cart full of paint, caulk and light fixtures that had 3 kids playing sword fight/drums with the free paint-stirrers they give you........ I will let you picture that in your head while I try to forget that I was dumb enough to attempt it :)

Day 3.....

A picture of the cast of your favorite show.....

The Three Stooges...



Just kidding! My fave show is Greys Anatomy but I didn't want to google a pic, copy to my files, put on my blog, then delete from my files...... I am too lazy for all that :)

Day 2-

A picture of who you have known/been friends with the longest.....




That would be Dee. She has been there for me for everything. Glad days, sad days, mad days- she always listens and sometimes takes my side just because she knows it will make me feel better :) Everybody needs a Dee-Dee in their life!

Here it goes Brandy....

I have total insomnia from too much coffee, sweet tea and conversations about worries before bed have my mind still running...... so I decided to accept Brandy's tag and do this 30 day picture thing (but it is likely to take me way longer than 30 days) Here it goes


1* My real name is Andrea and very few people actually call me that
2* I have been married to Joe David for 9 years, 3 months and 22 days
3* I have the 3 best kids God ever made
4* I love to vacuum
5* I have 2 sisters and a step-sister that I love just like she is a real one.
6* I have worked in chicken houses, planting/growing/selling mums, delivering newspapers, being a secretary, being an escrow clerk and cleaning houses- yet the best paying job I have ever had is being a Mom!
7* I once turned a cartwheel in my MawMaw's kitchen and had to get stitches from hanging
my pinky toe on the handle of her stove. (and I wonder where Kyle gets it from)
8* I love to laugh.
9* If you come to my house- I usually find something for you to take home with you.
10* I love to blog (duh- I am pretty sure y'all knew this one)
11* We flipped a nickel to decide what to name Kaden. He was almost Kaleb :)
12* Fixing my hair is one of the worst things I have to do (almost) everyday
13* My middle name is Dawn- after my Mom's twin sister (could have been worse- my mom's middle name is FAWN)
14* I have an addiction to Febreeze Noticeables plug-in air fresheners
15* I have been a Child of God for almost 16 years :)

OK- I am still not sleepy- but I have 2 houses to clean in the morning and I don't think 5 hours of sleep is going to keep me running!!

Laughter is the best medicine......

Kaden decided to crash in the floor while I cooked supper.....


Last night- Kaylee was (against her will) reading Kyle the book "The Invisible Moose" and he kept saying "Cut (as in what the directors yell)- I have to ask you something" and she said (angrily) "You have to wait until I am finished reading!" and he said "I can't help it- I have to talk" and she told him "When you think you are going to talk- just tell yourself not to talk" and he starts chanting in a whisper "Don't talk, don't talk, don't talk" and she lost it and screamed "Say it IN YOUR HEAD!" I had the biggest laugh ever- sitting in the kitchen over-hearing their conversation!!!

Now for the update on us....
We have had a great weekend. Went to church at Skyline Saturday night and had a wonderful supper with Dee and Rod at McD's after church (the food wasn't wonderful- but the company made up for it) We were dismissed for both church services on Sunday and we totally vegged out all day! We all laid around- napping like cats and being as lazy as we could- and it was GREAT!

I made up for lazy today though- I almost had to call in some back up to help me find my way through the house! I got most of it repaired before taking Kaylee and Kyle to the dentist for crowns (yes- two crowns- I offered the lady one of my arms as payment before I left) They did well considering- they both have sore mouths but it must not be too bad because they are still arguing just as much as usual :)
We left there to do a little shopping at Itty Bitty- where Kaylee decided to start her after-Mr.Nose-meltdown. We did manage to get 3 dresses before we dashed to Granny's house. They slept there for 2 hours while I ran back to Costco and Publix (Yes- I went ALONE and I did walk extra slow there for a little bit and enjoyed actually REMEMBERING what I had went in for.... Its the little things :)


Tomorrow I have Ms. Allie and Mr. Chandler- along with Kaden- which is why I am doing a night post- doubt there will be a spare minute in the morning. It is Chandler's first time staying here without his Mommy- we are going to have SO much fun... well.... if you call eating, napping and watching Yo Gabba Gabba and Mickey Mouse all day fun :) The other two haven't complained- or if they have I can't understand a word of it- so its all good!

Oh- did I mention no-one has ran a fever or thrown up or had a major cough in this house for 6 days now- Thank you Lord! We are almost at the 1 week mark- a record for this winter. (and I am SO hoping that I didn't just jinx myself!!)

The Three Amigos ready for bed......

Goodnight bloggy friends :)

Congrats JD....

Today I got up at 4a.m. to get ready to go to Birmingham to an awards ceremony that- well- wasn't very exciting to say the least.(well.... the human-turkey-call guy was pretty entertaining... ) JD was given an award for finishing in the top 5 in his company. The Lord has blessed him with a great job and I am so thankful that He gave Joe David the ability to be able to do the job. I myself am not a sales-person in any way. We both agree that we couldn't swap jobs if we wanted to! The Lord knows just where to place us and I truly believe that if you sincerely want His will in all things- He will guide your paths.

Against JD's will (believe it or not) I made him have an awards day photo shoot when we got home :) He is my oldest child remember- I have to landmark these moments. (and I don't plan to go to another ceremony unless he gets #1 because after sitting through all that- I didn't even get to pick where we ate lunch!)



So- shout out to Joe David! I am so proud of you. We had a sense of sadness with this today because we knew that Bro David would have been thrilled that JD received this honor. He was, and still is, JD's mentor in his career and in his life as a Child of God.