Time Flies

I cannot believe how fast this month is going!  We've been super busy, and I've been going through so much personally that I've neglected this blog.

So much has happened with me and it has opened my eyes in so many ways.  I'm incredibly fortunate to have such a loving and caring family and awesome friends.  Things are finally calming down, my life is coming back and I'm starting some new things.

I am currently unemployed.  Yesterday was my last day and it was all my doing.  I'm starting a new job on January 2nd.  I'm thrilled about the new opportunity, and it's got so much going for it.  It's closer to home, I'll have better benefits and I will be working for my old boss.  It was SO difficult leaving my job.  I'd been here for almost ten years.  It was my first real job, my only real job since I graduated college.  I have a family there.  I had a wonderful boss.  Great co-workers and it was comfortable.  BUT, I was ready for a change, and this change is a comfortable one since I'll be working for my old boss.

 

I'm learning to prioritize and life is really good.  If I don't blog again before Christmas, I wish you all the best holiday season.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

 

Katy is SIX months!

Katy you are SIX months old! Mama is a little behind in writing this post, but I'm finally getting it done!

Let's talk stats first. You were 17 lbs 2.5 oz on your six month birthday! Your mama loves your chunky legs so much!!

You were still waking up in the middle of the night for one feeding, but the last week or so before 11/26, you haven't been eating very much - only 2-3 oz and then you're ready to go back to sleep. You've recently started talking when you wake up, you're not even crying, I still go in there to feed you just to get you to go back to sleep. It works, but it sure is exhausting to mama.

When we talked to the doctor at your appointment about whether or not you need the feeding, she said absolutely not. She said that you should be able to go 12 hours now without eating at night, so we needed to start letting you self sooth yourself back to sleep. She gave me the OK to use the ear plugs so that I can sleep.

You're still eating okay one day and blah the next. We switched up your feeding schedule a bit, and you're eating in the middle of the night, then you eat one bottle in the morning 9-10am (usually 6 oz or so) then around lunchtime you eat 1-1.5 tubs of first foods, veggie then fruit. You hate peaches! And you're not the biggest fan of green beans either..... Then you have an afternoon bottle (4-6 oz), an evening bottle (3-4 oz) and then 4 tlbs of oatmeal cereal. You were NEVER getting all of the ounces that your doctor wanted you to have. Your new doctor said you were doing just fine, so I stopped worrying.

You're still a talking machine, and you've really started laughing more too! I love your precious voice and laugh. You love your brother. Cooper makes you smile more than any of us! He's so good with you!

We pulled the jumperoo out of the attic for you and you LOVE jumping!!! I think you like it even more than Cooper did. You're still in a size 3 diaper, you're wearing size 6 month clothes. You're still napping wonderfully. At least two two hour naps a day, and sometimes you will nap for 3 hours. I think that helps you sleep better at night and eat better also.

Your hair is really coming in now, and I'm so excited to see you with the growing hair. Your eyes are still blue and your smile still lights up the room. You still don't have any teeth, but you are chewing on EVERYTHING you can get your hands on. I think you'll be getting that first tooth in the next month or two.

Kathryn Elisabeth Johnson, I love you more and more everyday! You're such a sweet baby girl, I'm so thankful for you!

Thankful in November - Day Thirty

Day thirty. Today, I am thankful a little boy who is as excited about the Christmas season as I am. Tonight, Tim put up our tree and Cooper got to put on the first ornament. He was so excited. Tomorrow, we will decorate the rest of the tree, house and make it feel like Christmas in our house. I cannot wait.

Doing these daily thankful posts has been a great reminder of the people and things I am thankful for day in and day out. Thanks to everyone for putting up with these posts!

 

Thankful in November - Day Twenty-nine

Day 29 - Kieran.

Kieran is the fine lady in the middle of this picture. She is my grandma on my dad's side. She and my grandpa married when I was very young. I do not remember a time when Kieran wasn't in my life. She has been a big part of my life as far back as I can remember.

 

 

Kieran is such a special person in my life. She's done so much for me and I am thankful to have her in my life. When I was a kid, I can remember her taking me to camp out with the Girl Scouts with her niece Amanda. I remember her taking my brother and I over to visit her mom and I loved that!

 

Kieran has lived a very neat life and I will never forget when she told me all about it for a biography that I had to write about someone in middle school. I chose Kieran and I am so glad I did. I have learned so much from Kieran and love her dearly!

 

Love you Kieran!

Thankful in November - Day Twenty-Eight

Today, I am thankful for Thanksgiving. It's an opportunity to gather with loved ones, eat lots of delicious food, and be thankful to God for blessing us with WAY more than we deserve.

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

 

Thankful in November - Day Twenty-Seven

Day 27. Tim's Family.

 

Today, I am thankful for Tim's family. We don't see them often, but when he gets around them, especially his sister Tammi, he has a great time. I'm thankful for Cooper and Katy having cousins that love him, even if they are much older than he is. I tease them all about this, but I am happy that they can get together and watch hours of sports and have a good time.

 

While distance keeps us apart, they are family, and we love them and are very thankful for them!

Thankful in November - Day Twenty-Six

Today I am thankful for my baby girl. She turns six months old today! I took her to the doctor this morning, the little stinker is just perfect! No signs of her heart murmur, and she weighs 17 lbs 2.5 ounces.

I'm going to write a six month post soon, so I won't go into anymore details about her appointment, but I will tell you why I am thankful for Miss Kate. She is my miracle baby. I hope I never take this baby girl for granted. I am so blessed to have actually gotten this girl. We tried for so long to get pregnant, and now that we've got her, I cannot imagine life without her spunky little personality. She brings so much joy to my life. My goal in life right now is to make this girl laugh. I love hearing her laugh. Especially when she really gets going with her laugh. It's so precious. And her smile. She smiles from her eyes and her smile lights up a room.
Katybug, I love you more than you will ever know. I'm so thankful for you. I thank God for you everyday.

Thankful in November - Day Twenty-five

Day 25. I am thankful for date nights with my hubby. We don't often have dates, but when we do, I appreciate them so much. Over the past couple of months we have had a few, with another coming up! Definitely need these periodically to get away and just be with each other.

 

Thankful in November - Day Twenty-Four

Today, will be short and sweet, quite literally. I am thankful for ice cream.

 

Ice cream is my ultimate comfort food, and it may be crazy to be thankful for the stuff but I am. I love it.

 

Thankful in November - Day Twenty-Three

November 23rd, and today, I'm thankful for Ryan Bramlett.

I'm thankful for Ryan for many reasons and I'm going to make a laundry list here.  He's a great husband to Stephanie.  He's a wonderful father to Kampbell.  He provides for my daughter and granddaughter.  My son LOVES RyRy.  Ryan believes in the Lord and makes Him his number one priority.  He is working full time and going to school so that he can finish his degree and make a better world for himself and his family.  He's there for Tim and I when we need him, I cannot tell you how many projects this guy has helped us with around our house, too many to list.  He remembers to ask me about an important event in my life even when I haven't talked to him in over a week, even with everything that he has going on in his life.  I could really go on, but I won't.  I am thankful for this man in our family's lives.  He's made an impact on us in so many ways.

Love you RyRy!!

Thankful in November - Day Twenty-Two

Today, I am thankful for water. Good Ole H-2-0. I'm thankful for our supply of water and that we have clean water. Water is so important to our lives, it may seem like a small thing to be thankful for, but I believe water is pretty darn important. I drink almost nothing except water and milk. On very few occasions do I drink a carbonated beverage or some other type of flavored drink, so for drinking purposes, water is key. Water needed for so much......for bathing, for washing clothes, dishes, hands, how could we survive without all of the water we use? So the next time you're taking your nice hot bath, or swimming in a swimming pool, ocean, or lake, the next time you wash your clothes, smile, because you've got this wonderful liquid called water.

Thankful in November - Day Twenty-One

Day twenty-one.... Birthdays.

I'm thankful for birthdays.  One day per year that is specifically for us.  For each person to be celebrated on their day of birth.  Today, just happens to be my birthday, and I'm taking the day off.  So is my husband.  We're having a "date day" - we're going to spend the entire day together, while the kiddos are at home with their sister!  I've been looking forward to this day for a couple of months now.  Today, I turn 33.  My mom made me the cake in the picture above, it's a delicious carrot cake.  Thanks Mom!  We've been enjoying it since last Saturday and it's disappearing quickly!  Anyway, I'm thankful that each person gets a day to celebrate just them.  I know to some people, birthdays aren't any big deal - but as a kid, my mom made them special and made me feel special.  So I want to do that for my kids and family!

Thankful in November - Day Twenty

Day Twenty - My Brother Craig and his lovely family - Casey, Larissa and Layne! My brother is one of the craziest people I've ever known.  He's sarcastic and always mister personality.  He can make me laugh hysterically and make me fiercely angry like no one else.  I treasure all of the childhood memories I have with him.  He's a great dad, husband, brother and son.  I love you brother! Now, the rest of the family ain't so shabby either.  Casey is amazing.  Girlfriend has been apart of our family"since she and Craig were in high school.  She's so fun to be around and to poke fun at, lol.  Casey has worked her booty off to lose a ton of weight over the past year - she runs races and she's a training fool.  She is my real life fitness inspiration.  My niece Larissa and nephew Layne are such blessings!  I love being their aunt.  We had them over for a sleepover this summer and had such a good time!  I only wish we could spend more time with them.  They are full of life, absolute sweethearts and I love them dearly.
I'm so thankful for Craig, Casey, Rissa-Roo and Layne!!

Thankful in November - Day Nineteen

Day Nineteen - Our Minivan

Today, I'm thankful for this white 2006 Toyota Sienna. She takes us where we need to be and where we want to be on a daily basis. She provides us enough room to pack everything our family needs when we want to go away for a weekend. She gives us room for the abundance of baby stuff that must be packed anytime we go anywhere. This Sieanna has a DVD player for long trips, wireless headphones, heated front seats and an auxiliary port so that I can plug my phone in and play my music. She's awesome and I'm so happy we bought her!

 

Thankful in November - Day Eighteen

Day Eighteen! S*T*E*P*H*A*N*I*E
Today, I'm thankful for Stephanie! This beautiful lady gives me so much to be thankful for; her wisdom at such a young age is amazing to me. She has accomplished a lot in her life - she's graduated college, gotten married, had a wonderful little baby girl, and now, she's watching my babies. I'm so thankful for that last part. Stephanie has patience beyond measure. She is such calm, cool and collected person. That is something that I am not, so it is SO nice to see. I have learned a lot from Steph. Its incredible how much we can learn from each person in our lives.
By marrying Tim, God blessed me with Stephanie. For that, I am so grateful and thankful. Love you Steph!

 

Thankful in November - Day Seventeen

Today, I am thankful for this book. I love reading, but don't have the time to dedicate like I did pre-kids. I have been reading this book though, and I am loving it. Loving that I would rather read this than watch TV in the evenings. This maybe the beginning of me reading more frequently again. So, I am thankful that this book has reminded me of my passion for reading!

 

Thankful in November - Day Sixteen

Day sixteen - I am thankful for our Saturday morning routine.

I love our Saturday family ritual of all 4 of us snuggling in bed talking, tickling and watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. Lots of laughs are involved! Thank goodness we have a king size bed! Cooper and Kate play together so well, he is such a good big brother!! She absolutely loves him. The picture above is from this morning's playtime. I love my family!

I know these days are limited so I am soaking up every minute!

Thankful in November - Day Fifteen

Day Fifteen - SHAWN!
Today - I'm thankful for a person who has been in my life a relatively short period of time, but one who has made a major impact on our lives.  Shawn is my mom's husband, and he's my friend, and a great Papaw to my kids.  He makes my mom happy.  I could end this post right there, because that in itself is enough reason or me to be thankful for this man.  But that is not all!  Shawn gives and gives when he doesn't have to.  When Katy was born, Shawn stayed at my house with my mom, on an air mattress, just so they could take care of Cooper while we were in the hospital.  Shawn has given up actives so that he and mom can be there for us, he's driven to Indianapolis more times than I can count just to visit us.  He has been willing to help us when we converted Tim to a new phone that was just like his.  He's played with Cooper time and time again and Cooper LOVES him, and so do we.  When Mom and Shawn first got married, I'll admit, things were pretty awkward, but through the years, he's become family, and not the "family" that you wish wasn't.  I'm so glad he's a part of our lives (and not just because he smokes the best meat around, haha).
Shawn, I may not say this to you enough or at all, but THANK YOU for being in our lives, and Thank you for everything you do for us and for my mom.  

Apparently Nana, Papaw Shawn and Cooper like to match, lol.

Thankful in November - Day Fourteen

Day Fourteen - I'm thankful for my Grandpa Norman, my dad's dad..  My Gandpa is a hard worker. Always has been, always will be.  The man has worked his entire life it seems.  He didn't graduate high school because he worked.  He and my grandma married young and had my dad when he was only 19. Before my dad, there were two miscarriages, so I'm not exactly sure how old they were when they married, but they were young!  My Grandpa has always been there for me, the love I feel from him is nothing short of wonderful.  He ALWAYS makes me feel good about myself and has always been one of my biggest fans.  I am one of his biggest fans for sure!  I admire him so much.  I remember when I was growing up - spending time at his house, and him taking my brother and I bowling.  I remember EVERY Christmas, my Grandpa and Kieran (our grandma) would take all of us grandkids to look at Christmas lights and to dinner.  Nothing extravagant, but it was special.  Grandpa would "ooooooohhh" and "aaaaaaahhhhhhh" the lights.  Usually just poking fun - but we didn't realize this until we were much older.  I remember going to Grandpa's house on July 4th as a kid, and doing sparklers, having cookouts and spending time with my boy cousins.  All of the cousins on my dad's side are boys except me.  I also remember watching IU basketball games with Grandpa.  He is an avid IU fan, and so am I.  My entire family is really, but my two Grandfather's were the biggest IU basketball fans I ever knew.  
My Grandpa Norman is an amazing, wonderful, funny guy and I am so blessed to have him in my life!  I love you Grandpa!!

Thankful in November - Day Thirteen

Day Thirteen - Today, I'm thankful for my grandma.  My grandma who makes the best mac and cheese I've ever tasted.  My grandma who took me shopping for each birthday when I was growing up and made me feel so special  When I was little, I remember writing my grandma notes and leaving them on her pillow while visiting her and my grandpa.  I loved writing her notes.  She means so much to me and I'm so grateful for such a loving, caring, make you feel like a million bucks grandma!

I don't think my grandma reads my blog, but if she did, I'd want her to know this:  I LOVE you so much and I'm so blessed to have you in my life!

Thankful in November - Day Twelve

Day Twelve - Today, I'm thankful for these two ladies.  They are strong, courageous, kind, giving, thoughtful and amazing friends.  I've known Erica (the taller one in the pictures) since our freshman year of college and Mel since they have been together sometime in 2008 I believe (my memory is lacking these days).  These ladies are the best friends we could ask for in life.  Erica has practically been my BFF since we met!  We've been through thick and thin, and I love her like a sister.  Erica and Mel have some things in life that not many people can say they've done.   Times Square at New Years, bicycled cross country, babysat Cooper, and many more things!  These ladies are aunties to my kids, they treat these kids like royalty and spoil them rotten on any occasion they can justify.

The friendship of Erica and Mel has meant so much to me.  I am thankful for these two wonderful friends today.

Thankful in November - Day Eleven

Day Eleven - I'm thankful for my granddaughter - Kampbell Louise Ellen Bramlett.  

She is such a joy!  Her smile is so precious, her laugh so sweet!  I just love this girl to pieces.  She's growing up so fast.  The other morning, she was sitting at our table eating breakfast in a booster seat, and I just looked at her and couldn't believe how big she was!  I love playing with her, tickling her, anything to make her smile.  She's gonna be a heart-breaker someday, I can just tell.  

Below is a picture that I took of us a few weekends ago when we were watching her.  Do you see that smile?  Those cheeks?  I mean I'm biased, but she's so darn cute!

Soup, I cannot wait to watch you grow!  Love you sweetie girl!

Thankful in November - Day Ten

Day ten and I'm thankful for my iPhone.  Is it silly to be thankful for something like this??  Maybe, but I am anyway.  This thing that wakes me up each morning with it's alarm.  The thing that keeps me company during the hours of pumping each day.  The thing that calculates tips at restaurants, tells me the weather, lets me enjoy my email, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter whenever I want.  This little device allows me to text with family, friends and neighbors, and it is also a phone!  Imagine that!  I can actually make a phone call with it.  Honestly, I'm not sure what I ever did without one of these wonderful pieces of technology, and I don't want to go back, EVER.  

So today, yes, I'm thankful for my iPhone.

Thankful in November - Day Nine

Are ya'll sick of these thankful posts yet?   I had planned on posting other things in between these posts, but I'm seriously having problems even getting these done on time!!

Now, I've talked about my breast-pumps a time or two, or ten already, I know.  But today, I'm talking about having three of these things.  I am so thankful that I have one that I leave at home, in my bedroom at all times.  That I have one that stays at work at all times.  That I have one that stays in my car at all times.  Now, you may call me crazy to have three, but when I am reliant upon these machines for my baby's food supply, it is super duper helpful to have these where I need them without having to remember to pack it up all of the time.

When Cooper was a baby, I only had one pump.  I carted that thing back and forth to work with me everyday, had to re-set it up every evening - and then if we ever decided to go anywhere on the weekends, I had to remember to pack it up too.  Not now, now I have one in the car at all times, and I try to keep parts there too.  It's SO convenient.  The one at work is so nice too!  I don't have to lug an extra bag back and forth each night.  I bring clean parts and voila!  I'm spoiled by three and I'm thankful  for three.  

Thankful in November - Day Eight

Today, I am thankful for this man.

 

This man, my husband, my love.  I've said many times (for example, here, here, here, here) how much I love Tim and how great he really is to us.  I am so thankful for him in my life and our kids lives.  He brings us so much laughter, joy, and he entertains us like no one else can.  Tim can brighten up a crappy day lickety split.  He also has a serious side, and though we don't see it much, he does have it, and he brings it out when necessary.  He has an obsession with Harry Potter, one that he may finally be letting go of a little bit.....  He loves mysteries, especially Sherlock Holmes and other murder mysteries.  He's obsessed with history.  He loves learning about the assassinations of both Lincoln and JFK.  He works his butt off for his family, goes beyond the call of duty and I am proud and thankful to call him my husband.    

Tim, I love you and I thank you for being you.

Thankful in November - Day Seven

Day Seven - Gwen.

See that lady up there?  Well her name is Gwen.  She's my dad's girlfriend.  She is Cooper's & Katy's Grandma Gwen.  She has been a ROCK in my dad's life for the past few years.  Especially this year.  I've said before what a rough year my dad has had with surgeries after his car accident.  Well, this fine lady has carted his booty to the doctor/hospital/wherever he needed to be more often that I can count.  She's been there for him through thick and thin this year - and she's been amazing!  I am so thankful for her in my dad's life, in OUR lives.  She's always trying to spoil that little boy up there rotten, and she does too good a job of it, that's for sure.  She taught me to knit with a loom when she knew that I wanted to learn.  She's a kind, caring and wonderful person.  She'll even feed Ms. Katy even when she spits-up on her time and time again.  That, my friends, is a good woman! :)

Love you Gwen!

Thankful in November - Day Six

Day Six - My Eye Mask & Tim's headphones.

I am not ashamed to say that I am thankful for these two items.  My hubby cannot fall asleep without watching/listening to the television.  I like it to be dark and quiet.  These two things do not go hand in hand when we are trying to sleep.  So.... a couple of years ago when Tim was remodeling our bedroom, he hardwired headphone wires from the TV through the wall, and he just plugs these headphones in and he can listen to the television every night and I don't have to hear a thing.  For Christmas last year, Tim got me this eye mask.  I use it nearly every night.  It helps block the light from the television so that I can have it dark while I am trying to go to sleep.  Those two items along with the sleep timer on the TV has made falling asleep much easier for me and much easier for Tim as well.  

So today, I'm thankful for two simple items that make both of our lives better.  

Thankful in November -Day Five

 

Day Five - Chapstick. Particularly Blistex Complete Moisture.

This stuff is wonderful on my lips. Makes them so soft and keeps the dryness away all year long. I have tried tons of different chapsticks, and this one is by far my favorite.

Do you have a favorite chapstick?

Thankful in November - Day Four

 Today, I am thankful for my dad.  My “Pops” is a wonderful man. 

 He worked hard for our family, and he has taught me so much during my life.  I remember him helping me with homework as a kid, I remember us fighting like cats and dogs when I was in high school.  He and I have been through thick and thin, and I can say he is one of my most trusted advisors in life.  I LOVE this man so much!  I love his smile.  He’s had one heck of a year this year – more surgeries than I can count because of a broken leg due to a careless driver.  He’s kept a positive outlook since the beginning.

Today also happens to be my dad’s birthday.  Happy Birthday Pops!  I love you!!!