Cuteness

Brittany and Nate celebrating their year of togetherness. Collectively now, "Aaaaawwwwww."


Here's something you don't see everyday. The health conscious duo sharing a dessert

Four months and two weeks from now and they'll be married! Happy Anniversary, Cutie Pies.

Chillin'

"Hi, I'm Makayla, and I am living the dream!"

"She's no walk in the park......"

I've been trying to wrap my head around this expression recently. I suppose one wouldn't be if their every waking moment is coursed with having to do something. Someone used this expression in reference to me.

And now I will explain why they are wrong. I am a walk in the park if you only have to sit and watch television or play endless games of Spider Solitaire on the computer. I am a walk in the park if you are allowed to nap at will, and you don't HAVE to do any work in the house you live in. I am a walk in the park if I tend to everyone's needs and you don't have to. I am a walk in the park if the landscape is taken care of regularly and you haven't hired anyone to do it. I am a walk in the park if the dogs you claim to love are exercised daily and you didn't hire a dog walker or a kennel service. I am a walk in the park if you have dirtied up something that I spent hours cleaning and I didn't scream at you.

I am a walk in the park if I spend 40+ hours a week working a paying job. I am a walk in the park if I tend to my own every need and don't rely on anyone else to do things for me. I am a walk in the park if I can do anything without someone telling me what to do. I am a walk in the park if I tend to the other relationships in the family.

Maybe you should take a walk in the park and see if it's any different than what you do now.

More ill gotten booty......

Makayla and her momma.


Makayla bug.


Makayla and her daddy.......something about being wrapped around her little finger.


Makayla looks likes she's so happy and content that she is smiling. I could just eat her up!

I steal other people's photos

Makayla loving on her daddy and giving him kisses!

Makayla Ashleigh Johnson

Meet our brand new baby granddaughter. She was born September 23, 2010 at 9:34pm. She weighed in at 8 lbs 15 oz and 23 inches long. Oh, how we love her already!

Being there for Makayla's birth is ranked up on my top ten list of best moments of my life. I was there when Brittany had her baby, and now Andrew has a little girl of his own. I hope to be present with all of my grandchildren's births.

I really thought that since Jennifer (baby's mommy) isn't my daughter, that I would feel a little more detached from the experience. Jennifer has been wonderful in that she invited me to be there for doctor's appointments and ultrasounds. I got to be in the delivery room along with her mother.

When Jennifer was pushing, my mother instinct kicked in and the tears started flowing. Jennifer worked so hard! Makayla was delivered, and I watched my son attending to her on the little isolette table. It's hard to describe the pride you feel when you see your child becoming a parent for the first time. He was crying, and I was overwhelmed with my feelings of love for him. My baby has a baby!

Andrew has always been and is so attentive to Jennifer, and now, their daughter. I hope that had a little bit to do with me in raising him to be a caring and loving man.

Brittany also had the opportunity to be present when Makayla was born. I have been so worried about her feelings too. Her daughter is still so very present with us, and always will be.

I'm rambling, I think, because I am tired. This much I know, Makayla is beautiful and we love her so much already. Andrew and Jennifer are already wonderful parents. Brittany is going to be okay. And, I love my family more than anything.

I love my brother.

My brother, Nathan, is so awesome. Yeah, he's the boy who used to hit me and pull my hair when we were younger. But, I digress.........

Nathan and I are only 12 months apart, always have been. He is my "little" brother only in the sense that he will always be 12 months younger than me. I've watched this little brother grow up and become an incredible man.

I'm not biased. Just ask his "girls". Yesterday was his 20th anniversary of wedded bliss to his lovely wife, Shawna. He just recently married off his oldest daughter. They had two more daughters after that, and finally a son.

Nathan is incredibly considerate with his ladies. Yesterday his daughter, my niece, posted on her blog about how he always still opens all doors for his wife and daughters. Some women would be offended by that, but not this one, and definitely not his ladies.

It's precious that his children see how wonderful he is. He's smart and handsome. Yeah, I might not have used that word about him as we were growing up, but he is.

Now, my daughter is marrying Nate. My brother and Brittany's fiance actually have the same name, Nathaniel.

Just felt like sharing my sisterly pride today.