Feeling domestic again

My mom's friend had us over to make stockings a couple weeks ago and it was a lot of fun. I decided to make a fun one for McKayla :-)

Todd and the kiddos

McKayla figured out if she ran and screamed then all her older cousins would run after her laughing...this became a very fun game for her and lasted for about 20 minutes...Todd had to join in too, of course ;-). This video is after they pulled down a small mattress and started jumping all over it.

Peek a Boo

This is from the beginning of December, but McKayla still loves to play peek a boo :-)

Enjoying the beach

2nd Christmas

For our second Christmas celebration we headed down to LA to see Todd's family. We left late Christmas Eve and McKayla was a great girl on her first plane ride (she was saying "Oooo" to all the runway lights). We had a blast seeing the whole family and some extended family through dinners, BBQs, beach, zoo, Neptunes Net for lunch (famous biker joint in Malibu), playing with sidewalk chalk, eating way too much candy and more. McKayla loooved playing with her cousins and she really loved playing big cousin to Teis (he's younger by about 6 months). She even got to sit at her own little table for dinner with her cousin Laelia and feeding herself her entire dinner. Todd and I really enjoyed being with the family and spending time together and with Kayla. I have to give a shout out to my hubby too for the very unexpected diamond charm bracelet ;-). The flight back was pretty good as well and McKayla even slept for about 30 minutes.

Todd and McKayla at the Santa Barbara zoo

Olivia and McKayla at the Santa Barbara zoo
I've drawn this symbol in the sand for as long as I can remember (the T & M and then I added the squared once we had McKayla)

Todd and Kayla walking on a Malibu beach

Kayla looved playing in the sand

All the cousins

McKayla and Laelia at their own big girl table

McKayla and Laelia playing w/ their new sidewalk chalk

The girls loved playing w/ Grandma & Grandpa Johnson's toys

McKayla w/ her new purse from Santa

Todd's mom helping Kayla open a gift

McKayla and Teis playing w/ new toys

McKayla's 1st plane ride

McKayla and her present

1st Christmas

We went to my parents house the Sunday before Christmas to celebrate with them since we spent Christmas in LA this year. We did the traditional x-mas morning breakfast and then opened stockings and gifts. After church Santa was there so we got a picture with him as well. McKayla got a new kitchen and shopping cart from Santa along with a popper, necklace, x-mas pjs, firetruck and more. Todd and I got some clothes and things for the house as well as a new mattress (much needed).

Santa Claus

We decided to go to my parents church yesterday instead of ours and it ended up being an even better idea than I thought...it just so happened that Santa Claus decided to stop by after church :-). Kayla was ready for her nap so I didn't know how it would go, but it wasn't too bad. I brought her up to him and as I set her down on his lap she got a little scared and gripped me harder. So I knelt down by her and she cried for a second, but then my dad got her attention and we got two pictures...one with me and then one without. I was very proud of our little girl cause I know she was nervous and tired.

McKayla 15 months

McKayla did really well at her 15 month check up although she kept her eye on the doctor and nurse at all times and wiggled while they poked and pulled and stuck things in her ears. She got 3 shots and was such a good girl...only 3 loud cries and then she was our happy girl again (she even got a sticker for being so good). She weighed in at 19 lbs. 1.5 oz. (yey, we're back on the charts at the 3rd percentile) and was 30 inches long (40th percentile just like at her 12 month). One more month of formula and then the doctor said we can try to slowly introduce whole fat milk (please say a prayer for her that her little body can handle the milk). Here are a few little facts about McKayla at 15 months...
- She copies EVERYTHING Todd does
- She still likes all food except avacado
- She takes one long nap mid morning and sometimes a small late afternoon nap
- We're down to one bottle in the morning and one at night (sippy cup during the day)
- She can feed herself with her spoon or fork
- She has one molar (that I know of) coming in
- She says more things like "what's that, more, up
- She can go get her diaper ,shoes, hat,cup or coat if you ask her to
- She points to her nose when you ask her "Where is your nose?"
- She can pull the outlet covers off and get into the locked cabinets
- She loves her mini blanket and pink teddy that she sleeps with (they are her comfort items)
- She loves taking a bath and will help take her clothes off to get in faster
- She's still very social (although she gets a little shy at first now
- She loves to sing and dance
- She goes up and down the stairs well and turns around to get down off the couch

As always, she's the light of our lives and we couldn't ask for a more well tempered and sweet loving little girl. Her kisses mean the world to us and her giggle is the most precious sound!

Johnson X-mas Party

The hosts

McKayla in her new hat from Chad and Jenney
The kiddos playing in the pool of balls

Most of the girls

McKayla reading her new book w/ Paka

McKayla eating chex mix w/ Gigi (she loved it!)

COOKIES!

My sister and I went to my parent's house last night to make x-mas cookies with my mom. After a yummy dinner we got to work on peanut butter kiss, snowball, choc. chip and sugar cookies. My dad ran all over the house after McKayla so that I could concentrate on my fine cookie skills..Ha..as I spoke the words "I don't think I've actually ever used my rolling pin" and rolled my mom's rolling pin over the sticky dough, my dad informed me that I might want to put flour on the pin first...oops(dangit, I was feeling so domestic recently) :-0. McKayla made her first x-mas cookie...a x-mas tree with multi-colored sprinkles...and ate a ton of cookie dough and sprinkles. She also shared the sprinkles with my parent's dog by banging on her tray so hard they would fly off onto the floor (Merry x-mas Nikkita). It was so much fun hanging out with my mom, sis, dad and Kayla and we even brought a chocolate chip cookie home for Todd.

Getting "into" the book

While reading this morning, McKayla really wanted to "get into" her books...

Happy 30th

We went to Cafe Madrid for my friend Kim's 30th birthday celebration and had a great girls night. The food was awesome and it is such a cute place! Three of us went in together and gave Kimmy her first piece of Tiffany jewelry which I think she enjoyed and was suprised with :-). When they brought out her dessert they turned down all the lights in the retaurant and played this special music while they brought out the dessert with a candle in it (definitely had the whole place looking at her). They also have a spanish tradition of taking Sangaria for 12 seconds (really, can anyone do that?!). Kim was a great sport and took a little one for one second...Go Kimmy! Happy Birthday to one of my best friends...love you girl and here's to many more!!!

Family Night

Last night we went to the SLC Temple Square to check out all the lights (I realized last week that I have walked by them every day for work for 6 years and never stopped to enjoy them). It was a little crazy b/c they had an event going on, but once we found parking it was easy to get around. McKayla was nice and bundled up and her favorite part was looking at the sheep in one display.

Bumped and Bruised

Kayla had a rough weekend...between falling off the couch and falling onto tables. She ended up with her first two real bruises (one on her temple and one on her cheek)...our poor little girl! To top it off the poor thing is also getting her first molar :-(

The bruise on her temple

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

A few lights were out for this picture, but you get the idea ;-)

with the flash off

with the flash on