Friday, December 30, 2011

{before baby}

Just 3 weeks before our little girl was born, My dear friend Andrea {With Lime flower studio}did a photoshoot with us. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the pictures & i am so excited to have such sweet memories to share with our little sweetie. Im excited to pull these pictures out one day & say "There you are in mamas belly! & look how much your daddy loved you, even before he met you!"  

Its already weird looking back at these photos of my pregnant belly.  
It brings back memories of heartburn, sleepless nights, sleeping sitting up, waddling, swelling.. all that fun stuff. But it was all so worth it! 
{My grandmother Joy made this blanket for me when i was a baby. Now i wrap our little girl in it 21 years later}

Monday, December 26, 2011

{Christmas as 3}

This year was our first Christmas as 3
& it was a busy one
We opened our presents at home, then went to spend time with family later that morning. 
Its so crazy to think that we had Giuliana a week ago. I already feel almost fully recovered from the C-section, its amazing! I have been able to be a lot more active than i thought i would be & almost all of my swelling has gone. I feel very blessed. 
We are loving being parents.  It just feels right & she is such a good baby! 
I got willy an Ipad2. He was pretty excited about it :) 
Yes, i LOVE Harry Potter, dont judge!
Irwin enjoyed all the excitement. He tried to eat all of the wrapping paper as we unwrapped our presents 
This is my favorite Christmas gift :)
She slept through our little family christmas. its ok though :)
She did decide to wake up a little later& hang out with her daddy :) I love her little face & those big eyes! She looks more & more like her daddy everyday! I love it! 
Merry Christmas Everyone! Hope you had a wonderful weekend! 
Love,
William, Ashley & Giuliana 


Friday, December 23, 2011

{Giuliana's Journey}

{The night before she was born}
{The day she was born}
{With daddy}
{With Mommy}
{We're Home!!}

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

{O happy day}

Announcing the arrival of:
Little Miss Giuliana Joy Johnston
Born at 630am on December 19th 2011
7lbs. & 4oz.


Sunday, December 18, 2011

{Our last day as 2}

Today is our last day as "2".
Tomorrow we will be "3". 

I can hardly believe that this day is already here! 
We have been so nervous the last couple of weeks, preparing for the arrival of our sweet little girl.
The crazy thing is, today, we both have a strange sense of peace & calmness, which is not how i expected to feel on the day before our babies birth. 
I think God is preparing our hearts, & calming our minds, reminding us that everything is going to be ok!

So far, we have had a pretty calm day. We ate breakfast together at home, cleaned up the house, then went to lunch at the restaurant we went to on our very first date over 5 years ago. 
The rest of the day, i think we will just spend time together relaxing!

In less than 13 hours, William & I will be driving to the hospital to bring our precious little gift into the world. 
Keep us in your thoughts & prayers as we go through the next couple of hours {& next couple of days!}

We're going to be parents!




Saturday, December 17, 2011

{39 weeks & Happy Birthday Joe}

Today we are 39 weeks :) only 2 more days until we get to meet our little sweetie. 
I can hardly believe it! I am definitely ready.

Today is also special for another reason. Today is my father in laws Birthday! 
{My mother in law, father in law, William & me in Vegas last year} 

Joe, I am so excited to see you hold our sweet little Giuliana in your arms as a Grandpa on monday! :) 
Happy Birthday Joe! Love you!



Friday, December 16, 2011

{DIY surf spray}

For those of you that are on pinterest, & like hair products {ME!}, im sure you have seen this recipe before. Its a DIY recipe for bumble & bumble surf spray.
I love the bumble & bumble product, but, frankly, its just so expensive! So when i found a tutorial online to make my own, i jumped for it! I have adjusted the portioning of ingredients to my own personal preferance, so, this is definitely a recipe that you can easily play around with.

{DIY Surf Spray}
You will need:
1T hair gel {Heaping!}
1/2 C hot water
3t epsom salt
Empty spray bottle
Mix all ingredients in a big measuring cup until fully dissolved.
Pour mixture into your empty spray bottle & your done! I like to call it Salty root spray :) 
You can use this product on wet or dry hair for many different styles.
I use it just on my roots for an extra little lift, instead of using a root lifter. 
I like it a lot better, i feel like it doesn't dry my hair & scalp out like most root lifters tend to do. 

Well Happy friday!

{Thanks for the mention SewReliable!}

We were mentioned on a new website called SewReliable.com. 


They sell a ton of sewing products! Everything from pins & needles to quilting machines.
The owner & operator, Janine, is a really neat lady & so is her website!
Go check it out! 
Here is a Link.

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

{Christmas Cookies}

It's that time of year again! 
Every holiday, my dear friend Julie & I get together & make cookies :) we have done this for some time now! This year we made 2 different cookie recipes:







Chocolate Candy cookies
Recipe found HERE






&





Double Chocolate chunk cookies

{with andes mints!}
Recipe found HERE




They Both turned out sooo yummy! 
 I definitely recommend both of the recipes. I didnt want to type up the recipes because i feel that the original posts were perfect :)
Happy Holidays! 

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

{Dec 19th it is!}

This week we are 38 weeks!
We found out yesterday that the date we get to meet our little girl is going to be
December 19th, 2011! 
That is less than a week from today! So crazy! We are getting really nervous yet so very excited!!
Although a csection was not the route we had originally chosen, we will still get to meet our little girl! & she will be delivered safely which is all that matters!
{If you haven't been reading the last few posts, our little girl is breech, hence the csection}
We cant wait to see her & kiss her little face & snuggle her... Although, i told William the other day, that when she comes out, she needs a spanking because she has been so naughty & stubborn! He thought that was pretty funny :)

The other day, i was looking through pictures on our computer & found some pics we have taken through out my pregnancy. It really shows just how much my body has changed over the past year. Its so crazy to look at! I have been pregnant for so long, i  had almost forgotten what i used to look like!
Its no wonder im starting to run out of clothing options :) haha The only maternity clothing i bought the entire pregnancy was a pair of maternity shorts and 2 shirts. I just made do with my old clothes mostly. Im too stubborn to buy more clothes when im just so close! {I guess that's where Giuliana gets some of her stubborness} Although, i went to the Dr yesterday & when they weighed me, i looked at the scale & almost fell over! I had gained so much weight since my last visit 2 weeks earlier, It was frightening! My feet & hands & arms & legs & face have swollen up so much the last 2 weeks its unbelieveable! I asked my Dr if that was normal & he said it is. He said my body is really starting to retain water right now. So its go time!

      {38 weeks)                                                   {20 weeks}                                                    {8 weeks}
                      

This pregnancy is going by so fast I can hardly believe it. It has been quite the adventure!  So much has changed in our lives already . I am so excited to see what adventures we will have in the future, not just as a husband & wife anymore, but as a mommy & daddy. 
I cant wait to see William hold our little girl in his arms...  He is going to be the best dad ever, i am sure of it!

Well, Happy Tuesday Everyone!!

Sunday, December 11, 2011

& the CJs BUTTer winner is....

MARCIE WILSON!
{mcwilson21@yahoo.com.} 

Using our random # generator, she was randomly selected! 
Congratulations Marcie :) 
You will be receiving an email from me very soon to get your shipping info so i can send you your goodies! 
Thanks to all who entered! 

We will be doing more Giveaways in the near future :) 

Happy Sunday!

Thursday, December 8, 2011

{CJ's BUTTer GIVEAWAY!}

GIVE AWAY CLOSED 
Thats right folks! We're doing a give away today :) First ever on the Johnstons.

CJ’s BUTTer™


As i have mentioned before, CJ's BUTTer is the brand of diaper Cream William & I have chosen to use on our little girl. Reasons being, it is all natural, it is cloth diaper safe & it has many uses other than just as a diaper cream!
 I have very sensitive skin {I have eczema}, always have. Thats why it was so important for me to find a diaper cream that will actually help my little girls skin rather than make it worse. My husband & I both tried this BUTTer out {not on our bums haha but on our elbows, hands & feet etc.} & love it! 
We hope you will too! 

List of alternative uses from  CJ’s BUTTer™ actual site:

Called a”A Miracle in a Tube” by some,  CJ’s BUTTer™ has been used on adults and children to help relieve …

  • eczema

  • rashes

  • dry/chapped skin

  • rug burns (sore ‘crawler’ knees)

  • mechanics’ hands and cuticles

  • hang nails

  • rub a small amount on your hands and use as a leave-in conditioner for your curls

More uses for CJ’s BUTTer™ include:

  • Use it for black/mixed hair!!  Leaves hair soft, shiny and helps alleviate those ‘owies’ when trying to separate locks!

  • Melt a dollop under running bath water for a relaxing, soothing, and anti-inflammatory soak–provides relief for post-partum soreness and hemorrhoids!

  • Provides protection against windburned cheeks/face and helps to relieve windburn!

  • Promotes healing and provides a non-stick barrier when used after a circumcision.

    Be sure to check out CJ’s BUTTer™ website for a full list of different products offered! Also, check out their CJ’s BUTTer™ Sampler Package. This is the best way to test out the different scents & the little sample size is perfect for the diaper bag :)  Also available in a Vegan formula. 

     Now that you know a little about the product, onto the Give away :)
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    What you are entering to win:
    A 4oz jar of CJ's Bum BUTTer in the hand selected scent "Sweet orange" {Its yummy!}
    Along with some free samples, compliments of CJ. 
    How to enter: 
    * Comment on this post leaving your NAME & best EMAIL ADDRESS {so i can contact you} 
    *For another chance at winning, Become a follower of Cj's BUTTer on Facebook. Leave another comment telling us you did this.
    *For yet another chance at winning, become a follower of our blog, & leave another comment telling us! 
    Thats 3 chances at winning :) yay! 

    Using a random number generator, we will determine a winner & email you ASAP to get shipping info 


    THIS GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED! 



    *A big thanks to CJ's Bum BUTTer for allowing us to do this giveaway & offer such a wonderful product to our followers :) 




Wednesday, December 7, 2011

{Baby update}

This week so far has been quite a rough one for us. {I am 37 weeks along}
As i mentioned a few posts back, our little girl is breech. 
We had a procedure this week called an External Cephalic version, in an attempt to move our baby girl from head up to head down. If you don't know what this procedure is, here is a link to a website explaining it. {Too hard to explain}
 This procedure was one of the most painful things i have ever gone through in my entire life. My husband was even freaked out just watching. But i was tough & pulled through.
After about 20 minutes of attempting to turn our little one, her heart rate began to rise, & long story short, the procedure was unsuccessful.

I have had to take a couple of days to process this..

Since the procedure was unsuccessful, this means that I will automatically have to have a cesarean section delivery because Giuliana is still breech. 
This was not part of our plan & i think that is why this was so hard.... We are both very scared & kind of in shock trying to process this whole thing. 
We go to the Dr. next week to set up the date & time for the Csection which will be the following week. 
I am very nervous & scared. Please keep us all in your continuous thoughts & prayers these next couple of weeks. 

On the bright side, we will know exactly when we will get to meet our little sweetie, & she will be here before Christmas too! :) 

Sorry there isnt much detail in this post, i just dont know what to write.. my mind is completely overwhelmed..

Saturday, December 3, 2011

{Benefits of cloth diapering}

This is a long post, so be ready!
A few people have commented lately on my blog & emailed my personal email asking me to be a little more specific about the benefits of cloth diapering & Why we are choosing to do it! I will try to do that today, forwarding some of the knowledge i have gained from my own research, & tips i have gathered from mamas who are already cloth diapering pros! I am no pro, by any means {not yet anyways ;)}

Well to start off, there are many different cloth diapering brands. Cloth diapering isnt like it was back in the old days, no safety pins or diaper service. It is very different now, more "high tech" if you will. 
Some of the more popular brands that i have become familiar with are:
Thirsties, Grovia, Bummis, Bumgenius, Fuzzibunz, flip, G diapers, Happy Heinys, & Lovely bums.
 



All of these brands are very good brands to look into, but they are all very unique in their own ways. It is best to choose according to your needs & expectations. We, of course chose to use Fuzzibunz, as i have mentioned many times in the past, reason being, it was the brand i was most familiar with because i  have had first hand experience with them, & I just like the different features a fuzzibunz diaper has to offer!

The Cloth diapering benefits we considered 
Cost effective
Inititally, purchasing your cloth diapers may cost a bit of money. but it is a one time cost versus a monthly cost of the same amount for disposable diapers. They are reusable, & most cloth diaper brands have a "one size" option that gives you the option to cloth diaper with the same diapers from birth to potty training. All of these brands are very durable & your diapers may last you for ALL of your children through out the years!

Better for baby
Cloth diapered babies have less issues with diaper rash & irritated bums. Reason being, no chemicals are in them that can harm the babies bum. Here is something i read recently about disposable diapers that  freaked me out:
"one of the chemicals found in most disposables is called sodium polyacrylate, which is the chemical that was removed from tampons because of its link to TSS (toxic shock syndrome) in 1985. It is used to make diapers more absorbent (it can hold 100 times it’s weight in liquid), but some sources say it can cause bleeding in the perineal and scrotal tissues of some babies and has even been found in the urinary tracts of some infants."
{Not to scare anyone or make anyone feel bad.  I know we will still use disposable diapers sometimes with our little girl, like on trips & stuff, just not extended long term use.}
The difference with Cloth diapers, is that they are very absorbent simply because of the absorbent material & keep your little one happy & comfortable all day, no yucky skin irritantants! 

Better for the environment 
Reduce, reuse, recycle! best way to put it i guess. Since you reuse & reuse & reuse your cloth diapers, you're not throwing anything away that eventually ends up in a landfill somewhere. 

They're just so darn cute :) 
You have to admit it, if you have seen some of these cloth diapers in person, they are just adorable! They are a part of an outfit automatically. No pants needed! haha 

Other things i Have learned about cloth diapering recently:
A lot of products that you would use for your cloth diapers, such as rash creams & detergents, have multiple beneficial uses.
Many cloth diaper friendly diaper creams, im learning, can also double as a skin moisturizer for little ones with troubled skin. I have eczema & so do many of my family members, so this is a plus in my book! Also, it can be used for minor cuts & scrapes, kind of like a neosporin. & mama can use it for her sore nipples after breast feeding & it is safe for babies mouth!

The diaper cream we chose to use for our little one is Cj's bum BUTTer. We bought many samples of this diaper cream in different scents {they are all so yummy!} and tested them out on our own skin.. {not on our bums, dont think we are that weird} We just purchased our big 12oz tub to have ready for our little girls bum when she arrives :) 

Cloth diaper safe detergents such as Rockin' green {The brand were using} are really wonderful detergents i am learning. & again, they dont just have to be used for your diapers. You can use them for ALL of your laundry & they are actually better for your laundry! They are very strong so they fight stinky diaper odor but gentle on your clothing & diapers & made with natural ingredients. I also am finding out that it can be used for "non laundry" related house chores too. Here is a Link to a site where people are talking about the different uses they have found for Their natural detergent.  {Too many for me to type}
Will give a full report very soon on my results :)


Some tips i have gotten from you Cloth diapering pros!:
use Cloth wipes at home {another money saver & health benefit}
The use of throw away liners make cloth diapering easier when out {throw solids in toilet easily }
Have a good diaper cream {makes clean up easier}
Have a good "Wet bag" for when out & about {no leaks of smells or liquids}
Have a good amount of cloth diapers on hand, atleast 25 {makes laundering easier}
A good diaper pail that is water proof & holds smells!
Get a good diaper sprayer that attatches to toilet {prewashing diapers}
DO NOT USE FABRIC SOFTENER {will make diapers non-absorbent}
Be sure to read & follow the washing instructions for your specific diaper brand.
Use a cloth diaper safe detergent to prevent stinky diapers
The sun is your friend! If diapers stain, after wash leave them out in the sun to help bleach out stains.

Uhm.. that is everything i can think of at the moment!
Told you it was going to be a long post :)

If any of you cloth diaper pros have anything to add, please feel free to leave a comment! Im sure our readers will really appreciate it if you could answer some of the questions i don't have an answer for! 

{& yes, its almost midnight & i am posting... but baby G is dancing around like crazy & wont let me go to sleep! Soon enough though, she will be squirming in my arms instead of my tummy!}