And Baby Makes Four...plus one furry friend!

Quinn is TWO!

2012-02-20T20:54:00.001-06:00

This is what Quinn woke up to for the morning of his birthday!

Morning hair :)

Birthday french toast...yum!

And a couple presents in the evening.

I LOVE Jack in this photo :). He's really excited for big brother to open his present!

What do you do for a little boy who has a winter birthday?

You have an indoor picnic, of course!

...Complete with a Curious George Movie.

Watch out...daddy is rocking out to the George movie!!

ALL of the stuffed animals joined the movie viewing...some wore birthday hats.

Two sweet mini cupcakes for a sweet two year old.

...Does that mean Steve gets 34 cupcakes on Thursday?!

Uh oh! ...I think the birthday boy was getting carried away.

We don't eat candles, buddy.

Alright, dig in!

What a great day, filled with special memories! Happy birthday Quinn Franklin Johannes, we hope you had a great day that made you feel special and loved...which you are!

Birthday Party (Quinn style!)

2012-02-20T20:26:00.000-06:00

Quinn loves the mustaches he gets to have at the Tin Shed Restaurant.

Ta- da! You can barely recognize him, right?!

Cute! One for Jack too.

Quinn's buddy, Calahan.

Some of our party guests.

This is how you become the 'cool uncle.' Let the kid eat

the frosting off the cake when no one is looking?!

Happy Birthday to Yooouuuu!

Make a wish!

How cute are the little kiddos at the table?!!?

Sharing cake with grandpa.

Love this one with the Aunts.

Yikes, that's a lot of frosting!

We had a great time celebrating Quinn's 2nd birthday party at the Tin Shed Restaurant. We reserved the entire back room, so all of the kiddos who attended with their parents were able to move around and explore before the pizzas came. We had a great turnout. It felt so good to look around the full room and realize they were all there for Quinn! What an awesome feeling it is knowing that Quinn has so many loving and supporting friends and family in his life! We truly are blessed.

Thank you, grandma & grandpa Johannes!

2012-02-13T14:13:00.000-06:00

For Valentine's Day, Quinn's G&G Johannes sent an adorable (heart breaker) shirt and Alvin and the Chipmunk's singing card (along with a card and outfit for Jack). Quinn was so excited...

who doesn't like getting something in the mail??!!?

Jack is ONE month old! (2/11/2012)

2012-02-13T14:04:00.000-06:00

Happy one month birthday to my little Jack Attack!

Jack meets (some) of his great grandparents

2012-02-13T13:55:00.000-06:00

Sweet moment. Jack (one month) and great grandma Shepard ~ 2/10/12

Jack and Great Grandpa Shepard ~ 2/11/2012

These are my maternal grandparents, Jack's great grandparents. My mom, Jack and I, all took a four hour road trip to visit both sets of grandparents over the weekend. We had a great time. I loved getting some great photos of Jack with four (out of his seven) living great grandparents!

Jack and great grandma Sattler ~ 2/12/2012

Jack with my paternal grandparents.

What a great weekend, making many SPECIAL memories. I had a great time with you, mom!

Family supper before Arizona bound

2012-02-07T14:56:00.000-06:00

Before heading to Arizona, we had Jan, Stan and Laurie over for supper to spend some time as a family.

They brought all of us gifts! Quinn received some plastic food for his play kitchen, which he loves! I received a gift cert to my favorite salon, and Steve got supper! ha ha :)

We had a wonderful time watching G&G J. and Auntie Lala spend quality time with Quinn and Jack!!

Love you guys.

Family get together at mom and dad's house

2012-02-04T22:28:00.001-06:00

Marble Works - such a fun game...I know Quinn enjoyed it. I think Katie and Pete did, too!

Growing up, a favorite game of ours was sliding down the stairs in sleeping bags. My brother started the game with Quinn tonight, and he is hooked! ...Right after the photo above was taken, Steve's foot crashed into a large vase that was on the bottom of the stairs and made a somewhat big dent in the wall! Opps. ...Whenever Quinn saw it he was point to Steve and say, daddy. Uh oh! :)

We had a fun visit over to mom and dad's this afternoon/evening.

This last photo, Quinn is wearing a little sailor outfit that my grandma Sattler (Quinn's great grandma), made for my dad when he was a little boy. We thought it would be fun to try it on him, and then my brother ran and found this hat somewhere, to add to the ensemble! {Side note: When we are trying to get Quinn to smile for a picture, we tell him to say "Chuck E Cheese"}... Well, my brother missed what he was saying, and mistook it for, "Out to Sea!" ..It was pretty hilarious and had us all laughing for quite awhile. I also had to laugh watching Quinn on his little stool as three cameras are snapping away.
He probably thinks he's a movie star!

Bath time!

2012-02-04T21:54:00.000-06:00

What a good helper Quinn was.

Mom and boys... too bad neither of them wanted to look at the camera!

Don't let Jack's terrified look fool you, he loved bath time!

All bundled up and 'clean, clean, jelly bean!' (What I always call Quinn after he gets out of the bath!)

Bath time went off without a hitch -- Quinn was a great helper and Jack quite enjoyed it!

My Valentines' sweethearts

2012-02-02T19:37:00.000-06:00

From lovey dovey...

...To get me the heck outta here! {All in about one minute}.

Never a dull moment.

Choo Choo Bob's

2012-01-28T19:19:00.000-06:00

Today our family ventured over to St. Paul to visit Choo Choo Bob's! The front of the store has a huge train track set up, and we all had fun watching the train zoom around the track (especially Quinn!) ...then we visited the back of the store that had multiple tables set up with different train tracks to play with. This was a hit with Quinn, who had a lot of fun playing with the trains!

Some favorite photos

2012-01-26T16:25:00.001-06:00

I could literally write a book for each caption in these photos above... but I have a baby who loves to snuggle in mommy's arms {constantly}. This is fine by me! ...but it does make it

difficult to blog!

These are just a **few** of my favorite

pictures in the last few days!

This one is for the Grandparents

2012-01-23T11:13:00.000-06:00

On Saturday morning, Jan and Stan started their journey to Arizona. They'll be there until April, and we're going to miss them so much!

...On Saturday, my parents were also vacation bound. They are currently camping in Hawaii for the next two weeks. We hope

all four of them have an absolutely wonderful time on their

trips -- but so that they don't forget how extremely adorable

their grandsons are... here are some photos :)

Jack's Baptism - Saturday, January 14, 2012

2012-01-18T18:41:00.000-06:00

Listening intently to Pastor P. talk about the importance of baptism.

Quinn had pulled the chair up all by himself. He wanted to be involved in the conversation, too!

Through water and the Word...

Receiving the sign of the cross on the heart.

"...In the name of the Son..."

"...Amen."

I'm a child of God!

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 28:19 (NIV)

Quinn's first haircut!

2012-01-18T18:22:00.000-06:00

Not too sure what to think...

And he didn't smile once!

But boy oh boy, did he look cute!

And finally....... {with the help of a sucker}

He SMILED!

Jack's Birth - Day {Story}

2012-01-18T18:04:00.001-06:00

Here it's been one week..already seven whole days since little Jack made his appearance! What a whirlwind week it has been as we're settling into life as a family of four! Before too much time has gone by, I wanted to jot down some of the pieces of Jack's 'birth story', so that I won't forget it as the years go by.

On Monday, January 9th 2012, I had an appointment to have a stress test performed on the baby, along with an ultrasound to measure four different areas (how deep the amniotic fluid is/baby's 'practice' breathing/heart rhythms). The baby gets up to 8 points to score a perfect 100%, which of course, determines the baby's health status. On the 9th I was 41 days and 1 day pregnant, thus the reasoning for these tests, to confirm everything still looks healthy. The stress test was performed, and baby Jack looked terrific. It took longer to perform it, as he always sleeps in the am (and would be up and moving in the pm). It took plenty of coffee and orange juice to get him moving enough to put the doctor at ease. Then later in the afternoon I headed back to the clinic to have an ultrasound - the technician confirmed that baby Jack received a 100% grade and looked great. I prepared myself on being pregnant for one more week. Around 4:50pm, I received a voicemail from my doctor to let me know a small amount of macodium might be in the amniotic fluid. She said she would feel more comfortable inducing me on Wednesday of that week rather than wait an addition week. So it was set: I was going to be induced on Wednesday, January 11th.

That night we prepared Quinn's overnight bag, made a couple meals for when we got home, and started stressing about baby boy names! Yes...at one week overdue we still didn't have a name set in stone. We hopped on the Internet, browsed through our baby name book and kept our fingers crossed that we would find a name we could both agree on in the next day.

Super excited to meet our baby on Wednesday am!

On Wednesday we got to the hospital at 9am, and by 9:30-10, the doctor had arrived to try and break my water. After numerous attempts, she said that we would just start on pitocin in an hour or so. She left, and while the nurse was filling out paperwork and getting things set up, I felt my water break on its own - whoohoo! What. a. relief.

Unlike my labor with Quinn, this time I was able to walk the fourth floor of the hospital for an hour to get things 'moving'. At 11:30am I was back in bed and the pitocin was started at noon. ...by one they were growing intense and closer together. Around 2:45 they were becoming unbearable and almost no break in between. I told Steve to get the nurse asap, that I thought it was strange I wasn't having any breaks between contractions. As the nurse came in, I felt the urge to push. The nurse checked me and said the baby was coming and that she had to get the doctor asap (the doctor was at her office in the clinic - across the street from the hospital). Thank goodness the doctor arrived when she did because after about ten minutes of pushing our sweet baby boy made his very quick entrance into the world at 3:24pm!

Our sweet little Jack Steven Johannes was 7 lbs. 6 oz. and 21" long

Baby BOOM!

2012-01-08T20:20:00.000-06:00

Ooohhhh baby...there must be something in the water!

                   Due date:

Gretchen - 1/01/12
Erin         - 2/10/12
Angie      - 5/02/12      Between the five of us, there are six babies
Allyson    -6/07/12       due in the next five months! 2012 is the
Nicki       -6/12/12       year of the babies!

Christmas Toys

2012-01-03T12:44:00.000-06:00

Quinn's Aunt Mandy and Uncle Nick got him a car mat for his xmas gift, and today he brought it out in the living room and

set ALL of his car/trucks on it.

Happy New Year. Happy Due Date.

2012-01-03T12:30:00.000-06:00

We keep promising Quinn that he will be able to meet his little brother or sister soon, and he is becoming impatient!

Happy 2012! A new year, a new baby.

I hope everyone had a great time celebrating, saying adios

to 2011 and welcoming 2012 with family and friends!

Pregnancy: Week 39

2011-12-24T22:08:00.000-06:00

How far along?

39 weeks (tomorrow - 12/25/11)

Total weight gain/loss:

Around 25 lbs. gained.

Maternity clothes?

Yes.

Sleep:

I've been sleeping pretty well, considering I'm one week (gulp!) away from the due date! My mind is racing with 'to do's' and just the plain excitement of having a baby born very soon. Sometimes this keeps me up late at night...
Best moment this week:

Enjoying the past week with Quinn as an only child. We visited the zoo, and been having a lot of fun, one-on-one time, I'm just soaking it in! We are also celebrating Christmas this week, so watching Quinn marvel over the Christmas tree and say new words, like: Frosty and Ho Ho Ho... just brighten my day. We have the infant car seat installed, the crib is ready for baby and we have a bassinet set up in our room. Watching Quinn take this all in has been quite interesting to say the least!
Movement:

This baby just LOVES to move around in the late evenings, and the kicks and jabs are getting so much more pronounced and strong. I can see many of the movements when I look down at my belly!
Food cravings:

I had Steve run out and grab me a Jimmy John's sandwich the other night at 9pm! I feel like my appetite is growing, and this leads me to believe our baby is packing on the pounds! Uh oh... Quinn was 8 lb. 9 oz, how big will this baby be?! :)
Gender:

I still think boy, Steve thinks girl. We're not finding out!

Labor Signs:

Nothing - and my doctor appointment on Friday leads me to believe we still have a few weeks left... I predict a January 15th birth - date. Time will tell.
Belly Button in or out?

Out - big time.

What I miss:

Nothing. We are close to the end now... I'm trying to stay positive and enjoy these last few weeks. Although I did get some Spotted Cow Beer for Christmas from my mom and dad and it looks awfully refreshing.... :)
What I am looking forward to:

Holding my sweet baby in my arms and watching Quinn meet him/her for the first time!
Weekly Wisdom:

I'm not going to get caught up in the due date. It's just an estimate anyway, and this baby will arrive when he/she is supposed to.

Christmas Eve 2011

2011-12-24T21:49:00.000-06:00

A few pictures at home before heading to

Grandma and Grandpa's house.

Someone was feeling pretty sophisticated in his new Christmas

suit (from Grandma J), and was breaking out the cheesy grin! :)

Our two boys.

Playing 'train' with Aunt Katie.

Christmas 2011 ~ 12/24/11 ~

Quinn (22 Months Old)

Just call him Dr. Quinn, medicine man.

New slippers for Steve!

...And a new jersey for Pete.

No caption necessary!

After gift opening we played the game, Taboo. Very fun!

Us Sattler's sure love using our hands to talk!

I'm loving how Quinn has his face covered in this picture :(

Merry Christmas and God's blessings for a healthy and happy 2012 from our family to yours.

Love

Gretchen, Steve and Quinn

Time to bake!

2011-12-11T19:10:00.000-06:00

Full Term

2011-12-11T18:48:00.000-06:00

I am officially 'full' term at 37 weeks, and this baby is

welcomed to join our family at any point!!

I hope it's still a couple weeks before we

actually meet him/her, though. :)

We're getting SO excited to meet you baby J. You have a mama, daddy, and big brother who are going to just love you to pieces!

Christmas Quilt..? Yes, you read that correctly.

2011-12-11T18:38:00.000-06:00

My Grandma Sattler loves to quilt... absolutely.loves.it. She talks about it with so much excitement that it makes me think maybe I should try my hand at it. I know it takes skill, dedication, time.

Every year, we have a drawing to see which lucky grandchild gets a quilt made. (Actually, about five names are picked.)Last year, my name was called!

Our Fall Family Photos

2011-12-09T22:20:00.000-06:00

This last photo location/idea was all Steve's creation :) I don't know if anyone has seen the Geiko Insurance commercials, but

this is a spoof on that... silly boys :)

Quinn doesn't get it, but he thinks daddy is hilarious no matter what! How long will that last?

On a chilly day back in mid October, our family met up with our talented friend, Rachel, to get some great family photos!

Quinn is nearing two years old, and we're just now getting our professional family photos... hey, better late than never!

Out for brunch and a visit with Santa?!

2011-12-04T13:51:00.000-06:00

Two of the sweetest toddlers I know! Quinn and Abby.

Abby, Santa and Nolan ~ December 4, 2011 ~

Quinn and Santa ~ 12/04/11 ~

Doing what kids do best: PLAYING!

Abby and her grandma :)

We met up with our friends the Heimarks: Ally, Brandon and kids, along with Joy, Charlie and Sabrina, Jan, Stan and Laurie for

brunch with Santa Claus! What a hoot it was to see the

kid's reaction to the man with the white beard!

I think the highlight of the morning was watching the kids play

so nicely together as they ran around empty tables and chairs.

Oh Christmas Tree...

2011-12-04T13:35:00.001-06:00

Haha - I love this one, the guys look like they're standing the same!

Looks like Quinn is about to pounce!

It's official! Our Christmas tree is finally up, and it's one more thing I can check off my to do list!! We had a fun morning as a family. We had the Christmas music on, the smell of freshly baked cinnamon rolls in the air, and our boxes of ornaments and decorations were out!

Operation Christmas tree was been completed.

Pregnancy: Week 36

2011-12-03T22:36:00.000-06:00

How far along?

36 weeks (tomorrow - 12/04/11)

Total weight gain/loss:

Around 22 lbs. gained.

Maternity clothes?

Yes.

Sleep:

I've been sleeping really well... more so than I was at this point in my pregnancy with Quinn. I think a lot has to do with the fact of how low this baby is sitting, it makes breathing much easier than it was with Quinn. The only downside is I ALWAYS have to pee :) I have been very tired in the last week... I feel like I'm back in the first trimester, minus the morning sickness!

Best moment this week:

During my last appointment (on 12/02/11) when my doctor said everything is looking great...music to a mama's ears! Also..having a great husband who has been supportive and a great listener (especially in the last week) whenever I need talk about any anxieties, excitements and expectations that I have for the upcoming few weeks...it's starting to get 'real' now :)

Movement:

Not a ton that I can feel, just because of where the placenta is located. I feel hiccups, though!

Food cravings:

I haven't really been craving one particular food, but I'm finding that at the same time(s) each day, (okay..numerous times a day) I start to get really hungry!!

Gender:

I still think boy, Steve thinks girl. We're not finding out!

Labor Signs:

Some contractions on Sunday night/early Monday morning. I had about five and it was exciting! Steve keeps reminding me to "PACK A BAG!" ...I'm living on the edge and don't have one packed... yet :)

Belly Button in or out?

Out - big time.

What I miss:

Nothing. I'm so close to the end of this pregnancy, that I really am trying to enjoy it all. I know it'll soon be just a distant memory, when I'm knee deep in (more) dirty diapers, nursing (constantly - or so it feels!), waking up for multiple in the middle of the night feedings, and walking around in a zombie like fashion trying to muddle my way through the day without falling asleep! I am really enjoying my sweet little infant still in my belly so that I can continue to catch some zzzzz's!

What I am looking forward to:

The Holiday season with a little one on the way! Steve and I agree that this will probably be our most exciting holiday season we ever experience, with a due date of only a week after Christmas Day!

Weekly Wisdom:

I am going to stop fretting about having everything look perfect in my home! I have been stressing out because I have had no energy to put up Christmas decorations, get my shopping done or just making it through the day without being completely worn out! Forget Christmas cards this year - it's just not happening! I will trust that things will work out fine... and will try and stop putting so much pressure on having the perfect Christmas! We're already getting the perfect Christmas gift anyway...nothing else matters.

Random Thanksgiving pics

2011-11-29T14:53:00.000-06:00

Thanksgiving lunch at my parents...

While watching the Packers WIN :)

Day after Thanksgiving, at my G&G Shepard's, playing a

very serious game of dominos.

Quinn had his very own set to play with.

Quinn hanging out with his second cuz, Eric.

Can you tell they're all related?!

Mom, Grandma, Aunt Bev (mom's sister),

and Bev's daughter (my cousin) Nikki.

Quick snuggle with Great Grandma.

...And one for great grandpa, too.

Aunt Katie dressing Quinn up in a scarf...

Time to say goodbyes!

A time to give thanks!

2011-11-23T20:24:00.000-06:00

In 2011 I am so thankful for....

These two handsome guys!

The blessing of a second (healthy) pregnancy...

And the opportunity to make Quinn a big brother!

My family!

Celebrating three years of marriage to this guy!

...Being amazed daily at the antics of this little boy!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

First Fall Snowfall

2011-11-19T17:48:00.001-06:00

Quinn LOVED his first experience with snow this year!

...Last year, if you can recall, he wasn't a fan! I'm glad he enjoyed it. When I looked out the window I saw Steve teaching Quinn how to throw snowballs at the window to get mom's attention :)

Hayride!

2011-11-07T14:37:00.000-06:00

Shortly before we went on the hayride... Quinn was a little uncertain at this point, and close to tears!

On the other end of the spectrum of emotions was dad, happy as can be, as he was finally taking Quinn on the tractor! (He's waited almost two years for this big event!)

Sisters excited and ready to go!

It doesn't seem so scary when you're safe in your dad's arms!

This photo makes me laugh! It looks like these two think they're the Queens of England sitting on their thrones! hehe.

Pete's ready to go, too :)

Relaxing after fun outside!

We didn't know if the weather was going to cooperate with our Saturday plans of taking a hayride around my parent's property,

but did it ever! ...With the help of being bundled up warm, it was actually really nice outside and we all had fun!

Quinn loves to venture out to my dad's pole shed to climb up on the tractor, riding lawnmower, and four-wheeler. However,

we didn't know how he would react once the tractor

was actually running and making noise!

...At first he was a little uncertain, but in a matter of minutes he was over his fear and ready to climb up on the driver's seat by Grandpa!

It was a fun day, thanks for having us over, mom and dad!

Halloween 2011

2011-10-31T20:24:00.000-05:00

We had a fun Halloween this year! Quinn had a blast... it didn't take him long to get the hang of 'trick or treating'-- and he had so much fun putting his different candies into piles... don't lie, you did the same thing when you were a kid, right? I know I did!

Pregnancy: Week 31

2011-10-29T15:28:00.000-05:00

How far along?

31 weeks (tomorrow - 10/30/11)

Total weight gain/loss:
I've gotten to the big 20 lbs! (That was about two weeks ago now...so could be a little more/same?).
Maternity clothes?
Yes.

Sleep:
It depends - each night is completely different from the last. Sometimes I have lower back pain and heart burn that keep me up, other times I drift off to sleep the second my head hits the pillow. I do wake at least once in the middle of the night to use the bathroom. Darn baby treating my bladder like a trampoline :)
Best moment this week:
Just the moments/days when I'm feeling really good/healthy and truly am enjoying being pregnant! Some days (and I'm not sure if it's from lack of sleep or the babe's position), but I'm just so darn uncomfortable and I have a tough time keeping up with Quinn. Other days (favorite moments of the week) I feel so good and love knowing that not only am I creating a safe environment for my baby, but I am able to keep up with Quinn as well.
Movement:
Lots of kicks at night.

Food cravings:
I haven't really been craving one particular food, but I'm finding that at the same time(s) each day, (okay..numerous times a day) I start to get really hungry!!
Gender:
I still think boy, Steve thinks girl. We're not finding out!

Labor Signs:
None - thankfully.

Belly Button in or out?
Out - big time.

What I miss:
On the days when I'm having uncomfortable lower back pain, I miss not having it :) I also had it with Quinn, and as soon as he was born it went away. At least it's only temporary :)
What I am looking forward to:
Just continuing to feel the baby's kicks/movements become more pronounced and strong as the days progress...and having my doctor appointments start to come every two weeks (and soon after that, weekly), since that really marks how close the duedate is coming! EEK!!!

Weekly Wisdom:
I am truly enjoying and basking in my time with Quinn. I'm going to miss the one-on-one time we share daily. I know life is general right now is still so easy.. running to the grocery store with Quinn, taking a quick outing to the park, etc... once there are two, life is going to change remarkably! (For the good of course, but things won't be quite as simple as they are now!)

Fall Zoo Day

2011-10-29T15:08:00.000-05:00

31 weeks pregnant -- I'm still baffled at where the time is going?!

Let's be honest, a zoo visit isn't complete for the Johannes' until we visit the goats! {They're my favorite at least!}

The farmyard was set up as 'Scarecrow Alleyway,' and we were able to view many of the creative scarecrows on display.

This weekend we visited the zoo! ...The weather was perfect, we honestly couldn't have asked for a better day.

It was extremely busy there, since the zoo was having a kid's themed Halloween Day, and we were able to see all kinds of adorable kid's costumes and trick or treat stations set up. Since we didn't know about this event, Quinn was not in his costume -- but stayed toasty warm in his fall jacket and hat :)

Quinn's imagination

2011-10-29T14:48:00.000-05:00

Quinn loves to line all of his stuffed animals up, and then cover them with blankets and tuck them in for the night!

...Melts my heart!

Carving pumpkins

2011-10-23T15:48:00.000-05:00

A new friend for Quinn?

All kids read to their pumpkins... right?

I'm trying something new, and going to try and bake the pumpkin seeds this year... anyone have any good recipes they use?!

We had a fun evening watching daddy carve the pumpkin (Quinn didn't want to touch it!) ...But Quinn thought it was even more fun to read to his pumpkin first! I had to laugh!

Bike Ride

2011-10-23T15:39:00.000-05:00

Can I help, dad?

I'm ready to go!

This weekend, we packed up the bikes and bike trailer, and headed to Cannon Falls, MN to bike the beautiful trails they have there!

...We borrowed these bikes for the trip (so they're not the ones we are used to).

The one that didn't have the trailer attached was much too high for me to ride, and we didn't have a screw driver to lower the seat! I didn't think it would be a good idea to take that bike, being pregnant and all -- I didn't want to topple over and fall off, so I ended up taking the bike that fit me better, but also the only one we could attach the bike trailer to!

Let me tell you...riding bike while 30 weeks pregnant (so an additional 20 lbs on my belly), plus hauling a bike trailer with a 30 lb child was not the best idea I've ever had! ...Let's just say our bike ride was short and sweet!

These type of outings are what great memories are made of :)

** Thanks to our friends, Ryan and Angie for letting us borrow their awesome bike trailer!**

Family Photos {Beth, Chris and Sean}

2011-10-23T15:22:00.000-05:00

How cute is this little lion?!

I was able to meet up with my friend, Beth, her husband and their adorable little ten month old son, Sean.

Although the weather was on the dreary side, and a bit cool -- we enjoyed walking around a beautiful park and snapping some fun family photos!

I had a great time photographing your family, Beth and Chris!

Trucks

2011-10-19T14:04:00.000-05:00

I can practically hear the sound effects

just by looking at this photo!

I love having a boy!

Emma Krumbees

2011-10-17T16:04:00.000-05:00

Mason (six months) and Quinn (20 months)

~ October 16, 2011 ~

Note the fat lip. :(

Always some kind of bump or bruise on this kid!

I can tell Mason is going to be an outdoorsy boy!

Even though it was quite windy and chilly, this little sweetie

didn't seem to mind in the least!

All smiles for his mommy!

Melissa and Mason

I can literally hear Quinn calling out, "Mama..." in this photo!

Okay, a picture like this reminds me of how big Quinn is getting!

Three generations!

Quinn and I had a great Sunday afternoon visiting with Melissa, her mom and six month old Mason! ..we enjoyed watching the pony rides, tasting some apple samples, playing on the playground, taking photos and having lunch at Emma Krumbees Restaurant!

All in all, a great Fall day!

Oooohhh baby!

2011-10-12T14:07:00.000-05:00

Holy smokes! Sometimes you don't realize just

how big your prego belly is until you look at a photo!

Here we are at 28 weeks...that means about

12 weeks/3 months to go...how much bigger can I get? :)

Lots and lots of leaves, oh my!

2011-10-09T15:19:00.000-05:00

This is the life, mom!

I sure hope Quinn continues his love of

raking for the next 14 years or so!

What a good helper he is at 19 months!

Morning at the Park

2011-10-06T12:52:00.001-05:00

I don't think there is such a thing as too many park days, when it's as nice as it's been outside!! For our thursday playdate, we went to a park close to our home...Quinn and I just rode our bike right over!

Pregnancy: Week 27

2011-10-05T20:38:00.001-05:00

How far along? Somehow I am already at 27 1/2 weeks.

Total weight gain/loss: Not too sure, as it's been about 4 weeks since my last doc appt., so I would venture to guess 15 lbs. (maybe a little more?)

Maternity clothes? Yes.

Sleep: It's been hard to get a good nights sleep. Heartburn has been starting up, and so has painful round ligament stretching in my lower abdomen which has been quite uncomfortable mostly at night time when I'm trying to sleep!

Best moment this week: While I was lying on my left side in bed chatting with Steve, I moved positions and could feel the baby still crowding my left side. It just brought me to the realization that this baby is really putting on weight and making him/herself comfortable!

Movement: Lots of kicks at night.

Food cravings: I've been eating lots of protein lately.

Gender: I still think boy, Steve thinks girl. We're not finding out!

Labor Signs: None - thankfully.

Belly Button in or out? Out - big time.

What I miss: I just get tired and winded so much faster than before I was pregnant.

What I am looking forward to: Continuing to watch as my belly grows bigger and bigger each and every day.. and knowing that the baby is getting bigger and healthier, and ready to enter the world more and more everyday!

Weekly Wisdom: I will try and sleep when I can, whether that be getting to bed earlier or taking a nap when Quinn is sleeping during the day...I know once baby comes, and I have two little ones under the age of two -- sleep will be mostly nonexistent in my life for a few months!!

Celebrating 29 glorious years!

2011-10-05T20:23:00.000-05:00

10/05/2011 - My 29th Birthday!

My thoughtful, wonderful birthday present from Steve!

I have always felt so blessed to have a birthday on Oct. 5th... I LOVE this weather, and the Lord has blessed me with more beautiful weather birthdays than not!!

Such was the case today. We were in the mid-high 80's (WOW!)

I started my day with a decaf latte from Starbucks (courtesy of Steve), than Quinn and I headed to our ECFE class and visited a new park afterwards... it was a wonderful morning/afternoon.

When Steve got home from work, I got my present! A massage chair seat topper that can be placed on any chair! I LOVE it. Especially with the pregnancy backaches I've been getting!

What a great day...I feel so happy to be surrounded by loving family and friends to spend my day with and receive wonderful texts, phone calls and Face Book wishes!!

Worth $8.50!

2011-10-03T15:33:00.000-05:00

Someone absolutely LOVES his new outside toy! Quinn loves to mimic our moves (ex. opening and shutting the door, getting in and out, over and over again, 'parking', putting his stuffed animals in with him and pretending he's going to the grocery store).

It is just so darn cute to watch!! Totally worth the $8.50 that was spent :)

Goodbye Mazda Hatchback!

2011-10-03T15:23:00.001-05:00

Goodbye to my cute little car of two years: June 2009 - June 2011.

Oh how I will miss you (and your gas mileage!!!) ...but with another baby on the way, you were going to be too snug!!

Quick side story: The day this photo was taken, Steve was already driving it down our road when it occurred to me that I would never see my little car again! I left Quinn inside for a split second, and ran outside flapping my arms around to get Steve's attention! He almost missed me. Once he knew I just needed one last pic of me with my car before he drove away, I ran in to the house to grab Quinn!

Supper at Mom and Dad's

2011-10-03T15:17:00.000-05:00

Playing with animals - Quinn, Mom and Grandma Shepard

~ 9/30/2011 ~

Oh how I LOVE candid shots!

Grandpa got the snake out for Quinn!

...So Quinn had to run and find his lizard to show grandpa!

...And Quinn didn't want to leave Jack out!

Fun afternoon with mom and sisters

2011-09-28T16:47:00.001-05:00

We started our morning off right!

We met at Starbucks for some coffee and chitchat.

Katie and I purchased these adorable, handmade hats/scarves. I will be sport'n mine often this upcoming winter!!

mom = our paparazzi for the day!

The Afton Art in the Park had a lot of fun stands to browse through.

We tasted some good eats...

Enjoyed some MORE coffee (hot cider for the other gals).

Katie, Gretchen, Amanda and Mom

Art in the Park - 2011

Just being silly. This truck has no special significance to us aside from it just being kinda cute and small!

Some of us enjoyed wine. (not me!) I just reminded myself that next year at our Art in the Park outing, I too, will be enjoying the wine!

We see you mom!

I enjoyed spending last Saturday with my two wonderful sisters and fabulous mom!! As you can see...we had fun catching up, lattes, checking out the different 'artsy' boothes (and purchasing some fun items), and our mini wine tasting. All in all, a wonderful day!

I hope this becomes a tradition we do every Autumn...

Sophie's 94th Birthday

2011-09-25T20:51:00.001-05:00

I think this picture may go down as one of my

all time favorites of Quinn with his great grandma Sophie.

We had fun visiting Great Grandma Johannes today! As you can see, Quinn had an absolute blast! I loved seeing Steve's 94 year old Grandma and one year old Quinn spending time together!

19 Months Old!

2011-09-20T21:02:00.000-05:00

Somehow, our little man is already 19 months old!

We just started our second year in ECFE (mommy and me classes) today... we are signed up for two this semester. I know that once the baby arrives this winter, Quinn and I aren't going to have as much one-on-one time...

I'm trying to fully embrace my time with Quinn being our only child before baby #2 makes their anxiously awaited appearance in about 15 weeks!!

A great day to hike

2011-09-17T16:53:00.001-05:00

LOVE these shoes...!!!!

We had a great time hiking today at Taylor's Falls in Interstate State Park. Great place if you've never been there!

... It was a bit on the cooler side, but was still so enjoyable! After hiking for awhile and just letting Quinn walk around and stretch his legs, we visited downtown Taylor's Falls' very own drive in burger joint and enjoyed our lunch outside listening to 'oldies' music! So fun.

Messy Face

2011-09-13T09:42:00.000-05:00

Pregnancy: Week 22

2011-09-06T15:21:00.002-05:00

How far along?

22 weeks...over half way there, wow!

Total weight gain/loss:
Around 12 lbs.

Maternity clothes?
Yep... pretty much everything I wear these days (aside from the occasional big sweatshirt) is maternity.

Sleep:
Starting to get difficult getting a solid 8 hours of zzz's each night. Most every night I wake up to use the bathroom, or get in a different position because I'm not comfortable.. or, just recently.. braxton hicks contractions wake me up!

Best moment this week:
Just a lot of kicks and movements! Very exciting... with an onset of new symptoms happening.. it's starting to really sink in that the remainder of this pregnancy is really going to fly!
Movement:
Lots of little kicks and flutters...
Food cravings:
Lots of carbs... loving the breads, pastas... eating a lot of hummus and crackers. I feel (hope) this baby is going through a growth spurt with how hungry I've been in the last few days...
Gender:
I still think boy, Steve thinks girl. We're not finding out!

Labor Signs:
Early on Sunday morning, I experienced my first ever Braxton Hicks Contraction (or 'hickers' as Steve referred to them!) ... I never had any with Quinn. They were quite painful and surprised me, but since then I've not had them again. Maybe that means this baby isn't going to be two weeks late like their big bro was!
Belly Button in or out?
It has officially popped out!

What I miss:
Sleeping a solid night's sleep... breathing comfortably! (That's right.. I've started experiencing my least fav pregnancy symptom, shortness of breath!)
What I am looking forward to:
Continuing to watch my belly grow and be utterly amazed at the miracle of pregnancy! ...Continuing to feel many kicks and squirms from the baby!

Weekly Wisdom:
I'm not going to freak out and hyperventilate whenever I feel like the baby is in such a position where it makes breathing difficult! I'll remain calm and collected and remember to enjoy every aspect of pregnancy.. the good, the bad and the ugly!

2011-09-06T15:01:00.002-05:00

Sometimes life gets hectic...

It's tough to keep a house clean...

laundry folded

then put away,

dinner made...

cleaned up,

carpets vacuumed...

floors mopped,

just the basic day to day life 'stuff.'

Sometimes I need an obvious reminder of what's truly important during these early years in Quinn's life...to get it through my head that life isn't just about 'keeping' a clean house. In fact, it has very little to do with a clean house!

I found this meaningful quote by chance, and as a parent to a young child... it really resonated with me:

"While your children are little, cultivate an attitude of sacrifice. Sacrifice your peace for their fun, your clean kitchen floor for their help cracking eggs...prioritize your children far and above and away the other work you need to get done. They are the only part of your work that really matters."

So now you're warned...

..next time you visit our home, it may be a mess!

(But filled with love!)

Third Anniversary

2011-09-06T09:42:00.000-05:00

Our Third Wedding Anniversary was spent up at the cabin again (same as last year!) ...we had such a relaxing couple of days. Not only were Jan and Stan (Steve's folks) kind enough to lend us the cabin for the long weekend, but they also watched Quinn for two days/nights. Thank YOU! ...Thanks also to my sis Katie for watching him on Monday morning/afternoon!

Our first night was crab legs, corn on the cob and asparagus outside by the fire. It was a chilly evening, in the low 60's...brrr! Felt a lot like fall, but it was gorgeous, and the weather was refreshing.

We kept the bonfire going ALL day on Saturday due to it being another chilly day, and just relaxed and enjoyed being together.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, STEVE!

I love you very much!

The boys working on the deck

2011-08-27T20:40:00.000-05:00

Steve and Quinn, working on the deck

~ 8/27/2011 ~

'helping' with his very own hammer :)

Cute as a button watching dad work.

We noticed this spring, that one of the boards

on our deck was rotting pretty badly, and needed to be replaced.

Lucky for me, Steve and Quinn were both up for the job!

Ahh..look at that! He's even happy while doing it. What a guy!

And does it look good! A coat of stain and it'll be good as new!

My baby is one and a half! (or will be tomorrow, 8/20/11)

2011-08-19T13:06:00.000-05:00

"I am 1.5 years old! August 20, 2011."

He is a constant source of laughter...

His personality is awesome!

...He is healthy (and happy).

And we feel SO blessed to call Quinn ours.

Happy one and a half year birthday, sweetie! You are LOVED!

Playing outdoors...

2011-08-19T12:58:00.000-05:00

The pool my sister got Quinn for his birthday may be deflated and not quite as usable as it once was, but that doesn't mean the water activities have to stop!!

...I was scratching my head trying to come up with some type of device that would work as a substitute pool for the remainder of the summer, when it dawned on me to

use the ducky bath!

A little outnumbered!

2011-08-12T13:59:00.000-05:00

...Just browsing through these photos reminds me just how much of a big kid Quinn really is becoming! ...Quinn had a blast having his two friends, Addie and Annika over the other day!

How cute are these three?!?

Maddens 2011

2011-08-03T16:03:00.001-05:00

Playing Peek-A-Boo with Aunt Laurie.

Everyday for lunch while we're at Madden's Resort, we stop at Perfecto Pizza. They have both a ping pong table and

darts (and they're very kid friendly -- perfect-o!)

Quinn and his second cousin Brayden running in the rain!

Boys having fun! Brayden (6), Nolan (3) and Quinn (1.5).

Honestly...what's better than puddles?!

Hanging out at the beach...Quinn was okay with it as

long as his feet didn't touch the sand! (note picture above).

Some of Steve's cousins.

Dad/Son photo.

18 Weeks Pregnant - 8/01/2011

The cool thing about this photo is that I have one when I was pregnant with Quinn in the same spot back in 2009 (at 12 weeks).

Grandma and Grandpa Kunzer (Steve's maternal grandparents)

with their eight great grand children. Seven boys and one girl!

Quinn with his great grandma.

With ALL the grand kids and great grandchildren (minus one grand daughter who is working in Chicago over the summer.)

We had another great trip to Maddens Resort in Brainerd, MN over the last few days. MANY thanks to Grandma and Grandpa

Kunzer for planning such a wonderful trip and all the

wonderful memories made!

Dinner with Friends

2011-07-29T21:14:00.000-05:00

Nolan, Abby and Quinn

~July 29, 2011~

Say CHEESE!

Waiting intently for their strawberry shortcake!

Ty, almost six months old!

We joke that these two might date someday?!

...Or at least end up good friends!

The boys lounging after dinner.

We had our friends, Ally and Brandon, along with their two

kiddos Nolan and Abby, and Chelsea with her

sweet little Ty over for dinner.

What a fun night! The kids got along great! ..It's so much fun to

see that as they get older they interact more with one another,

and really do enjoy one anothers company!

Pregnancy: Week 17

2011-07-26T14:03:00.001-05:00

How far along? 17 Weeks (that's almost half way done, people!!)

Total weight gain/loss: Almost 10 lbs gained

Maternity clothes? It's beginning...regular non/maternity shirts are starting to look a bit snug.

Sleep: Not nearly as much required now compared to the early weeks...but I still get tired easily if I over do it, and some days I'm just really tired! (Could it be from chasing around Quinn?!)

Best moment this week: My doctor appointment yesterday (7/25). Quinn was with me, and as I was lying down to have the baby's heartbeat checked, I looked over to see Quinn's eyes big as saucers and grinning from ear to ear. It was such a special moment for me to take in the sounds from one child (their beating heart, strong and healthy!) and to be able to see the excitement and curiousity in my other child.

Movement: I felt the baby's first kicks last night at around 10pm when I was trying to go to sleep. I loved it! I had to run downstairs to let Steve know, even though it'll be many more weeks before he

can feel the kicks.

Food cravings: Lot of salty stuff :(

Basically, what I liked before I was pregnant, I just crave food more frequently!

Gender: I think boy, Steve thinks girl. We're not finding out!

Labor Signs: None, thankfully :)

Belly Button in or out? In

What I miss: Nothing. I can honestly say I am currently enjoying everything there is about pregnancy.

What I am looking forward to: Our ultrasound on August 15th.

Weekly Wisdom: I'm going to enjoy this pregnancy as thoroughly as I can, because it might be my last. And being pregnant is truly one of the coolest experiences in this life!

Happy Tuesday, All!

Meaningful Church Sign

2011-07-24T11:45:00.000-05:00

The other day I was driving past a church, and the sign's message resonated with me, as it simply read:

"The only thing you can take to heaven with

you are your children."

(I also feel like spouse should/could be included).

How quickly it put my day into perspective and reminded me of the most critical and important job we have as parents...to guide our children to have a strong relationship with Jesus Christ now,

while they're still young, that they may carry their

strong faith throughout their entire lives.

It may seem like an almost too overwhelming responsibility

at times, but it gives me great comfort knowing that the Lord is guiding each and every step in our parenting,

as we allow Him to work through us.

Family Photo

2011-07-19T17:19:00.000-05:00

We headed to the zoo on Saturday afternoon to spend some family quality time together...we had such a nice time. We checked out

the new penguin exhibit, visited the farm yard, had a snack outdoors on a shady picnic table and just soaked in

the gorgeous day and being together.

Of course...we brought our camera to the zoo but when we tried taking a photo, we realized someone (maybe me?!) forgot to return the memory stick... thank goodness for fancy phones with their picture taking ability, right?!

In other news... my second pregnancy is going great! Right now, I can feel the babe doing sommersaults on the left side of my belly :)

Hot and humid days of summer!!

2011-07-19T16:51:00.000-05:00

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmkkkkkkkkk (Quinn crawled up onto the couch where my laptop computer was laying, and decided he wanted to add a little to his blog...)

You know it's hot when...

Even your toddler is sweating as soon as you step outdoors!

We have been enjoying these hot and humid days! Okay...we might not be outside as much as when it's a little more tolerable (when it's 80 instead of 100 degrees!) ...but I'm looking at the big picture here and reminding myself that in about, oh...five months from

now we'll have 3 feet of snow on the ground and

it'll be cold again! I am not complaining!

In other news, Quinn will be 17 months tomorrow! That's right...a month away from being a one and a half year old! He is becoming more of a monkey these days! (could it be because his favorite

and only show he watches is Curious George?!)

He is constantly climbing up onto chairs, couches and even our tall bed! (he has figured out where to strategically place his foot to be able to climb up from the foot board.)

Hopefully everyone is enjoying these awesome summer days!

In the blink of an eye it'll be over and we'll be moving on to the next (beautiful) season...

Ice Cream Cone

2011-07-09T12:50:00.007-05:00

What's better than an ice cream cone

break on a hot and humid day?!

4th of July - 2011

2011-07-06T13:06:00.000-05:00

4th of July, 2011 - Quinn (16.5 months)

Quinn had fun getting pushed

back and forth on his jet ski!

With his Grandma J on the dock.

I'm 14 weeks pregnant and

feeling wonderful.

Whether we're at home or the cabin,

the lawn mower is always a hit!

First s'more. Made by Aunt Laurie!

Enjoying our bonfire and s'mores!

Did I say s'mores? Quinn preferred

his Gerber puff cereal over it!

Looking festive in our Old

Navy 4th of July shirts!

Four generations:

Jerry (Jan's dad), Stan, Steve and Quinn.

The boys and I headed up to Jan and Stan's cabin
for our annual Fourth of July tradition.

We had a wonderful three days of relaxing, eating delicious food (J&S make great breakfast, lunch and dinners every day!), playing in the water and sun, and just enjoying one anothers' company!

Thanks for having us up!

WI Day Trip

2011-06-30T22:13:00.000-05:00

Quinn and I are enjoying opportunities to visit with

friends and family this week!

This afternoon we headed to mom and dad's since my

grandparents were up for the day and night.

Even with weather in the 90's,

Quinn didn't miss a beat, all that heat and

humidity sure made his cheeks rosy red though!

Country Living

2011-06-29T17:00:00.001-05:00

Our day consisted of...

A Quinn and mama road trip to visit a friend and her adorable little guy.....

..Enjoying the beautiful scenery as we drove through towns like Jordan, Gaylord, Henderson and Winthrop, MN.

...Enjoying my time chatting and catching up with Missy

Keeping plenty busy with Quinn getting into, well...everything!..

..Burning off energy outside while chasing ducks, playing with a kitty and dog and appreciating the awesome weather!

Embracing the quiet and peaceful drive home as Quinn feel asleep instantly..........

Thanks for having us over, Melissa!

A Special Day

2011-06-18T16:44:00.000-05:00

Steve's first Father's Day

Last Year - 2010

At friend's Matt and Melissa's wedding

~ May 2010 ~

First Easter with Quinn, April 2010

Quinn's Baptism Affirmation, June 2010

Summer 2010

First Christmas with Quinn, Dec. 2010

Boys having breakfast, April 2011

Daddy and Quinn enjoying a Spring Day.

The boys and daddy's cool car!

Dear Steve,

I had fun collecting a few of my favorite photos of you with our son to honor you on your 2nd Father's Day! What a blessing an attentive, hardworking and kind father is, not only for his children but also for their mother! I am so thankful that Quinn and our newest little one to arrive this winter, have such a wonderful father figure to guide them through life's many ups and downs!

Thank you for all you do for Quinn. Those long hours you put in at work every day without complaint to support your family, the smile you always have as you walk though the door at the end of the day and announce, 'How's my Family?!', the positive attitude you display each and every day. I love seeing how much you have changed and learned in the almost year and a half that you have been a dad! Just as I found a few minutes to run down to your office and post this entry, I can hear you and Quinn upstairs dancing and singing away to Raffi!

I try and remember to thank God every day for pairing us together! (Okay, I just noticed that the music has just changed from Raffi to Rap! ...I also love how you are providing Quinn with such a variety of different genres of music...Raffi to Rap, something only Steve would do!)

I hope you know how loved you are this Father's Day and Always,

Gretchen and Quinn

Backyard wildlife!

2011-06-18T16:16:00.000-05:00

The other day, as I was standing on our deck something bright green caught my eye, and I was delighted to see that it was an adorable little tree frog. I'm sure if I had inspected it further, I would have been able to see the little little suction cup grippers on his feet that allowed him to crawl up high onto our deck!

As a kid, my siblings and I loved playing with unique animals, reptiles and amphibians! When we took a family fishing trip and had trouble catching any fish, we hardly ever had trouble catching painted turtles and we would bring a few home as pets. All the minnows purchased as bait but never used also became pets. We would put them in our kiddie pools and have them race. Reptiles such as snakes and toads were a big hit, as well as salamanders! ...I have no problems letting Quinn find his own ~~strange~~ unique pets as he grows up. What a fun part of childhood where many of the best memories are made!

A visit to see Great Grandma Sophie

2011-06-17T13:33:00.000-05:00

Quinn (16 months) with Great Grandma Sophie and Grandpa J.

~ June 17, 2011 ~

As you can see, Quinn had a lot of fun visiting

his great grandma this morning!!

Quinn is almost 16 months old! (6/20/2011)

2011-06-16T12:53:00.000-05:00

My little sweetie at 16 months.

Look at those big feet! There is nothing

'baby' about Quinn anymore. He is 100% big boy these days!

He is starting to get the cheesy smile down pat! "Say CHEESE!"

...And boy, does he love his cuddling stuffed animals!

Especially his two little blanket/teddy bears.

Time is just flying by in the Johannes household!

We're keeping busy with day to day activities, as well as doctor appointments for baby #2, Steve's softball games, purchasing a new SUV (for our soon to be family of four), selling an old car, play dates with friends, volunteering at VBS (vacation bible school), get together with friends and family and more. (Isn't summer awesome?!)

Quinn is growing up right before our eyes! There usually isn't a day that goes by, where Steve doesn't comment on how much Quinn grew during the day when he

was at work!

We are truly having one of the best summers. Quinn is more active and on the go this year than last, and we try and keep busy with activities that best suit his personality. (mainly, any activity that allow him to RUN/move!)

We've been taking bike rides, walks, visits to parks and the library and meeting more and more friends through numerous ECFC classes we took over the

winter and spring months.

Along with his motor skills strengthening daily, he is slowly getting the vocal skills down! But let's be honest, he is much more a doer than a talker! So with that said, imagine my excitement when Quinn mimicked me and said Tucker today! (And it actually sounded like Tucker!)

Lots and lots of kids, oh my!

2011-06-15T13:57:00.001-05:00

Sydney and Quinn at Play date.

Very interested in baby Logan.

We noticed four (out of the seven kids) reading together...

so we thought it would be fun to get ALL of the kids together!

It took a little time and work,

But it turned out great!

Toni, Nolan and Abby

Quinn, Haven, Logan and Sydney

Play date: June 15, 2011

Baby makes FOUR!

2011-06-02T12:29:00.000-05:00

Our first photo as a family of four (plus Tuck!)

We found out we were expecting baby #2 waaaaay back on April 23rd (the day before Easter). Steve and I were getting ready to go to a Twins game with some good friends of ours, and since the four of us enjoy having a couple beers while watching the game, I thought it best to just make sure I wasn't pregnant.

When I checked the pregnancy test after a few minutes, I was surprised and very excited to see two lines! Steve was playing with Quinn in the other room, so I walked in to tell him our plans for the day were going to be slightly changed! The rest of our morning was spent just allowing our new reality to sink in! I kept asking, "Am I really pregnant?" I did the same thing with Quinn...just one of those magical moments that go down in history as some of the best moments of our lives. Knowing we were bringing another sweet baby into our family (and knowing just how awesome and wonderful a responsibility since we already have Quinn!)

My pregnancy has been similar yet different than it was with Quinn. On the positive end, I've felt a lot less nauseous and crummy this time around. With Quinn, I could only eat cheddar cheese, saltines and bland cereal. It was awful! I would often tell Steve during those early months that we were only going to be having one child! This time around, although I have been feeling waves of nausea, and extreme fatigue (who doesn't get that?!) I'm finally starting to feel like myself again...ahhh, finally! Meaning, I don't have to take a nap every single day while Quinn is napping.

I really can't complain too much if I'm comparing it to my first pregnancy... and I can (and do) eat everything... :) Does this mean girl or boy?

Since we found out on the day before Easter, we decided to tell my family on Easter morning when

we saw them, as everyone was together already (perfect timing if you ask me!)

I hand wrote a few little messages in the Easter eggs such as, "I'm going to be a big brother" and "Baby Johannes #2 due to arrive in early 2012". The hardest part was persuading Quinn to pass the eggs out to everyone (he wanted to keep them all!)

It was a fun day. Baby #2 finally has a due date, too! Quinn is expecting to become a big brother on: January 1st, 2012. Happy New Year! (He turns two on 2/20 - it's going to be a busy, fun winter!)

Blue skies and sunshine!

2011-05-21T21:04:00.000-05:00

No such thing as too many kisses!

Aunt Mandy came to visit.

Today may have started out rainy and gloomy, but by late afternoon the sun was out and the skies were baby blue!!

My sister, Mandy came over for a few hours and we all enjoyed lots of fun outside playing in Quinn's new kiddie pool! ...Quinn had tons of fun filling up his watering can in the pool and sprinkling/dumping it into one of his buckets... talk about a dream day for Quinn!

Trip to ER

2011-05-18T16:08:00.003-05:00

Waking up in the morning of 5/18/11, in his very own

crib at the Children's Hospital. Quinn may have been confined to his bed, but he found his own fun: diaper wipes!

He had a little monitor on his toe to keep track of his breathing.

Quinn and I visited his regular pediatrician's office yesterday, to find out what was behind the labored breathing

he was experiencing.

Right away the doctor diagnosed his condition as croup. He got a steroid shot in his leg and we 'tried' using the nebuliser (Quinn was not a fan of this machine - poor guy!) All these methods were to reduce the swelling around his larynx and trachea. After about an hour of just waiting (to let the medicine kick in and do its thing), the doctor re examined Quinn. Because his condition had not improved, he told us the next step was to visit the Children's Hospital (where they are better equipped at dealing with this.)

So yesterday evening 5/17, Quinn was admitted to the ER at Children's Hospital. The first room we were in was teeny tiny and we were in there for several hours trying to keep a little toddler occupied... talk about an ~~impossible~~ huge task!

(see second picture above ).

After trying the nebuliser again, and getting an x-ray of his throat, the ER doctor told us that because his breathing had not improved much, she would be admitting Quinn to the

hospital over night for observation.

Over night was when little man finally started breathing better and the steroid shot from the previous day kicked in!

Let me tell you what a learning experience this has been. I am so proud of Quinn for how brave he was the entire time!

Busy doing yard work

2011-05-15T20:34:00.000-05:00

Quinn and daddy working away.

Lucky Quinn,

he even had his own shovel!

Interested in what daddy is doing!

Ta-Da! The finished product. Hopefully we

will have a nice supply of tomatoes, strawberries

and numerous peppers from our 'garden' this summer.

Having fun on the bike G&G Johannes got him.

From this view, the dandelions look beautiful!

We had a great family weekend!

Hope you did too.

Steve isn't going to like this post!

2011-05-13T14:13:00.000-05:00

Quinn found one of my head bands today!

He was so funny - he loved putting it over his eyes and than running

full speed to our mirror in the bathroom to check it out!

I probably wasn't helping to discourage his behavior, as I was laughing and taking photos. I couldn't help it - he is becoming more of a ham as the days go on! He keeps us laughing daily.

This is the part of the post I was referring to that Steve won't appreciate! (his son wearing a head band.) Hey, I totally understand ...but look how happy this kid is?!

And how fun are these photos going to be when Quinn

is about 16 years old! :)

(side note: the head band was hidden away after my numerous photos were taken!)