Almost 8 months old!

Sadie has been so much fun this month and so many things have changed. She can roll over like crazy. She is saying dadadadada and mamamamama all the time. She loves to eat baby food and little puffs. Her personality is coming out and I can definitely see a little of JJ and I in that. She is a very happy baby when mommy is holding her (yes, she's going through the mommy stage). She gets mad when it is time to stop eating, but over-all she is a wonderful baby and we are truly blessed. She is trying very hard to crawl and I think she will definitely have that down pat by the end of 8 months. She is rolling over very good, but she doesn't like it when she gets stuck on her tummy! She also loves playing peek-a-boo and she can even do it herself:):). She will laugh hysterically at JJ when he plays that with her. She also continues to really love her bath time with daddy. That is very special to both of them. She also babbles all the time. She was even moaning in her sleep during church earlier today. Sometimes we wonder if she will ever get quite. We're just thankful that she is happy and not crying all the time. For the most part she is sleeping through the night still, although the last few nights have been a different story (we're hoping it's because she has a cold). Lastly, she still loves the pacifier. She stands by it strong and really won't give it up when she wants it, but hey, at least it's not her thumb (we can't throw that away). It's been a very busy month with Christmas and bringing in the New Year, but very eventful overall. We can't wait to see what kind of exciting things she does next month.

Suttons to visit!

Andrea and Matt came to NC for Christmas. It was really nice seeing them and enjoying their presence! They look so happy in their newlywed stage! We hope to see them soon, depending on if their are any special occasions to attend in AZ this summer (who could that be?)

Christmas has come and gone!

Wow, what an exciting Christmas for the Johnston's. Of course it was a lot of fun with Sadie. She actually opened presents (very slowly). She really cared more about eating the paper than she did the actual gift. She received a lot of toys and really cute clothes from family members. She also received some cash to put into her savings account! Most importantly it was nice being with family and friends. It was neat to focus on the true meaning of Christmas even if Sadie may not remember it at this age. Our busy few days were a success and we look forward to next year. We have also really enjoyed relaxing at home the past few days. Check out all the pictures from Christmas!

Sadie and Pee-dee!

Sadie had to go and visit daddy at work and Pee-dee was their taking pictures. Could she be a future Pirate Star?

Farmville Christmas Parade!

Sadie went to her first Christmas parade. It was a blast. We enjoyed it very much! We went with the Williford's and enjoyed our time together!

Volleyball Christmas Party!

I had my Christmas party with my volleyball team at school. We had it at Rachel's house and it was a lot of fun. There was fun food, gingerbread house contest, karoke, wii fun, and lot's more entertainment. All in all it was a great time together and of course exchanging gifts. I enjoyed the time together with them!

Time is flying by!

Wow, it is hard to believe that Sadie is now 7th months old. She is growing more and more in so many ways. She can now sit and stretch for miles. She says, "dadadadada" all the time. She drinks her bottle by herself on the floor. I also actually caught her sleeping on her side during a nap yesterday. And then to top it all off, she said mama at church yesterday for the first time. We were exiting the church because she was playing too loud and then everyone heard her say mama! It was really cool. She has also had a good time decorating for Christmas. She just picked at the tree to start with and now she likes looking at the lights. She is also going through the "I want mommy stage". It was cool at first, but it get a little frustrating when she wants me at sight. She loves to play in her pack-n-play with all her toys and she really loves to play with her friend Ava! Most exciting also, is she has three teeth. They really seem to come very fast. She got all three in a week in a half. It actually wasn't too bad on JJ and I also. She is also rolling over and she will be crawling before we know it. All-in-all she is a bundle of joy and we love her so very much.

Sadie's First Tooth!

So, Saturday my sister came down and she discovered that Sadie had a tooth. Of course I didn't believe her, but I stuck my hand in her mouth and there it was. I guess that is why she has been a bit fussy lately. She is doing well with her eating. She loves apple sauce, bananas, blueberries, and she even enjoyed carrots today. It's amazing how quickly things are changing now that she is getting older. Sorry, there are no pictures to show her tooth, it's not big enough:(!!!!!

ECU GAME!

We went to the ECU game yesterday with Aunt Amanda. We had lot's of fun. It was very cold, but we had Sadie all bundled up and she had a great time. ECU beat Tulane and that puts them in second place. They'll be going to a bowl of some sort (and the not the toilet bowl like NC STATE). This will be the last game we'll be attending this year, but we look forward to another fun season of football next year!

So many things to be thankful for!

Thanksgiving was filled with lot's of memories. This was Sadie's first Thanksgiving and it was also our first Thanksgiving without my uncle. It was little more difficult than I thought it would be, but thanks to Sadie she was able to distract most people. We did lot's of traveling so that we could spend time with all of the family. We went to the Johnston's on Wednesday and Thursday and then we were at the Barbour's on Thursday and Friday. As we were traveling I was able to focus on so much. As I watched the color of the beautiful fall trees, I was reminded of this beautiful creation that God has placed us in. It's truly a blessing to see all the work that he has done on earth. As I was reminded of this, I was also reminded of how he is continuing to bless my family day by day. This is truly something to be thankful for. The food, fun, fellowship is fun, but without our relationship with Christ, it is NOTHING. This helped me to have a more positive perspective as I spent time with family and friends. It's just so important for us to share these things with our family as we are reminded of how thankful we are that Christ has chosen us to be a part of his family! Here are some fun pictures from Thanksgiving and our little Indian!

Sadie speaks!

What a wonderful day Thanksgiving could be and to make it even better, Sadie says her first words. We've been noticing her putting sounds together, but we just weren't quite sure if she was truly saying anything or not. Well now we know for sure that she is definitely saying Da-Da. We're not sure that she knows it means daddy, but it still means a lot to us and especially her daddy! Check out this video!

I love my daddy!

Sadie does love the time that she gets to spend with her daddy. You should see her face light up everyday when he gets home from work. There is always a great big smile. Sadie also loves to take baths because that is also a special time for her and daddy. He gives her a bath every other night. These are special times and we love being parents!

Grandma Kim came to keep Sadie last weekend, while mommy and daddy went to work. They had a wonderful time together playing and doing fun stuff. We look forward to Grandma and Grandpa coming back for another visit!

Cutest Cow EVER!!!

So, the first Halloween is a wrap! It was very busy but fun. Sadie was a cow as you will see below. We went trick or treating in our neighborhood and a few friends houses. Aunt Amanda and Grandma came all the way to Greenville to give Sadie her trick or treat gift and boy did she love that! We also went and hung out at the Feather's with some other little kids. I think the theme was animal costumes this year! Over-all it was fun, but exhausting. Enjoy the pictures!

Visit with Grandma and Grandpa Johnston

We went to Roanoke Rapids for Mike's birthday and Sadie got to see her grandparents. They enjoyed spending time with her and celebrating Mike's special day!

ECU Homecoming-GO PIRATES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Last Saturday was homecoming at ECU! We started off the day by going to the homecoming parade at ECU. We went with the Cooke's and their daughter and children. It was fun and Sadie really seemed to enjoy it all. Nothing even really scared her (except for the last firetruck that blew the horn in her ear). After the parade we attended the first Campus Crusade Alumni tailgating party. It was fun catching up with people and of course showing Sadie off:):)!!!! JJ and I then took Sadie to her first ECU football game and she did great. She didn't cry at all and she even managed to get a quick nap in. So, all in all it was GREAT. Check out the pictures!

I love my FEET!

Sadie has always loved her feet since the day that she discovered what they were. She has been trying for weeks to reach them into her mouth and she finally did so this afternoon. Check it out!

2007 NC STATE FAIR

As many of you know, the third week in October is all about the State Fair. My Aunt Carolyn runs a booth there and all the children, grandchildren, and nieces get to help (with the help of a few others). This year was extra special because it was Sadie's first trip to the State Fair. She went three times and enjoyed every minute of it. She rod the carousel, tasted chocolate ice cream and licked Daddy's candy apple. Some of the things that mommy and daddy loved were: corn on the cob, fudge, candy apples, ice cream from the State booth, more corn on the cob, italian sausage, funnel cakes, of course french fries, and then more corn on the cob! It was also wonderful spending time with our family and cute cousins. We can't wait for 2008! Check out the slide show for more:

5 MONTHS OLD!

Sadie turned 5 months old on October 7th. She is growing so very fast and we are enjoying her every waking moment She has had a fun month and is learning lot's of cool things. She is trying to talk more and she is learning to roll over. She has only done it once, but she is trying more and more to grasp the concept. She loves playing with her feet and loves to spend time with mommy and daddy. Here are a few recent pictures that you may enjoy!

Sadie loves the Sitter's!

I know that many of you have been asking how Sadie has adjusted to staying with the different babysitters. She has done wonderful and the transition has been simple and smooth. She stays with Lynn on Monday's, Kristy and Ava on Tuesday-Thursday, and Mrs. Brenda on Friday. She has lot's of fun playing, sleeping, reading, and of course eating! Here are a few pictures from her babysitting and her friend Ava.

Milk vs. Solids

Okay, so Sadie tries some solid foods. We attempt giving her applesauce first because we heard that all babies like applesauce. She was a little confused. She did manage to eat it all after two days, but she's just not completely ready yet. We do think she is on her way though. We did capture some cool faces through it all. She did seem to like it, she just couldn't grasp the concept of swallowing it instead of sucking. Check it out!

Uncle George is recovering!

Thank you so much for all your prayers for my Uncle George. He is recovering amazingly and the doctors are all astonished. They all say that this was truly a miracle. He is at home now and going through some therapy and learning how to talk and walk again. Here is an updated picture taken last week at his granddaughters birthday party.

Caden has arrived!

A couple of weeks ago, our good friends Paul and Lisa had a new baby boy, Caden Ellis The really cool thing is I actually helped with the labor. It was truly amazing and I can not imagine why people can not believe that there isn't a God. Lisa did great and they are beginning to adjust very well at home. Caden is a handsome little boy and could be some competition for Sadie one day....ahhahaha! What blessing this day truly was!

What are these things?

Sadie found her feet a couple of weeks ago. Ever since that day, she has been infatuated with them. She loves catching them with her hands and tries very hard to put them in her mouth. So far, she has been unsuccessful!

I'm ready for my close up, Mr. Deville!

Last Saturday Grandma and Grandpa Barbour took Sadie to get some pictures made. She did great and the outcome was wonderful. We had to choose from 107 pictures, so here are just a few that I thought you would enjoy to look at. She also discovered her feet on this day and boy does she love them now!

Oh, how she grows!

Sadie had her 4 month appointment today. She had some shots, but overall she did great. She sounded much better than the other 4 babies in there screaming FOREVER! She weighed 14lbs 2oz. She was on the 50th percentile, so that was perfect. She also grew about 2 inches. The next couple of months should be interesting. She gets to be introduced to peas, carrots, pears, and applesauce. We'll keep you posted on how that is going!

4 months old!

Wow, we can't believe that Sadie will be 4 months old on Friday. Lot's of things have gone on during this month. She sleeps completely through the night, so mommy and daddy love that. She will laugh really loud and that is really funny! She goos and gahs and does lot's of cool stuff like that. She has this book with teethers on it and it is her favorite thing to play with right now. Those are just a few of the changes. Mommy had to go back to work, so she is also staying with the babysitters now. She is loving every moment of it and has made a smooth transition. She is truly a great baby and blessing from the Lord. She also loves going with mommy to volleyball practice. She just sits in her bumbo and watches. Here are a few pictures from the past month including a photo shoot with future best friend Logan Radez!

Family Reunion!

Sadie attended her first family reunion. It was the Barbour reunion and it was quite an experience. She had a enjoyable time and everyone loved meeting her. Here are some pics from that day!

Tribute to Uncle Cecil!

Shelley's Uncle Cecil went to be with the Lord earlier in July. He battled months with cancer and now will be remembered as the incredible man that he was. Here are a few pics remembering him and others who were gathered. The carolina outfit that Sadie is wearing is definitely for him (cause most of you know that shelley is not a carolina fan). We love him and will remember him now and forever!

Andrea's gets hitched!

So, yeah, my friend Andrea is finally getting married. God couldn't have picked a better guy than Matt. He is perfect for her. So, the month of August was super busy preparing for the big day. We had lot's of showers and then the big day was August 25th. Here are some great pictures from the shower and wedding. I can't wait to see hear all about the honeymoon (well not all about it--ahahahah). I love you guys and miss you lot's! Check out the pics!

Vacation

Sadie had her first family vacation last week. We went with the Barbour's the Myrtle Beach. It was a lot of fun. We did lot's of shopping, pool fun, and eating. It was nice spending time with family. Grandma couldn't come, so we missed her a lot. That was the only thing missing that would make it a perfect vacation. We left on Friday and traveled down to Atlantic Beach to spend some time with the Johnston's. They surprised us by bringing our nephew Jacob. It was so neat seeing Sadie and Jacob interact. He loves her so very much! We also had lot's of fun there and really enjoyed our beach time. We look forward to many more family vacations! I attached some pictures that were captured during our vacation week! Enjoy!

Three months old!

Wow, it's hard to believe that our little Sadie is 3 months old! We have seen lot's of changes this month. Our favorite has to be when she laughs out loud. It is great! She is a very happy baby and we see how blessed we are as we interact with her daily! Our friend Rachel Henderson gave her a photo shoot for her 3 month photos! I have attached most of the cute ones......of course we think all of them are cute!

Busy in July

July has been one very busy month. We are seeing Sadie change so much every week. She is a lot of fun and we love her so very much. She attended her first wedding. Beth Cummings got married and Sadie did great at the wedding! We also had a visit from our good friends Rachel and Brian Henderson and their little girl, Abby. It was a lot of fun having them over to spend time with and catch up. It was also neat to see Sadie and Abby interact. We look forward to seeing them as they grow up together! We've attached a few pictures from these two events as well as some random pictures during July! Enjoy, and we would love to hear how all of you are doing!

Happy Birthday America!

We had a blast at the annual 4th of July cookout at the Cokers. We had pig and lot's of goodies to go with it. The fellowship was awesome and the fireworks were quite eventful! Sadie did great. She loved the fireworks. She just stared at them in the sky and there were NO tears! Hopefully it will stay that way as she begins to get older! We look forward to next years excitement at the Cokers!! Here are a few pictures from our eventful evening.

2 months old!

It's hard to believe that Sadie is 2 months old. Monday she had her 2 month check-up and she was very healthy. She's getting a little on the pudgy side, but we love it. She is also beginning to learn new things. She is trying sooooooooooo hard to talk and it is hilarious to watch. Little sounds come out and it is super cute. She is also learning how to throw a fit (also known as a temper), when she has to be burped or has to go to sleep. All-in-all, she is still our pride and joy. JJ and I are learning how to best raise her in a Godly home. It's a challenge at times, because you want to give in to her cute attitudes and actions. We continue to remind ourselves that she is a gift from God that we are so richly blessed with. Here are a few pictures from the past month!

Father's day!

This year was JJ's first Father's Day. We spent sometime with his dad at the beach and then we spent some time with Shelley's dad on Sunday. We went to church with Roger and then Grandma cooked a really big lunch. JJ got a bocce ball set for Father's day and he loved it! Here are a few pictures from Father's day!

First trip to the beach!

Last weekend we went to Grandma and Grandpa Johnston's beach house. This was Sadie's first trip to the beach and we had a very enjoyable time. We're looking forward to many more trips with the Johnston's! Here are some cool pics from the trip!

First trip to the pool!

When Sadie was four weeks old, we took her to the pool for the first time. We went to the pool at ECU and the Radez's went with us. It was a nice relaxing time, but Sadie definitely thought the water was a bit cold. Over-all, she did great! We look forward to many more times of fun in the water!

Bumbo seats rock!!!!!!!!!!

The bumbo seat is used when babies can hold there head up. It's recommended at age 3 months to 18 months. Last night we thought we would try Sadie in it since her neck seems to be strengthening up. She did a great job and we can't wait until she can use it more. The pictures were pretty funny!

First Playgroup!

Today we attended Sadie's first Playgroup. We went to the park and took lot's of pictures. Playgroup is every Thursday and it includes a lot of women in the church that we attend. There are lot's of people having babies, so Sadie should have no problem finding friends. Check out some of the pictures from today!

Sadie is one month old!

Since May 7th, life has been very busy and hectic. It's hard to believe that Sadie is now one month old. She just had her check-up and she weighed 8lb 11oz. As you can see, she has had no problem eating. She is on the 47th percentile and the doctor's say that she is very healthy. JJ and I are enjoying every moment of being parents and look forward to seeing more as the days approach us. Sadie is starting to focus with her eyes more and her personality is beginning to come out. I have attached some pictures of her first month in the slideshow below:

New Beginnings with Friends and Family

We have had lot's of new changes since Sadie has been a part of our life. Shelley had her first Mother's Day and Sadie has also had her first bath. Not to mention all the wonderful friends and family that's visited! Check out the pictures on this slide show:

Welcome Sadie Karis Johnston

On May 7th, 2007, Sadie was born and she captured mom and dad's heart immediately. She was born at 10:06 and she weighed 7lbs 8oz and she was 19 inches long. The journey now begins and what a blessing she has been so far! Here are a few pictures from the beginning in a short slide show!