Welcome Baby Collin!

I am so happy to announce that baby Collin is here...almost 4 weeks early! (You may remember Mimi's shower a month ago.) Collin Edward Johnson was born on May 23rd and weighed 7 lbs. 3 oz. What a perfect baby!!! We were lucky enough to meet the 5 day old stud last night and he quickly became our new photography muse. Mike did an AMAZING job taking these pictures! Check out the happy family!Mimi is just glowing and Nick is such a proud daddy. The family picture above is my favorite of the evening.I have never seen a newborn with such blond hair. He has long, skinny fingers like Mimi and the biggest baby feet I have ever seen!Oh, Collin...you are so cute!!!I got to hold him for a bit. Collin, just start calling me Auntie Lauren ;)Nick and Mimi, I am so so happy for you both. Congrats!

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Birthday Fun

I have been such a bad blogger lately. I hate to keep blaming it on Mia but really...it is her fault! (Click on the picture below and see the face up close...oh my gosh...)My Memorial Day weekend was wonderful!
Friday- Glendale Jazz Fest. You can't ever go wrong with beer, lawn chairs, and jazz music. Mia played with an adorable 3 year old, Emiline. It was hilarious watching her drag Mia all over the lawn.Saturday- Birthday celebration with the family at Hacienda. Gotta love a taco salad and strawberry margarita (thanks, Ali!). My mom knows me so well. As part of my present, she bought me color pens I had been lusting over. Does anyone else get super excited about colored, gel pens? I know my fellow teachers are nodding their heads right now ;)If so, go get the Pilot G2 gel pens, right now! They are wonderful and look at the great colors!
Sunday- Birthday BBQ at our house. The clouds were menacing all day but it hadn't rained by our 2:00 start time. When the party was in full swing and Mike just placed the burgers and dogs on the grill, the sky opened and it POURED. It was hilarious but a little bit of a downer. Luckily, it passed as quickly as it came and the rest of the night was beautiful.I LOVE cleaning the house and decorating. I finally took our our bud vases and put them to use! (I am also proud because I took that picture!)
Monday- No celebration on Monday. Just cleaning, report cards, cuddling with the pup, and recovering.

Today is the big day. I can't believe that I am actually the big...My "Golden Birthday" to be exact...I am 26th on the 26th! Fun, huh?! Birthdays have always been a big deal to me. My parents always set out this red plate on our birthdays and it really is such a great memory for me. I think I want to buy one some day and start the same birthday tradition for my kids.This really is the first year that I haven't felt like my birthday is a big deal. So much is going on right now and I think I am just growing up (about time, huh?!).

Tonight Mike and I are going out to dinner at Maggiano's. We usually don't go to chain restaurants but Rigatoni D at Maggiano's is AMAZING. I can't wait to get some of that in my belly soon : )

Alrighty...need to go! Ciao!!!

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Weekend Celebrations

This weekend was just awesome! I have so much to share and,, of course, no time to do it. You see...I am finished with school on Wednesday (tomorrow is Tuesday) and my report cards aren't done!!! YIKES! I am working on them right now but thought I would drop off a few lines and a new picture of Mia.Ok...two pictures!Tomorrow, I am turning the big 2-6. Honestly, this is the first time my birthday has crept up on me. No big countdown, no list of things I want, no butterflies and expectations of a perfect day. (I know that it is sad that I usually have all of these things.) I have just been super busy and a little preoccupied with the little one.

Back to report cards! Only 2 more workdays! WOO HOO!

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Take your dog to work Day???

Yesterday, Mia went to work with Daddy. Since work had our 'End of the Year' Dinner last night, I couldn't come home after work to let her out. Therefore, she got to hang out with Mike! He emailed me these pictures....so cute!Happy Friday! We are hosting a Memorial Day/Birthday BBQ on Sunday and it is going to rain :( BBQ just aren't as much fun inside. Hummmm....I am going to need to get creative here!

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The ABC's of me

Haven't blogged in a while so I stole this from Angie!

A - Age: 25 (26 next Tuesday!!!)
B - Bed size: Queen
C - Chore you hate: Cleaning the bathroom
D - Dog's names: Mia
E - Essential start your day item: Eyeliner
F - Favorite color: Red
G - Gold or Silver: Silver
H - Height: 5'3
I - Instruments you play: None...I like to say that my voice is an instrument :)
J - Job title: 5th grade teacher
K - Kid(s): None
L - Living arrangements: Live with hubby and Mia in a house in Kirkwood, Missouri.
M - Mom's name: Suzi
N - Nicknames: Weez
O - Overnight hospital stay other than birth: Never stayed overnight in a hospital but I have stayed over in a surgery center.
P - Pet Peeve: Parents that spank their kids in public, people that smoke in restaurants, bad drivers
Q - Quote from a movie: "Let's go streaking!"
R - Right or left handed: Right
S - Siblings: Ali (23) and Andrew (21)
T - Time you wake up: 6:00 am
U- First word that comes to your mind for "U": Umbrella, ella, ella...
V - Vegetable you dislike: brussell sprouts, beans, cauliflower
W - Ways you run late: Getting dressed, doing hair/makeup
X - X-rays you've had: Teeth
Y - Yummy food you make: healthy pasta con broccoli, fajitas, scrambled eggs
Z - Zoo favorite: puffins and penguins, Big Cat Country

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Mia, Mia, Mia

Just say that with Jan Brady's voice like "Marsha, Marsha, Marsha." Seriously, that is how I feel. Everything is about Mia right now. She has taken over my life, my mind, and my sleeping schedule. I can't get anything done at home but I can't stay at work because I have to let her out.

I love this dog so much but there have been times when I just can't stand her. I hate when I get this feeling but sometimes I am just so tired and if she bites one more things, I am going to just flip out!!! Does that sound bad? I love her...I really really do. It is just exhausting. People warned us about getting a puppy and we really did know what we were getting in to.

Having this little puppy has really made me realize that I am not ready to have children. (Sorry, Mom!) I do not like that my social life is being compromised. And by social life, I am including how hard it is to attend staff meetings, doctor appointments, and master's classes without taking into account the bladder of Miss Mia at home. I really encourage other couples to get pets before trying for kids. It really changes your perspective on life.

I must say that I am pretty impressed by the little pup. We have only had her for a little over a week and she is finally on a pretty good night potty schedule. She needs to go out at 2:30 am and 6:00 am (which is when I get up). That is only getting up ONCE in the night, folks! Pretty awesome if you ask me! She still hasn't peed or pooped in the house. She has peed a few times in the crate when we didn't get home on time to let her out :( Bad parents.

OK...I just needed to get that all out. Each day she is getting better and better. I only have 6 more days of school and then it is me and Mia...all day :) I hope I survive!

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These are a few of my favorite things

This face just melts my heart. Mia is growing so fast and everyone keeps telling me to take as many pictures as we can. Done.I am obsessed with certain parts of my little pup and just need to share the cuteness with everyone. I jumped at the chance to photograph my "favorite things" as she took such a sweet nap on her daddy's chest.

Those lips...just so kissable. I especially love that lower black lip.Mia has a tiny, black dot in the center of her adorable, little nose.Those puppy paws. When Mia came home, they were plump, shiny, and perfectly pink. I wish I would have photographed them within the first few days because each day, they become dirtier and more calloused. I know it is just a matter of time before they turn completely dark.Speaking of paws, I have one specific toe fetish. Seriously, how cute is this? One black toe nail and 1/2 of a black pad. Awww....Her spotted belly and multi-colored nips. Ohhhhh...that belly!!! Oh...and I love those little spots on her face.I love you so much, Mia. You have already changed our lives and stolen our hearts.

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The road to meet Mia.

I woke up on Saturday morning with butterflies in my stomach. I was nervous and excited to finally meet our puppy but honestly, I was way more nervous than excited. We pulled up to the gas station because Kenneth (Mia's previous owner) agreed to meet us halfway. The moment I saw her, I almost died. My heart melted and I actually started to cry. I really hadn't ever seen anything so adorable! We put her in her travel crate and started our journey home. We had prepared ourselves for a drive home full of poop, pee, and puke. But instead, she fell right asleep. Like, dead asleep...snoring and all!We has to wake her up each time we stopped so she could go potty. Here are pictures of our first pit stop in Arkansas.She was so good in her crate the entire time. She would fall right asleep until our next stop. I just kept looking back and starting at her.After 6 hours on the road, we were finally home and my parents came over for a delicious dinner! Of course, I took many more pictures of our baby!My mom even brought Mia presents that she loved. She can't wait to be big enough to play frisbee! (I have a feeling that it will be sooner than later.)I have gotten a bunch of questions about the first night. Honestly, it wasn't too bad (the second night was much worse!!!) She woke up and cried at 12, 1, 2, and 4. She woke up at 7 am for the day. No accidents in the crate and she peed each time we took her out.

Sunday, we celebrated Mother's Day (my first) at our house with bagels and family. It was lovely and we had more chances to take pictures of our pup. We started to wait at GC but after 45 minutes, we decided to leave. (Doesn't my mom look AMAZING only 2 weeks post surgery? Sorry, Mom...you do!!!) Someone at home was being a ham for the camera...Happy Mother's Day to me :)And family pictures without the canine...After a wonderful Mother's Day, we were exhausted. Mia didn't want to sleep last night. She cried every hour and I wasn't a fan. Waking up for work at 6 was super hard and I was dragging all day. It is 9:30 right now and I am going to hop in bed because I have a feeling it will be a repeat show tonight.

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Arkansas Roadtrip

On Friday, I left work right as soon as I could and hurried home to pack for our roadtrip. At about 4:00 we hit the road to begin our 5 hour trip to Fayetteville, Arkansas. We got in town around 9:30, went to Danny's (Mike's brother) house to freshened up, and hit the college bars. Oh...how I miss the college years. After hitting the bars with Danny and his girlfriend, Jesse, we had to get some late night Taco Bell. While winding down, Danny and Mike played guitar and played around with the camera.The next morning, I woke up with butterflies in my stomach as we drove to meet our new baby girl. I have to run and eat dinner but I will post more tonight!

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She's Home!

Words really can't explain how much I already love our new little baby. Meet Mia...So tired right now but I promise to post more tomorrow!

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What has happened to America?

Lil Kim is gone and Ty is still on? Seriously, people?!?AND...to make matters worse...Allison is off and Danny is on. Uck!At least my boyfriend is still on. I love you, Kris.What has happened to America this week? Come on people!!!

Although I am getting sad that these two of my favorite reality shows are coming to an end, I am excited that two more will be replacing them. WOO HOO! (Man, I watch too much TV! This DVR is killing me!)

Um...on an un-reality based TV show, did anyone watch Grey's? I was bawling like a baby. BAWLING. As Oprah says, "the ugly cry".

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