ZayZay is as perfect as can be, and needy and sweet and loud. I shouldn't complain because he has mastered the feat of sleeping through the night and that's worth more a few wrestling matches - he's strong and my arms are so weak by the end of the day. He squirms when he nurses, he kicks when I bring him in bed in the morning, and he pulls my hair when I carry him. This morning while I was changing him in our bed I felt suddenly warm. It took a moment for me to realize that I had been squirted from my chest down to my feet. My 1200 count sheets are covered with pee, poo, rice milk from Noah's sippy cup and drool from a teething baby... not to mention KFC crumbs, toys, and some random bedside lotion Noah tried to rub into her feet and hair yesterday. Even with the saggy (way to old) mattress, it's the only bed I want to be in.

Bringing home the bacon

Noah says too many funny things I write down, in fact, everything she says is hilarious. This morning while she was lying in bed with us she told Broderick, “Daddy, you need to put a shirt on. Your boobies will get cold.”

This evening while I was cleaning out their toy baskets (to make room for all the new stuff they are bound to get,) Noah began shoving all her “babies” (stuffed pig, stuffed lamb, and a cookie cutter) into different purses. She put on a pair of fairy wings, her sunglasses, a pair of plastic pink heels, antennas, a bracelet and all her purses up and down her arms. She headed out of her bedroom and when I asked where she was going she replied, "To work." I asked what she did at work and she told me, "I make movies. I made the ant movie, I made it." She's all set for Hollywood, a fierce ambition and already taking credit for things she didn't do. Nice.

This piggy went to the market

Wow, it’s been three weeks since my last entry. So it’s been about three weeks since I last sat down. I probably sound like every other mom when I say; I have to start earlier next year.

There are so many things that happen every day with the kids that I want to write down. For instance, a few days ago I was getting Noah dressed for bed and I noticed her feet. Both my children have the most delicious feet I have ever seen. The picture of her feet I carry in my head is still that of square little baby feet where all the toes line up perfectly. But when I saw her feet the other day, I noticed they were long and skinny and her toes looked like regular people toes – mismatched and irregular, a true mix of mine and Broderick’s toes except unblemished, young and un-stubbed. The homage to what our feet used to be before Basketball, flip-fops and nasty doorways. It’s not enough that I am reminded everyday with her language, ideas and requests that she is not the baby I see in my heart. Now her little baby feet are gone. They have grown into beautiful, perfect little girl feet, but I miss them terribly already. This craving of her baby feet is a message from God to cherish those little boy toes I have now with Isaiah. Did I mention how delicious my children’s feet are?

Chocolate Cup Cakes wih Pink Frosting

Cafe Brazil for Kamilah's 17th birthday party. There was a pink cake with gold sparkles, crowns, pink diamond rings and loud music in Portuguese. We got there early, there was a total eclipse of the sun, and the moment Kamilah walked in the door Noah ran up to her with our card and told her “Happy Birthday.” Noah was so excited to go to a birthday party. On the way over she kept asking, “Are we there?” Noah loves birthday parties. Then she ate everybody’s side salads and danced in her chair with a crown on and a blinking microphone to some Brazilian techno. Oh, no.

Hungry Boy

Isaiah had his first food tonight. In a perfect world, well my perfect world, I would've picked some peas from my pea bush that I nurtured using only organic pesticides and then steamed those peas, for no more than a few minutes using filtered water. After I would have purred them and fed the fresh, organic, love grown peas to him while playing Mozart on my harp. That didn’t happen. I stopped at Albertson’s and bought a bottle of peas. Second time around is so much easier!

Oh, he loved the peas and Noah thought she would too, but she didn’t!

MacEonE

Yesterday's rain made for a clear and perfect morning. I got a quick run/walkie thing in before Broderick left for basketball. Noah woke up this morning asking for cupcakes and was confused and heart broken when she learned that cupcakes are not an acceptable breakfast. Broderick admitted telling her she could have one in the morning. Instead we had oatmeal. Usually she LOVES oatmeal with blueberries and rice milk - but today when comparing the porrage to the cupcakes she had a little breakdown. I had to give her just a dolup of soy cream on top to even it out. She ate her's and then climbed on my lap and ate mine. We colored with markers while I cruised Craig's List for a bed for her. We sat outside and we read the paper together. Well I read and she repated it back to me until she got bored and then hugged the dogs, gave them treats, made a "birthday" out of sand from her sandbox and picked grass out of her toes.

Later she had her beloved mac-e-on-e and apple sause!

Mi Casa

So, I have, have, have to take pictures of the house for insurance purposes but I also want to take them to share with everyone who hasn't (yet) been able to visit. Here's the first set of the sunroom.

Broderick built the storage bench and the shelves above the entry.

Thanksgiving

I pooped on Jen

So it's a fact, even kids like pretty people. Noah, for some strange reason, has a connection with Jen (my brother's girlfriend.) Months ago, I mean way back in the spring of 07 my brother and Jen went with us (us being team johnson 3) to the plant nursery and Noah sat on Jen's lap and pooped on her jeans. Ever since then she'll remember out of nowhere that she "pooped on Jen." "Remember mommy, I pooped on Jen." Noah also remind sus that Jen pushed in her in the ocean. What really happened is we we playing the waves and Noah tripped over Jen's feet and fell in the surf. She also likes saying "Remember when _____" Like she's an old lady on the stoop!

Look, a tiger.

"Mommy let's go"
Go where?
"Outside"
Why?
"To see the tiger"
Why, what's he doing?
"He's riding a pink bicycle?"
Where's he going?
"Home to eat dinner, to eat Mac-E-On-e."
Let's go see him.
"No if we get to close he might bite us"
Oh.
"Look he has a pink hat and pink sneakers."


Then she waves to the tiger and goes inside to call Jen (my brother's girlfriend) about the sighting.

Perscription for stress - cupcake kisses.

Isaiah is perfect. No really, I’m serious. He’s the cutest thing with his bell-pepper nose and his gummy grin. He’s a gigglepus. It’s crazy all these books on baby sleep patterns and sleep training but ever since I went boot camp on Zay Zay, he’s happier. Plus starving myself of all the good things helps his skin and the itch. When he’s grouchy I know exactly what he needs be it boob, crib or clean diaper.

Today it was a rainy southern California day. We stayed in all day, and yes, Noah watched a butt load of Noggin and Sprout. When her art class got canceled, I was relieved. I swore I wouldn’t be one of those moms, and I wasn’t. No TV for my kids, but I was also stressed the heck out trying to be creative and engaging every minute of every day. Now, the TV is on more, but we sing more and laugh more, mostly cause I’m more relaxed. I also pop Vallum like tic-tacs when nobody’s looking and keep a dobbie in my back pocket. Actually, I sip herbal tea that helps relieve stress and promotes lactation. Oh, Lawd have things changed. Something is working because I am truly enjoying motherhood, this week, at this moment.

Tonight was a perfect Friday. We walked over to the McIlhageys and Noah played and fought with Kenna and Kadin and also took it upon herself to walk upstairs and use their potty. She emptied it and washed her hands before I found her. She loves changing her panties, in case you’re wondering what to get her for Christmas. Pink panties make her so happy. We stopped and talked to a new neighbor and got a tour of his house – this neighborhood is big on that. Everyone is so proud of bringing the old bones of a home back to life. I can’t make fun because we’re just as excited as the rest of them. In fact, Broderick lights up when he gives a tour and even has a “before” book he explains prior to guiding the new person through our home. When we got back to the house Rebecca (the cleaning lady) was finishing up and we did some organizing. I really enjoy organizing things, closets, schedules, underwear drawers, spice racks – the neat order of things brings me crazy peace.

Isaiah sat on the bed with Noah as she was mesmerized by the Backyardagins and now I can’t get “We are badbot, robots that are bad,” out of my head. Then we came down stairs and I started dinner while Noah kept Isaiah busy by spinning him around in this activity center and repeating 3,000 times, “Hi Zaya,” like a crazy person. We ate together in front of 2 or 3 channel flipping basketball games while Isaiah squealed and screamed with delight about his toys. He is so loud you really can’t hear anything else. It’s time to start giving him tastes of food – but I have got to go shopping. I want whatever he has to be organic and I have to make double sure it’s something he’s not allergic too.

Broderick has had a rough week at work with marketing, tracking, this slate deal and just the regular everyday evils of Hollywood. But when he sat down to read Noah her bedtime book he melted, and next thing I knew I heard a little voice talking about her pink boots and buying some eggs. The duo made a quick run to the store and came home to make cupcakes. Noah licked the batter off the mixer (no it wasn’t plugged in) and Broderick scraped the bowl clean and they gave each other cupcake kisses from her spot on the kitchen counter. She wore her apron and gave orders like usual. It’s 10:15 and Zaya and Bean are asleep and Broderick is eating cupcakes in front of the xBox.

Isaiah Noble Johnson. He is really cute. I mean really cute. The first picture is from a few month ago while we were at my mom's house. He, too, loves his nana. Today he had his first ice cube (don't worry mom, I put it inside the safety mesh.) Noah had to have an ice cube too - she ate it like a popscile. And I may have already posted this picture of Isaiah with Noah's antenna right before Halloween. I think she had them on him today, too. This is Zay Zay with his Godfather, John when we were in Martha's Vineyard.

Isn't she lovely?

My favorite part of the day was the moment Bean woke up from her nap. She was groggy and sweet and let me cuddle her more tha usual. My other favorite part of the day was seeing Isaiah enjoy his bath. He splashes so much I can't wash him in the sink anymore.

Things I Love at this moment, other than the obvious

1. Screening my calls.
2. Not answering my phone.
3. Setting ring tones for my favorite callers, but never committing those tones to memory.
4. Finding deals. We just bought two headboards from the Z Gallerie Outlet. Going again tomorrow!! Last week I drove to San Diego in a U-haul van to pick up a unique, 68 inch round table for a fourth of the price, HOLLA!
5. Choosing a bowl of cereal over ice cream as my midnight snack, okay… 9pm snack. Ain’t no way I’m seeing midnight on purpose!

Puzzle Master

Boo Boos happen about every 15 minutes and apparently their some sort of magic in band-aides because they cure everthing. Not that I'm compaining. As the day goes on Noah's threshold for pain goes down. Well rested and full belly she can walk over flaming coals, by eary evening a draft may cause a straight up breakdown.

Noah can melt your heart when she says, "Will you do my puzzle with me?" Genesa asked if Noah was talking and I thought, there's nothing she doesn't say. She gets it, she reads emotion, she understand commands if only to ignore them.

Play Baby

This cute little giggle smurf is rolling, scooting and saying, "dada." You never know how much they know. Does Isaiah know that dada is daddy or is he just making thas dada sound? Either way, it's a sign he's growing and learning from the world around him. He'll be six months in two days, yet it seems like he's been here all along. I guess that's how you know it's the hand of God - even in all the crazy insanity of change it seems seamless.

A friend of mine warned me while I was preganat with Isaiah that one is one, two is like twenty. She was sooo right.

Nana's bed

This is the spare bedroom but Noah calls it Nana's bed, since it's the bed Nana sleeps in when she visits. She was so exhasuted after the weekend, she slept for four hours and I had to wake her up so she wouldn't be up all night.

Nana in toddler means, No Sleep, No Nap, No No

She's just to excited to sit still. She passed out on the way to get a tree, right after a "nice, warm bath" in her jamies and rain boots. I love her hair like this.

Spidey Man

Broderick hates spiders, he thinks he can single handedly take on 4 ninjas, but he cringes at the mere thought of spiders. Even the daddy long legs bring out the shoe thrower in him. We had size 14-foot prints all over our ceiling in the last house. And he can’t even bring himself to give them a proper burial. He’d leave their curled up corpses for the dogs to find. So when six little spiders climbed out of our Christmas tree on Sunday night, he resorted to new type of torture. The vacuum. Now he’s obsessed. Our vacuum spent the whole weekend in the middle of the living room poised for an arachnid. We didn’t realize by buying a tree from a charity that supports the homeless (which Jessica found on line) that we were expected to bring the homeless home. Since our tree arrived we’ve found about 14 stowaway spiders climbing out of the needles. I finally put the vacuum away, but Broderick’s finger is itching for the vacuum’s trigger.

Thanksgiving

Staying home with our children has always been my ambition. Finding a husband that you love, like and earns enough for the whole lot can be tough. Deep down inside I am grateful for the stars that blessed me, the example of my mother, and the focus to create my seemingly “lucky” situation. But, it’s easy for me to forget that ambition and success on those days when I feel like a farm hand scooping up poop behind two children and two dogs. Needless to say, in an effort to keep me from joining a real circus, the dogs live outside these days. A lot of decisions have been made simply by asking myself, “Will doing ______ make it easier?” The nuppers have the sweetest little doggy feelings and when Broderick goes out of town they voice their discontet by pooping on silk drapes, Noah also speaks this language… hence the three high water curtains peppered around our home. I know, I know, you don’t wash silk – but the dry cleaning just didn’t do the trick.

On those days, on those really bad days when it’s non stop crying and pooping and spit up and laundry detergent poured behind the hutch, plants emptied on the floor, stubbed toes and back aches – on those days, if I am honest, I am not thankful. I am sad and tired and mad at anyone who has the time to shower or space to think a thought all the way through. Those days can be so bad you can’t remember it being any other way. I had had a few of those days in a row, and as I sat in our breakfast nook and cried my way through my frustration to Broderick I felt a little hand rub my back and tell me, “It’s okay mommy, I’m right here.”

Calling Nana & helping daddy make eggs

Notice her pointing and telling her daddy how to cook!

This morning

Yesterday Noah whined most of the day and cried for the rest. In all seriousness Noah looked up at me ad said, "I'l stop crying if you give me a cookie."

Zay Zay

Every moring the kids get in bed with us, I usually put a pillow over my head as Noah sings and asks 100 times ot watch the Wonder Pets, she also asks 200 times for milk. This morning I was feeding Isaiah and she pointed at Isaiah who was nursing and said, "Mommy, you feed Isaiah and then give him to Daddy and then you do downstairs and get my milk." "You get my milk next." She loves saying what is going to happen next.

This is a little onesie that Janine gave him from one of her trips.

Just like her daddy

Noah, I think, it totally potty trained. She's really into it. I don't even have to bribe her with stickers or beg her with a cookie (fig newton.) She is also into sitting on the big potty. She told me a few days ago first pointing to her potty then to the toliet, "This is my potty, and that's your potty." Since her whole day is a string of comands from me, she now tels me what to do. "Mommy, you sit down and go peepee." Once I'm done, "Mommy wash your hands." She hasn't offered me a sticker yet - but I'm sure she'll do it soon.

And yes, those are her baet sippers. Teh ight before last she pleaded to wear them to bed, and yes I let her. Then, in the morning, when I tried to take them off she cried and begged I leave them on. Noah ask everyday if we are going to dance class. She pointed to Isaiah and said, "He's going to come to dance class and dance with his sister." It was one of the first times I have eard her refer to herself as a "sister."

Noah at the Condo in the Marina

This was taken almost a year and a half ago. I can't believe she's as big and grown as she is now. Today when we were in the bathroom I noticed the bathroom door was open and she said, "Oh mommy, you don't want anyone to see your butt." This morning and late afternoon were great motherhood days - but this afternoon she was a beast and I debated running away for a whole 30 seconds!

While Isaiah took his first nap Noah and I played on Noggin.com. If she is behaving, I give her time on the computer to play video games. It's a way for us to sit together and for her to think she's actually doing something on the computer. We play games with the alphapet and numbers and I'm always surprised at how much she understands. Today we visit the creativity center and did a picture for Nana and one for Daddy. We printed them off and she was so proud waiting by the door tonight in her bloomers with the picture in hand when she heard Broderick's truck.

We also got to sit outside and paint. The weather was HOT!!!

The cutest thing Isaiah did today - well, everything he does is cute! He babbles and pulls hair and reaches for us. Tonight he kept trying to stick his fingers in my mouth. Broderick calls him "tick head," cause he thinks he has a big ol head a little skinny body. He a long little string bean!

Mid-October 2007

There's no significance to this picture other than it shows how tall my little bean is. And you know it, she's calling her Nana. When she calls Nana, all she does is scream, "Nana." My mom is so patient because Noah will sing and dance and walk around the house talking about a bunch of nothing and her Nana listens to every word!

Today was Tuesday and we went to play pit which is by Noah's ballet class and she played and made all kinds of new friend in that 30 minutes. And then Noah, after only two short sessions, joined her class and participated like she'd been dancing for months. Noah's face glowed and her smile was wide and so dang sweet. She twirled and bowed and skipped and was as happy as she could be. And I will testify that six preschoolers in tutus and ballet slippers is by far the sweetest thing I have ever seen. It was almost a spiritual moment there watching them. It was pure happiness and girly, girl-ness. I giggled and laughed and oohed and aahed myself silly. I am so proud of Noah. She is the youngest in her class and wore her little tutu with pride and did everything she was supposed to - it could melt even the coldest of hearts. She was so proud of herself and wore the tutu the rest of the day, and I let her!

From last week

Tonight - Bed time

I remeber when we put the activity center together for Noah. Dana and Issac gave it to us and it was a pain in the butt to put toegther, but the first time I set Noah in the middle of all those toys she got so excited you could hear her squealing from outside. She was so happy it made me cry. She used it a lot but no where near as much as Isaiah. Isaiah doesn't squeal or get overly excited - but he is happy to sit in the actvity center for an hour. He's much more rough with it than Noah and Noah spins him and drags him closer to her if she's doing a puzzle in the sun room. He loves it and I love to see him so happy in it. I also love to see his little toes running around on the bottom.

Noah loves bubble wrap. Thinks it whole purpose is for popping. And if she sees it, she will not rest until it is poped, utterly and completely. Tonight our Christmas wreath arrived (thanks mom) and she found the bubble wrap. After she tried to wrap Isaiah in it she jumped and jumped so hard her bloomers fell down - but she didn't stop to pull them up until every bubble was poped. Isaiah just watched in amazement and wonder.