Such a big girl!

Sunday we had a nice relaxing day at home. I think it was the first full day at home for all three of us in about three weeks. Marleigh was in such a good mood. We laughed and played all day. One of her new favorites is to be passed back and forth between Daddy and Mommy. I'll be holding her and she'll reach for Marc. He'll take her and she'll squeal and kick. Then she'll reach for me and I'll take her. We passed her back and forth probably ten times and she was just belly laughing. Another new, fun game is when Daddy lays her on the blanket, then drags the blanket around the room. She was clapping and laughing. Later Sunday afternoon, I was doing laundry and all of the sudden there was a little person in the laundry room with me! She crawled all the way from the living room, through the kitchen and into the laundry room. We have some stuff in there I didn't want her to get into, so I put her in her laundry basket. Guess what?!? Turns out laundry baskets are so much fun, too! She played in her clothes while I folded a load. Then I pushed her around the house while she was sitting in the basket. Her little laugh is priceless! It is by far, the most beautiful thing I have ever heard!

Marleigh is getting to be such a big girl. We ask her if she wants to stand up and put our hands out for her to grab onto. She reaches for them and stand up. Then we all have to clap and tell her what a good girl she is! She'll stand for a couple of minutes holding onto the couch or the ottoman. She has also learned how to shake her head "no". You'll ask her if she wants more food when she's eating and if she's full, she'll shake her little head. She's also started to say, "na, na" which I'm pretty sure is because I always tell her, "no, no."

Marleigh has also figured out it is funny when Mommy or Daddy crawl around the house trying to chase her. She'll take off really fast squealing, then stop and look back to make sure we're chasing her. Then she'll go again. Sometimes her little legs move faster than her arms and she faceplants on the carpet, but she just laughs and goes again.

Saturday morning while I was at work, Daddy taught Marleigh to high five. You'll tell her, "high five" and she'll smack your hand.

I've always kind of been a tomboy and with Marleigh being around all of Jenni's boys all the time, I kind of figured she would be, too. Well, I don't think that's the case. I bought her a dress to wear to Jaeson and Lindsey's wedding. I showed it to her, and she threw her hands in the air, her eyes got big, and she shrieked at an insanely high pitch. Then she started clapping and kicking. She also loves to look at shoes. She'd rather play with her shoes than with her toys! I then got out my dress for the wedding, and we had the same reaction. I think we may have a girlie girl on our hands... (and that's just fine by me... she can be whatever she wants.)

Last night I took her for a walk in her stroller. She adores being outside. She looks around trying to see everything!

Big news!

What's the difference between an in-law and an outlaw? Outlaws are wanted!!! Ha ha!

For that reason, my Johnson brother-in-laws and myself, call ourselves the "Outlaws". We are so very excited that we are going to have an addition to the outlaws! (Or another member to our wolf pack.... name the movie!) Marc's sister, Marinda, got engaged last Saturday to her long-time boyfriend, Dave. We are so excited for the both of them. Dave surprised Marinda by inviting all of their family and close friends to Manhattan. Dave proposed at St. Isidore's and all of us were waiting outside as a surprise. Dave did such an amazing job with the proposal and all the details! I think Marinda was truly surprised!

Marleigh had a good time playing with her cousins. All three of the little girls are crawling around (or over each other). Marleigh was totally intrigued by Reese. She watched her and would reach for her. Phil, which is Monica's boyfriend let us crash at his apartment, which was so nice! Thanks again, Phil!




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Have I mentioned how much I LOVE March Madness?!? It just might be my favorite time for sports the whole year! (Watching a Royals game at Kauffman is pretty close, too!) Marleigh was all decked out in her KSU outfit for the game on Thursday. Can't wait for the games today!!!

"Yea!!!! K-State won!"

Manhattan was a good time last weekend. The cats lost, but other than that we had so much fun. We met some friends for lunch, then headed to the game with Monica. Afterwards, we went to Aggieville. It was crazy! It was Fake Patty's Day (pretty sure some bar owner made it up as a way to make even more money). There were people everywhere. The street was even blocked off.

Marleigh had a great time with Grandma & Papa Cline. They took her to a church supper and Marleigh showed off for everyone from what I hear. She LOVES to be the center of attention.

Marleigh has her Papa Cline wrapped around her little finger. Marleigh filled her pants and without being asked, he changed her dirty diaper! He never changed MY dirty diapers. Grandma was so impressed she took pictures! I think Marleigh likes her grandpa about as much as he likes her. When he walks in a room, she goes nuts. She stops whatever she is doing and crawls to him.

We are so lucky to have family close. I don't know what we would do if we lived off by ourselves somewhere. I'm sure we would manage, but it is such a blessing!

Growing so fast!

It seems like Marleigh is changing and growing every day! Marleigh has been able to sit up on her own since her birthday in January. She still hadn't mastered sitting up from a laying down position. Night before last, she did! We were watching the KU/K-State game with Jaeson and Lindsey, and she just sat up on her own like it was no big deal. She did it again last night. In a matter of six weeks she has learned to sit up on her own, crawl, and now sit up from laying down. I swear, I'm going to turn around and she'll be asking to borrow the car! We are so proud of Marleigh and all of her recent accomplishments. With every single one of them I tear up and tell her what a good girl she is. And with every single one, she looks at me like, "seriously, mom. It is no big deal."

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My cousin, Jenni, keeps Marleigh while I'm at work. Marleigh is such a lucky (and spoiled) little girl. She gets Mason's full attention all day, then gets both DJ & Garrett's when they get home from school. She loves to ham it up for them! You can tell that Marleigh loves Jenni, too. They have so much fun together.

The other day, my Uncle Bill (my Dad's twin brother for anyone that might not know), stopped by Jenni's house. Marleigh normally goes crazy for my dad when she sees him. She squeals everytime and wants him to pick her up. UB and Dad must look enough alike, because Marleigh went nuts when Uncle Bill showed up. From what I hear, UB got some good Marleigh cuddles!

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Marc & I are headed to Manhattan in the morning. We are going to the last home KSU basketball game and spending the night with Marc's youngest sister, Monica. Marleigh is going to have a sleepover at Grandma & Papa's house. She loves going to their house. I'm really excited about going to the game and seeing Monica. However, I think I may be more excited to get home Sunday to see Marleigh! :)

Big weekend!

Saturday, we drove to Hoisington for Logan Wagner's first birthday party. Logan was born about a month after our girls and we got to know his parents pretty well while we all lived at Ronnie Mac. It was so good to see them again. We also got to see four or five other NICU babies that were there. It was like a little reunion. A few of the nurses from Wesley were also at the party. They got to hold all the babies and play with them. It was so much fun and great to see how well everyone is doing.

After the party we stopped by my Aunt K & Uncle Bryan's house. Marleigh was exhausted. She snuggled with Aunt K and was asleep in no time at all. I'm not sure who enjoyed the nap more! Ha ha!!! Aunt K loves to snuggle babies!

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Little Missy is getting to be quite the little stinker. Marleigh loves to make raspberries and blow spit everywhere. Which is fine. Have a good time... except when you have a mouth full of baby food! She'll laugh at herself after she spits it everywhere. I'll tell her, "no, no!" Then she looks at me with a cockeyed grin and a little twinkle in her eye and do it again! Then she laughs again. I have to try so hard not to laugh at her, too. I finally get her to quit, then she starts again. A little at a time. I have a feeling that in some way this is pay back from when I was little! I'm pretty sure I was a little mischievous.

Now that we have learned how to clap, we clap for EVERYTHING. Mickey Mouse comes on TV, we clap. Music starts at church, we clap. I put a dry diaper on her, we clap. It is too funny!