My Precocious Johanna

I just wanted to take a few minutes to finally document Johanna's recent milestones. She is making leaps and bounds every day and constantly amazes me with her vocabulary and understanding of the world around her.

We have been having a really fun summer, and even in the last few often miserable weeks of my pregnancy, we have been getting out and doing so many fun things. In the last few weeks we have been to the zoo, gone swimming, been to the library, gone to Deanna Rose Farmstead, the Johnson County Fair, and the Johnson County Museum. Staying active helps make the day go smoother for both mommy and Johanna.

Johanna is really mastering potty training. She only wears a diaper at night time and is ready to take it off and potty on the toilet when she wakes up in the morning. We are still having some issues with the other part of potty training. She only goes poop about every 4-6 days. I think she tries to hold it in and then when she finally goes it is quite the ordeal. We have had some success with jelly bean bribes so hopefully she will get over her reluctance and stop trying to hold it in.

This summer Johanna completed the summer reading program at the library and earned a prize of free Royals tickets! We initially started this summer with small checkouts of only three books at a time but now we check out 10 or more books each visit. She is a voracious reader and likes to interpret the books with her own imagination and enjoys putting on a story time for mommy, daddy, and especially her babies. Yesterday at the library she pulled her chair up to another lady and her son and started to read them a story. It was really cute!

Johanna is really excited to be a big sister and likes to tell people she meets that her mommy is going to have a baby and it is going to "pop out." She was worried about the baby hurting itself when it pops out so we assured her that the doctor would catch it. She says it is going to be really little, like a few inches long, and that she will hold my hand and take care of me while I am in the hospital. She is so sweet and precious.

At every doctor's visit she is very curious. She is intrigued that I have leave a urine sample in a cup and often asks if she can leave one, too. The nurses and my nursemidwife let her help take my blood pressure, measure my belly and use the doppler to hear the baby's heartbeat. Maybe she will be a nurse or doctor when she grows up!

A few of my friends have just had babies and Johanna is intrigued. She makes me a little nervous because she hovers over the babies and wants to hold, touch, and play with them. We will have to keep on eye on her because I know she will be jealous and her independent nature will make her want to care for them all by herself.

While most of her behavior is very good, we are still trying to work on her temper tantrums. She gets very upset and angry and can throw quite the tantrum. Also, she is very busy and is constantly getting into things or touching things so we have to keep an eye on her all the time. I am happy she is so independent and curious - I think it has lead to her outgoing personality and brightness, however, it can be frustrating at times. But, I know most two-year olds do the same things.

Johanna has been saying the cutest and funniest things. Here are a few of her gems:

1. I have a great idea!
2. You are my best friend, Mommy.
3. Mommy, let's get some diarrheas (at the store pointing to the tortillas).
4. I am feeding the potty my poopies and potties.
5. (While reading books) Mommy, what I say?
6. But, Mommy! (I can't believe she already knows how to say this!)
7. Goodbye, hon! (She hears Vince and I call each other hon)
8. Get out Kujoe, I'm trying to sleep (when Kujoe comes into her room  in the morning).
9. Mommy, I will take care of you.
10. (In the morning when she comes into our room). Mommy! It's not dark outside. Time to wakey-wakey!

Stayed tuned for some cute videos AND pictures of our newest bundle of joy to be arriving VERY soon!