Baby Pictures Galore!

Madlyn Nichole
Emily Taylor

Isabelle Gracelyn

I was putting some old pictures on the computer and thought I should share some baby pictures with you. The first one is Madlyn, then Emily, then Isabelle. They all look alot alike. We have some pictures that Jeremy even had trouble figuring out which one was which. How sad! I guess we have a small gene pool...I don't know. We are all doing well. I am trying to determine when to go back to work. Part of me wants to go back tomorrow and the other part has no interest in it at all. I think I'll be going back sooner rather than later. I have to make a decision! I hope everyone is doing well. I'll try and post a few recent pictures of everyone soon!

What an amazing day!

"Today was a very special and amazing day"...that is what I told my children! And I believe that with my entire heart! Today we have a new President. We have elected and sworn into office, Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States and our 1st African American president! Of course, this day would have been important no matter who we elected president, as it has been for the past 43 Presidents. However, today was different! Today, this wonderful country did what many people believed to be the impossible! We put aside our petty differences. Hatred did not creep into politics, and therefore, into life. We realized that we have the ability to truly be one nation! As I sat on my couch with my 2 youngest children and watched the festivities on TV, I realized how fortunate we are to live in this country and how proud I am to be an American. A popular sentiment on a day like today!

I grew up in a very loving family that believed greatly in our abilities to shape our own future. My brother and sister and I were encouraged on a daily basis to be the best people we could be, whatever that was and wherever that took us. We were made to believe that we were second to none! It has always been my desire to instill this belief in my own children. That anything is possible if you want it bad enough and work at it hard enough. We could not have had a better example of this principle than today...than in President Obama!

Today was not about Democrats...It was not about Republicans...It was not about liberal beliefs or conservative ones...It was about the belief that we can be better! Together, we can be better! Unified as a country we can do wondrous things! I can not help but think of my father on a day like this! He would have so enjoyed every second of today! It was my father who taught us about understanding! It was his belief that you can disagree with people. However, you should always strive to understand their opinions. You don't have to agree with them, but dismissing them was ignorance!

It is my hope that our elected officials will work together to continue to make this country great.
There is an atmosphere of promise that is contagious and a desire to be exceptional amongst even the youngest of us! I pray we will be able to make it a reality. I am confident in President Obama and our country and look forward to the kind of change we can be proud to teach our children!

One Month!

Isabelle's first picture

December 11, 2008
Isabelle at a month old!

It is hard to believe that it has been a month since Isabelle's entrance into our family. I am not one to be sentimental and serious. However, I must admit that I have really enjoyed this past month! Isabelle has brought a tremendous amount of happiness to our family! She is a beautiful little girl and I am so in love with her! One this day, I realize how incredibly lucky I am to have all of my children in my life. Each one of them has made me so thankful for all that God has given me. I have a wonderful husband and 3 beautiful daughters. I am truly blessed. My wish for all of you this season is that you will be as happy as I am and that you will realize how lucky you are to have your special people in your lives!

Sarah

Christmas and more!

Isabelle
The Johnson crew on Christmas Eve

Isabelle's first tub bath

Aunt Becca and Isabelle

Making cookies for Santa

It has been awhile since I posted any pictures so here are a few from Christmas. We have been a little busy lately...like everyone else with the holidays...just add on a new baby to our mix. We spent Christmas Eve with Sarah's mom, Martha, and sister, Becca, and one of Martha's best friends, Pam. We went to church and then ate Grandma Connie's Chicken and Noodles before opening presents. ALMOST as good as Grandma Connie's but not quite! We spent Christmas day with Jeremy's family. Jeremy's brother from Jacksonville, Kyle, was there along with his parents. We opened presents and ate all day long while we played board games all day and night (a brown family tradition). It was a wonderful Christmas! And we felt especially grateful this year to spend it with a beautiful new addition to the family! We loved all of our gifts and we are so fortunate to have such generous people in our lives! My only regret is that we did not get to go spend Christmas in Minnesota since I actually had all of Christmas off this year! But hopefully we'll get up there soon! We love you all and hope everyone enjoyed the holidays as much as we did!

Best Friends

The Saturday after Isabelle was born the Brown family received a special treat! Sarah's best friend from childhood, Rebecca Cherry Wooldridge and her family, moved back to Spring Hill! Rebecca and Jason have 4 children...Savanna (9), Analiese (5), Hagan (1 1/2) and Jillian (8 weeks). Savanna is in the same grade as Madlyn and now going to the same school. Analiese is a year older that Emily and Jillian and Isabelle are 6 weeks apart! My girls are extremely excited to have a new set of friends to play with and they all have always gotten along so great! Just wanted to share a few pictures of the Wooldridge and Brown crew a few days after they arrived in Spring Hill!