Makayla Jo

Introducing the new love of my life.....Makayla Jo...

She's here! Introducing Makayla Jo

Makayla Jo has arrived! She was born on Friday, 3/9/12 at 10:04 p.m. weighing 6 lbs and 13 ounces, and 19.5 inches long.

I am still open for business, however, turnaround times vary right now as we have our hands full! Thank you for your patience!

Hot Pink & Damask Newborn Nursery | baby girl damask nursery | 38 weeks pregnant

I thought I would share our little girl's nursery on my blog. Our theme was hot pink, damask, black, and white, and simple and elegant. I think it turned out pretty well. Just a few more details need to be done, her name will be in a script font in white above the crib (we aren't sharing until she's born), and the picture frames (ikea) need to be hung above the dresser. Of course I will have to wait until she gets here to put pictures in them! I'm thinking a birth announcement type print with her birth stats, date, and time in hot pink & black in the center frame and then two black and white photos on the right & left.

38 weeks, 1 day

38 weeks, 1 day

Where the stuff is from:
Crib: AFG International Furniture Athena Nadia Convertible Crib Set in White (I got it on sale on Cyber Monday back in November for $180)
Dresser: Ikea Hemnes 8 Drawer Dresser, $299, originally purchased in black, we primed & painted it white because Ikea's white is actually an off-white and didn't match the crib/bookshelf. $
Bookshelf: Plummers Furniture Capri Wide Bookshelf in White $288
Rug: White Jersey Shag Rug, 3 foot round $39.99
Circular Damask Mirror: Home Goods, $19.99
Bedding Set: Isabella Hot Pink, Black, and White Damask by JoJo Designs $229.99 (But I got it on eBay for $99 brand new!)
Closet Toy Organizer: Circo Storage Organizer in White from Target, $59.99

Update: 2/19/2012

I'm still pregnant and still open for business! Still taking new orders but turn around time varies right now. Email me for details if you are thinking about ordering. jenn.johnston.designs@gmail.com

99 days left!!! | 26 weeks

Wow! Can you believe baby has eyelashes at 26 weeks? And she’s amping up to start batting them soon. At this point, it probably feels like this baby (who you haven’t even met yet) has taken over your life. She’s interfering with your sleep. She’s messing with your brain. (Forget much?) She might even be giving you a stress headache or two. It’s normal to be experiencing some mild swelling, but around week 26, it’s important to watch out for swelling severe or sudden -- it could be the sign of a dangerous condition called preeclampsia. Notice your belly occasionally feeling really tight? That’s a contraction. Yup, already. Don’t freak out though -- your body is just practicing some tightening in preparation for labor. As long as the contractions aren’t steady or severe, you’re not in labor.


She's still growing in the 13.6- to 14.8-inch and 1.5- to 2.5-pound range, and developing her senses, features and talents!

your baby at 26 weeks

• Her eyes are forming, and his eyes will soon start to open.
• And her eyelashes are now grown, too.
• She's getting her immune system ready for life on the outside by soaking up your antibodies.
• She's taking breaths, too. They're of amniotic fluid, not air, but it's still good practice.

How far along? 26 weeks

Next Appointment: Had one yesterday...next is 12/29/11. 

Weight gain/loss: ugh. 

Maternity clothes? Yep

Stretch marks? Nope

Sleep? Pretty good for the most part.

Best moment this week? Constant kicks and jabs in the ribs.

Food cravings: Fajitas

Odd pregnancy symptom of the week: back pain

Gender: GIRL

Belly button in or out? in

Movement? Much more often these days!

What I miss? Being able to go out and do errands without having to use the restroom once an hour.

What I'm looking forward to: getting my glucose test over with (today!), putting together her crib and dresser (we bought but are still in boxes), really getting her nursery together! 

20 weeks.....HALF BAKED!

Half Baked at 20 weeks, 1 day

Cute foot

This photo cracks us up...it looks like she is flipping us off!

Our Little Girl confirmed

How far along? 20 weeks, 1 day

Next Appointment: Friday, November 4th

Weight gain/loss: last doctors appt. I was at 7 lbs....stopped weighing myself at home

Maternity clothes? Most definitely pants & skirts...Some regular shirts still fit

Stretch marks? Nope

Sleep? Its been really awful lately. We moved into our new house on the 15th and I think its a combination of sleeping in a new place, adjusting to our new bed, and having a growing bump.

Best moment this week? Our ultrasound last Friday, confirmed we are having a little girl.

Food cravings: No cravings lately, in fact my appetite has really decreased over the past two weeks.

Odd pregnancy symptom of the week: heartburn 

Gender: GIRL

Belly button in or out? in

Movement? Feeling her often, but was told at our ultrasound that I have an anterior placenta so I am probably not feeling as much as normally would.

What I miss? Walking & exercise. Between working full time, running my design business, and moving into our new house we just bought we've been so busy. I walked twice last week though and I am going to try to walk tomorrow and Friday mornings before work this week. I also miss Blue Moon's seasonal pumpkin beer...my favorite.

What I'm looking forward to: cleaning/finishing moving out of our apartment by Halloween, I am just ready to be done and walk away from that place and focus on decorating our new home and starting the nursery.

It's a.........

GIRL!
We had an early gender ultrasound at 15 weeks last week and were very surprised to find out its a little girl! I swear I thought it was a boy...I'm not sure why but after the shock wore off we are so excited for our little girl.

How far along? 16 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: 7 pounds
Maternity clothes? For sure
Sleep: Sleeping very well, and getting up on average 2 times/night to use the restroom.
Best moment this week: seeing our little wiggle-worm dance around, suck her thumb, and pose during our ultrasound.
Movement: Started feeling flutters last week
Food cravings: burritos
Gender: ? It's a girl! Our doctor will confirm in three weeks.
Labor Signs: no thank you
Belly Button in or out?  in
What I miss:  having the energy to work out regularly
What I am looking forward to:  renovations to be done on our new house so we can move in and start "nesting" and building our nursery!
Weekly Wisdom: Sometimes, gut instincts aren't always right ;)
Milestones: second trimester, 4 months

Big news...

I've been blogging since May of 2008 on this blog, which is well over three years now! I've always kept this blog free of my personal life and solely dedicated to my passion & side business - photography & graphic design, along with invitation design.

Things are changing around here and I want to document this very special time in our life so I've decided to start adding some more personal information on my blog. I hope I will still continue to have the same followers!

I'm so excited to announce that Squirt is due on March 12, 2012. After struggling with trouble trying to conceive we are so excited and so blessed to be this far along and cannot wait to meet our little Squirt.

I read a lot of blogs where people do weekly updates so I am going to try to do them as well.

How far along? 13 weeks, 4 days
Total weight gain/loss: 5 pounds up already...ugh...
Maternity clothes? Yep, pants for sure although I can squeeze into some regular pants but I'm sure that won't last for long.
Sleep: Thankfully no problems in this department.
Best moment this week: "outing" ourselves and telling all friends & family!
Movement: I don't think I've felt anything yet but can't wait!
Food cravings: diet coke,
Gender: ? Only 13 days until we find out, and I am sticking with my guess of “boy.”
Labor Signs: oh god no
Belly Button in or out?  in
What I miss:  regular coffee every morning...half calf just does not do it for me
What I am looking forward to:  gender ultrasound!!!
Weekly Wisdom: listen to your body, and sleep if you need it. hence why i took a 2 hour nap last night when I got home from work!
Milestones: second trimester, yay!