Hi Mama!

This is a video of me and my Mama. Grandma took this at the restaurant when I saw her for the first time after their vacation! As you can tell, I was VERY excited to see her!

Last night was a blast! It rained all night, but we still grilled brats for everyone. I got to play with my buddy Patrick and we watched Thomas the Train. Patrick also was trying to teach me to crawl and walk. For the first time, I actually took a few steps while someone was holding my arms. I'm telling you, crawling is for the birds, walking is where its at. I'm going to run in fact, walking is too slow!

Tonight we're going to dinner with Brooke & Jared, a friend of Mom's from work, who is also Lini's niece! I can't wait to hear all the dirt on Lini and then I'm going to tell all the other kids at school.

Break a leg,

HAJ

Vacation, All I Ever Wanted

I finally have the time to update you all on Mom and Dad's vacation to Playa del Carmen, Mexico. They had a great time, are relaxed, and very tan. Although they seem to be looking more and more Minnesotan now that they're back. The kicker for the entire story to come, is that Dad told Mom to bring a certain memory card for her camera, and she did. This card ended up holding TEN photos. Yes, ten. So, if you thought you were about to have to sit through a butt load of someone's boring vacation photos, rest assured, it is a very small butt.

The hotel was very nice. They had a suite with two rooms and two flat screen TVs. Dad loved that. A great view, and a hot tub out on the terrace. Gotta love that. They took the trip with a guy named Rick that Daddy works with and his family. Mom always thinks he looks like Dad, only 20 years older. This is the best she got of them together.

Mom had great visions of me doing an entire blog entry dedicated to "towel art". But again with the "only ten photos". Their maid made them little creatures she formed from their bath towels everyday. There was a giant swan, two swans kissing, a doggie, and then a little Eskimo person (we think) and a heart with rose petals on it. No photos of some of these but thank God they saved this one!! I swear, if I'm not there to supervise these two, everything goes to pot.

They had great adventures also like deep sea fishing. Although they didn't catch anything and the sea was very angry that day.... Mom couldn't speak through the whole 4 hour boat ride because she was scared that if she opened her mouth, puke would come out. Lovely. Another day, Dad and some of the others took the ferry across the water to Cozumel and spent the day on scooters "touring the island" (AKA - bar hopping.) Mom had enough with boats, so she stayed back with Rick's wife, Dani (again, sorry, only 10 photos) - and they went to the marina. They saw all kinds of dolphins, manatees, seals, sea lions, and a sloth. One of the ever cherished photos is of a sloth with a baby sloth on its tummy, making its way down a rope. There were dolphins that followed it all the way down - you'll see what I mean here. That is a pretty cool picture.

So, that about sums it up. A good time was had by all. I'm looking forward to tonight. We are having some friends come over to BBQ, but its been raining all day. Poor Dad will have to stand in the rain and cook. Oh well, just glad its not me! I already spend a good deal of my time in the rain today. We went with "New Auntie" Chris to have Mom get sized for her bridesmaid dress, then lunch at TGIFridays, where I got an AWESOME balloon from Corey, our waiter. I should have taken a photo of him; we had the same hair do. Then we went to Target. It was raining that whole time. I'm sick of it and need to see the sun!!

Bottoms up,

HAJ

Happy To Be Home

I'm home! I'm home! They came back! Mom & Dad came back! I wasn't sure if they would or not, it was 9 days! When I first saw them, I bet it took me a full minute for it to register in my head who they were. I just stared and stared at them for the longest time and then it clicked! I had a perma-grin the rest of the day. We played the whole day yesterday and I even got to stay up until 8 playing. Its nice to be home in my own bed with own stuff.

Not that I didn't have fun with G&G E! They were a blast! As you can see from my entries last week! I just wanna thank them SO much for taking care of me, the new clothes, the adventures, all of it! Mom and Dad think I got a lot smarted staying with them too. I learned clapping much better, I learned to kiss my reflection in the mirror, and I learned how to point to things! My parents said that they think I really grew up while they were gone. I don't know, I feel the same. Hmmm.....

Finer than frogs hair,
HAJ

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

Hello to all, This is the last blog that Grama will be helping me with. I GET TO GO HOME TOMORROW!! I'm so excited to see my Mama and Papa. Not that I didn't have fun with Grama and Grampa, but there's no people like my parents...they are my favorite. Like I said, I did have fun with Grama and Grampa. For example, today we went out to Wylie Park and I got to swing for the first time. As you can tell, it wasn't my best time. Then I tried the slide and that didn't work out so well either. I did like watching the other kids though. They made me laugh!! We got to look into Storybook Land, but it was closed. I have to come back in the summertime so I can go on the rides there. Tonight we went out to dinner with Darnell and Nettie. I really like them. Darnell made me giggle so much. There were a bunch of cute waitresses too! I'm so tired now and am so anxious for tomorrow to come. So I'm going to go to sleep and dream....

There's no place like home....no place like....(night-night)

Good bye from Aberdeen,
HAJ

Play Date

I had a really fun day today. I went to visit my Grama's friend Reenie's house and I got to meet Emma and Claire (and Jim & Sara). Here they are. Claire is just 6 weeks old, but she's really smart and smiles already. I loved Emma. She made me laugh. We watched Bambi together and she brought a bunch of her old toys for me to play with. I hope we can play together again soon! Today was a really nice day. Grama and I went for a walk this morning and I found out that you can see her from the stroller if you turn around and look up. I also played in the sunlight and met my shadow. I had a great time bobbing up and down with him. Tonight Grampa fed me chocolate AGAIN. Only one more day and I will be with Mama and Papa again. I really miss them. Grama was hoping that I would learn to crawl while I was here, but it doesn't look like that will happen. I do scoot on my butt when I sit. I've also been seen pushing myself backwards when they make me lay on my tummy. All in all, I'm doing great and love my life.

A place in the sun!

Just me, HAJ

Food is Fun

Hi gang, Today I thought I'd dedicate the blog to food. I LOVE MY FOOD. I love fruits, cereal and vegetables...I love snacks & juice and of course my formula. Sometimes Grama laughs so hard at my love of the food that she can't keep the camera straight. She's kinda weird sometimes. Grampa thinks I'm blowing on the food to cool it off. I get so excited that I can hardly stand it sometimes. Grama bought me a cake for my birthday yesterday. Of course I couldn't eat it, so I had a cookie instead. Grampa thinks I should be eating meat by now. He also thinks I should have just a little sugar in my cereal. These are things I know are out there, but I will wait until my Mama says I can have it. I should tell you though that Grama fed me prunes yesterday and before the day was out, she swore she will NEVER do that again. I loved 'em anyway....Ha! Today we went to Subway for lunch with my Great-Grama E and Great Uncle Larry (I also have an Uncle Larry and cousin Larry too!). I ate peaches there. Anyway, I'll leave you for today as I wait for my next meal.

Waste not, want not.

Love to all,

HAJ

9 Month Birthday

Today, Henry, you are nine months old. Because your Mama is on vacation, your GramaE will do your monthly tribute. Here's my take. You are getting so big and so smart and so cute and, to top it off, you are the best baby on the planet. People will say I'm prejudiced...so what?? Because this is your blog, we can do/say/brag all we want, right? Last year at this time we were anxiously anticipating your arrival in 3 months. We knew you were going to be healthy and your name was Rex or sometimes it was Cadillac Catfish. Your GrampaE and me weren't sure if either of those names were permanent, but your uncle Derek assured us that you would have a beautiful name. And yes, indeed, you do....Mr. Henry Aaron Johnston...couldn't be better. Words cannot express your Grampa and my joy and absolute delight every time we see you. We thank the good Lord for the beautiful gift of you. We also feel such happiness for your Mama and Papa. How they deserve a perfect baby such as you! We hope and pray that you will grow up safe and happy. Our family has been blessed.

Babies are such a nice way to start people!

Love, hugs and kisses to HAJ
Grama and Grampa E.

P.S. Shout out to Gammy Lola, Great Grampa and Grama Wingen and Great Grama E who all called today to wish you a happy birthday.

Piano Man

Hi again, I'm still here in Aberdeen. This is me playing the piano. I found out I might have musical talent. My Great-Grampa Wingen will be proud of me. I actually composed this piece as I played it!! I know...pretty amazing. Yesterday we went shopping at Target and Mom was right when she told GramaE that everyone looks at me and talks to me. GramaE usually likes to be in cognito, but she can't do that with me in the cart!! Then we saw Grama's friend Nettie. Can you believe it? There she was in Target!! So I got to meet her...she's nice. Then we came home and played another new DVD. I watched it when I was sitting in my wagon. It was fun! Today I took a bath in the BIG TUB. It was great....I can splash and Grama doesn't scream. Before I got in the tub I saw this kid that looked just like me. We did a Madonna and Brittney....HA! Last night I was so happy to get a phone call from Mama and Papa (gotta love 'em). It was so good to hear their voices. I even talked and impressed Mama a lot. When I wake up from my nap, Grama and I are going to Presentation College to help clean up the gym after the workshop today (Grampa babysat me at noon so Grama could run out there for a few minutes....we had fun!) I love Grampa...he makes me laugh so much that I got tired and had to turn in early.

Don't pour the baby out with the bath water!!

Bye for now,
HAJ

Traveled West

Hello Everyone, I had a great night's sleep and am rarin' to go. As I was sayin'....here I am at great-Grama E.'s house in Bowdle, SD. I played with her birthday balloons...so fun. I was a little shy with her until she started feeding me with vegi-puffs. Great Aunties Lydia and Eleanora came to see me too. So did great-Grama's friend, Verna, she really made me laugh. I liked her fancy wheelchair...cool!! We ate the chocolate cake there. I tried to nap afterwards, but just couldn't find the ZZZ's. On our way home we stopped at G & G E's friends Esther and Greg. I was sleeping when we got there, so they let me nap in the car seat until I woke up. I felt great then. They have a grandson too and so Esther found some snacks for me while the rest of them had artichoke dip and wine. We had fun there. So much fun that I didn't want to leave and cried almost all the way home and that freeked Grama and Grampa (Ha...note to self, might be useful in future). When we got back to Aberdeen, all I needed was to snarf my food and then I was fabulous!! Anyway, it was a fun day and now today we are going to Target to buy me some stuff. Grama E. left my formula holder at great-Grama's. She's so forgetful when I'm with her. I find I do that to people!!

Hand to mouth existence.

I'll check in with you all again tomorrow,
HAJ

I Keep Practicing

Grampa makes me practice crawling all the time...but what I like best is standing. It's my favorite thing to do. I LOVE IT!!! I only fell once, but right on the carpet so no biggie. I didn't even cry. This ottoman is the best. Perfect height for me. I'm even learning how to run the remote. Grampa and I watched a new DVD on learning sign language. I liked it a lot. Mama wants me to learn sign...I will try real hard to do good. Remember I told you about the chocolate cake? I helped Grama and then Grampa gave me a treat. We had a big day today and it's time for me to go to bed. We went to Great Grama E's and I will show you her picture tomorrow and tell you all about our trip, but I'm so tired now. I couldn't nap the way I should.

Take the bitter with the sweet.

My Butt's Dragin'

HAJ

PS - Shout out to Mama and Pappa. I miss you so much too. Grama shows me your picture every day and I get soooo excited to think about being home with you again. Meanwhile though, I'm doing good here. Keep having fun. Hope Mama is feeling better.

Top O' the Mornin' to Ya

Grampa said I'm no more Irish than ?/&%. Oh well, I thought I'd at least acknowledge the day. Grama dressed me in green too!! As you can see I was up early cleaning (that's what Grampa does on Saturdays), all before my 9:00 AM nap. Then we went to Kessler's and saw some people there. A lady named Tammy (Grampa's secretary) was there and she scared the begeebers out of me. I started crying right there in the dairy department. There was another guy there that commented on my weight. Rude!! Then we went straight home so I could nap. Grama's has been pointing that camera at me all day. She got an accidental shot that really shows my new tooth good. I know some of you were not able to see it in my earlier post. This afternoon, Grama is going to make a chocolate cake and she promised I could help by licking the beaters if I was good. We are going to go see Great-Grama E's tomorrow.

So knock me down with a shillelagh! It's a grand day!

Until next time,

HAJ

Group Hug.....

Hi Everyone, this was me, Momma and Daddy doing a group hug when I was about to leave to go with Grama & GrampaE so Mommy and Daddy can go on a much needed vacation. I miss them so much already! I also was sad to have to say goodbye yesterday to my cousins Annie and Jasper who had to go with their Mommy Gina and move to Texas. Just too many goodbyes! Grama is helping me do my blog tonight. She's not the best at it and this is her 3rd try as she is having technical difficulties. Anyway we're gonna publish this right now and not do anything fancy until tomorrow, when I'll give you all the lowdown on life in Aberdeen, SD.

"That went over like a pregnant pole vaulter!"

Bye! HAJ