Christmas 2019

Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me. [He] crowns me with love and tender mercies. He fills my life with good things. Psalm 103:2, 4-5

Merry Christmas from the Johnsons!

This has been yet another year of changes for us!

We began the year with a short trip to Colorado to attend a wedding and stay over for our first night together away from our kids - ever! Blake's folks stayed at our home with Emery and Everett. A few days later, we celebrated our 12th anniversary.

At the end of January, we announced to the kids that we were expecting another little one due in August! A complete and total miracle. Emery was thrilled; Everett was clueless!

In February, Emery turned 7. We hosted a few of her school friends for an Adopt-a-pet party. The kids got to choose a stuffed animal, decorate a cardboard house, make a collar, choose a leash, and do a "vet exam" (tic-tacs for medicine, colored tape for bandages).


On April 1, we found out our little one on the way was a girl! We handed the secret envelope off to Emery and she prepared a pink reveal sign.

In May, Emery and Tiffanie traveled to Virginia to attend a wedding. A couple of weeks later, the whole family traveled back to Virginia to attend Blake's PhD graduation from George Mason University. We are overjoyed for this project to be complete and so proud of our Dr. Daddy!

We have enjoyed lots of visits from Blake's folks and brother over the course of the year including Emery and Everett's birthdays, Mother's day, 4th of July, and the arrival of our little one. They always bring lots of fun to our lives.

On July 31, our little girl made her entrance in a dramatic way! Tiffanie started having contractions around 2:30am and they were regular all morning until Blake decided not to go to work around 8am - when they nearly stopped. So we all went back to our days, and Blake went to work. The contractions continued, but they were irregular and up to an hour apart. Waiting for a contraction pattern to emerge - and also hoping to wait for her parents' arrival around 9pm - Tiffanie labored at home for most of the day. After a 45 minute break (and a nap), contractions picked up from 2:45-3:45pm and Blake was urged to head home and a babysitter was called in. However, by 4pm, labor kicked in much more quickly than expected (e.g., at this point with the other two kids, we headed to the hospital, however, neither was born for another 5-6 hours). Blake arrived home around 4:15 and we were practically pulling out of the driveway when the babysitters arrived at 4:35. Thankfully the hospital is only 1 mile away. We pulled into the parking lot, struggled a bit to get some help and get Tiffanie up to a room and within minutes of getting onto the hospital bed, Delaney Alina arrived at 4:49pm!

Delaney weighed 6lbs 13oz, 20.25 inches long. Everything went smoothly otherwise, and Delaney had no problems and went home the next day! Everett was slow to warm up to the baby, but Emery was smitten from day one!

We had a short list of names for our girl, but until a few hours after she was born, we hadn't chosen one. We liked Layne/Lane and Laney/Lainey but once she had arrived, we wanted something with a little more to it, so we chose Delaney. Tiffanie's grandma's name, Ethel, means "noble," and her mom's name, Patricia, means "of noble birth," and Alina means "little noble one."

Tiffanie's parents arrived a few hours after Delaney's early arrival and stayed for a few weeks to help with the kids. Blake's family visited the following week as well.

In August, Emery started 2nd grade. She continues to thrive in school. She has been named "Superhero of the Week" twice already. She loves reading, creating stories with her dolls and animals, learning new facts and information as well as telling you any and every thing she has learned, and playing with Everett. Emery also had a piece of artwork displayed at the UW Art Museum this fall. This year she has lost 3 teeth.

In October, Everett turned 2! We hosted a few friends and Blake's parents for a basketball-themed party. Everett loves to shoot any ball into any "hoop" (laundry basket, crib, the sink, a chair, your arms forming a circle, etc.) He happily declares "uh made it! two points!" Everett is tender and gentle, asking for a hug if he's sad or pretending to be sad. He is also full of energy and often speaks at a very loud volume for no apparent reason other than excitement!

For Halloween, the kids dressed as a cheerleader (Emery), football (Everett), and referee (Delaney). We traveled to Colorado Springs for Thanksgiving to share the weekend with many of Blake's cousins, aunts, uncles, and his folks.

At the end of December, Delaney will be 5 months old. She is definitely a social baby, getting very upset if she's in a position in the room where she can't see us and very happy if she's included in the action. She does NOT like to be tickled in her torso (like her mama) but she will laugh when kissed on the cheeks and neck. She loves her siblings! Everett calls her "Waney" and we have affectionately caught on to this nickname. She also goes by Laney, Laney Loo, Laney Baney, and Doodlebug.

Blake continues to work as the Manager of Transfer Relations at the University of Wyoming. He teaches a first year seminar course as well. Tiffanie continues to work a few hours a week part-time remotely for Northern Virginia Community College.

It's been fun and also very exhausting adjusting to being a family of five! We look forward to the new adventures we will experience in the new year!

Here are some more snapshots from our year!