We came down to the Cities on Monday for Addison's 19th birthday. Here are some pictures:

Highlights of our Christmas vacation in the Twin Cities and Wisconsin:

1. Spending so much time with family
2. Stella meeting so many new people
3. Nights talking in the hot tub with my sister (who i haven't seen since September)
4. Matt got to try out his new boots and bindings snowboarding with Addison
5. Opening Stella's Christmas presents
6. Seeing Marley and Me
7. Date to Benjamin Button with Matt
8. Stella's smiling
9. Some good wine
10. Great food! (too much =)
11. Shopping with Anna
12. Spending New Years at home with our little family
13. Starting the Twilight series
14. Matt getting to smoke some good cigars
15. Watching Stella grow and change every day
16. Our first Christmas as a Mom and Dad

We are a little snowed in up here. I attempted a trip to sandstone lastnight and didn't make it very far. The explorer (yes the explorer) is semi-stuck about six feet from where it should be parked.

On Friday, some of my friends came up to visit and see Stella and on Saturday we went to Duluth for portraits and to get some Christmas shopping done. I was nervous that Stella would either be sleeping or crying for pictures but she was such a ham! She seemed like she was right in her element. Either that or it was just that she was enthralled with the lights. This shopping trip was so much easier than the last one. We have her figured out a little better and learned from our mistakes from last time. However, Wal-Mart on the way home was a different story. She had a little meltdown, but I don't blame her. The first time experiencing a Wal-Mart (or any experience of Wal-Mart for that matter) can be disturbing for anyone.

We have started to get our bedtime routine mastered. Last night she was up only once and then slept in until ten! We are really lucky to have such a good baby.

So today was the first day Stella and I were home alone all day (Matt is in the cities). I was a little nervous. Up until now I've known that if something goes wrong, at least Matt's in his office downstairs. Surprisingly, it's been a very easy day. Stella is so laid back unless her tummy hurts and makes my job easy. More and more every day it feels less and less like babysitting and more and more like she's mine. I've gone from "I can't believe she's mine" to "I can't imagine my life without her". This past month has been a lot of bonding and getting to know each other, and now I'm ready to take her with me everywhere. I'm so excited to see everyone over Christmas and have Stella meet so many new people. We got our Christmas tree up and Matt decorated it himself because I fell asleep. Stella loves staring at it and looking at all the lights. Her little personality is already coming through!

Stella Mae

Stella Mae Johnson was born at 8:55 PM on November 14, 2008 at Mercy Hospital in Moose Lake. She weighed 14 lbs 7 ounces!!! No, not really. She weighed 7 lbs 14 ounces. She was born with a little bit of jaundice, but other than that she is healthy and kicking. I can't wait for all of you to meet her!