Lachlan and Silas

Well we are settling into a nice routine...for the most part. Lachlan turned 2 and is super fun and Silas is now 7 weeks old.

Here are a few updated pictures...

We took a trip to the coast (Silas is in the baby carrier)
















Silas's first bath. Lachlan is playing peeka boo with his little brother
































Happy Birthday Lachlan...we got him drums for his birthday and he was thrilled!
















We have had an unusually hot summer here. It hit over 100...unheard of here. We had fun in the backyard trying to stay cool. Lachlan and his friend Maddie.































Happy Silas...

A few more pictures...
now that we are home






















































































Happy 4th of July!

"A cub in the yard...

...a comfort sent by God." --Beowulf

These things seem to happen on Fridays. So perhaps we should have ignored the false labors on Monday and Wednesday but at the time, the contractions Michele was feeling earlier this week were pretty convincing. Particularly because Michele was running about a week late of her initial due date of June 17th. But the false labors Michele felt earlier in the week faded every time she laid down for a nap.

Friday I went to work like usual and Michele and Lachlan attended a friend's birthday party that morning. Michele's contractions began again at the birthday party and continued on through the afternoon despite the nap attempts. I tried to be nonchalant at work as Michele gave me updates on the phone throughout the afternoon but it is hard to design concrete forms when you have a baby on the way even if you have experienced a couple of false alarms. By 4pm, Michele contractions jumped from 15 minutes apart to 6 minutes apart and I had my friend, Colin drive me the 2 miles up and over Capitol Hill to our house. Stella came by the house to watch Lachlan and we were off to Overlake Hospital in Bellevue within minutes of me arriving home. Michele and I were both a little anxious about the drive to Bellevue during rush hour but despite it being a beautiful Friday afternoon the floating bridges over Lake Washington were clear. We arrived at the hospital in less time that it took for me to drive from work to home. I didn't even speed...that much.

When the nurse checked Michele at the hospital, she was measuring at 5 centimeters and well into active labor. She labored for another two hours when she hit the wall at 8 centimeters and called in the epidural. The anesthesiologist was in another operation and Michele fought through another hour of the labor before getting some relief. Shortly after the epidural kicked in the doctor discovered the baby was positioned poorly with the face up. Michele spent the next hour doing labor pilates to get the baby to role into the correct position which he finally did around 10:3opm. About that time the doctor broke Michele's water and discovered meconium in the fluid which is a sign of distress in the baby. So the emergency medical team piled into the room and awaited the delievery. The baby came out after about four pushes with the cord wrapped around the neck. The doctor clipped the cord and our baby boy let out his first wails at 11:38pm on Friday night.

Compared with Lachlan's birth, this labor seemed at the moment to be relatively benign but looking back the good Lord guided us through some real hazards. All that being said the baby and Michele are doing great.

Yesterday we spent the day enjoying visitors and introducing Lachlan to his new baby brother. Lachlan was immediately anamored with his little brother showered him with kisses and a wayward finger in the eye. Like a good big brother he's a little protective. When the nurses took the baby for some routine tests Lachlan immediately protested, "MY baby brudder!"

You might be able to tell from this little story that Michele and I had a little trouble naming this guy. Like Lachlan it's taken us a full day of negotiations, nail chewing, and u-turns to brand the little man. Last night we slept on it and we are ready to introduce.

Silas Harold Johnson

Born on June 26th at 11:38 pm
8lbs 4 oz, 20.5 inches long

Silas is New Testment figure in the Bible and a faithul friend of Saint Paul. It means "of the forest" which goes well with his brother who's "from the fjords". Silas' middle namesake is his great grandfather Harold Johnson.

So far he is a real sweetheart. He nurses like a wolverine and only seems to cry when he isn't eating which is rare.

Big stretch, "I need a hammock"

I already love my Momma!

Nap time is all the time

"Nice farmer's tan, Dad"

Lachlan likes being a "big brudder"

Silas with Grandpa and Grandma J

Awkward family photo

Finish Line

"When God wishes to rejoice the life of a poor man, he makes him lose his donkey and find it again." --Czech Saying

Yesterday at preciously 3:15pm, I closed my books and slipped my notes into my backpack. I dogged earred the upperleft hand corner of my final exam because I have a habit of removing the staple at the start of the test. This time around I lost the staple during the test. To the TA, I handed over this evidence of my 3-month education on earthquake engineering and then walked out the door into the sun.

I'm done with school.

Lachlan fights back against the rising cost of oil

In addition to earthquake engineering, this quarter I have had courses on Personality, Leadership, and Negotiation; Structural Performance and Failure, Managing Engineering and Construction Companies, and Public Speaking. After the "sharp" analysis classes of the first two quarters, this was more of a touchy, feely quarter (if that exists in engineering).


While school is over I am just beginning to realize that education is really a lifelong process. Take last night for example. Michele and I went out to a dinner with our friends Jenny and Jin. I learned that even as a 25-lb man without the skills to walk, Lachlan can still tear apart and cause havoc in a pretty nice sushi restaurant.

Lachlan and Parker Clayton taking political sides in San Francisco

But baby chaos isn't the only thing we've been up to. Now that school is over Michele, Lachlan, and I are trying to make up for lost time and enjoying all the Bay Area has to offer. Monday took a ferry to Angel Island in San Francisco Bay and today we had a barbeque with classmates on the beach at Half Moon Bay. We are trying to soak up all the sun we can over the next few days (it's been in the upper 80s) because on Monday we make the slow drive back to Seattle. I've been hearing stories about the weather back home this year...these stories I hear...they're not good stories.

Michele and Lachlan "Machine-Gun" Johnson with Alcatraz in the background

After many months of discussion, investigation, and prayer Michele and I decided to head back to Seattle where I will take up my pencil and calculator again PND. I am really excited to be heading back. After sometime away for perspective it really seems to be the best fit for me and a place where I can still learn and make a contribution. Along with that decision we will be moving back into our place in the Central District. Since we have spent a total of 10-15 nights in the house, it will be like a new place for me and Lachlan. Michele's an old pro in the CD.

Michele and Lachlan soaking up the sun on campus

Like Ketchikan, it's going to be really hard to leave Stanford and friends we've grown to love but we are looking forward to getting back home to our family and friends (and cat) in the coming month and nurturing the roots we began establishing there years ago.

A whole lot of firsts!

Spring break was great. We had a wonderful time down in southern California. We road tripped it south and Lachlan did great as usual.

Who ever said car rides aren't fun or maybe mom was getting a little tired in the back seat and decided to jazz things up! Love the sun glasses Lachlan!!

Lots of firsts this month for Lachlan... here goes!

First time in the sand! We stopped at Pismo Beach on our way south to dip our toes in the sand. Lachlan loved the beach.

Lachlan's first Easter!

First time with a real doggie! Lachlan loved my sisters dog Jazz.

Lachlan's first dip in the pool. What a little water baby!!

Lachlan's first time driving a car!

More Pictures

I am really excited! I just got a new camera and have hardly put it down. I just wanted to share a few of my favorite shots of Lachlan!

Playing Catch Up

Out for a walk in the sunshine!

So this is my attempt at keeping family and friends updated as to the life we are leading down south. Sorry the posts have been so sparce. I have decided that while I am not as eloquent as my better half I will do my best to share our lives on a more regular basis.
Rian is so very busy these days and is spending almost every waking moment studying. Every other moment he is spending with our precious baby boy and me. Rian warned me from the outset of this quarter that this would be the most challenging of all the quarters. He is doing well and plugging through with a great attitude.

What Rian is doing most of the time

I continue to love being at home with Lachlan and have now joined a great group of women to study the Bible. I have enjoyed making new friends and with spring in the air I am outside more than ever.
Lachlan is growing like a little weed. He has become the youngest volunteer at one of local retirement homes and loves making the residents smile. Whenever we enter the building he is a sure show stopper to whatever they are doing. We spend most of our time in memory support helping the residents remember the lives they have so often forgot. He is truly a form of therapy and I love hearing the advice they have for me as well as all the reminiscing that goes along with seeing a little one that so often reminds them of their own. Mostly I love watching Lachlan look at each person with such innocence and with such a big gummy grin!
We have started going to baby story time at the local library and he loves listening to the stories and hearing us all sing songs. A real favorite is "head, shoulders, knees, and toes"!

Lachlan and his Ketchikan teddy bear

As far as development Lachlan loves sitting up and he loves his toys. He sees no need to rush into being mobile he enjoys what is in front of him and every now and again he will lean really far over and almost appear to be in the crawling position. He is now eating solids and is enjoying his rice cereal mixed with pears, apples, bananas, sweet potatoes, and avocado. Hmmm...next week we will try a mix, perhaps apple/pears.

Time to eat!

Lachlan outgrew his baby tub and he is still too little for the entire tub so I got him a giant duck to take his bath in. He seems to really enjoy it.

Lachlan in his new tub!

He is a little chatter box and no one can make him belly laugh like his daddy. He has a very pleasant disposition and loves to snuggle. He is still my little early bird and wakes up like clock work at 0600.

Tired boy!

Lachlan loves to swing at the playground behind our apartment.