jonah at ONE year!

I'm sure someday the bear will forgive me for taking so long to give his one year update. But, the thing is, Jonah, that you NEVER stop moving, getting into things, climbing, trying to give me a heart attack... so, you know, it's kind of your fault, little man! But, my goodness, how we love you. Maybe it's because you're my last "baby," maybe it's a 3rd child thing or maybe it's just those cheeks... but you melt my heart constantly (and I think you know it, you little stinker). 

A few things about Jonah at ONE year:

-You are not only walking, but running. Everywhere. Oh, and dancing... if ever in a bad mood or throwing a fit we simply turn on your favorite song (Taylor Swift's "Shake it Off") and you instantly get up, run across the room to the music and dance, dance, dance. 

-Speaking of throwing fits, you do this now and it's adorable. Jackson used to do the same full body spread on the floor when he was your age. Thankfully you typically forget that you're mad in less than a minute and then are back to being on the go. 

-You're saying a few "words" including mama, dada, baba (bottle) and ga (dog). I can tell you're really beginning to study me when I practice words with you, soaking it all and now when I begin to sing the ABCs you immediate start to mimic how I always "sign" the letters. Smarty pants. 

-You leave no questioning that you're going to be a trouble maker. A cute trouble maker, but a trouble maker nonetheless. You know the hot buttons for each of us (getting into the garbage for Daddy and trying to turn on/off the TV for mommy) and so you push those buttons with an ornery look on your face as often as possible. I especially like it when you walk towards the TV and automatically start shaking your head and sometimes even pointing to me... oh, Jonah. 

-You continue to adore Jackson and Audrey and the feelings are mutual all the way around. Audrey loves on you all day talking to you in the sweetest baby talk and Jackson is your most over protective brother. I hope that never changes. 

-Your night sleeping isn't always consistent- you still crave an extra bottle or cuddle time in the middle of the night sometimes, but I don't mind that at all, especially since you're so easy to put to sleep. All you need is your paci and your doggie in your arms and you're a happy boy. (fun story on doggie- when Jackson was around a year old we bought him a stuffed dog at Ikea... this became his comfort item and he has slept with it every single night since. A month or so ago your daddy and I were in Ikea and saw the same stuffed dogs! So, we bought one for you and it automatically became your favorite comfort item too. So sweet). 

-I say this a lot and that's just because it's true... you are crazy. See that picture of you up there that I took today? See that bruise on your cheek? Yep, it's just one of many you've had lately. Thankfully that one is fading because it was pretty nasty looking and honestly, who can bruise a cheek that chunky? You. That is who. Because you are crazy.

-You love to eat... pretty much every thing. And all the time. Your absolute favorite are berries, specifically blueberries. But you pretty much love all fruit and all vegetables. You also really like Daddy's soup, any meat, yogurt, etc. You're not a huge fan of carbs like bread and granola bars but I'm totally fine with that.

I can't tell you how much we love you, Jonah, because words would never measure up to that, but I do hope that one day you will read this and realize how much joy you bring us. How much we love you. How hard we will try to do what is right for you. You are our bear, our crazy, sweet, lovable Jonah bear. 

Jackson at one year HERE and some reflections HERE.
Audrey at one year HERE.

Stats: 30" tall (54%) & 22 lbs, 12 oz (71%)

::catching up:: a birthday for my favorite 2 superheroes.

last saturday night, under a fog of jet lag, we hosted jackson and jonah's superhero birthday party. my two little men ushered in their fifth and first birthdays with ample sugar, chaos and gifts. jonah bear wasn't a fan of the cake which is just fine with this mama- I will hold off on the treats just as long as he'll allow me to. and if I could hold off on the rest of what comes with growing up I would do that too. 

these two come with so much joy- bringing us smiles, laughter and healthy doses of both humility and awe each day. 

sweet boys. when you read this some day, please know how thankful we are to have been chosen to be your parents. may you know that while we probably won't perfect this parenthood thing, we will certainly go to bed knowing that we tried with our whole selves every day. 

every. single. day. 

the bear is 11 months.

Jonah bear turned 11 months this week... said another way, I have less than a month of being a mom to a baby. I will miss this baby stage. A lot. I love the cuddles that only babies can give. I love the babbles and the pace of learning that comes with that first year. I love the chubby cheeks and fingers and toes. I love the peace of rocking a baby in the middle of the night and while I won't miss the lost sleep I will miss the feeling of knowing you're the only person in the world who can calm those tears in the middle of the night when he just needs some extra cuddle time. Oh, Jonah. Lets face it, you'll always be my baby. As long as I don't take it to the extreme of you ending up in therapy one day I think we'll be just fine, so just play along, will you and pretend to always be my cuddly Jonah bear, just as you are today? 

christmas morning: before & after.

Before: Jonah bear on his very FIRST Christmas morning! Patiently waiting for his brother and sister to wake up.

After: A few short hours later and all the presents opened, wrapping paper cleaned up and 3 very happy babies (1 of which now insists on being called Izzie) in deep, deep playing mode. 

jonah's first visit to the ZOO!

{jonah daniel} SIX months!

Jonah is officially "half zero" as Jackson says. That's six months for you common folk. That means I only have 6 more months of having a baby... and that hurts my heart to think about. It's a shame being pregnant and going through labor is so awful (thanks a lot for that, Eve!), otherwise I'd give birth to more in a heartbeat. Please don't mention that to Dan, I don't think his sanity heart could handle it. The past couple of weeks have brought a lot of changes for Jonah, but you would never know it, except for maybe that pouty lip he has given me a few times when I leave in the morning... that's enough to break anyone's heart. I'm so thankful for this little guy- Jonah, you are the sweetest, the absolute sweetest and we couldn't love you more. 

someone (finally!) slept through the NIGHT!

It's true... Jonah finally, finally slept all night long! He didn't go down until later than normal - around 11:00- but he slept alllll the way until 6:00 this morning. I was paranoid (shocker) and was up a few times to check on him. So, I'm hoping that my sweet boy will sleep all night again so I can force myself to relaaaax and actually sleep when he does. 7 hours straight of sleep? Yes, please!

Side note: today, Dan and I visited with friends who just had their first baby. I shared the good news (that Jonah finally slept through the night)- that was a mistake. Oh, their poor faces when they realized that it might take more than 5 months for their little guy to sleep all night- so funny and heartbreaking all at once! Welcome to parenthood, friends :) 

redefining the 'bear' hug.

I may be sliiiightly obsessed with this little guy. If I could bottle up his chubby baby cuddles and keep them forever I would. And when he puts his little hands on either side of my face and leans in for a messy kiss? The best. 

baby. genius.

We've been doing this baby food thing for less than a week and he already knows how to do the sign for "more"... it's like we have the real live version of baby Einstein living under our roof :)

jonah daniel: FIVE months!

Jonah Bear is 5 months. That is an entire hand-full of months. And he is a hand-full of chubby baby sweetness. We are to the age of LOTS of giggles and smiles and rolling everywhere like a mad man. He took his first taste of sweet potatoes today and seemed pretty impressed with mama's cooking skills- more so than the elder Engel boy who shall remain nameless. There's just something about you, Jonah Bear, something so sweet and precious and, well, just priceless. I'm certain that in the midst of all your baby babbling you are saying "Mama, quit squeezing me so hard..." because I do, I squeeze you hard and give you a lifetime of kisses every day because I just can't get enough of my Jonah. 

 

Jackson at 5 months HERE.

Audrey at 5 months HERE.

jonah bear's first Reds game.

 

jonah bear- FOUR months!

Jonah bear hit the FOUR month mark this weekend. That's one third of a whole year if you're doing the math. And that's crazy if you're a mama who wants time with her last tiny baby to slow down. This boy, I'm telling you, is the sweetest. He now smiles and laughs at absolutely everything. I love when I'm in the middle of doing something and I'll look over to check on him and will find him just staring at me with the biggest smile on his face and then he erupts in laughter when he realizes he got my attention. Adorable. He is also incapable of sitting still and moves constantly. Dan admitted the other day that he wouldn't have wanted  to be pregnant with Jonah with all his kicking and wiggling... and I reminded him of how almost daily I would tell him that I had a ninja growing inside me. This month he has also mastered rolling over in both directions, taking naps like a champ, swinging in his baby swing and definitely craves the attention of his big brother and sister (which is never in short supply). Jonah, we couldn't love you more, little man...

Update: We had Jonah's 4 month well- check and here are his stats-
Height- 26" (76%)
Weight- 15lbs, 7.1oz (42%)

Jackson at 4 months HERE. -he was 15lbs, 10.5oz & 25 3/4" long (almost exact same as Jonah!)
Audrey at 4 months HERE. -she was 13lbs, 12oz & 24" long

somebody has started teething... and just wants his mama.

jonah daniel THREE months!

Dear Buddy- you're three months old! That's a whole bunch if you ask me. That's enough time to grow out of your itty bitty newborn diapers and a whole bin-full of clothes. That's enough time to learn how to smile and laugh and recognize Mommy, Daddy, Jackson & Audrey. And it's certainly enough time to learn to sleep through the night. Wait, back it up- you haven't slept through the night yet? Are you telling me that you have only given mommy 5 hours of sleep straight like one time? Oh, Jonah, good thing you're cute! Our cute and cuddly Jonah Bear. Life just wouldn't be complete without you.

Jackson at 3 months HERE and Audrey HERE.

jonah bear: 10 weeks.

Jonah bear is 10 weeks. 10 weeks! He is as cute as ever and increasingly spoiled. I'm not sure if he has tummy issues or if he is just more irritable than Jackson and Audrey were. He had his 2 month well check this week and his pediatrician offered to put him on some medicine to prevent acid reflux, but I declined because I'm not convinced he needs it, but his off and on fussiness can certainly make for some long days (and nights). But, his sweet smiles make it all worth it. We love you, Jonah... "foreva and eva" as Audrey would say.