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%)

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? 

the bear at 10 months.

We are (so, so) behind in updates. lots of fun stuff happening and so less time at the computer and more time enjoying these sweet babies of mine. One of which, Jonah Bear, is now ten (10!!) months old. That's just 2 months shy of a full year if you're keeping count. A few updates on my little man:

-He has started taking steps! I wouldn't call it official walking yet, but we get 2-3 steps at a time before he collapses in giggles immediately followed by clapping for himself.
-Sleep at night continues to be completely random. We seem to have a few nights of sleeping all the way through and then several with at least one feeding around 3am. 
-His cheeks. I mean, just look at them, the day they start to go away will be the day I throw a big mom fit. 
-We find him all over the place- in corners, behind couches, in the toilet, climbing into the bathtub, into end tables, on top of furniture... you name it, he explores it. 
-His baby vocab is adorable and growing- lots and lots of babbling. 
-There is no denying that he is a mama's boy. He's my shadow at all times. If I leave a room for just a minute, when I come back he comes crawling and whimpering to me as if he hasn't seen me in days. It's seriously sweet (and sometimes exhausting :)). 
-The crazier the better for The Bear- throw him around, wrestle him on the ground, take him for crazy wagon rides... he's all about it. I choose not to worry about how this will manifest itself later in life. 

We're so in love with this little guy. I often say that there's just something extra sweet and special about Jonah... something you can't articulate or put a finger on, but it's there. My prayer is that it never goes away. We love you forever and ever, Jonah Bear- more than you could possibly understand. 

Jackson at 10 months HERE.
Audrey at 10 months HERE.

jonah daniel: NINE months!

We're a little late getting to Jonah Bear's 9 month update, but our little guy has been sick for the first time. It ended up being nothing but a bad cold, but it made for a lot of sleepless nights and some nasty sounding coughs. He's slowly getting back to himself... his lovable, crazy crawling, can't stay still for a second self. 

Here are 9 things about Jonah at 9 months:

1. He loves. LOVES I tell you. Food! Don't even try to eat around him unless it's something he can have or he will give you the most pitiful look. He still mainly drinking bottles and eating purees, but has also begun to eat diced up chicken, veggies and fruit.

2. It is no exaggeration when I say that he cannot sit still for a second. The boy has his daddy's energy and goes goes goes. He continues to crawl everywhere, pulls himself on every thing (and everyone) around, is cruising around the furniture and last week we found him at the top of the stairs. So, you know, up went another baby gate. I've yet to figure out a way to get him to quit standing up in his high chair - yes, his high chair- the seat belt can't hold the bear back. 

3. He now has 7 teeth... 4 of which, all on the top, all decided to come in at the exact same time which was... fun? 

4. Overall, he is still so sweet and laid back. He's more playful than the other two ever were at this age- he loves to play with his toys, wrestle with anyone willing and overall just have a good time. 

5. Jackson continues to be such a help with Jonah, always helping him, protecting him and teaching him things. Today on the way home from church they both fell asleep holding hands- it was the sweetest. 

6. Jonah finds Audrey to be especially funny. It takes very little out of her to get him laughing hard. And she continues to be nothing but sweet and affectionate with him. I can think of zero times when she has been rough or anything but nice to him. Which is a lot considering her personality at times this past year!

7. Jonah bear reminds me of Dan in so many ways- from his facial expressions to his curiosity and playful personality. I think we have another little mini me in the making.

8. He continues to be easy most all of the time to put down for bed time and he is getting better at sleeping most of the night. We've been off the past few weeks from being sick, but I still see progress and overall I just don't mind it that much when he does wake... who wouldn't love extra cuddle time with a Jonah bear? 

9.  I'm a little bit in shock that he's already 9 months... I know every mom says that, but we unfortunately won't know our 4th baby when she's actually a baby so realizing that Jonah is the last one to be this tiny is hard to swallow at times. I love my chubby, cuddly babies. 

Jackson at 9 months HERE.
Audrey at 9 months HERE.

jonah bear... (almost) 8 months!

Jackson's 8 month photos HERE
Audrey's 8 month photos HERE

{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. 

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 Daniel: TWO months!

Jonah is TWO months old today. That is 2 months of not sleeping being adorable. Only kidding, this little man is slowly getting better about sleeping, but still only goes 2-3 hours in between feedings, even during the night, so, you know, we're working on that. These smiles more than make up for those hours of lost sleep. 

A little Jonah 101 at this age: he likes being held (a lot!) so that he can look around at everything (he is crazy curious), he loves when Jackson talks to him and lays with him on the floor, he smiles and coos, he likes to be held when he falls asleep which is sweet but also challenging, he sleeps mainly in his vibrating seat or his swing and in my arms. He has sensitive hearing (just like Jackson did) so wakes up at the softest sounds which is hard with 2 crazy monsters running around. That's our Jonah bear, our sweet and cuddly Jonah bear...

Jackson at 2 months HERE and Audrey HERE.

*Stats from Jonah's 2 month well check: 12 pounds, 4 ounces (35%) & 24 inches (80%)

jonah daniel: ONE month

Jonah turned one month on Friday- a MONTH! This past month has honestly been somewhat of a blur and I'm ready to start his second month off on a better foot. He is the sweetest and most cuddly baby, but I've unfortunately been sick almost this entire time with what we thought was a severe sinus infection, but actually turned out to be an abscessed tooth which ended in an emergency root canal on Friday. Fun! But I'm so thankful to be out of pain for the most part now and am more than ready to move forward and able to actually enjoy this little guy. So far Jonah looks a lot like Jackson's baby photos, but I think with some different features that remind me a lot of Dan. His laid back, easy-going nature is a lot like Audrey was at this age with pockets of Jackson in there too when he insists on being held during parts of his naps or at nighttime. Overall, this little guy has completely stolen my heart. We love you, Jonah bug! 

Jackson at one month HERE.
Audrey at one month HERE.

audrey danielle: TEN months

My peanut is 10 months old. TEN. We're talking double-digit months, people. We're talking t-minus two months until her first birthday. Torture I tell you, absolute torture to realize she's too quickly out-growing this baby phase that I so love. Partly because it's so adorable and precious, but partly because it is so fleeting. I'm determined as ever to not let any moment or memory get by without wonder and awe. I love you, Audrey Danielle, more than you will ever understand. 

Jackson's 10 month update HERE.

audrey danielle: NINE months

audrey danielle: EIGHT months

Jackson's EIGHT month updates HERE and HERE

[audrey danielle] 7 months!

Jackson's 7 month photos HERE.

AUDREY DANIELLE: six months!

Jackson's 6 month update HERE.