Sticky fingers, face, mouth, etc.

Kind of Busy

Here are snapshots of Jonah's busy days with Aunt Justine, Logan & Mason. It's no wonder our boy is wiped out by 7:00 PM. Jonah is greeted with smiles, hugs and excitement each morning and then he's mobbed with attention from everyone- Jonah's life is very good! Thanks Aunt Justine for the pics and making Joanh's days so much fun and so tiring too!

Happy Hippity Hop

Jonah's 1st Easter Egg Hunt was much not much of a hunt at all and more like -- 'let me sit down in one spot and eat all the eggs.' But hey, he had fun, laughed and loved having so many eggs to choose from. Happy Easter!

bath time means fun times

Are these his 1st steps????

We don't know- we're rookie parents. But hey, it was a total surprise to see him take those 2 steps on his own. Jonah did it on his own, Rick and I just looked at each other, eyes popped out, clapped and yelled / screamed and then did what all good parents do - grabbed the camera for the EVENT. So yes, these could be his 2nd 1st steps....

What to wear?

Seriously I love these Spring days, but as a Mother I am totally stressed how to dress Jonah. It's chilly in the AM,but will warm up later that day, but he sweats so easily, but he's inside all day, but really he's not b/c Aunt Justine takes him to the park or outside to play in the sand, but it's kind of windy, but if I put long sleeve on him- he'll get sweat pimples on his arms, but I don't want him to get a cold b/c of how I dressed him or I don't want him to get a fever b/c he's so hot. Ohhhhh the pressure!!!!! This stuff is not in any of the books I've read. So I decided to put a onsie on Jonah with pants that can be taken off when he gets hot (and we know he will) and socks with his new sandals (which he totally love to chew on) - with specific instructions to Aunt Justine to take those socks off if you go in public- don't want him looking all nerdy like his Uncle Chris who wears Crocs with socks! And all this to stress about...... I do have better things to stress about, they are not as fun to write about and can't be supplemented with a cute picture!

Who doesn't love Maisy?

Jonah & Emma's date night.

Sign of the Times

Jonah has left the building- actually just leaves his parents side. He now knows there is more to his house then where his parents are standing, playing, or sitting. Jonah "tours" the house non-stop. So all doors are now closed except his playroom- Life is hard, you know?

THIS boy LOVES his books

Seriously, this is what he goes to first thing down from his high chair. He has his favorites- Brown Bear, Brown Bear, Jungle Book & Transportation Book. Funny thing- my Auntie Loy gave me these books years ago my first year of teaching for my Early Childhood class. Who knew 6 years ago, after 2 districts, and 4 schools later Jonah would be reading & loving them!

7:30 - 4:00

You know since Jonah is in daycare, he doesn't talk (well that we can understand, but this boy does talk sometimes yell non-stop), I often wondered what his day is like. His previous daycare would share his food and nap schedules, what he played with and such. But having my sister watch Jonah now is totally different- maybe b/c we're family, maybe b/c she gives me more details, maybe b/c she shares all the pics (and even takes some), maybe b/c she's so excited to see her nephew that she loves so much, or maybe for all the above. Anyway you look at it- we're thrilled Aunt Justine has agreed to watch Jonah. Thanks Aunt Justine - we love you! This week Jonah has had a blast- getting so much attention from his cousins from early morning til Rick picks him up. He laughs all day, follows Mason everywhere and roams around his Aunt Justine's house like he owns it! I think even Mason is getting more fun out of it then Jonah since HE's finally not the baby- but can "lead" Jonah around. I think once school is out Jonah and Mason are going to be in a culture shock- when Mason doesn't have his partner-in-crime Jonah and Jonah only has his boring parents to play with all summer. Ahhh, heck- we'll hire Mason for weekly visits and bribe him with a refreshing swimming pool and Popsicles.

Twinkle Toes

Hangin' with Mom & Dad

Who does the laundry...that's what I thought!

Ok...I can't let this go unnoticed. If you read down on our blog, Michelle has posted a blog on "Tips" on doing laundry. What??? Are you kidding me? She is giving me tips on how to do laundry? This is my wife who maybe has done 10 loads of laundry our 10 years of us being together and she is telling me how to do laundry. Whatever? First and foremost, this laundry article came out of what scientific periodical-Elle, Family Circle, Good Housekeeping. This is my wife who did a load last month and when I opened up the washer, I couldn't even see the clothes because soap bubbles were ooozing out from the top. Yikes! Let me take a poll of how many other husbands do all the laundry AND seperate the underwear and bras. I rest my case. :)

Stamp of Approval (again)

We went today for our I-600A U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services fingerprinting. Thanks to Mrs. Andrea (Mary Poppin... really she comes with her own bag and everything) for watching Jonah. We did this back in May 2007. It will be in place for 18 months (hopefully we won't have to do another one.....which would mean we'd have our baby girl here in the United States). Time will tell.

We did get an update from our agency here in the U.S. and the Chinese agency. They are putting pressure onto China realizing the longer waits means upset / sad parents and parents to be. It means people looking beyond China and adopting other places- which means less money for China. It means people are not trusting the agencies and word of mouth is the best or could be the worst public relations for them. As for us, we're still in line, getting to know other families who are over adopting in China as we write, watching them transition home, and chatting with other families waiting from all over the world- what a great network. So until we get "the call"- we wait.

Out with the old & In with the new

Meet Jonah's new babysitter(s)---

Ok, not really, this is Jonah's new babysitter- Aunt Justine! Jonah starts this Monday going to his new place. I think Mason is the most excited since he won't be the baby anymore. We are very, very grateful to Aunt Justine for helping us out the next 1o weeks until school is out for summer break. I'm sure Jonah will be talking, walking, counting, matching colors, etc, by June 4th- no pressure! : )

March Madness

Uncle Rick (and Dad) passing along his wise words of wisdom when it comes to NCAA brackets-- nothing like getting kids hooked early on in life! Last year, we all filled out our brackets and Kirsten won. Game on ~

It's all in the writing!

Some things are better left unsaid by people and said according to respectable magazines! And yes my women magazines are respectable compared to People & Entertainment Weekly. Since we've been together (11 years), Rick swears I can't do laundry- whatever- I did it fine before him. So now he does it all- serves him right for telling me I can't do it- now I won't do it. So for these 10 years, Rick also reminds me how annoying it is that I turn my clothes inside out (to maintain the color, so I don't have to buy new clothes, you know??). He claims that is not true and he hates it when he's folding the clothes (well now Jonah's are inside out too). So I have found the TRUTH in writing-- it says just that-- turning your clothes inside out will help them last longer and maintain a brighter color!!!! Take that!$%^&$#%$%@#

Barriers & such

"stick 'em up" -- Bad Boys, Bad Boys, whata gonna do????

I found a new room- Daddy's media room! Lots to touch and knock over!

"Hmm, yesterday I could go into that room."

Saturday Night = Date Night

Jonah & Emma enjoyed their 4th date with the 'rents! Flemings picked the place- it was hell and back......well next time we get to pick it! : ) Good thing we all had each other to get through it. Until next time.

Get out of the way-

this car is coming your way. We've been rolling this car around Jonah for some time (he loves the "clicking" noise it makes) and then while I was cooking dinner (ok, not really cooking - reheating dinner), I heard the "clicking". He figured out to do it on his own! Gosh, seeing that video, I really need to vacuum, oh I can't b/c it scares Jonah...... what kind of mother would I be if I scared my own son??? Just go with it.

Spring is here ~

At least for today since it's supposed to be cold later in the week. So we headed to Grammy's for a good lunch!

look at those 3.5 teeth!

Having fun- Jonah style

2 months shy of 1 years old!

10 months

Solid foods he's tried and likes: banana, avocado, grapes, strawberry, blueberry, mashed potato, crackers, tomato.

Likes: green froggie to go to sleep, music, going for walks in the stroller, dogs licking his face, to talk himself to sleep, playing with his cousins, to have books read to him, likes to turn the pages in the book, to be held for a few minutes after he wakes up, to crawl really fast when the frig door or dishwasher door is open, play his leap frog music stand, peek a boo, bath time, mom's hairdryer, laughing with is mouth wide open, getting hugs from family & friends, to bang toys on the tile floor and laugh at the noise he's created, swing outside, sweet potatoes are still the favorite dish

Dislikes: the vacuum cleaner, peas without mixing with fruit, the blower to move the leaves, when he sees his milk but we're putting his PJ's on and he can't have it right then

toy telephone, push n ride scooter, sports champ toy, books, toy house while opening and closing the door

Random notes: Sleeps from around 7:30 - 7:00! Is very nosey, will turn his whole body around so he can see something, doesn't like to have his back to people (might miss something, you know), loves to play in the kitchen (he moves from frig magnets, to opening drawers, to taking out plastic bowls, to his basket of toys, to the computer desk and so on). Is good to try new foods, is into the separation anxiety stage right now, understands no, likes to give high 5's, hears the water running for his bath and will make his way to the bathroom, will move from room to room where his toy "centers" are and will play, stands up in his crib and waits for us to go get him in the AM, puts his music box on in his crib, brings smiles and laughs to those who see him, can easily move from crawling to kneeling to standing very quickly and is loved very much!

Running outside SUCKS!

It really does. Since I've started my training for my 1/2 marathon, I've mixed up my training between the gym and outside running. Now in my gym I use the starimaster, the elicpical machine, the treadmill and the bike. Where is outside is just that- running - no variety. In my gym, I'm distracted with my music playing in my ears and TV's on 3 different channels - love that. I am so informed on news, gossip (yes a hidden vice of mine) and sports (Rick loves that one). Outside is only my music and of course all the distractions around my surroundings. I've researched training materials and it says you should focus each mile on a person, an issue you might have, a problem that needs attention, etc. Well I have good intentions of doing this and here's how it plays out in my mind:
mile 1 running, I'm gonna focus on new ways to teach measurement for my kiddos at school since TAKS is coming up, hey that song is too slow I need to skip forward, look at all that paper on the ground- why do people litter? That makes so angry- wow the sun is warm today- I need to remember to put sunscreen on before I leave next time, oh I need to get Jonah some too for this summer- maybe I'll remember to write that down once I get home- yea who am I kidding- if I don't write it down, I won't remember. Wow this street is long and the wall right next to me reminds me of the barrier wall Rick & I saw at that closed down concentration camp in Germany years ago- oh what a moment to see that camp- how can people say the Holocaust never happened? It did and have we learned anything from it? Learning- oh yea I'm supposed to be thinking of news ways of teaching measurement. Oh these Spring trees blooming are killing my allergies. Who am I kidding training outside when Spring is one of my worst allergy seasons besides Fall. I need to make an appointment with Dr Louder - my accupunticist so he can help me. Oh, I wonder how is family is with baby #4 now. Just seems like Jonah was born, but he's alreay 10 months- wow time does fly just like all the expereinced mom's told me during my pregnancy- Hey look at that family out there all walking together- that is too cool- what great quality time they are sharing- that is too cool- oh I need to stop and get some water!

So as you can see my ADD kicks in real quickly and although the time goes by faster- after a run outside I am mentally and physically exhausted! I wonder how people are able to let their minds "go" during runs. Maybe I'm too nosey and have to look all around - heaven forbid I miss something or maybe b/c I'm always trying to multi-task or maybe b/c I just like to take everything in and absord it all- and of course think and rethink over and over!

PS- I did learn of a new "picture" of what Saturday mornings look outside. Who knew there were so many people out and about at 9 AM- (you know Rick and I are not early risers and even now we rotate weekend days on who gets up with Jonah so the other one can sleep in). People were running, mothers and sons out walking, fathers and sons fishing, a family teaching a little girl how to throw a softball, kids feeding the ducks, a family eating donuts on the bench (I totally wanted one of their donuts!) and others with their pets or themselves just enjoying the nice quiet morning and getting some exercise to boot! Maybe we'll be one of those families someday...who am I kidding- we'll be the family taking a walk like we do now, but it will be late afternoon or early evening- we love sleeping in too much.

We are family!

We got a special delivery in our mailbox- a letter from our nephew Mason- who LOVES Jonah, wants to hold Jonah, wants to feed Jonah, etc. I called to thank him for the letter and he told me Kirsten wrote what he said on the 'pooter.' Too cute!

Hanging at the McGee's house for our weekly Sunday dinner. What's on the menu for next week?

He's here, he's there, he's everywhere

Here's how Jonah is spending his days.....busy- everywhere, into everything, moving from one toy to the next! It's so much fun to watch Jonah explore his surroundings.