Birthday Week: The Party

 

That's right! It was Jonah's birthday on Saturday! We had a great time out at the pumpkin patch! One might assume that we picked pumpkins or played in the corn maze, but we did not. The party alone was about all Jonah could handle! We decided to play it simple and let him go home for a nap! We had such fun celebrating with family and dear friends!

 

First of all, what is a birthday without cake?! This cake turned out just as cute as I'd hoped! Thank you, Mom, for putting it together! (I did the baking, Mom, aka Grammy Pammy, did the assembling and decorating!)

 The full spread. We had caramel apples for our guests to take home, pretzel rods, plain cupcakes to go along with the big cake. There were ingredients for s'mores on the other table, which included the biggest marshmallows I've ever seen!

 Here we see Madeline playing our little guessing game! Guess how many candies are in each jar..closest guess wins the jar. Ironically, Madeline's mother won TWO of the jars of candy!

 The candy corn tree...and in the corner of this picture are the marshmallows. I don't know if you can see the ginormous ones. They were called campfire marshmallows and were as big as my fist before roasting!

Here, check them out (I don't know if this does them justice):

 The birthday boy with Mommy & Daddy!

 CAKE TIME!!

 PRESENT TIME!!

Jonah loved all of his gifts. Watching him open and enjoy his gifts was so much fun!

This was his gift from Auntie Em! Cute little shopping cart filled with goodies! He's gonna learn to walk anytime now! He also LOVED the Leap Frog push-and-ride learning train! (yeah, the one with no volume or "off" button, thanks Aunt Melody!) He's done some damage to the gift from Aunt Riss as well...pulled the baseball right off the top...not sure it was designed to come off, but this kid was sure proud of himself for removing it.

We had such a great day. Thank you to everyone who could come! We love you all dearly! 

We are so thankful for this boy and have enjoyed the first year so very much. He is the best gift of all!

Birthday Week: The Birth Story

Every child loves to hear the story of their birth over and over until they know it by heart! I remember asking my mom to tell me about the day I was born every year on my birthday. I can't wait to share Jonah's story with him someday. Every birth, wanted or not, is a miracle of miracles. I get tingles every time I think how amazingly God designed us! I feel like the story of Jonah's birth is extra special...not only because it's MY baby, but because it could have been much different.

My due date had come and gone without much fanfare. No contractions, not even the fake kind. My next Dr.'s appointment, two days later, was equally uneventful. So, my Dr. suggested we go over to the delivery center in the hospital. He was recommending we have labor stimulated. He said we could wait it out another few days, but might still be in the same spot only with more urgency. If we went that day, there would definitely be less stress on the baby. So, off we went. Jonathan and I went home, packed a bag, and drove up to the hospital. They were full. They said we should come back the next evening. So, Thursday evening we headed up there again, prepared to spend the night in a delivery room. They were more full. No beds. So, we went home again with a definite reservation for the next morning! Friday rolled around. We called ahead, they had our room ready. I remember watching Regis & Kelly's Halloween show while we got settled into the delivery room. I also remember praying the prayer that never fails, which is simply, "Thy will be done." I prayed that prayer almost constantly, mostly to keep my mind off of the impending labor! The nurse came in to examine me and see what was what. I was only dilated a little bit, like maybe a 3. She proceeded to check the position of the baby only to discover something was not quite right. He was face up. She paged our Dr. and asked another nurse for a 2nd opinion. I'll spare you the details, but if you've had a baby, you know I was UNCOMFORTABLE. Our Dr. ordered a sonogram to check things out. Sure enough, that little guy was not only face up, but not engaged in the birth canal. AND the sonogram revealed the cord around his neck. So, we were faced with the option to wait it out and see if he'd reposition...OR have a c-section. I felt myself getting anxious about a C-section. That was the last thing I'd wanted. But, suddenly I felt very calm and knew it would be the best option. (still praying the prayer that never fails)

The Dr. came in and said he'd checked on the O.R. They were booked up that afternoon, but had an opening right away. They wheeled me in to get me ready and Jonathan started calling family. After what felt like 45 minutes (but now in retrospect seems like 5 minutes) Jonathan came in all "scrubbed in." He stayed by my side and held my hand while they did the surgery. When they got into the uterus and delivered Jonah the Dr. commented that the cord was indeed around his neck...twice! I will never forget how sweet Jonah's first little cry was. It wasn't even a cry...it was just the sweetest sound I'd ever heard. Jonathan held him and brought him to me. Then I watched as they cleaned, weighed, and measured Jonah while Dr. Zeller put me back together. Then, I was off to recovery. Because of the spinal block I had to go downstairs to recovery while Jonathan stayed with Jonah in the nursery. This was agony. I wanted to hold him and talk to him. All I had to do was wiggle my toes. I now know what it feels like to tell my brain one thing, but not have my body respond. Toes are a long way from the brain. They WOULD NOT cooperate. So, while I was recovering I was thanking the Lord for revealing Jonah's position. I was so so so glad I'd never gone into labor. WHAT IF I had tried to push with the cord around his neck like that?!? Thank you, Jesus for protecting my sweet sweet baby!

DISCLAIMER: this is NOT a video, do not try to "play," or it will take away the image.

 

We gave the nurse our camera so she could take pictures, not knowing the camera was set on "video." So, we have several sweet little snippets of our first meeting Jonah! This is one of them. It's taken from behind my head. Because it's such a short snippet, it will not play as a video.

The verse we chose for Jonah was Jeremiah 29:11, which says: "For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you."

During the c-section, when the scalpel went through the uterus, Jonah's face was right there and he got a little cut on his temple. I know the Lord protected him from harm. It could have been his eye. That scar is still visible....very faintly visible today! I kind of like the reminder of God's protection...plans to prosper, not to harm!

finally got to hold my baby!

I'm pretty sure these last two pictures were taken then next day. But, then, I'm not 100% certain of that!

And then I was exhausted!

Birthday Week: Busy Boy

Today has been a busy busy day. We had 1 year pictures taken today. Of course, I have nothing tangible to show for that yet, but it was fun! Jonah smiled for the camera, like usual. We had a small cake there for some of the photos. He didn't tear into it like some kids. But, he was very thorough in eating what he did grab. He'd get a handful and then sit and eat on it kind of slowly. I was hoping he might get crazy and throw it around and get it in his hair (for the sake of a good photo). However, he was much easier to clean up this way.

Jonah has already been getting some gifts! Let me share a few photos with you!

 Our friend Rob came by with some Harley-Davidson apparel! It reads "Little Rebel Club" The clothing is size 24 months, but the hat is almost too little. I know it is supposed to be a tight fit...but there is tight and then there is tight. What can I say? My baby has a large head!  Jonah looks more cute than "rebel-ish!" Thank you for the gift, Rob!!

 

Mommy bought Jonah some cute cute jammies in honor of Birthday Week! They were too cute to pass up! Here Jonah is telling us how big he is!

 This box came with another of Jonah's "gifts" inside. This was a gift from mommy & daddy...a new car seat! How exciting (I say with sarcasm). Well, if the gift can't be exciting, at least there is a fun box to play in!

Ok, you've seen some Birthday Fun. You want to see some plain-old-everyday fun?! You do, you know you do. I know that you know you do! This is what we get to watch on a regular basis. For some reason he really loves the duster. He will do whatever necessary to get the duster! Don't feel too bad about his struggle...his smile at the end makes it worthwhile! 

Birthday Week. Grow-A-Baby:Jonah Style!

Well, here we are again. More reminiscing! Man, do I miss the days that Jonah was that easy to carry around...oh, wait, do I? I know the entire month of October 2009 I was DONE carrying him in the belly! Especially toward the end. Nothing was easy. I was not sleeping. Come to think of it, I really didn't sleep much from Oct. 2009 through July of 2010! Thank the Lord I am sleeping now!

I really did enjoy my pregnancy. It was actually pretty easy. I never got sick...and I didn't have any true complications (heartburn doesn't count)! I LOVED being able to feel little flutters and movement. The kicking... not as pleasant! I also loved planning and praying for the sweet baby I was carrying. I was very anxious to meet him and start learning his personality. The special moments far outweigh the discomfort!

Ok, ok, enough about me. Really. I promise, I won't make the rest of birthday week all-about-Mom!

Happy Birthday Week!

 October 3, 2009

Family Pictures

This is the beginning of Birthday Week around here! Can you believe our baby boy is almost one?? Do you all remember the great anticipation of his arrival? I sure do. Monday, October 25, 2009 was my due date. I was not even close at that point. I began my maternity leave that day and sure hoped I'd get a baby soon so I could start "maternity-ing!" On Tuesday evening Jonathan and I went up to Springfield for some last minute errands and a one-last-date-before-children. I savored that evening, but it still seems like I should have gotten more out of it. People tell you it will never be the same again. I fully believed those people...but I couldn't fathom the difference before I lived it myself. We have gone out without Jonah, but it just isn't the same. I can go out alone and not worry one bit about my child. I've never left him with someone who caused me anxiety...but there is still a lack of the true freedom we had before he came. Please don't misunderstand me...I'm not lamenting. Our life is much richer with Jonah here, but this is a flashback blog post, so I'm just being real.  Birthday Week is likely to become more sentimental before it gets celebratory!

Is this how you do it, Mommy?

(today's post is from jonah)

In one week I will be one. I have been watching Mommy and Daddy every day. I think I have it figured out..

this is how you do this, right?!

 

* a note from Mommy: there was no coffee in this cup at the time of filming. No babies were given caffeine in this home! Oh, and isn't his too-big-for-him denim jacket SO cute!

Watch me Go!

I want to be careful not to get you too excited. This isn't the "big" milestone, but it is really cute! But, then, when is Jonah un-cute...ok, sometimes he is downright un-cute...but, today is not about that. Today is about Jonah walking around the kitchen! It is just a little snippet, but you can replay it lots! He would push the step stool until he met an obstacle. Then, I would reposition the step stool and we'd do it all over again.  Enjoy!

Let's EAT!

Do you know the ASL sign for "eat?" We sure do here at the Atkins house! Jonah has made the sign on a couple of occasions. It is pretty cute...well, here, see for yourself!

My dear sweet sister likes to tease us about our sign language. Well, I'm proud to say it is finally paying off. (you know we DO feel a little silly signing at every meal...only to have Jonah give a blank stare, or laugh at us!)

Anyway...you may be wondering what it is that Jonah eats. I'll tell you. In a word, EVERYTHING! Here you see him eating his daddy's nose.

And then, here he is eating his own hand...silly baby!

This next one was taken in the summer...I can't remember when exactly. I don't even remember what he was eating. I know it was some kind of simple baby food. We first offered him baby food when he was about 7 months old. At that point I gave him only one container/small serving a day. Then, probably around 9 months, I progressed to feeding him baby food only for one full meal. The next progression was lunch and dinner both totally baby food. We slowly got away from nursing. Now he is totally done with that and just this week started on table food!

He does great. The only thing I've found he doesn't like/can't tolerate is peas. I have only offered peas 3 times. Of those 3 times he vomited every time. So, I figure he can live without those for a while! (I know I sure can live without the side effect!) Jonah has pretty good eating habits. Today was the first time he has ever rejected food. At lunch today we gave him some baked potato and he nudged it out of his mouth with his tongue. Hopefully he doesn't make a habit of that behavior.

Tonight I gave him some yogurt...in the cutest little container you have ever seen! Just look how cute (oh, and note the fit he's fussing because I'm not giving it to him...)

There's my happy guy! That's what a little yogurt will do around here! I also gave him raisins tonight (some might call it nature's candy)! He LOVED them. I was careful not to give him too many. The diapers are strange enough these days!

I Scream, You Scream, WE ALL Scream for.....

ICE CREAM!!!  (ok, technically it it frozen custard, but you get the idea) Somebody had his first taste of this frozen treat last week! Emily and I took the kids and their dog, Toby, to Andy's Frozen Custard on Friday. Andy's is unique in that they serve "dog cones." So, this was a special treat day for Jonah AND Toby! I just so happened to have my camera with me! (now, if you've ever gone to an outdoor eatery with 4 children and a dog, you'd know the 1st priority is NOT taking pictures...these are by no means award winning)

I was getting my camera out to capture Toby eating his "dog cone" but got distracted and couldn't find it in time...you can take my word for it....he LOVED it!

And then there is Jonah! We all love Jonah!

We had a great time on our Friday Fun Day!

What is Jonah doing?

Well, I thought I'd keep up a little bit this week. Bet you have missed those current pictures of the baby. Right now he is reading to himself. Well, he's spreading books around the floor and babbling, so I call that reading! He makes the cutest little sounds, but you are just going to have to take my word on that. Any time I turn on the camera, he stops whatever cute thing he was doing.

Anyway, I caught him at some more mischief this week. I'm not sure he realizes it is mischief. I'm betting he thinks he is just exploring his world. Take a look and see what I mean:

 

You may see a mess here. I see a future opportunity to teach him his colors!

 

Hmmm....practicing his organizational skills. He rearranges diapers on a regular basis!

 

And here he is learning how to file papers. (um, well, maybe he is un-filing) 

 Can't blame a boy for checking out the kitchen gadgets. Did you know a baster can be a really great drumstick!

"OOOh...Mom! Thanks for the toys! But, what does the bottom of the basket look like?"

(he did go on to investigate)

 

Oh! Back to the sharpies. He likes to hang out near the desk. I guess he just wants to know how everything works. Here he is in his really cute pj's. You can't really tell, but they are CUTE!

Look-Alike Contest

Hi! We are having a look-alike contest today! A Jonah look-alike contest. I could tell you which one is Jonah, although I'm sure you will know. Then I am going to post baby pictures of Jonathan and myself. We will see who he favors the most. Some days I think I know, then other days I change my mind.

Now that I think about it, the word "contest" is too strong. So, let's just call this a look-alike comparison!

 

 

 I think we have a winner, but I'd love to hear your thoughts! Thanks for reading!