Video Links

Two videos I want to share.  The first is from the first day of potty training, and a conversation I had with Emma.  She says her name at the end and it is so very cute.  I've watched it a dozen times.

Emma Louise Johnson

The second video is of Jonas Henry and Lilah having a thrilling conversation.  Very cute.

Lilah and Jonas Henry Talking

Big Girl Emma

With an empty calendar this week and a baby with a cold, we haven't left the house all week.  On Tuesday, I decided it was time for Emma to stop wearing diapers.  We were down to our last four diapers, so I was thinking it might be a good idea (I have since bought more, as she still wears them at night and naps).  

For the past three days, Emma hasn't worn pants.  Today she advanced from being bare-bottomed to panties.  Things are going well so far, but I think she is peeing tiny bits every half-hour just to get a treat.  I'd like to think that one week of working at it and it'll be done.... right?  I don't remember doing this with Lilah, so we'll see!

4 Months!

While I know I still have an infant, seeing a newborn baby is shocking to me.  It always surprises me how very fast babies grow and how quickly they change.  Jonas Henry had his 4 month well-check on his 4 month birthday last week.  He has grown so much!  He weighed in at 16lbs 5oz (75%) and is 27 inches long (95%).  His head is at 16 7/8 inches (60%).  He is smiling all the time, especially at his sisters.  He loves to squeal and will carry on an entire conversation with Lilah or Emma in squeals.  It's pretty darn cute.  He still sleeps well, going from 7pm to 5am and then back to sleep again after eating until about 8-8:30.  He's had a little cold (his first) the past few days and had a couple of really crummy nights, but I think he's on the mend now.  He rolled over the other day, but hasn't since, despite coaching.  He is a little more okay with time spent on his stomach, but still for only short periods of time.  If he's reclining or laying down, he's in a constant crunch position, trying to sit up.  I don't know how much longer I'm going to be able to bathe him in the infant tub, because he arches his back and pushes his legs and then he's halfway out of the tub.  Bummer.  I'm excited for the coming months and new milestones, but I'll be oh-so-happy if things just slowed down a bit.  

Emma wanted to hold her brother today.  I didn't realize how similar they are in size!

 
Then Lilah joined in.  Maybe I should have pulled out my real camera and not just my phone?  Of course then they probably wouldn't have cooperated...
So sweet!!!

The Big Move & 3 Months

At 7 am Jonas' alarm goes off, and shortly after Lilah comes into our room, awake for the day.  It's a lot of commotion, and Jonas Henry (who is sleeping soundly in the bassinet next to me) is usually woken up.  As much as I hated to do it, it was time for him to move to his room.  (The girls didn't move out until 5 or 6 months). Since he wasn't eating in the middle of the night anymore, I really didn't have a good reason to keep him in our room.  I really like to hear him breathing next to me, but I had to give him a chance to sleep in if he wanted to.  So, on Tuesday night (one week ago),  he made the big move. 

And then, of course, he started waking up again.  Just once a night between two and three, but waking up nonetheless.  Maybe it was an adjustment period?  Growth spurt? Missing his Momma?  It just took a few days, but now he is sleeping well once again. And going to bed at the same time as the girls, so Jonas and I have quite a bit of free time in the evening. (He sleeps 7p-7a).

As my return to work approaches, we have been practicing with a bottle and storing a lot of milk.  So far he is doing great, so hopefully we won't have a repeat of Emma. He's very talkative and loves smiling at his sisters.  He hates tummy time and loves his swing.  He naps there everyday, and I'm already worried about when those days will end.

I'll try to post a link below to his talking video from last night.  I love to hear his sweet little voice.  You should be able to click either the title or the link...

Jonas Henry Talking

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oNipnh0FVQ

Two Month Well-Check

Since we weren't in town for Jonas Henry's two month birthday, we were two weeks behind on his well-check.  While his numbers aren't right at two months, he is still growing like a weed.  He weighed 14lbs 8oz (90%) and was 24 3/4 inches long (90%).  His head is 16 1/2 inches (75%), which is surprising because it seems quite large. The poor baby got three shots with a grand total of six vaccines. He was not a fan, but calmed down pretty quickly.  He is a pretty good sleeper and his nighttime stretches have really been equal to his age in weeks since about six weeks old.  I can't complain in the least.

Christmas Part II

We had a very sad Christmas this year.  Jonas's mom Marianne (Mimi) had been getting increasingly sick over the past several weeks.  At the beginning of December she was admitted to the hospital, and after about a week was discharged to a hospice facility.  After a few days there, she asked Jonas to fly back to Georgia.  The kids and I met him in Gastonia, and we drove down to see her.  She wanted to meet Jonas Henry.

When we arrived, she was asleep, but woke up to meet her newest grandbaby.  Mimi was very happy to see us all.  She was able to hold Jonas Henry, and he gave her nice gurgles and smiles.  She blew kisses to the girls and told us all how much she loved us.  It was a very special moment together.  Just a few hours later, Mimi passed away, surrounded by her family.  We are so lucky to have been able to share those final hours with her.

I really hit the jackpot when it came to mothers-in-law.  Marianne was the most amazing lady.  She was so very caring and generous.  I felt instantly welcomed and loved from the moment I met her.  I think of her a hundred times a day, and have gone to pick up the phone several times to ask her a question, only to realize I can't anymore.  I miss her terribly.  I get most upset when I think of the great Mimi our kids are missing.  I hope I am able to do her memory justice.  We talk about her a lot, and remember the fun things we did together.  I am very thankful for the past two summers when Mimi and Papa moved to town.  It was so nice to have them just down the street and the girls loved playing with them on a regular basis.  We were blessed more than we realized.  

Mimi, you were one special lady.  We love you and miss you so very much. 

More Lilah

I was nursing Jonas Henry in the kitchen this morning.  Mom came in dressed in her robe and told me she was going to "jump into her clothes" really quickly.  Lilah overheard and said, "Ooooo!" 
Nana said, "no Lilah, it's something I'm going to do on my own."  Lilah responded, "But I love to jump into piles of clothes!"

And something she said several months ago that I've been meaning to write down:
One morning as we were getting ready for the day, Lilah asked, "Where are we going today?  Nowhere or yeswhere?"

And again this morning, I was upstairs getting dressed while Lilah was in the bathroom with me.  She noticed my wedding ring on the countertop, and this conversation followed.
Lilah:  Oooo, I love your ring!
Me: Isn't it pretty?  Daddy gave it to me when we got married.
Lilah:  While Hannah was watching me? (her babysitter)
Me:  No, it was before you were born.  He said, Laura Pascal, will you marry me?  And I said yes!  Then I was Laura Johnson, like you.
Lilah:  It's very pretty.
Me:  Yes, he did a great job picking it out.
Lilah:  He saw it and said, this would be perfect for my kids' momma.

She sure keeps us laughing.