It's Time For Summer Vacation!!!

Yay!!!! So I know that I've been a bit behind on blogging for the last couple of weeks...life has just been so hectic. The last couple of weekends have been busy with visits from family friends, a new bike seat to ride with Jonah, farewell dinner for Uncle David before his trip to Israel and just getting everything together for the end of the school year for me. One more teacher work day and summer here I come!!! I'm so excited to have Mommy and Jonah time now!!! I've been counting the days and can't wait for our mommy and me play groups, swimming time, bike rides, trips to the park, play dates, and just time spent together! Yay! Here are a couple of cute pictures from the last two weeks....

All dressed up and ready for lunch out at Marina Jack!
Check out the outfit and the fishy sandals...oh, what a big boy!
Out to lunch with Johnny and Lucy! Johnny and Grandpa grew up together. They've known each other since they were about 8 years old. Johnny knew me since I was Jonah's age...now he got to meet him! Jonah was full of smiles and babbles for them!
Posing all cute! "Look at my toes, Mommy!"
A happy boy...what a smile!
Jonah is getting ready to walk, run...make mommy work hard...Yes, Jonah is running while pushing his car/walker toy around the house."Here I come!"...Oh, oh....

Yay for Watermelon!

Well, the hubby came up with this cute idea of bringing home a big watermelon for Jonah and letting him make a mess with it! Last night Jonah tried some watermelon for the first time and loved it. Jimmy cut a couple of big slices while I undressed Jonah to his diaper, knowing this would be getting messy. We put Jonah on the floor with the watermelon and let him go at it. He loved it so much that he mopped the tiles with it! ;) Yes, after eating a bit of it, which he seemed to really like, he sat discovering the wet, juicy texture of it. He mushed, squeezed, and smashed it as much as he could. He even used a piece like a car and made it go "Vroom, Vroom" all over the floor. Oh, it was messy....and fun and so great to watch Jonah's reaction to experiencing something new! He was all laughs, giggles, and screams of joy!

I took so many pictures, I had to collage them all....
Here's Jonah have a blast with his first taste of Watermelon :)

White Coat!

We took our first road trip with Jonah this past weekend and I have to say that despite it being a non-stop weekend and all of us being really exhausted, Jonah was a great little traveler. We went up to Gainesville to visit Leah (my sister) who has just finished her second year of medical school. She had her "White Coat" ceremony on Sunday where she received her white lab coat and will soon begin the clinical part of medical school. So, it's a huge deal and we wanted to be there for her. Luckily, Jonah slept more than half way there and after finally getting comfortable most of the way home late Sunday night. It was rough coming back so late..."Thank you, Daddy for getting us home safely!"

Jonah loves being around our family and knowing that he is the center of attention so he was happily entertained or happily entertaining depending on the time of day. And after an initial breakdown when we were getting to into the auditorium for the ceremony, he was sooo good! He was hungry, what do you expect! After a quick nursing, some juice, and lots of fruit from the reception, oh and puff later on, Jonah was great! I had brought in some quiet toys for him and one of his favorite books. "I Love You, Through and Through", plus we even had a 4 year old boy sitting with his mother in front of us, playing with Jonah. He was showing him how to shake his hand, even fed him puff (it was too funny), and played peek-a-boo with him. Considering I heard several other babies screaming and crying, Jonah's babbling was wonderful and very appropriate. After the ceremony we received plenty of compliments from people who had been admiring our little man from afar. It made me feel proud! Overall it was a fun weekend, we stayed at a hotel, went out to eat, swam in the pool, even had waffles and peach yogurt for breakfast...Oh and how could I forget...ice cream for desert, so spoiled by Grandpa! ;) It was nice to do a "first" road trip with so many helping hands! And we are so happy that we could be there to see Leah reach this huge accomplishment in her life, we are so proud of her too!

Out to dinner at "Chop Stix". Jonah loved roaring with the lion!
Watching the sunset view....family opp!
All dressed up for the ceremony...Oh, so handsome!
The whole gang!!!
Jonah curiously looking around...
What did I tell you...Grandpa spoiling Jonah with ice cream! And he certainly likes it!!! :)

9 Month Check Up!

On Monday, Jonah had his 9 Month well visit. He is definitely growing! Jonah is now 18 pounds, 4 ounces and 27.5 inches long. He is healthy and strong according to Dr. Meyer and sooo cute according to the nurses ;) His hemoglobin (iron) level is 11.4 which means it is at the normal rate and he does not need any iron supplements or vitamins. It also means that he can start having milk and other dairy products like yogurt. According to Dr. Meyer, it's not necessary to start milk yet since I'm still nursing and not using formula. When I stop or cut back, then we'll start...for now we'll try yogurt and see how that goes! Oh and as Dr. M. joked, "Basically it's okay if anyone has given Jonah a taste of ice cream." To which I replied, "Oh yeah, Grandpa is really good at that!"...and Uncle Adam, and Grandma and even Daddy, much to my dismay. Of course, I'm "only" the Mommy...why should they listen to me, right?! ;)

Anyway, all is well with my little man. He's doing all the things that he is developmentally ready to do, crawling, standing, climbing, babbling, clapping hands, shaking his head "no, no, no", nursing 3-4 times a day, eating 3 meals a day, sleeping 10 hours a night with two naps a day, and showing his curiosity with everything. He didn't even flinch when the nurse drew a little blood from his toe. What I found so funny about the whole appointment was that Jonah's smile was a mile wide with the office staff and nurses, but with Dr. Meyer he was so serious. Jonah just stared at him with his bottom lip pouting. Maybe it's the doctor's quiet, unexcitable nature...or maybe Jonah just takes the time to absorb all the things he does and the tools he uses on him. It is almost comical how serious and quietly observant Jonah is with the doctor.

The following day we ventured over to Potter Park and played in the grass with Jonah. Soft grass is a rarity down here in the sunshine state. So we took advantage of the large patch at the park and played with Jonah while he practiced standing, crawling, sitting and just touching the grass that he occasionally tried to taste :) Super cute!

I think Jonah liked being on the soft grass. Something new...At first he didn't want to move, he was just observing and feeling it out.
Then he pulled on some blades and tried to see what it tasted like..."Oh Jonah, don't eat the grass, that's yucky!"
"Ha, ha Mommy...I wasn't going to put it in my mouth, really."
Then we were on the move! It's tough getting pictures of my little guy at times these days since he doesn't sit still much anymore! Check out Jonah standing!
"I'm coming to get you, Mommy!"
There's so much to look at, observe, and take in....I love seeing the world all over again from Jonah's eyes...

9 Months!...Already?!?!!!!

Happy 9 Month Birthday Jonah!!!

Oh that sweet face...I can't get enough of it!

I know that I keep saying this over and over again and I'll probably say it again...but I can't believe how fast time goes by! Yes, my little Jonah is 9 months old today!!! Happy 9 Month Birthday my sweet baby Jonah! :) Jonah has officially been in our "out-side" world as long as he was in my "inside" world and I can only hope that we are making it a wonderful world for him so far. He just amazes all of us everyday...lights up my life with his smiles and giggles and fills my heart with those big sparkling brown eyes as he looks up at me with his endearing look of love.

As far as all his growing, Jonah is starting to stand up stronger while holding on to things with only one hand, changing hands while standing, and even letting go for a few seconds when he doesn't realize it yet. He is also climbing on anything he can, greeting us every morning standing up in his crib with a big sunshine smile on his face.....and he crawls every where, talk about a work-out! Jonah has 5 teeth that seemed to have come in all at once; the two middle ones on the bottom, two side ones on top, and one of the middle ones on top...we're waiting for that second middle one now! He also eats like a "champ" (as Grandma always says)! Jonah loves his bananas, carrots, zucchini, squash, and sweet potato. We've even tried mango, thanks to Daddy bringing home some ripe mango the other day;), pieces of grapes, pineapple, and blueberries, yummy! And yes he is even eating those peas...thanks to Grandma, who says he loves them! ;)

Jonah is clapping his hands now, banging toys together, taking a few steps at a time while holding on to a walking toy, cruising around the furniture, laughing when we laugh or play "I'm going to get you", is starting to give hugs and kisses, and is in the big bath tub without that bath seat since he starting climbing out of it. It was a little scary for us at first but we're getting use to it, just less water and a few toys and we're happy. And "talking", oh boy are we talking ;) .....Jonah says, "ma, ma, ma" and "da, da, da" and "na, na, na" (I'm sure it's for banana), and "ba, ba, ba" along with lots of other adorable sounds especially when he wants someones attention! He even babbles to strangers in the supermarket if they pass by to make sure they notice him. He wants them to talk to him and give him a smile, especially the ladies...He's such a little flirt! ;) Jonah will move his body over to the side in order to look around me just to see a new face...as long as I'm in front of him, of course. Yes, he's very attached to Mommy. He will play with Daddy and everyone else but he needs to know that Mommy is around...I actually love it because I know that it won't last forever...

Our adorable Jonah is growing so fast! I love every moment with him, my days, my life is so fulfilled teaching him and most especially learning with him. I am so grateful that G-d has blessed our family with this healthy, beautiful, sweet, happy baby boy! I love you Jonah! Happy 9 Months!

My beautiful 9 month old boy...He's getting so big. Jonah loves his cars and choo, choo train.
Can you see those 2 bottom teeth?!?!

Some yummy Mango from Daddy!
Here are some other adorable pictures from the last few days....
Oh, the silly smile....
Jonah's favorite...the swings!!!

Yes, I'm a Mommy!!!

On this very first official Mother's Day I felt so excited to be part of all the Mommies out there who get acknowledged, even by total strangers, that today is a special day. Daddy surprised me with a manicure/pedicure and set up a "Spa" bath for me while he played the morning away with Jonah. Plus, I got cards from both him and Jonah, Grandma and Grandpa and my siblings, along with some pretty earrings! Wait...I thought I was a Mommy every day ;)!

I am incredibly blessed to be Jonah's Mommy! I feel so rewarded as a woman to have reached this amazing milestone in my life. I look at my sweet, beautiful boy and I know that my heart is full. Being a Mommy is like nothing else in the world, the smiles, the laughter, every new experience, all the worries...there's no words to describe the incredible love and devotion that one feels. I am soooo lucky!!! I love the way Jonah's face lights up with bright eyes and a smile when I walk into the room, the way he crawls after me so that I'm not out of his sight, the way he hold onto me so tight when I'm feeding him, the way he laughs when I become the "tickle monster". To think that you, Jonah, you made me a Mommy. I am so thankful for you each and everyday...I love you sweet Jonah, so so very much!!!

Yay, Jonah and Mommy!

Jonah with his two favorite Mommies! (Like the shirt ;)?!?!)

"So Big!"

My little Jonah is getting "So Big" and I just can't believe how fast time goes by. Having a child really makes you realize how precious time is and how badly you just want to freeze it. Last weekend we meet up with friends that we haven't seen in a while. I put on this cute polo-like shirt on Jonah with sporty pants and sneakers...my goodness, he looked like such a big boy to me! But he'll always me my little baby,...right?! Here are some cute pictures from that evening...

Oooh, I just want to smooch that face all day!

My Jonah is getting so big!

Some more fun pictures from that evening with Mommy, Daddy, and our friend Lorena.