Reunion

Life is happening fast around here, and I can't stop it.  Here it is July, and summer is flying by.  I'm waaaay behind on this here blog...I apologize.  Seemingly, adding another little person the family complicates life even more and steals what little free time I have.  But that's OK!  Little Johnny is wonderful.  More on him later.  First, let me begin with the trip that Steven, Tim, Matt & Will took to Jacksonville the weekend of Johnathan's shower.  

It was the annual Kolb reunion.  I'm told I missed out on a really fun time.  The party was out on Lake Jacksonville this year, so the kids got to enjoy some water activities.

That day, Steven was texting me with updates.  One said, "Matt is tubing like a boss."  Indeed he did.  He'd never tubed before, but apparently he took right to it and loved every second.

And a little girl cousin was attached to him all day so I am told.  Her name is Juliana and she was infatuated with Matt.  He acted all cool about it when I asked him about her.  Mmmhmm.  I gotta say, I'm sorry I missed out.  Sounds like everyone had a great time.  I'm sad I didn't get to watch Matt tube or watch that girl follow him around.

I love this one of the boys asleep in the same bed.  Looks like Will took over the bed.  All 2.5 feet of him.  Hehehe.

While the big boys were away, Johnathan and I had a weekend of bonding.  He was a fussy man that weekend, so it honestly was not a relaxing time for me.  However, I thoroughly enjoyed myself at the beautiful shower that my friends and family threw for me and Johnathan.  The decorations were so cute (crafty Alison outdid herself once again!), and the food was beautiful and delicious.  Those girls are pros.  Johnathan was spoiled with all number of wonderful things...onesies, diapers, wipes, toys, you name it, and I got some awesome gift cards to enjoy some future shopping sprees just for ME!  So nice.

I tried taking some 1 month pictures of Johnny that weekend, but he really was not in the mood.  The whole time.

I tried putting him the swing outside all stuffed in there with a blanket.  It lasted about a minute.  Waaaaaaaaaaahhh!!!!  The ball of fuss lasted for a couple weeks, but he's come out of it and is a happier, smiley baby now.

Summer has begun!

Summer has officially begun, people!  On May 30th, we said goodbye to Mrs. Greer and thanked for a really fantastic kindergarten year.  I can't believe it's over.  Now we have a 1st grader!  He's totally ready too.  Mrs. Greer made a really neat slide show of photos from his class all throughout the year, and we watched it at his end of year picnic.  She sent us home with copies of it, and we've watched it probably 6 times; and it's not short. :)

The old backyard pool has made several appearances already.

Followed by weird faces with Daddy.

Followed by popsicles of course.

Another fun activity we've taken to is biking up the street.  For physical activity of course.

AND to enjoy a new snow cone stand at the end of our street!  Honestly, how convenient and awesome is that?  It's dangerous though because we just have take a short walk to go to treat town.  Sweet Caroline's is delightful!

Summer reading is in full swing.

We've stocked up on library books.

The boys have gotten their summer hair cuts.  Or at least the first of the summer cuts.  A neat, tidy boy cut takes some maintenance!

We've hit our first splash pad as well.  I took all 3 boys out this past weekend while Steven was working, and we had a lovely time.  The kids splashed and played and Johnathan and I kept it chill on the picnic blanket.

Our friend Andrea and her family was in town this past week, and we discovered that our boys really play well together.  So, we had a few playdates.  One at an indoor trampoline park and another in the stifling heat of the day at Zilker.  Anything for a train ride, right?  Summer is chugging along quickly already.  Matt has enjoyed VBS all this week.  And now, we're off for  more swimming!

Snippets

So, there's a few events from before Johnathan was born that I failed to report on.  Really, there's just some cute pictures that I wanted to share.  2 days before I had the baby was Cinco de Mayo, and we celebrated it in fabulous fashion at Nicole's annual party. Not gonna lie--I did have some margarita; 2 days before delivery I figured I deserved it!

The Browns were in town so our boys got some fun playtime with Josh.  Josh hung out at our house during the party under the careful watchcare of Joyce.  By the time I came home that evening at 10, I could hear Will's giggles from down the hall.  I went into their room, and Will was sitting in his bed talking at laughing at Josh who was awake on the trundle.  Matthew was fast asleep on the top bunk completely oblivious.  Alison came to take Josh home, and Josh said "Will kept talking to me and wouldn't let me sleep!"  So sorry, Josh.  Will has a man crush on Josh and was over the moon that he was at his house.

The weekend before, Steven, Tim & Zach drove out to Lake Fork for some fishing.  It was a belated birthday celebration for Zach.

I'm pretty sure they all had a good time.

Then, the Saturday after Johnboy was born Matthew had his last 2 flag football games.

He scored a touchdown and looked awesome doing it.  He was mighty proud.

He and his teammates were awarded trophies, and you can see how thrilled he was to accept it.  It has a special place up on his dresser.  Matt LOVED playing football and really wants to play again in the fall.

Nice ride, Uncle Tim.

Here is one of the first pictures of all 3 boys.  Johnathan didn't want to open his eyes too wide in that sun.  3 of them!  Oh my.

For Christmas I gifted Steven with the latest Zelda video game.  Matthew has become somewhat fanatic about watching his father play it.  He gets upset on the evenings that Steven is at work because he can't watch him play "Z".  Just this week they finished it.  But that was just the main quest, so I am told.  Oh brother.

Matt is still into NASCAR racing as well.  He reenacts races on the coffee table almost daily.  This week Matt was sent home with all his school work, folders, and writing journals from the year.  I have really enjoyed going through them and seeing how his subject matter has changed over the year.  The past few months he has drawn several race tracks labeled with race cars, their numbers, and their order. Ah, the many phases of Matthew.  What will be next?

Visitors

What's a birth without a whole host of visitors?  We had so many special people stop by to meet Johnathan, it was such a treat.  The early bird fan club consisted of Dad, Ann, and the Bryan Moran family.

I love how sweetly everyone gazed at him.  A new family member!  What could be more awesome?

Mary Claire was especially enthralled with him.  Both girls skipped school to witness the birth of their new cousin.  Mary Claire was jumping up and down with joy and snapping photos like mad. She was so excited.  I love it.

Matthew and William were under the care of Grandma and Grandpa while we were in the hospital, so later that morning Grandma showed up with the boys.

Will wasn't sure what to think when he walked in.  He sheepishly entered staying close to Grandma's side while Matt burst in through the door proudly holding a callalilly plant that was for me.  He was all smiles and definitely excited to be there.

I'm pretty sure he was proud to be a big brother for a second time.  I love this picture.

Will warmed up a little bit and agreed to come near the baby and even have him in his lap.  He wanted nothing to do with me.  I think he was unsure of what to make of his mother laying in a hospital bed hooked to weird stuff and looking puffy and tired.  It was scary, I admit!

Later, the boys watched as the nurse changed Johnathan's diaper.  He was dirty and as the nurse was changing more came out and it seems to have made quite an impression on Will.  Joyce said that that night at supper Will thanked God for baby Johnathan and for baby Johnathan's poo-poo. Awesome.

Alison, Josh and Emily made a special visit that day too.  She brought all kinds of treats for me and for all my little boys.  I can't think of a more thoughtful person.  It was wonderful to see them!

Uncle Tim and Aunt Pam came about lunch time to greet their new nephew.  Pam, in all her awesomeness, brought me a huge box of Tiff's Treats cookies for me (and Steven) to enjoy.  I had really, really been looking forward to those!  And boy did they deliver.  Hit the spot.

That evening, the Rener family stopped by for a visit and it was of course great to see them.  Zach and Steven headed over to Waterloo for the traditional new-baby-has-arrived celebratory beer.

It was a whirlwind of a day.  Wednesday morning I was feeling good and up and moving about well enough that I was ready to go home.  We told the nurse that was our desire and although surprised at our quick exit did everything she could to get us out of there as quickly as possible.  After a scare that they wouldn't let us leave because we couldn't get the carseat tight enough (finally with the help of a hospital staff member it met their requirements), we rolled out of there.  Goodness it was good to be home.

We arrived home just minutes before Matthew came home from school.  I love that Matt is waving to his baby brother.  So cute.  The boys have been great with Johnathan.  Both have been very helpful; in fact, the two of them were racing the other day to bring me the box of wipes.  Matt won.  Will is especially interested in what the baby is doing.  He has observed almost every diaper change and is the first to spring into action when he hears the baby cry..."oh no! Baby Johnathan--he's crying Mommy!!" He always wants to see him when he comes home, and he likes to tuck him in with blankets.  So far, the brothers are taking to their new brother very well.  I think these three are going to have a blast together.

Johnathan Lamar

When I sat down to start this blog entry, Steven teased me and said, "How to go about putting into words the wonder of bringing a new child into the world." I caught the sarcasm, but there's so much truth to what he said.  I can describe it as bearing witness to one of God's greatest miracles, and to be part of it is humbling, amazing, and beyond words.  On Monday, May 7th, 2012 we welcomed with outstanding joy our third son, Johnathan Lamar Jones.  He was born at 8:07 a.m. weighing 7 lb. 2 oz. and measuring 18 in.  His length is disputable though because 4 days later at the pediatrician's office they measured him at 19.5 in.  Twice just to be sure.  So, I'm thinking he wasn't stretched out enough for that first measurement at the hospital.  He also fills out newborn clothes a lot better than Will did who was also measured at 18 in. when he was born.  This leads me to believe that the pediatrician got it right.

I had another scheduled c-section this time, and we were told to arrive at the hospital at 5:30 a.m. to be ready for a 7:30 surgery.  Early, yes, but it's not like I slept well that night before so I was glad for the early start.  This is how ridiculous I looked.  It was time to get that baby out, am I right?  Praise God, everything went very smoothly with the surgery.  There is no more vulnerable a feeling than laying on that table while doctors and nurses swarm around you.  I'm glad they did though; they did a fabulous job.

This was my first look at Johnathan.  Fresh out of the womb and not happy about it.

While I was being put back together, Steven got to go with the baby for all the fun stuff.  He watched him get his bath and he got to cut his cord.

Proud Daddy and proud Mommy.

Who does Johnathan look like?  I haven't figured that out yet.  And believe me, I've been gazing at him a lot in the past week.  He looks different from his brothers, but more resembles Matt than Will.  He's his own little man.  He's long and skinny with a good head full of dark hair.  His eyes are looking blue, but that could change.  His fingers and toes both are really long, and his nose has a little upturn to it.

Johnathan definitely likes to eat; maybe not as much as his biggest brother Matt, but way more than Will did.  He sleeps the best after being fed and swaddled up tight.  He likes to have his little hands up by his face, but thankfully he's not scratching himself.  He makes all kinds of facial expressions while sleeping, it's fascinating to watch.  Right now he's doing a lot of eating and sleeping, but that will soon change.  I'm enjoying this sleepy phase where I can hold him while he sleeps and it doesn't disturb him.

I've known the boy for a week now and already I am in love.  He is a sweet, cuddly baby, and I can't cover him in enough kisses and love.  I don't know if it's because it's my 3rd, or if it's because I'm older, or if it's because this is my last go around, but I have much more appreciation and awe for what I have experienced and what God has allowed us to bring into our lives.  I'm soaking in every sweet moment with this precious boy because I know it flies by.  I look at Matthew and wonder how on earth he got so huge--and 6 years old?  It blows me away.  I'm looking forward to seeing what this boy does and who he is.  All I know is that I am so glad he is here and so thankful that God chose me to be his mom; what an indescribable blessing.  Welcome to the Jones family, Johnathan!  There's lots of love here.