Friday, July 10, 2009

4 weeks old already?!?!

I refuse to say "1 month" because it sounds "older" to me when I talk in months. I CANNOT believe it has already been 4 weeks since Jonah was born. I have done everything in my power to savor every single second with him....however, I have no idea where all those seconds have gone. How is it possible that time goes faster with each and every baby. I really wish I could freeze him at this stage for just a little while longer. I love this age so much and it seems to go faster than any other. Precious, precious boy!!!! Oh how I love him!!!! God is so good!


We love all these silly faces!!!!

Ventura Trip...

We took our annual July trip with our dear friends, the Modugnos, to Ventura. I was a little worried about going with a 2-week old, while getting up to feed Jonah every 3 hours. I definitely felt the sleep deprivation but, to a certain degree, I got use to functioning on no sleep. The kids had a blast, as usual, and it was nice to escape the heat for 8 or 9 days!!!
Julia's favorite passtime was to fish for crabs in the channel behind the house. Here she is holding a container of crabs that she caught. Anytime I was looking for her, I would find her on the dock, alone, fishing! It was really cute!she named herself the "fishing artiste"....whatever that means!!!!
The kids had a blast jumping off the boat and the dock....
and swimming in the channel. they were a bit freaked out because of the squid and stingrays, as well as various unknown creatures, they had spotted in the channel.
The biggest milestone this trip was the fact that all 3 boys developed a love for surfing. Josh was taught to surf, and learned all in one day. The older boys had surfed before but always went out with dad. This trip, the boys would run up to the shore, from the water, grab surfboards and paddle out on their own. They would get small waves, would stand and fall, but they were doing it and loving it. they learned to paddle out, catch waves on their own and ride them in. It was tons of fun for them and for us to watch!!!

here's Jacob on his new board!

Josh loved Frank's foam long-board and was able to stand on every wave with it!

Here's Jeremy!


Here are all 7 kid on the 4th of July.....before we went out to dinner and watched the fireworks!


Just my family....Jonah's 1st 4th of July and 1st flag T-shirt!!!

One of the last days we were there, Mr. Modugno came up with his 3 nephews nd took all 10 kids out sailing for several hours. This is when they arrived back at the house. They had so much fun!!!
Jonah-on a boogie board at the beach!

Julia

Josh

Jacob

Jeremy

Prince Jonah has arrived!!!

So, after waiting for 9 months, and having false labor for 4 weeks, our Precious Jonah arrived!!! I started having contractions around dinner time on Wednesday night. We dropped the kids off at grandma's and Louie and I went to the hospital. It was the 1st time that it was only him and me in the delivery room during labor. It was quiet and special. Labor lasted all night. I got an epidural early, so we turned the lights down and slept on and off through the night. Dr. Navi showed up the next morning and Jonah was born at 8:30. He was 7 lbs, 9 oz and 21 inches long. I think his length was mis-measured though because he was then only 20 1/2 inches long at 2 1/2 weeks! Anyway, he was a stranger to us when he was born....an unfamiliar face, made especially for us. I knew we would love him so deeply. The hospital is SUCH a special time for me. I love to HOG the baby all to myself as much as I can before my duties call when I get home. I had a wonderful time those 1st 3 days. I selfishly wanted to spend all my time there with him alone. I did love when my husband would come to visit though. He even spent the night on a roll away bed in my room one night....which he had never done before with my other babies. We used my laptop to watch a movie and laid in 2 separate beds with the laptop on the table between us. It was a special time. Being home with Jonah has been so special also. The kids adore him and love to help me take care of him. What a blessing. I know it would be so wonderful, but I think it is even more wonderful than I could have imagined! I am so thankful that we have the summer to spend quality time with him before the busy-ness of the school year!!! :) If you are wondering why I called him "prince"....it is because of the ROYAL treatment he receives in our home. It is amazing how everyone fusses over him!!!

Soon after delivery


1st time the kids all came to see him! They were so amazed at how tiny he was!

So blessed!!!!!


Loving loving loving this sweet little face!

Daddy loving him too!!!

Cute little monkey....1st day home from the hospital!


2 weeks old!