Month: February 2009

The kicking of bathtub water has begun in earnest.  Right now, it seems to be for the sheer joy of kicking. Although, last night, I had a flash forward moment of the time when everything will connect and it will be for the sheer joy of soaking Mommy and Daddy.  HaHa!!

Here is a picture of Jonas and his absolute cuteness in his first kitchen sink bath.

Jonas’ newest gigs are:  belly laughing, fighting sleep, taking his little baby yell to new heights of volume and intensity, reaching for and holding on to things, deftly dodging the nasal aspirator, asserting his preference for snacks instead of meals in the mornings, smiling at himself in the mirror during bath time, and perfecting the art of the stretch.

Tom and I had a wonderful one year anniversary trip to the Smoky Mountains in East Tennessee with Jonas, Grandpa Phil, and Grandma Jackie.  Here are a few pictures from our hike to Rainbow Falls…although we didn’t make it all the way there and back, it was a beautiful, snowy, festive walk in the woods.  The pure mountain air did wonders for our little man…he pulled his first ten hour night that weekend. 

Jonas was baptized on Saturday, February 21 at Holy Family Catholic Church by Father Ed Alberts, encircled by a group of dear family and friends.  

He was wrapped in the blanket his Great Great Aunt, Sister Rose, made for him and wore the gown his Great Grandmother made that his father wore 33 years ago at his baptism.

For more pictures, please see the “Baptism” page to the right…

Jonas went to two Old Black Kettle rehearsals this week.  It was fun for me to watch Jake, Lex, and Kenny vie for his musical attention.  HaHa!!!  I loved seeing him peace-ing out on Julie’s lap, turning his little head and visibly listening to the upright bass, the mandolin, and the dobro, each in turn.  Of all the instruments, he seemed to be especially attuned to the dobro…it warranted a steady flurry of coos when he was holding on to Sarah.  

Here is a picture of the newest addition to the Old Black Kettle family.  (From left to right and back to front: Sarah, Lex, Kenny, Jake, Jonas, Jodi, and Julie.)

So, I was thinking tonight about what an inspiration my dear cousin and friend, Heather, has been to me…in having a natural childbirth with a midwife, in blogging about our family, in making homemade baby food for Jonas (when he starts on solids), and in walking out many other motherly and wifely endeavors…and I just wanted to say: “Thank you, Heather. You are a blessing to my life and to my heart.  I love you!!!”  :) 

We have really been enjoying the warm, end-of-winter weather and getting outside as a family for a little bit of hiking and frisbee golf.  🙂

Look at our big boy sitting up in his Bumbo seat!!!  How super cute is he?!?  

Jonas is up for a bit more tummy time these days…he does best with a little bit of sunlight, a little bit of music, and/or a little bit of Mommy or Daddy beside him.  He seems to enjoy it more now than he used to…I think he’s beginning to realize his own strength and to see how much fun the world can be from a different angle.

The first day of February was a beautiful, warm, sunshiny day.  And Tom and I took Jonas for his first hike at Radnor Lake.  We suited him all up in the Baby Bjorn and hit the South Lake Trail.  He likes to face out now so he can see what’s going on, and he’s gotten so much bigger that we had to readjust the buckle to fit him. He actually fell asleep on the way back down the trail to the car (you can see the nap coming on him in the picture of both of us together), with his little head laid back, just soaking up the sun. He stayed awake for a surprisingly good bit of the hike, though…enough that I kept asking Tom, “Does he still have his eyes open?” He’s just so peaceful and quiet in his observance of the world sometimes.  It’s really quite precious.  

I had to put this picture on the website, because it’s just so cute!!!  Here is Jonas in his Farm Animal Exersaucer. Jonas and I sat in the floor with Tom while he put it together…Jonas was mesmerized by all of the colors.  He’s still a bit too little for it, but we know he’ll have a blast in it when the time comes…

We met Meme and Papa, Aunt Julie, and Aunt Jeanne at the Cracker Barrel for breakfast to celebrate Papa’s birthday.  Here is a picture of Jonas enjoying some Papa time.  🙂