Jonah [7 months]

Sweet Jonah.

You are 7 months old.

I feel as though you are changing so much lately...probably because you are.

You started out this past month by mastering rolling. And now, you just started scooting...and you can get around!!! And..you just started sitting for an extended period of time before you tip over.

You have been eating food each evening for supper. You're not crazy about the baby cereal. You like most fruits and some vegetables (squash and sweet potato especially). You still like to nurse best of all, about every 3 hours or so.

You usually take a morning and afternoon nap, and usually a short one in the evening. You sleep from around 9ish-5ish, and then you go back until 7 or 8. So, in my book...you sleep good.

You have two big brothers that love you very much. They both love when you smile and "talk" to them. Oh, you are loved my dear.

You like to be outside, among the action. You are generally a very happy guy, you share many smiles. Sometimes, you get startled..and then its a different story. 

Oh, I love you Jonah Timothy.

You weigh 18 lbs 7.5 oz (53%), and in the 71% for height.

You wear size 9-12 month clothing, size 3 diapers. You are filling out quite nicely with the most softest and kissable cheeks!

You are starting to make more than cooing sounds...you make the 'da-da-da-da' and 'a-ta, a-ta' sound, and blow air out your mouth making a raspberry sound too. You can give some really good squeals of happiness as well. Christian will say, "Oh, Jonah...yea, tell us about it."

Hello seven months...

on this very day, you broke through your very first tooth!

The Great's Home

Ben finished work on the chicken house..here's a peek inside.

The coop. (April 18...their move-in date)

The roost.

They climb up the ladder, and then up the branch to get to the upper roosting stick.

All six go up there at night. (Farmer Ben tucks them in!)

There is a poop deck below the roosting stick (an old closet shelf turned upside down)...it is amazing how they know where and when to poop in there.

Four nesting boxes. There is a hinged roof of sorts on the outside of the boxes, that lifts up to collect the eggs. Maybe sometime late summer we will start getting eggs :)

It's handy that there are two swinging doors to the coop, with a latch on the outside. It makes it quite handy to clean out the shavings, or just get to the inside for feeding/watering. There is also a latched door that opens below the coop where the food is stored.

 The run. (May 14)

There is a hinged door that we now leave open from the coop to the run. The ramp that leads to the opening to the coop, was not their favorite way of getting down initially...they would take a step or two, then fly down. Ben has put up different roosting areas in the run section several times already, I think he enjoys changing their options :)

 If we're outside, we leave the door to the outdoors open...and they come in and out as they please. They have yet to roam the yard. They stay very close to their home, but seem to "play" and peck the ground when they get out. Whenever we want them back inside, they are easily "hearded" back in. Christian enjoys helping take care of them. Both Christian and Noah like to check on them, and attempt to hold them (they are getting way to quick for Noah now).

There it is.

I'm happy with it..I think like with alot of projects, it was a little longer in the making than maybe first anticipated...but Ben did a really good job. I'm just certain Fannie, Faye, Lois, Lola, Stella, and Ardis are very grateful!

Our days

An overview of what our days have looked like over the last month...

::plenty of fort building::

::bike/stroller rides followed by a popsicle break::

::a little lego building with PJ's and rainboots::

::lots and LOTS of coloring::

::flower and garden planting...he was my outdoor supervisor::

::lazy, snuggly mornings::

::I have been trying to organize and put toys away for a season...but little boys find them, and immediately unload them::

::while I'm at work, Ben sends me updates of how they are doing...they clearly get along just fine with their Daddy::

::lots of jumping on the trampoline::

::spending time outside, entertaining one another with bubbles::

::dance parties...oh, we get real craa-zy::

::a special treat..I set up the sprinkler under the trampoline::

::little Jonah just observes and goes with the flow::

These are our days...

Blessed Mama

Mother's Day...a good day to feel extra blessed.

I have my three little boys, each so special to me, each a gift from God.

I have my Mom, I am so grateful for all that she is for me and our family...she is my mom AND my friend.

We went to church in the morning, it was a very rainy morning. As we driving to church, it REALLY rained. As we sat in church, I decided that was 'church' for me...to listen to the rain and thunder...there was just an awesomeness to it. 

After church, we briefly stopped at home, then headed out to John & Chris's for the Hershberger family gathering. They host every Mother's Day, a very special tradition. 

We had their homemade brick oven pizza, salad, and sausage empanadas...and homemade pies for dessert (I had the rhubarb, SO very good!).

Jonah enjoying being held by Grandpa and Grandma H.

 Ben and his Mom

Christian played in the rocks/puddle in the driveway most of the time. Noah roamed around, petting the cat and dogs whenever possible. And Jonah did really well just being held.

We got home mid afternoon...Ben took Christian and Noah to the grocery store to get things to take for supper.
We went over to Mitch's house for supper. He made fajitas, which were tasty.

The men got the food around and cleaned up...treating us very nice.

The Kansas mamas...

Thanks Mitch for hosting...

Being a mother is one of the greatest gifts I have been given. 

From the instant I knew they were growing inside of me, and then again when I saw each one of them, my heart grew and overfilled with love and joy.

I hope they will each feel my love and support now and always.

And to my Mom...I love you very much.

From the little things to the very big things you, I appreciate you and the love you show.

It was a good day.

Annie Get Your Gun

Maddox, Ava, and Kade are involved with the Children's Youth Theatre.

They have put a lot of time and energy into being apart of the play Annie Get Your Gun. 

Friday, Ben didn't have school, so we went to the morning show with Christian. 

It was SO good. They were all SO good! I was very impressed.

Before the show...Christian was pretty excited.

He would point out each time he saw one of them during the performance. 

Kade was "Little Jake"...a very fitting role.

He was so happy to see Christian after the show. He was in his shining moment...the way he performed and then watching him interact with all the other cast members afterwards..so happy.

The cousins.

The actors.

They each did an amazing job. Made me proud to be their aunt!

(And Alyssa was in charge of all the costumes for ALL the cast...she did a good job as well!)

Preschool graduate

Christian's final day of preschool was April 29.

                  Beginning of preschool Fall 2014                           The Preschool Graduate April 2015

It has been so fun to see Christian grow and develop in various ways this school year.
The difference between last year and this year is very obvious. He writes very eagerly, sounding out the letters and in the beginning stages of spelling on his own. He enjoys drawing and participating in the projects. He has no problem sharing his thoughts and opinions with those that will listen. He has several good buddies in his class.

A little card of sorts that he wrote for his teacher.
(I find it so funny that he thinks she likes to wear dresses. That is what he thought he wanted to get her for Valentine's Day as well. The funny part is...I don't think she ever wore a dress to school.)

The Friday following the last day of preschool...all the classes went together to Tanganyika. The families were invited to join as well...so Mom came with the boys and I. It was the perfect day for the zoo. 

Only pet the kangaroos on their back, only pet the ones that are lying down, and don't pet the ones that have a baby in their pouch. Oh...and don't run to pet them. I don't know as if all the rules were followed, but they were sure gentle when the pet them anyway.

Out of all the animals, I think the goats were both Christian and Noah's favorite :)

They were SO eager to eat the food. And that brown billy goat was Mr Greedy for sure...he followed Noah wherever he went and reached his head out there in front of all the others to snag the food.

Who knew that tortoises were so fast. They were bookin' it in this area...it made Noah uneasy...he was out of there shortly after this picture.

Feeding the fish with Grandma. 

This was next to the lemur exhibit...which we couldn't take pictures in. But they had several baby lemurs..so little! They would cling to their mamas bellies whether they were sleeping or awake, and their long arms and legs wrapped all around to the back side. It was so cute.

The lorikeets were much more tame than other times when we went. I think they said with all the kids from different schools in the past couple days they were well fed, and a bit shy from the overload of very active children!

I think we got around to all the animals...and enjoyed a picnic lunch with the other preschoolers.

We really enjoyed the day.

And although there wasn't a 'graduation'...Christian has completed preschool!