Hello Friend....

...so glad that you're here. We hope that even though we may be miles apart, we can share those special moments of our lives with you...whenever and wherever the occur. Just do us one favor...keep us updated with your special moments, as well!

Monday, March 30, 2009

More Birthday Pics

Chef Ryan....and yes, he's got shorts on.

Cool guy and Pa-pa.

Aunt Reanna getting Jonas ready to party!

Jonas loves Mimi.

What is that?

Is it okay to touch this?

Yeah, it was totally worth it!

Look out ladies...I'll see you all at the pool.

One last gift...dad did a good job wrapping.

Friday, March 27, 2009

Birthday Pics

Jonas, Mama, Papa, and Aunt Hayley

The party has started and Jonas is fast asleep (that's him on the monitor).

Popi getting ready to eat.

Nana B and Papa Joe


He's awake! Time for a quick lunch...yes, those are cheetos.


The outside festivities.


Indigo gives Jonas a quick tour of the backyard fun.


Having chocolate on his hands does not stop him from clapping.


What a happy boy.


More clapping.


You look like you need some chocolate.


Presents.


I love tissue paper.


This looks like this could be fun.


I can mow the yard now, too.



The Big Celebration

Well, we had quite the weekend!!!

Jonas' birthday was on Friday and we started the celebration with going to eat lunch with Ryan. He had his little birthday shirt on and he of course, stole the show (after he decided to wake up). Then later in the afternoon, all of his grandparents and his Aunt Reanna and Aunt Hayley came to visit. We ate delicious BBQ from Cooper's in Llano (thanks Kim and Barry) and got all of our preparations in order for the party.

Jonas took one nap the whole day and that was in the car on our way to Ryan's office and then he woke up about 15 minutes after we got there. So needless to say...this boy was tired at the end of the day.

Saturday came and we could not have asked for a more beautiful day. The weather was perfect. It was a little cloudy and a little windy...perfect for outdoor cooking and games. The party started at noon, but as the guests started to arrive, the Birthday Boy was MIA. About 15 minutes before the party started, he decided it was finally time to take a nap. So, for the first 45 minutes of his party, Jonas slept. He slept through the doorbell ringing, Turner barking, kids running and playing outside his window, people yelling and greeting each other....yep, he was really tired. Ryan and I were a little worried about how might act once he woke up and saw all of these people here.

But, our little man always surprises us. He has been and is such a well-rounded baby. He never showed an ounce of concern that he woke up to a house full of people. I'm guessing it's because he knew all of his 41 guests and loves them all.

After a quick bite to eat for lunch, it was cake time. Everyone gathered around to sing Happy Birthday and then he carefully evaluated the "thing" that was on his tray. Once he discovered that it was safe and tasty, there was no holding back. Needless to say, there was chocolate icing all over the place, including grandmas and Aunt Reanna.

After Ryan cleaned Jonas off and gave him a wardrobe change, it was time to open up gifts. Jonas had so much fun playing with the tissue paper, bags, and boxes that we had to take them away just so that he could see his actual gifts.


When it was all said and done....it was an amazing weekend. We could not have planned a more wonderful weekend. I want to thank all of you that were a part of it. This day will be such a sweet memory for me and Ryan. I also want to personally thank my in-laws, Kim and Barry, for helping us have such a fabulous party. It was such a blessing to even be able to have this party...thank you both!! I also want to thank my parents and my sister, who stayed up until almost 12am the night before, helping get everything out, hamburger meat prepared, lettuce and onions cut up, and decorations set up....we could not have done it all without you guys. One more thanks go to my other in-laws, Joe and Bev, for all of their last minute help. Thank you guys for being ready at the other end of the line for our calls. We appreciate and love you all so much!!!

One last and final note, Jonas took a 3 1/2 hour nap on Sunday....it was well deserved!

Friday, March 20, 2009

God's Promise


The first time that we found out we were pregnant, it was Easter Sunday 2007. We were so excited. We thought...wow, to find out on Easter is truely amazing. We figured (using an online calculator) that our due date was December 22. A Christmas baby. From Easter to Christmas...the two best holidays. However, that was not in the Lord's plan. When we went in to see the baby for the first time...it was not there. It had stopped growing early on. It was a difficult time and I was struggling with how this could happen.

However, a few months later, we were pregnant again. We decided to wait a while before telling anyone...we wanted to make sure that things were okay. When we went to the doctor and they did that first sonogram, I was a buddle of nerves. When we first saw Jonas and heard his heart beating...I started crying....he was there!!! They told us that his due date was March 23.

At the time, I did not think much about it. Then one day, I was talking to my sister-in-law, Piper, who was also pregnant and due a little later than us and she was thinking that their baby could be due around Easter. We got excited and pulled out our school calendars (we're both teachers).


Easter was not in April in 2008...it was in March. On March 23, to be exact. I could not believe it. I just stared at the calendar. What had started on an Easter Sunday, was going to be restored and renewed on an Easter Sunday.


This baby, our little Jonas, is a testimony of the Lord's love and his promise. All thoughout the pregnancy, we would pray for little things and He always answered them...abundently. From regular check-ups, to rainbows and bluebonnets.
Jonas was not born on Easter Sunday, instead he came a few days early (another answered prayer). He was born on the Thursday before Easter, on March 20th...the first day of spring. I thought this was perfect. Spring is often thought of as a time of new life...and we were blessed with new life.

Jonas, I love you. I hope you will know as you grow up what a true gift you are. If you ever wonder, just read Psalm 139. The amount of love that your dad and I have for you...does not even come close to that of the Lord's.

Happy Birthday!!!

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Whoa, it's here! Happy Birthday Jonas!

This was taken on Easter Sunday last year (3 days old), his first full day home. I can not believe we have had him for a whole year. He is such a blessing to his mommy and me. Everywhere we go he brings joy to the people he's around. Waving at random people in the grocery store, and saying "Hi" like they're his long lost friend, he always gets a smile. My favorite thing in the whole world is when this little boy is on the floor and he raises his arms at me and say "Unh! Unh!" Happy Birthday Jonas, Daddy loves you! Mommy's letter is coming soon.

1 day to go....


Well, tomorrow's the big day, however the real fun will be on Saturday. Which is nice. We'll have a little family celebration tomorrow at 11:33 am.


Here is one of our favorite pictures. Jonas looks so excited and surprised at the same time. Our friend, Marcus, took this picture, too. There's no big story behind it, except for going camera crazy, again. We had him stripped down and about to take a bath, when Marcus took this picture. He was almost 4 months old.

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

2 days to go...


Such a happy little boy. We were playing around with the camera and taking lots of pictures when I got this one. Ryan was trying to get him to look at himself in the mirror, but instead, he would look at his daddy. He was getting the biggest kick out of it, too.

3 days to go...


Okay...well, I did not even get on the computer once yesterday. I was so busy with going to the store and then cleaning the house. With that said...I would like to publicly thank two of my very good friends for all of their help. Kimberly came over and helped me clean our house (only a true friend will clean your toilets and sweep and mop your floors) and Jennifer watched our boys so we could clean. You ladies are such a blessing to me!!!


Well, this was Jonas and Santa. I dont' think I need to say much about this picture. Except, well, hopefully next year will be a better year for the both of them!

Monday, March 16, 2009

4 days to go...


This was our little sweet pea for Halloween. He literally was in this costume like a pea pod...and it lasted for maybe 15 minutes. I love the expression on his face. This was one of the last pictures I took of him...but it looks like he's saying, "Enough! Get me out of this ridiculous thing." I admit, it was a little warm. But, he sure was cute!

Sunday, March 15, 2009

5 days to go...


Okay...I'm finally caught up. Hopefully, it will stay that way. Well, it's getting more difficult to decided what pictures to pick, they're all so great.


I love this picture! Ryan took it himself. Jonas looks like he's saying, "What's up? You wanna mess with me? You're going to have to mess with this goofy guy next to me...and trust me...you don't want to do that!!"


Yes, I can read that much into a picture! Anyway...I also love that he has his little mittens on. Papa Clyde calls them his "boxing gloves."

6 days to go...


This was another picture that we took the same day we were trying to get his birth announcement pictures. Ryan was holding Jonas in his hands, then we bent over to give him a little kiss and just at that moment, Jonas opened his eyes. It was so sweet. He looks like a little angel. He is a little angel.

7 days to go....


...and I'm starting to fall apart. There are so many things going on right now and I just completely forgot (sorry mom and grandma Eloise). So, I'm sorry that I had to just put some pictures up and they did not get their proper amount of time spent on the blogpage...but, you gotta do, what you gotta do!


This was Jonas' first chair...his lime green Bumbo. Crazy name, but great chair. He still uses it when we go and eat lunch with Ryan. (Of course, with great supervision since he knows how to wriggle his little body out of it!) Anyway, we put him in his little chair and let him watch himself in the mirror...he thought he made a new friend. It was so cute!

Thursday, March 12, 2009

8 days to go...


First time eating green beans. Jonas was just over 6 months old. He liked them, but he had more fun playing with them. It's a good thing all clothing was removed!

9 days to go...


Well, I definitely let yesterday get by....it was just one of those days. But I still wanted to get a picture up and posted.


This picture was taken on Christmas Eve. Jonas and his cousin, Rory, decided it was time to finally attack the presents. They were good boys all day and all night long, but they could not or would not wait any longer. We let them "open" the presents until it was time to intervene. They had a great time.


Aren't they cute in their Santa pj's?

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

10 days to go...


Opps...sorry I'm doing this so late. The day kinda got away from me.

I call this one, "Boy Meets Foot." After church we came home and we were just relaxing on the couch and Jonas decided it was time to finally start shoving these things into his mouth. I love how babies can do something that we think is so cute, yet if we were to see a grown man or woman do it....disgusting. Ah...the joys of little ones!

Monday, March 9, 2009

11 days to go...

We took this picture when we took Jonas to visit his first pumpkin patch. It was the perfect day. It was located outside of Conroe and the best thing about it was that it was free and ran by a local Christian organization from the area. When we took this picture, Nana B (Ryan's stepmom) was holding him inside the petting zoo area. I don't know what he was looking at, but whatever it was, it really had him amazed. I like to think that he was watching the llamas inside the petting zoo chase my dad around for more food. But, that's just my thinking. Who knows?

Sunday, March 8, 2009

12 days to go...


Mischievious Jonas. Even though he was barely a month old when we took this picture, you can tell that the wheels were already turning. We took a bunch of pictures that afternoon to use on his baby announcements and when we were finished we decided to have a little fun. This picture was one of the results of all our fun. He's sweet and cute, but also one sly litte man!

Saturday, March 7, 2009

13 days to go...


Jonas and his cousin, Rory! This was our summer trip to Mason, TX. The boys were so cute playing on the floor together and then holding hands...like the best of friends. They are only 3 weeks apart...so we know as they get older, we are all going to have to keep our eyes on them.

Friday, March 6, 2009

14 days to go...


Our good friend, Marcus, took this picture on the 4th of July. I love the way that Jonas looks so peaceful in this picture. He had a great 4th of July and was just about to drift off when Marcus got his camera out and started shooting away. Excellent work!

Thursday, March 5, 2009

15 days to go...


We took this picture the first cool day of weather that we had in the fall. It was the first time Jonas wore any kind of jacket. A lot of times, we go out and sit on the front porch to wait for Ryan to come home. But it was a little chilly this day, so I put on his pants and jacket and out we went. He looked so cute!

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

16 days to go...


Here are my Aggies. Even though it was a horrible year for the Ags, we still remain true and loyal. This was Jonas' first time to put on an Aggie shirt and he was so happy when we took these pictures. Who knows...maybe we'll have a better season in 2009. Either way...Gig 'Em Ags! Whoop!

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

17 days to go....


This picture was taken when Jonas was 34 weeks old. We loved this little park ranger shirt!! We actually got it before he was even born. Ryan would look at it every time we would go to Old Navy, when I needed maternity clothes. One day I went in without him and there was the little shirt. The only one left and on sale!!! Gotta love Old Navy. So as soon as the weather started to cool off, Jonas was in his little shirt. I love this picture, he's a natural for the camera.

Monday, March 2, 2009

Getting Ready for the Big Day!! 18 Days to Go...


In honor of Jonas' first birthday, I've decided to put a new picture up each day as we count down to the 20th. These will be some of our favorites from the past year. I'll be sure to give a little info with each picture.

In this picture, our little man really was a little man. He was just a few days old here (and I was exhausted), but I loved the way he was looking up at me. I know that at that time, I was just a hazy face with a familiar voice...but something in his eyes said, "Hey...I know you. I trust you."

I just love it!

Jonas

Jonas
Born 03.20.08 7lb 7oz 21 1/4 in