Twenty-three weeks has brought about the institution of the Daddy-dubbed, windshield-wiper head.  It’s something that Jonas does when he’s really happy…it’s a vigorous left to right and back again swoop of the head with smiling abandon…it’s really free, really creative, and really sweet…and it makes my heart smile and rejoice over this bright and free spirit by which we are daily blessed.

Jonas had so much fun helping dye Easter eggs at MeMe and Papa’s with his cousins Jordan and Dylan.  🙂

Spring Break was this week, and we had a blast.  

Jonas kicked off the week with the most precious welcome home presents…taking frequent breaks to smile at me when he was nursing and sleeping for eight hour stretches two nights in a row.  

His adventures this week have included:  a stroll at the Buttercup Festival in Historic Downtown Nolensville, walks in the neighborhood and at Crockett Park, a Sunday afternoon lunch on Grandma and Pops’ back porch, a visit with Aunt Jeanne at work, lunches and a walk at Radnor Lake with Cynthia and Erin (and Knox!!!), a spontaneous tour of the Grand Ole Opry Museum, an evening hang with Jen while Tom and I went to see the Cirque du Soleil with Grandma Connie, Easter egg dyeing at MeMe and Papa’s, and an Easter Egg hunt at Great Aunt Jean’s house.   

Here are a few pictures from our eventful week…

Here is the latest and the greatest from Jonas Benjamin Seyfried:  graduating from a swaddle to a sleep sack; reaching for his rattle and passing it from one hand to the other (sometimes as a default and sometimes with deliberation); blowing raspberries and sticking out his tongue; pulling the musical umbrella on his mobile arch; taking his pacifier out of his mouth, holding onto it, and trying really hard to figure out how to get it back in; presenting a bit of a squirmy challenge to whoever is dressing him by grabbing the sleeves of his onesies as they’re going on; arching his back at a gymnastic degree in his bouncy seat and on his playtime blanket on the floor; taking serious note of his surroundings (especially light and music); and continuing to greet his waking moments with plenty of gusto, sparkling eyes, wide smiles, and belly laughs. 

Tom took Jonas’ picture today in the St. Patrick’s Day onesie that Grandma Jackie sent for him and e-mailed his picture to her to say thank you and to Aunt Jeanne (Aunt Beans!!!) to say happy birthday.  HeHe!!!

Happy Feet

CLICK PIC FOR VIDEO

Lately, Jonas is all about batting at his mobile arch, pulling his knees up under his belly during tummy time, finding his voice in shrieks, and graduating out of his little baby settings (in his car seat, swing, bjorn, and bouncy seat).  At his four month check-up, he weighed in at 14 pounds and 12 ounces and measured up at 24 inches long!!!  He was cracking our pediatrician and the nurse up with his hearty kicks and vocals.

My first day back at work in the Nolensville Elementary School Library was Monday and was met with a welcome back breakfast, daffodils on my desk, and many hugs and encouraging words.  I cried all weekend long and a little bit every day, but I tried to remind myself that the blessing that is Jonas Benjamin Seyfried is being shared right now.  In the remaining ten weeks of the school year, he will be surrounded by a dear group of family and friends, including:  his Daddy, his Grandma Jackie, his Grandma Connie, his Godmother Julie, and his Auntie Sar.  

The kids at school help to ease my heart a little with the funny and endearing things they say:  “Mrs. Seyfried, I miss-ded you.”  “Have you had your baby yet?”  “Why were you gone so long?”  “You’re skinny again!”  “Did you have a boy baby or a girl baby?”  “What did you name him?”  “Jonas, like the Jonas Brothers?!?”  It’s really sweet, when you’re struggling to make it through the day, to have an entire line of kindergarteners hug you on the way into the library. And it’s at that moment that I’m reminded of the fact that these little people are all someone’s blessing being shared… 

Jonas’ newest and cutest thing is the development of the late night/early morning conversation and/or monologue.  He will nurse intently for a good while, and then all of a sudden, he will look at me like, “Wait a minute…I didn’t realize you were here…AWESOME!!!” and the expressive gooing and gaaing begins.  I wonder sometimes how I can get up at all hours of the night and morning to feed him and still be functional and even happy (because I am truly a 10-hour-of-sleep-a-night-and-a-nap-or-more-a-day kind of girl)…and it’s times like these, in addition to the mommy grace that God gives, that I know.

Here is Jonas, sharpening his rattle skills, and in his cool boy jeans and shoes.  🙂

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!!!”  :)