April 27, 2008

A Boy and His Bike

Jonah has outgrown his tricycle. It happened gradually, as you might imagine, and now he is starting to look ridiculous when he sits on it, not to mention the fact that it's hard for him to ride it now. He gets frustrated with it often. So, I had the brilliant idea to get him a new bike. The search for the bike was, in itself, a saga which I may blog about another time, but for now let's just say that it was a LOT more difficult to track down this bike than it should have been. But I found it and today we were able to pick it up. Jonah and I have been talking about and waiting in anticipation for this bike for quite some time so we were both excited when we got to bring it home today. Of course, it came home in a box...

and I had to assemble it...

So assemble it, I did! And I just really think it's about the most adorable little bike I've ever seen!

I couldn't wait for Jonah to get up from his nap so he could try it out! We had a playdate all set with our neighbor, Caroline, to go out and ride bikes in the cul-de-sac. Ooooh it was exciting!

Jonah got up, got excited immediately about the new bike. He came right downstairs and began ringing the bell ("Hey, Mom, my bike is belling!"). We talked about it for a few minutes and he tried to get on. Nope. I had set the seat a little too high. No problem! I adjust the seat and ask him to get back on, which he does. Then he tries to figure out where his feet are supposed to go. On a tricycle the pedals are in front of you, so it's obvious, but on a bicycle, the pedals are essentially right below you, and therefore, harder to see. Jonah did not like this. He attempted for about 3 seconds to locate the pedal with his foot...I am just in the process of bending down in order to help him place his foot...when he decides that he doesn't want to ride this bike and gets off. When we went outside, he promptly went and got his too-small tricycle while his friend, Caroline, rode his new bike. We tried to convince him to give it a try for about an hour, with no luck. Even Caroline tried..."It really is fun, Jonah!". Nothing. There's that stubborn streak again. I do recall that it took him some span of time to try out the tricycle too, but I was so hoping that this time would be different. I guess not. *sigh* So, we will post some pictures of him riding it as soon as he gets on the darn thing!

Posted by Jon at 08:11 PM | Comments (0)

February 17, 2008

True

The other day we were riding in the car with the boys. Jonah has become very interested in having conversations, so we were talking with him and with each other as we drove about nothing in particular while Joshua quietly sucked his thumb. After a few moments of silence, Jonah offered this statement with a sigh, "Everything is problems". Jon and I, suppressing giggles in the front seat asked, "Why is everything problems?" Jonah sighed again and explained, "There's boys in the house. They bump their heads." I could not have uttered a more true statement if I tried. So here I give you a picture of each of those boys, who very often do bump their heads and each other and the walls and generally scream at the top of their lungs while doing it. But I wouldn't trade 'em for anything, problems or not!

Posted by Jon at 08:46 PM | Comments (0)

January 05, 2008

Jonah--A Year In Review

Happy Birthday, Jonah!

January (2nd Birthday)

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

January again! Happy Birthday to our big three-year-old boy!

Posted by Jon at 03:01 PM | Comments (1)

November 01, 2005

Jonah's First Halloween!

If you've been keeping up on my 'blog (as I know you have) then you know that we like to highlight a lot of Jonah's Firsts. To refresh your memory, there was Jonah's first sick day, Jonah's first Passover Seder, and Jonah's first hay ride. All momentous, important events in our young boy's life. But all of those firsts simply pale in comparison to Jonah's First Halloween! (Okay, side note here...This 'holiday' wasn't really for Jonah. It was for his parents, who really wanted to see him dressed in something cute, but, more importantly, we wanted to eat his candy.) So several weeks ago, we were doing our weekly shopping, when we spied a cute bumblebee outfit that would be perfect for Jonah's First Halloween. We waited, and waited, and then the day came. (Another side note here...One thing that we have learned from this past Halloween, is that it comes with significantly more stress than when we were kids. We both got home from work around 6:00p, then we had to eat, feed him, get him ready, prepare the video/digital cameras, and then show our boy bee off to the world. We weren't ready for all of that!) But, undaunted by our stressors, we pulled it together, and went to our friend Amanda's house, on Jonah's first night out as a bee. (And perhaps, sadly, his last.) And so, without further ado, here is our boy who was a bee...

But first, here is Jonah sleeping on the morning of Halloween '05. He is obviously resting up for the big night ahead.

(Okay, these three pictures have nothing to do with Halloween, really, but he is so cute, we just had to put them here...)

And now, finally, our boy was a bee!

Emily was a wedding girl...

And all three got together for a photo...

And here's the Queen Bee with her son, the Boy Bee...

When we were kids, my sisters Rachael, Abigail, Gabrielle, myself and my brother Ben all got dressed in our costumes, as our parents filmed us getting ready. Upon our return from Trick or Treating, we would spill our loot, all on film, of course, and begin to separate them into piles of which candy we liked best. We really wanted to do that with Jonah, but we just weren't ready. Too much stuff happening all while it's getting later, and Jonah is getting crankier. Megan and I have agreed that we will at least take a half day off next year! So what is the moral of the story? We got some really cute pictures, and Jonah didn't seem to mind his costume. But despite the cuteness, Megan and I only got three pieces of candy. There is however, always next year!

Posted by Jon at 08:42 PM | Comments (0)

June 05, 2005

Jonah At Eight Days Old...

Before Jonah was born, Megan and I talked a lot about how we were going to raise our family. There were countless issues, but one of the biggest was religion. Since Megan is not Jewish and I am, it was important to me that our son be raised Jewish. In a most selfless and generous act, Megan said that she would have no problem raising Jonah in accordance with the Jewish religion. As such, one of the first introductions into the Jewish faith for all Jewish males, is the circumcision. The centuries old ritual takes place eight days after the birth. The ceremony is conducted by a Mohel, (pronounced moy-el) who can either be a Rabbi, or a doctor. Jonah's ceremony was performed by Doctor Richard Adelman, a doctor here in our town.

The circumcision is a tradition that stretches back many centuries, and it is intended to remind us of our connection to our religion. It is a somewhat solemn occasion, but that didn't stop us from partying!

It is a time of celebration as well, and a great excuse to come see a newborn child! We had many people over, including my sister Gabrielle and her family, my father and his wife, our friends Sara, Jason, Emily, Amanda, Sharon, Marc, Noah, Jonah's Aunt Abby, (Megan's sister) Jonah's Aunt Jennifer, and his Great Grandma Sara. (I hope I didn't forget anyone.) Since the ceremony includes the removal of the foreskin, there is a fair amount of pain involved, both for the newborn, and the mother. However, never fear, for Aunt Abby is here! Just before the Mohel begins, Aunt Abby gives Jonah some wine, to help him forget his troubles. (Holding him is Jonah's Gandfather, my Dad, Fred.

Sure the boy got some wine, but Megan sure wish she had something to help her forget! It wasn't easy, but Jonah made it through with flying colors, and so, I am happy to report, did Megan.

Soon after the ceremony, Jonah was none too happy about it, and here is how he showed his disapproval at what just happened:

But despite flipping us off, Jonah really was none the worse for wear. He handled the day very well, and has grown well, as you can see by our reports and our pictures. But I feel this need to tell you every detail of his life, and so, every now and again, I find some of our digital pictures, and decide that they have to go on the 'blog. And so here they are.

Posted by Jon at 12:01 AM | Comments (1)

May 21, 2005

So Cute!

These two pictures are so cute, I just had to put them here!

More pictures soon of both Sara and Jennifer's Baby showers!

Posted by Jon at 09:13 AM | Comments (0)

May 15, 2005

You Asked For Them, And Here They Are!

That's right, more really cute pictures of the newest member of the Hans/Davis family! Of course, I won't be able to say that soon, because Megan's siter in law, Jennifer, is due in June! So, if you're keeping score, here's how it's going to go down: Jonah will be the cutest boy in our family, and Caroline, when she is born, will be the cutest girl in our family! You can see her at http://www.keirdavis.com/

Enjoy the pictures! I know we do!!!!

More pictures will be coming soon, as well as some more pictures of the Davis' and the Hans'! Stay Tuned!

Posted by Jon at 09:39 PM | Comments (0)

April 25, 2005

Jonah On His Birthday!

So you've seen the cute pictures, you've witnessed Jonah's first Seder and perhaps you've read the so sad story of our son's first illness. Well, it seems I missed a step. That step would be his entry into the world! Sure, I'll explain everything that happened (well, okay, not everything), because some youngsters may be looking in.

Before Megan and I got married, we talked a lot about starting a family. We even settled on both boys and girls names, even before Megan got pregnant. (By the way, that's not only a great time saver, but it causes less fights.) Just after we got married, we decided that we would wait until around summer/fall of 2004. Then, just before Megan got pregnant, she said to me, "what are we wating for?" Well, I guess I didn't have a really good answer for that, and, nine months later, Jonah joined us.

Megan woke up on Monday January 3rd, and discovered that her water had broken. Then, she woke me up. (She sure was excited. So was I, but then again, I was asleep. Couldn't she have waited to tell me until morning? Just kidding sweetie. I love you!) Anyway, we we knew we were on the fast track (so to speak) to having Jonah join our family.

So here is, this perfect little man, who was eager to see Grandpa Davis:

Grandma Deb:

Aunt Abby Davis:

Great Grandma Sara:

Aunt Amanda:

And of course, Mom and Dad:

Jonah's birth is, of course, a miracle, but it is made even more amazing by what his Mother endured. (This is the part that Megan doesn't like; when I call her my Hero.) Let's face it: the baby has but one job before it enters the world, and that is, to enter the world. Mom, however, has nine months of untold aggravations to put up. (Now don't get me wrong, when I say aggravations, all is forgiven when you see one of the cutest feet in the world:

Okay, on with the story.
Megan was so wonderful during her pregnancy and her labor, that I am dismayed that I was even concerned for a moment. Megan rarely complained, wasn't moody, and remained, for the most part, herself. I noticed from the day she told me she was pregnant, to the day Jonah was born, that Megan hadn't changed all that much. During her labor, she was as calm, cool and collected as I have ever seen her. (Well, okay, perhaps I am exaggerating a bit, but seriously, she was great.) She only made mention of drugs two times: once to ask for them, and a second time she just made a reference to them. Because Megan and I went to a birthing center, the midwives there did not like to administer drugs, because in Megan's case, that might have meant a trip to the hospital, which she really wanted to avoid. (And did!) So as labor continues, (11 and a half hours, by the way) her contractions become more intense, and her focus becomes stronger! She wants to see her boy!

And in the end, Jonah Daniel Hans was born at 1:34am, on January 5th, 2005. Megan is my hero, because she helped bring this wonderful boy into our lives, and for that, I am forever grateful. She is my hero because I certainly could not have done what she did, nor could I have endured what she went through. She is my hero because she never blamed anything on me!
And so our lives have been altered forever, and we look forward to sharing the good times, and the bad, with everyone! Here are a few more pics from that wonderful morning! Enjoy!

I put that last picutre in there, because Jennifer is due in June, and we can't wait for Jonah's cousin to be born! Whoo-hoo!

Posted by Jon at 10:50 AM | Comments (1)

April 24, 2005

Jonah's First Passover Seder!

As a new father, I am often pointing out "firsts" for my boy Jonah. His first laugh, his first tear, his first projectile puking moment; you know, those kinds of things. Well, this weekend was no different, as he had all of those things, including his first Passover. Jonah, Megan and I were invited to Sharon and Marc's house for the first Seder.

Assembled for the Seder in the picture above, are 16 family members and friends who were invited to Passover dinner. (I was unable to capture everyone who was there, as Jonah had other plans for the photographer. More on that later.)
The setting was wonderful, as Marc and Sharon own a fantastic home on a cul-de-sac lot here in town. Quiet, peaceful and serene are great words to describe their home, and it made a great setting for the re-telling of the story of the Jews' exodus from Egypt.
Jonah didn't eat very much, or did he?

Here he is being held by Dennis, who led our Seder. Jonah, always the rebel, didn't care for the soy milk formula (and I can't say that I blame him, the stuff smells awful) and decided instead to chew on Dennis' hand.

This is Dennis' wife, Arline. She is holding Noah, who is Marc and Sharon's son, who is only five days older than Jonah. (Well, actually, he's older, as he really wanted to stay inside just a bit past his due date. Two weeks past! Yow!)
This is Marc and Noah.

Marc and I were roomates for a few years after he moved to North Carolina from New Mexico.
And here is Megan and Sara.

Megan is pointing to Sara, who is getting ready to give birth to her first baby in June. Of course, both Sara and her husban Jason are excited, but we are too, because Jonah will have another friend to play with! They are having a little girl, and we can't wait!
Here is a picture of Jason, who is holding his nephew Noah, just a few hours after he was born. (After Noah was born, not Jason.)

The Seder, as I said, went very well. Dinner was excellent, and desert was great too, even though we couldn't stay. But, here is what the desert table looked like.

All kinds of goodies that Megan and I really wanted, but could not have. Why? Well you would think that having a 15 week old child would tell us something, but poor Jonah was overstimulated, and just had to get out of there. He was really tired, but with all the people talking and eating and kvetching, he couldn't sleep. He didn't eat well either, but once we got him home, he slept all night, and into a good bit of the next day. Poor fella'.

And that is the story of Jonah's first Pesach meal. Not terribly exciting, but you still got to see cute pictures, right? Well, here's a couple more...

That's it for now, but stay tuned for more stories and pictures from us!

Posted by Jon at 01:20 PM | Comments (0)

April 13, 2005

Jonah's First Sick Day...

Life is never easy with an infant. Fun, exciting, mysterious and wonderful, but never easy. Let us explain. Our day began much earlier than usual today. Jonah is usually asleep these days at around 8:00 or so at night, which means he is usually awake and hungry around 4:30 or 5:00 in the morning. However, as we are finding out, the joys of parenthood aren't so joyful when your son gets sick. This morning, Jonah awoke at around 2:30, and didn't sleep much after that. (Neither did we.) As it turned out, Jonah was coughing, wheezing a little bit, and had a runny nose. (Before I continue, I would like to add that other than those symptoms, the boy was still so laid back, so easy going, that him being sick was hardly noticeable. Except for the bags under our eyes, which are really noticeable.) Anyway, for the first time since his birth, we called our pediatrician. We got an early appointment, and were both saddened and surprised to hear that our little boy has an ear infection. Selfishly, I thought back to my childhood years, and remembered how much ear infections really, really sucked. So I feel for Jonah, both for what he is going through now, and what he will go through in the future. Damn germs. On with the story. So, a perscription was written, Tylenol was administered, and Jonah is on the road to recovery. Megan stayed home with Jonah today, and I am going to stay with my little sickie on Thursday. Megan reports that Jonah slept for most of the day, and in between naps and Tylenol, he busted out with a few cute smiles and some laughter. I can only hope that the boy sleeps as long on Thursday for his daddy, as he did on Wednesday for his mommy. This was a momentous occasion for Megan and I, because this is Jonah's first real infection. To our credit, I think we handled this first one very well, and can only hope that future sicknesses, colds, injuries and the like will go just as smoothly. I think I hear my son crying, so we are going to check on him. For now, enjoy this cute picture of him, when he wasn't ill.

Posted by Jon at 08:43 PM | Comments (3)

April 09, 2005

More And More Cute Pictures!

As promised, here are some more cute pictures of our son Jonah. In case you didn't know, here is a brief history of Jonah, up until today. Jonah Daniel Hans was born on January 5th, 2005, at 1:34 in the morning. He weighed 8 pounds even, and was 20 inches long. When he was born, he was the pinkest baby you ever saw! He attends Buttons and Bows I three times a week, and the other two days, he is watched by either our friend Sharon, or his Aunt Jennifer. Other than that, there isn't much more, except that he is the cutest baby in our house! (We're biased...) Just check out the pictures for yourself!

Posted by Jon at 09:37 PM | Comments (3)

March 27, 2005

My Very First Weblog Posting And Pictures!

Well Hello Again!

It appears that you have found Jonah's Link on the Out Of Hans website. Since I am still learning how to resize pictures, I can only offer you two right now. As you can see, the second one didn't work out as well as the first. (Then again, Keir did the first one, and he's a genius.)

Anyway, I hope you like the two pics, and keep checking back for more!

--Jon

Posted by Jon at 02:11 PM | Comments (2)