Boy, oh boy, does this boy love to play, learn, eat, talk, dance, play some more, and entertain us endlessly. Love fills our family everyday and we just can't get enough Jonah Nicholas!
Growth: No official measurements this time, but he's looking taller and while he still fits just fine in 12-18 M clothing, there are a few 18-24 M pieces that he can wear. We tell him he's looking tall and he smiles ear to ear and says proudly "tall!"
Sleep: He's doing about the same schedule and routine as last month. On the changing table after bath, he now consistently plays with his puppy Scout, then gives him a kiss and a hug, then says "bye bye" before laying him down to nap. We have always used the same parting words with him at bedtime "We love you all the way up to the stars...and all the way back" except not after we say the first part, he says to us "aaaaaall back." Then he say "bye bye Dada, uvoo (love you)"
Eating: Much the same as last month, with a few new favorites, which he excitedly asks for by name. At almost every meal he requests a pickle, and often he wants a "tarrot" (carrot). He got to have a few more desserts than usual in December at various parties, which is to say a little treat here and there since we don't really give him sweets on the regular.
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| Helping Mama roll out dough for gingerbread cookies |
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| Playing with dough and his roller from Grandma and Grandpa |
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| Cool dude. Hangin' by the kitchen. Eating a cookie. NYE at The Cohens' |
Personality: Not a whole lot different from last month, with a continued love for trains and train movies on youtube, owls, ducks, letters, listening to and making music, books, making art, playing with doggies, navigating Mama's iPhone independently and finding his own games and pictures, naming family and friends, and new to the list: playing in snow. We never got to take him out the play in the snow last year, because we never got any. He has been out 3 times now and has fun for a while, but it's "told" and we need to find tiny gloves asap so he's not so "told." The play group moms from when I was a little girl gave my family a snow suit for my brother Jordan, which he did not get to wear. It's a special sight to see Jonah stuffed into it, donning his fab North Face boots, and playing in the snow. He made a snow man and loved the "tarrot" nose most. Mimi got him a shovel, which he races through the house with, and also scoops up snow.
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| Watching movies of trains on Dada's computer |
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| Kisses from Bella |
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| A big "hud" for puppy Darby |
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| Snow. Cold. All done. (and then was smiling and shoveling 10 seconds later) |
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| First time in the snow. Jordan's snow suit. Boots buried in snow. |
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| Chasing after a snowball |
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| Admiring his first snowman. Loved the carrot. |
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| Reading himself a book in a little chair Aunt Mary painted |
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| Reading himself The Little Engine that Could mid-change |
Other silly Jonah things:
- He likes to go into the living room, which is filled with instruments and a stereo and ask for music to be played, then he dances a silly toddler dance, bouncing, smiling, and spinning. He makes some of the animal sounds for Old MacDonald.
- When he sees a lion, tiger, or other big cat, he roars a deep roar you wouldn't expect him to make.
- He is gets an A+ in cleaning up. A few months ago we started the habit of cleaning up after you play with a toy, and now when he's done he usually will announce "away!" and put everything back. Sometimes there is just too much excitement, and we have to sing "_ away, _away, time to put your _ away," which works wonders. Today, he got out a toy with many parts after lunch, and by the time dishes and leftovers were put away, there was Jonah, on the floor, with every piece back in place, no outside cuing whatsoever. We love this. Keep it up Jonah!
- He loves buttons and lights, and gets a thrill out of being held as he opens or closes the garage door, or flips a switch on or off. "Yites!" he shouts, "button!"
- Jonah's school routines crack us up. In the morning we tell him it's time for school and he smiles and says "Dara! Dara! Alex!" We think Dara might be his girlfriend. She's cute and very friendly. Alex is his friend outide of school to, Hanna's younger brother. When we pick him up, he now walks alongside us, holding hands, and says "car, home." Once we get home, he takes off his jacket, while narrating "jacket! packack! (back pack)" walks to the closet and puts them in, still talking "away!" and goes to the front of the house for "mail!" which has a long "a" sound. He then helps neatly tear away small strips of paper until he finds what is inside. He has gotten a real thrill out of opening holiday cards. Sorry mail isn't always so exciting the rest of the year, kiddo.
- Jonah has had some minor nasal congestion and with that asks for a "teshoo," puts it to his face, puffs air out his nose, then narrates "trash can" as he seeks a resting place for said tissue. He seems to enjoy the ceremony of it all. Of course he needs a grown up to get most of the goo, but at least he tries.
- At mealtimes, he gives us the order of events out loud "ha-cheah, bib, traaaay"
- If Jonah gets his hands on a phone, he puts it to his ear and says "Hebooo?" If we ask who is on the phone he will list everyone from Grandma to Darby.
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| Playing with new kitchen and eating a pepper |
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| Brushing that long hair |
Milestones: This boy has soooo much to say. The past few days he has been putting words into pairs, like "Dada up" in the morning and "ah done milk." He will attempt to say anything you ask him to try, and as a rule will repeat the last word of your sentence. Some of our favorite new words:
eboo! = peek-a-boo!
Ovil = Olive
meal (first part of December) book (second part of December) = milk. Who knows.
Amma = Grandma
Hapa = Grandpa
tehwit = carrot
pehpeh = pepper
deydoo = dreidel
norah = menorah, which he will tell you is hot
fafeh = fire, also hot
One day last week at lunch, Jonah started grunting and asked for "potty" so Daddy took him up, sat him on the pot, and he made a #2. Go Jonah! Still awaiting a repeat performance.
We are amazed by how much he knows. Jonah loves letter and numbers and can name nearly all of his letters and numbers 1-5 and 8-10. He also knows his opposites from his opposite books, the colors pink, blue, and yellow, and all the typical animals and their sounds.
Events: December is so full of events! Jonah looooved celebrating Chanukah. He got genuinely excited to see the menorah every night, tried his best to spin the dreidels, read "How do Dinosaurs Say Happy Chanukah" roughly 200 times, and learned what presents are and delighted in removing little pieces of paper and handing them to specific people, by name. Mama daren't take a piece of wrapping paper if Jonah hands it to Dada!
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| Chanukah, 2012 |
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| Saying "pweese" to read his favorite book of the month |
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| Handing wrapping paper to Dada |
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| Lighting the candles with Aunt Lauren |
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| Aunt Alana snuggles |
The Bank family hosted the annual family Chanukah party. Jonah loves his cousins and they love him back! He stayed awake for a record 8 hours straight, playing and happy. We won't mention how the evening went, but it was worth it. There were Margulies and Becker cousins in town and Jonah was happy to get to see cousin Ella again, after spending so much time together last summer.
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| Cousins pizza party, erev Chanukah party |
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| Cousin fan club |
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| Best shot I got of the whole crew. Ainsley, Corey, Jillian, Avery, Jonah, Carmen, and Ella. |
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| Playing with Ella |
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| Playdate with Ella before they had to go. Parting hug. |
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| Jonah and Ella play |
Christmas was spent at Mimi and Poppy's. There was nonstop dog action, tasty treats, toys, presents, love, joy, and happiness. Just what you like to see in a Christmas!
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| A shot glass (yes glass) of egg nog from Poppy on Christmas Eve |
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| Egg nog cheers with Mimi |
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| Poppyback |
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| At the top of the stairs, with Mama, Alana, Eric, Bella, and Dada |
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| Saying "tree" as he looks at the tree in all its lights |
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Reading T'was the Night Before Christmas.
On Bongos. |
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| At the top of the stairs, waiting to come down and see if Santa came |
Grandma and Grandpa came to visit at the end of the month. Jonah enjoyed talking about and to them, reading books, and playing. We visited the train and plants at the Franklin Park Conservatory, and Lindsay's Aunt Maggie and Uncle Bob came in town too. We had a nice dinner at Dewey's Pizza and came home after for lots of ice cream and cookies.
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| Book with Aunt Lauren on the window seat |
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| Checking on the snow, mid-book |
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| Jonah and Grandma |
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| Blocks with Grandma and Grandpa |
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| Conservatory with Grandma |
We had a fabulous time celebrating New Years Eve with the Cohen and Evanchan Families. Jonah has been reciting everyone's names to us ever since. Mostly Cara. We went home and Mimi and Poppy came over, so we played for a few, then put Jonah to bed and stayed up playing cards and eating sweets.
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| "what is this?!" |
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| "Habow?!" |
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| Card Mimi helped him make |
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| New Years Rockin' Eve!! |
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| Attempt #1 to pose for a picture |
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| Attempt #2 more successful |
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| New Years Baby |
On New Years Day, since at least 1986 we think, we have spent the day at the Smiths home. Football and wings are required. No Buckeyes nor wings (for Lindsay and Jonah at least- who are vegetarian), but lots of fun was had.
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| Enjoying The Very Busy Spider with Mama and Laura |
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| Jonah is very gentile with cats and dogs these days. Here he is saying "pat pat" |
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| In a chair from 1795 |
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| The puppies- 4 canine, 1 Jonah |
