FIVE

Dear Jonah,

On Wednesday, July 25th you took a ride. Your very first airplane ride. You were five weeks and one little day old!

We woke up really early Wednesday morning and Dad took us to the airport. We arrived at 11am and our flight left at 12:30pm. You Daddy took us into the airport, checked the bags and walked us to the security line. He made sure we got through security okay and then waved us off. The TSA agents were super helpful and thought you were the cutest little boy they've ever seen.

You slept through the security line, through the Starbucks line (Momma had to have a little pep in her step) and through the ENTIRE flight, Jonah badger. You were a little peach!!

We landed in Houston and Mims and Papa were anxiously waiting for us. They were SO excited to see us, Jonah!! Papa grabbed our bags and we headed home. I was giddy with excitement. I LOVE HOUSTON. I love Texas in general, it's the best. We just won't tell anyone you're an Alabama boy (just kidding).

You were officially in TEXAS, my beloved state at the age of one month old!!!

The first night we were in Texas you didn't wanna sleep. At all. You werent' having any part of it. I think it was because you slept so much on the plane and ride home. Around midnight you decided that it was time to wake up and play....until about 2:30am. Your Momma was SO TIRED, but you're just way too cute to even be mad at. I wrapped you up into a badger burrito and talked to you...

The next couple of nights you started getting on more of a schedule, but definitely not like the one we had already established at home....but the trip was worth a little lack of sleep!! We made the very best memories. You met so many people that I hold dear for the first time. Everyone loved you, they fought over holding you!! Your Aunt Shelby and Uncle Cody were the WORST!! They did not want to share you with anyone. Uncle Cody and Aunt Jade came to visit us on Friday afternoon. Since they weren't able to come to Alabama when you were born they we SO excited to meet you!!

They love you so much!! They stayed the weekend with us and we went over to meet your Popo, Momo, Auntie RayeLou and Uncle Paul. Momo cooked the most delicious meal and made your Momma's favorite desserts (ice cream cake AND a chocolate french silk cake). We watched the Olympics, cheered for Michael Phelps and took turns holding and feeding you. It was the best day of family time...

On Sunday we went to church with Mims and Papa and then headed out to see Ammy and Bacca and all of your cousins you haven't met yet. They were also so excited to see you, especially Joshua and Kylee. I can only imagine the trouble you will get in with those two when you get a little older...

We also visited Meme, your great grandmother several times! While visiting her you met your great Aunt Linda and Aunt Laura. In honor of our visit Meme cooked my favorite meal, fried steak, mashed potatoes, fried okra (from her garden) fresh tomatoes (also from her garden) and lemon ice box pie. I felt so spoiled. She was so happy to meet you and thinks you look just like your Daddy! I absolutely love this photo of you and her...

Sooo, you are officially rotten. You were held almost every moment of every day we were there by someone who loves you very much! They couldn't get enough Jonah time! Speaking of people who love you very much your Mims, Papa and Auntie Bell couldn't get enough of you. They helped me take care of you while we were there. You slept with me and every single morning Mims would come get you between 6 and 7am and take over badger duty. You make her laugh so hard when you cross your eyes! You were sitting in her lap when I snapped these and we were almost falling off the bed we were laughing so hard!! You are such a little character!!...

Almost every afternoon Papa would get home from work and take over duty, you took your afternoon nap on his chest each day. Auntie Bell skipped work for several days just to hang out with us. On our last night in Texas you slept with her and she took great care of you. Have I mentioned how much they love you?? They love you SO...

During your afternoon naptime your Mims and Auntie Bell would go swimming with me. I worked on my tan while you and Papa worked on napping. I enjoyed spending time with them and letting them love on you. I want you to know them and love them even more than I do. They wish we lived closer and so do I. One day soon we will be back in Texas!

While we were there you turned one month old. I can't believe it. You're on your way to growing up. It still makes me sad that you're growing so quickly, but you're developing a little personality and it's incredible to watch!! I better hold on because this ride is gonna be an adventure...

I got to spend so much time with you this week. I loved every single minute of it. I cherish these days that I get to be home with you. I can't even bear to think of returning to work right now. It makes me shudder. I just want to cuddle you all day and enjoy the moment. You're my heart.

The night before we came home Mims and Papa took us to eat. I asked them to take a bunch of photos with us so I would always remember your first trip and how much fun we had. They agreed and we had the best night! We had delicious food and yummy sno-cones. I am blessed with the most amazing parents and siblings and you are going to be spoiled rotten (you already are!)...

We had the best week with family and friends in Texas, Jonah. I can't wait to return in the fall with Daddy! Your fifth week on earth was absolutely filled to the brim with LOVE. Lots of snuggles, kisses and cuddles. Here are my favorite badger faces for the week..

I love you more each day!

Love,
Momma

FOUR

Jonah,

You are four weeks old this week. On Thursday you will be ONE month old.

You are my precious little blue-eyed man. I love that we look alike!

This week I really noticed your face is beginning to change (it's getting rounder!) and you're looking more grown up. You are lifting your head quite a bit and I can tell you reeeeally have a strong will of your own (can't wait until you're a teenager. Ha!). You LOVE your Momma and Daddy to hold you and when we put you down...shame on us!!! You sure let us know you don't appreciate it by grunting! You love to sleep on our lap and streeeetch out...

On Saturday we took you to downtown Birmingham to have your one month photos taken. On a daily basis you're pretty relaxed, but you were NOT having any part of us getting you naked and taking your pics. You were not happy with your Momma and your Daddy. After we left the studio we had lunch at Urban Standard, annnnd of course you slept the entire afternoon away. You didn't make a peep!!

I love to watch you sleep. Your sleepy and sleeping faces are still my favorites right now. Your eyes are still crossing some and it cracks your Daddy and I up. Sometimes you raise your eyebrows and grin, other times you open your eyes slightly and do a sideways grin. I love those little grins. They are so precious. And, this week you laughed for the very first time in your sleep. We were taking a nap in my big, soft bed and I heard you gurgle and laugh. My heart melted. It is so sweet!!

And speaking of naps, I absolutely love our afternoon nap time. Most of the time you fall right to sleep and I stay awake to watch you. I love to look at your little face. It's so innocent and sweet. I just want to cuddle you all day long!

This week we went on your first walk around the neighborhood with me. You were perfectly content to sit in your stroller and chill. We stopped and talked to Mr. Ruben. He's from Mexico and keeps our neighborhood clean. Your Momma and Pops went jogging almost every night before you were in my tummy and we always stop and chat. Your Pops likes to practice his Spanish with Ruben. Throughout my pregnancy he always wanted to know how I was doing, and how long before you arrived. He said you are a "cute bambino"! :)

This week I was able to snap a photo of your mad face. The face you make when I'm too slow at feeding you. You're an impatient little stink!! Check out your mad face. It's so cute :)

I have a funny story to tell you. This week your Daddy and I took you to Starbucks. Dad was planning to just go through the drive thru but I asked him to come inside with me so I could burp you and change your diaper. So we ordered our drinks and I took you to the restroom. Naturally they didn't have a changing area so I came back out and your Daddy offered to take you to the truck to change you really quickly. I handed you off and stayed with the bags and coffee. I waited.......and waited........and waited.....and my phone started ringing. Pops was calling and he said "can you please come out here now. I am in crisis mode". I could tell by his voice that something was baaaad wrong.

I grabbed the coffee, your carseat and diaper bag and headed out to the truck.......oh my goodness did I walk into a mess....

There was poop on the truck seat, poop on you, poop on your Daddy, poop EVVVVERYWHERE, Jonah badger. You really did it up right. Your poor Daddy looked at me and said, "I literally let him poop in my hand. I reached down for more wipes and they were all gone. He just kept pooping and pooping"...

Hahahahaha. Initiated your Daddy the RIGHT way little man. It was sooo funny. We cleaned you up, cleaned the truck up and headed home. It still makes me laugh when I think about your Dad's face. Poop evvvverywhere. Ha!

You Daddy and I were talking about you this week and we can't imagine our life without you now. You are the most special thing to ever happen to us. We love you to pieces!! I feel like one month is a big milestone. You've been with us four weeks now and I feel like my heart could just burst each time I look at you. This love is HUGE!

Here are a few of my favorite photos of you this week:

You are my heart little man. Love you to the moon and back!

Love,
Momma

THREE

Sweet Jonah,

You're looking more like a little boy every day and it's breaking your Momma's heart. I never knew time moved so quickly but measured by you each day it's moving FAR too quickly for me!! You have such a little personality already. You're starting to raise your head and hold it up on your own for a few seconds. When I don't feed you as quickly as you want you make a frowny face and grunt loudly at me. At first I thought I was imagining it, but alas, I'm not. Impatient little scamp. You specifically make this one sound when you're impatient with me. It's like you're saying, "hurry up already, Momma...I'm hungry!!", I love it!! I love everything about you.

Your little toes make me laugh. It's like looking at a tiny version of your Pop's feet. Speaking of your Pops, he absolutely loves the way you move your hands. They're still so awkward! When I'm feeding you, you always (every single time) make a fist and put your little hand up next to your cheek. The other hand you lay on mine or on my chest. It melts my heart. When I lay you on your dresser to change your diaper I always sing to you. You stare up at me with those big eyes and watch me intently. Your big blue eye get to me. You are so precious!

I love to watch you stretttttch your little arms above your head when you wake up. You look like a little bird. You slowly open one eye, peeping at me to see if I'm around, then stretch your little arms and legs. Then you open your mouth like a bird, turning your head from side to side telling me you're hungry. I have to act quickly then!! Little impatient stink.

You are three weeks old this week. Almost a month. How is that even possible?! I want you to stay little forever and your Dad is exactly the opposite. He can't WAIT for you to get bigger so you guys can play together. He has grand plans of playing baseball and football with you in the house every evening. I guess I better prepare myself. I absolutely love how much he loves YOU. And, can I just tell you that you're destined to be an Aggie...

I'm staying home with you right now, so we hang out all day, every day. Your Dad works and goes to college so he isn't home with you as much as I am. The first thing he does when he walks in the door, regardless of the time is find you, pick you up and love on you. It's precious. Then you and he watch TV together (usually Mountain Men, Swamp People, Duck Dynasty and Deadliest Catch...or some other manly nonsense). You lay peacefully on his chest sucking on your hand, or you just snooze together. I love watching you together. Your Dad is your biggest fan!

Once Daddy gets home he watches you so I can get some rest. You guys stay up until 2 or 3am together every single night right now while your Momma sleeps. He loves his time with you. He feeds you, cuddles you and changes your stinky's. Then he brings you to our bed and you sleep in between us. We pat your bottom and make sure you're warm and cozy. I absolutely love our time together, the three of us just laying in bed chatting about you, our future and our life plans together.

You and your Dad are my life. My entire world.

And, can we discuss the fact that Pops is the swaddle king?! You have tons of adorable super soft swaddle blankets and you love to be wrapped up like a bean burrito. I haven't figured out how to swaddle you as good as your Daddy. He gets you snug as a bug and you love it. His beard tickles your cheeks and you grunt at him. He sings funny songs he makes up to you that make me laugh. I hope you always have a song in your heart like he does.

You went on your first breakfast outing with us to Cracker Barrel this week. Daddy had to close so we had breakfast together. You were perfect. Everywhere we go people want to peek in at you and they tell us how beautiful you are. And you are! Perfect to your Momma and Pops!!

This week we're taking you to my work to show you off. Everyone is so excited to finally meet you. I love my coworkers, they are the best! They watched you grow in my belly and were enthralled with the entire process. They kept a huge countdown that said, "_____ weeks until Jonah Knox Strickland" and they would change the number of weeks every Monday morning. I loved it. Everyone was so giddy about your arrival!!

Did I mention that you are SO loved little Jonah??

Next week you're taking your very first airplane ride. We're going to the best place on earth, TEXAS. Your Pops is going to New York for the week with Brooks Brothers so you and I are taking our very first trip together! I am so excited to introduce you to all of your family!! They can't wait for us to get there!! We will spend ten nights in Texas, I have no doubt that when you and I return you will be absolutely spoiled rotten. And I'm completely okay with that!

Your Popo and Momo (Raye & Paul) sent you a gift that arrived today. You love it already! It's an adorable gingham play yard and a fuzzy rocking sheep. You will meet your Popo and Momo next week!...

You're waking up from your afternoon nap so I need to get ready to feed you. Here are a few of my favorite photos of you this week...

I love you to the moon and back (and MORE)...
Love,
Momma

TWO

Hey little Jonah-Badger! You're two-weeks old this week!!

Your Dad has come up with tons of nicknames for you already. Daddy is the KING of nicknames, you know! The latest and funniest is Jonah Badger, or just Little Badger. When you're older (WAY OLDER) we will tell you about the Honey Badger videos on YouTube. A Honey Badger is an actual animal and it is a tough little creature. The Honey Badger doesn't care. He does what he wants....

That's what we've discovered about you this week. You sleep through anything, I mean annnnything. I try to wake you up to feed you and you keep sleeping. You're so darn cute I can't handle it. The faces that you make crack me up! Your Pops has also been calling you "the bean". Don't ask me....

You and your Pops hang out every single night. He lays you on his chest and loves on you. It's the most precious thing I've ever seen. He loves you more than life and changes all of your poopy diapers. Annnnd, you poop a lot!

We've settled into a routine now. Your Mims flew home on Tuesday afternoon and I was so sad to see her leave us. We had so much fun together. You know her voice now and that makes my heart happy! She loves you sooo many bunches. We celebrated her Birthday before she left, you partied hard. I mean, you slept right through breakfast. It was one of our first outings with you. You stayed nice and warm in your car seat and slept while I ate those delicious bread pudding pancakes from Edgar's Bakery...

Before Mims left we asked her to take photos of our little family of three. I can't imagine life without you now that you've arrived. Life is infinitely better because of you. We are THREE now and I can't wait to experience every single day with you sweet Jonah boy!

After we took Mims to the airport we stopped by Chickfila. Fun fact: Your Momma ate a spicy chicken biscuit from Chickfila almost every morning (okay, sometimes two!!) while she was pregnant with you. Towards the end of my pregnancy the spicy chicken made my tummy hurt so I ate the chicken mini's. Eight of them to be exact!! I hope you LOVE Chickfila as much as I do!!...

After I finish feeding you, you go into what I like to call a milk coma. Your head falls back and sometimes you even roll your eyes. It is the cutest thing I've ever, ever seen. While Mims was here she snapped the first photo of you smiling on camera!! I LOVE IT! Just look at your precious face:

Here's a few more photos of your happy milk face. It makes me smile every time I look at these photos. You're so happy and full. Content with your little life. LOVE IT!!

You couldn't possibly BE any cuter, Jonah! Yesterday your Pops was off work and we were hanging out in the living room. I decided you needed a bath and took your clothes off. Before your bath I snapped these photos. Your face is so serious and intent...

You are so precious to me. I love our midnight feedings and the time we spend together. I hold you close enough to hear your little heart beating and listen to your little squeaks. You're making lots of little grunting noises this week, even when you're sleeping. And you smile. Your Daddy thinks you're dreaming. About eating, I'm sure. You love you some milk!

You've been with us for two-weeks now and I can't imagine our life without you. Today you and I went on our very first outing together, alone. We picked Pops up and went and got him an iced coffee from Starbucks and I got a Dr. Pepper from Sonic. Tonight we're having pancakes for dinner. When you're older we're going to have a weekly ritual of breakfast for dinner. It's our favorite!

You're waking up now, it's time for your 6pm feeding so I have to cuddle you and feed you. You are so loved sweet little man.

Love,
Momma

ONE

Dear Jonah,

You are one-week old this week. I feel like you change every time I glance away. It's crazy and I want it to stop immediately!

You arrived last Tuesday, June 26th. When the doctor took you out of my tummy and brought you around so I could meet you it was love at first sight. My heart now resides on the outside of my body. It's you. You're my heart. You and your sweet Daddy. My first thought was that you're adorable...and you look like me. In fact, that was your Pop's first words, that you are a miniature version of me. I'm sure that will embarrass you when I tell you that in ten years. Oh well, for now you're all mine.

Your Dad and I can't quit staring at you. You're so stinkin' beautiful! We tried to imagine what you would look like when I was pregnant and we didn't even come close to guessing. You have dark hair and an olive skin tone! You definitely have my dimpled chin and your Daddy's toes. So adorable...

I'm smothering you in millions of kisses every single day!

We came home from the hospital last Friday afternoon. It was the scariest ride ever. I think your Dad went 45mph. No joke. Since we've been home I have been getting into a routine of feeding you, taking naps while you nap and watching lots of episodes of Paula Deen on the food channel. Just resting and loving on you.

Your Papa, Mims, Bacca, Ammy and Auntie Bell came to visit you in the hospital and stayed at our house a couple of days. Everyone has gone home now except Mims. She's going to stay with us awhile longer and take care of us!

We already love you more than life itself!

Your first week on earth was filled to the brim with love. Hugs. Kisses. Squeezes. And lots of oohs and ahhs at how incredibly special and cute you are. I don't think you've been put down for more than five minutes. You are already spoiled rotten and loving it...

We celebrated your first July 4th by dressing you up at home. I'm not quite ready to take you out and about just yet. You looked so precious in your patriotic leggings!!...

One of my favorite times of the day is feeding and burping you. You make the funniest faces when it's time for you to burp. You resemble a wrinkly old man and it's so funny. I try to snap as many photos of you as I can each day so I don't forget a single face that you've made. I love your little face!!...

Soon after we arrived home we gave you your very first sponge bath. It was an experience! I was worried because you are so tiny (you weighted 6lbs 12oz on Friday when we left the hospital) and slippery when you're wet. Your Mims took photos of your Dad and I giving you your first bath...

I can't stop snapping photos of you. I don't want to miss anything! Your face is constantly changing. I have a feeling that you're going to be walking if we blink...so I'm trying not to! Here are a few of my favorites this week. I can't get enough of your chubby cheeks and serious eyes. I am smitten by you...

We love you to the moon and back, Jonah Knox Strickland and are so happy you're our sweet little man! One week old and you already have us wrapped...
Love,
Momma