The afternoon’s love fest started with Zachary trying to watch the cartoon that Jonah was watching and Jonah blocking Zachary’s view. After a few renditions of “get out of my way!” followed by grunting and heavy breathing, I was not surprised when the high-pitched shrieking reached my ears.

When I got to the living room I found Zachary looking contrite and trying to console a wailing Jonah. Okay, he was really trying to talk him into not squealing on him. Which of course, Jonah promptly did. It seems that Jonah had been standing on the couch, and when he wouldn’t get out of Zachary’s way, Zachary pushed him. Off the couch.

From these pics it’s hard to see how big and dark the bruise was (the little bugger won’t stand sill!), but it’s several days later and he still has his “trophy”.

I’m sure this is just the first of many brother-inflicted wounds to come. I think it’s time to invest in a first aid kit. Or a stand-by EMT.

I’ve been a Star Wars fan ever since standing in line with my Dad at the Cooper on Colorado Blvd in Denver, patiently waiting to get in to see the best sci-fi movie ever. I wasn’t even 6 at the time, which seems SO young to watch this film. Then it hits me that Zachary isn’t 6 yet and he’s been a Star Wars fan for over 2 years now. His delight with the franchise started with Legos, and a GameCube–the Lego’s Star Wars Game–which he earned at 3 by sleeping in his own bed seven nights in a row. ((Bribery works, he really wanted that GameCube. He’s been going to bed in his own bed quietly ever since.)) I finally succumbed to the pressure and let him watch the movie when he was 4, with me and dad, of course. He followed the movie, wasn’t scared, and when talking to him about it to make sure he wasn’t scarred for life, I was the silly one, “They aren’t real, mommy!”

Fast forward a few years. While I thought Zachary was tenacious (we often refer to him as “Tenacious Z”), he’s got NOTHING on his brother. Tenacious or obsessive, you be the judge.

Jonah has grown to the ripe old age of 2, watching Zachary play all forms of Star Wars. From the Lego’s Star Wars game I, and then II; watching bits of the movie here and there when no one thinks I’m paying attention; putting together Legos Star Wars battleships; playing with the light saber Zachary was given by my brother. ((I need to remember to thank him for bringing what is akin to a baseball bat into my home, to be swung around at random.)) There is no shortage of Star Wars in this house. So it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Jonah has developed a complete and total obsession with the franchise. He literally wakes up in the morning with the battle cry “Mommy! Daddy! Star Wars!”

He loves to “play” the Lego’s game with Zachary on the GameCube, jumping up and down and mumbling to himself, just like big brother. He’s also fascinated with actual Legos. Now that I know he won’t put them in his mouth, he’s allowed to play with them. He carries his plastic container full of them through the house, perching here and there to swap out little hats, remove legs, and build little ships he then pretends to fly through the air. If it weren’t so damn annoying wasn’t such an obsession, it would be really cute. 😉

He also “conducts” whenever he hears either the Star Wars theme, or the Imperial Death March, ((You’d be shocked to know that those songs actually play on an almost daily basis here.)) and he will carry around Zachary’s Star Wars sticker book literally for hours.

Actually, it is really cute. The part that’s not fun is having to repeatedly tell him “No!” when he attempts to find and play Zachary’s Nintendo DS. That is the one thing I won’t give in on. Those things are expensive–and Zachary should have at least one thing to call his own, right?

Watching these boys, I have to wonder where they get their obsessive tendencies from. Hmm, by the way, have I mentioned that we’re going to Vegas in June? 😉

This post was generously brought to you by a box cutter. They come in handy when I have to open all those Legos boxes.

How to explain the joys of trying to work while chasing down an almost 2-year old who is covered in snot, feverish, and not a happy camper. The biggest problem is that when the drugs kick in, he want to play. I need him to sleep. Good times are had by all.

I have, in the wake of all this, discovered a few things about my home the last three days.

1. The only legos that won’t find their way back into the basket are the ones that blend in to the carpet. Stepping on those is always a nice surprise.
2. Clean laundry, when tossed on the floor, looks just like dirty laundry.
3. It’s not wise to use a gliding ottoman as tv furniture. Key word: g-l-i-d-e.
4. You can only drop a remote on the floor so many times until it refuses to be held together by sheer will alone.
5. No matter what room you are in, your cell phone, cup of coffee, and the broken remote will be in a different room.

The good news is the tree has remained relatively unscathed. Jonah does try to manhandle the “apples” (aka red glass balls), but he’s pretty much kept his mitts to himself. I really hope he sleeps through the night tonight. I’m functioning on three hours of sleep right now. In case there’s any confusion, this is not enough!

He’s been putting himself to sleep at naptime and bedtime for weeks now, but until today has been sleeping in his Amby hammock or his playpen. Chris put the crib together last night and Jonah is peacefully sleeping in it right now. Of course, he had to roll over a couple of times, chat with Uniqua the turtle, and try to look out the window–but that’s just all in a day’s work when you’re 4-months old.

Maybe it’s the new tooth. That’s right :-)  Jonah’s first tooth just poked through. You can barely feel it but it’s there. This little pokey thing through the bottom gums. Nana was the first one to feel it, which makes me feel foolish since I’m with him everyday. He’s just so darn good. No crying, no fussing, no fever. How can I worry about teething if you don’t give me any symptoms? Ok, I’m not  complaining. I’ll take the fabulous new-toothed-non-fussing infant over the alternative any day.

Right now he’s sleeping blissfully in his crib. Which is probably why I’m still awake.

All that’s really happened in the last seven weeks is Jonah. He’s growing like a proverbial weed. At his 6-week checkup he is now 12.5 pounds. He’s gurgling, cooing and just being downright adorable, like it’s his job or something. Of course we can’t help comparing him to Zachary at his age. He’s as great of a baby as Zachary was, just a little more mellow. While the Z-man loved being in the carseat, Jonah hates it unless the car is actually moving. Even then he fusses a little for good measure. Zachary is a binky man–something we are going to be working on soon. Jonah’s not such a fan. He’ll take it when he’s too exhausted to put up a fight, but lately he seems to really prefer his hand. I caught him with his thumb today. NOT what I want to see!

Segue to the adults. Chris just celebrated his 37^th birthday last month. Wow we’re getting old! We had a great dinner at Kobe. Mom was in town, so she joined us. So did Mary, Tricia, Ashley, Dave, Ivonne and the girls. Dinner was yummy and everyone had a great time.

Of course there are more pics of everyone. Check out the latest slideshow for Zachary’s green tongue (thank you Ms. Laurie!) and the charming Jonah-penguin (thank you KB!).

Hopefully someone will read this. Even if they don’t, Life is Good…

The other great sleeping news is that, after 1+ years, Zachary is finally sleeping in his own bed. It took one Nintendo Gamecube with the Legos Star Wars game as a bribe (or should I say “incentive”), but he’s now slumbering away in his own bed. While I miss him (heavy sigh), I can’t have Jonah waking him up every few hours.

Speaking of Zachary, Jonah couldn’t have asked for a better big brother. Zachary’s always ready to help change diapers (he hands me the diapers and then flips the lid in the diaper pail), he’s always got a kiss ready, and he sits with Jonah on his lap at least once a day. So far we’ve seen no signs of jealousy or irritation. Only patience, interspersed with a few eye rolls here and there.

For those of you who just can’t get enough eye candy click here to see a slideshow of Jonah’s first two days.

Life is good!!!

Melissa

He weighed in at 9 pounds 2 ounces, managing to beat big brother’s birth weight by 5 ounces. He was 20 and 3/4 inches long–nice and big and healthy.

Labor was long (12 hours), but great (of course, thank goodness for the epidural). Jonah came out in 3 pushes with no problems. I guess I do have to thank mom for these hips afterall.

It’s now Thursday evening and we’ve been home for a few hours. Jonah is nursing well and currently sleeping (which of course is what I should be doing too!) I just wanted to get up the initial pic and let all of our family and friends see our new little miracle.

Aunt Ivonne was in attedence playing a duel role–support for mom and memory keeper. She took about a gazillion photos. As soon as I hijack her camera, I’ll get more of the pics up. Thank you to everyone who has called and/or emailed us wishing us well. Life is good for the Johnsons–we have been blessed with an amazing family both near and far. We love you all!!! xoxoxoxoxo

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