Home With Lila

We brought our Lila Eve home last Friday, much to the delight of our older 3 We are really loving on this baby girl! She is just what you want from a newborn- great eater, pooper and sleeper!

How we adore her

Enjoy some pictures of her first few days at home...

Her Name

Lila Eve

Am I right when I say naming babies is hard?

Like most, I have some specifications. Nothing too much, like sticking to one letter, but a few small things I like to factor in like popularity and how it sounds with our last name.

In my marriage, the naming process goes like this: I talk names to death with my sisters and girlfriends. We come up with a list. I take that list home to John. He puts a line through each and every name on the list. I go back to talking names to death with my sisters and girlfriends. And so on...

Lila seemed to keep popping up on lists (sometimes even spelt Lyla) and John stopped crossing it off. WHOA! Big deal!

This name seemed to be everything I was looking for. It's unique but not uncommon. It's feminine and soft. And, I know this is weird, but it has a botanical feel about it. I've spent the last few years researching plants and flowers for landscaping my yard. I wanted something that would reflect this time in my life, but I didn't want it to be something too obvious like Daisy or Rose (although both are really pretty names.)
The final kicker for me was when I associated Lila with Lilac, not only did it concrete the spelling AND offer the allusive floral sense, but it gave me a color to work with. Being the mother of 2 girls already, I'm very drawn to pink. If I have a choice of colors to dress or accessorize my girls in, I always choose pink. This gives me a chance to break that pattern and go with "lilac."

How crazy am I sounding? Did I over think this or what?

Another thing that really attached me to this name was the way it sounded with the middle name I wanted. I love the name Eve, again because it's unique and feminine, but also because it's the name of the first mother on this earth. I've spent many quiet moments pondering on what Eve must've been like...sweet and strong, righteous and smart, loving and hard working, kind and loyal, a true partner to her husband. So many things I want to be! For no particular reason, I didn't want to use it as a first name, but definitely wanted a daughter of mine to carry the name. I dream of a quiet night when I will lay in bed with a bigger version of my little Lila and tell her what I think Eve was like and explain what is expected of her as a Latter Day Saint woman. I think she will respond well to this.

So there you have it...my little girl who will grow to be unique, feminine, strong, smart, kind and good.

And always dressed in lilac!

Jonas Party of 6

After a heavenly shower and a light layer of make up, I was ready for our first family picture All FOUR of my children

I could not be happier!

Finally got a pic of Adeline with Lila

Can't get enoughToday we unwrapped our bundle for the kids to check out her tiny body This little piggy

My little Lila is a text book baby. She eats, poops and sleeps on cue. She nurses like a champ AND takes a bottle and a binky. All her test scores are coming back normal. She cries when she has a need and stops when that need is met. Let's hope these next few months go as smoothly as the last 2 days because...

In the morning we go home!

The Arrival...

Of my PERFECT baby girl happened at 4:39 on Wednesday morning July 6, 2011. Labor and delivery could not have gone better (unless it was during the day), but everything else was ideal.

Welcome!

LILA EVE JONAS

7 lb. 14 oz.

19 1/2 in.

She is my biggest baby by over a pound! Around the nursery they call her LGA (large for gestational age). I call her fat and happy.

I'm being a good sport and posting this picture of all 4 Jonas girls together for the first time. I am only hours post-partum, swollen from fluids and tired eyed from laboring through the night, but, BOY do I love my girls!

I didn't even get a picture of Adeline with her because her attention span didn't last, but Bailey could've cuddled that babe all day.

I'm not exaggerating by one bit when I say "BEST big brother in all the world"

Dad getting a little cuddle/nap time with our little Lila. He is such a sucker!

Profile

How jealous are you that I get to kiss these cheeks all day and night!

We could not be more thrilled to add this beautiful child to our family. I mean, she really is just stunning!

36 Week Update

(Beware (Todd): This is MY blog and I will say what I want)

I am 36 weeks pregnant today.

Did you know I have never carried past 37 weeks? So I am on the count down!

I went to the doctor today and got "checked." I am dilated to a 4 and 50% effaced.

Then he stripped my membranes (I warned you). It didn't hurt and it didn't make anything happen, which is a happy thing. I'd like to keep this babe in for at least a few more days. I'd like to ensure she does not enter the NICU. (you hanging in there Todd?)

(My bro Todd is a total wimp and told me this post almost made him lose his lunch)

I am feeling large and in charge, but still pretty good.

Sometimes people like to remind me that I am looking HUGE or uncomfortable or swollen or ready to pop. I appreciate those reminders because every step on swollen feet, every trip to the bathroom and every walk past a mirror just isn't reminder enough.

But today I was loading a small amount of wal mart bags into my mini van and the nicest middle-aged lady came and helped. She asked when I was due and I said "the next week or two" and do you know what she said to me? "Well don't you just look so beautiful!"

I should've hugged her!

Keep ya posted!

May in Review

How sorry am I that I have to blog a whole month in one post!

At least you're getting it, so here we go...

At the beginning of the month, we went to the Thanksgiving Point Tulip Festival with the Hansens.
My 3 Amigos
Silly Sisters
The tulips did not disappoint this yearAdeline has become my poserHansens and JonasesCamryn enjoying the beauty
Austin finished a great soccer season with the Purple Lightening

His coach asked him to play on a competition team next year. Any thoughts on that? I'm thinking he's too young to start competition soccer.

Austin's 2nd grade class was so great this year. His teacher, Mr. Felt, is a fun, passionate teacher. His class pet is a bearded dragon named Dale. Thank goodness it wasn't the kind of class pet that the students take home for the weekend.
Mr. Felt (who is now going to be Austin's guitar teacher)
The whole class
This pic was too cute to leave out

The school's Dance Festival always delivers.

The 2nd graders did Thriller
The kindergartners did The Chicken Dance
We're so impressed that Adeline will perform all out!


Thanks May!

June 12

2001. Sealed in the Costa Rica, San Jose Temple.

Would you believe me if I told you that I almost called it off the night before?

It's true!

But John assured me that he would work to be the very best husband and The Spirit reminded of past confirmations that I was doing what was right.
And we went through with it. And John kept his promise. And I've never regretted it for a single second in the past 10 years

2011...
The world tells me I should be in a bikini on a remote beach sipping pina coladas with my man.

But I'm 8 months pregnant with child #4.

And The Spirit speaks to me again to tell me that I'm still doing what's right.

And I've never been so happy!