Tag: Jonathan

Dear Jonathan, on your Fourth Birthday

Posted on by Lauren Lane

It’s your fourth birthday today! You are so easy to love. I don’t know anyone who has met you and spent time with you that doesn’t adore Big J. You radiate the kind of energy that’s magnetizing. The kind of energy kids and adults want to be around. You are so silly and so unabashedly yourself. It’s refreshing to know and love you, little boy.

Your emotions live close the surface. And even though that’s a really hard trait sometimes in life, I wish I could protect that and nurture it so that it never goes away. It will be your greatest strength when you fall in love, and the hardest part of having your heart broken. But I pray that you live your life with your heart open for forever. It’s what makes you so uniquely you.

Well, that and your adoration of lawn mowers and tractors. You hear lawn mowers from a mile away. You spot lawn mowers everywhere we go. Your favorite weekend activity is mowing with your Daddy. And it’s been that way for years. If you don’t grow up to own a lawn mowing business or a farm, I will truly be shocked. You ask to see people’s mowers when you first meet them. Your favorite play date activity is yard work. You notice a nicely mowed lawn everywhere we go.

Your daddy and I are so very blessed to be your parents. To have a front row seat to your growing up. It is the most magnificent journey, and there are more times than I can count where your Daddy has sat down beside me at night after you go to bed and said, “Man. I didn’t know I needed a Big J in my life, but he is the coolest kid I think I’ve ever met. I love him more than I could have ever imagined loving someone.”

I love you bud. Or as you tell me at night now with your arms wrapped around my neck, “I love you so so so so so so so so so sooooo much.”

All my love,

Mommy

P.S. Yes, you can have a birthday treat. 🙂

10 Random Things Lately

Posted on by Lauren Lane

I could say that life has been busy lately….that would be an understatement. But I’m guessing you probably presumed that when I disappeared a few weeks ago. Since it’s been sooo long since I shared anything, I thought I’d share 10 random things from life lately…

  • The older boys went to their very first wedding. And they had the very best time dancing, eating, and drinking special drinks. Not to mention that they looked so handsome!
  • Harrison is rounding out the end of his Kindergarten year. That seems impossible to believe…but it’s nearly here! We had his school’s open house, and he loved showing us around the school and everything he’s worked on this year!

We celebrated Harrison’s sixth birthday with friends! AND a Mommy & Daddy date to Top Golf. If you thought he would have the BEST time at Top Golf, you would be right.

We installed and planted two raised beds near our new shed. I’m growing lettuces, tomatoes, cucumbers and raspberries. Crossing my fingers that we’re successful! I haven’t been much of a food gardener until this year.

We all tested positive for strep (besides Nathan) four days before leaving for Florida with my sister’s family. Poor baby Aidan has been on antibiotics for ear infections so often recently that they had to treat him with daily shots this time around. I was just thankful to have found it before we left and got on the airplane! At least strep is an easy fix.

And of course with it being springtime, I am busy planting, planting, planting! And so excited this year to help people with their summer containers. It’s doubly fun dreaming up combinations for customers and getting them installed!

Jonathan has taken to calling adding sugar to your cereal as adding “seasoning.” He routinely asks us for Cheerios with seasoning now. When do we live in a world where kids name everything?

Shortly after Aidan’s first birthday, he started walking. And now we have a baby walking everywhere! He wants to get into all the things, climb all of the stairs, and absolutely does not want to be left by himself EVER. He now has mastered Mama, Dada, and a lot of telling us “MO! Mo! Mo!” while signing “More.” He’s also recently added “yeah” to his repertoire, and we love asking him yes or no questions to hear him say, “Yeah?”

He’s officially moved up to the Toddler classroom at school, and I guess that fully shuts a door on baby years. We have been so blessed to have three sweet, healthy babies and for me to have been able to enjoy six months off with each of them during my maternity leave.

My little business has been growing faster than I had ever imagined! I absolutely love everything about it – from helping with landscape consultations, to full blown landscape drawings and renderings, and container installations. It’s been so much fun!

I’m hoping that I can get back to a more consistent posting schedule, but I think I may need to make it through May before that kind of time frees up!

What have you been up to this month?

Lauren

My Little Thankful Turkeys

Posted on by Lauren Lane

Our little turkeys have been creating their annual thankful turkeys this month. It’s so fun to see how the things they are thankful for changes year to year. Their maturity and understanding of gratitude has changed so much in a single year. Here are a few of my favorites from each boy this year…

Harrison:

Right off the bat, Harrison’s day one thankful item was Jesus & God with Day 2 followed up with hi family. I don’t think there is a more first-born answer on day one and two than that. This contrasted sharply with Jonathan’s day 1 thankful item…you’ll have to read on for that. 🙂

Aidan made it onto Harrison’s thankful turkey three times. Can you tell Aidan is the favorite? First as part of his family, loving Aidan the most. Then as part of his brothers. And finally just a flat out thankful for “Aidan.”

I know he must be learning something at school when out of nowhere he’s thankful for his “community.” Let me tell you something that we’ve never discussed with him….what the word community even means.

Jonathan:

In true second/middle child fashion, Day 1, Jonathan was thankful for Mowers & Tractors. Need I say more?

Aidan, again, made it onto Jonathan’s thankful turkey with a special call out in his family. And also, Jonathan was thankful for Aidan’s paci and loveys. I’m not sure why that is….maybe he cries too much? Maybe because Jonathan also is thankful for his own lovey? Who knows…

And I just need to point out how many yard and tractor items made this turkey. Five days. Five days of being thankful for various things related to yard work and tractors. He’s a man of simple pleasures.

I’m taking next week off from both blog world and work to focus on our family, decorate for Christmas, and hopefully have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Fingers crossed – because last year I had a house full of sickies for Thanksgiving.

Hope you all have a wonderful holiday as well!

7 Quick Jonathan Takes

Posted on by Lauren Lane

Ooooooh man. Jonathan is at an age where every last thing he does is either unbelievably cute or unbelievably frustrating and annoying. He is every last bit of a three-nager. He’s stubborn, but knows he’s dang adorable. He’s everyone’s friend, and there are so many great things about him right now that may make this my favorite Jonathan quick takes yet.

-1- He asks every morning for us to read to him what’s being served for lunch and snack that day at daycare. And when he really likes something, he says, “Oooooooooh. Oatmeal bars. That’s my best!”

-2- I walked out of my room the other day in my new overalls thinking I looked cute, and Jonathan asked me, in all seriousness, why I was wearing my costume.

-3- He introduces himself to every single person as “Big J.” And it’s usually followed by a quizzical look from the adult to me – at which point I have to explain that he calls himself Big J, but his name is Jonathan.

-4- We somehow ended up with one random KU (University of Kansas) coozie that a friend must have left here at some point. Being K-State fans, we’re not really big supporters of KU. And somehow Jonathan caught on that Nathan always says, “Boo KU” when KU is mentioned. So now he looks for the “Boo KU” coozie – as though that is the proper name for the coozie.

-5- Refers to having a sweaty head as “Daddy’s brain is sweaty.”

-6- I’ve never noticed how many mowers there are in this world until Jonathan. And now each one is pointed out with a scream from the backseat of “MOWERS!!!!” In case you were wondering, you can find mowers just about everywhere.

-7- He asks each member of his family at dinner each night, “Thumbs up or thumbs down day, Dad?”

Young, Wild, & THREE!

Posted on by Lauren Lane

First off, I wanted to say THANK YOU! for all of the advice and experience you shared on my Friday post with regards to all of my kitchen decisions! Truly so helpful to hear what has and hasn’t worked for you all!

Today, I wanted to share Jonathan’s birthday party with you all!

We celebrated Jonathan and Cousin Holden’s third birthdays with an amazing and fun Young, Wild, and THREE party!

I designed the invitations using Canva…

And we decided on an All-American boy themed party!

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Dear Jonathan, (v. XVI)

Posted on by Lauren Lane

Good golly. Today you are three years old. And I can just hardly believe that three years has already come and gone with you, sweet Baby J. You have brought us such JOY since that hot and humid July 30th.

It is impossible not to smile while you’re around. You are constantly saying something to make us laugh, making a funny face, or doing a silly dance. That is, when you’re not getting down to the very serious business of mowing, weed wacking, and leaf blowing the lawn.

You are so easy to love. Every single person who is around you any amount of time tells me that. Teachers, family, friends. You are something so special and unique in the way you make people light up inside.

You are such a precious soul, my Baby J. It’s such a sweet, quiet little soul. And while the outside world sees all of the quirkiness and laughter you bring, your daddy and I see your quietness and thoughtfulness. The way you let others take the spotlight and shine in the things they love. How you encourage and cheer as loud as your little voice will let you for others.

You are something special. I wish I could keep you this age forever. I want to remember all of the lightheartedness. The way you feel even now as I carry you up the stairs to bed, sucking on your lovey. You touched my heart and healed me the day you were born. Giving me another chance to live into the newborn stage of life again with fresh eyes. And you still heal me even today. Reminding me of happiness and joy in the world.

Thank you for your light in this world. You are magic, little one. Happiest birthday, my sweet Baby J. We love you so much.

Love always,

Mommy

7 Quick Jonathan Takes (v. III)

Posted on by Lauren Lane

I’ve been a bad mom….the last time I did Jonathan quick takes it was a YEAR ago. And he’s changed so much since then! My sweet little Jonathan, Baby J, or as he is insisting nowadays, BIG J, is complete joy. Pretty much all of the time. He’s quick to smile, do something silly, and truly brings up the mood of the room when he’s around. Let’s do some quick takes of Baby J that are making my life lately…

-1- There are so many cute things that he’s saying right now. He loves singing. I often hear him singing “We are the Champions” and a Ladybug song. Both equally adorable. But one of our favorite things he says now is, “OH DANG IT!” Said with a smile and a laugh.

-2- He refers to his balance bike as his “motorcycle.” And the kid is a big fan of his motorcycle.

-3- His obsession with lawn care has only grown. Mowers, weed wackers, leaf blowers. He ADORES them. Oftentimes, when we walk by an open garage door now on a walk, he takes a look inside and then informs me whether they have a mower or not.

-4- And on that note….when we arrive at a house to play, Jonathan will play for a few minutes, and then go up to the house and ask, “You got any mowers here?” He’s a man obsessed!

-5- He knows he’s funny. I often catch him making funny faces at himself in the mirror and checking himself out to see how he looks. Guys, he’s a crack up!

-6- At the end of bath time, we always watch the water go down the drain to spot the ‘tornado’ that the water makes as it gets sucked down. And Jonathan has now started asking where the “tomato in the drain” is

-7- He has one volume. And it’s always loud. He’s loud inside. He’s loud outside. I can always hear him talking because its at a volume that sounds like he’s had to learn to talk over people his whole life. But similar to his brother, he takes ‘no’ as just the opening start of a negotiation.

“Mom – can we have a treat tonight?”

“No – not tonight.”

“How ‘bout cupcakes?”

“No. Not tonight.”

“How ‘bout fruit snacks?”

“Nope.”

“How ‘bout ice cream?”

“I said no treats.”

“How how how how ‘bout popsicles?”

And around and around we go.

I love this little boy so much. The joy he brings to so many people always astounds me. He just radiates happiness.

Dear Jonathan, (v. XV)

Posted on by Lauren Lane

{{A note to the reader: I’ve written my little boys letters throughout their whole lives. I share some of them here on this blog. Some are kept just for them in their memory boxes. Letters are my way of memorializing their childhood and their mama’s love for them.}}

We’re less than two months away from you not being my little baby anymore. While you waffle between wanting to be called Baby J or Big J, I’m pretty sure that I’m going to be stuck calling you Baby J for forever. Maybe until I get used to just calling you Jonathan.

I’m worried about how you’ll do in this transition to big brother from littlest brother. You have always been my little shadow. Always preferring to be held by Mama, hugged and cuddled by Mama. You’ve grown up so much over the past couple of months, though. Seeking more independence, you’ve insisted that “No, I DO it.” But I still worry. Worry that you won’t get the attention you need to know you’re still so loved. Worried that you may be jealous of your new little sibling.

Let’s make a plan, little boy. That when you’re feeling lonely or need Mama time, you come hold my hand. And I’ll know that you need me for time alone with just you.

We’ll sneak away for even ten minutes of playing together in the bounce house trying to chase you around. Or plan a date night for burgers and ice cream. Or just cuddle in your bed before falling asleep at nap.

Change can be hard. But good comes out of change. It stretches us and teaches us what we’re capable of in the present. And I just know that you’re going to be great big brother.

You are so special. You are a piece of my heart. Always will be. I love you treats, little one.

Love always,

Mommy

Friday Favorites {02.10.23}

Posted on by Lauren Lane

I have a note on my calendar today that Kindergarten enrollment opens today. Kindergarten. Have we really already passed the baby, toddler and preschool years with our oldest? Oh my goodness. I’m so excited for him, and he’s so ready. And still, I’d just give anything to go back to one more day with this little boy…

And now I’m casually crying at my computer…He was always Harrison. From the minute he was born. I look back at it now, and I can see it ever so clearly. His contemplative nature and the need to figure things out. His a million miles a minute “Hurricane Harrison” was there from the beginning. The doer, goer, tryer, confident little boy was always there.

Here I am off on a tangent again. But, alas, it feels monumental. Kindergarten.

We had a good week. Started it off with some nicer weather and being able to play outside, and then Chiefs Superbowl spirit week at school! Here’s a look at some things that brought a smile to my face this week.

Speaking of Harrison, Nathan and Harrison got back from their annual boys’ ski trip to Breckenridge. I love that Nathan wants to do this trip. I smile just thinking about these two spending one-on-one time together. And Harrison seems to be a natural picking up another activity…

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