House Hunters

I know, I know... I'm a slacker and way behind. I just have more fun playing with Jonah than I do writing about him! In case you were wondering he is still the most beautiful baby on the planet. I need to get around to updating this thing with pictures of our trips to Chicago and Utah/Nevada/Idaho, and everything else that has happened since early May, but in the meantime...

We are moving! Matt is sick of the commute (2.5 hours), so we have seen dozens of apartments in the last two weeks. Because I have no life, and have seen way too many HGTV shows, I've turned my life into my very own house hunters! Lucky you, I am going to share. If you don't know what House Hunters is, close the window, we can't be friends.

We are looking for a 2bedroom 1 bath apartment close to the subway. The dollar amount listed is +/- our goal amount. I considered putting the actual amount, but whenever I tell someone how much we pay I always see them mentally dividing their rent into ours. I hate that. It is a lot, we know.

The Pre-war Penthouse
2bed 1bath
-$200
1500 Square Feet

Description: This place is the definition of "character". The top floor of a 1920's building, and located on an adorable street with tons of very well kept Victorians. An interior designer owns it and did a pretty good job of restoring it, original hardwood floors and chandeliers in every room. The kitchen has been completely renovated. The apartment is bigger than what we have now and every room feels huge. Storage is also pretty great.

What I Love: This is not the kind of apartment you (or at least we) see everyday. It is exactly my taste. Tons of windows. For our price range this place is huge. Huge. Did I already mention the original lightfixtures?

What I don't love: It is 3/4 of a mile from the subway for Matt, in the snow that is a long way.
Also, it is on the 6th floor and the elevator is broken (temporarily we hear). I have a baby, a sixth floor walk up is a lot of walking up. Street parking only, laundry is in the basement.

Liberty Loft
2bed 1bath
+125
1000 Square Feet
Description: Located in a reonvated factory this loft is RIGHT on Liberty State Park. It has some of the best views of the city I have seen. All hardwood floors, granite, stainless steel... the bedrooms are pretty big, if a little weirdly shaped. Laundry is located in the loft with is nice. Gated parking is included so is a gym.

What I Love: I can make toast and look at the Statue of Liberty. 3 other families from the ward live in this building. The kitchen has all professiona-grade appliances. Even though it is in the heart of the city it is right on the park so lots of room to walk.

What I don't love: This place has a "bachelor pad" vibe to it. The actual street this apartment is on is a little scary. Jonah's room is in the "loft" so it is upstairs, a long-ish walk (read: stumble) at 2am. There is no place for a table, we would havve to get tv trays.


Tiny but Trendy
2bed 1bath
$0
700 Square feet


Description: Location, location, location! this apartment is in our ideal neighborhood, beautiful streets, lots of young families, great restaurants and shopping. Matt's commute would be 10 minutes door to door. This is in an adorable brownstone building. The kitchen is a pretty good size and has been completely redone.

What I Love: The location, obviously! I can walk to a beautiful park in the summer and a great mall in the winter. It has white built-ins! I can't explain it, but white built-ins do something to my rationality, they put it on pause or something. There is a common outdoor space, which is nice.

What I don't Love: About half my furniture would not make this move. I know it is stupid (because I can't take it with me when I die and all that) but I LOVE my furniture. Basically every piece I have took about 20 hours of searching discount stores, garage sales, ikea's 50% off section and thrift stores to find. You can't just throw those man hours away! Also street parking. Laundry is in the basement. This place is small.

So there you have it. 3 totally different places. Which would you choose... or which would you be most likely to come visit?

A Healthier Lifestyle

Have you ever heard that eating several small meals a day is far superior to eating three regular sized meals a day? Jonah has recently caught on to this trend, and in his endeavour towards a healthier lifestyle, demands to be fed every hour. Small meals, of course.

But who could say no to that face?

Matt's Birthday

Suprise! It is a post that isn't completely about Jonah

Matt's birthday was this week and we did a lot of celebrating, 3 days worth.

On Friday night we had our first date since Jonah was born, we went to a Yankees game. Our amazing friends Ryan and Gary gave us their season tickets for the night AND watched Jonah. We had so much fun! I did miss Jonah, but he did great and it was nice to have some time off.

Our seats were great! Here is Matt actually watching the game... I really like going to games, but I dont watch a whole lot. My favorite parts are 1) Singing "Take me out to the ballgame" during the 7th inning stretch 2) The silly cheers like "hip, hip Jorge!" and 3) watching the field groomers do the YMCA.

Us at the Yankees game. I was not really impressed with the new stadium, maybe there was something special about it I missed.

Saturday Matt went biking, opened gifts and played Xbox, I think that is pretty close to his definition of a perfect day. That evening we had a little family party, sushi and cake.

Taking pictures with a camera-timer is awkward.

Sunday we had a get-together with some of our friends who were also celebrating birthdays/anniversaries for a bbq and cake. The weather was beautiful, 90 degrees and the tiniest bit of humidity.



A very awkward picture, but the birthday boys Matt and Brian look great in it. We had to light those candles a few times, the kids were so excited they couldn't help themselves!


And just because I can't help myself.

3 Months

Jonah on his 3 month birthday.

Or as Matt says... Jonah at 3 months (because birthdays are annual).

Jonah's 3 month stats:

Weight: 12lbs 9oz

Height: 23in

Head: 15.5in

For those of you keeping track (which I realize is none of you), Jonah didn't get any taller this month, nor did his head size increase-- he merely got fatter. And it shows, he is so soft and squishy. Some other fun things about Jonah at 3 months:

He holds his head up perfectly.

He can finally go 5 hours between feedings. (rejoice!)

He has finally realized how awesome I am. In fact he thinks I am so awesome that he can't stand it when I put him down.

He loves to have his head touched.

He is facinated by Matt's voice, if Matt is talking Jonah is "listening".

He hates tummy time, and he is very vocal about it.

He still isn't a crier.

When he wakes up in the morning or from naps he talks, louder and louder until I get him.

He laughed for the first time this week. It scared him to death.

I have been waiting and waiting for Jonah to "find his hands". You know that adorable stage when babies stare at their hands, facinated by opening and closing them? For a week or two I was constantly worried that he was behind in his motor skills development, until I realized that he found his hands ages ago. Jonah is simply not impressed by his hands.

A few more pictures of our lovie boy:

Another picture of Jonah on his "birthday".

Jonah playing.


Jonah and dad.

Easter 2010

This year we spent Easter with our good friends the Milkwicks and the Wittwers. General Conference was amazing, we had a great time with friends, and we ate way, way too much food.

Easter Sunday

JJonah trying to stay awake for the festivities

Jonah's first Egg Hunt

Jonah's Blessing

We blessed Jonah on March 28,2010. Matt performed the blessing, it was beautiful. Afterward we had a few friends from our ward over for lunch. We have been blessed with such awesome friends here in New Jersey, unfortunately I always forget to take pictures of them. Here are pictures of our beautiful boy on his big day.

My mom got this adorable outfit for him, I didn't want the traditional three piece suit, I love the knit! Also, that is not a pile of junk in the background (my house was clean) I think it is someone's jacket.

The loves of my life.

As you can tell, our house isn't exactly conducive to a photo shoot.

Two Months

Jonah on his two month birthday. I hope our baby girls are this pretty.

Jonah's 2 month stats:

Weight: 11lbs 6oz

Height: 23in

Head: 15.5 in

I knew he was getting big, but these numbers were a shock! The day after his "two month birthday" none of his newborn stuff would fit. I am just not ready for him to get big! I am enjoying how much more aware his is though. Some other fun little things about Jonah:

He is the smiliest (is that a real word? probably not) kid I have ever met. He smiles all the time. Every night I go to bed with my cheeks hurting because when he smiles I smile.

He loves me to sing songs to him.

He is a rational crier. He is tired, hungry, or wet. Once you fix the problem the crying immediately stops.

He loves loves loves his mobile. He could watch the little birds go round and round for hours.

He is a talker, constantly trying to talk, even when I'm feeding him.

He can hold his head up almost perfectly.

He isn't sure how he feels about baths yet.

We are still working on the night schedule. One day we will go longer than 3 hours, but I'd take a happy kid over a cranky night sleeper any day.

He is so much fun, every day we enjoy and love him more. We can't wait to watch him grow up.