Introducing our sweet Jonathan Joseph

Mama and Papa are overjoyed to announce the birth of our beautiful son
Jonathan Joseph Leonardo
Born Monday, August 18, 2014 at 12:13pm
7lbs, 2oz 20.5 inches long

The whole OR was filled with excitement as Mama was given her spinal and scrubbed down. It's not often that Mamas and Papas don't know whether they are having a boy or girl so everyone was very excited for us and our surprise. Papa was all ready in his scrubs :)

And when Dr. March asked Papa to have a look at his new baby, Papa stood up and broke in to a huge smile. Tears filled his eyes and he started to laugh when he told Mama we had a new boy! He was so excited to hold you and bring you to Mama so I could feel your skin and whisper how much I loved you!
Then you were taken to a nice warm room with Papa and measured and weighed. You will see the TONS of photos your proud new Papa took of his gorgeous new son!!

My handsome boys

One VERY proud Papa

Finally meeting and holding my sweet baby!!

You are just so gorgeous and so perfect and we feel so very, very blessed! And already we can see your sweet personality shining through. We have been basking all afternoon in a little quiet family cocoon, holding you, smelling you, and telling you how much we love you! And your Papa began drawing up basketball plays because he is just too excited....three boys and he is ready to coach! :)

Not long after Mama was settled in, your big brothers came to meet you! Their name tags/passes said it all "Proud Big Brothers!". I wish I could post the video of this wonderful moment when they first met you, but it's too big for the blog.
Mama and Papa kept it a surprise all day and did not tell your brothers until the minute they saw you if they had a new brother or sister. You should have seen the absolute joy in their eyes when we introduced their new little brother! You were a HUGE hit! And the next hour was spent passing you back and forth between brothers who want more than anything to hold and love you every minute!

Mimi and Ga were also so excited to welcome their Lucky #7 grandbaby! It was so special to have them here and they are so in love with you. Jonathan!

You are finally here and we feel so very complete! My three ducklings all in a row! :) My three beautiful boys....a dream come true!!
We can't wait to begin this life with you, Jonathan! You are our angel from heaven and we love you forever!!!

Our sweet Jonathan

And with this post, we close the door on your Belly Blog and open the door to your own special blog where Mama and Papa will follow all of your upcoming milestones and adventures. What an adventure it was carrying you for nearly 10 months my sweet boy and imagining who you would be! And here's to the amazing journey ahead and all you will become!

On your way....

Saying goodbye to baby belly one last time

We love you sweet baby!

The day is here! Mama and Papa are bursting with excitement!!
We said goodbye to your brothers and Mimi and Ga and had a quiet drive down to the hospital. We talked about finally getting to meet you after all this time, the special names we have chosen for you, and Mama's nervousness about the surgery. Mama is so lucky to have Papa by her side. He is and always will be a wonderful teammate!

This is all still so very surreal for us. By not coming early and creating a surprise arrival you have given us the opportunity to pay attention to each and every detail of these moments leading up to our meeting. There is a special calm surrounding us as we make our way in to triage and get Mama all set up for action. :) Your Papa knows just what to do to make sure I am comfortable.

And then we're off..... soon you will be in my arms. We've been dreaming of this moment for 39 weeks!
We love you little one!!!!!

One last Baby Belly pic

It's almost here.
Tomorrow we will MEET you!!

Words can not describe how excited we are to meet our third angel!!
Your Mama is a ball of emotions....I have loved having you inside me for these 39 weeks. I am so grateful for this gift! I feel so sad to be spending my last night pregnant; what a joy to share this time together, just you and Mama! But I can not wait to hold you, smell you, and kiss you! And your Papa, brothers, Mimi, Ga, and EVERYONE are so excited to have you here!
I love you so much my sweet baby! For the next few hours your Mama will cherish all of your baby wiggles and we will SEE you tomorrow!
All my love, always little duckling!

A "first" purchase for three :)

Your Mama couldn't resist......
The fall decorations are out everywhere including at a small antique shop just down the road. And there were three little metal pumpkins hand-made just for my three little ducklings.

Mimi and Mama had a lot of fun shopping on Saturday. :) And it was officially Mama's "first" purchase for THREE (instead of two) little darlings.
I can't wait to put these out on the front porch in just over a month. Your brothers are waiting for you so they can "pick" who gets what pumpkin :)
Mama is so excited for her Baby to be here!

Pre-op Appt....Check!

Can't believe it! For the first time ever, your Mama made it to her scheduled pre-op appt. This is all very surreal :)
Each pregnancy we've had these appointments scheduled but Baby always comes days (or weeks!) before! Not this little one! You are happy as can be in Mama!!
Blood tests are all done, special bracelet is in place (and can NOT be removed for the entire weekend!), all elements of the surgery have been confirmed, and every member of the baby OR unit is now giddy that on Monday morning, they get to be a part of a very big surprise :). You make people happy who don't even know you yet! :) We are set to meet our little Baby!
And PS....this bracelet scares just about everyone when your Mama walks in to a store. The Baby belly combined with the hospital bracelet makes everyone think I am in full labor right then and there. Hmmmm.....clearly these folks have never seen a preggo lady in actual labor :)

Mimi made it!

For the first time in Leonardo Baby history :), your Mimi made it to Raleigh BEFORE you decided to make your official appearance. :)

Mama and Papa are so excited to have her here. And your brothers are in heaven! Ga will be following in just a few days. We wonder if you will wait around for everyone to be here?!
Your Mama and Papa just can't believe how happy you are in there! :)

August 11.....comes and goes :)

Your Mama was SO convinced you were going to arrive on August 11!! And just as you surprised us when you came down from heaven after the doctors said you wouldn't.....Mama's 38 week mark came and went on August 11 and you are nice and comfy. Even your Papa was up all night expecting Mama to tell him we had to go to the hospital. But you have your own plan in mind. :) We shall see if you come this week, early, or if you, unlike your brothers, decide to wait until your scheduled arrival on August 18.
Whenever you do arrive, we will be SO SO SO excited to meet you!!
We love you!

Making Memories of your Beautiful Baby Belly

Mama, Papa, and your brothers had a lot of fun capturing your beautiful baby belly, my sweet little one. You are so very precious to us!

Pure love!

Daydreaming about you in your nursery

Kisses from your whole family :)

We love you so very much!

So ready to be big brothers

Anxiously awaiting their new forever friend and family member!!

These boys LOVE LOVE LOVE you!!

 They just can't wait to meet you!!

Happy Birth Month!

It's here; August 1, 2014!

We made it to August!! Can't believe how fast this year has gone.
You will be here soon!!
Happy birth month little Leonardo!!

My thanks

Before you arrive little one I have to tell you how honored I am to have had this nine months with you. The Lord knows how much we prayed for you. And you know that from the very moment Mama found out you were there, I have been in awe of you, your strength, your beauty, and the miracle that you are.
Even when Mama was so very sick, I could not help but feel such an immense feeling of joy. There was a time not that many years ago when your Mama was told she would likely never have the gift of carrying children on her own. And I feel like the luckiest Mama in the world. There is no more amazing and incredible feeling than to have you inside of me, growing so strong and "talking" to Mama when you like music and your brothers' voices, or when we all read books together. How I have cherished every single kick, every single hiccup, every single roll over, every single milestone, AND every single morning when you wake me and want to play for hours before the sun comes up :). Thank you for being my angel, for giving Mama this beautiful experience. Thank you for proving everyone wrong and being here with me!!

Your Mama has her moments of sadness these days when I think about not being pregnant anymore, despite all of the swelling, 24 hour heart burn and reflux, and inability to get out of my bed without a crane :). These months have been so very precious for me and I can not begin to tell you how much I know and love you more than anything else in this whole world. But in between these little moments of sadness (your Mama is very emotional!) I then have moments of sheer excitement over when I will finally hold you in my arms. Yesterday I passed a Mom holding her brand new baby in her arms while waiting in line at the store and your Mama could feel, as if you were here, your little weight in my arms, the warmth of your body on my chest, and the softness of your sweet breath. It was like craving chocolate....but wanting my baby instead! :) I think the other Mama knew what I was thinking as I smiled at her and rubbed my belly!
What a wonderful nine months we have had together my little one, and what a wonderful life we will have when you arrive. Your whole family is waiting to love you forever!!! I already do!!!!

All my bags are packed.....

I'm ready to go!  :)

Your Mama can feel her hips loosening and small pops in my back.... nothing official yet but my body is telling me something :)
My weekly check-up today included our last sonogram and the very last pictures of you little one, before you arrive, growing so strong inside! You look SO beautiful. And your Mama and Papa are so darn proud of all of those organs, that beautiful heart, and your big ol head and delicious round belly! You are measuring in around 6lbs already even though Mama has two more weeks before your scheduled arrival. But we shall see! :)

Your new home!!

To my sweet little one,
Mama and Papa have been working on your nursery since January and it is officially complete. Now all that is needed is YOU! And your Mama can NOT wait!!

Mama sits in the nursery and listens to her favorite cd (which we will listen to together when we have our quiet moments at night!) and I daydream about you and having you here with our family. Your new room has been filled with love from the very beginning! Little tiny diapers await your little rump roast and all of your beautiful blankets and onesies are washed and waiting for your gorgeous little self (and your sweet smell - one of the most beautiful in the whole world!).

Mama made you a special mobile that moves quietly in the breeze from the fan. And your brothers helped pick out the beautiful message on your wall (with Pooh).
You will be surrounded by lots of duckies, teddy bears, and sheep :) but none of them will be as cute or cuddly as you! :)
I just can't wait to have you here. I just can't wait!!!

Your portrait

Little duckling,
I tell you often how excited your big brothers are to meet you and have you in our family! But this was too cute to not post.
Your big brother Benjamin came home from kindergarten with a portrait of you! He was so proud and so was Mama!!

I just love that he gave you long eyelashes :) and big brown eyes!!
You are wearing a pink dress (I think) but he refers to you as his brother and his sister at various times. Either way, HE LOVES YOU SO MUCH!
We all can't wait to meet you soon!

Getting ready! Cruisin in our new ride :)

It's official; Mama has a new ride! :) And we are now officially ready for you!!
Never thought I would drive a mini van, in fact I refused to do so for years! :) But then I started noticing how all of our friends could just press a button and their kids could hop in to the car, jump in to their seats. There was no worry about how to fit the car seat in the back door if the person next to us parked too close!
So I said I would consider it....and your Papa did the rest :)

The new Leonardo mobile home :)

My spaceship command center :)

And I will be the very first to admit that I was a fool all these years; there is a reason so many moms love these cars and so many families have them! This new ride is AMAZING!!! I feel like the captain of a space ship :) And I have perma grin every time I walk up to the car and the trunk opens as I am approaching so I don't have to lift a finger to put those groceries in :) Your brothers think it is beyond cool to have the door slide open as we approach and they can close it themselves :) We are riding in style!! :)
And, we are now officially ready for you my little one! Your Papa installed your new car seat and we are ready to go! Your big brother Christian is very proud he gets to sit next to you and your big brother Benjamin already has plans to make you smile from his new spot in the back seat (on a booster seat.....oh my goodness!!).

We are ready to roll! :)

Best Papa Ever!

You already have a number of posts on your blog where you get to see all of the fun you have ahead with your Papa (mowing the lawn, riding on the tube, eating ice cream; your brothers will tell you the adventures are endless! :)).
But I just can't wait for you to meet him in person! He is the most amazing Papa and your Mama (and brothers) feel so very lucky!
I don't know another Papa who wants to be with his boys ALL of the time, every single day! Rather than miss a minute when he is out doing chores, he just holds them tight while he's riding his new lawn mower :).

We LOVE you Papa!!! You're going to need another leg or a side saddle seat when you've got your third little duckling :)

HOLY NESTING!!!!!!

It's official....Mama duck is on a nesting frenzy :)
I started a few weeks ago going through little places and getting the nursery finished. But as of today, full scale nesting has kicked in! :)
All baby bottles, milk containers, pacifiers, future teethers, breast pump pieces, etc. are now boiled, sanitized, dried and organized.

This morning alone while boiling everything Mama cleaned out one of our pantries, cleaned out the gift wrap closet, and cleaned out the guest room closet.
New baby mobile is done and beautiful :) (made by Mama! :))
The first of many freezer meals has been made, marked, and stored :)
Pac n play and changing table are set up on first floor and bib drawer is stocked full :)
Majority of maternity clothes (beyond those I am wearing right now) are washed and packed in to bins. All baby clothes are washed, folded and in their proper drawers or closet bins :) And of course, your going home outfit is ready and packed in Mama's bag!
Phew....my feet are the size of boats :) (can I tell you how much I love nesting?? :) It fits your Mama's personality :) and gives me an excuse :)). But for now, I'm going to lie down...

My babies....

Your Mama is an emotional roller coaster these days....
Your big brother Benjamin had his first day of kindergarten and it doesn't feel possible that 5 1/2 years have gone by since he was our miracle. I remember our first moments with him at the hospital just as I do with your other brother Christian! And he is turning three in just about 2 weeks. What happened to my babies!?!?
Time goes too quickly!!

And Mama knows you will arrive and grow and grow and make me so proud! And I will LOVE every minute of it even though I weep because you are getting too big too fast and I can't freeze time!
Just know I am going to eat you up every single minute as I have done with your brothers so as not to miss one single bit of this precious time!