Mr. Jonah Asher Ross entered this world on Thursday, December the 8th at 7:53 pm. Exactly 11 short months after his big sister went to be with Jesus.
He came into this world weighing in at 8 lbs, 10 oz and was 21 iches long. He has a head full of dark black hair and the sweetest chubby cheeks you can imagine. After 12 hours of labor (yes this little guy made me work :) they placed him in my arms and he changed my world forever. My arms were full. After so many months of aching and hurting, they were full of a sweet bundle of boy who gave me hope and restored it completely. What a blessing he is...
And the best part of all... He looks SO much like Maddie Grace. His dimpled chin, adorable chubby cheeks, and sweet dark hair remind me so of her. He is her in boy form. What. A. Blessing.
I feel like the Lord gave me pieces of her back to enjoy for a lifetime. She will live on in our hearts and minds forever but now I feel like we get to watch a piece of her grow up. This makes me so happy.
Rick and I (along with the boys) are so completely in love with him. He has returned such joy to this family. After a long year of sorrow, happiness has returned. I can't express what this little boy has done for me. My heart feels renewed. God is so good.
Jonah is such a sweet baby. He love too sleep and eat, and he LOVES to be in Mommy and Daddy's arms. And that is where he has spent the last (almost) 5 days. He is just perfect and precious in every way.
The 8th has always been such a hard day for me but now I can smile again on the 8th, for the Lord has given us a new beginning. We have come so far from that sad day in January. She came into the world on a Thursday and went home to Heaven on Saturday. Just 2 short days. Just a little time. But as my Pastor said at her funeral, The God who was good on Thursday, is still good on Saturday.
I can stand and testify again as I welcomed my Baby boy into the world on Thursday and brought him to our family home on Saturday. My God who was good on Thursday, is STILL good on Saturday... even 11 months later.
God is good.
We are blessed.
Jonah is here.
And for that we are thankful. Hope is born. Hope has returned. I'm so thankful for hope.
Thank you for your prayers, excitement and wonderful wishes for us and our sweet new boy. Rick and I have been overwhelmed with the outpouring of love we have received. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Thank you.
Enjoy our sweet bundle. He IS a blessing from above.
Thank you sharing in on our special day. It was both emotional and wonderful. I have so many more pictures to post and I will soon. Right now, I'm just enjoying holding my little love.
Okay, first off -- Mama, you look FANTASTIC! So vibrant and full of love and life, I love it!
ReplyDeleteSecond, Jonah is gorgeous! How much does he weigh? He looks like a chubbabubba?
I know that your family will enjoy every.single.second. of baby Jonah. How blessed is he to be born unto the Ross family.
Awww......what a blessing.<3
ReplyDeleteAw, he's precious!!!!
ReplyDeleteCongrats! That picture of you holding Jonah and crying made me cry. So beautiful and so full of emotion. I can read everything running through your head and your heart. Jonah is beautiful! Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your precious baby boy! Enjoy your new family!
ReplyDeleteGinger
Ball of tears!!! That pic of u holding him crying got me..wat beautiful pictures & he is soooo gorgeous!! God is so good!! love u!! & praying for u all.
ReplyDeleteI am so overwhelmed with how much he looked like Maddie the day he was born, it made me even more hopeful. To see the emotion of you holding him and crying moved me to tears. I just can't imagine having another baby in my arms, our rainbow baby. I didn't know but Maddie and Ainslee share the 8th, just a month apart. The 8th has always been rotten for me too with her passing on February 8th. I am so thankful you now have Jonah to fill some of the sadness and restore some joy. Praying for you always as I'm sure there is a daily anxiety. Love you.
ReplyDeletePraise the Lord! What a beautiful baby and such a precious family. May the Lord continue to richly bless you!
ReplyDeleteNatalie, I haven't missed a single one of your posts on this blog and I must say, I have been highly anticipating this one! Though we've never met, I talk about you to my husband and children like you're and old friend and I pray for you often. I'm so incredibly grateful for what the Lord has done in your life. Though I know you would have never chosen this path, I can see how you have handled this, by God's GRACE, with true HOPE in the Lord! What a beautiful testimony you have had and now a beautiful baby boy to bear witness of God's faithfulness in your life. God Bless You and I will continue to pray for you and your family.
ReplyDeleteCongrats!!! Have been following you from Baby Maddies's blog. I have been waiting to see the pictures of him. My sweet boy arrived just 6 days before yours on the 2nd. We too are just so grateful for the blessing of a baby boy!!!
ReplyDeletePrecious! Congrats on your new little bundle!! He is so chunky and adorable! Love the picture of you crying- with Joy!!
ReplyDeleteNat, I am amazed by how good our Lord is! I am so thankful He has chosen to fill your arms again! The picture of you holding baby Jonah and crying moved me to tears. I am sooo happy for you Nat but at the same time my heart is moved by what you have gone through this year. I just want to give you the biggest hug and let you know how much I care about you. The Lord loves you and He is taking the best care of Maddie. You are so dear to me and I am continuing praying for you! Thank you for posting the pictures! They are precious beyond words! Love you, Nat!
ReplyDeleteHe's beautiful! The photo of you holding him crying made me teary eyed myself. Blessings to you and your family!
ReplyDeleteAllison Thompson
Monument, CO
I only came across your blog about a month ago but I read through all of your posts that same day. My heart broke for your family and rejoiced in your faith. I have anxiously been waiting for pictures of your sweet boy. He is beautiful and looks so much like your sweet Maddie Grace. Rejoicing with you and continuing to uphold you and your sweet family in prayer.
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness!!!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite photos are both the one of you holding baby Jonah, and the one with Rick holding him with you in the background smiling. Gosh, had me tearing up with those. What a beautiful experience you have had and I just know it will stay with you for a lifetime. As for you in the photos you would never think that you went through 12 long hours of labor to get him out. You look like your just out to the mall for a few hours. :) Congrats on the new bundle...Im speechless with the love that surrounds you. Hugs-
Felicia
Yay! I'm am so so so happy everything went smoothly and you're home with your newest little man! Congrats and we're praying for you and your family!
ReplyDeleteSo happy for you and your family. I am so thankful God has allowed you peace happiness and strength! PS: he is way cute and I see a little of Maddie too! :)
ReplyDeletePraise God! Jonah is such a beautiful blessing. Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteAshley Papson
(a follower from PA)
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI have been reading your blog since the very first couple of posts. Oh, I have wept and prayed with and for you! This post just made my heart swell for you! He is ADORABLE! Continued prayers for your sweet family!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteWelcome to the world Jonah Asher!!!!!!
You look fantastic! And Jonah is adorable. I was so excited for you when I realized he was born on the day Maddie Grace went to be with Jesus; God's extra little gift for you. Still praying for y'all!
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing and wonderful story!! I love that he was born on a Thursday and came home on Saturday. He is absolutely precious and I'm so happy for your family!! Congratulations!!
ReplyDeleteoh my word, Natalie- I don't even know you, but after all these months I feel like I DO know you- I am just crying tears of joy here! He looks SO much like Maddie!! I am soo soo happy for you- congratulations!!!
ReplyDeleteWords cannot express how overjoyed I am for you right now! Welcome little Jonah and praise God for the blessing you are to your family!
ReplyDeleteGod is awesome! Oh how He loves you and me! He has our precious babes with Him in heaven to be reunited with some glad day and has filled our empty arms and comforted us with new life! God bless you all and adorable baby Jonah! -Lisa
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! He is absolutely beautiful! He is such a blessing! I am so glad you had a safe delivery and you are all doing well. Thank you for sharing your family with us! Praying for you always!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! I have been checking daily to see this post :-) I have also been praying for you as you come to my mind. I know how difficult the first few days must have been as you replayed your past experience. God is good and has given you a wonderful Christmas baby so that you wouldn't go through your first Christmas empty-handed. Although we have never met, I feel like I know you because of our common bond as "sisters in Christ"....what a wonderful bond! So happy for you all with the addition of Baby Jonah ;-)Get some rest, mama!
ReplyDeleteOMG he is absolutely adorable. So glad that he brings you so much happiness. I hope that he does the same for your family as our rainbow baby has done for ours!
ReplyDeleteThinking of you always!
Natalie, thank you for sharing the adorable photos of your precious baby Jonah. He is beautiful! I read this post and couldn't help but cry, realizing God's faithfulness to your family throughout this year, and amazed by your family's faithfulness to Him even in a horrible tragedy. You are truly an inspiration to me, and I'm sure many others. Isn't it amazing how many lives Maddie Grace has touched, and will continue to do so?! Thank you again for allowing God to use you through this blog. My continued prayers are with you and your growing family. God has BIG plans for you all! - Lacey Lamb
ReplyDeleteI found your Blog about a month ago your story has showed me that no matter what God can help you with whatever you are going through.Praying For you and your Family. Merry Christmas.
ReplyDeleteI've been following your blog almost from the first when you started it. It's been so encouraging hearing how God has helped you guys thru so much. And now to come back and see how faithful God is when we trust Him. It reminds me of the Bible verse, "He has made everything beautiful in His time." How good and great our God is! And one day, your whole family will be reunited with Maddie once more. Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteI'm SO behind in catching up on blogs, but I'm so happy I stopped by to see this good news! He is beautiful and the photos seriously took my breath away. You meeting him for the first time. Tears! Thank you so much for sharing the photos and I look forward to hearing all about him and seeing more pictures. Enjoy your sweet boy! Congrats!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! Jonah is gorgeous! I'am so happy for you and your family. Merry Christmas!
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