We’re about to head out to visit Jen and instead of packing up our
belongings and the baby bag (like I ought to be doing), I decided to
post some pics.  I actually downloaded the pics yesterday and have
been meaning to post them for nearly 24 hours…and I finally found
some time!  Here they are…

IA finally got to meet his imo, Julie.   She’s out at Loma
Linda working out and getting buff, oh, and finishing up her third year
of med school. 
She and John Yoon duked it out one night doing like a million
push-ups.  My sis did over 100 of them…and I’m talking “man
push-ups” – perfect form.  She was not proud of my gut that I’m
still working on getting down. 

A pic of the family after a morning of basketball…actually, a weekend
of basketball.  We’re chillin in Justin’s room before we have to
take my sis back to the airport.  We had the privilege of meeting
Justin’s squirrel pet, Nutz.  John Yoon, quit flexing for the
pictures!

After my sis left, I was inspired to do some walking.  So, on
every nice day, we usually go walking at least once around the
block.  The baby is sporting his bear outfit that he got from his
imos, Angie and Alice.  I think this was the last time I was able
to squeeze it on him.  It’s too small now. 

More walking on a Sabbath afternoon with the Kleinsters…

While my recent bonding with the baby has been our walks, Israel’s
bonding with the baby still remains their afternoon naps
together.   Can somebody say lazy?!

Our animals have been trying to fit in more.  Bentley is trying to
sit on baby to see if he’ll get off his owner’s lap.  He literally
sat on the baby for a few seconds.  (The baby didn’t seem to mind
or want to move.)

And after Bentley’s endeavors to boot baby failed, he humbly agreed to
a compromise.  He would share his owner with the baby.

The kitties all of a sudden took a liking to the baby’s things…like his stroller.


Here’s the last pic and also the most recent one of the
baby.  Next time, I’ll try to get more pics of him while he’s
awake.  He’s looking less and less like a baby.

Well, this is my last week of freedom.  I begin
school on Monday.  I miss teaching, but if I were to choose
between raising the baby and teaching, I would most definitely choose
the baby.  That is something I never dreamed would be me
saying.  Being a mom is just the best thing.  I can’t wait
for all of you women to experience it.  Okay, I gotta get
going.  God bless each of you…

Judy’s sleeping right now because she’s gotten sick.  Thus, I
thought it a good idea to keep you updated on some of the happenings in
the Ramos Household.
We’re (She’s) in need of a good parenting book.  Like any good,
experienced parent knows, it is very important for the baby to
sleep!  Thus, Israel does anything to ensure that the baby sleeps
at all cost.  I put his tummy on my knee and give him a little
(sometimes a lot, pray for me) vibration, put him over my shoulder and
pat him, give a variety of pillows to choose from when he’s crying and
Judy is too sick to feed him and I have to attend to him but he seems
to be grumpy and will not go to sleep as all good babies should in
order to grow up to be big and strong!  I do all sorts of
things.  The new thing is putting him on his little swing with
some classical music for kids that Auntie Sarah gave him.

And then…

Judy wakes up and hears the music that’s way to loud (according to her)
and sees the swing that is swinging way too high (according to her [and
maybe one or two other people…at most!]) and MOVES the baby (WAKES HIM
UP) and puts him on the bed EVEN IF he starts crying again!  So
I’m like, what’s going on?  What are you doing!?

Her answer?

HE MIGHT BECOME DEPENDENT!

It’s like, “we’re” afraid to do anything because “the baby might become
dependent.”  So if you see us on the news and hear that this crazy
family in Michigan is in jail for making their 8-week-old baby sleep
outside, don’t worry.  We just didn’t want him to become dependent
to a warm home, a bed, a dry place to sleep, etc.

Anyhow, I should probably get going and move the baby from the swing to
the bed before Judy wakes up and I get fired from fatherhood.  The
last thing we want is a substitute father because Judy is sick and
Israel is making the baby dependent on things.  

And by the way, if she posts something about me making up songs, etc.,
don’t listen to her…she’s just kidding.  Everybody that knows me
KNOWS that I would never do something like that.

P.S. the baby’s on the swing right now.  He’s been sleeping
forever!  Guys, if you need some professional help on putting
babies to sleep, I’ll hook you up with a discount.  Here’s the
coupon number: #454D8945PGS

April 4th marked IA’s one month of life outside of the womb.   
He weighed in on the Mendez scale a little over 10 lbs and the
following week at the hospital weighed 11 lbs!  He’s growing like
a beanstalk — like a thick beanstalk! 
On this special day, we celebrated by having Uncle Daniel, our family
photographer, and his assistant, Auntie Kerri, come for a special one
month photo shoot.  Here are some of the pictures he took! 
Imanuel’s cousin, Juan, who is 9 months old, also has a special guest
appearance in one of the pics…

Posing with Israel’s mini Bible.  He wasn’t too thrilled about taking this picture.

Special thanks to Juan for letting us borrow his bunny…and special
thanks to Uncle Justin for letting IA borrow his shirt. 

Now Imax (as his daddy likes to call him) isn’t the most photogenic in
this pic…but we thought it was hilarious!  Poor baby could
barely hold up his body.

This is one of our favorites.

Quick updates on what has been going on…
– The baby has had Thrush (yeast infection in mouth – white tongue and
it spreads to inside of cheeks and lips) and has been on Nystatin for
over a week now.  That is the worst medicine.  Baby hates it
and it STILL isn’t gone.  Got it from the antibiotics …one of
the negatives of antibiotics during delivery/recovery.  Please
pray for it to finally go away!
– Poor baby experienced the 8th day, a couple days ago.  He’s in a
little discomfort.  We also found out he’s 12 lbs 5 oz!  He’s
quickly growing into 3 month old clothes!
AND last but not least –
– This Sabbath Imanuel Alexander will have his dedication at Campus
HOPE church at the University of Michigan during the divine worship
service.  We’re looking forward to that.

Okay, that’s all.  God bless!!

-jr

We thank everyone for the cards they have been sending in celebration of Imanuel Alexander’s arrival.  They are all great.

BUT.  Out of all the cards I think this one, from Rob and
Christine Neall (thanks guys, and thanks for the gift too!), takes #1
(see if you agree too)

Unless Imanuel changes his hermeneutical position, we’ll have to stop him from becoming a theologian.

“Must We Be Silent?”

The Ramos Family

Here are Imanuel Alexander’s current best friends (whether he knows it
or not)!  This picture was taken at our first baby party, on March
28th, which included the mommies and babies of the Mendezes, Kleins,
Turners, and Ramoses.  Kerri and Julie came over with lots of
yummy food to eat.  Thank you so much!  We had a great time.

(from left to right and from youngest to oldest):  Imanuel Alexander, Hunter James, Justine Opal, Juan Israel, and Judy Kay

May they all grow up to know and love Jesus!

Here are some pictures of what life was like for the baby during his
third week.  He changes so much that there are times when I think
just after the baby takes a nap, he’s changed again!  People say
that he’s looking less Korean and more…not Korean.  Justin, is
Israel’s genes “bringin down the team” again?

Grandma feeding the baby.

The baby’s first time in the tubby!  (On Grandma’s b-day, March 20)
His ambilical cord FINALLY came off after two weeks.

Baths have now become a nightly ritual.  Israel and the baby spend bath time together.

The baby successfully puts his daddy to sleep…pacifier-in-mouth and all…

Uncle Justin pretending that he just changed the baby’s diaper and
asking me to take a picture…probably to show off to the girls.

“Uncle Justin probably on the phone with a girl.  I feel used.”  *sigh*

Auntie Steph and baby on St. Patrick’s Day. 

Baby wearing his “mommy & me” outfit.  We had to take a picture because it’s already becoming too small for him!

God has been so good to us!  He has given us adequate support,
encouragement and help when we needed it…and most of all, the
assurance that we are not in this alone.  It definitely isn’t as
easy as we thought it’d be, but we are beginning to understand why
children are gifts from the Lord.  They are given to us to prepare
us for the Kingdom.  Happy Sabbath to all of you!  (I think
I’m going to go take a nap now…)