Hi, friends! Today on the blog I am sharing a few newborn family pictures of my newborn baby Zephaniah, who was born last month! I know I’m a little late posting his birth announcement, but life has been really busy. If you’re a parent, then you know how crazy life can get with a newborn.

It’s amazing how one tiny person can make such a big change in your life. But you know what? Travis and I wouldn’t change it for the world, sleep deprivation, and all! 🙂 Being a parent is such an amazing blessing, and I am happy to share my newest blessing with you!

So about August…

I didn’t mean for this to have happened, but I seemed to have skipped blogging for the entire month of August! My bad!

See, what had happened was… I had a baby! I had my baby boy on Monday, August 14, 2017, and ever since his birth, life has been super busy. Actually, life got very busy a couple of weeks prior to his birth.

I was such a procrastinator this pregnancy that I left all of our baby preparations for the last minute aka the last month of my pregnancy. From finalizing my natural birth plan to buying the baby’s clothes, I started and finished everything in the ninth month!

Heck, I even registered for the hospital at around 37 weeks pregnant!

And with blogging, I had initially planned on checking in on the blog once a week, but you know…life happened! So I apologize for my month-long absence from the blog. 🙂

I am happy to be back blogging, and as you can see from all of my September posts, I am back to my regular blog schedule. Yay!

Good Life Detroit Blog
Seven months pregnant with Zephaniah

Meet Zephaniah! 

I know I’m a little late on sharing photos of my baby, but better late than never, right?

Meet our baby boy Zephaniah! He was born on Monday, August 14, 2017, at 11:09 p.m. in Southfield, Michigan. I went past my due date and had Zephaniah at 41 weeks and 2 days. I was worried I was going to have to be induced, but thankfully my labor started naturally.

I had a natural, unmedicated labor at the ABC Unit. It was the most amazing experience! I also had great support from my husband, daughter, doula, and OB doctor.

Zhen helping me rub my back while laboring at home.

Here are a few photographs of my little guy. He’s the sweetest baby and so incredibly handsome. Travis and I are so in love with our baby boy, who makes Baby #5 for us, by the way! 🙂

Meet our baby boy Zephaniah, born on Monday, August 14, 2017! 

Thankful for My Teens!

Elijah (17) and Michala (15) are our two teens and they love their baby brother! Michala was with me during my labor at the hospital. She tagged along with Travis and I and she was a great help. Elijah stayed home and helped out with the toddlers, which was also a very big help for us.

Elijah and Michala love holding the baby and spending time with him. They even pulled a few late nights with me to help me out. I am greatly appreciative of their willingness to give me a hand. I am so proud of both of their hard work and dedication to our family!

Elijah (17) wrapping baby brother in a swaddle blanket at the hospital.
Big sister Michala holding baby brother Zephaniah about an hour after his birth. She was so excited to meet her baby brother!

The Toddlers Love Their Baby Brother! 

The toddlers, Zhen (4) and Zechariah (2), absolutely adore their baby brother! They can’t get enough of him. They want to hold him all of the time. Honestly, they make me nervous when they’re around the baby because they can be a little rough.

I have to keep my eye on those two. Zhen and Zechariah do not completely understand that their baby brother isn’t big enough to play with toys yet. Zechariah keeps trying to give the baby his toys, which is really cute. He also likes to touch the baby’s face for some reason. He is just so fascinated with the baby!

“Why do you like the baby so much, Zhen?” I asked Zhen this question as she and I were looking at the baby in his bassinet. I was curious to know what she thought of her baby brother. Zhen smiled and said, “Because he’s SO cute!”

Zhen (4) and Zechariah (2) were so excited to meet their baby brother Zephaniah!

Four-year-olds can babysit, right?😊

Zhen LOVES holding Zephaniah. She is always asking me if she can hold the baby. She even offered to babysit for me. 😉 I let her “babysit” when I am in the kitchen cooking or if I have to step out of the room for a minute. She “babysits” by watching her baby brother in his bassinet and talks to him or sings him a song. She feels so grown up when she’s taking care of her little brother.

It also took the toddlers a little bit to realize Mommy didn’t have a baby in her belly anymore. When I was pregnant, they loved coming up to me and putting their hand on my belly. “Baby!” they’d exclaim with a big smile on their face.

The day after I had Zephaniah, the kids came to visit me in the hospital. The toddlers immediately ran up to me and Zechariah put his hand on my belly and yelled, “Baby!” I said to him, “Not anymore, Zechariah. Here’s the baby!”

And I led him to his baby brother. Boy, was he confused! He got really quiet and just stared at Zephaniah.

Zechariah (2) checking out his baby brother Zephaniah at the hospital.
Zhen holding her baby brother at the hospital. She loves being a big sister!

Two Things I Wish I Could Change About My Pregnancy

I’m not going to lie; I really do miss being pregnant! My pregnancy with Zephaniah went really well, with no health complications for myself or baby. It was a beautiful experience and I feel like the time went by very fast. If there was one thing I could change, it would be to go back to my ninth month of pregnancy and take more pictures of myself pregnant! I completely forgot to have my photograph taken at nine months pregnant! Ugh!

If there was one thing I could change, it would be to go back to my ninth month of pregnancy and take more pictures of myself pregnant!

You know what? Make that two things I wish I could go back and change. I wish my husband would have taken pictures of me in labor like I had asked him to do! I have never had labor/birth photographs taken of me before and I really wanted to document my labor and the birth of Zephaniah.

Travis told me he was so caught up in the moment of caring for me in labor that he forgot to take pictures. Thankfully, my doula took a few photos of Zephaniah’s birth. (No worries, I’m not sharing my birth photos on the blog!)

Travis gives Zephaniah a kiss as big brother Zechariah checks out his new baby brother.
Zephaniah, 1 day old.
Nana, my mom, meets Zephainah for the first time. This is her sixth grandchild!

And just like that, we blinked… and he’s now one month old!

My how quickly the time flies. Oh, Zephaniah! How I love you so!

Zephaniah, 1 Month Old (9/17/17)
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All photographs are courtesy of Jennifer Hamra for Good Life Detroit.

Written by

Jennifer Hamra

Freelance creative Jennifer Hamra created her blog Good Life Detroit in 2015 after relocating from Tennessee to Southeast Michigan.

Inspired by her love for personal blogging and photography, Jennifer likes to share her favorite Detroit things, from cool places to visit (the hidden gems are her favorite!) to the amazing people she has connected with over the years.

When she's not busy juggling family life and her creative projects, you can find her at an art gallery, community event, farmers market, or spending quiet time at home with a good book and cup of tea.

Jennifer lives in the metro Detroit area with her husband Travis and their six children.

Connect with Jennifer on social media @goodlifedetroit on all social media platforms or via email at [email protected].