already?

Happy 4 weeks, little hazelnut. We love your little grins, your baby bird hair, your cuddles, and even your constant spit up.

thankful for today

10 Days Old

Happy 10 days old to Hazel. Here are a few pics from last week. I have actually been really bad about taking pictures, but we are really enjoying our sweet, sweet girl. If you want to see some pics that are about a million times better than mine, check out elizabethwiggsphotography.com/blog. Elizabeth did such an amazing job once again!

Here is our attempt at a picture with all the cousins...complete disaster

Yummy cheeks!

Sweet kiddos!


Daddy time

Home Again

We actually made it back home on Friday night, and we are adjusting pretty smoothly to everything thus far. William has been very sweet to Hazel, and has only thrown one toy at her head (in an effort to share). Hazel has been a dream for the first few days, so we only pray that the pattern will continue.

Here we are with our blond children. Don't they look just like us?

William with his Mr. Potato Head glasses and a tie sticker on his shirt...quite the prepster if you ask me. This is what he did when HJ asked him to smile for the camera.

Hazel is Here!

Hazel Anne Jones

November 4, 2010

12:26 pm

9 pounds, 4 ounces

blonde hair just like her big brother

Thank you for your prayers! We are so happy to welcome this newest blessing to our family!

Halloween

William loved the hay stack at the Halloween Hike at Botanic Gardens...it was just a gigantic pile of hay that you can crawl around in, but it was a hit.

Also at the Halloween Hike...this was an accident waiting to happen, but thankfully he did not get his head stuck through the bars.

Bob the Builder (and his Daddy)






Bob the Builder again...and his mom. Ok, I am in costume, too. I thought it was pretty obvious who I was, but apparently not because I don't think anyone at our Halloween party even noticed I was in costume. I know I wear some weird outfits, but I don't typically wear a mini skirt over my already too small maternity jeans. Any guesses?







What about now?

Scroll down for the answer...

JUNO!

38 weeks and 3 days

I know it has taken forever to post the nursery pics, but we just finished it. Now we're just waiting for Hazel. So, here are the before and after. It is nothing earth shattering, but we did it quickly and cheaply (HJ even put the door up himself.) Hope you enjoy! I'm off to drink some more raspberry tea to try to get things moving a little! Oh, and Hazel's middle name is Anne...just in case you were wondering (same as my mom's middle name plus the added -e in honor of Anne Shirley of Anne of Green Gables- my favorite books. I hope she takes after both of the Ann(e)'s for whom she is named).

Before

After

Last Hint

I think most people have figured it out now, but here's the last hint just in case. Look at the post titles of all the hints!

Extra Hintage

latest pic of baby sis

So, I decided to post 2 hints today so I can tell the name tomorrow.

Hint #4

Baby Sis's three initials will be the reverse initials of one of her grandparents. (I know, there is only one choice if you know all the grandparent initials, but I thought the family deserved a little advantage.)

Zoo Trip and the Third Tip

We headed to the zoo this afteroon, and it was 90 degrees despite the fact that it is almost mid-October. William really liked the rocks and the water in the exhibits better than anything, but we did get to see the pandas and these adorable monkeys. The adult monkeys were all taking turns (really it looked like fighting) with the baby monkey, who was just learning to climb around. Shepherd came with us for his first ever zoo trip...he snoozed most of the time but woke up to catch some of the odors coming from the giraffe exhibit...stinky!

Ok, so on to the important part...I'm sure you all watched the video before you read the post anyway, right?

Hint #3, by William

Another Hint and a Song

Tonight's hint was going to be a video of William saying Baby Sister's name, but he was slightly uncooperative and just kept saying "Bye Rye" (bike ride) and "Nall none" (all gone) to tell me that he and HJ had gone on a bike ride this afternoon and that all the granola bars in the box were gone. Oh well, I will just move up a later scheduled hint to tonight.

This is a more serious hint and a few of my thoughts. We have been so amazed by God's faithfulness to our family, in general and in this pregnancy. Even in the little things, God's timing is just right as usual. For example, even though I only have 4 weeks of maternity this time around, I will have a few more days because part of it will be over Thanksgiving. And, I will have some extra time off at Christmas just a few weeks after I go back to work. I know, these are small things, but they are reminders of God's graciousness even in the details of our lives. As we were looking at names, we were struck by the meaning of one particular name (which happens to be the name we chose). The name means "God sees". I am so grateful that He does see, and that he provides for our every need.

This song is from Sandra McCracken's latest album. As I was listening to it, I kept thinking how it was so applicable to my current place in life...then I read a review and found that she wrote it a few days before she had her second child, a little girl. So, here it is...I think it is such a beautiful reflection on the waiting time of pregnancy. (You can listen to it here.)


Hidden Place

I was made in a hidden place
there from your love I could not escape...if I tried
In wonder and in a trembling state
we wait to meet this child

I cannot see with human eyes
the secret plans you have devised
my heart is full as I contemplate
the frailty and the fullness
oh I marvel at your goodness...to me

how soon the fog will lift
we will hold her like a gift
but for now i rest in this in between
in the heavy clouds of this waiting season
knowing you are as close as the clothes i wear
these hours my soul will savor
you surround me as i waver
who am i to have known such favor

I was made in a hidden place
there from your love i could not escape...if I tried


P.S. Clarification on Hint #1...the hint was that there are 5 letters in her name. The picture was not the hint. Sorry for the confusion.

Hats for ...

Yesterday, we made the final name decision over probably my most favorite meal in Memphis (Molly's Chimichanga at Molly's La Casita...the beans there can seriously not be beat). So, we thought we would add a little suspense and have a little guessing game for the next few days! There will be 5 hints- one for each of the letters in her name...and that was the first hint. Happy guessing!

Bulldogs vs. Bulldogs

This was our first game for the year, and I think we picked a pretty good one to attend. William had a blast! Go State!

Coming soon...a very quick nursery remodel (seriously, how did it get to be 6 weeks until my due date?) and possibly a name for Baby Sis!

Couldn't pick just one...

Don't you wish you looked this good in boots and a onesie?

update

Not much to report here. We've had a busy few weeks, but enjoyed a very relaxed weekend. Baby Girl Jones (still nameless) seems to be growing rapidly (as evidenced in the picture below). This pregnancy is flying by, and I am already 33 weeks...can't believe it.

On a side note, I must have some pregnancy related craziness or something because, on Friday, I thought it would be a good idea to drive through Sonic, treat William to his own ice cream cone, and then let him eat it in his car seat. About 30 seconds after this bright decision, the fact that he had stuffed the entire thing into the space between his leg and the side of the car seat was heralded by his repeated "uh-oh, uh-oh, uh-oh, mama..." We continued to the park where the sticky icecream residue was mixed with sunscreen, sweat, and copious amounts of dirt, and you can imagine the state of William's carseat by the time we got home. Ha, so much for that idea!

Not a great pic, but the only belly pic I could find...this was at 31 weeks

Sticky, happy boy

Yum

In one of HJ's outfit's...very vintage chic I think:)

Guess what?

HJ is 29! One more year til the big 3-0. Happy Birthday, dear!

This boy loves his Daddy...they may not look alike, but they are definitely kindred spirits.

And, here's my best attempt to get William to actually look at the camera and smile...not a great success, but oh well.

William's Yard Service

Have I mentioned that William LOVES everything related to mowing or working in the yard? He stands at the back door when we get home and says "Dada mow" over and over...meaning that he wants to go outside and push his mower like Daddy. Here are some recent pics of him "helping". Note: HJ does not have the mower really on in this pic, just so you don't worry about William's safety.

Mowing

Weedeating

Sweeping

Just for fun...

Catching up

Somehow, my baby has turned into a big boy overnight. He has really grown up so much this summer...here are a few pics from the last month

Yes, he ate this entire tomato...seriously a mama's boy when it comes to his food!

William's First Cousin

William got to meet his very first first cousin today...Welcome, Shepherd. We are so glad you are here safe and sound. I'm sorry that William was more interested in your balloon than you today, but I know you two will be making all kinds of mischief in the coming years.

Look at this adorable face! Hop on over to my sister's blog for more pics!

Happy Day

Today is officially and wonderfully my last day of intern year! Oh, happy, happy day! I am so glad, so thankful, so relieved. It has been a most terrible and wonderful year. Mostly wonderful thanks to the little guy pictured below and terrible due to the normal terribleness of being an intern. We tried to celebrate by going to Jerry's Sno Cones (the best snow cones ever!), but had to settle for Sonic since the line at Jerry's was wrapped around the building and out to the street. William had his very own vanilla ice cream cone! And, he loved it, of course...this boy has his mama's love for ice cream! In other news, here are a few pics from the last few weeks. We have still been spending a lot of time in the water in an effort to beat the heat, and we're looking forward to more water time at the Lake this weekend!

Very serious about his playing, as usual...

This is what William thinks about having a baby sister in November...not really sure about it yet :)

HJ and the Will-man at the lake in Calhoun City


I had to include a few pictures of William's class Flag Day Parade. His class was pretty much a basket case once they saw their parents. I did not even realize that parents were supposed to come to the Flag Day Parade until I brought William in late, wearing no make-up, right as the parade was starting on one of my few days off. Amazingly, I had my camera in my purse, and it didn't die until the very end of the parade. William considered getting upset when we got back to his room, but he was quickly consoled by a graham cracker. Aren't they cute in their red, white, and blue?

In case you missed it in the above caption, we found out last week that we are having a girl! And, everything looked and measured just right so far. What a sweet blessing from God! Please be praying for her health and safe arrival in November.

I guess my intuition was off on this one because I really thought it was going to be a boy. We even had a boy name picked out, but no girl name. Any suggestions?