Baby Steps

I am learning to appreciate small accomplishments, especially those that are small steps to a larger goal. Here are a few from this week:
1. William is able to entertain himself for at least a few minutes now (and I don't have to close us all in his room and let him pull out all his toys to feed Hazel when I'm home with them by myself).

2. William likes to read to himself now...he flips through a book and says what he thinks each page should say. In his 3 little pigs book, he says "puff and puff, blooooooow the house down" on each page. When he was flipping through his Bible this weekend, he said "Jesus" on every page. I'm glad he knows the main point of the Bible is Jesus.

3. I really don't even count this as a small accomplishment...Hazel is finally sleeping through the night. Way to go, Hazel!

William got into a little scuffle at school...

Hazel in the carrier...so glad to be outside again!

That's all for tonight. Have a great week!

Don't know where he got this idea...

The Weekend in Pictures

(Click to enlarge)

Late Night

I love Thursday nights. I have conferences on Wednesday and Thursday, so I am usually studying after we put William and Hazel down on the other nights of the week. It's not technically a weekend night, but it almost is. In college, Thursday nights were for "Late Night" at the fraternity houses and maybe even a trip to Waffle House in the early morning because you knew you could catch up on your sleep over the weekend. Now, we get excited about eating pizza and watching The Office and 30 Rock. Lame? I certainly wouldn't trade it for anything...although a cheese and steak breakfast sandwich from WH does sound appealing. Hazel certainly likes a snack in the "wee smalls"...despite my best efforts, she still is not sleeping through the night.

Here are a few things I meant to document and didn't:

William's first shiner...so interested in taking pics that he's yawning

Trying to get a cousin pic with Santa...hilarious

L to R William, Hazel, Shepherd

Cooking Confessions

First of all, I'm just posting this pic first because (a) all three people are looking at the camera and that is a major accomplishment around here and (b) I love these cute freshly bathed kids.

So, here goes my first goal/domestic/confessions post. Until about 2 months ago, our nightly dinner strategy had turned into a disaster. Basically, I bought a bunch of random stuff at the grocery store (every few weeks) and then I got home about with William (before Hazel was born) and tried to decide what to make. If you have ever tried to plan a meal and then actually cook a meal with a tired and starving almost 2 year old, you know this was a disaster waiting to happen. Usually, it ended in crying (mostly on William's part but I won't say I did understand how he felt). So, when Hazel was born, I decided we needed a plan.

I started planning all the meals for the week on Sunday and then actually buying the food that I needed to make those meals...I know, genius. And, I started using my crockpot regularly on the days that I work later. I really did not think this would make that big of a difference, but it has. I am less stressed because I know what's for dinner, I am cooking at home more, we are actually using the groceries we buy and therefore saving money. I put all the meals on our google calendar, so HJ can see what we're having, too. We have also instituted Pizza Night on Thursdays because a certain little someone LOVES his pizza, and he especially loves taking a walk to the pizza place in our neighborhood.

I know everyone elso probably already did this, but if you don't, I would recommend trying it for a while. Here are a few new recipes that we have tried and liked:

Baked Penne with Chicken and Sundried Tomatoes

Spinach and Brie Chicken

Curry in the Crockpot

Autumn Sausage Casserole

If you have any favorite (and relatively easy) recipes...please share!

catching up...

I've gotten a little behind on the blogging, and, though this is not my top priority, I do want to keep it going for several reasons. One, I love being able to look back and see what William was doing at each age and want to be able to do the same with Hazel. Two, I know the fam likes to get some updates on the kiddos. I would like to think that I could also add some other things to the blog in the near future (crafts, upcoming house renovations, more serious thoughts on life, etc, goals -thanks Meg for the inspiration). But, in the spirit of not being overly ambitious, I will start with some Hazel and William updates and move on from there.

William:
William turned 2 on January 20th. He requested an airplane party, which is why he has on a size 12mo airplane t-shirt in his birthday pictures. It was the only airplane shirt he had, so he wore it. He also ate part of his birthday candle, and then said, "I want mo candle!" He has recently started talking none-stop, and we are loving the hilarious things he says. Here are a few conversations we have had lately:

W (pointing you-know-where): That's my tee-tee.
Me: uh-huh
W: Its a BIG tee-tee! (This sentiment must come on the Y chromosome!)

Me: What's Daddy's name?
W: Hunna
Me: What's Mommy's name?
W: Supah Why (Super Why is a show on PBS)
Me: No, it's Emily.
W: No, Supah Why.

W: There's Hazel's nose (pushing Hazel's nose rather forcefully)
Me: You have to touch Hazel softly.
W: No, touch Hazel loud!


Hazel:
The Haze is 3 months old today. I seriously can't believe it. She is such a happy, dimply little gal now, and we are loving her little personality. She loves to coo back when we talk to her and have little conversations with us. She rolled over for the first time this morning! At her two month check up, she weighed 11 lbs 4 oz.

Those are the updates. Enjoy the pics and have a great weekend!

William Wooodrow Jones, Sr.

Hunter's granddad went to be with Jesus early Thursday morning. He was 95 years old and was still mowing his own yard in the Mississippi heat until just a few years ago. I am so thankful that William was able to know his great-granddad (or "gate-gandaddy" as he would say) and his namesake (William is William Woodrow Jones, IV). Mr. Jones was a wonderful man who taught his children and grandchildren to follow Christ. What better testamony to leave on earth?

Hunter read this at the funeral:

"O God, from my youth you have taught me,
and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds.
So even to old age and gray hairs,
O God, do not forsake me,
until I proclaim your might to another generation,
your power to all those to come.

Your righteousness, O God,
reaches the high heavens.
You who have done great things,
O God, who is like you?
You who have made me see many troubles and calamities
will revive me again;
from the depths of the earth
you will bring me up again.
You will increase my greatness
and comfort me again."

Psalm 71: 18-21

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!