Progress Report

 21 weeks and counting...

(small disclaimer, the images you are about to see are me, no makeup after a full day of work, feeling exhausted, please excuse the face, just focus your attention on the growing bump)

So, here we are 21 weeks in, my baby Annabelle is the size of a cantaloupe?!?!  How crazy is that!  My little cantaloupe is jumping around like crazy these days, constantly keeping me entertained and focused on trying to determine her little schedule she is on.  She seems to love my morning drive, bath time, and eating.  Apple (or in this case cantaloupe) doesn't fall too far from the tree it seems...

Our little AB has been on a growth spurt, through the produce isle...she has come a long way from my little poppy seed.  And apparently her mom is budding along with the best of them, although I think you could categorize my growth more on the barn animal side of things rather than the produce aisle my Annabelle is experiencing.  We have had a blast learning and growing together, it feels like I am in a new and exciting stage every single day.  I get rounder, my belly button gets flatter, my clothes get tighter, all of which are embraced because I know that this growth is my precious girl. 

We had our 20 week appointment last week, a day that we will forever hold in our hearts.  We got to check on our girl, see her little nose, and try and envision what our little one will look like in 18 1/2 short weeks.  She got a GREAT report, and even had all the sonogram technicians talking about how photogenic she was.  They were complimenting on how well behaved she was while they were taking pictures of all her little parts, but I think they were implying she's pretty cute as well :).  She was pretty relaxed in the belly that day, even resting both her arms behind her head, much like her daddy does when he sits back to relax.  It was so cute seeing her recline away in her little home.

Here is our picture montage of our little growing one, first an outsiders point of view, then on to the main event!  Enjoy!

Me 13 weeks 5 days, still suffering from nausea and exhaustion. Please forgive!

18 weeks here, cant really see the belly, but she's there!  At the apple orchard in NH, I am showing off my Annabelle sized apple. Which I later ate and she enjoyed :)

19 weeks here, the belly in all its glory

20 weeks, I felt like we had a major growth spurt here!

Now for our sweet girl...all these were take at her 20 week photo shoot.

Our little Annabelle and her profile.  We cant decide if she has mine or Bobby's nose, I am leaning towards his.  But what is NOT up for debate, is the fact that she has my large forehead :) love it!

Foot, also a tribute to her daddy.  Based solely on the fact that they dance away all day long! She seems to love to move!

Hi there!  This is her sweet face! Cant wait to see you in my arms!

(her uncle Dr. G also says this is a GREAT pic of her little heart, which was beating away at 145 beats per minute)

Hi again! Couldn't pass on another little profile pic!

There you have it.  Our progress!!

Faith

Last night we had the privilege of participating in a very moving & special church service with our friends.  On top of watching my sweet friend Alli get baptized by her husband, I was hit with the overwhelming desire for our Annabelle to be able to sink in every ounce of that very moment - even in her little home in my belly I wanted her to be there, taking in the Lord's glory.  Since we knew about our little one, I have had the burden and desire for our girl to know and trust the Lord.  This is something we have been praying for her constantly and this will be our prayer for the rest of our lives.  Last night I was reminded just how much I take for granted with my faith, and how it is not just a given for most people.  I was reminded that this journey of faith is a daily struggle, something that she will have to have the desire to seek after and something that she will have to decide.  I cant make this decision for my girl, I can only pray that her heart is open to the One who created her.  The One who formed her from her tiniest of moments.  The One who will comfort her when I cant, who will save her when I am not here, and who will always have the answer, even when I don't.  I pray this for our girl.

Below if one of my first entries for our little one.  We had an exciting beginning with our Annabelle, when I wrote this we were nervous wrecks about what the next few weeks would bring.  I was reminded in such a powerful way again that we are not in control.  Above all my fears, doubts about being a mommy, sleepless nights thinking about and pleading for the health of our girl, above all those things, our little one is being formed right this second by a God who loves her and longs for her.  This love is the greatest gift she could ever receive, that anyone could ever receive.  A gift I am eternally grateful for, not only for my life but now for the life of my little one.  So with that, I share with you our prayer.



My Sweet baby.

Today you are 8 weeks 3 days old! You are still very, very tiny but it feels like we have known you for a lifetime. In some ways we have. Your dad and I have prayed and prayed for you since before we knew about you. We love you with a love that supersedes anything I have ever experienced. To be your mommy will be my biggest joy.


We have had quite the week with you , little one. 2 trips to the doctor, on to the hospital and 3 doctors phone calls have been made to ensure you safety. But to be truthful, the only one that can ensure our little miracle- you- is safe, is our Almighty God. This has been a lesson that I have been taught my entire life, and one I will teach you from the day you are born. Sometimes we are given challenges that provide instant proof, instant reassurance, instant recovery, and sometimes we are not. This is where our Faith takes over and we rest in that faith.


Faith is believing and not seeing, I truly cannot think of a better term than that in describing what we are experiencing together. You and I are bound together in body yes, but more importantly by faith. We can’t see each other, I can t check on you in the middle of the night, hold you with my arms to comfort you, or hear you sweet cries. You can t see me, the one you will call mommy, the one whose bond with you is beyond anything I have ever experienced. We know each other by faith, a beautiful and sometimes scary promise.


Your dad is so excited about you arrival and is teaching me to rest everyday in the promise that you are created by one who is so much bigger than any of us. His leading and steadfastness is something I am praying that you not only learn from him, but something you will emulate in your life. It is one of his greatest qualities…and he has a lot .


You are so loved little one, by so many. There are so many are already making preparations for your arrival and are already loving you and praying for you. I know these days will not be my last days of worry; in fact…I am afraid they are only my first. To that I give you my promise to never, never stop praying for you. This world holds many wonders and many challenges. You will find so many things that will intrigue you and want to explore. My greatest prayer is that you too will follow after the one that is creating you, Right this second! Our God is forming your little body, this week you are getting little fingers, fingers that you will use to do so many wonderful things. There is no other explanation in your creation, than that you were and are being created by a loving God. Our Loving God that has blessed us with you. Our Loving God that will protect you. Our loving God that will comfort you, provide for you, challenge you, and love you.






This is my prayer.






Love, Mommy


“Listen to me, O’ house of Jacob, all you who remain of the house of Israel, you whom I have upheld since you were conceived, and have carried since your birth. Even in you old age & gray hairs, I am He, I am He who will sustain you. I have made you & I will carry you; I will sustain you & I will rescue you” – Isaiah 46: 3-4

"Props"

In celebration of us embarking on the 20th!!!! week this week, I have to give some well deserved props to my partner in crime, better half, baby daddy, and love of my life.

My b-dub has taken to this whole daddy thing and has in the last 20 weeks become a master of all things baby.  Well, maybe not all things, but he is well on his way.  My googler at 4:00 in the morning when I have a weird pain, my foot rubber on demand, omelet making, fruit cutting husband has truly lived up to the Man/husband/daddy role and has exceeded any of my wildest expectations.  I would never be able to express, just how lucky I am that this is who I get. This is who Annabelle gets.  We love our B-dub.

My husband, although very well intentioned has not so much ever prepared a meal in his life.  I mean he makes a GREAT runner to anywhere we want to get take out from, always treats me to nice fancy dinners, and will assist when I am cooking dinner any day.  But master chef he is not.  Well, bring on about week 7, I am bed ridden (per dr's orders) nauseous, hungry, scared, excited, and well, clueless.  All I want is dinner, not take out, not store bought, real, home cooked, dinner.  Enter a very frightened b-dub.  I tasked him with the dinner challenge, and of course, he rose to the occasion.  He informed me he was an omelet "specialist"....whatever that means.  With that he whisked off to the kitchen to prepare my feast.  I have never had an omelet by my so called omelet specialist husband before...so saying I was a little afraid was an understatement.  I must have really scared him/threatened him, because that boy was on a mission.  He chopped, sliced, grated, cubed and whisked away for the next 30 or so minutes, then hesitantly called me in and said "dinner is served".  Confident. Always confident, my b-dub. I had my doubts.  I entered into much to my surprise, a CLEAN kitchen, complete with table setting, place mats, napkins, silverware, fresh fruit on my plate, warm toast just out of the oven, and my omelet delivered straight to my plate like I was at a 5 star restaurant.  Shocked I dug in.  Hesitantly.  It was FABULOUS!  Best omelet I have tasted.  Seriously, really delicious.  My B-dub had cooked dinner, and it was EXCELLENT!

I could give example after example on how quick my husband has taken to his daddy role.  But let me tell you, everything he attempts for his girls is excellent.  He buys us treats, writes us notes, cleans the bathrooms, and even hangs up the HUGE mom clothes that are over the floor these days!  Doesn't say a thing about that fact that the size of my usually small T-shirts, have increased to their larger counterparts.  Doesn't say, "you know I'm pretty sure sweeping the floor isn't restricted for pregnant women" or point out the fact, that in fact my hands aren't broken and I am still just as capable of dinner preparing as I was before our little AB made her way into my belly.  He just does all these things, no complaint, no bargaining, just out of pure love for his girls he makes our day.  Every day.

Last week was a particularly hard week for this mama.  Thursday, the pinnacle of my long week I was exhausted, crying (do you see a theme with the crying these days, seriously its ridiculous), irrational, and hungry and decided I needed a treat.  Food treat (of course).  Even though B-dub was still at work at 9:00, even more exhausted than his wife, hungry (I forgot to get him dinner) and ready to be home, he made a detour on his way home.  Just for his girls.  Enter our hero, tulips in hand ready to prepare my "treat".  Chocolate milk it was, and I will say, it hit the spot!!  My now, new favorite treat has made its way as a staple into my diet these days, strange to me, because I HATE milk!  But my Annabelle seems to take to this chocolaty treat, so I let her indulge and be treated by her daddy.

Annabelle's new shirt!

With our halfway point celebration today, Annabelle and I are celebrating our B-dub!  Thanking him for everything he does for us, and for all that he is!!!  We love you!  Looking forward to the next 20 weeks, and the rest of a lifetime with you :)

Love,

Your girls

Beef...Is it what's for dinner??

Whats for dinner? 

This question, seemingly simple has been haunting, plaguing, taunting, and downright overwhelming me for...gosh I don't even know how long.  However, now that I am a wife and nourishing an infant inside, I have almost come to the conclusion that throwing my hands up in surrender is really the only option.

What's for dinner?  Who knows?  You?  Any ideas?  Anyone???

Almost as annoying as the "What am I going to wear?" question, the dinner gets a less annoying rank, only because it is necessary to live.  Clothes, are well, necessary for me to live, but I don't think the general population (my husband included) would agree with clothes ranking OVER food.  Unfortunately.

So, ya, especially now, that my every food choice has a direct relation to my sweet Annabelle I have become even more stressed on the matter.  I have no idea WHAT'S FOR DINNER!!!!

Every day, I think, contemplate, weigh my options, explore the food chain, all as a part of my inner dialogue to try and discern what is calling me that evening.  I realize a lot of this could be avoided, by meal planning, but I haven't quite figured that one out.  So I go spur of the moment style, which I wouldn't recommend.

Last night, while B-dub was at a meeting, I thought ALL day, what I would make.  I figured he would arrive home, hungry, not up to my usual debate on what we should eat, so I tried to take matters into my own hands and figure something out.  The best I could come up with - based on my pantry supplies, was paninis. Fancy, I know.  So I made my plan and off to the store I went.  You must understand this store trip was much simpler than most, so I thought, I needed a rotisserie chicken, spinach, pesto, and orange juice (not for the paninis just for me).   I made the rounds around 6:30ish to which I have found out, if you are in the market for a rotisserie chicken, is WAY to late.  All that were left were the chicken in plastic baggie things, not nearly as appetizing as the pretty plastic cases they usually come in, and for some reason the sight of the plastic baggy chicken made me gag.  So, I wandered, and wandered, and wandered, looking, pleading, hoping for some other inspiration to take a hold of me so I could avoid the plastic baggy chicken.  20 min later, I gave up.  Held my breath and picked a plastic chicken. 

Paninis it was.  Final. 

Then just as I was leaving the store, Sonic caught my eye.  Whoever designed Sonic in visual proximity to the Kroger is just plain mean.  I was parched and decided what a FUN treat Sonic would be to bring my hard working hubby as a little surprise after a long, hard day.  I pulled in the line and ordered a small sprite (my  pregnancy vice) and a Vanilla Dr. Pepper.  When suddenly it hit me!  EVERYTHING looked like a gourmet meal, from the chili cheese hamburger (let me just interject here and be the first to say how GROSS that is, I know its gross, that just added to my surprise) to the super sonic cheese tots, I have never wanted sonic so much in my life!  Especially with the thought of plastic baggy chicken sitting in my car.  I refrained, then complete temptation....instead of my sprite they brought fries, weird I know...but secretly every once of me wanted to keep the fries and eat every last one of them!  I had a moment of self control, sent the fries back, and that was it, my dinner was officially ruined.

Don't get me wrong, I made the paninis...they just had lost their luster.  I blame bag chicken.  By the time I had our "simple" dinner done, I had yelled at my husband, stained my BRAND NEW shirt, dropped a knife on my foot, and secretly had the fleeting thought to give away my dog.  DISASTER.  Making me hate thinking about dinner that much more.

I rant, only because I know I cant be the only one who has these issues.  In fact after talking with my sweet sister, who works twice as hard as I do, has a toddler, lives in the middle of Houston, and whose husband's schedule is lets just say, complicated, I realize I am not alone!!!  Why is this dinner thing so hard? 

Even now, I am thinking about what we are going to eat tonight.  ugh.  Its just making me hungry.  But I will keep trying, trying to keep my sanity and keep my family nourished.  I have a feeling it will only get more complicated as life goes on.  So, tonight, I will reconcile with myself and all my dinner issues to get a plan, make a plan, stick with the plan, and get at least 3 of the food groups on our dinner table sometime before 9:00!  Wish me luck!

There's No Place Like Home

Unless we are here...

Sitting Here...

Listening to these...

Eating LOTS of theses....

Celebrating....

apologies for using all the pics from the same evening, that's what happens when we get a professional photographer 1 day of our life :)
My Beautiful Grandma Jones!  Happy 85th!

Our home away from home, New Hampshire, or what my mom likes to call "Yankee Land" has been the destination of many of the Jones Family vacations over the last 26 years of my life.  We have moved up from the rusty old blue suburban we used to DRIVE, (yes you read that right DRIVE...non-stop, with 3 little girls, in case you are wondering it takes 3 days) to our destination.  Now it is nothing less than miraculous getting the whole family up there at one time, making us almost wish for the ease and simplicity of the old suburban days.  Between the 8 of us, 1 doctor's schedule, 7 full time working members, a toddler, and a machita :) it is quite the juggling act to get everyone up in the same 24-48 hour period.

This time however was a CANT MISS visit to the old dairy farm.  We had the lucky chance to celebrate my Grandma Jones turning 85, complete with party, cake, and 3 hour long family slide show it was something that we just HAD to make. 

Here comes Earl.

Ya, our least favorite friend this Labor Day weekend.  Good ole Earl had us all glued to our televisions & computers way back when he was partying in the Caribbean, to see if any of us could accurately predict landfall, course, and strength of our uninvited party guest.

We went back and forth, made probably 50 phone call exchanges and decided we needed 4 alternate tickets to ensure we would all make it for the festivities to come!  Never fear!  Ole' Earl did not stand a chance against the forces we had pulling for us, one after another we all arrived, 3 airport trips over 24 hours and we all landed to celebrate our birthday girl.

The farm has a special place in the heart of each of us.  As we grew up year after year visiting my dads old family home, we learned to milk a cow, learned to appreciate the smell of "cow caca", learned the taste of our Grandma's blueberry pancakes, and grew to call this home away from home -ours.  Every year our visits change, sometimes slightly, like the year we decided it was NECESSARY to bring our deodorant on a hike up the Appalachian Trail (we were 15 & 13 & 11 don't judge), or the year we just had to stop at Abercrombie & Fitch in Boston before we left. To the somewhat dramatic, like the year we brought the first boy along, or the year we celebrated my engagement, to this year where we had Caris discover the "moo cows" and had little Annabelle along for her very first farm visit.  The farm stays relatively the same.  Simple.  A place we can count on to sleep with the windows open, have coffee on the porch, where the only traffic in the morning is a milk truck coming to collect its supply, and where the sweet smell of mountain air fills our lungs.  Perfect.

We love our home away from home and all that it means.  We are so lucky to have a place we can call ours, that is above all the hustle of our everyday life, someplace where family is always close, where we grow our own tomatoes, where our kids can experience life the same that we experienced it, and our parents experienced it, and the legacy my grandparents have left with us. 

So to our Birthday Girl....Happy 85th!  Thank you for the what you have blessed us so richly with, thank you for our family.


Until next year!

Raindrops on Roses, and whiskers on kittens....

These are a few of my favorite things...

I had a whole other blog post in mind about my Labor Day weekend happenings.  But due to lack of pictures, I have postponed!  Promising to return soon, with our New Hampshire recap, complete with moo cows, blueberry pancakes, air port standings, and 2 hurricanes!

However, as I was pondering away at my desk, my little Annabelle started dancing away and instantly this song came to mind.  This little popcorn popping, squirmy bounce in my belly has instantly topped the chart as a favorite.

Our little girl, has quickly become our little dancing girl as she dances her days away in my belly.  The taps grow with each passing day and our girl has made us very aware that she is here and coming to play very soon!  For those that aren't aware my B-dub has quite the dancing gene....something he would like to ignore 99.99% of the time.  BUT his talents rival any dancing competitor and will beat a B List Celebrity in a contest any day!

I think our girl may taken to her daddy's dancing skills and inherited this little rhythmic trait.

Happy Feet

At our last appointment we got to take a quick peek at our little one, mainly to check on things....but also to find out that our Squirm was our Annabelle.  During our exam, our dancing girl shocked us all with her quick feet and constant need to wiggle and shake.   In fact, our technician was so surprised she was moving her feet so much, she determined this was why I had been having a few little symptoms (ie. EXTRA, extra bathroom breaks)  apparently Annabelle feels most comfortable when her dance floor is mommy's bladder.  We tried to snap a pic of our little happy feet, and above was the best we could get due to her need to squirm around.

I am foreseeing lots and lots of daddy-daughter dances in our future.  I have visions of my two loves skipping around the living room to any tune that suits their fancy as this tired mommy watches with joy in my heart.  Another thing, I am sure that will top the list of favorites.

Cant wait to see what is next to come in our journey with you little girl.  You are constantly keeping us guessing and entertained with each passing day.

The Joys of Girlhood

Sweet Annabelle!

Oh the joy you bring!  We are beside ourselves with so much joy and emotion over you it is hard to put into words.  The instant we knew you were you, our life took a turn for the better.  You make our day, every day.  To say you are our miracle will be something you wont quite understand until you are experiencing what we are experiencing right this second.  It is an indescribable joy I could have never fully understood until now.  Every day we have with you is a gift we have been so blessed with.  You little one, are our little girl.

Being a girl means you will be so many things to so many people.  You will be a granddaughter, niece, cousin, sister, daughter, mother, friend, counselor, caretaker, listener, wife, and so much more.  My heart is full thinking of all the things you are and will be.  These are roles that I have had so much joy and privilege to take on and be a part of, I am honored to share them with you little one. 

camille, caris, Grandma Jones and me

all my sweet friends

the jones girls and little Caris

The women in my life up to now have each been such an important part to who I am and what I hope to become.  Now you are a part of this precious and tightly bound group.  This circle of women is a circle that is filled with more love that you can begin to imagine.  These women have loved you since the second they knew about you and will love you beyond what you can think.  They are the ones buying you pink, loving on your mom, praying for you, celebrating you and waiting for you to make your arrival.  They are yours now and you are theirs.

Poppy, me, your daddy and Grandma White (Nana)

A role I am humbled by, a role I cant wait to see you in, and a role you will find so much comfort in will be the role of your daddy's girl.  Your daddy is the most amazing man you will ever meet.  He is one I am so grateful you will call yours and the one I chose for you, and the one I have and prayed for since I was a little girl.  You are so lucky to get to have him and I am honored to share this man that I love with the girl that will be ours.  A daddy is one of the most special gifts you will ever have girl.  You will be the apple of his eye and the joy in his step.  He is already so protective of you little Annabelle, a protectiveness I know that will grow with each passing day.  He is ready to conquer the world for you, and in your eyes he will.  He will be your hero, your knight in shining armor, the one you will run to when you skin your knee, and the one that will comfort you when you have a broken heart.  Your daddy will be yours.  A sight this mommy cant wait to see.  I am cherishing every single word that you and your daddy already share.  He dotes on you night and day, plays you music, prays for you, loves on your mom, and watches over you.  Annabelle you and I are so blessed by God to call him ours.

Annabelle's first treat for her daddy (in case you cant read it,  it says "i love daddy")

 

We are looking forward to having you in our arms and are using this time we have now to prepare for the moment we meet you.  You are forever our little girl.

Love.

Mommy

Lovable

What a surprise we had yesterday!!!  It was for sure a day we will remember forever!  At our 17 week appointment, we got the surprise of our life!

Our little GIRL - Annabelle Grace White (Annabelle - lovable, easy to love, grace, favour)

Has been the one growing in my tummy!

Our Girl

What a day!  To see our little one again, and then to find out our baby dub, baby squirm, winter baby, and baby White...were all our little Annabelle Grace!

We were instantly hit with a wave of emotion, B-dub put it best when he said "our baby became a person today".  Which I thought was so meaningful and so true.  We went from all the questions and speculation of what's to come to being instantly transformed into parents of a precious little girl in one quick moment.  Truly unbelievable.

We are so excited about our sweet girl and everything that brings.

From bows to boys, ribbons to corsages we are looking forward to every second of every day with our daughter.  She has a long line of Jones girls ahead of her, but I have a feeling our Annabelle will bring a unique personality and spirit to our family and our extended family that's all her own, one we will look back on and can't believe we ever lived without.

So here's to our Lovable Girl and all the joy that she brings to us on a daily basis!  Your mommy & daddy LOVE you so much sweet girl and are so excited to share you with the rest of the world!