Love to laugh :)

I am working on my 3 month post...which is a good thing, since in about 2 weeks my baby Annabelle will be 4 whole months!  BUT, in lieu of that update, I had to share this!

One of my favorite characteristics to date has begun to emerge in my little one!  I have been seeing signs of "pre-laughter" for quite some time now, but they have been snuffed out by the urge to cough instead of producing a gleeful noise.

Bring on week 14....I should have known my little daddy's girl would wait for week 12, 14, 22, 24  (or any other week ending with a 2 or a 4) to grace us with her joyful sound.  Those two and their numbers....

(In case you have missed previous numerical posts, B-dub loves 2, 4 and any variation, Annabelle was born on 2-2-2011, at 4:22, and come home on 4-4 etc.  My husband takes this to a greater extreme than I would like to admit, so I will spare you any more)

ANYway....we finally had laughter liftoff!  Granted, this girl is no easy sell on a full fledge laugh (B-dub says she gets this from her momma) BUT when she does it does not get any better!!  To see her face light up with glee, her head bob and when you are lucky an excited shriek all combined warms my heart to a degree I did not know possible.

Only provoked when her parents are in the mist of making complete fools of themselves (she is starting early) Annabelle does not disappoint in showing her delight.

The first little laugh was brought on my me, jumping up and down, with a sort of a shock and awe factor she found amusing.  I of course, was near passing out when it was all said and done, as it was the most physical activity I have had in a year, but nonetheless the light headed, dizzy feeling was well worth it to see my girls first giggles.

Then...a few nights later, we shot the video above.  Granted, it is just a short exert of what we were experiencing first-hand, but I think it does her giggle justice.  This bout of hilarity was nonetheless given to her daddy (who will be embarrassed by me actually typing this, but hey in the name of documentation all is fair game, right?).  Annabelle found great amusement in the fact that her daddy was wiggling, twisting, jumping, and turning about all while making a great and I must say life-like TOOT noise!

Annabelle, we can NOT wait to see all the things that bring you joy in this world.  We love our laughing girl!!

Confessions of a "stay at home" mom

SO, ya, I did it!  I took the plunge and quit my job!  I am still kind of in shock.  When my 12 weeks came up, it was a no brainer...I just could not leave my little one.  What also helped was my non-profit salary and 2 hr commute every day, both combined just didn't justify the cost of childcare.  So my life as a stay at home mom began....

To be honest I have never worked so hard in my life and never loved anything so much! However, I have quickly figured out that even though I cant think of how anything else could ever be squeezed into my day, I am nonetheless a bit unproductive... Hence my confessions....

I would like to say this will become a series on the good ole blog, but seeing as one of my confessions is not blogging - I wouldn't hold my breath. :)


I confess...

On Mondays Annabelle and I stay in bed until 11.  Dont judge it works for us!  We usually have very busy weekends, so Monday our "recover" days are spent snuggling and re-bonding with each other.  I must admit they are my favorite days.

I have only been to the grocery store once by myself since giving birth.  WHO do you ask has been doing the shopping, my precious B-dub, along with everything else...see confessions to come.

I have nice sweats, and every day sweats, and thats about it.

I have not lost all my baby weight.  Who knows when/if that day will come.

I cant figure out how to do more than one chore a day, seriously you would think I am home all day, why couldn't I at least clean the house...maybe see confession #1 ;)

I hold my baby when she naps, I know, spare me the lecture.  Its what I do.  I figure one day, she will be at college napping on her own, so I am enjoying my time with her.

Some days I cant remember if I brushed my teeth.

I still have thank you cards to write, not that I am not thankful. I am so thankful, I just haven't sat down and actually done it.

I have only cooked dinner 3 times since having AB, and once B-dub couldn't even eat it, it was so bad.

I let AB watch the real housewives of...(fill in the blank) I am addicted, hopefully it wont sink in to her too much.

I have never loved my husband more than I do now.  He is the perfect dad I always knew he would be, he just loves Annabelle so much, she is a lucky girl!

AB still sleeps in our room, and I sort of tear up to think that wont always be.  There is just something about having my family all together at night that brings peace to my heart

I love the paci and so does AB :)

I thought labor hurt, I have heard so many people say, you know it wasn't so bad...I beg to differ, but I would do it again in a heartbeat...

I check facebook way more than any one person should, but what else do you do when you nurse 8 times a day?

I like that I am the only one that can rock Annabelle to sleep.

I call the Dr for EVERYTHING...or make Bobby call.

I stare at Annabelle when she sleeps, I cant believe she is actually mine.

I will do anything to get a smile out of her, including but not limited to dancing around in my pj's clucking like a chicken, because she thinks its funny

I take drives to sonic on any given day just to get out of the house

Get nostalgic thinking about all the things Annabelle has already grown out of

Have a new appreciation for my mother

LOVE being Annabelle's mommy, love who she is and love that she acts and looks like her daddy

Love that I have no idea what I am doing most of the time, but love that Annabelle loves me anyway.

Happy Birthday Cousin Caris

April 20th!!!  What a day!  Today we celebrate the birth of our favorite and only cousin!  Caris Elizabeth is 2 today and Annabelle and I could not be more excited!

We love our cousin & niece and love how much she has taken to "her baby Elbow" (Caris first attempt trying to say Annabelle).  Growing up with 2 sisters, I know how much fun it is to experience life with another girl in the family, we are so happy Caris is filling that big sister void for Annabelle, like her mommy did for me :)  There is nothing like having a older, cooler girl to play with, test the waters on, and try and copy as much as possible!  Caris, with the little girl you are shaping up to be, I am waiting in wonder at what Annabelle will learn from you!

Will she love your love for the purple hue? Copy your barnyard animal faces?  Love you zest for chores? Inherit your love for anything that resembles a book?  Want to at every waking moment watch Toy Story or Mary Poppins?  Or simply just admire your movie star locks of hair?

Caris & Annabelle's first meeting, AB was in my belly :)

Caris kissing baby Annabelle's toes 

The Cousins meet

The snowman Caris built for Annabelle the day we came home from the hospital

Our girls

Even more of our girls

Whatever your little union has in store for us, no doubt we are all in for a treat!  So cheers to you BIG GIRL CARIS!!!  We are so excited to celebrate your birthday with you and so excited that yours is the first Birthday Party our Annabelle will get to experience!  I couldn't imagine anything better :)

Love,

Auntie TJ & baby Annabelle

Now Annabelles Personal Success....

Also known as NAPS.....

Really I am speaking (or typing) out of turn a little here, but in a slightly failed attempt at an abbreviation for Naps....I am going to chalk our last 2 days as a success and speak into existence their permanence in our life.

Truly Annabelle deserves all the credit for this one, if it were up to me, I would hold her and rock her every moment of every day, but apparently that is not good for either of us, or so everyone tells me :)

At week 10, I am finally trying our hand at the self soothed naps.  No, I am still not letting her sit there and cry, in fact I crouch down below her bassinet and put my hand on her until she falls asleep, but either way she is soothing and technically laying by herself...so there you have it, my definition of self soothing.  BUT, so DOES it!  She for the past two days, at 2 different nap times, has put herself to sleep!  Unbelievable!  Truly Annabelle's Personal Success, because her mommy does not get the credit for this one.  If she wasn't capable or gave me the slightest sense she was uncomfortable, I would no doubt swoop in and start my favorite pastime of rocking.  But no, my girl is already showing me she is growing up and telling me, "hey mom, let me see if I can do this" and by golly...she does!  Way to go AB!  So there she sleeps, ever so peacefully in her little Target bassinet, that she prefers to any other fancy item I have gotten for her to sleep in, dreaming and listening to her personal favorite remix of Nora Jones, Coldplay Rockabye, and Amos Lee.

This is her happy place...

Sleep tight little girl!

Two Whole Months

Annabelle today you are 10 weeks old!!!  Unbelievable.  You are growing in body and spirit every day.  Each day you greet us with a HUGE toothless smile and instantly all tiredness leaves my body and I am up....ready to start the day with my girl.

I would say to sum up your second month, it would be friends and family.  You have been the social butterfly this month, with all your visits to see your family and all your friends.  You already love so much, I love getting to share your love with everyone.

One week before you two month birthday we took you on your second road trip!  What an adventurer you have become.  We headed West to see all your family, you got to see the ranchita, Albany and Abilene for the very first time.  We went you your very first track meet, you, daddy and grandpa JJ got to play in the "man cave" and you got to breathe the nice fresh country air!  You loved the country!  The very first night you were there you slept 7 hours!!!  A record!  We let you experience all that Albany had to  offer, we took you on a driving tour where you saw all of mommy's houses she had growing up, you walked downtown, went shopping a little, got a cherry lime aid at the drug store, took a nap outside and went star gazing. What a weekend!

On our way back home your daddy took you to see his home for the first time!  You got to see your Nana and Poppy and meet your uncle Sonny and Aunt Erlene!  You had so much fun being the center of attention :)

The very next weekend was our very first night away from Daddy, he went to San Antonio and we went to Albany.  Your grandma Susie came down to help us with the drive.  You slept the whole way there....
We got all ready for a BIG party when we finally made it to Albany.  We were celebrating mommy's friend Cori and here upcoming wedding!   It was your very first party, and you were quite the hit!  You got to wear a fancy pink dress and stay up way past your bedtime to meet all your Albany friends.  Your cousin Caris and Auntie Millie came too!  You had so much fun laughing at Caris, you think she is hilarious.  You got to play with your aunties all weekend, you love your family so much!

The next weekend you had LOTS of new friends over at your house for a little BBQ.  Daddy cooked burgers and our house was full of lots of little friends & lots of big friends.  No doubt you will have plenty of playmates....so many babies.  You got to meet everyone for the first time, we had a blast getting to show you off.  Charlie, Heather and Carter even flew in all the way from Tennessee to meet you!  You loved getting to watch Carter crawl around everywhere...I have no doubt you will be crawling before we know it!

Some of your favorite activities month 2 have been, shopping, driving in the car, smiling, laughing, you still love kicking your legs, you love your walks, love the moby, love your book time at night, and love when you daddy is home on the weekends.

You had to get 2 very big shots this month, and you did EXCELLENT!!!  You only cried for a second then were asleep in mommys arms before we knew it!  You weighed 10 lbs 1 ounce and were 22 amd 1/2 inches long! The dr. called you a smiley girl, and I have to agree.  You are my smiley girl.  You also grabbed your toes for the first time right before we headed to the Dr. for your 2 month check-up!  I think it was on accident, but it was very cute!

We have lots of fun friends to play with now, and lots of friends baking away ready to play with you soon!  It is such an exciting time to see all of our friends get to experience the joy of their babies like we get to experience every day with you!

Cant wait to see what month 3 of your little life holds for you....

Here are a few pics from our monthly photo shoot!!  You have grown so much!

Month one

Annabelle!  You are one month old!!!  What a month it has been.  In some ways it has gone in slow motion, as the nights merge into days, with few hours of sleep in between, but in a very real/scary way it has flown by!  My little baby is a month old!!!  Unbelievable.

Your first few weeks were spent with mommy, in our room just getting used to each other.  We napped, ate, played, prayed and learned each others every facial line, every smell, every finger and every toe.

We have had lots of visitors, so many people are loving getting to finally meet you!  You smiled at us around week 3, it was amazing! Your eyes lit up, your face widened and there you were, our little smiley girl :)  something I will never forget.

You love laying on your back and kicking your legs, you hate your tummy time, and love playing with your daddy when he comes home!

We have gone from you sleeping a LOT to me trying to get you to at least get one good nap in the day.  You wake up every 2 hours at night, you like to eat then and most times like to stay up and play.  We are working on you wanting to sleep but for the most part me or daddy are up with you, rocking you for hours on to make sure you stay asleep!

After week two, you woke up to us, and really started using your lungs!  You like to really work out those cries for about 2 hours at night, when you are exercising your vocal chords,  I bounce with you on my exercise ball, you LOVE this, and every time I stop bouncing you wake up and tell me to KEEP BOUNCING MOM!!!  So we do, we bounce and bounce and bounce.

Your first out of town trip was right after you turned one month.  We went to visit mommy and daddy's meeting place, Baylor!  You wore your green and gold and got to see the bears, take a tour of the campus, and eat at chilis too!  You loved it!!!  We got to visit your auntie Cami, Uncle G and cousin Caris in Waco, you had so much fun playing with them!  You love your family and they love you.

Your first month we spent in constant amazement, amazed that our girl was really here, in our arms and completely and totally OURS!!  I still dont think it has sunk in yet, you amaze us every second of every day.

One of my favorite things you do is your wake up stretch....it is the cutest thing!  Whenever I pick you up and you have been sleeping, you reach both of your arms over your head clench your fists and give a BIG STRETCH!  It is so sweet watching you stretch your muscles, getting ready to wake up and see your world.

We go on walks, you love the air outside.  We watch American Idol & The Biggest Loser and lots of the Food Network.  You and I talk a lot, we talk about your family, your daddy, your home, your room, trips we are going to take you on and things we are going to do.  We both love our long talks together.

One of YOUR favorite activities is bath time, no matter how upset you are before your bath, as soon as you sit in that warm water you are relaxed and content.  You are so cute looking up at us as we wash your little self.  I hope you always love your bath, it is one of my favorite times with you!


**Pretty soon we will need a 2 month update, but  I wanted to make sure I got to your one month first, because you will be 8 weeks old soon!!!  Cant believe it!

Love you Annabelle Grace, you have made me a better me.


Here are a few of my favorite pictures of your first few days and weeks of life....moments I will never forget.

your first bath at home, grandma susie did most of it while mommy watched and learned

me & you in your room for the first time

you and all your Jones girls....your are so loved

you and mommy, love!

you sticking your tongue out at daddy :)

Our first picture in our house, right when we brought you home from the hospital!

moments

Our moments....

These are what I live for.  The last 6 weeks with my girl have forever changed me.  I have realized over the last weeks, that mommy hood at least on my part is sort of entered into blindly.  No amount of advice, warning, book, knowledgeable friend or relative could have prepared me for what I have experienced thus far.  I must say, for that I am thankful.  Although most days, I feel like I have no IDEA what I am doing, the fact of the matter is, that Annabelle and I are doing this, together.

Our days are divided into moments, moments I am trying inhale in and not let them escape.  Thanking God for each one, from the nights of both of us crying for no particular reason, to the sweet, sweet peaceful moments we have snuggling and sleeping.  Our moments, are just that, ours.....

I have found myself the last week or so really taking in my moments with our little one, with a huge realization that they will be gone so quickly.  I am already seeing a baby emerge our of our little newborn.  One with chubby cheeks, personality like her daddy's, one that likes to kick her legs and hates me putting bows on her head!  It has happened in an instant, as I knew it would.

All advice aside, I am embracing our sleepless nights, embracing the fact that my girls favorite place to sleep is on my chest, embracing that I have not gotten one ounce of anything done because she doesn't like me to put her down, I know all too soon these moments will morph into something so, so different.

Resisting the urging of the "experts" telling me I will spoil my baby by holding her too much, that she needs to learn to sooth her own cries, and that I need to start some sort of routine for her to strictly follow, I am embracing the moments I get to hold, sooth, and play with my girl.  At 3:00 in the morning when our little AB has decided she wanted to party for the last 2 hours, and finally submits to the sleep that is taking over her little body, those are my moments.  I lay with her, smelling her hair, holding her hand knowing that these moments could only have been brought to me by the Lord above.  The blind moments of motherhood, when I am stranded with dog, baby, and stroller in tow, I am a mile from my house, attempting a walk, when all 3 have a major breakdown, those are my learning moments.  Those are the moments my blinders of going from Tara to mommy are slightly moved, and I can see I am learning, I am learning to be a mommy.  Annabelle is being very patient with me taking on this new role, and I think is secretly getting a kick out of the fact that I am a little bit of a mess more often than not.

So for now,  my hair will remain in a bun crammed on top of my head, my make up will consist of last nights moisturizer, and I will choose to spend my moments getting to experience all my girl has to offer!

Because what is better than the moments like these....