Jones had his weight check up today. He was told last week to gain 4 ounces. And like the good competitor that he is, he took this challenge seriously.

He gained 13 ounces. In one week.


I knew I was tired for a reason.


He now weighs a whopping 7 lb. 8 oz. He is growing up too fast.


Like last week, Jones did not appreciate being stripped down to nothing and placed on a hard metal platform to get his weight. But unlike last week, he chose not to cry to show his disapproval. This week, as soon as his bare bottom hit the cool air, he tee-teed all over the nurse. And the wall. And the scale.


And then smirked afterwards.


Funny guy.

Today in pictures:

Sunshiny Day!

Trey and I took Jones for a little walk this afternoon for the first time. It was a beautiful day and I was sick of being inside - no sleep and no vitamin D will get to you, no doubt. So when Trey got home from work we headed to the field across the street for a little sunshine. Jones loved it. (If you call sleeping while drooling milk loving it.)

I can't wait to be able to take him out all the time!

Loving his new stroller, obviously

Ready for his first physical activity in his athletic attire

Our first stroll! (I told you - no sleep and no sun.)

It is amazing what a ten minute walk outside will do for your mental state - I feel like a new woman.

Grandaddy went to the beach...

and all I got was this outfit!

Thanks, Grandaddy - I love it!

My dad went on his annual beach golf trip and stopped by on the way home to give Jones this outfit. It was so sweet of him to think of Jones while out with the boys! I can just imagine him dragging those manly men into baby stores in between golf games!

Rock on

She's done it again!

My friend / photographer extraordinaire has done it again!

The miracle worker hard at work!

The same sweet friend, Tricia Butts, that took my maternity pictures a few months back came yesterday to meet Jones and take his infant pictures. For a baby gift, she is taking Jones' "grow with me" pictures - infant, 3, 6, 9 months and 1 year. What a precious thing!

Jones cries about one thing: nakedness. He can't stand to be naked! Diaper changes are pretty much torture for the sweet baby, so I limited his wardrobe to the sweet gown of his daddy's. Hopefully by 3 months we can play dress up a little more!

Here are just some of the fabulous shots she got yesterday. She is amazing. Thanks so much, Tricia. I can't wait to see all of the pictures. I know we will treasure them forever.

Take a look at more of Jones on her website. Priceless pictures.

Thanks, Tricia! Come see me again soon! xoxoxo - Jones

The Hobbit, aunts and wonderful blessings

Jones and Daddy reading The Hobbit.

Is this premature? We like to think by reading to him often and playing music constantly for him(he is a fan of classical), that Jones will be a step ahead. I threw in the ABC gown and hat for good measure.

Speaking of gowns, all of his sweet little clothes are too big for him. We have one or two newborn sleepers that fit him well, but other than that, he is swallowed by his clothes! My sisters are running out today to get him a couple of smaller things. Sweet little baby.

And about sisters: mine are the best. Laura completely changed her schedule and surprised me by driving down for the weekend. Kristen and Henry came in yesterday as well. So now my mom and both sisters are here with us. I can not tell you what a blessing it has been. They are stocking my pantry as we speak, has been doing the laundry and dishes, demand that I nap when he does (I should listen to this more), and wait on me hand and foot. Not to mention they give Jones lots and lots of loving. He loves his aunts and Lita. I am forever grateful for them - especially during this time. What sweet memories we are making!

Loving on his aunts

Sweet Dreams!

cousins

April 23

Jones - 6 days old

Henry - 3 1/2 years old

Best Friends Forever

stats are in!

Angel face asleep on the exam table

Naked, about 5 minutes before he showed his disapproval of today's outing

With his Lita at the Dr.'s

Ready to go home! FINALLY!

Well, outing number two was a big hit. I was little more at ease this time, and I actually packed the correct size diapers in his bag. Yesterday the diaper I packed for him to use after his procedure could have fit my 3 year old nephew. Rookie mistake, people.

The pediatricians office was really nice and I was more than pleased to see both a well baby and sick baby waiting room. Is this normal? Probably. But it was a glorious sight to this new mom's eyes. And I was even more pleased to see the place just about empty.

Jones wasn't a fan of getting down to his birthday suit for the doctor, but in the end he cooperated completely for her.

Jones weighed 6 lb 10 oz at birth and 6 lb and 6 oz when we left the hospital, so I was so happy to hear that he weighed 6 lbs and ELEVEN ounces today. We have an eater, my friends.

5 days old:

6 lb. 11 oz.

20 1/4 inches

And completely perfect! Praise God!

And a few more pictures of his total cuteness:

Checking things out

Little ball of love in his favorite position.

first outing

Jones had his first outing today!

Granted, it was nothing exciting. We went to his circumcision appointment. He was not too thrilled - and neither was his mama - but it was a reason for me to dress him up like a doll and show him off to the sweet nurses in the clinic that have been there for me for 9 months. Jones did great! And the nurses just went on and on about him (and called him a girl. don't tell Trey).

My mom has been with us since the day we got home from the hospital - it has been the biggest blessing. I am already dreading the day she goes home. Trey and I are eating her fabulous home cooked meals, clothes are all clean, and she answers my many questions about motherhood and reassures me when I doubt myself. I can not thank her enough. She is always calm, always stressfree, and her peaceful attitude is just what I need during these first few days at home. And I was so thankful she was able to take me to Jones' appointment this morning. I was a nervous wreak. He goes to the pediatrician tomorrow - quite the weekly schedule for a 4 day old!

Jones just keeps getting more and more precious every minute and we keep falling more and more in love. Who knew there was so much love in my heart to give? I am constantly amazed.

how wonderful life is

WELCOME HOME, JONES EDWARD!

4/17/10

10:33 am

6 lb 10 oz

20 1/4 inches

Few minutes after his arrival

mohawk!

First of all, shout out to Jones' sweet daddy. I didn't even know he knew how to log in to blog. Imagine my surprise (and tears) when I saw his postings. Jones and I are lucky to have him.

Jones is more than we could have ever imagined. I can't begin describe this feeling, so I won't even try. I will just say Trey and I feel so blessed and humbled and totally in love with this new little person! He is just perfect.

Due to Jones' unstable heartbeat and drop in fluids, we decided to induce Friday morning to induce that night. After 7 hours of being induced with little change in me and only adding stress to sweet Jones' heart, the doc. decided at 8:30 to stop the pitocin and let the two of us rest until 5 am. It was touch and go there for a while, having started to get c-section equipment necessary, so I was more than happy to give little Jones a break.

We started back up Sat. morning right at 5 am. The doctor decided that even though I was not far along, he needed to break my water to expedite the process for Jones' sake. But it had to be fast or it was c-section time. The Lord heard our prayers and answered them in a fast way!

Water was broken at 7 am, epidural at 9 am (3 cm), Jones was born at 10:33 am! And Jones was perfect. What a blessing straight from God.

We are at home now and loving every minute of it. Trey is playing the guitar and my mama is singing as Jones eats away. Sweetest thing. My mama is here for the week, so I plan on taking advantage of sleeping while he sleeps, which he just started, so I am off to bed for an hour or so!

Thank you all so much for your prayers and well wishes. Our nine month amazing journey is over and now the real adventure is beginning. What an amazing, overwhelming, and humbling gift from our God. He is so good.

what Jones likes

Its 5:39 am on Monday morning- hopefully within a few hours the Skaggs family will be home. The hospital and its staff have really made us comfortable throughout this experience, but nothing provides comfort like home.
Jones has spent nearly every moment of his new life in either Heather's or my own arms. As we are now experts on his every move- here is a list of his favorite things-


-Jones likes to eat. He's been breathing air for 43 hours- about 15 of those have been spent feeding. He'll eat for 90 minutes, rest for 5 and go back for a post supper snack.

-Jones loves his mommy. I mentioned comfort earlier, for Jones home is cuddling on his mother's chest while she rubs his hair- I can't blame him.

-Jones love to be swaddled. I can swaddle a baby to near perfection lines and folds in under 10 seconds. I can play a mean guitar too, but swaddling (this weekend's new vocabulary word for me) is now my favorite.

-Jones loves to dance and be sung to. When he is upset (rarely) we waltz around the room while I sing to him. Usually Van Morrison or Billy Joel- this immediately soothes his soul.


Now what we love about Jones

-everything


Trey

blessings

Yesterday at 10:33 God blessed Heather and me with a perfect baby boy- Jones Edward Skaggs. It is truly amazing at the amount of joy Jones brought along with him- parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, nurses- all have been given a piece of this happiness. We cannot help but to walk these halls with a perpetual glow.
We've been awestruck for 9 months, but as of yesterday that feeling was taken to a higher place. Any and all parents will tell the newly expecting couple that "everything changes" in that moment- the moment you lay eyes upon the very thing you've desired for so long. And now, with roughly 24 hours of fatherhood under my belt, everything has changed- I will forever look at my wonderful, strong wife with a newfound respect, I will try and be the best, most selfless dad in the world and I will constantly pray for his future- a life full of God's love, family dinners, storytime, and puppy dog tails.

God is so Good-

he is on his way!

Well, after a week of stress tests and lots of worrying, I am being induced RIGHT NOW! His heartbeat has been a bit unstable - dropped to 60 bpm on tuesday night - and his fluids dropped from 11 on tuesday to 7 this morning so the doc. told me it was go time!

He is looking great on the monitor, so hopefully he will continue that way and we will have him here today or tomorrow.

In the meantime, I am eating ice chips like they are going out of style. I didn't eat lunch before I went to my dr. apt. since I didn't know this was the plan, so now I am in it for the long haul with my stomach growling!

Please pray he continues doing well! I will keep you posted.

Yay for Jones!

things of note

1) Snacks: I have recently re-discovered freeze pops. I think they are just about perfect. The peach flavor is gold. There are only a few in each pack, so Trey and I covet each taste. If Jones comes out crazy on sugar, it's because of these things. I am just thankful this is a new thing, and not a whole 9 month thing. Now, go buy and freeze some.

2) People are weird: Trey and I decided that maybe Jones was waiting on us to go out on one last date before he made his arrival. We have been talking about going out, just the two of us, before he comes home and I think Jones has heard this conversation a few times and was waiting for us to do so. So we went. But that is not the point.

Like I have said before, strangers say the strangest things to pregnant women. Or maybe I being out the crazies. Either way, people are strange.

Like on our way to said dinner:

"Are you having a big baby or a small baby" - lady (which is a strange question by itself)

"Probably average. Maybe 7 lbs. or so" - pregnant heather

"Thank goodness. Girls these days are pushing out these 9 and 10 lb babies. I swear. That's like having a Buick drive out of you. " - lady

Well, now that we have that settled.

3) Surprise: Trey's mom's sister and her friend threw her a surprise grandmother shower today. All of her friends surprised her with all kinds of goodies that she can keep at the house - books, toys, bottles, etc. All kinds of stuff. It was precious and she was very surprised. Such a loved little boy we are having. One gift was a baby float for the pool they are putting in this summer. For Jones. Spoiled much? Yes.

4) Homesick: I am ready to see my family. The next event of family time will be at the birth of Jones. Maybe that is why I am being so impatient. I wish we all lived together. Like one big compound. That wouldn't be strange, would it? I could see the Duggars doing that. I love the Duggars.

5) 2 weeks and counting: And here I am. At what I hope will be the last of the weekly pregnant pics. 38 weeks. Very pregnant. And, yes, a bit sunburned. I may be peeling during labor. So be it.

patience is a virtue

one they say comes with age. I can tell you at three weeks shy of 27, I have yet to obtain this particular one.

I thought for sure there would be lots of progress at my dr. apt. this morning. I had visions of the doc telling me there was no need to go home; go straight to the hospital. Visions so clear, in fact, that I made Trey pack his bag last night.

No such vision came to life.

nothing has changed. nada. zippo.

I realize I have a couple of weeks left until my due date. But it wasn't that long ago that I was given shots to stop contractions in fear that he would be here early. I was convinced he would be here by now - or at least on his way. However, as of today, he shows no interest in leaving my womb.

In the meantime, we wait.

But I do what I can. I just got back from a brisk 45 minute walk and am contemplating running suicide drills in the backyard. All for the sake of this child. I am ready to meet him.

So that's my update. Other than still being very pregnant, all was well. His heartbeat was 130 and my blood pressure was fabulous. And other than reaching the dreaded 30 lb. weight gain, all was perfect.

Speaking of weight gain, I leave you with this delicious dish that is currently cooking in my oven as we speak (type?). And let me tell you something, if you could smell through the computer, I would bet several of you would be at my house in no time. It smells divine. And super easy.

Sherried Apple Pork Chops

6 boneless pork chops, 1-1 1/2 inch thick
3 medium Granny Smith apples, cored and sliced
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
2 tablespoon butter
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup sherry
2 tablespoons water

1. Preheat oven to 350
2. Brown chops on both sides in a skillet
3. Arrange chopes in bottom of greased 13 x 9 x 2 -inch baking dish
4. Top with apple slices
5. Sprinkle with brown sugar and cinnamon, then dot with butter.
6. Season with salt and pepper
7. Slowly add in sherry and water
8. Cover tightly with foil and bake for 1 hour, 30 minutes.
(check every 20-30 minutes to make sure chops are not drying out. Add 1 tablespoon of water at a time, if necessary)

Bon appetit!

Happy Easter weekend

Arise, My love.
The grave no longer has a hold on you

No more death's sting

No more suffering

Arise...Arise...my love