it's been a while.

Anyone still out there?

I have many reasons for not blogging, and they are all pretty darn good, but I am going to take another stab at this thing. Jones is growing up right before my eyes (20 months on the 17th!!) and I don't want to miss a thing.

I am working full-time now. Very thankful for a great job, but I miss staying home with my not-so-baby-baby so much. Obviously this was not in "our plan" that Trey and I worked out before Jones was born, but life rarely follows our rules. Sometimes you just have to do what you gotta do and when life throws major curve balls in your face, you just gotta do your best.

So that's what I am doing. My best. I don't beat myself up for working outside the home(well, ok, some days I cry), don't beat myself up for not have a clean house, dinner cooked every night, or for not working out everyday. I am still trying to figure out this working mom gig. Thankfully I have a wonderfully supportive husband who has done more than his fair share with cleaning and grocery shopping and bath times.

Changes are hard, and this one is no exception, but thankful for God's daily graces.

Moving on.

Jones is hilariously wild. WILD. I know boys are wild. Mine may win. And, according to his teachers at "school", he does win. Yesterday he got his first bad report card. I had to talk to his teacher this morning. Parent/teacher conference at 3 days shy of 20 months. Pray for me.

Anyway, they proceeded to tell me that he tackles every child and then lays on them while the poor, innocent victim cries for help.

I believe this. He can bring me to the ground. PS - he weighs 30 lbs. I am pretty sure there is a girl in his class that weighs no more than 15. Bless her.

They informed me that after Christmas break he will be moving to another classroom. That's right. He is getting kicked out of his class. He is moving to an older classroom "where the kids are more his size". Am I raising a bully? This is hilarious.

I have tried to talk to him at home about being sweet and gentle and hugging all of his friends. Which he does - right before he brings them to their knees.

Right before he takes his next victim. You can see the fear in that poor child's eyes.

I have tried several "discipline" techniques including time-out (sitting still for 1.5 seconds....maybe) and even popping his little hand, to which he looks at me with his big blue eyes and long eyelashes, tilts his head and says "mama" ever so sweetly while leaning in for a kiss.

This kid is good. And I have my work cut out for me.

His loves right now: trains ("cha-chas"), his big cousin Henry, his little cousin, Noelle Adams ("awww"), balls (duh.), trucks and books. Oh, and tackling.

On his non-love list: Santa.

His vocabulary is still a little slacking. Trey is a bit worried. I think he just is satisfied with tackling and sees no use for words. At any rate, he has his very own language. When he sees a train he says " Cha-cha, mama!" Say that in a very British accent. That is how he talks. He can also say daddy ("da"), "book", drink ("thisss"), "ball", Thank you, ("tanktu"), "boot", and "dog".

Other than that, it's his own language. Most everything is "adda!". Who knows. We thought for a while "What's that?" but now I am not so sure. He is very funny and has full conversations with me in his own language, changing his tone, expressions and even shaking his little finger during the really important parts. I usually respond with "ok!" and he seems satisfied with that answer. I sure hope I am not promising a pony for Christmas.

He had tubes put in his sweet ears on Monday. Bless his heart, the Dr. said they were just awful. They are still draining a good bit. We go back next Monday for a check-up. Hoping for a clear bill of health! And we are also hoping being able to hear will help with his speech.

We are getting settled in a precious home in our new town. We will be renting this home for about a year and a half. I love it and could not be more grateful. Our home in Hattiesburg that we rented out for years while we were living in Gulfport is back on the market. PLEASE, for the sake of all things good in this world, someone buy it soon. If not, you may find me and sweet hubs in the nut house soon after the new year.

His favorite movie watching spot at our house -- inside the ottoman.

Maybe it won't be months before we talk again.
LOVE MY WILD MAN

OK. Let's get honest.

Truth is, I was going to make this blog private. Truth be told: I probably still will. But, people, I got to email #200 of people asking to be added when I was told that only 100 people can be added to your private blog. And I wasn't even half way through the list.

So, if we are all perfectly honest right now, I have to tell you I feel pretty darn loved. If ever you feel down, tell blogland you are going private. That will perk you right up. Thanks, readers. I love you too.

A few things have happened since we last spoke.

Namely, we are no longer residents of the coast.

Just know we are starting a new life in a new town. It's neither here nor there. (What does that even mean? I just felt like it fit there. )We are both so excited to see what God has in store for us. It has been amazing to see His hand in this move already.

And, yes, we are appreciate your prayers.

However, from the responses to my "going private" post, I now know that none of y'all come to this blog to read about us. Jones, as it turns out, is far cuter than I will ever dream of being.

So with that said, here are his latest ever-so-exciting tricks at almost 17 months:

- Gives zurberts. Come on, you know what that is. Don't act like if I spelled it correctly that it would change things. Raspberries on your check, leg, or his personal favorite, stomach. He pulled my shirt up in a store once to give me one right smack on my belly. We are still learning what is appropriate outside of home behavior.

- Refuses to try to say Sophie. He simply calls her dog. I will say "Jones, say Bye Sophie!" and he will say "Bye, Dog!". I have tried to sound out her name while pointing to her. "Sooo-feee." To which he replies, while pointing to her, "dooo-ooog". As if to say "why is this idiot calling this dog a sophie when clearly it is a dog?" We will work on proper nouns at a later date, I suppose.

- At 15 months he weighed 26 lbs (71%) and was 33 1/2 inches tall (97%). When I hold him on my hip, his feet dangle to about my knees. We look awkward.

- I have never seen a child so obsessed with balls. He sleeps with a football. He wakes up saying ball and he goes to bed saying "night-night ball". It's all he wants to play with, throw, kick, hug, etc. He loves a ball. Which is a perfect lead to...

- The other night we were watching the first state game (go dawgs) with some friends who have a 7 month old that is so precious and still and quiet. Jones kept throwing a football at his sweet little head. (no fear. it was soft. I don't promote abuse) When Jones got sick of the sweet baby not playing his games, Jones picked up a toy laptop and chunked it at the babe's face. Game over, kid.

- He loves to wear caps, get muddy, tackle his mama and daddy (and random sweet little girls at the library) and play ball. And to think I once thought I would want a prissy princess. I love my all boy little man. I can't imagine anything better.

Here are Jones' precious one year pictures taken by the ever talented Tricia Butts at Betty Donne Photography. He was actually closer to 14 months when the pictures were taken due to Jones having the fever virus around his birthday and busy schedules.

Seriously, this girl is good. He doesn't sit still for more than half a second at a time. The fact that she is able to capture good pictures of a running monkey never ceases to amaze me.

(Check out all of them on her site. )

I am alive! (but going private...)

Hello? Is this thing on?!

Anyone still out there? A lot has happened since I last posted. My little man is now 16 months. What? How did that happen!

There have been circumstances in our lives that are going to require this blog to be private.

So....if you are so inclined in keeping up with our little life (come on, we are fun!) leave a comment with your email address. I will make the comments private so that your email is not out there for all to see.

Hopefully I will have the blog ready to go private in the next week or two.

Get ready - lots of pictures of my big one and a half year old coming soon!

one last birthday party shout out

Sweet Trey.

In our neighborhood park, there are three pavillions but only one big pavillion. Obviously that is the one I wanted for Jones' party. You can not reserve them; it is first come, first served. I have heard from other moms that if you want it for a Saturday, you better get there early. It's a popluar birthday spot, apparently.

Trey woke up at 5:45 the day of the party and was at the park by 6:00 to reserve the big pavillion. And thank goodness he was - by 6:30 a mom showed up wanting it! He never complained, never thought I was crazy (or never spoke it anyway) and I really didn't even have to ask for him to do this.

Love him. I think I'll keep him.

more party pictures

He refused to touch the cake. I tried all I could think of! So much for a smash cake.

Jones' Frog Prince First Birthday Party

We had a wonderful celebration of Jones' first year on April 2nd. We were so blessed to be surrounded by our families and incredible friends.. I have prayed and prayed for friends since moving to the coast and the Lord has certaintly provided me with a group of wonderful stay at home moms that love my child like their own.

We had the party at our fabulous neighborhood park and could not have asked for a better day. It was beautiful weather all day.

Here are a few pictures. I had the best time planning his party.

This is one very loved little boy. I can't believe he will be one on the 17th!

My little family.

1st birthday party pictures...

ugh. I just posted so many pictures from his fabulous party. And I lost it. I don't have it in me tonight. But will do it soon! (this is his big baby book, after all!) Good news is I have posted lots on facebook. Look there! Just get ready - it was so much fun and I have lots of precious pictures. I am so annoyed with blogger - going to bed!

take me out the ballgame

Jones was introduced to MSU baseball on March 27th. I think he is a good luck charm for the dogs - we swept Auburn that weekend! He loved it, of course, and lasted the whole game. Chilin' in Left Field Lounge

Ahhh....Starkville in the springtime. Is there anything better?

What? He needed a haircut?

It was a long time a-coming. The boy's got some hair.

It was getting in his way of everyday activities. Like eating and seeing.

Proof:

So while in Starkville during the weekend of March 25-27, hair stylist Aunt Stephanie got her hands on my baby's head in my parent's backyard. He did great (with the distraction of crazy grandparents and food) and I did better than expected. In an instant he became a little boy. But a little boy who can see, so it's all good.

My big, handsome little man.

Jones is going to be...

A BIG COUSIN!

We couldn't be more excited about baby Fyke making his/her appearance this fall!


As excited as my entire family is, nobody is feeling the excitement more than big-brother-in-the- making, Henry. He wanted to wear his big brother shirt to school after he found out so he would "remember to tell all his friends"! He is the best big brother already.


One of my favorite pictures from the New Orleans trip: We were eating brunch at The Court of Two Sisters and Kristen comes back to the table with ice cream and a plate of lemons. Gotta love pregnancy foods!

Kiss me, I'm Irish!

My friend, Hope, and I took our boys to Ocean Springs for their first St. Patty's Day parade last Thursday. The two daddy's were still at work, so we ventured over to my favorite Mississippi coast town alone with Jones and Hayes. It was a really cute, but small, parade. Like really small: I think there were four different groups in the entire parade. But it was festive. Great crowd, a high school band, horses,a fire truck and beads. What more could you want? And the boys laughed and smiled throughout the entire thing. Except when they were eating the beads. Cute boys.

The Clydesdales were the main attraction. They were beautiful!