Jones - 2 year pictures

My dear friend and photographer extraordinaire has done it again. 

Tricia has taken all all of Jones' pictures since he was in my belly. 

She is so good.

If you are in the Alabama/Mississippi area, I highly recommend her.  You will not be disappointed. 

Check out her site here: http://www.bettydonnephotography.blogspot.com/

Love her. Love the pictures. Love our friendship.  Love my child. 

That's a whole lotta love going around.

Check out more on her site.  Or on my Facebook. (Are we friends?)

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. )

this girl is good

A few weeks ago Jones and I headed over with some friends to Mobile to have Jones' 9 month pictures taken by the fabulous Tricia at Betty Donne Photography. Outdoor picture, mind you. On a not so glorious February day.

Freezing temps? Absolutely.

Sleeting? Most definitely.

But all for the sake of cute pictures, we forced ourselves out into the chill. I felt like a bad mama, taking my sweet man out in the cold, taking his hat on and off at each shot location. I did, however, stop myself from changing his wardrobe multiple times out in the cold. I do have some sense.

We have never been able to get a smile from the little man while taking his picture...until now! We were so pleased. He just laughed and clapped. Thought the 20 degree biting chill was hilarious.

Get a load of these. Is she not the best?

Love. Love. Love.

My how he has grown.

Check out his 6 month pictures

And 3 month

And newborn

And in the belly

Oh. And check out pictures my totally adorable and hilarious nephew

I can't believe we only have his one year pictures left and then his Grow With Me package is over. No fear, Tricia will be taking multiple photo shoots of Jones each and every year. How blessed I am to have such talented friends...and that live so close!

Such precious, priceless pictures.

LOVE.

Tricia is so good. Every month I think there is no way she can top the previous month. And after every photo session I think to myself that there is no way she got good shots - he refuses to smile when she gets the camera out.

Well, she proves both thoughts wrong each time. She is incredible! If you are on the MS or AL coast (or wherever - she is worth the drive) you must check out Betty Donne Photography. You will not be dissapppointed.

I have a whole disk of amazing pictures. Here is just a sneak peak.

update and 6 month pictures

The chest Xrays showed that Jones has viral pneumonia. I totally freaked out, but his sweet, precious, amazing pediatrician assured me that it was not as bad as it sounded. I think it sounds horrible. She has called to check on him (and me) several times. This combined with the fact that she ooos and ahhhs all over Jones everytime makes her the perfect pediatrician. I love her.

He started medicine a few days ago and is already back to himself. The past two nights have been back to normal...praise God! He still has a cough every now and then, but I can tell by looking in his eyes that he finally feels so much better. They seemed to think that all his ear infection last week was connected to this. Bless his heart. And I blamed it on hunger.

I am so thankful to have my happy (and good sleeping) baby back.

On to fun things...

We just got back from Mobile where we stayed with Tricia and Caleb last night. Tricia took his 6 month pictures this morning in Fairhope, AL. It was so much fun. But a smile from little man? Way too much to ask. The best word I can use to describe him is curious. Tricia gets that big camera out and the smile immediately fades and he becomes very, very serious. I think he is trying to figure it all out. The minute we finished the pictures, loaded up the camera, and put Jones in the car he flashed Tricia the biggest grin. I think he knew what he was doing all along.

But she is amazing and I know they are stunning even if, yet again, he refused to smile.

He did, however, smile at the Butts in general. He thought they were hilarious. Tricia and Caleb danced with him and he just laughed and laughed. Too bad we don't have those smiles on camera!

Thanks, Tricia - we had a great time. And maybe by his 9 month pictures he will have the whole camera mystery figured out and will flash you a big one!

Be sure to check out Tricia's photography - I have such talented friends! She took my maternity pictures and Jones' newborn, 3 month and now 6 month pictures. Looking forward to 9 month and 1 year photos!

3 month pictures

Tricia is just amazing! I was a little nervous because, as I stated in my previous post, Jones was way more interested in trying to figure her camera and flash out than he was smiling, but THEY ARE PRECIOUS. She is such an amazing photographer. I can't wait to see all of them.

Check out her blog: http://www.bettydonnephotography/. blogspot.com

I am so looking forward to his 6 month - we are heading to her stomping grounds for some outdoor pictures. Cooler weather. Jones will be able to sit. There may or may not be a Halloween costume involved. Love it.

Here is just a sample of his cuteness...

In other news, Jones slept from 10 pm - 10 am this morning. AHH! He ate at 5 am and 8 am. I woke up at 3 in a panic that I had not fed him all night and ran into his room to find him blissfully sleeping. I have entered a new world of mommy hood. The rested kind.

say cheese!

Tricia (Betty Donne Photography) came and took Jones' three month pictures today.

I went on and on to Tricia about how much he smiles, coos and laughs now and how wonderful he was going to be to photograph.

Well, he made me out to be a big fat liar.

As soon as she got out that camera, he instantly became shy. He did not smile once. Not one time. Not one tiny grin.

He could not figure out Tricia's big fat camera and flash. He was so serious through the whole thing.

But Tricia is a pro and I know there are some great ones. Can't wait to get them back.

Plus, Tricia got some good loving from a very sleepy post-photographed baby, so all is well.

Thanks, Tricia. You're the best. Got to love super talented friends

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