Kids Say The Darnest Things...So I am Learning to Watch My Mouth!

When a child learns to speak...many times you hear some HILARIOUS things...and many a time you hear something that makes you cringe...because you know that the only place they could have heard such a thing is coming from their parents mouths....

I must admit...some of the words that come from my mouth really have NO use in the English language. I could put some sailors to shame when I am angry...and since having Addyson...Adam has had to constantly remind me to watch my mouth. (I say this with quite a bit of embarrassment). Well...nothing will catch your attention quite like hearing your 2 1/2 year old daughter repeat some of those "choice" words. Its sort of hard to explain to your little girl that she can't say those things...and that mommy shouldn't be saying them either!

Then again...some times you can't help but roll on the floor laughing at the things that come out of your kids mouth! Here is a couple examples just heard in the past couple days.

• "Cow eats our money when we buy milk" (lol...she knows milk comes from cows...and I told her the other day that milk is getting really expensive)

• Me: "Are you a baby?" Addyson: "No!" Me: "Are you a big girl?" Addyson: "No, I am a kid!"

• Me: "Addy...lets go clean your room, I will help you." Addyson: "No, you can do it."

Even as I sit here and type this I am giggling pretty hard....I swear she is growing up right before our eyes...and it makes us sad. She recently counted to 10 all on her own...and today she had 6 pennies, put 3 on the table and looked at me and said, "I have 3 more pennies" Without even looking down at what she had! Adam and I are in BIG trouble with this one!

Love,

Adam, Rachel, Addyson & Annslie

The Responsibility of Being a Parent

When I was pregnant with Addyson, I was under no grand illusions that being a parent was all fun and games. I knew that with the birth of my baby came GREAT responsibility. I had a human life that I was now responsible for. Her emotional and physical well being were now of utmost priority. I think so many people become parents and believe that all they are required to do is feed and love this child. It wasn't until recently that I began to realize the FULL extent of the responsibilities of being a parent.

When H1N1 first made its appearance, I laughed about how the media likes to scare Americans. After all...it wasn't in the US...why should we really care? We weren't planning any trips to any foreign countries (although I wish we were!)...so we were safe. However, as time progressed...and the instances of H1N1 became greater and greater....I began to wonder...SHOULD I VACCINATE MY DAUGHTER?! It was something Adam and I struggled with...going back and forth between yes and no. We researched, we asked our pediatrician, we went over all the what ifs...and ultimately...we decided against getting her vaccinated. Adam and I try to not pump a ton of unnatural substances into our little girls bodies...so we definitely weren't going to risk her health with a vaccination that had been rushed to market. To this day I don't regret my decision.

However, Adam and I have just multiplied our responsibilities by 2! Annslie is due for her 2 month shots very soon...and after reading some studies...I am beginning to wonder if I should vaccinate her according to the recommended schedule. We struggled with these same decisions when Addyson was a baby...and ultimately chose to vaccinate her. Why in the world do I have qualms again? I mean...my 2 1/2 year old is happy, healthy, well adjusted...so why would I have any reason to believe it could go any differently this time?

I guess ultimately it has something to do with the fact that these are my precious babies...I worry about their future...even though they are only 2 1/2 and 8 weeks. I wonder if the things we give them now will cause harm later. Ultimately...I will be held accountable for what happens to them. They don't get to make this decision for themselves (as I am sure if Addy had a say she would say NO WAY MOMMA!)...and thats a huge responsibility to take!

The only comfort I can take is that the Lord knows what is best for my children...and all I can do is pray for the answers. Its so funny that as a parent you sometimes really AREN'T in control of them...but rather God should be! Yet another life lesson for myself in parenting!

Love,
Adam, Rachel, Addyson & Annslie

Breaking the Habit

I must admit...I have some horrible habits. I bite my finger nails, I sometimes leave my dirty socks in the middle of the bathroom floor, etc. However, the one habit that I have decided I am going to break is my unhealthy lifestyle. You see...I am a smoker and a VERY unhealthy eater! I have been working on the healthy eating...and have definitely noticed a difference in my energy level and over all feeling. I normally get sick VERY easily...and have a hard time not moving from one illness to the next. In the past 8 weeks...aside from feeling exhausted...I have felt better than ever...and I am guessing that has something to do with my decision to begin to eat healthy.

I am about to begin the "quitting smoking" process. For those of you who have never been smokers...let me tell you...there is definitely a PROCESS! There are relapses...withdrawals...etc. I have attempted at quitting many times in my life...without much success. Smoking is my one "stress relievers". I am approaching this with MUCH fear...smoking is almost like a security blanket for me. HOWEVER...I have found something that keeps my hands busy...and relieves a ton of stress...making hairbows for my girls!

I am excited and nervous. I want to get healthy for my girls. I want to be the best mom both inside and out that I can be for them. I am starting on a journey to overall health...physical, spiritual and mental. :) Come along for the ride!

Pictures of Annslie Faith!

Trust me...I have lots of pictures of the labor process...and some of the immediately after delivery. Although...I am not a big fan of the pictures of the labor (I do NOT look happy! No epidural=ugly mama!) I actually like the pictures that immediately followed her birth. However, I have been informed by















a few people on facebook that they thought my post birth pictures were "inappropriate". Not really sure WHY...because I am covered and there is nothing indecent about them. However, I am choosing to not post those pictures here...and just post pics of Miss Annslie!

Hope you all enjoy them! We have since LOST our camera...so I am most likely going to be a bit behind.

Annslie Faith Jones is Here!

Well, once again I have let this slide, but with VERY good reason!

Annslie Faith arrived on January 6, 2010 at 10:24 am. She weighed 6lbs 7.7 oz and was 18 in long. All in all the labor was very quick. I was admitted to the labor and delivery ward at 5:30 am and had her about 5 hours later. In all actuality, I was in labor the entire evening before. Starting in around 11pm. Adam jokes that he feels bad, because we timed my contractions at around 11, and they were only 5-6 minutes apart. So I told him to go to bed...it was probably another "false alarm". By around 2am they were becoming very intense, and at 4:45 when I timed them they were every 1-2 minutes. So...to the hospital we went.

They really aren't joking that you will know when its real labor! Having now experienced that...I won't have any questions in the future!

Even with all the false alarms that we had (there was one on the 4th of January too!) we were surprised that she actually came as early as she did. She was about 3 weeks early. However, she was very healthy...and we only stayed in the hospital overnight and then came on home.

My mom flew in on the 12th and was able to spend 2 weeks with us! It was really nice having her here...and I am sad she had to leave. Unfortunately she didn't make it in time for the birth...but she was a BIG help while she was here. It would be an understatement to say she was in heaven holding a newborn all day! LOL

Addyson is adjusting fairly well to being a big sister. She is quite jealous of Annslie when Daddy is holding her...but other than that...doing pretty well. She is definitely pushing some boundaries, but we expected that would probably happen!

All in all the family is doing GREAT! Its hard to believe that we are the parents of 2 little girls....and sometimes we just look at each other and ask, "can you believe we have 2 now?" Its been an adjustment...but we are looking forward to what this next phase will bring. Now...if I can only convince my husband that we need one more! LOL

2010 Is Here!

Well...its time for an update! I had a doctors appointment on Wednesday and I am happy to announce that Annslie Faith Jones will be joining our family sometime in the next week and a half! I don't have the exact induction date (Will be getting that on the 6th) but it looks like sometime the week of the 11th!

What a blessing it is! My doctor decided that my evident misery is not good for either of us, and instead of inducing me at 39 weeks...he plans on inducing at 38. Not only am I SO happy to see an end in sight, but it also works out wonderfully for my mom. There was a small chance that I would (and still could) deliver before she was able to make it up here. Also, she really needed to get back to San Antonio a few days before the 1st of February to prepare for her new job. This way she can spend a bit more time with us! Also, Adam starts classes on the 11th...and originally, my induction date was going to be after he had already been in class for a week. Luckily, the first week of classes are really about getting acquainted with the professor, etc., and so therefore missing classes is not a huge deal.

As much as I whine and complain about the perils of pregnancy...I still feel SO blessed to be gifted another beautiful baby. It truly is just that...a gift. Although being a parent is NO cake walk...I learn on a daily basis from my child. The main thing I am being taught is patience...which will no doubt be tried when I have 2 children under the age of 3! :)

I hope this New Year brings nothing but abundant blessings to each and every one of you. I know the Jones family cannot wait to see what is in store!

I will update more later when I find out more details...but I just wanted to share the amazing news with anyone who actually reads this! I think I actually do this more for my benefit! LOL!

Raising a Girl

Adam received a book for Christmas from his grandmother called "Father to Daughter" Life Lessons on Raising a Girl. The very first entry really touched us. I thought I would share it with you.
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Raising a girl takes two parents:
A Mom to show her how to be a woman.
A dad to show her how to be independent.
A dad's job is to make his daughter courageous. Fearless. To make her feel beautiful. To give her a sense of adventure. To make her feel secure and confident.
The relationship between a dad and a daughter is very simple. She will love her father and
trust him completely, forever.
Because he's her first love. Her first hero. The first man in her life.
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The book is filled with great advice for raising little girls. Starting in infancy and leading up until the day they are married. As a mother it is incredibly amazing to watch the bond that my daughter and her father have together. There is nothing sweeter to watch.