3 Months Old!

3 Months with Spot the Dog!

Nadia would play tea party five or more times a day if given the choice. She loves to pretend tea, but she really loves to have real hot tea (thanks Nana)!

January Recap

I realize it's been absolutely forever since I've last posted, but life for the Jones family has been BUSY! Going back to work in January meant figuring out the new normal of juggling the mommy minister role with two girls, playing catch up from having been out on maternity leave, AND hustling to prep/plan/coordinate everything ahead to be gone on sabbatical! January included an ear infection for Lydi, a week long stomach bug for Nad, a trip to the emergency room with gall bladder issues for Andy and me trying to keep my family together long enough to get us all out the door for our month long adventure! Here are a few January recap pics.
Lydi has grown so much! She started playing in the exersaucer, sitting in the bumbo, holding herself up when she sits with you, engaging with toys and LAUGHING the most precious out loud giggle. You can't help but smile when you hear it.

Nad is also growing up so quickly. We started doing Mommy School - a wonderful curriculum that is pulled together by a former teacher now stay at home mom at http://http://www.oopseydaisyblog.com/mommy-school Nadia LOVES it and I love it - something I'd wanted to have the time and or energy to create but now it's made for me and I get to spend my time just doing it with her.

She was very proud of her Nadia Snowman.

Lydi found her voice and makes the happiest sounds - coos and ahhs and squeals of delight. She mostly wakes up so happy in the mornings and just talks in her bed until we come get her.

Nad is quite the dramatic one - she has MANY looks!

Happy!

I want my way... look at those eyes!

Suprised!!!

Angry face for Nad (I think Andy was doing his sad face at the moment)...

Sad face for Nad (Andy is doing angry I think...) My sweet Happy Daughter and Husband!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! We are looking forward to a wonderful year ahead.

Andy and I have decided to make 2012 about asking questions and listening earnestly for answers about how we can live out our calling, our faith, our daily lives, our finances, our family in ways that reflect our desire to do things that really matter, that are lasting and that have true significance. 2011 was wonderful, but we know there is more - more we can give, more we can do, more we can do without, more we can trust, more we can share, more love we can offer.

2 Months! Lydi weighed 11 lbs 6 oz and was 23 1/2 inches long at her 2 month check-up. She is doing great in every way! She has settled into a great routine. She sleeps from 8-3:45, eats and then sleeps again from 4-7:30am very regularly. She is great to play, to observe, to smile and laugh during all of her waking hours. She rarely cries and loves to snuggle. She's such a joy!

Nad wanted to take a bath in the "baby tub", so we put it in the big tub and it became her lounge chair. She thought it was hilarious that she was really in the baby tub.

Lyd loves bath time - she's starting to splash the water out of the tub each night.

They make each other laugh all day. The giggles around our house are the best!

Lydi loves her African mobile from Aunt Al and Uncle Pat. It keeps her entertained during lots of meals.

(They do have clothes that don't match, though we're clearly seeing a pattern here...I guess the camera comes out when they do.)

Christmas Recap!

We celebrated at our house on Wednesday before Christmas before we left town for the grandparents. Santa brought stockings and stuffed animals. A monkey that sings Jingle Bells was the only real item Nadia "asked" for this year - when she saw it her words were, "My Monkey! I got him!" It was a priceless moment.

Checking out the sparkly, shining lights and ornaments!

Snuggles with Nana

Santa came a couple days early to Nana and Granddaddy's house to bring "a BIKE!" because the weather was gorgeous and because there wouldn't have been much time to ride on Christmas day. Nadia was sooo excited about her pink bike and helmet! She can actually ride using the pedals.

"I can do it!"

Lydi snoozed through a good bit of the excitement this year, but she was always right there in the middle of it all.

Working Christmas puzzles - a family tradition

Christmas Eve - we were in Whiteville for the service for the first time ever since being on maternity leave meant I wasn't in charge of the Family service in Augusta. Having the few extra days before Christmas to visit and play was oh so nice.

Christmas morning! Nadia was so excited. She wasn't quite sure what was coming, but she knew it was exciting! On Christmas Eve night we put out reindeer food and snacks for Santa, and as soon as she woke up she wanted to check on them.

But before doing anything, there's the tradition of piling on the bed to say the Luke 2 Christmas Story together. Lydi was all smiles.

There was extra room on the bed this year without Alison and Pat there :( but we were so happy to be able to skype with them on Christmas morning as they rode in a truck through Malawi. Yeah for technology!

Santa brought Nadia a tent and train!

And a baby doll stroller!

Lydi got a talking and dancing dog, a car seat mobile, phone and balls!

There was a package for everyone from Uganda from Al and Pat! It had awesome African gifts for everyone.

See my awesome necklace? And the Christmas paper chaos? There were African instruments, jewelry, nativities, toys, and art - very very cool!

A farm and ducks that walk!

A very special personal coloring and story book made for Nadia by Uncle Jor. He wrote the story and illustrated the pictures in ink for Nadia to be able to color.

Nadia checked to see if Santa had eaten his snack and milk - he did!

Christmas afternoon we went to Poppa's to celebrate with Poppa, Aunt Steph, Uncle Jimmy and Aunt Janice.

Nadia playing in my new gigantic laundry basket - good for more than sorting clothes!

Playing with a peek-a-boo doll with Poppa

A jingle bell snowman ornament with the name Nadia printed on it! Who'd have thought you could find a Nadia ornament - way to go Aunt Janice!

Lydia with Poppa - bright eyes!

Monday we got together with the extended Hinson family - Nadia, Uncle Phil, Jordan, Becca, Lydia, Nana and Granddaddy (back row); Aunt Melanie, Amanda, Olivia, Grandmother and Great Papa (front row)

Nadia loved getting to play with their dog - she really does love dogs!

Fun times with cousins

Nad likes to play "letters" on the computer. She will make letters in a word document, then backspace to clear them off and start again on her own.

She got all this together on her own - 4+ purses, her baby dolls and stroller, necklace and bracelets, glasses on her head and declared she was "going shopping!"

It was a wonderful first Christmas for Lydi and a fantastic celebration of Christ's birth with family!