What a Saturday....

Miss Winnie had a full day yesterday...filled with fellowship, fun and yummy food. Early in the day we got to play with Samuel, Presley & Sam (and their mommies Amy, Jenna & Courtney)...this is the first time we got all 4 kiddos together since they were in our tummies. All 4 of them are at similar stages and all curious as to what comes next, was so fun to see them interact with each other. Even funnier is the height difference between Presley and Winnie... now Winnie is only in the 15% and Presley (born two days later) is off the charts. Each little one has their own little personality and all so sweet...going to be fun to watch them grow-up together!!
After her nap we headed over to our good friend's, Amy & Brian, home for a well-overdue double date. Its only taken us a few months to get out of the fog and so nice that we could enjoy a nice evening together. Brian made his AMAZING chicken parm that just melts in your mouth, can you tell we were craving this for weeks! We ate way too much, laughed a ton and then endulged in some tasty chocolate cake. Our sweet babes were excited to see each other for a second time in the day...they had a chance to get to know each other better....staring at each other...holding hands and Winnie was even ready to put her arm around him. We were starting to wonder if she was putting the moves on him!

"Lets hold hands...they probably won't let us again till we are 18!"

"Mom, I love this little guy..."

"See he likes me back..."

Easter...

Alright, alright, I know I'm a little late to be posting Easter pictures...its been a crazy week in the Jones' home. Please pray that little Winnie would get over her cold/cough, she is pretty good during the day but has been waking up in the night a lot (and mommy & daddy are tired!).

Her Easter dress was one of mine when I was little...
We had a very nice time visiting my family in MD for Easter. On Saturday we got in some good outlet shopping (gotta fit my after baby body..haha) and got to visit with our friends, Emily & Gregg (forgot to take a picture!!). Winnie was all smiles Easter morning when she saw the little blue bunny toy we put in her basket. She plays with this little bunny over at Liz's house so was excited to see him show up in MD! The Easter service at my family's church was very simple and to the point.... stones are very prevalent in Jesus' day (they were used to throw at people, block the entrance to where Jesus was put to rest, etc) and we were asked what would happen if we removed the stones in our lives. How profound and simple is that.... Forgot to mention at the beginning of the service the Pastor invites the kids to the front and they are each given a balloon. When the Pastor says "He has RISEN" the kids are to let them go and watch them rise to the ceiling! Winnie was awake so I took her up to share in the fun with all the other kids. After church we hung-out and then ate some amazing lamb for dinner. Monday was Tony's birthday so it was fun to stay an extra day to celebrate with him by taking him out for his birthday lunch! Got to see Eben's place (finally!)...very convenient to lots of stuff and pretty sweet inside.

Before we headed back to NC we stopped in to say hi to my mom's co-workers. They were happy to finally meet Winnie and put her to work right away (in my mom's absence, as she was off on Monday).

What a trooper...

Yesterday Winnie had her 4 month appt at the doctors and boy was she a trooper! She was giggling when we got her undressed (pictured above) and playing before the doctor came in. It was so sad to hold her down while the nurse put her shots in the top of her thighs. As soon as it was done I scooped her up in a heartbeat and kept telling her everything was ok. All of her measurements were good.... weighed 13lbs 14oz (55%) and was 23 1/4 inches (15%) in. long....you should see her rolls! She is a petite little thing. Developmentally she is right on track.

Her little pouty face in this shot made me so sad...

Last night she slept 12 hours and she hasn't done that while being sick the last week and 1/2. PTL!! Her little legs are a little sore today, hopefully that will go away in a day or two.

Fun at Stephanie's....

Our dear friend and neighbor, Stephanie, watched little Winnie yesterday and looks like they had a blast! When I came home from work the kids had even built a fort in the front yard, out of cardboard. Miss Winnie was sound asleep while all that "building" was taking place.

Winnie with her buddies, Ben and Eden...

Kisses from Ben (even looks like they are holding hands)...

Hugs from Eden (she was a big helper yesterday too!)...

These past few weeks our good friends, Stephanie & Elizabeth, have taken a day out of their busy schedules to watch Winnie each week and we are so thankful. Starting daycare next week will be very hard on me, as its been so easy to drop Winnie off at these ladies homes and know she was in their hands. Again, thank you ladies...you have blessed our lives!!

Happy St Patty's Day

Hope you all have a fun St Patty's Day today! This is probably the only holiday that I will wear the color of the holiday...have on my green sweater as we speak and Winnie wore this outfit to our friend Stephanie's.

Over the weekend Tom & I volunteered at FUEL, a discipleship weekend for our Jr High and Sr High school students. We are now recovered enough to talk about it (well, I'm not as I lost my voice even before the weekend began). It was a full weekend, Tom stayed at a family's home with 9th grade boys and I had 8 8th grade girls staying at ours. Now I knew what I was getting myself into when I opened up our home...and will admit it was hard at times but so fun. The Lord was good to us all over the weekend and really could see the students connecting with Him. Here are the girls while we walked around picking up trash outside (part of their missions project on Sat)...

This whole weekend got me thinking.... What a privilege it is to speak directly with our Heavenly Father and for Him to have total control over our lives. On my way to the church Sat night I had a good chat with the Lord and was so overwhelmed with thanksgiving.... The question that kept popping up in my head was... "Why me?". So often we go through our daily routines and never stop to think, why did Abba Father call my name and bless me all these years. There are so many other roads I could've traveled down, but NO the Lord knew a plan for me and guided me through the good and bad. Amazing!

Back to Miss Winnie.... She turned 4 months on Friday. Unfortunately she still hates laying on her tummy but we practice every day. Her cold is getting better but is still coughing (some days more than others). It was very warm here on Fri and Sat so she enjoyed getting out to get some fresh air.

Here she is practicing "tummy time"...

On the homefront...

What a crazy week its been... Our little Winnie has been sick all week and so have I. We both had a headcold and only I had a fever (short-lived). So pitiful to hear her cough, especially through the night. Our friend Liz suggested we put vicks on the bottom of her feet when she sleeps and really think its helping. Of course you can't put vicks on little one's chests but her mom has been putting it on babies feet for years. Luckily I am feeling better and able to care for our pumpkin (PTL!). Tom has been absolutely amazing, he's done a lot this week for his girls!

This week we also decided on a daycare for Winnie...such a hard decision. On March 25th she will start going to Mary's home. We just met Mary a few days ago, but my mgr takes her daughter there (for 3 years) and she has been watching children for 37 years. Her home is on our way to work, the kids there seem very happy and well-mannered. There is even a little boy who reminds us so much of Treyson when he was a little boy, so smiley, active & sweet. It all sounds so good but there are a few downfalls, nothing major. She will be loved and cared for much better than the other daycare option we had previously registered for.

Working on Saturday??....

Yes, the Jones' were working on Saturday... We've decided to finish our bonus room (need some room for all of Winnie's toys..hehe) in the next few months, so really need to get it cleaned up.

We found some fun stuff during our time rooting through some childhood things....
And had fun trying on things that we've inherited from late family members (oh yes mom, thats Grandma's welsh knitted accessories!)...

I found some great jewelry in my Grandmother's jewelry boxes, she was always known for having some flashy stuff! I absolutely love a few of the necklaces I found, still in style today!


While we were up there we saw Winnie's jumperoo and figured we might as well break it out for her. She absolutely LOVED it and giggled as soon as we put her in the seat. Not sure she knew what to play with first... Unfortunately, she cannot touch the ground yet (she has some short little legs) but enjoys mommy bouncing her.


Tomorrow we have to finish up the bonus room so Tom can get started on the electrical pronto!

Bath time...

On Sunday morning we gave Winnie a bath and captured this adorable moment... She loves her bath and is starting to like the time after she gets out (lotion, dressed, etc). In the past she was crying while I hurried to put the lotion on and get her dressed.

This towel is the only thing she has monogrammed so far...thank you Linda! I have a few more items to get her monogrammed, time to get to it!

Dedication weekend...

We had a ton of family in this past weekend to celebrate Winnie's dedication at church. The fun started Saturday when everyone rolled in.... It was the first time that Mandy, Margie & David got to meet Miss Winnie so they were tickled to finally get to hold her. Most of Saturday we all visited with one another and grilled out for dinner (yum!). After dinner we surprised Margie with a little early birthday celebration since her real birthday is this coming Saturday.

Winnie cuddling in Aunt Margie's arms...

Margie's birthday surprise...

Nain getting some lovin' in (love that new haircut!!)...

Sunday was Winnie's big day..and she was so excited that she woke up early anticipating all the fun to come. She was an absolute doll at church in her gown...now this gown was no usual gown, it was from the early 1900's and my Grandfather had worn it when he was a little one (along with my mom & I). I was a little worried that Winnie was going to be kranky but she did amazingly well. Usually we sit at the "cross cafe" (in the hallway) to watch the service so I wasn't sure how she would do in the middle of the sanctuary, and of course on stage. I fed her before service so she fell asleep in my arms during worship (her favorite!) and didn't wake till Chuck called us on stage. We had planned on Tom holding her on stage, but she ended up in my arms since it was hard to move her asleep.

Chuck praying for her...

Her on the "big" screen... the audience sighed when it went up (I felt very loved)...

The Jones/Rohm family that came for her big day...
We were so thankful that Winnie was part of Chuck's sermon, as the real baby dedication is next Sunday. Chuck started a new series and Winnie's dedication was to show how important it is to have Christ in our children's lives. Its such an honor that we (as her parents) could commit to sharing Christ with our little girl and be surrounded by amazing believers that will have a part in her life. I've learned through working with the youth at church that it takes not only the parents but other Christians to make an impact in our children's life. I'm so excited to watch her grow up and learn how much Christ loves us and will continue to pray that she would seek Him with all her heart.

The day wrapped up with a little celebration for Winnie... She loved having her cousins to play with (they are so cute with her) and being held by all her family.

Uncle Dave enjoying his time with Winnie...

Aunt Mandy playing with Winnie...

Winnie with her cousins, Landon & Benjamin