Charlie Baby

It's hard to believe little Charlie Marie is six weeks old already! Time has flown by and we are having so much fun with our little girl. She is more and more alert every day and blesses us with big smiles. She's also starting to "talk" to us...she has so many great stories to tell. As of Monday she weighed in at 9 lbs 13 oz and is growing like a little weed. We have good nights and nights of, well, a little less sleep than I'd like, but all in all we are doing well. But, enough talking, we know everyone just logs on here for the pictures :) Enjoy!

Using a pacifier for the first time!

We can only hope she's on her way to taking a bottle.

Finally caught that toothless grin on camera...

it makes everything worth it to see that smile!

Our Little Blessing Has Arrived!

Charlotte Marie Jones

Born September 9, 2010

8:51 PM

* 7 lbs 4 oz * 19 in *

Our little family is home and doing great

We are enjoying every minute of getting to know our sweet little Charlie-Marie

Aloha!

***I was just going through old posts and saw that this one never got posted!
It's very belated but enjoy***

Here is a belated photo montage of the fantastic Hawaiian vacation we were blessed with in June. The weather was outstanding, accommodations were perfect, fun and adventures were had by all in this tropical paradise, and, to top it all off, my sister got engaged! Thanks to my mom and dad for a great time and wonderful memories!!

Sew much fun!

A few weeks ago I became the proud owner of a beautiful little machine, a Jenome computerized sewing machine that is. It works like a dream and, even though I haven't really sewn a stitch since some time in high school, I am happy to report that I was able to take her for a spin a whip up a pretty decent little project. I found directions on-line for all kinds of cloth toys and a pattern for felt blocks caught my attention. Just sew a stack of squares together...how hard could it be? I also thought blocks would make a great first project since in the end no one would have to wear the creation, should it be a flop. Turns out the directions weren't the best and sewing the final seam when the block is stuffed is tricky business, but by block number three I had modified the pattern enough so that things ran pretty smoothly. Here they are in all their glory. The top one has waxed paper in it along with the stuffing to make that fun crinkly sound babies love so much and the one with the heart, it has a few bells tossed in side to make a pleasant jingle. Next project, some embellished burp clothes...

"Retirement Party"

Our Bible study threw a "retirement" party for me and another pregnant gal in our study who have the blessed privilege to leave the working world to stay home with our babies for their first year. And while we know we're leaving "9 to 5" for "24/7," it was still a blessing to celebrate this wonderful opportunity. While it was a bit more like a party at an old folks home (meat loaf, BINGO, wheel chair races and Jell-o for dessert) I had a blast at this little get together. Thank you to the thoughtful friends who put it all together! Here's a little photo montage of the party highlights:

BIRTHDAY HIGHLIGHTS
Last week I was blessed to celebrate 27 years! Here's a sample of the festivities...

*Nick took me out for a very tasty dinner at a favorite little Greek restaurant. The food was outstanding and the wait staff very entertaining. Here's a little clip of my birthday serenade (in case you can't place the song it's from the musical "My Fair Lady"):

*As a teacher I got to celebrate by watching my talented students perform in their spring concert. As one student told me, "Mrs. Jones, we gotta rock it 'cuz it's your birfday!"

*Of course, a teacher's birthday wouldn't be complete with out the requisit gifts of a used bottle of perfume, a heart shaped rock and a card signed by the class with messages such as, "your my hero" and "tack care of the baby" (spelling errors intentionally left in :)

*Nick got me the prettiest bird feeder and made me a clever bird bath that sits outside my living room picture window. It is so much fun to watch the silly birds splash and play.

*I got to go on a maternity clothes "shopping spree" (thanks mom and dad!)

*Cake!

Now I look forward to the big changes ahead for my next year! Thanks to all for the birthday wishes!

Family Time

first and most importantly...

IT'S A GIRL!!

Our second trimester ultra sound was incredible. The face, the fingers, the little legs... We couldn't get enough of seeing our little baby moving around. God's creation is amazing! It was at this ultra sound that we found out we are having a girl! We are so excited and can't wait to meet her.

We went to Lodi that weekend to celebrate four April birthdays (Kevin, Marissa, mom and dad) and announce the big news.

Birthday cake and pink plates

19 weeks

Daddy is excited to have a little girl!

Last weekend was another busy one. We loaded up the mini van (YES, we are the proud owners of a sweet 2005 Honda Odyssey) and went to Santa Rosa to enjoy a weekend with Nick's parents, brother and sister-in-law. We had a great time enjoying beautiful Sonoma County, taking it all in with pleasant walks, tasty meals and wine tasting (for most of us anyway.)

Family photo...in front of the outhouse :)

A family of 3!
20 weeks and growing! Half way!

Easter and an Anniversary

Easter

This year we had the blessed treat of celebrating Easter with our church family. We were enjoyed a wonderful Good Friday service as well as a riveting Easter sermon and joyful worship. Our fellowship meal was packed and we all enjoyed our fill of ham and side dishes. We brought tasty homemade cinnamon rolls that were also on our breakfast table at home Easter morning.
At home we celebrated Christ's resurrection with a reading of the crucifixion and resurrection story from the gospel of Luke, reading the last of our Lent readings and lighting all of the candles on the breakfast table because the Light of the World conquered sin and death...alleluia!

And of course a baby Jones update: here he (or she) is on Easter...what a cutie!

Anniversary

The next day, April 5th, we celebrated our second wedding anniversary! We enjoyed getting all dressed up (I was so excited to fit into my favorite dress from our dress rehersal two years ago...it was a close call though) and going out for a fancy dinner. We so enjoyed one another's company, as we always do, and our anniversary is such a great time of reflecting back on all of God's blessings and looking forward with excitement and anticipation to the future. I am so very grateful for the wonderful leader God has brought to me...and this is only the beginning!

Update on the Baby Front

Here we are at 15 Weeks already. The time sure has gone quick and we are edging closer to the half way point. Things are going swimmingly and my very obedient child cut out the morning sickness on day one of week 13 (much to my relief) just as I requested. My belly is showing some signs of baby but it's still not sure if it's ready to commit. My pants seem to alternate between fitting and being too small multiple time a day.

We had our second prenatal visit last Friday and got to hear the rapid little heart beat of baby Jones. The doctor said she is pleased with how everything is going which was my green light to submit my leave of absence request this week. Knowing that I won't be back at work next year has given me a touch of "senior-itis." Only 49 school days left...but who's counting?!?

In out eager anticipation we've cleaned out the closet in the room that will become baby's. The outcome was a clean empty closet for our great Goodwill changing table find and a bedroom/hallway/living room full of homeless closet items. Yes, there is much to do but plenty of time to do it.

Introducing...

Yes, yes, yes! You see that correctly, Nick and I are expecting our first little blessing! We found out New Years Eve that that we will soon be parents, much to our great joy and elation. We had our first ultra sound taken around 8 weeks. It was incredible to see the baby kicking those baby feet (which, if you ask me, already look pretty big :0) and watch the little heart beat.

Baby Jones first pictures

Excited to share the news with family, we were fortunately planing a trip to visit my family for a belated Christmas the following day...PERFECT! We went shopping for a few extra gifts to reveal the big news in a creative way. Everyone got a gift bag with a food item that had "baby" in the name (baby carrots, baby spinach, baby potatoes, baby mushroom and baby back ribs). Nick and I thoroughly enjoyed watching everyone as they puzzled through the gift until they put the pieces together. They were so confused :)

The Schuh Family with their "baby" gifts

Unfortunately we left Nick's family down in Riverside before we knew about the baby so we had to get creative long distance. We sent a bouquet of flowers to his parents with a note that simply read, "Congratulations on the big news! Love, Nick and Kim" It didn't take them too long to put the pieces together, especially since I skipped out on coffee every morning and wine tasting when we were visiting the week before :0)

We are now at 12 weeks and besides bouts of "icky feelings" (can't call it morning sickness when it's all day long) and the ability to fall asleep at the drop of a hat, any time, any where, things are going great. I'm giving this little one one more week and then I am demanding we be done with the whole morning sickness thing...we'll keep you posted!