Wednesday, April 08, 2009

Be That Mom

This post on Stuff Christians Like has me feeling humbled.

This post has me laughing hysterically at my crazy sister.

This post by Missy at It's Almost Naptime has me thinking about servanthood.

And this other post by Missy has me wanting to brag on my kids. No one likes to be around parents who brag on their kids all day long. So sometimes we over-compensate for that by only sharing the things that drive us bonkers. Today we have permission to brag, brag, brag and tell what we love about our kids.

So here I go. I'll try to be brief. And humble. And a servant.

We'll start with The Mister. No one would ever accuse Curtis or Amanda Jones of being the life of the party, but that Jackson Jones is something else. I love his outgoing, sanguine personality. It warms my heart when a parent stops me in the hall at his school or at church and tells me their kid talks about him at home. I also love that he is learning manners. It's not 100%, but he will often say please, thank you, and excuse me without prompting. We're working on yes ma'am and no ma'am. Oh, and not asking for presents. Sometimes when he's asking for something and saying please, he folds his hands in front of his face like he's praying. It cracks me up. And have I ever mentioned his eyelashes? Oh, I have? Well, they're just gorgeous. I love that he's been giving tons of hugs and kisses and I love you too's.

Now, onto The Sister! I am still pinching myself that God has given us such a sweet little baby. Her gummy smile thrills me to no end. Her beautiful blue eyes make my day. One of the hardest adjustments for us after becoming parents was that we couldn't go out to eat with our friends, or simply with each other, anymore. Does that sound dumb? Oh well, I don't care. It's the truth. When we did go to restaurants, I used to have to stand next to the table and bounce Jackson while trying to eat or have a conversation. There were many times when I gave up and just did laps with him around the parking lot. There were also many times when we ended up leaving. For now, Annabeth sleeps or sits there happily every time we go out. I appreciate how calm and content she is. I'm sure our days for this are numbered, but she is just a much easier baby. Her personality is starting to come out and she is as sweet as can be! I love that when I pick her up and bring her close to my face, she smiles and smiles. Yesterday she had her first little conversation with Curtis with lots of cooing. I also caught them having their first dance in the living room to some song on a country music awards show. It was precious.

Thank You, Lord, for my two Blessings! Help me always treat them as such!

30 comments:

bethany said...

Learning to say "yes ma'am" and "no ma'am"-I love it! That's so Texan-if my Jakson started saying that, people would look at him weird :)
And the restaurant thing doesn't sound dumb-I miss being able to go to the grocery store with Zak late at night on a whim. That won't happen again until they are old enough to babysit themselves. So, like 20 years from now :)

Haley said...

Let me just say that when you said your days may be numbered,maybe there not! I have a sweet daughter like that. She is 8 now and from the day she was born she has been calm, sweet, well-mannered, smart, cute! But her little sister, well that's another story, she is cute but the other stuff, not so much:) The Lord has very much blessed you with a sweet girl! Enjoy her! They really do grow up too fast!

Kendra White said...

you need to check out the site faithbaby.com....i just ordered JH the shirt that says, "be patient God is still working on me"... its really cute, but the reminder is great for MOM! And they have wonderful stuff for the the little lady:)

Fran said...

Beautiful Amanda!!!!

All 3 of my boys are so very different and I completely embrace that and love them exactly how God made them!!!!

Have a great rest of the day!
hugs,
Fran

Holly said...

Sounds like you have a blessing in Curtis, as well. Not every Daddy dances with his daughter, but he should, oh he should!

I cannot wait to see the Easter dress on your smiling sunshine! As for those eyelashes on your little man? Oh... (audible sigh) Simply wonderful!

Have a blessed Easter, Amanda!

Alison said...

The love of a mama is so precious. Loved reading how you love your kiddos in such intimate ways that are only unique to them. How Great the Father's Love for us as well.

Beautiful writing, friend.

annalee said...

precious words about those precious blessings.

Fran said...

Oh yeah...stick with the yes ma'am stuff. Its constant, but it sure is nice when they get to be 11 and 12. ;)

Toknowhim said...

I think we should remember often how our children are a blessing...

I know when I am smack dab in the middle of momhood and some of its not so fun moments that I can forget what a blessing my kids really are :)

Thanks for the reminder...

Patty said...

My two boys were as different as night and day. My oldest was the sweetest little boy and he still is but his little brother never slept and kept me up all the time but he was as funny as he could be and I love them both!
What a beautiful moment with daddy and daughter having their first dance. :)
I still brag on my boys and they are 18 and 20. :))

Have a blessed week!

ClintandGina said...

I loved this post. Your kids both sounds like sweethearts. Makes me so excited for my own little baby girl to arrive!

Missy said...

Such a neat post! You have every right to brag about your two babies...they are absolutely precious!!!

CAROL LIVIN FOR GOD said...

OH AMANDA I JUST READ YOUR POST ON JACKSON MANNERS THAT IS SO SWEET BECAUSE NOT TO MANY KIDS IN THIS WORLD HAVE THEM , SO THANKFUL THAT JACKSON IS LEARNING HE IS A CUTE LITTLE ONE IN ALL HIS PICTURES ALSO AT THE END OF YOUR POST WHEN YOU SAID YOU SAW CURTIS AND ANNABETH HAVING THERE FIRST DANCE THAT JUST MELTED MY HEART HOW SWEET FOR YOU TO BE ABLE TO SEE THAT DANCE CHERISH YOUR MEMORIES I WISHED YOU COULD HAVE CAUGHT THAT ON VIDEO AND SHARED WITH US SEISTA'S ANYWAY THANKS FOR SHARING
HAVE A WONDERFUL EASTER CAN'T WAIT FOR PICTURES OF ANNABETH AND JACKSON IN THERE EASTER OUTFITS
LOVE CAROL ALBUQ NM

Missy said...

Yea, I'm so glad you did it!!

They sound so precious. I am glad Annabeth is easy - if Jackson is like Eva Rose, you deserve an easy one like Maggie! Maggie was just along for the ride from day one.

Sweet blessings!

And thanks for the link love, sister.

Moose Mama said...

You just go ahead and brag on those kids. And do it in front of them as often as you can, especially as they grow older. I don't think you can ever build up a kid too much.

You are indeed blessed. I feel the same way about my two babies. (20 yrs. and 11 yrs. old)

God bless your sweet family, this Easter!

Melana

Tara said...

Brag about your kids anytime you want! They are blessings, and blessed to have a Mother like you!

Lauren said...

How beautiful Amanda, LOVED this!!!!! You do have alot of blessings to count, my friend!!! :o)

Lisa @ The Preacher's Wife said...

I LOVE MISSY! Can I brag that I got to spend the night IN HER HOUSE and meet her adorable babies?? :) And so no one gets their feelings hurt, I'll spend the night with you next time I'm in Houston.

YOU KNOW I'M KIDDING!

Love reading all the brag stories on the kiddos. I'm telling you, it's a treasure that you are chronicling these days. You think you'll remember every detail until you turn around twice and realize you don't.

Anonymous said...

SCL is one of the best blogs ever. Whenever I give someone a side hug in church I think of him.

Anonymous said...

ok, ok, ok... I feel like I know you from your sis. I am a stalker who never comments but knows your life! :) I just wanted to come out of the closet and say hi and I can't wait to one day put a live soul to all the stories I have heard! Thanks for sharing your life with us! H

Lindsee Lou said...

Part of the reason I love blogging is because I love to hear all about everyones sweet families and especially children. I know I'm not in that season yet, but I love learning from you all and "wising up! I guess every now and then I miss working with kids, so it kind of fills that. So, feel free to brag on those sweet things whenever. They do sound so stinkin' precious!

Also, I love more than anything that they are your blessings. I just spent 5 days with one of my best friends and her 2 babies, and she calls them "blessing" more than she calls them by their name. Love it!

Lauren said...

I can totally relate about not being able to go out to eat. I hated that! Sometimes it was just more trouble than it was worth.

Marla Taviano said...

I love that the kids talk about him at home. My Ava is a handful, but she's also a friend magnet. All the kids love her and want to be her friend. It warms my heart like crazy.

Heather said...

I loved reading that post by Missy!
What sweet things about your kids, and I remember the restaurant, what am I saying I am right there with ya! When we looked at houses here we ate at Saltgrass one night, Mollie was 2 months and I stood the entire time! We had to get my dinner to go. That's a workout in itself!

Anonymous said...

I love it - I can totally relate to the whole restaurant thing with both of my kids - we also do laps around the restaurant, the parking lot...we would investigate the kitchen if it were allowed. What a great reminder from Missy to brag on our kids...you wrote a beautiful tribute.
Amy

McClure Family said...

you are such a great mom, Amanda! I'm sorry if I always say negative things about my kids to you. I was very convicted about that even before I read this!

Prodigal Jon said...

Thank you so much for mentioning my blog stuff christians like. I really appreciate that. And when I told my wife the name of your site she clapped because she had to educate me on the whole baby bangs concept when we had our first child.
Thanks
Jon

Cindy- My Life HIS Story said...

Keep boasting in the Lord, sweet girl!!

The first dance story made me teary-eyed!

And you are going to have even more to brag about as Jackson uses those manners. People LOVED that my girls were so polite. When my oldest was about his age we taught her that anytime she was asked how she was her response was, "I'm fine. Thank you for asking." ADORABLE!!! Even now I will see someone and start catching up on how our kids are and they mention that!

Missy said...

Ok, a comment from Prodigal Jon is just way cool.

katiegfromtennessee said...

Hey Little Momma!:) I see you got your homework and your laundry done:) I love this post too!! I think that these are the things about your children that thrill your heart. I love the sweet visual of Curtis dancing with Annabeth...dads dancing with daughters:):) is double smile territory!

katiegfromtennessee