Peanut

I think every parent (even though most dads won't admit it) secretly hopes that they will have a little girl. When we got pregnant the second time, this was my hope. Of course, I would have been happy with a little boy and as long as the baby was healthy, it really didn't matter. But, when we found out we would be blessed with a girl, I had tears in my eyes!

And what a joy she has been the past 22 months! She definately has spunk in her (hense, the reason why I am glad we only have one!), but she is just so sweet! Obviously a daddy's girl, she has him wrapped around her little finger! Part of my secret hope for a girl was this very reason. I knew that Craig would melt when he met and got to know his little girl. Their relationship is a very unique one. They have their own little things that they do together...I.E. share candy, play in the mud, and lay on the couch together. But, they definately get on each others' nerves too! Our little peanut knows how to push every button there is (this may be the reason that I sometimes say that she is my pay back child!) She for sure knows how to push her daddy's buttons and even after she gets yelled at, she will go and snuggle on the couch again with him :)

Daddy and her brothers are going to be awfully protective of her as she gets older, I have a feeling. Much to her father's dismay, she is developing a love for clothing and shoes. I brought home some clothes the other day and she proceeded to take them out of the bag and hold them up to herself saying "CUTE!!" Her dad would much rather she wear jeans or work clothes everyday (and for that matter be dirty and unattractive her whole life so that no boys will like her!) Even so, we can't wait to see what the future holds and who she grows up to be, attitude and all!!

My Boys

You wouldn't believe the strange looks that I get when I tell people that I like having boys and that I like to shop for boys clothes more than girls clothes. But, it's true...I just love my boys. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love my little Koryn too, but I am definately glad we only had one girl! (check back for more on that in a later post!)

Mason is one of the best big brothers any kid could ask for. Does he pester his little sister? Yes! But, he is always right there when I need a helping hand. He may not always be the happiest about having to help with everything, but he does none the less. He is also such a soft-hearted little guy that it makes my heart melt. Craig doesn't seem to find this a good quality (he thinks he needs to be a mans man all the time) but I know that when it comes time for him to be dating, this is going to be a good quality! There are those times that I could just about ring his neck when he shoots attitude at me, such as last night when he was upset that he didn't get to play much in his baseball game and he continued to whine about just about everything. He was sitting in the backseat of the car and out of the blue he said "So we aren't going to have a birthday party for me or anything?" with the most attitude you ever heard! Of course the attitude upset me, but he was right that we haven't had a birthday party yet. It kind of got put on the wayside since his little brother entered the world a day after his own birthday, and since then we have been crazy busy! Soon, I told him!

Then there is my little man, Jarrik. What a cutie!! Even though I have been averaging about 4 hours of sleep per night, I still look at him in the morning and think, "How could I be upset with such a cute little thing?!" But seriously, this sleep thing has got to get better soon! I find myself in aw (as I'm sure every mother does) when I think that he is already almost 2 months old. I can't believe how fast the time is going, but yet I can't wait to see what the future holds. I look back at his big brother and all of the time that has gone by, but I can still remember all of it as if it was yesterday. As we have become a wrestling family, one of the things that I look forward to most is Mason showing his little brother the ropes at the sport.

I have been thinking alot lately and have decided that I am very glad that I get to "grow up"with my kids as my mom told me once. Even though some things are hard and times may be tough most of the time, we still make the best of it! I have done the math and have figured out that when Mr. Mason graduates from highschool, this mama will be 35. And, subsiquently when his little brother (the last of the children!) graduates from highschool, I will merely be 42! Bring it on!!

Summer Baseball days

As our summer really gets into swing, I am reminded of the years that I used to spend going to my brothers' baseball games. Kelly played baseball from the time he was a little boy until he graduated college. I got accustomed to going to all of his baseball games, whether I liked it or not (secretly I enjoyed going because most of the boys that he played with were really cute!) Kelly was a pretty good little baseball player and had an unmistakable stance when he was both batting and playing in either the in-field or out-field. You could just feel his love for the game as you watched him play. He must have been pretty good, because he ended up playing baseball at Augie when he went to college. All-in-all, I am pretty proud of him!

Mason has now taken to the sport of baseball. As much as I wanted to deter him from it for the sake of spending more time at the lake and not having to drive all over the place for games, he really enjoys playing and has caught on to everything with the sport pretty quickly. And, wouldn't you know, he has almost the EXACT same stance when he bats as Kelly did! He brings that bat up and somehow shakes the bat and his little butt at the same time. I am finding that as much as I didn't want to have to run to these games, I am finding the same love for watching him play as I ended up finding when Kelly played (not because the boys are cute anymore!)

Mason and some of his best buddies got to eat at Subway after their game.

Hand!

For those of you who do not yet have children, you will never completely understand the feeling that I had the other night until you do decide to have your own.

Amist all of the ruckus that goes on at our house recently, there are little quiet moments that I have come to deeply appreciate. One of these moments happened the other night as Koryn, Jarrik, and I sat down to go to sleep. Our schedule lately is not a normal one (and this momma is in need of it to get on a more normal track!) as it has just begun to get warm out, there is no school, and mom doesn't have to go to work in the morning. So, we do not by any means eat supper at a normal time, or for that matter get to bed at a decent time. Daddy ends up being at work pretty late since it is light out longer and they can get more done. Koryn and I had finished eating supper, and mister Jarrik had eaten and was ready to fall asleep. We sat down in our oversized chair and I turned on the television. Everything was quiet and I thought Koryn was falling asleep. I looked down to find that she was holder her little brothers hand and was snuggled into my lap. She looked up at me and had to make sure that I knew she was holding his hand. She said "Ma, hand!" as if so proud of herself for being so nice! My heart melted and I gave her a hug...ah the little moments!

Bath Time

Yesterday evening, after Koryn had gotten home from spending some time with Daddy in the tractor and pasture, we decided to go right to the bathtub as she was pretty dirty. Jarrik needed to take a bath also and most of the time I find it quickest and easiest to do them at the same time. So, we turned the heater on in the bathroom and got all of our things ready. For one of the first times, Jarrik thoroughly enjoyed his bath. He didn't cry one time, even when I took him out and put lotion, diaper, etc. on him. He just layed there and took it all in. Big sister Koryn even got to help a bit. Jarrik has a baby tub that I just put into the bath water right along with Koryn! She thinks it is pretty special to help with things for her little brother!

Potty Training

Miss Koryn decided last week that she did not want to have her diaper on anymore. She had never really been one that messed with her diaper, so when she started taking it off we realized that maybe we should start potty training. So, we were in Aberdeen and decided to buy a potty chair and get started on this. I don't think that Mom is ready for potty training yet, though. With a new baby in the house and my life pretty much running on a 3 hour feeding schedule, adding another task in there just seems awfully difficult! We have gone on the potty chair a few times and have been successful once I believe. She has taken her diaper off numberous times and peed on the floor 2 times. I think it is going to take a little more dedication from Mommy before we will be wearing big girl panties!

Jarrik Curtis Jones

A little late, but better late than never right??

Welcome to the world Jarrik Curtis Jones!! He was born on May 4th at 3:19 PM and was 8lbs 12oz and 21 inches long. By far, this was the hardest labor out of all three of mine. While little miss Koryn was reluctant to enter the world, this little man just had a hard time trying to meet us for the first time. There were some complications during labor and at one point they had told us that they OR was ready and we may have to do an emergency C-section. I don't know that it really registered to me at that point, but I could see the concern on Craig's face as they told us this news. In the end, our little man entered the world, but had the cord wrapped around his neck a couple of times. His face was very blue and it took him quite a while to get color back. Grandpa Lonnie seemed a little concerned and nervous about this when they came to visit, but the doctors assured us that everything was fine. By the next day he was gaining quite a bit of color in back.This was our best attempt at a family picture as Koryn was not wanting to have any part of it. She wasn't too sure about baby Jarrik. Although, she really didn't care of mommy was holding him, she just really DID NOT want Grandma Nita holding him!They now seem to be pretty good friends. Koryn tries to help a little too much, but at least she is helping and not hitting, right? Jarrik is a trooper and puts up with it. He even sleeps through most of the screaming that goes on at random times of the day, and night! What a good little man!Mason is just the best big brother that anyone could ask for. Even though he and Koryn get on each others' nerves and argue quite a bit, he is still a big helper and I don't know what I would do without him! Can't believe he is already 8!! And don't worry, there has already been much talk about how he will teach Jarrik everything he needs to know about wrestling!
So welcome to this crazy, wonderful life Jarrik!! We are so blessed to have you and can't wait to watch you grow!!