Keeping Up with the Jones'

August Update!

2010-08-30T19:38:00.005-05:00

If you're reading this, you're probably wondering what on Earth has happened to the Jones family that they cannot take a moment to update their blog. Excuse #1 - KYLIE. This was a lot easier to keep up with before she started walking, better yet before she was born. excuse #2 - full time jobs. Tre and I both employed!! Praise God! Tre is teaching 6th grade Math at Sugar Creek Charter School. He loves the school, loves the people he works with, and is still getting used to the math part. I am teaching 4th grade Reading and Writing at Grace Covenant Academy. I also get to teach Bible to my homeroom. It is quite the adjustment from Nashville, but I really enjoy the people I work with and feel that I will grow to love the students and families.

So I will stop with the excuses and apologize to those of you who are trying to be faithful readers. All in all, we are doing really well. We are meeting new people through work and even have some plans in September!! Don't make fun, that's a big deal for us. Kylie is growing DAILY! I cannot believe how much she is walking, laughing, attempting to talk, and just all around growing! She is still very petite, but big in personality! She is adjusting to home care and the mom that watches her now laughs when she tells me stories from the day. I can sense a relationship already forming!

My sister and her family are back safely in South Africa. It was so great to see them over the summer. The Lord is clearly working in their lives and in their ministry. It's amazing to me to see the sacrifices that they are making to serve Him in such harsh conditions. They of course are soaking up every minute and love their new lives. Please continue to pray for them as life is not always easy.

Hope to update again soon,
Lauren

The Collins Family

2010-07-15T09:19:00.004-05:00

We have had a great week with Sarah, Casey, and Kieren! It has been fun to hear stories and watch them share about their ministry in Cape Town, SA. I am so proud of them and all they have allowed God to do in them and through them. Sarah and I both hope that Kylie and Kieren can be close, even if they live far away. We were constantly encouraging them to play together and learn how to share. There were moments of sharing, stealing, and hording, but they also were able to laugh and play together. Kylie has been such a wonderful addition to our little Jones family, but to sit back and look how the Lord has blessed the "Collins" family!! Did He know all the plans He had for us when Sarah became a christian in Lakeland, Fl so many years ago? Did He know what He was doing when my family moved around so much? Or has He just used our lives and circumstances for His glory? We serve a creative and wonderfully loving God. I am so thankful that He was able to take a family that was caught up in material possessions, money, and most of all ourselves, and form us into people that He could actually use. Now we still love our family shopping trips, but we have changed and grown a lot since God began to reshape us over 10 years ago. I am so thankful to be a part of a family that loves and serves the Lord in so many ways. It's not always easy and it's hard not having everyone so close, but I am thankful for the GREAT love that we all share!

She turned ONE!!

2010-06-27T19:44:00.008-05:00

It's crazy to think that this time last year, Tre and I were still in shock of the birth of our daughter. Kylie's due date was July 18th, but she surprised us all on June 24th. I can remember waking up that morning, my water breaking, driving myself to the hospital, and her birth. I remember ALL the visitors (thanks for coming), I remember feeling like my body went through the biggest shock of my life, and I remember watching Tre hold her for the first time. I remember the sleepless nights and wondering what the first year would be like. Well, now that I can look back . . . it was NOTHING like I imagined, but TEN TIMES BETTER!! Having a daughter has been one of the coolest experiences I have ever gone through. The feeling of being a vessel, used by God to house and care for another human being. The love that continues to grow and the sacrifices I am so willing to make on her behalf. The natural ability for me to become a mom, words just cannot describe. Yeah, there were moments that were painful, exhausting, stressful, and challenging. But they have all been worth it. Kylie has only brought Tre and I closer in our marriage and our little family of three so much JOY! I feel so blessed to have a healthy, beautiful baby girl. I look forward to many more days ahead.

Now that she is one, she is almost a toddler! So crazy!! She EATS all the time, and LOVES watermelon!! She can pull up to a stand and walk while holding on to something else. She can climb a flight of stairs, but cannot go down. She LOVES baby dolls, baby faces in books, and babies in real life. She loves to splash in the pool whether it is filled with water or plastic balls. She is very intense and has moments of complete focus. She loves to giggle, laugh, and scream! She is such a happy girl :) She can make a fish face and spit with her tongue. She is just awesome! I'm sure you can tell we are big Kylie fans.

Her first birthday party was a huge success. It was fun to decorate the kitchen with balloons and signs and make her cake. It was funny because she didn't know what to do with the cake and the icing was so sticky. After a few bites that Tre fed her, she realized that it was delicious and went to town. About an hour later, we had crazy baby crawling all over the place with high pitch shrieks (her first sugar high). Opening presents was an interesting task as she loved her first one so much that she didn't want to open anything else. She has way too many new toys and is on sensory overload. The only thing that was missing was YOU!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

2010-06-25T09:51:00.003-05:00

Well it is hard to believe that Kylie is now 1 year old. It blows me away how fast this past year has gone by. It truly seems like yesterday that we were sitting in the hospital room holding our little hairy burrito baby for the first time. We had a great day yesterday, but the real celebration is going to be this weekend. We will post some pictures of the "birthday girl" and the cake that she will be wearing.

Sorry it has been so long, life has really been keeping us busy.

God Loves Me

2010-04-25T14:51:00.006-05:00

I had the privilege of sitting in my dad's Disciple I class this morning for Sunday School. We were discussing the book of 1 Corinthians. It was so much fun to hear other's opinions and perspectives on the same scripture, but in the middle of it all I heard something else. It was God reminding me that He loves me. A thought so simple, but so important to remember. You see we were trying to figure out why Paul was so confident when he was talking to the church in Corinth, when my dad brought it back to the point Paul was trying to make. It was then that God reminded me of His GREAT Love! All the little things in our lives don't matter: what I wear, how much money I make, how good of a job I do, ect. I worry about all the little things in life, who is right and who is wrong, but in the end - it doesn't matter. God wants us to know that He loves us, so he cares about the things we care about. I love Kylie with all my heart and long for her to know that she is loved and cared for. Therefore, I will sing, dance, play, and look goofy in public all for her to know that she is loved. God cares about me more than I care about Kylie, and in the same way he hears my prayers about the little worries I have in my life because he cares.

The last week has been absolutely crazy. Tre and I took the teens to Nashville for TNT @ TNU. It was an AMAZING trip!! We were in constant motion attempting to watch our teens perform at all of their events. I, being only one person, was unable to watch every teen at every event. But when I saw them, I was so proud! They have grown so much this year and it was fun to watch them knowing that their heart was performing for the ONE who mattered most.

This weekend, Tre and I drove to Charlotte, NC to watch my dad graduate from seminary. Riding in a car for 10 hours while Kylie had a slight temperature was not very enjoyable. However, to watch my dad receive his "hood" and degree made every mile worth it! Kylie earned brownie points beyond her comprehension as she smiled and played with my parents every day. It has been nice to visit and relax with them.

As I look back over the past week, my life has been a whirlwind. However, I am so thankful for the truth that I was reminded of this morning. God loves me. He loves me through my weaknesses and strengths; he loves me through it all. The best news is that He loves you too!

A New Step!

2010-04-11T18:31:00.002-05:00

Kylie continues to move around the house! We have begun chasing her and telling her no when she gets into things that she doesn't need to be in. Today she began another milestone . . standing up. She has been leaning on things, but today she figured out how to pull herself up. Since then, she has done it several times. Here is a video of her new skill!!

Spring

2010-04-09T12:37:00.005-05:00

So even though the pollen here is crazy and has completely covered my car, I am in love with Spring! The weather is absolutely perfect . . not too hot, but not too cold. I have enjoyed several afternoons in the new park and walking in my neighborhood.

We had a wonderful Easter weekend here in beautiful Clearwater. Again, the weather was perfect and we started the day with a breakfast in front of our church! We had a wonderful time at church celebrating our risen Savior. My favorite were the cardboard testimonies. Melissa, one of our teens who is in remission, walked across the stage for the first time to share how God has transformed her life. I'm not sure if there was a dry eye in the room. We spent the afternoon with half of Tre's extended family! It was a great time to eat and visit. Of course, the highlight was the egg hunt. Kylie wasn't quite sure of everything, but once she could put an egg in her mouth she was content.

We leave you with a glimpse of Kylie's first dance moves!

9 month check up

2010-04-02T08:55:00.004-05:00

It's still crazy to think that we have a 9 month old! Wow, how the time has flown by! Yesterday, we took Kylie to the doctor for her regular check up. She is now 27 inches long and weighs 14lbs 4oz. She didn't have any shots, but a toe prick to examine her blood. Even though she is still petite, all looked healthy. Now that she is 9 months old, we can start transitioning her into 3 main meals a day with some smaller snacks in between. We can introduce a sippy cup with water or juice and continue to introduce new foods. Yesterday I made her applesauce, which I thought tasted pretty good. However, by the looks of Kylie's face, I think she disagreed. It usually takes a few tries of something new before she likes it.

It has been spring break in Pinellas County, so we have been busy with the teens this week. We have been on picnics, delivered flowers to some of our precious church members, played Frisbee golf (among other games), ect. It's been a great week! Hope you are enjoying this spring sunshine as much as I am!

Happy 9 Months!

2010-03-24T10:29:00.002-05:00

Kylie is 9 months old today!! She is still petite in size, but growing in personality!! She loves to eat (wonder where she gets that from) and play!! She is scooting all over the house and loves to follow Marley around. It's hard to imagine that we'll be celebrating her first birthday in just a few months!

Eating a Lemon!

2010-03-19T10:52:00.002-05:00

Part of being a parent, is allowing your children to have a wide variety of experiences, right? Check out our video of her first taste of lemon. Don't worry we don't plan on giving her anymore.

They are worth it!!

2010-03-19T09:57:00.005-05:00

I found out this morning when I was giving blood that mine goes to help save babies!! I am O+ but the nurse told me I am also CVC- (I think that's what it was called), which basically means my blood is able to be used for babies. If you know me well, you know that I don't handle stories about blood, infections, or other gross topics very well. I easily get light headed and grossed out. However, when the opportunity came for Tre and I to give blood in return for a free ticket to Walt Disney World, we decided to go for it. While we were there in January, we realized that giving blood is not as scary as we thought it would be. For me, I just can't look at the bag or needle, and I just focus on sipping a coke and eating my snacks. The nurses are great about keeping the conversation going and making me laugh. So if it has been awhile since you gave, I encourage you to look up a blood bank in your area and give. Every time you give, you save three lives . . which is pretty awesome!!

While I am motivated to blog, I thought I would update you on our wonderful life in Clearwater. Serving the Lord is tough when everyday feels like spring! The sun is shining but it's not too hot, which is perfect! Tonight, the Ladies from the church are eating dinner on the beach while the sun sets, I know rough.

Kylie continues to grow up, but not out. She is getting longer and more mobile. We have started saying no as she reaches for cords, Marley's ball, and other things that don't belong in her mouth. Fortunately for us she doesn't move fast, but has great determination to go wherever she wants. She says da da when she is happy, and sometimes it sounds like ma ma when she is crying. Her appetite continues to increase and she enjoys all the veges we have been giving her! We feel blessed to have a beautiful, healthy little girl who enriches our life daily.

Kylie's friend Reaghan.

Our visit to Nashville!

2010-02-18T15:52:00.002-06:00

We were able to take our teens to visit Nashville and Trevecca Nazarene University this past weekend. We were excited to show them a part of our old life and see some familiar faces. It was a great opportunity to make some wonderful memories, and we did just that. Living in Florida, a few of our teens had never seen snow, so when Tre saw an open field covered with two inches, he couldn't help but stop. We built a snowman and had an impromptu snowball fight. I laughed when they realized that snow melts and everyone had wet clothes for the remainder of the trip. It also snowed Sunday night and throughout Monday to give them their fill. It was definitely freezing compared to what we were all used to. The teens really enjoyed the campus and the city. One of the benefits of Kylie being small, is the ability to take her with us. She managed the long van ride and freezing cold with ease. Okay well she did fuss a little on the way up, but not a peep on the way home. She managed to get naps while being passed around from person to person. While we were hanging out in the hub at TNU, I sat Kylie down on the pool table. One of our girls started enticing her with a pool ball, and she went for it. She managed to scoot (or inchworm) across the whole thing. Of course, the rest of us stopped playing our own game, pulled out our cell phones, and started taking pictures of her. It's so much fun to share Kylie with the teens and know that they love her almost as much as we do!

Pictures!

2010-02-09T15:57:00.009-06:00

Here are some recent pictures of Kylie as she continues to grow and bring so much joy into our lives! She has started solid foods and LOVES to eat . . hmm I wonder where she gets that from. She can sit for longer periods of time and can scoot to reach something she wants. No crawling yet, but I'm sure it will come with time. She loves to put EVERYTHING in her mouth, especially things that make a crinkle sound (bags of chips, candy wrappers) of course, she doesn't get to eat what is on the inside. She loves to look at herself in the mirror and even gave herself a kiss last night! She had a runny nose last week which made her more fussy than normal, but she is doing much better now. We feel very blessed to have a happy, healthy little girl!

Kylie trying to get Grammy's attention.

One day she'll probably want to look like a princess!

Enjoying some skittles!

Kissing herself!

2 Teeth!!

2010-01-30T04:36:00.002-06:00

A few nights ago Kylie would not stop crying. We tried everything, walking, rocking, feeding, changing, it was just not like her to continue to be fussy. Then we handed her a teething ring and she went to town! I mean she has been at a state of constant drool for several months now, but that night we went through several teething rings. They were on rotation from her mouth, the floor, cleaned in the sink, to the fridge again. Then next morning we woke up to a second tooth!! I have tried over and over again to get a picture of these teeth, but she just won't have it. FINALLY, on Tuesday I got close. So break out the binoculars to see Ky's two teeth. They are the small white spots on the bottom of her gums. If you don't believe me ask some of the teens she has bit!

7 months!!!

2010-01-24T20:02:00.003-06:00

I cannot believe that 7 months ago, our world changed when Kylie entered it. I think back to the exhaustion and overwhelming emotions we felt those first few days as we began to take care of her. Everything was new and scary. Sleeping and eating pretty much consumed her day. 7 months later, sleeping and eating are still pretty important, but now they are only a part of her life. Kylie continues to learn new ways to communicate. Lately, she has enjoyed high pitch screams. She gives a loud cry paired with a huge grin to show you that she is excited and having fun! Last night she was pulling herself up to a standing position as she tried to get into a box. I cannot believe how strong her legs are getting. She cannot crawl across the floor but continues to get closer with her daily tummy time. She has enjoyed eating bananas and sweet potatoes without spitting them out all over the table! We will continue to introduce new fruits and veges each week. She is still a thumb sucker (which I am sure we'll pay for later) but for now it is a self-soother. We are better about her daily naps and bedtime, which help everyone involved! She has one tooth on her bottom gums, but we know that more are on the way as she drools and bites constantly. We couldn't be happier with the blessing that God has given us. Our prayer is that we surrender to God's guidance and direction for her life. We know that He has already written her story and our job is to read it as her life unfolds!

Congratulations Missy!!

2010-01-13T09:47:00.006-06:00

Last night I had the privilege of celebrating Missy's last chemo treatment at All Children's Hospital. The hospital room was filled with family, friends, and nurses stopping by to celebrate with Missy and of course eat some cake! It was beautiful to take in the joy and the conversations that filled the room. It is evident that this family is loved. For those of you who don't know Missy, let me share a little about her journey.
In February 2009, Missy was headed out the door for another normal day of her teenage life. However, as she stepped out the door her leg gave out and she fell to the ground. When they got to the doctor, they found out that no only did she have a broken leg, but she had bone cancer as well. How do you handle hearing the news? How do you sit there and listen to someone who is telling you that your daughter has a sickness that cannot be fixed with a band aid and a kiss? How do you go from worrying about what you will wear, who your friends are, and the big test you have next week to wondering what chemo will be like and will you have the strength to beat this? I have asked the Mugno family so many questions to try to understand what this journey has been like for them. Each of them have given complete credit to the one who has truly helped, the Lord, the Creator of Missy, and the master Healer. While others may feel sorry for her, she'll tell you that the day she broke her leg was the best day of her life.
This past year was filled with countless trips to the hospital, a few surgeries, lots of chemo and other things I can't spell or pronounce, and a complete life change. I could list all the things they have had to sacrifice, but they would tell you all the things they have gained. Their family is not only closer to each other, but closer to God. Missy appreciates each day of her life, something that most of us overlook and take for granted. Jennifer respects and admires her younger sister, when most of us ignore and fight with our siblings. They have met so many wonderful people who have battled cancer as well as countless doctors and nurses. They have been able to travel to New York for New Years and Missy was able to give a speech to a room of doctors in New Hampshire. Really, I could go on for hours about how wonderful and loving the Mugno family is, but I just wanted you to know about one of the families I am blessed to know.

Congratulations Missy!! It has been a long journey and I am so proud of how you have fought. May the Lord continue to shine through your smile and love for others!

Going Bananas!!

2010-01-07T21:19:00.004-06:00

We've been talking about trying fruits and veges for awhile, but just hadn't taken the leap. Today we did!! I smashed up some banana added a little milk and rice cereal, then we got the camera ready and gave it a try. She definitely spit a lot of it out, but did eat some. She didn't like rice cereal nor a bottle the first time, so we'll give it another try again tomorrow.

We also tried to put Kylie in her bouncy swing. I think it is called Johnny Jump. I was hoping she would enjoy it and love to bounce. However, she ended up trying to sit down instead. Oh well, we try it in a week or so.

Here is a picture of Kylie with her cousin Riley. Once we walked in the door, Riley wouldn't stop looking and trying to kiss Kylie. At one point she had her pinned down, it was awesome!

It doesn't stop

2010-01-04T15:06:00.000-06:00

Life never stops or slows down for that matter around here, but the Jones' keep on moving! Kylie had her 6 month check up last week. She weighed in at 14lbs and 26 inches long. The doctor said she looked great! She received 4 shots as well as a liquid vaccine. She took them like a champ and didn't seem to react negatively the rest of the day. Her teeth seem to be coming in as we can see small scrapes on her bottom gums. That pain has caused some discomfort in our little one and she is more fussy than normal.

We celebrated New Year's Eve with our teenagers and had a GREAT time playing crazy games at the church! It cracks me up that we heard fireworks outside to realize that the clock had struck midnight. We were so into our game of sardines that seven of us were hiding under some tables in the dark and lost track of time. Oh well, that's ministry, right?

I am so excited for 2010 and all that God has in store for us here in Clearwater! Know that I am praying for your year as well!!

Christmas FIRSTS!

2009-12-25T12:44:00.007-06:00

There are several firsts for my family this year. This is the FIRST year we have hosted Christmas in our home. Tre's mom, dad, sisters, aunt, uncle, cousin, and granny all came to stay with us last night. They have some family traditions and staying in the same house for Christmas Eve is one of them. WE had a great time eating and celebrating with our white elephant gift exchange last night and more food and gifts this morning! We went to church together for the FIRST time at Clearwater First Church of the Nazarene where we had our FIRST outdoor Christmas Eve service. It was beautiful outside! There were stars in the sky and the praise band sang some beautiful carols. This is the first Christmas where my family is spread all over the world. Sarah, Casey, and Kieren are all in Africa and my parents spent the morning packing their suitcases to go and visit them. They left this afternoon and should arrive in Cape Town, SA tomorrow night. I'm so blessed to have a wonderful family. I miss them terribly, but enjoyed talking to them all on the phone. One of the more obvious FIRSTS was Kylie! The funny thing is that she missed half of it. While the rest of us opened our gifts this morning, she slept! We had to set all her gifts aside and we had a special Kylie Christmas after breakfast. She enjoyed ripping the paper and putting everything in her mouth. Santa brought her a ball that moves and sings, it was a HUGE hit!

As the "kids" of all ages are playing with their toys and the women are in the kitchen cooking, I cannot help but be thankful. It has been a year of ups and downs and crazy circles in between, but God has been in control the whole time. I am so thankful for His guidance and LOVE that have transformed my life.

To our friends and family. Merry Christmas!! May you enjoy the blessings God has given you too :)

4 Wonderful Years!

2009-12-17T21:56:00.004-06:00

Today Tre and I celebrated our 4th Wedding Anniversary!! We were able to score some pretty sweet Disney tickets today! We sent Kylie off to her grandmothers to be with her grandma and Aunt Kate. Then Tre and I went to Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom, and Epcot. We rode the best rides and had fun taking in all the sites. I can't remember how many times we looked at each other and said "We're at Disney!" We were also wearing "Happy Anniversary" buttons so everyone in the park knew what we were celebrating. Kinda corny I know, but we still had fun. It's crazy to think that 4 years have already gone by. WE know that we would not be where we are without the Lord and we are so thankful for His hands in our life and marriage! Thanks to all of you who have led the way with your example of a Godly marriage and those of you who have stood by our sides. WE love you all!

Crazy Hair

2009-12-15T21:26:00.003-06:00

We got Internet at our house today, yea!!! This is exciting for you too, because it means we should be better about updating the blog.

These past few weeks have been wonderfully crazy. We had my parents down here for Thanksgiving. It was so nice to spend time with them. Kylie was great with them, and she earned major brownie points. She loved to smile at them, and even took naps in my dad's arms. Then we left for a trip to Nashville/Memphis for Beca (college roommate) and Trevor's wedding. In spite of the frigid temperatures that we are no longer used to, it was beautiful!! It was great to be around our closest friends from college and just enjoy each other's company. Of course we had to all stay together in one house, thank you Leah and Josh for being gracious hosts. Kylie got to meet Cecilia Boice, who will hopefully be a pen pal in the future. We returned to FL and just kept running as our church was preparing for Drive Thru Nativity. We construct these huge scenes from Modern to Bethlehem as we take people back to the true meaning of Christmas. It was a lot of hard work, but absolutely breathtaking when it was all done. Saturday and Sunday nights we dressed in our costumes and acted out our parts - Kylie was baby Jesus and did a great job!

Speaking of Kylie, she is growing and changing daily. Recently she has discovered how to grunt, kinda reminds me of Satan, but I cannot help but laugh when she makes the sound. She also started playing in one of those toys where she is in a standing position, reaching for toys that spin and make sounds . . soo cute! The biggest event was Kylie's first haircut. Her hair was seriously out of control, growing longer on all sides! We cut a little off the sides before we went to Memphis for the wedding, then in a moment of impulse I attempted to cut her bangs a week later. Her hair is now under control, but Tre referred to her as one of the three stooges after I cut her bangs. Hopefully we'll survive without therapy.

All in all, our lives are crazy . . basically like Kylie's hair. But our God is so faithful, and He is in control. I may not always understand what He is doing, but I am so thankful for His power in my weakness.

Serving Him

2009-11-24T09:15:00.002-06:00

I woke up this morning from a crazy dream and smiled at the appreciation for where I am. Life, in all it's circumstances, is never perfect. But I live my life knowing and trusting that God is in control and knows what I need. I may not have everything I have ever wanted (I don't think Target will fit in my backyard) but I have everything I need. My belly has never known true hunger, and my heart has never lacked love. I am so grateful to work at a church that supports my family lifestyle. As I write this morning, Kylie is playing with her toy next to me.

Being a youth pastor isn't quite what I imagined, but God is showing me more and more how he created me to be here for this moment. I may not know how to write a budget and get intimidated asking people for help. But I do know that I love working with teenagers! Yesterday, I got to take some of our teens (and a few parents) to a large tent in Pinellas County. It was a place for families to come and get Thanksgiving food baskets. However, this ministry did not just meet their need for food, but also their need for love from others and from God. The teens were immediately split up into different areas - registration, kid's play area, and helping families navigate throughout the tent. I was able to be a shopper and help them pick out their food of choice! It was such a wonderful experience to meet and talk with these families. I heard about their kids and their situations, and we were able to offer them hope though these hard times. Some of the teens were able to watch the families meet pastors and be prayed for. One of them was so excited to watch someone accept Christ for the first time!

1 Thessalonians 5:18 reminds us to give thanks in all circumstances. No matter how hard things seem to get, we give thanks for we know our God still reigns. He is bigger than hunger, disease, loneliness, and anything you might be facing.

I look forward to following up with the teens and talking about their experiences yesterday afternoon! Thank you God for knowing me better than I know myself and for calling me to something greater than myself!

Priceless!

2009-11-17T11:05:00.003-06:00

Last night after a long day, we were all sitting at the dinner table talking. Tre was able to get Kylie to giggle so much we got it on camera! Sorry about the shaking, I was laughing myself.

Too good not to share

2009-11-13T09:18:00.001-06:00

Last night Jennifer, Kylie, and I went to watch Clearwater High School Varsity girls play soccer. We took this picture and Kylie's eyes were too awesome not to share with the world! I hate blinking in pictures, so I tend to open my eyes really wide instead. I guess Ky takes after her mom. :)

Hope you are all doing well and seeing God working all around you! I have been blessed to see Him move in so many people this week!!

What a Trooper!

2009-11-10T13:35:00.003-06:00

This past weekend, I took Kylie to TNT (Top Nazarene Talent) a competition for teenagers in the Nazarene church. It is something that I competed in as a teen and always loved it! We had a great time together, but Kylie sure made some memorable moments. During the opening ceremonies while Pastor Ronda was praying, Kylie decided to join in. While everyone else was quiet, she talked. One of the teen girls was holding her, so I tried to put my finger in her mouth to quiet her down. All that did was cause the two of us to laugh even harder. While we were eating lunch on Saturday, Kylie took it upon herself to spit up all over Tre. He cleaned up his lap, but to his surprise he had missed a huge spot on the side of his leg. When he stood up to pay, all the teens started laughing (which only drew more attention). Before I knew it, he was showing everyone in the restaurant the white residue that remained on his pants.

Kylie was such a trooper going from event to event. Even though she had a screaming fit in the van, she was great the rest of the trip. She slept well and enjoyed the love from all of the teens. They each take their turn and were always very helpful. I couldn't have done it without them!

Busy Busy

2009-11-03T08:40:00.004-06:00

We survived the month of October with our many visitors and busy schedules. It was GREAT to have people we know and love come visit us and see our new lives in FL. Thank you to all of you who were able to come this month!

This past weekend, Tre went to AL with the men in his family to watch a NASCAR race. They had a great time relaxing and hanging out with each other as they watched cars turn left for three hours! Evidently, it was wonderful! Not wanting to spend four days alone, I invited the girls over for some quality time. It was a great weekend of games, eating, and good conversation. My house has never seen so much dessert and I am still looking for volunteers to finish eating it :)

Kylie is officially four months old and growing every day!! She is still small and petite for her age. She can still fit in several of her newborn onsies, but at least we are getting our moneys worth. She is sleeping through the night, which is a beautiful thing. Keeping her awake until bedtime can still be a challenge, but she is such a trooper. She has started "talking" more. She moves her mouth to make different sounds and it is absolutely precious. I love this little girl so much and am so thankful that she is a part of my life!

The Grandparents!!

2009-10-23T08:11:00.003-05:00

I've only been a mother for four months now, so I can only imagine the excitement of becoming a grandparent. Hopefully, for me, that won't happen for quite some time. Anyway, you don't have to do all the dirty work, you just get to love and spoil the child. (Not that I mind doing all the other stuff, actually I still really like it). The point is that my parents came to visit us last weekend. I am sure they were looking forward to seeing Tre and I, but I knew that they were really looking forward to playing with Kylie. I had been telling them all the wonderful things about her. How she is so sweet, she is happy in the morning, she is a great baby, she rarely cries, and so on. The first day they were here, she lived up to the high standards that I had bragged about. We had a great day together! Then came the second day. She was a whole new baby! She cried, well actually screamed is more like it, until her daddy would hold her. Sometimes I couldn't even calm her down. All of a sudden, she has become a complete daddy's girl, who loves to sit in his lap while he sits on the recliner and watches TV. She'll scream and not stop until she gets her way. Seriously, how do kids learn this stuff?? We spent two days passing her back and forth. My parents would hold and play with her, until she would scream (not just cry) and then we would take her back. Ahh, they are so smart! All in all, we enjoyed each other. I feel so blessed to have parents who love, support, and encourage me. It was great to show them our new lives in Clearwater, FL and we are already looking forward to their return at Thanksgiving. Hopefully, Kylie will be smart enough to smile and giggle at her grandparents. I mean they are the ones who are going to spoil her anyways.

A Great Weekend!!

2009-10-12T11:32:00.006-05:00

So I am definitely in need of some rest from my crazy weekend, but wanted to take a moment to Praise God for all the good that happened!

Tre and I received some visitors from Nashville this weekend. It was so great to spend time with people we love and who love us for who we are. We went to the beach, ate great food by Chef Tre, and sat around the table and laughed. I feel so fortunate to have sisters in Christ who really understand what it means to live a life for Him. Thank you girls for coming!!

We also had a church wide service project, called iserve. We had over 120 people from our congregation come on Saturday morning at 8:30. The teens went to a local elementary and worked outside weeding plants and cleaning up the facilities. Our families with small children went to a local park to clean up and plant shrubs. We had several people working on our daycare - painting, cleaning, and creating a garden for the children. We set up and organized a food pantry for those who are hungry. We also had people working on our Drive Thru Nativity set that we do every Christmas season. It was a great day of community building, even if it was over 90s outside. :)

Praying for the Princes!

2009-10-05T10:31:00.002-05:00

I am honored to be related to Sarah, Casey, and Kieren Prince. They are an amazing family with an enormous heart for the Lord. Yesterday morning they got on an airplane (well actually a few airplanes) to Cape Town, South Africa. They plan to live there for a few years and serve the Lord as full time missionaries. Sarah, my sister, will be working as a pastor of a church as well as working with support groups for people who are HIV+. Casey will be starting a ministry called Ubuntu Sports, look it up at www.ubuntusports.org. Kieren, the smallest, yet large for her size, will be growing up in a community that will love her with God's love.

My sister has been my strength and support for several years. I value her opinion and respect her wisdom. She lights up the room whenever she walks in the door. Most of you reading this, would agree that she is truly amazing! I will miss our phone calls and texts throughout the week. I will miss hearing her voice and knowing that she understands what I am going through. However, I know that the Lord will keep us close and our relationship strong. Thank you Internet!!

Please join me in prayer as we send an amazing family to support and win others for Christ!

Almost Done!

2009-09-28T12:51:00.006-05:00

Thanks to my mother in law, we found some more motivation and continued to work on the back part of our house!! Yeah!

Our house from the front!

The Youth Area

Our Office

The pool

Has it been a month?

2009-09-25T12:54:00.004-05:00

Can you believe that a month ago we were finally given the keys to our house in Clearwater? It's crazy to look back and think of all that God has already done and blessed us with. However, new things present new challenges, and we have certainly had our share. Praise the Lord that God is bigger than all our circumstances and His peace has kept us sane and pushing forward.

Kylie turned three months old this week!! She is getting bigger and is 11 pounds and 22 and a half inches long. She is reaching for her toys, sitting up on a pillow, and can hold her head for a longer amount of time. The ladies in the nursery spoil her rotten and never want to let her go. I do feel comfortable knowing that she is loved.

I have survived four different Wednesday nights as a youth pastor! I am humbled by the Grace that God has given me to do this job. I have been overwhelmed by the job and all the things I DON'T know. I have even wondered what on Earth Pat was thinking for hiring me, but then the Lord whispers words of strength and encouragement. It is then that I know this has NOTHING to do with me, and EVERYTHING to do with the God I serve.

Tre has found a passion for coaching. He is the assistant Girls Varsity Soccer coach at the local high school. He has been praying about pursuing his coaching licence and is looking forward to the season starting. He spends most of his days with our little girl, Lucky! He is a great father, and Kylie is lucky to have so much one on one attention.

Marley, don't forget about our first baby, also loves our new house. It's nice and open with lots of room to run around. When we let her, she loves to be outside and swimming in the pool. However, due to a few ear infections, she has to stay in her kennel when we leave the house.

Well, that about sums up the Jones family. Thanks for reading. We love you all!!

Kylie Grace

2009-09-17T17:41:00.005-05:00

I thought I would post some recent photos of Ky that demonstrate how much she is changing and growing!!

A newborn outfit that no longer fits . . these were once pants!

She is wearing wrist rattles and sitting by herself in her chair!

She has started reaching and grabbing for her toys!!

Being Stretched

2009-09-16T09:56:00.002-05:00

We've all been there. Those times when you are sitting there and thinking what on earth am I doing? I was sitting there last night. I was with 5 of our teens during worship practice, and I was helping them. I wasn't helping them with their instruments, but with the singing and finding the harmony. I have always had a passion for music, especially praise songs. I find myself closing my eyes and picturing the One who really matters. However, I have never been confident enough or even trained to put my voice near a microphone or even sing by myself. I get all nervous inside, knowing my face is turning a shade of red, and feel the sweat glands getting in gear. It doesn't matter how comfortable I am with the people, I just don't like to sing in front of them. So there I was singing with my eyes closed so they could figure out how to play along. I have to say, fears behind me, it's pretty cool. I may have sang the same two songs over and over again, but my God heard them every time. He was there with us in that room, and He'll be there tonight at youth group! It's something I didn't plan on, but God did. He knew it would stretch me, force me to rely on Him, show my insecurities, and worship. I look forward to next week; planning the songs we will sing and watching the teens gain confidence as well.

I am not the only one in my family who is being stretched. Kylie Grace is being stretched in a physical sense. Her newborn clothes are slowly getting packed away. Her pajamas no longer fit over her shoulders, and some of her other outfits cannot snap at the bottom. I cannot believe how much she is changing and growing. It's sad to put those clothes away, but then I look up and see all the new outfits that she will fit into!!

Just because something is ending, doesn't mean we can be sad and wish for the past. We have to lift our heads and look at what God has prepared for our future!

Our HOME!!

2009-09-14T11:03:00.009-05:00

Okay, so I know I have not updated in a long time. Sorry about that. Things have been incredibly busy starting my new job and setting up our house (which is still not finished). However, I just wanted to take a moment and give God praise for our house. So many people in our church have been praying for us and have already showed us grace and love by refinishing our house. I can sit in my house and just feel encouraged by the people that God is placing in my life. Last night, Tre and I shared our testimony and heart for ministry at the Sunday night service. They even prayed over us. I know that Satan will be working hard to discourage and frustrate me as I begin this new chapter, but I feel blessed to be supported by a church who loves and serves the Lord!

There will be more pictures of our house to come, some of the rooms are not finished yet. Can you believe there are more rooms?

It never slows down

2009-09-01T20:13:00.005-05:00

Things have been non-stop in the Jones' household. We finally have a place to call home, as we moved into our new home in Clearwater last Wednesday!! Tre did a wonderful job unpacking everything and setting up our house. All the furniture is in place, and we have just a few more things to organize and set up.

While Tre was hard at work, I was busy playing in Tennessee! I was able to spend a few days in Nashville and Memphis visiting the people I love. I went to my old school and let everyone meet Kylie! My girls from last year were surprised by our visit, but thought the world of Kylie (I mean, who doesn't?) I saw the teens at church and had dinner with some friends as well . . did I mention I didn't sleep much? In Memphis, we had a baby shower for Leah and CeCe. She looks great and is due in October. Then we went wedding dress shopping for Beca! So many wonderful things to celebrate . . but no sleep there either. :)

Now, I sit exhausted, but happy to report two good days of work. Yes, I actually have a job and have started working again. So far, so good. I have been getting adjusted and started planning for the month of September. My first Wednesday night is tomorrow. I have most of the evening planned, but still need to go over some details and study some scripture. Well, that's it for now . . thanks for keeping up with the Jones'.

Our Crazy Life

2009-08-24T11:15:00.005-05:00

It's been 2 months since Kylie surprised us 3 weeks before her due date, and the world hasn't stopped spinning since then. We sold our house, packed up our belongings, said our good-byes, moved in with the in-laws, and the last step is finally approaching - starting our new jobs. Yesterday we went to Clearwater First Church of the Nazarene and were officially introduced to the congregation. Even though I was nervous, it was felt good to be a part of a church family again. We met several members after service, and hopefully we'll remember there names next Sunday. It's crazy to think that we start next Monday with staff meeting and have a full week of ministry. I would lie if I said I wasn't nervous about starting. I've been thinking about this since January and all the build-up is about to drive me crazy. I just remind myself that God is in control and He will help me every step of the way. All I have to do is love and serve Him, and He will take care of the rest. The carpet is coming either today or tomorrow. Hopefully, we can move in no later than Wednesday!

I have some pictures of the week my family was here too. It was a great time for the EIGHT of us to be together. It was a different pace that we were used to with two babies keeping us on our toes, but we loved the time anyway. I feel so blessed to be so close to my family. Parents who have sacrificed and loved us no matter what, a sister I can relate to and always rely on, a brother in law who accepts our crazy family and adds his own level of weirdness, and a niece who lights up the room with her laugh and smile!! We won't be together again until next summer when Sarah and Casey come back from South Africa. I will miss them more than they will know, but couldn't be prouder of the mission they will accomplish overseas. Check out their web page www.ubuntusports.org.

Marley and Me

2009-08-18T23:01:00.003-05:00

So most of you know that Tre and I have a crazy dog named Marley. She is a yellow lab, and a spitting image of the famous dog Marley by Jon Grogan. To give you a taste of our life, let me tell you a story about the other night.

I was washing a few dishes before we left the house to go visit Granny, and Karen (my mother in-law) had some steaks thawing in the kitchen sink. She told me to move them while I washed dishes, but to put them back when I was done, so the dogs wouldn't eat them. I followed her instructions, like a good daughter in-law, and went about my chores. We went to Granny's house to play a game of cards and were only gone for a few house. When we came home, we were greeted by the three dogs and a pile of shredded black Styrofoam. The dogs had obviously torn a plate, so we cleaned it up and went about our business. I took Kylie to the back room to change a diaper and Tre and Kaitlyn were playing video games. Karen turned on the stove and was getting the things she needed to cook dinner. When she was ready for the steaks, she turned to the kitchen sink to find it empty! She asked me if I had left the steaks in the sink like she'd asked, to which I replied "of course!" Then we realized that the dogs didn't eat a black plate, it was the plate that the steaks were packaged in!!! The dogs had eaten our dinner. Tre was a clever one and checked the dogs to see which one could reach the sink. Our wonderful dog Marley was the only one who could get her head in the sink. However, we figured that the others shared in her bad behavior once she pulled them to the ground. Have you ever heard the saying, "The truth always comes out?" Well five minutes later, the truth came out. Marley threw up all of the steaks to prove that she had eaten them all on her own. Needless to say, she spend the rest of the night in pain on the back porch.

Life as an Aunt

2009-08-14T17:58:00.003-05:00

Hello Aunt Kate here.I'm Kylie Grace's new auntie. She is so beautiful and strong. She is already holding up her head. She's AWESOME! Being an auntie is so cool. You get to hold the baby,watch the baby,and love the baby. Sometimes she even smiles at me. That makes me fell like an.... Aunt! The day before Kylie was born I was at my dads apartment writing a biography about Kylie then the next day someone special joined this world. Kylie is such a special and beautiful little girl and has awesome parents. I'm so happy to be an aunt of miss Kylie Grace Jones.

Family Family Family

2009-07-31T22:04:00.007-05:00

In the Collins household hanging out with family consisted of my sister, my parents, and myself. Occasionally my grandparents would be apart of the event as well. For Tre, family always had a different meaning. His family gatherings include his Granny, his Uncle Kris (and family), his Aunt Kelly (and family), his own family, and some of Granny's neighbors. It is at least 20 people, Karen is currently laughing at me as I try to count them all. When we were first married, I was very overwhelmed by it all. Now it would be weird if I didn't see everyone when we came to town.

Yesterday we were able to have one of these family gatherings. We had plenty of food for all the mouths, played lots of cards, and enjoyed some great conversation. The joy of course is watching all the little ones. Kyle, who used to be the youngest, is now four and a stud muffin full of energy. Him and Kaitlyn are best buds and love to dance and wrestle! Riley just turned one, and with blonde pigtails, is a cutie! Her laugh is contagious and she steals the show when she runs around the room. Kylie was overwhelmed by all the people and was occasionally fussy, but everyone loved her anyway. Being new parents in a new city, Tre and I feel blessed to have family close by.

The new pictures of Kylie were taken by Courtney Helton a photographer in Nashville, TN. We played soccer together at TNU and I would recommend her to anyone in the area!

We are here!

2009-07-28T10:14:00.004-05:00

The past few days have been so busy and crazy that it feels like it's been a whole week. Friday night Kylie went to her first girls night! She was passed around and constantly held and loved by some amazing teenage girls. She even watched her first slip n slide!! Don't worry she was a safe distance away. On Saturday, we packed the truck and cleaned the house. We had some incredible help! That night we were able to clean up and go to Red Robin for dinner with the Drakes. It was so nice to just relax. Sunday was our last time at TCC. It was surreal to say the least. We were prayed for and loved on one more time. It's amazing to think about how much we have grown since we started attending TCC seven years ago. It's a great church, and we will always cherish the memories we have there. Monday morning we closed on our house and hit the road. Tre and Marley were in the U-haul and Lexi and I took Kylie in our car. We learned that Kylie doesn't like to be alone. She was would not stop screaming until I draped my arm in her car seat. Not the most comfortable position. After we stopped, Lexi sat in the back with her and she was great the rest of the trip. It doesn't really feel like we just moved. It feels like we are visiting Tre's family on vacation. Tonight we will drive to Clearwater and unload the truck in our new house. Crazy! There will be some people from the church there to help us, so it will be nice to meet them. It's been a crazy couple of months, but we have never left God's grip. Things have surprised us and caught us off-guard, but it's been part of God's plan this whole time. We trust that He will continue to carry us as we continue our ministry in Clearwater. I look forward to some time to rest and relax with Tre's family. Love you all!

She's eating!!

2009-07-24T11:20:00.004-05:00

As you know, we have had weekly appointments with Kylie's pediatrician to check her weight. She had not been gaining the appropriate 7 ounces a week. Well, this week she gained 10 ounces!! She has been awake more during the day and now wakes up twice during the night to eat. She is still in the 25% for her weight and 10% for her length and head, which is on the small side. So she has a way to go to catch up to her cousin Kieren, but the doctor said she looks healthy and has no more concerns. Praise God!!

I was even able to see my OB for my postpartum check up. She was really excited to see Kylie and hear about the selling of our house, since she was on vacation when Kylie was born. I am also healthy and have healed well.

The house has boxes EVERYWHERE! Tre will pick up the moving truck tonight, and we will be loading all day tomorrow. Never a dull moment in the Jones' house, but all good news to report. We have had several people come this week to see Kylie and help pack up a box or two. We so appreciate the support and will definitely miss our family here in Nashville. We love you guys!

Becoming a Mom

2009-07-17T16:38:00.003-05:00

There's no classroom, no book, nothing really that prepares you to be a mom. It's one of those things in life that you just have to figure out along the way. Thankfully, I am not the first one to do it. Being pregnant for nine months definitely helped me prepare myself for this transition and new lifestyle. I am sure that God had planned it that way. I wouldn't say that I am used to the term mom describing myself, but things are at least getting better with each passing day. Today, I am most thankful for conversations with other mothers. Since I am the first of my closest friends, I have not been around new mothers or newborns for that matter. This whole world is new to me, and everything is abnormal. I can't describe my emotions or why things are the way they are. However, I have gotten to talk to two different mothers this week who have been such a blessing. They were able to laugh about all the crazy things that happen, and remind me that I am normal. The process of becoming a mother and figuring everything out is not easy, as a matter of fact it's quite the challenge. I have been a person who can handle everything, and I am learning that it's okay when I can't. So I admit to you that I cannot pack my house, visit with everyone that I want to, take care of myself, and take care of a newborn. It's just not possible. So I sit here and am thankful for grace. I have to give myself grace when Kylie spits up all over me, the bed, the carpet, and the tub. I have to give myself grace when I have to reschedule friends for lunch. I have to give myself grace when I didn't pack one single thing today. Life will go on and things will eventually get done.

On a semi-positive note. We went back to the pediatrician today for a weight checkup. Kylie currently weighs 7 pounds, 8 ounces which is above her original birth weight. She gained 5 ounces this week. Newborns should be gaining an ounce a day, so she is still behind but making progress. I have to meet with a lactation consultant sometime this week (in my spare time). Then I will go back to the pediatrician one more time. Thanks for all your prayers and encouragement.

Family Weekend!

2009-07-16T11:25:00.005-05:00

Last weekend Tre's family came to visit us from Sunny Florida. They had originally planned on coming in August, but with Kylie's early arrival they just couldn't wait. They all loved Kylie in their special way. We ate great food, played lots of cards, and even put them to work. Tre and his mom fixed the kitchen faucet, Jordan and Lexi ran errands and worked on the toilet, while Kate, Granny, and I packed the kitchen. We are very excited that they will get to watch (and help) Kylie grow up once we move to Clearwater.

This week has been very busy. Kylie is now three weeks old! She continues to sleep well, and we are working on her eating more. She has been spitting up and even projectile vomiting this week. She continues to be as sweet as can be and has traveled everywhere with me. We have gone out to eat, visit friends, watch daddy play softball, and we even went to read to kids at the park!! She has another doctor appointment tomorrow. As of last week, she was still not up to her original birth weight. Hopefully, we'll get a good report tomorrow. Packing has been another challenge. There is so much to do, but hard to work. We close on our house July 27th, so we'll just do as much as we can each day.

Two Weeks Old!!

2009-07-09T21:38:00.005-05:00

It's crazy to think that Kylie is already two weeks old!! In just two short weeks, she has turned my world upside down. I am still living my life, but she effects every aspect. Even when my friends ask me about my day, she always comes up in conversation. Overall, things couldn't be better!!! Kylie is sleeping well most nights. She eats about every three hours during the day, and four hours during the night. I am out and about during the day and taking Kylie everywhere I go . . . church softball, Reading in the park, Wal-Mart, the bank, ect. We are learning her noises and facial expressions too. We can tell the difference between hunger, gas, and pooping. I have experienced vomit at 3 in the morning, and Tre knows what happens when the diaper isn't on tight enough (oops, sorry about that). Marley is also adjusting. She no longer gets up with every coo and sound, but is still very attentive and protective.

In case having a baby wasn't enough of a life change, we have been going back and forth with a buyer for our house. We received final confirmation today, and we will be closing on July 27th. We had planned on moving in August, but the Lord has other plans. Thanks to the flexibility of others, everything seems to be falling into place. We have begun the packing process and are enjoying every moments with our friends here before we leave. Here are a few pictures of Kylie this past week.

A Whole New World

2009-07-01T12:54:00.005-05:00

One week ago today, I didn't realize how my life would change. I woke up like any other morning, except for a few minutes later my water broke. I had said for awhile that I wanted Kylie to come a little early, so we could enjoy her longer before I had to start work. But were we ready 3 and a half weeks early??

I cannot begin to tell you how many times I have seen the Lord move in this last week. He deserves all the praise and glory for everything that has happened. First, in the few days before Kylie arrived we had bought our first box of diapers, finished birthing class, organized her things in the nursery, and packed our hospital bag. Then, on Wednesday as labor began to progress, I had the most amazing sense of peace that only the Lord could give. My whole life I have been scared of having a child because of labor and delivery. You hear stories and see people on TV screaming and basically hating their husbands for putting them in this situation. I, however, had a completely different experience. I was in very little pain, and my contractions were mild. I only asked for an epidural at 8cm because I was scared of delivery. Throughout the whole day I was relaxed and just enjoyed the experience. Plus, I never hated Tre, but was in love with him that much more. In reality, sprints I had to run in college were harder than this.

Bringing her home from the hospital was another fear that was in the back of my mind. Were Tre and I really ready to be parents, did we know enough about taking care of a newborn baby? Probably NOT, but again the Lord continues to provide. I have continued to have a sense of peace, not confidence, but peace that He will guide me each and every step of the way. At three in the morning when she refused to go to sleep, I pray and thank the Lord that she is here and healthy. During the day when we are taking her shopping, I thank the Lord for the energy to be out and about.

Ever since she arrived June 24, 2009 at 5:23 pm, we have been surrounded by family and friends. It is amazing to watch this little girl light up the world and be so loved all at the same time. I love it!!

Oh and in case the Lord hasn't provided enough. Wednesday morning, we got a call from our realtor that our house had sold. She brought us the contract in the hospital and we signed it two hours before Kylie arrived! We always said that the Lord would provide one way or another. Secretly we hoped it would sell before she was born, I guess two hours was enough.

Kylie's First Days

2009-06-28T14:29:00.005-05:00

Here is a video of Kylie's first couple of days. It was filled with tears, laughs, friends and family. We are so thankful for the people that the Lord has put in our lives. Thank you to all who came to visit and thank you for your gifts. You are loved and appreciated.

Lauren, Tre, Kylie and Marley

Awesome Commercial... Watch!

2009-06-20T22:38:00.002-05:00

Awesome commercial. I saw this while watching a NASCAR race... shocking, I know. I see a new toy in Kylie's future. Enjoy.

Running Out of Room!

2009-06-09T21:38:00.004-05:00

Can you imagine being confined into a space so small that you cannot completely stretch out your arms and legs. Well, we've all been there, but fortunately we have forgotten those days so long ago. Kylie Grace, however, knows them all too well. It seems that she is getting bigger and bigger and possibly more frustrated with her lack of space. She will try to push out one side, give up, and then move to the other side and try to push through again. I haven't been able to see a clear image of a hand or foot, but I have been lob sided and seen small and large bumps protruding from my belly. I have a good feeling that Kylie will be a little on the stubborn side and the fact that she continues to try to stretch out her body only gives me more confidence. I still feel healthy and strong and am able to walk a few times a week. I cannot believe that we still have five and a half weeks until her due date. We are very excited and are enjoying each day with each other and friends around us.

I also wanted to post some pictures of my niece Kieren. She is almost 5 months old!!

Girls Weekend!!

2009-06-06T09:50:00.005-05:00

Last weekend, I had the opportunity to go to Memphis, TN to visit some friends from college. I made the trip with my old roommate, Winter. We had a great time catching up and EATING, of course we made a trip to the pool as well. On our last day, we got to see the animals at the Memphis Zoo and went to a local church for a night of worship with Shane & Shane. However, my favorite night was when we played the game Loaded Questions. We all have a mixture of competitive nature and flat out silliness. I haven't laughed that hard in a long time. Picture 5 loud and crazy girls that have known each other for years, and one boy who was an amazing sport! We gave him such a hard time about his Wimbledon T-shirt that I think it will be impossible for him to ever wear it again without thinking of us.

As the move to Clearwater gets closer and closer, I cannot help but reflect on the blessings I have received here in Nashville. Even though I have not lived in the exact same house, I have been in this city for almost eight years. For me that is forever. Moving around every few years as a child has given me an ability to make new friends, but unfortunately I have always lost touch with the old ones. It breaks my heart to think that Kylie will not know these people who have greatly influenced my life and who might even know me better than I know myself. I am soaking up every opportunity to enjoy all my friends from Nashville (not just the ones I met in college). I pray that as we make the move to Clearwater, I will be able to make some new friends, but that this time I will not lose touch with the old. I pray that they will get to pour into Kylie's life, plus they would be the ones to tell the best bedtime stories.

Kylie Update!

2009-05-23T11:45:00.003-05:00

I am now 32 weeks along in my pregnancy. It's crazy to think about how long I have been carrying her around, and yet how I still have several weeks to go. But being used by God to bring a child into this world has been one of the most amazing experiences of my life. I really understand that I am God's open vessel. Yes, I am eating healthy and exercising, but God is the one creating Kylie. He chooses her eye color, creates her fingerprints, puts her personality together, and plans how He will use her for His kingdom. It's truly an honor to be used by Him, and I cannot wait to watch His story for her life unfold before my eyes.

She continues to grow day by day. She should be almost 17 inches long and around 4 pounds. I have noticed that she is getting more and more cramped as her body grows longer and longer. Although, she still prefers the right side and I am pretty sure she likes to poke her butt out. I guess it could be her head, but most days there is a large, round bump protruding from my belly! She also enjoys tapping her feet on my rib cage. Oh the joys of being a mother!

My last week of school went well. I loved every moment with my students and when they were gone, I was completely exhausted. My room is finally cleaned out, and I locked up my portable for the last time yesterday afternoon. I haven't really processed all of those emotions, but I do know that it is time for rest. I plan on enjoying my summer with those I love and resting up for what is to come!!

One Week Left!

2009-05-16T08:18:00.003-05:00

Normally during this time of year, I cannot wait for the last day of school. Each day I am more and more annoyed with students and have been counting down for weeks. However, this year it's a little different. I have been teaching for four years. Each school year, I have given everything I have to impact, educate, and love these students. They are not your typical classroom, but I love each group with a whole new love from God. There are still days when I hate it, and there are definitely days that I wish I had another job. But at the end of the year, I can look back and reflect over the past 10 months. I can finally see how much they have grown, how much they have learned, and how much I have fallen in love with them. We become this sort of family. We do everything together, and they know me so well. They can predict what I will do and they always call me out. It's hilarious! These past few weeks, instead of counting down the days, I have been soaking up every moment. Because this year might be my last. I don't know what the future will hold, and who knows maybe one day I will be back in the classroom. For the past four years, I have been jealous of Tre and the fact that he got to be the youth pastor. Well, I am about to eat my words and do the job that I have wanted for so long. I always knew I wouldn't be in the classroom forever and thought I would celebrate when that final day of school came. Instead, I am being sentimental and just enjoying the time with my class. Ahh my class. Words cannot describe the 19 GIRLS that I spend SEVEN hours with every day of the week. They are sweet, kind, helpful, crazy, energetic, smart, and loving nine year olds. This group has given me a run for my money and challenged me more than I thought possible. But now I can see all those glorious benefits and it was worth it!! (of course it is much easier to say that now.) I am sad to be leaving this school that I have been apart of for the past four years, and I will continue to pray for the faculty there. But I thank God for the experiences and all that He has taught me. It's been a long, hard road, but some of the most fulfilling moments in my life as well.

Happy Mother's Day!!

2009-05-10T20:46:00.006-05:00

I just wanted to wish all of you moms out there a Happy Mother's Day!! You deserve a special day to celebrate you!! You have sacrificed more for us children than we will ever realize. So THANK YOU!! We wouldn't be who we are without YOU!

We have been super busy in the Jones household. I have been busy wrapping up this school year and both of us are constantly cleaning the house just in case someone wants to come shopping. :)

This past Thursday we had our FIRST baby shower!! Julie, a teacher from my school, welcomed us to her beautiful home. It had been a very eventful day, but a wonderful celebration. Several teachers from my school came with treats and presents. We recieved our bedding, bath accessories, toys, clothes, and gift cards!! On Saturday Tre, Lexi, and I went shopping for a crib mattress so we could put Kylie's crib together. I was soo excited and it was a lot of fun! We have some pictures for you of her updated nursery.

Physically I am doing pretty well. I am 30 weeks along in my pregnancy and in my third trimester. I am definately pregnant as strangers have started asking questions about my due date and the baby's gender. Some of the teen girls even told me I waddled this weekend. :) Most days I feel pretty healthy. I am getting more tired as the days go on, and am more sucspetible to losing my balance. I praise the Lord for his grace and protection for my body and Kylie's. I did fall last week, but after a doctor's visit everything checked out okay. We hope that you all are doing well and looking forward to a great summer!!

TCC Youth Skit- Easter Sunday

2009-04-23T18:29:00.004-05:00

This is the video from Easter Sunday at our church. The "Everything Skit" was done by the TCC Youth Group. We were so proud. The church has responded to this in an amazing way. It was great to see the youth use their talents to glorify God in such an special way. Sorry the video is shaky and unfocused at points. I was not feeling well and I was shaking uncontrollably because I was balling my eyes out!!! It is amazing to be reminded of the sacrifice that Jesus paid for us and the love that was in his heart as He did. Enjoy.

Easter

2009-04-13T21:59:00.005-05:00

Just wanted to update you on our wonderful Easter Celebration! Lexi and I woke up Saturday morning with two wonderful Easter baskets. Tre, being the thoughtful guy he is, surprised us with all of our favorite goodies in a basket filled with plastic eggs! He then began to prepare the feast that we would be eating the next afternoon. This consisted of peeling potatoes and diving into the thawed turkey. He had decided to prepare most of the food on Saturday, so that he could focus on the meaning of Easter during church.

On Sunday, we went to church and were blessed to be apart of a wonderful time of worship and celebration. I have to say the part that touched me most was the teen’s skit. Several teens have spent weeks practicing their version of the Lifehouse “Everything” skit that is popular on YouTube. I am sure I am slightly bias, but they were incredible! I, along with several others, was so touched that the tears just seemed to flow. Tre recorded the whole thing; so when he edits the video, we will put it on the blog.

After church, we had a few friends come over for a home-cooked meal. We had a great time on the porch as we enjoyed the sunshine and delicious food. Tre had baked a turkey, made mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, Mac and cheese, and rolls! We even ate on the china that we received when we got married. All in all, it was a great day to celebrate our risen Savior and the friends He has blessed us with. We hope that you were able to be with loved ones on this special day of celebration!

25 week update!

2009-04-05T20:22:00.003-05:00

Kylie is continuing to grow these days, and should be about 13-14 inches long and weighing about a pound and a half. It’s amazing to think that each day God is working on her little body and preparing her for the world. I am just the vessel that He has chosen to use, but He is the one doing all the work. She already has fingerprints, which are unique to only her, taste buds, and hair on her head! She is not much of a “kicker” or “puncher” so that may rule out soccer and cheer leading, but she does move around a lot. She reacts differently to different foods, so I think that will be one of many things we will have in common.

I had a routine check up last week, and the doctor said everything looks normal. Overall I am feeling great! Most days, I love being pregnant, and feel honored that I get to have her with me all the time. It’s amazing to me that God uses 9 months to create this precious bundle of joy, but I am thankful for the time to prepare. I know that I will never be “ready,” but I am amazed to see how far I have come since the day I learned I was pregnant. I am really looking forward to being a mom, more than I ever imagined I would be, and find myself watching other women interact with their little ones. I dream about our time together and what she will be like. I can’t wait to share her with Tre and hope that our family will only be enhanced.

I couldn't resist putting a picture of my adorable niece Kieren. She is almost 3 months old, which is just crazy! Sorry for the UNC Attire!

My belly moves!!

2009-03-25T21:58:00.002-05:00

I have been feeling Kylie kick and move around for over a month now, but recently something new has happened. My belly moves!! I can feel that she is getting bigger and stronger by the intensity of her kicks and the way she moves. Yesterday while I was sitting in the back of a room, I noticed Kylie push through my belly. It was crazy, but of course, no one else saw. Tonight, Tre and I had a great night of relaxing on the couch. After a delicious meal, salmon, potatoes, and green beans, Kylie was moving all over the place. Tre was surprised by her strength and couldn't believe how much she was moving. Then we both started watching, and these little bumps started coming from my belly. I couldn't help but laugh, because it is seriously the coolest thing ever! I know I am getting more excited about becoming a mom, but some times everything is still unreal. I mean there is an actual baby inside my tummy! CRAZY!! We are already having a blast dreaming about her and feeling her move around that I know we are going to LOVE holding and watching her even more.

Oh and you dads out there need to welcome Tre into the club. I am not sure what its called, but I definitely laughed as I watched Tre try to put the pack 'n play together. We were setting it up to see what it looked like. He kept shaking it and getting slightly frustrated as it would not do what it wanted. Eventually he put it together and it looks perfect! Thank you Uncle Kris and Aunt Cheryl!

decisions . . . decisions

2009-03-20T22:47:00.005-05:00

Some of you can make decisions easily, you do it every day. There are some decisions that I can make quickly, and some that take me longer. Well, this week I had to make several decisions. Not just simple ones about what to eat or wear, but about a topic that I cannot understand! A topic that I can read about, but will never fully understand until it happens. I had to register!! Tre and I had to pick out things for Kylie, a girl whom we have never met. I have a hard enough time buying presents for people I know!! So incase you have never registered for an unborn baby, or it’s been awhile and you forgot how overwhelming it can be . . I wanted to remind you.

Sarah, my loving, gracious sister, took us to Target and Babies R Us. She walked us through the whole process, up and down each aisle. She explained some things in depth and other things just told us what worked for them. I mean if you have never used a bottle before, how are you supposed to pick one out of the five or so brands? But it wasn’t just bottles, but pacifiers, cups, clothes, blankets, sheets, diapers, wipes, toys, bath accessories, bibs, and SO MUCH MORE! I felt like we registered for a million items, and who knows what Kylie will actually like. But we did it! And when we were done, I took a long, hard comma nap.

Overall, the week was simply wonderful. Sarah and Casey welcomed us into their home and even let us sleep for hours as they continued to wake up and take care of their beautiful daughter, Kieren. When we were actually awake, we would play with her, change her, and just watch her sleep. A few times throughout the week, we played “mom and dad” as Sarah and Casey were out of the house! One of those days, we had the task of picking out her clothes for the day. Again, overwhelmed by what should be a simple decision, I couldn’t seem to figure out where the pants that fit her were located. Don’t worry though, in my time of panic, Tre stepped to the plate and picked a great outfit!! The craziest realization was thinking about how our lives would be changing in just a few months!! I would be holding Kieren and playing with her, while Kylie was kicking me and wanting to join in the fun! I can feel her getting stronger and myself getting a little weaker. My back and legs are starting to hurt and my brain is slowly fading away. But all in all, life is great and we are just thankful for family and the many blessings of our Lord.

Kylie's visit to Raleigh!

2009-03-17T20:05:00.003-05:00

Hi friends and family! We hope you are all doing well. Tre and I are spending a few days with my sister Sarah, Casey, and Kieren (who is now 2 months). We got to babysit while mom and dad were working, so needless to say, we have had tons of fun! I am excited to learn from watching Sarah and Casey as they continue to love and care for their beautiful daughter.

Kylie Grace is now 22 weeks in the making and about 11 inches long. According to her past ultrasound she is already weighing a pound! Supposedly her lips, eyelids, and eyebrows are continuing to develop, and she must be growing because I am always hungry. :) I can feel her dancing around my belly when I start to eat. It's the weirdest thing, but so amazing!! Poor Tre, every time he puts his hand on my belly, she plays this freeze game where she stops all of a sudden. One of my goals for spring break is for Tre and I to register. We plan on going to Target and Babes R Us! I wanted to choose her bed set first, so we could choose colors to coordinate from there. We looked around online and think we found one from Babies R Us! If any of you have any tips or suggestions, we would greatly appreciate it. We have been talking to a few parents already, but are open to know more.

Coming soon . . new pictures of my SUPER CUTE niece!!! Or you could check out my sister's blog page.

Fun moments with Kylie!

2009-03-10T21:45:00.003-05:00

Hello friends and family!! I just wanted to update you on Kylie Grace. She is moving freqently and is already making me laugh. Just this weekend, Tre was talking to her and put his face on my belly. To his surprise, Kylie kicked him in the face!!! I almost fell over laughing! Then, today a five year old boy hugged me and told me he could hear her sucking her thumb. I wish I could tell when she was doing that :) but since she did it throughout the entire ultrasound, I wouldn't put it past her. It's so exciting to know that she is already developing a personality. I know it will be amazing to see what she takes from me and what qualities she takes from Tre. So many exciting things for the future!! I just wanted to take a moment to let you know all is well with the Jones Family!

It's A GIRL!!! Say Hello to Kylie Grace...

2009-03-04T17:48:00.003-06:00

Here is a little video from our ultrasound taken today. Kylie is looking great, she is strong and healthy and she must have known that we were going to be watching her today, because she was kicking up a storm. You can see her heart, spine and you can even watch her suck her thumb. Lauren and I cannot be happier with our little one and we are so excited that we are having a little girl. It is just amazing to see this baby girl moving like crazy, sucking her thumb and kicking her mom in the stomach. I am so excited to be a daddy to a little girl, I sure hope she likes NASCAR!!!

48 Hours and Counting...

2009-03-02T21:43:00.002-06:00

We are just 48 hours shy of founding out the gender of our baby!!! Lauren and I are so excited and we are ready to know exactly what we are having in just a few short months. Hopefully "Kylie-Hank" will go bottom up so we can get a good look (if you know what I mean). Believe me, we will let you know when we know. Our doctors appointment is Wednesday at 2pm (CT), so we will come straight home and post on the website what we are having. So, check back sometime after 5pm to see what we are having. Thanks again to those who have been reading, keep in touch, even if to just say hello. Also, keep voting on the best baby names. Voting ends Tuesday. Love you all!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

2009-02-28T22:08:00.002-06:00

Today is Lauren's birthday!!! She had a great day. We were able to go out to eat at Famous Dave's (BBQ) where she had ribs. Most of her birthday celebration happened last weekend, so today has been a pretty slow day. Lauren is doing great as usual and she looks better than ever. We found out that our baby is the size of a banana, about 10 inches long, that is just crazy to think about. Our child has almost doubled in size over the past couple of weeks. Be sure to check in on Wednesday night, we will be revealing the gender of our baby!!! We are so excited... thanks to all of you who voted on baby names, keep them coming. Love you all.

2009-02-26T16:05:00.002-06:00

We just wanted to share photos with you of all the cool baby stuff we got last week. We are so grateful for the blessing that Connie poured out on us. Thank you again for your wonderful posts, keep them coming. We will be posting another poll soon, so stay tuned in. Love you all.

I am Free!!

2009-02-23T20:52:00.004-06:00

As my belly has continued to grow, I have come to the realization that I need to start wearing maternity clothes. My sister gave me several shirts when I went to visit her a few weeks ago, but recently my pants have become a little snug. Yesterday my mom took me shopping for my birthday, and I bought the most amazing pair of pants! They are "below the belly" maternity pants. So I don't have to have a huge belly to keep them pulled up, and there is no extra material under my shirt. They also have the elastic waste band, the type you would see on a pair of pants for a young child. So far they probably sound dorky, right? Well I wore them to work today, and all day I couldn't help but smile! My belly felt free!! Free to be growing, free to expand instead of being constricted to a normal pair of pants, free to be whatever size it wants! Too bad I cannot wear them everyday.

Since I am writing, I figured I would take a moment to praise God. Last Thursday, Tre and I were invited by a friend to a large consignment sale in Franklin. In case you don't live in TN, that is where people who have lots of money live. ;) A woman, who is a friend of my friend, was working the sale and invited us to come and purchase items when only other workers or invited guests could come. The place was HUGE and filled with tons of items . . everything from clothes, games, and furniture to everything you could need for a baby! For the first thirty minutes, Tre and I walked in circles being overwhelmed. Then we took one section at a time, and began to make some selections. We found a crib, changing table, jogging stroller, regular stroller and infant carrier car seat, vibrating chair, swing, and a few other small items. Not only had this woman invited us to come early to the sale, but she paid for $150 of our total price!! It was such a blessing and left me without words to express my gratitude. I know that our little baby is a blessing from the Lord, and I am constantly filled with Joy just to be carrying him or her. However, to receive a blessing from a woman I don't even know . . . well words cannot describe. Praise the Lord! He is good and faithful to those who serve Him.

Oh and one more thought . . . Tre has finally felt the baby kick!!! Crazy that this little one is constantly moving around, I notice it more and more each day. Thanks for reading . . LOVE YOU ALL!

The Belly Update: Week 18

2009-02-16T18:39:00.004-06:00

We have reached the 18 week mark and the baby has grown to the size of a bell pepper as you read in the previous post. The baby is not the only thing growing... Lauren's body has begun giving way to the growing fetus and beautiful belly has started to grow. She looks amazing and I cannot keep my hands off the belly. She is doing great and she has even felt the baby moving more frequently. I still am amazed that there is a child growing and I am just blown away by the awesomeness of God's creation. It is hard to believe that people still question His existence. Love you all and we look forward to your comments. Pratt and Lexi, try not to cry this time!!!

Pepper Anyone?

2009-02-14T22:18:00.007-06:00

Lauren is now 18 weeks and the vegetable of the week is a "Bell Pepper." She looks AMAZING!!! When Lauren came back in town the other night, I went to pick her up from the airport, she officially had the "Baby Bump," and it was such a cool moment seeing her walk down the terminal, so proud that she was an aunt to a cool kid, Kieren, but also that she too would soon be a mother. I always thought that she would look gorgeous as a prego lady, but I didn't know she would look this great. I love her more than words could ever express and I am so blessed and excited that I get to raise our children alongside her. I cannot keep my hands off her belly, it is awesome that there is a baby in there... "Holy crap, there's a baby in there?" For those of you who don't know that is a quote from, "Baby Mama." You should go rent it, very funny!

I am so blessed!

2009-02-11T21:36:00.005-06:00

So I am sitting in the airport drying my tears, and yet still smelling the spit up on my shirt. About a half an hour before I had to leave, Kieren decided to spit up all over me. So much so that she got it all over her face, priceless! Knowing that all my clothes were packed, I decided to take it like a champ and just keep wearing the shirt I had.

I have been fortunate enough to spend the past five days with my sister, her husband, and my niece in Raleigh, NC. Kieren Joy is one month old and already a bundle of joy and energy!! She has gas constantly and pretty explosive farts. However, my favorite thing she does is stick her tongue out! It is so cute to watch her discover different things about her body. She also started using her hands more: wiping her face, pushing things away, or cuddling with her hand by her ear. Seriously, the most precious gift from God I have ever beheld.

As my sister and I were walking today, I was telling her that this trip has been so different from what I had originally planned. I was supposed to help with Kieren and support Sarah in any way possible. Even though I did, I got so much more in return. Last week was so hectic and emotional that I was behind on much needed sleep. Being here with them helped me relax and catch up on some quality Zzzzs. In addition, I was able to spend some great time with the Lord through my devotions that my spiritual soul was also refreshed. As if that was not enough, Sarah was such a gracious teacher. I have never really been around babies, especially infants. She taught me everything from diapers, changing clothes, bath time, feeding, burping, and all out soothing an infant. She talked me through her labor and the first month of being a mother. I am now going home with so much knowledge and more importantly confidence that I can actually do this. Helping take care of Kieren has given me so much excitement about having my own baby. I am even more energized emotionally, spiritually, and physically to continue to strive to be the best mother I can be!!

As I said earlier, I just feel so blessed to have the family that I do. We are not perfect by any means, but the Lord has transformed our relationships to the purest love you can have for another person. My sister, my best friend, and just an amazing woman of God has blessed me more these past five days than I could ever repay her. I thank the Lord for the opportunity to love and be loved by some amazing people.

Awesome Story... You NEED to Watch This!!!

2009-02-04T17:36:00.003-06:00

This is an awesome story. When you think you cannot do anything, just remember this story. J-Mac is the man!!! Enjoy.

First Look at the "Baby Bump!"

2009-01-31T22:38:00.003-06:00

Dear Friends and Family,

Here is your first look at the "Baby Bump." This is just a short video that we shot before going to bed. We will continue to make videos and post pictures, so stay tuned. Love you all!!!

This video is too funny not to share!!!

2009-01-29T15:06:00.003-06:00

This has nothing to do with our pregnancy, but I just thought you would enjoy it. Thanks "you tube" for bringing us truly great videos. Also, thank you to my brother in law, Casey, for introducing me to this amazing Christian music group, "Sonseed." Enjoy, you will be singing this tune all day. "He is like a Mountie, He always gets His man."

Lauren's Favorite Avocado!!!

2009-01-29T14:47:00.003-06:00

Lauren is now 16 weeks in and our baby has reached the size of an Avocado. When I told Lauren how big the baby was and what food would represent the size, she was so excited!!! Lauren is a lover of Guacamole, and for those of you who aren't into food, "Guac" is made from an Avocado. She is so thrilled.

Lauren is doing great, she is feeling well unlike myself who has caught a nasty cold. She has developed a cute lil' baby bump, which we will show you soon, and she is definitely eating for two now. I am so proud of her, she is so tough. I never hear her complain about feeling bad or tired, she just pushes through each day and does it with a smile. I could not ask for a better spouse or a mother to my child, I have been and will be so blessed by this amazing woman. I will get her to post soon, because I am sure that she can tell you more about this time than I can, since she is caring the kid and all. And I am sure that you'd rather hear from her.

We will be going to the doctor on Monday, Feb. 2nd, for our 16 week check up. We read that you can find out the sex of the child from 16 to 22 weeks, but we don't anticipate the doctors doing an ultrasound this early. Hopefully a month from now, we will know if we are having a Kylie or Hank! Guess we will have to see. Thanks to all who have voted at the bottom of the blog page, we will come up with another poll soon. Keep the comments coming, we really enjoy them. Love you all.

Things are going well

2009-01-23T11:31:00.003-06:00

Hello Friends and family,

Things are going great here in Nashville. Lauren is doing awesome, she is staying healthy and doing her part of the deal (growing the baby!). She has developed a cute little belly which is pretty exciting and people are starting to notice. We are so happy and cannot wait for our little one (Hank or Kylie) to arrive. Not a whole lot of news this week, but we just wanted to let you know that we are still here and that things are going great. Hopefully we can get some pictures up on the blog page this weekend, so stay tuned. Love you all!!!

Kieren is here!!

2009-01-16T11:37:00.002-06:00

Monday morning at 1:30 I received a phone call from my sister, Sarah. Her and her husband live in Raleigh, NC. She told me that Kieren had arrived and was beautiful! We continued to talk as she gave me details of the previous evening as she went into labor. She was only at the hospital for an hour before she started pushing. Things went smootly, and from what we were told by Casey, my brother-in-law, Sarah was a champ. While we were talking, Casey was watching Kieren get cleaned and checked on since she had swallowed some liquid. It was so surreal to talk about all that she experienced. From now on, everything would change. January 12th would always be Kieren's birthday and a day of celebration. Since that morning, we have received daily pictures and stories of her explosive poop. Casey is so proud. :) It is one thing to be pregnant and going through a journey towards motherhood. But to watch my sister and closest friend a few months ahead of me is priceless. I cannot wait to visit them in Februrary and just hold my niece! I was talking to Sarah on speakerphone while she was holding Kieren, we would both get silent when she started cooing. Evidently she is looking forward to meeting me too!

When Life Give You A Lemon... Be Excited, Your Baby is Growing!!!

2009-01-16T10:12:00.003-06:00

Another week, another food! This week our little one has grown to the size of a lemon. Things are going well, Lauren is doing great. She has been cracking me up because she is just so hungry all the time. The past week we have been really trying to clean out our pantry and refrigerator, so we haven't gone to the grocery store. Well, yesterday while she was packing her lunch for the school day, the tears nearly flowed when she realized there was slim pickin's for the lunch time snacks. I guess a sandwich, pretzels, apple, dried fruit, peanuts, peanut-butter crackers and a Reese's snack pack just wasn't enough even though she had a MONSTEROUS smoothie, 2 eggs and a piece of toast for breakfast. I believe this woman could give Michael Phelps a run for his money in the daily food intake category. And now she informed me that she is "hungry" after we just had a large breakfast an hour ago. However, do not fear, Lauren is still very active and works out during the week. She looks great and she is healthy and happy and that is all that I could hope for during this time. Marley and I are consoling eachother and trying our best not to laugh to hard at Lauren as she goes through this awesome time in her life. She looks beautiful and she is still very nice, no moodiness here. We love you all and hope to hear from you.

We Have a Shrimp!!!

2009-01-08T20:11:00.002-06:00

Hello everyone,

We just thought that you would like to know that we now have a shrimp size baby growing in Mama Bear's (Lauren's) tummy. By the way, the term "Mama Bear" is in no way a description of Lauren's demeanor. She is doing very well, just a little tired. It has been a good first week back to school for her and I know that she is happy to get going again. I too have have been able to pick up a couple of subbing days which has been nice. Please be praying for me, I have a job interview with a veterinary hospital on Monday. Thanks again for all the comments and keep them coming. Love you all!

Tre and Lauren

WE ARE PREGNANT!!!!

2009-01-05T17:15:00.002-06:00

For those who are just joining in on the excitement, we are pregnant! Sorry we didn't tell you earlier, but we wanted to make sure that the baby was healthy. All is good and Lauren is about 3 months along! Stay tuned to our blog for more pictures and stories. Love you all.

Tre and Lauren

Tre's Theme Song- "Stay At Home Dad."

2009-01-04T17:27:00.002-06:00

Here is video of my newest theme song. Click link to go to youtube.com Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmWp-rI6vSw

Tomorrow is the first BIG day!!!

2009-01-04T17:08:00.003-06:00

Hello friends and familia,

Tomorrow is the day that Lauren and I have been anticipating for about a month, we are finally going to see our doctor. In our weekly e-mails that we receive, we were informed that our baby is the size of a lime. He or she is closing their hands and I am told that the baby has a human looking face, but of the pictures that I have seen online, there is nothing human about the way a baby looks. We are very excited to get another ultrasound and hear our little ones heart beat again. Lauren was able to enjoy a girls weekend away in Memphis, and I am told that she was hormonally emotional watching "Father of the Bride 2." I was able to enjoy a weekend of doing NOTHING AT ALL!!! I watched a lot of tv and took many naps. Thanks to my sister, Lexi, for spending much of the weekend with me. We look forward to updating you on our journey. Love you all!!!

Tre and Lauren

We're Pregnant!!!!

2009-01-01T11:38:00.000-06:00

Dear Friends and family,

Lauren and I are proud to inform you that we are pregnant! Lauren is now in her 2nd trimester. We do not yet know what we are having, so we have named our growing child Kylie-Hank. Lauren is doing very well and she is dealing with the sleepiness and tummy aches well. As most of you know, Lauren loves to eat, but now that she is eating for two, the food consumption has almost doubled. But I am proud to let you know that she looks more beautiful than ever. We are both very excited and cannot wait for our baby to arrive. Our due date is July 13th. We look forward to sharing stories and photos with you as baby progresses. Thanks for reading and leave comments.

Tre