Keeping Up with the Joneses

A glimpse into the busy and very blessed life of the Jones Family!







Monday, October 25, 2010

PART 3

Let's see.... where were we? Hunter Scott Jones arrived with a bang on Thursday, December 15, 2005. We stayed in the hospital for 2 days and came home to a FULL house. Remember how I mentioned our house was only 1400 square feet? Well, imagine it full of baby gear, Christmas decorations and presents delivered from out of town family (since we wouldn't be traveling that year) and people. We were overwhelmed coming home, but so happy to settle into a routine with our precious little boy.



Hunter was a great baby. I was on maternity leave from teaching and would be able to stay home half of December, all of January, February and March. I returned to finish out the year in April. By that time, we had a great schedule and Hunter was a textbook baby. It was such a blessing with me having to go back to work to have my mom and mother-in-law to step in and stay at home with Hunter. I could run across the street to feed him, hold him or just come play. It was as great as going back could be for me.


I was so fortunate to be able to stay home once summer came and still count that one of my biggest blessings to have been able to be here with my kids.
Chris and I loved watching Hunter grow and learn and change over the course of that first year. Everything he did, we were in the front row, cheering him on. Being parents was so much fun. We were crazy about that little guy... and still are!


Hunter's FIRST birthday

The day after he turned one, we went skiing in Park Cities. He had a blast and loved the snow.

Shortly after Hunter turned one, we decided to take on a BIG project. Time to add on! We decided that we would be the contractors for the addition. I spent a lot of time on the phone- and Hunter would walk around and mimic me talking. Ha! Our plan was to stay in the house while the work was being done. Let me say... not easy! We had no stove or washer and dryer for nearly 3 months. Not the easiest things to go without with a toddler in the house.

We added on a family room, laundry room, master bedroom and bath and front porch. We also ripped apart the kitchen and exposed the wood floor and replaced countertops and appliances. From February 2007 to July 2007, we were knee deep in home renovation. Hunter was AWESOME! He could nap each day despite the noise and chaos. Chris and I stayed really busy with each step- the planning, the hiring, the demo, the framing.... It was fun and definitely worthwhile.


We moved into the new part of the house on July 13, 2007. It wasn't all smooth sailing, but we love our home.



We spent lots of time that fall traveling to College Station to watch Uncle Blake play baseball. Hunter was talking up a storm and more and more fun every day.

Chris and I celebrated our 5th anniversary with a trip to Mexico for a week. We had a great time but missed Hunter.

Then, early January 2008 we went to Key West with my family for a week. It was so much fun but un-seasonably cold. So, we wore fleeces and enjoyed the scenery, but not the beach so much. :)

In March of 2008, we went back to Park Cities- this time with the Jones fam. We had a great time skiing and being with the cousins. Hunter was again too young to ski, but loved being there in the snow.

We found out exciting news in March 2008.... Hunter was going to be a big brother! I had been diagnosed early February with PCO (Polycystic Ovaries) and put on clomid as a first resort fertility treatment. On ONE cycle, we got pregnant. We were stunned but so thrilled.
Daddy and the new big brother celebrating!

Chris walked into our room- I had the bed covered in pink, blue and white balloons and diaper with the words- "Ready for Number 2?" written on it. It took him a minute, but he got it.


TO BE CONTINUED

1 comment:

Kelli said...

Natalie, I think this is great that you're doing these reviews! Since we haven't stayed in touch very well, it's fun to see what y'all have been up to the last 8 years. So fun!