Flipping Baby + Changing Diaper = Wrestling Match

"Welcome wrestling fans to the match of the century! In one corner we have the reigning champion, Big Daddy D, weighing at a massive 191 pounds. In the other corner is the returning challenger, Little E, weighing at 18 pounds."

"Fans, don't let that weigh difference fool you. Little E's has got some incredible dexterity, flexibility, and agility. All that equals problems for Big Daddy D whose got none of those."

"The match has begun! Little E is being carried to the changing table. Big Daddy D looks confident...maybe too confident."

"She's down on the table. Look at her go! Before Big Daddy's hand are off of her, she's flipping over, making it impossible for Big Daddy to get to the diaper straps! What a move! Big Daddy's determined, he's picked her up and flipped her on her back again."

"Little E's making the move again, reaching her right hand over to grab the railing of the changing table, then using that anchor to swing her right leg over thus twisting her body over. Fans, don't discount that grip she has on the railing. She might be small but she's got a one 'kung-fu' grip there."

"Big Daddy's got her flipped over again. Little E's using another tactic, tears. Boy can she belt out a cry. Look at Big Daddy back off. Bad move on his part, fans, now that he's back off Little E has flipped over and is on her hands and knees. At this rate that dirty diaper is going to stay oh so dirty!"

"Look at Little E, the tears have stopped and she's trying to stand on changing table. Big Daddy better get in there if he doesn't want to have to deal with a diaper rash."

"Big Daddy looks like he's got a second wind. He's flipped Little E back over and is now holding her down with his left arm as his right hand is quickly unfastening the diaper. Little E does not like this, it looks like she's gonna try the "tear tactic" again. Big Daddy's got the diaper off. It's just wet. What's this, fans, he's releasing Little E from his grip? Smart Daddy! He's leading Little E into a false sense of security."

"Fresh diaper is out! What is this? Fans, it looks like Big Daddy is trying to put on the diaper with Little E on all fours. That is not working out. I take back what I said about Big Daddy being smart!"

"Fans, if Big Daddy can just get Little E on her back he can secure that fresh diaper. Over the months he certainly has gotten faster in securing that thing. Oh look at that! Little E's back over. Why isn't she crying? Big Daddy gave her something to chew on! The tactic worked! Little E's been distracted from the match! Like some kind of rapid thing Big Daddy's got the fresh diaper on and secured!"

"Ladies and gentlemen, the match is over! Big Daddy D still reigns!"

Summer 2009 with Little E

Coming Soon!

Oh yeah you're gonna love it.

Elizabeth's Amazing Feats!!!

It has been a little over EIGHT MONTHS since Elizabeth was born. Erin and I still can't believe how much she has grown and all the things that she is learning to do.

Elizabeth Joy is crawling now! She began crawling on July 20th and each day since then she has been getting faster and faster. Interestingly enough the things that she crawls to are not her toys. Those things which have motivated her to crawl forward include; the air vent, her mother's flip flops, her daddy's messenger bag, the stereo, and a basket used to store electronic wires. While she's crawling it's fun to get her attention, because to look at you she just doesn't turn her head. Instead what she does is take the arm of the direction she is going to look in (either right or left), she will take that arm and fling it high into the air so that she can twist her torso around to see you. We have dubbed it her "one hand push up". Elizabeth is eager to stand though, we've noticed that many times while on all fours she will lift her butt into the air and bring her knees off the floor. You can almost her her saying to herself, "this isn't working. I'm still on the floor."

Now she has learned to pull herself up to her knees. This skill was probably born out of frustration. Elizabeth doesn't like to take naps, but she's an infant and she needs them (that is what we keep telling her). So when you put her down for her nap (awake) she cries and will put up a fuss. She will turn herself over, crawl to the side of the crib, and hoist herself up to her knees using the crib bars. Once she is settled on her knees she will then proceed to cry louder thinking, "surely those parents of mine hear my suffering". And, yes, we do hear her "suffering". At the beginning I (the father) would rush in to comfort my sweet daughter. Then my wise wife said to me, "she has got to learn how to soothe herself. You've got to let her cry." Yes, my wife is wise so we let her cry. However, there will be occasions (we have learned to discern the "really upset cry") when we go into her room and hold her.

How Time Flies!

Many people have told me to "savor each moment" because time flies. I thought I understood this until the birth of our precious Elizabeth. I can't believe it was already 3 weeks ago today that she was born. I can remember, so vividly, the details of that day (although Daniel may tell you otherwise).

November 17, 2008

We arrived at Baptist Hospital at 5:00 am for the c-section which was scheduled at 7:00am. We we checked in and waited in the waiting area until someone came and got us. The nurse escorted us to the prep room where they hooked me up to an IV and got me prepped for the c-section.

Daniel was excited to put on his scrubs. I don't think I had ever been so nervous and scared in my life.

After what seemed to be an eternity of waiting, they finally wheeled me into the operating room. Daniel had to wait outside while they did the spinal. He was so overwhelmed, he spent this time praying. He was able to come in the operating room at 7:15. We were having a conversation about Thanksgiving and my doctor said, "Get the camera ready, you're about to have a baby!" I didn't even know that they had started the procedure and here they were telling me that it was almost over! Since 28 weeks, we had two ultrasounds a week, so already knew she had all of her fingers and toes. We also knew that she had hair. The big question was what color would it would be. So, once I heard her first cry, my doctor said, "Erin, she's beautiful!" And I asked, "What color is her hair?" I wonder if she had ever had this question before?

Elizabeth Joy Jones

November 17, 2008

7:28 am

5 lbs 12oz

18 1/2 inches long

Once they weighed her, I got to hold her for a minute until they decided that she needed to go to NICU because she was having difficulty breathing. She stayed in NICU until about 3:30 that day. It was the longest day waiting to be with my daughter.
At about 1:30, I was tired of waiting, so Daniel wheeled me down to NICU. Once we were there, I could not seem to keep my eyes open or head up! I don't really remember a whole lot about the visit to NICU.
We had lots of visitors while we were at Baptist. Of course the grandparents were the first ones there.

I neglected to take a picture of everyone who came to visit (I'll blame it on the drugs), but here are a few....
Our experience at Baptist was great, but by the fifth day we were really ready to go home.

All bundled up in her carseat and ready to see her new home.

A Prayer for Elizabeth

A prayer of Daniel...for his daughter Elizabeth

Oh Holy God in Heaven,
You are so good to me. I am overwhelmed by your kindness towards me in allowing me the opportunity to have a child. What a blessing Elizabeth is to me. Your loving kindness is too great to fathom. What a wonderful and mighty God you are. I praise your name for you are good! I praise your name for you are mighty! This child is a gift. Oh my Lord may you give me the strength and patience to be the father I need to be for Elizabeth. Help me to teach her your ways. Give me the strength to guide her in your commands and desires. Fill me with your wisdom so that Elizabeth might be filled with the wonder of You and your greatness! The only way that I can be a good father is for you to teach me how to father. Teach me in love, teach me in discipline, teach me in mercy. I long for my daughter to love you and honor you. May I do whatever I can to ensure that as she grows she will accept your grace, your commandments, and your salvation. I want nothing more than for Elizabeth to join her mother and me in heaven, around your throne, lifting praises to your name. All this I ask in the name of your son, Christ. AMEN

One Week Down

Most of you know by now that I am on bedrest for the rest of this pregnancy. Yesterday marked one week since we got the news of this. This may not sound like a big deal, but that is one more week that Elizabeth is able to stay put! I wish I could say that I have been productive, but I've had a hard time staying focused on any one particular thing. While I should be catching up on my Bible study, I've found myself wasting the majority of the days online. I am not even a good internet surfer! When I came across several blogs of people I know, I thought, "This is the perfect time to start a blog." So here it goes....

I'll use this as another way to allow you all to "Keep Up With the Joneses." Basically, I hope to keep you up to date on what is going on in our lives. I hope that sometimes you will be encouraged and maybe even inspired!