Four summers ago Curtis and I were wrapping up our time in Northeast England. We had volunteered to spend five months there working with teenagers. On our last Sunday at Thornaby Baptist Church, our dear friend Maxine presented us with two gifts in front of the congregation of about forty saints. I was doing an ugly cry and was desperately in need of a Kleenex. I kept turning around to face the other way because I was so embarrassed. Then in a moment that brought a bit of comic relief, we opened up the gifts to find these:
I started giggling immediately because I was a bit confused and I knew everyone was going to wonder if I was pregnant. At that time in our marriage we didn’t have maternity insurance and we were not even talking about having a baby. Maxine realized that I was a little embarrassed and announced, “Amanda is not pregnant!” Actually, she called me “Amander” but I always loved that. There was a quick consensus that Curtis and I must be pregnant in the spiritual realm, meaning God had spiritual fruit and offspring that would come forth soon. I refused to believe that the father-son figurine was a prophecy of any kind. 😉
Later I realized that Maxine and I had been talking about Willow Tree figures one day and I had mentioned that I thought the one with the pregnant lady was beautiful. I had seen it at my friend Jennifer’s house. She remembered that conversation when she saw the figurine and wanted to bless me with it.
We took the figurines back to America with us, but we didn’t display them right away. I did not want any visitors to our house to think I was expecting. At some point during my pregnancy with Jackson I got them out and proudly displayed them at long last. It would be some time before Jackson was as old as the little boy in the second figurine, but he was a boy nonetheless.
Nowadays Jackson Jones is looking a lot more like the little boy in the picture. He’s definitely not a baby anymore. Around April I noticed that I had stopped identifying with moms I saw with babies in strollers. I wasn’t one of them anymore. It was such a strange feeling! We had graduated on to little-boyhood.
My heart is kind of pounding right now because I am so excited and blessed to be able to say that at this brief moment in time, both of those little Willow Tree figures are true of our family. A prophecy given to us four years ago has come to pass! We are expecting another Little Jones around February 12, 2009. Today I am 11 weeks along. We had an OB appointment this week and got to hear the little heartbeat. He or she seems to be doing well in there! I have so much to say, but it wouldn’t be that fun to stuff it all in one post. I will save some for later.
By the way, I went into Baby Gap for fun after my appointment and I was blown away by the cuteness of all the fall clothes for baby boys. Oh my word. Pregnant Girl almost cried over this. I am so ready to shop in the 0-24 month section again. I’ve missed it so!
i had to scroll forever to leave my CONGRATS!!! Oh how exciting! I love it! Praying for you four-to-be! – Jackie and family
Amanda,
Praying showers of God’s blessings on your family..that is so cool, and yes it is such a wonderful time.. but then, each step of the way is so cool.
love you bunches,
Delilah in Arkansas
Congratulations to all of you!
I knew the moment I saw the Willow figurine. Think pink!!!!!!!
Congratulations!! How wonderful…yay!
Oh Amanda, I’m so excited for you and your family!!! As I read your entry, I just had to hurry and skim down as I hoped that would be your news! Go God!!! May God bless you throughout your whole pregnancy. I will be praying for you and the baby. Yahoo!!!
Congratulations!!! I bought that same Willow Figure when I learned I was expecting #2 (she’s 3.5 now). Everytime I look at it on my mantle between now and February I’m asking God to bring you and Curtis to my mind and I’ll be praying. Blessings!
YEA!! How wonderfully exciting, congrats to you and Curtis and to the whole family. Absolutely don’t blink because it all goes by so quickly!
Today july 24th my youngest turned 13 years old, and when I look at him (and his new grown facial hair) it just kills me, where did my baby boy go! My daughter is entering High School in less than 2 weeks and again I say what happened to my baby girl.
Don’t blink! Make mud pies and chase butterflies because truly in a blink of an eye that phase is over!
Congratulations!!!! (BTW Melissa should be next, don’t you think?)
Blessings Siesta
Mary
congratulations!!! i know youre a great mom and wife. your sweet spirit just jumps off the page and i dont even have to meet you to feel it:) thanks for just being you and also for sharing your life with us!
Dear Amanda & family –
CONGRATULATIONS!! What a blessing!
We are soooooooo happy for all of you.
Love the figurine! We use ours in our nativity set at church as a "pregnant Mary" leading up to Christmas eve.
Love,
Janet and family
P.S….The varsity jacket is so cute. It would look great on a little boy OR a little girl!
((Hee hee hee )) Was this a result of your mama winking and advising you to ” tend to your marriage ” that one time ? ( sorry , I couldn’t help myself ; ) )
You don’t have to answer this post.
( Of COURSE you were ” tending to your marriage ” ! ) : )
Love ya’ll !
So happy for you! ENJOY! 🙂
Prayers and showers of blessing over you and your beautiful family, Amanda. Love to you, Annette
Congratulations to the entire Jones family. Jackson you will be such a good big brother!! What a blessing!!
I’m so happy for you…but I’m worried that once the new baby arrives and there’s double the cuteness around here, the blog might explode. 🙂
I am fairly nw to the whole blog thing and when it crossed into my prayer time about a month ago to be praying for Amanda’s baby I first thought it was my daughter-in-law Amanda as she was very pregnant at that time and had gone into labour a month early with Jeremiah and he was born on Christmas Eve. Even though I was praying for my future grandchild I was not settled til I started to pray for your Amanda and almost begged forgiveness for being so bold as to pray for a baby in a family I haven’t met. God does things like that all the time and it is quite an adventure to be on. Be blesses Amanda and Curtis and Jackson, by the by our Amanda gave birth only a week early this time on July 4th(I have not a clue as to what special day on our calendar year they may bless the world with a child on again if they go for a 3rd)to a lovely little girl Jaelle. She is a happy mummy and nana Iris and Papa dale are busy with 3 blessed little ones (I think grandmothers are cut from a different cloth than I ever pictured us to be cut from). Hope the weekend is sweet.
Iris
What joy! Congratulations!!!!
Congratulations to mom, dad, big bro, grands, aunt & uncle…one and all!!!
CONGRATULATIONS!!! I am so excited for you!! 🙂 And I love the prophecy. 🙂 I’m just 3 weeks ahead of you in pregnancy. It’s my first child, but we found out at my 12-week appointment and ultrasound that we are having our second child at the same time!
Oh Amanda! So happy for you, Curtis and Jackson! i’ll bet Jackson is going to be a great big brother. Keeping you in prayer. And I totally know what you mean about shopping for baby clothes. My little man is 4, so I don’t have a baby to dress anymore. That doesn’t stop me looking though! ((((BIG HUG)))) to you!
Jen in VA
Oh, how we women love baby talk!! There is nothing like anticipating the birth of a precious newborn! Enjoy every minute of your pregnancy, as you try to rest 🙂 with a toddler in tow. It is a challenge … but God will make a way! When family and friends want to help … let them! (a little bit of wisdom from a MOPS mentor mom)
You are loved and prayed for, sweet Amanda!
Amanda,
Congrats! We are pregnant together again at the same time. Our little girl was born Jan ’06 before Jackson and now I am pregnant with baby #2 due March 7, 2009. How funny! Just had to share.
Rachel
Praise the Lord. Congratulations, Amanda. Love to you, Dee
How EXCITING AJ and Curtis!!! May God’s hand be upon that blessed child and may it leap for joy in your womb when it hears Bibby’s voice. Kaye and I pray for a safe and wonderful pregnancy. Blessings,
Kaye and Missy
How exciting!!!!! Congratulations Amanda. Thanks so much for including all of us in your journey.
Paula G. <><
Congratulations!!!!!!!
Love,
Michelle G. (who always reads but never comments)
Congratulations Amanda. I can’t wait to find out if it’s a boy or a girl! Blessings to you and the entire family.
Much Love,
Julie
YAY!!!! Congratulations!!
God is good!!
Val
NC
Congratulations! I was pregnant with you last time, but I think I will skip this go round!
Amanda and family,
Congrats on the coming little one – may God’s blessings follow this child all of their days!
Rebecca
Central Asia
Congratulations Amanda and family…May you have a wonderful pregnancy and a Healthy and Happy Baby…
In Christ,
Cassie
PRAISE THE LORD!! Babies are one of God’s miracles we can put our hands on. Blessings to you and the family.
Royana
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!SAVOR EVERY BEAUTIFUL MOMENT OF THIS TIME IN YOUR LIVES.
Can I get a whoop whoop?!?!? Congratulations Amanda! How exciting for you and the family. I will be praying for you all. Congratulations to you and your entire family.
Congrats, Amanda, Curtis, and Jackson! I can’t wait to hear about your little boy becoming a big brother! My baby sister is expecting her first baby. This little one will be the first grandchild as well. What excitement this time of waiting and preparing is. Enjoy it!!
Congratulations Amanda, Curtis and Jackson!
It is tender to hear your excitement as you anticipate this next season. Praying for protection over your pregnancy and the baby.
Love to all,
Jina
Well, lookie there at what the Lord has done!! Girl, you got me to crying already this morning! I have three precious gifts myself and believe me when I say, it never gets less exciting! You go girl and you go God for all the great things He has done! Man, god is just too cool that way sometimes, isn’t He?
Much Love-
Nicole B.
Congrats to your sweet family. Children are truly a blessing from the Lord!
I am excited for you…I am expecting my second on January 1, 2009. We have a 2 year old daughter whose birthday is January 6, 2006. I have enjoyed your Jackson stories becuase I have been going through the same things at about the same time! I guess we get to do it again :).
Children are A Gift from God!
Congratuations.
Congratulations Amanda, Curtis, Jackson and entire Moore family!
What a blessing! Best wishes and I will keep all and this new precious one in my prayers!!
Pam
OH Congratulations! Praise our Mighty God! I have four children, and I remember my second. I was so worried I just would’nt be able to love the second how I should, because I just loved the first so much! Praise God I was so WRONG. My heart grew a whole size with every child. More love than I thought I was capable of! Sometimes I was sure everyone could see the huge lump in my chest beating like crazy! By the way Feb 12 is a great day, my daughter Zion’s birthday (CHILD #3) and Abraham lincoln too!
Thats wonderful news!!!!
Congratulations. Oh, I just love babies. It seems that I am surrounded by them. My littlest is 6 and I so want to have another, who knows what God has in store for our family. God Bless.
Oh, Praise God!!!! There is nothing quite like the joy that comes with a new little life!
How are you feeling?
And how has Jackson reacted to the news?
On Father’s Day my husband and I gave our dads the Willow Tree “grandfather” figurine – it’s the first grandbaby on either side – and our baby is due Feb. 20.
Congratulations to you both, Amanda. I know your mom must be beside herself with excitement!
Congratulations!
And baby boy clothes are so much cuter now than they were even when I had a boy, 16 years ago! WOW! Time flies. Enjoy!
Blessings,
Tanya
YEA!!! Thanks for sharing with us the good news..
Deb
HIP HIP HORRAY!!!!! GOD IS GOOD!!!
Thanks for sharing the news….
deb
What a blessing! Congratulations!!! I will be praying for a safe pregnancy and healthy baby!!
Congrats-I got tears in my eyes and got all excited for you and told my sister, like as if we are all best friends-haha, we are in Jesus and will one day actually MEET each other, hallelujah!