As the time for Baby Girl approaches, I’ve been feeling more and more reflective. I told AJ that a few days ago, I looked for something in an old purse and found a diaper and wipes and had that wonderful feeling come over me just how blessed I am to have babies in my life. I love it so much.
Late yesterday afternoon I asked Amanda if she and Curtis wanted to have a date because I’d so happily keep that boy of theirs. They took me up on it and by the time Jackson got to Bibby’s house, I’d erected a tent in the middle of the floor (made out of chairs and a big bed spread) and had a home-made track for our Hot Wheels coming out of it like a long tongue. After we played a while, we sat, he and I, at the dinner table and ate supper (macaroni and cheese and the world’s best white cake leftover from Baby Girl’s LPM shower – but we didn’t exactly eat them in that order. Don’t tell mommy.) I took in everything about him last night. Every word he said. Every expression he made. Before we know it, there will be two to share our attentions and we can hardly wait but it’s still so good to have a moment and reflect on this one little dude and the huge impact he’s had on three families.
Lord have mercy. He’s such a boy. Three years ago, he turned our girly Moore-lives upside down and we’ve been drunk on him ever since. I remember when Amanda first began entertaining that she might want to have children but one thing she knew for sure: they’d need to be girls. Only girls. She couldn’t handle…that other kind. Then we found out about four and a half months into her first pregnancy that she was having a man-child. I was ecstatic! It was about time for some more Testosterone around here. She was happy about the prospect by then and Curtis was completely beside himself. I remember Amanda having a dream some days later that a nurse came to her with a baby wrapped in pink and said, “Mrs. Jones, we have your baby now. You can trade back in that baby boy.” And she said what you think she said. Not on your ever loving life. She was hooked.
Tonight my full-term darling firstborn is going with her man and her nearly 3 year-old son to the Monster Truck show. (Yes, with earphones for protection and extra wraps. Please don’t make her more overprotective than she already is!) This will undoubtedly be the best night thus far of Jackson Curtis Jones’ entire life. He could practically say Monster Truck before he could say Mommy. Slight exaggeration but I have never seen a little boy more obsessed with vehicles in my life. I, the slowest driver in the entire Gulf Coast and the leading cause of road rage in America (per my daughters), have been known to break the sound barrier just to catch up with a truck I knew he’d want to see. “Go faster, Bibby! Faster!” So I put the pedal to at least 45 mph of metal just to make that boy squeal.
Of course, the men could go to the Monster Truck show without Amanda but she’ll have nothing of the kind. To be honest, I wish I were going myself. But could you imagine my hair afterward? Don’t you think the noise could do follicle damage?
Amanda, on this eve-season before Baby Girl blesses our lives with every shade of pink, I want you to know that you have been a fabulous boy’s mom. I will treasure for the rest of my life seeing cars in your purse every time you open it to get out your wallet. I know all the times you’ve nearly gotten your hind-end stuck, crawling into the playground equipment to make sure your wild little man wasn’t killing himself. And all the while your friends with girls got to actually finish their conversations. He is an incredible little boy. So full of life. And, yes, I know, such a handful. You’re not imagining things. He is a whole lot of person. A whole lot of delightful person.
Curtis Jones has been one of the best dad’s I’ve ever seen in my life, but, young lady, I want you to hear your mother say this loud and clear: YOU HAVE BEEN A TERRIFIC MOM TO THAT UNSTOPPABLE LITTLE FORCE WE CALL JACKSON JONES. Great job. G-R-E-A-T J-O-B.
Now that I’ve got that off my chest, let’s have us a girl. Feel anything at all?? A single little cramp? Like every five minutes?
PS. Tomorrow’s Scripture memory day, Siestas! Have yours ready and look for that post.
Probably the only thing better than having bethmoore as your mother is having bethmoore as your grandmother. Wishing you a safe delivery Amanda and a healthy baby girl.
Love, Linda
Ah, this post makes my heart happy. How I wish I had a mother-daughter relationship like that with my mom. Just to hear those words of approval must make Amanda’s heart happy too. What a blessings boys are (I have 2!) and what a blessing Baby Girl will certainly be too! God is GOOD!
You always say the most wonderful things to your daughters on their (and yours) special occasions. They always make me cry too.
Every day I check the blog to see if there’s a picture of you and Keith with Princess Baby Girl Jones.
And yes, the noise at the truck show would cause follicle damage. It’s not all about you…you got a pretty head of hair to think of.
Melana
Boys and girls are different creatures. We had 2 boys, then 2 girls and then one more boy. Our newest all boy, car loving, bulldozer is Curtis Jasper. After 2 girls I’m relearning the ins and outs of a boy’s heart–sweet yet rather physical!
Praying that Amanda has a safe delivery of her princess and quick recovery. Be prepared for some wonderful Jacksonisms–our son’s first comment while watching his new sister’s diaper change was “how does she pee?” 🙂
Blessings on your family in this exciting time.
Amity
I have 3 boys: 7, 4 and 3 and I have LOVED experiencing the joy of boys – and want every single person out there to experience them as well – boys love their mommy. Now we have added a baby girl to that family – 10 mo. old now – and we CANNOT imagine life without her. She has brought a softer side to all of us – and those boys are putty in her hands – and those boys are oh so protective. God was so wise – these two genders simply complete each other. I love that you and Amanda and the whole family will get to experience both. I thank the Lord that I have.
Amanda, I love reading about your sweet Jackson. It is so fun to be the mom of a boy. But I can’t wait too, to hear of all the sweet life events of your sweet princess too, starting with her healthy and safe delivery.
I too wanted a girl, with every fiber of my being. Having a rocky relationship with my alcoholic father, I wanted to see my husband with a little princess that he could wrap his heart around…. or that could wrap herself around him. Being the true southern belle, I dreamed of monograms and smocking, pink and white, sweet clean faces and ringlet curls. I even sell Mary Kay, for goodness sake. Certainly God knew that this house was made for princesses and tea parties.
But God is good, and he let my heart know, before the ultrasound proved it, that my firstborn would be a boy and our pink little world has been upside down ever since. By the time the second boy came, I was glad for his brother to have a brother, even if a little sad for myself. Now, as we pray to see if we can raise enough money to transfer our last little frozen embryos for hopes of a third, I am equally content to have a boy or a girl. I am fully entrenched in the world of cars, trucks, sports, mud, bugs, dirt, star wars, rescue heros and smelly boys. I never learned to be rough and tumbley as a little girl, nope, saved that for when I turned 34 and baby boy skipped walking and started tackling. I’ve never looked back. Sure, a little part of me still wants a little girl, but then I would have never known this wonderful life I have now. Thank you God!!
And thanks mama siesta, for making me think of my sweet boys and bringing on a full on, thankful, ugly-cry.
Blessings Amanda
Sweet Beth!
You always have the sweetest words to say, especially about your girls and your grandbaby. I can’t wait for y’all to have some pink! It will be so much fun! I know you’ll have plenty of stories for us at bible study and that just thrills my heart. I love a good story!
I also know that undoubtedly Amanda will not read this with a dry eye! Y’all are all adorable.
Many, many hugs.
And Amanda, I so hope you enjoy the monster truck show! It will ben a blast!
Love,
Lindsee
P.S. Beth, I keep forgetting to tell you how much I have treasured that sweet, sweet letter from you and from Melissa. I pray our paths cross often, too. And that certificate? I am so framing it. I know, I am a dork!
I can just feel the anticipation in your voice that you have for that baby girl. How wonderful and exciting for all of you!
But let me tell you. I am expecting my first grand-baby in a just a few months and am looking forward to the non-stop action/mayhem that I am sure will accompany the little man! What a surprise that will be for his mama and papa!! Watching them will be almost as much fun as watching the baby!!
Dee
praying for a safe delivery
I wish I may, I wish I might, have you as a mother! Oh how blessed A AND M are to have you as thier mom.
Well that made me cry, but in a good way. I am so thankful that GOD blessed you with a boy grandchild! Now you will have one more beautiful girl to add to the Moore-ettes 🙂
I am praying that maybe one day GOD will allow me grandchildren – when my own grown daughter and son have given their lives to HIM and HE has full control and not a minute before.
I dropped the ball in their late teens and was not a godly mom at all.
Please GOD, if you would give me a chance, I would be a godly and fun grandmother..just like Beth 🙂
Love you, Precious Sister/Siesta! Thank you for the hand you gave me to help me get steadied once I was rescued from the pit
Teri
Mama Beth, Your Amanda is going to treasure that beautiful commendation from her mother. We all need encouragement in this area. Thank you for sharing this with all of us. Love to you!
What a wonderful post, congrats to your family. This is my first time visiting your blog and I think that it’s great. I recently picked up your 90 Days with the One and Only devotional and I’m loving it, I’ve cheated and have done a few days at a time, but I really love it. It’s so well written and rich with emotion and thought. I also love the look and feel of the actual book in my hands (never really thought about that before). I’m so excited about this devotional, it’s the first I’ve done in a long time and I don’t want to put it down.
Amanda,
I am so excited for you! I too was brought up with just me and my sister so when I had a boy first I wasn’t quite sure what to do! But I loved having a baby boy! He will be 12 in 21 days! It goes by so fast, enjoy every moment of him! (I know you do!)
Then 16 months later I welcomed my little girl into this world! we didn’t know it would be a little girl, I kind of thought it was because she was being so modest and not letting us see her parts! I cried and cried! They are both such a blessing, so unique and so wonderful. As is my littlest son! now 7! God is good!
Be blessed sweet Jones family!
sweet little boys are the best. i know cause i’m a nanny to THE sweetest 2 year old of them all (tied with mr. jackson i’m sure). i ran into my sweet little thing at the mall when i was meeting his mom to exchange books we are reading. when he realized we were parting ways again and not going to the play area to play together, he screamed “WAIT! I HAVE TO GIVE HER A HUG!” and ran the 20 yards back to me to throw his little-man arms so tight around my neck. if that wasn’t enough to end me, when he got back to his mama, he turned back around and said, “WAIT! I HAVE TO GIVE HER A KISS!” he planted a big one on me…and as he ran away turned his head just enough for me to hear him say, “love you SO MUCH”….and i didn’t even care about wiping the snot and slobber off my cheek. (well, ok, maybe after they walked away)
however, there is something about the day a little girl learns to do her first flirty look at her daddy. curtis is in for a beating. the best kind. 🙂
(i just glanced down to see my word verification coming up below. it says “sissy”. no joke. baby girl is coming soon!)
What did little boys do before trucks/cars were invented??
You’re a great mom, too, Miz Beth.
So Sweet! I am sitting here listening to what your world is going to be like in about 5 yrs. Im keeping my little cousins, Banks who just turned 7, and Sally who will be 5 in April. Their sweet parents are away at a conference for their Dad’s company so Abby and I are switching out days with them. Ivey or Mommy to them, was used to all girls and when she found out she was having a boy, she was a little unsure. Banks came and she was smitten. He’s a dear boy and then when she found out about sassy little Sally, she was unsure again, because she felt comfortable with Banks! Sally is so funny because she is not quite a girly-girl but not a complete tom boy either…She loves to play soccer and football(tackle if we let her!) but do it with a pink ballerina skirt and painted fingernails! They are so protective of each other and their little brother, Ridge who just turned 2. Most of the time they play really well together but at the same time Ive seen them get into some knock-down, drag out fights! Over nothing! Sally isn’t one to run crying easily either, she often starts alot of the fights!
Right now they are in the boys room and Banks is explaining how the Space shuttle takes off and how the people inside are laying on their backs at first and then….its so precious. I am sure that Jackson and your Baby Girl will one day be there!
I pray that the last few days don’t drag by and that she will be healthy and ready to wrap you all around her little finger, if she hasn’t already!! lol!
I hope you have a great rest of the weekend! It’s beautiful here but a little cool!
Love you Siesta Mama!
Nikki
You made me cry. Thanks so much for loving your daughters so outragously! It makes me feel like I am NOT crazy for feeling that way about my 2 (boy and girl).
My son and daughter-in-law are also having a little girl in the next week! My very first grandchild, and you could say that I am a little excited. Ecstatic is more like it! I can’t wait! Pink! I see a whole load of pink in my future! Sigh. I will pray for your daughter, Beth – please pray for my Ann and Andrew too!
I’m on for the first time all week…and just for a minute. We have a horrible ice storm and I have not had power/water/cable/phone since Monday!!! I am at my office which does have power/water/phone….
I am a property manager so I am “stealing” time at some of our vacant properteis that are on city water…oh to have water….a nice hot shower!
Was wondering about Amanda and Baby Girl. I couldn’t bare the thought of her coming while I was out of communication.
In the meantime I have completed Measureless Love thanks to a portable DVD plyaer and I have done two weeks of Esther.
I was so struck by “measure”….we are measuring every minute we dont’ have power/water etc….
Amazing what you do when you dont’ have power. I must admit though I still dont’ have my verse for tomorrow…I’m stumped it has not come to me yet….I keep looking for one that says “light is coming” Ha!
I’ll have to read more about Baby Girl and Atlanta later. I thnk it’s time to go and find some warm food and just enjoy seeing electric! Ha!
Your relationship with your daughter is so special and sweet. Thank you for allowing us to know your heart and be up close and personal with you girls!
Amanda….I applaud you with your mama!!!! Good job so far on the raising of your delightful little boy! Cheers to you and Curtis!!!
Way to go Jones’, way to go!
Jackson definitely sounds like he is all boy! Never a dull moment is there? After having two girls, I have a little boy and he is always moving! Sometimes he just wears me out! I loved hearing you encourage her letting her know what a great Mom she is! I know there are days when I could really use the encouragement!
Dearest Beth – you have so captured it – being a Nonna to a soon to be 11 month old little man is just over the top! He and Jackson sound like they are long lost brothers . . . all boy for sure . . . and as we say on this side of H town, “Bubbalicious.”
Now, take a trip on the wild side and MONSTER! The hair follicles will recover . . . sooner, or later.
Mmmm…this reminds me so much of a favorite passage I have from “Wind in the Willows.”
It goes like this…
“`This has been a wonderful day!’ said he (Mole), as the Rat shoved off and took to the sculls again.
`Do you know, I’ve never been in a boat before in all my life.’
`What?’ cried the Rat, open-mouthed: `Never been in a–you never–well I–what have you been doing, then?’
`Is it so nice as all that?’ asked the Mole shyly, though he was quite prepared to believe it as he leant back in his seat and surveyed the cushions, the oars, the rowlocks, and all the fascinating fittings, and felt the boat sway lightly under him.
`Nice? It’s the ONLY thing,’ said the Water Rat solemnly, as he leant forward for his stroke. `Believe me, my young friend, there is NOTHING–absolute nothing–half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats. Simply messing,’ he went on dreamily: `messing–about–in–boats; messing—-‘
`Look ahead, Rat!’ cried the Mole suddenly.It was too late. The boat struck the bank full tilt. The dreamer, the joyous oarsman, lay on his back at the bottom of the boat, his heels in the air.”
AND THAT, Simply Messing, I mean, is what makes this life so very wonderful! LOVE YOU–Moores, Jones and Fitzs–may you soak up life this week with God’s favor upon you.
Hey Moore families- we are praying for you on the upcoming birth of Baby Girl. I have been blessed with four daughters, and I can tell you- you will have so much fun! Until they turn 13- then it’s a little fun and a lot of work! I also have four nephews, and I can tell you that no one loves their mommas like boys do- treasure that! Anyway, in two years, this siesta will have the “Perfect Storm” descend on my house- my third daughter will turn 13, and we will have THREE TEENAGE GIRLS at the same time- we are going to tie in the sails, bail out the water and hold on for dear life! Or like the movie, we may never be heard from again… Anyway, I’m so excited for you Amanda and your whole family! You are going to have a blast! Love, Becky
I’m sure you’ll remember this, but be prepared! That little boy will look like he’s aged 10 years after that baby comes! That’s always a little hard for me, but now that I *think* I’m done, I’m wondering if that third boy of mine will EVER look like anything but a baby to me. 🙂 Congratulations Jones and Moore families!
i loved reading this. it totally brightened my day. oh how i love babies. my “baby” is 10 months . . . still what most people would consider a baby, but there’s just somethin about a newborn! i’d love a baby #6, but my husband seems to think that 5 is plenty, so most likely there won’t be more newborns around here until the grandbabies come! that’ll be just splendid, i can tell that already!
enjoy your precious little people!
blessings from minnesota!
I laughed out loud at the 45 mph of metal! You go girl…from another road rage causer to another! 🙂
I have a precious baby girl who is almost 17 months; and I have a baby boy who will make his grand entrance sometime in May. Oh how wonderful to have a little man child around here! But it’s been wonderfully and blissfully pink for a while now and I’ve loved every minute of it!
Thanks so much for reminding me to take in my precious baby girl every moment I can until my little boy arrived. I am looking upon her with fresh love in my heart!
Love you Mama Siesta! I hope to see you in New Orleans!
Rebecca
Dear Beth moore, would you please consider adopting me? unofficial, like? I would so love to hear this from my own mother but, because of her mental illness, I won’t.
So sweet Beth!!
I just am impressed with VVPG going to a monster truck show this far along, she’s flippin awesome!
What I wouldn’t do to hear such words of blessing from my mom. I try with all my might and His power to be the best momma I can be. Together we do a pretty good job, I’d like to think. But I’d never hear that kind of confirmation from my dear yet ever so critical mother. Don’t take it for granted, Amanda!
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE being a boy mom even though I used to tell my man that we were going to keep having babies until I got a girl. YIKES!! No telling how long that would have taken if he had not put his foot down – no girl child born on his side of the family since the early 1900s.
I loved this post and the way it reminded me of life with a 3 year old boy. I do miss those days! The best part? Telling Amanda that she’s doing a great job because that is one thing we moms do not hear enough of.
Good luck with that baby girl and all things pink!! She is one lucky baby – especially having a great big brother.
Nothing like those “words of affirmation” for a mama. So sweet.
Can’t wait to hear that the little princess has arrived….
Beth,
I appreciate your words. I have raised two sons and now have two grandsons. One just turned three and the other one is 2 months old. They are a delight to my heart. After I played ball, hide and seek, read stories and watched cartoons with the three year old, I was exhausted. But very happy that God gave me two more little boys to love and throw a ball to!
Thanks for sharing and many blessings on you, your family and that new little one!
Love,
Rhonda
This is such a touching and sweet post. What a special way to honor your daughter and her family.
Kim B, in AZ
I am the mom of a 3-year-old little boy…with a baby girl on the way, too…and I LOVED this post so much! I also grew up with only sisters…and boy, what a change! But God knew and He knew I needed that little man in my life…and in our lives! My mom could have written this same post….thanks so much for this blessing today!
I can imagine you’d be an awesome grandma!! 🙂
I’m doing your bible study, “A woman’s heart, God’s dwelling place” and you talk about having your grand baby during the time we’d be studying. I’m assuming that is the first grand son and not this one?” 🙂
Oh momma Beth…this made me cry.
I’m a mom to 3 very handsome and precious boys that make my heart melt. But, I’m sooooo excited for Amanda. I’m not envious of the girl thing…I’m envious of the “momma thing!” I just love what it does to us!
Thank you again for last weekend’s surprise visit at lunch. I didn’t get to say anything to you…good thing…because I would have laid out and cried like a baby and made you nervous probably. 😉
You are so precious to so many and I love you.
Hugs and big ole pink blessings~
Fran
Simply beautiful!
How refreshing to get another glimpse into your lives, thank you! Thank you for opening your family up to us, we appreciate it! My husband and I plan to get pregnant this summer and I CANNOT wait!! My mom is going to go crazy and I can’t wait, she’s the first person I want to tell!! We love you guys!
Well, that was just so stinkin’ beautiful! nd now I am CRYING buckets of tears … and wishin’ I had ME a baby boy! Love my big boys (they were big when I got here) and would never trade my little girls for a thing in this world, but, oh, all of a sudden I wish I had a couple of trucks in there with the WonderPets!
I am praying for you Amanda, God Bless all four of you Joneses (and a certain funner than fun Bibby too)!!!
You are a great mom Beth! How I wish my mom would say something like that to me.
Oh I loved reading this!!! Sometimes it can feel like we’re being disloyal bringing Baby #2 into the mix. I remember holding my first – on my very preggers tummy and weepingly telling him I was going to go to the hospital and would bring home his best friend.
Two boys (the Pink Angel Girl would follow – thank You, Jesus). Different as night and day. Some days best friends. Some days not.
But what would life be without siblings?
A lot more quiet.
Who wants quiet?
Live it up Amanda – it will be so much fun to watch Jackson love his new baby sister!!
Best,
Warm in Alaska.
Beautiful words, bethmoore. I remember when I was expecting being SO certain I was having a girl, hubby and I didn’t even chose a boy’s name. God must have gotten a kick out of me…especially on the day of my ultrasound at 20 weeks where I learned the truth…my sweet baby was a boy. The instant I saw his precious little form on that screen, I was overwhelmed with crazy love for him. God is good. Since the day he arrived (now 20 years ago), he has been the greatest delight of our lives.
Amanda, so glad God gave you the blessing of your sweet little man. What an awesome big brother he will be. I’m positively thrilled for you that you now get your baby girl. With you, your Mom, your sister, the LPM staff and all these siestas loving her, she’ll be about the girliest girl there ever was! Praying for a safe delivery and a smooth recovery. Can’t wait to see her!
Blessings,
Tracy
Tears. I long for this time with my own. I love the way you teach us even when you are not trying to. Gods blessings all over the place to you all! Won’t heaven be grand!
Love,
Judy
Ah Beth.. you’ve made me laugh and cry. My baby boy is now 14.. and it doesn’t seem like it took 14 years for him to get there! Like Amanda, I thought I wanted ONLY GIRLS. When that u/s told us a boy was on the way.. I suddenly felt surprisingly happy at the thought. There is nothing in the world like the mother/son bond I have with my boy. I wouldn’t trade it for anything… but AMEN and AMEN for those two precious girls. I would’ve ALWAYS wanted one!
Blessings to you all.. the JOY and ANTICIPATION is evident. We’re all so excited for you!!
Linda
Wishing Amanda and Curtis a safe, healthy, and blessed delivery. Wishing bethmoore, her man, and the rest of the family a blessed and fun time greeting you new little girl. As a girl from an all female family (my Dad died when I was an infant), I am blessed to be married to a man who is all-man and to have birthed a boy who is all-boy. I am blessed to have testosterone ozzing in the atmosphere of our home.
But, I do sometimes have cute outfit envy for mom’s of little girls.
Peace,
Kim Feth
Apex, NC
The only thing that pops into my mind reading this post is the scene from Steele Magnolias (the worlds greatest movie) where Shelby is describing the colors of her wedding and her mother declares it is pink and pink. But oh no Shelby says Mother it is Blush and Bashful.
I can only begin to imagine how much blush and bashful is surrounding the Jones household right now.
Congratulations and I am praying for you as you and your family await the arrival of the newest “siesta”
Awwww, how sweet (got a little teary eyed) & we've been blessed to have been a part of
all of it too. It's been so fun
seeing Jackson as a newborn and watching him grow to an
almost three year old who is about to become a big brother.
I agree with your mom, Amanda.
You are a wonderful mom.
I can't wait to see "Baby Girl!"
Oh, it's gonna be fun!! I have one of each and wouldn't trade
either of them for anything in the world.
Beth, I'm glad you'll be close enough to be there to enjoy these grandbabies. Sounds like you and Jackson had a blast!
Love,
Valerie