This morning when we pulled out of our driveway and headed to church, we got to do so as a family of four. What a sweet thing to take our baby girl to Sunday church for the first time! God gave us a lot of grace and our morning was much calmer than I thought it would be. We were only five minutes late and we still got to make the obligatory stop at Shipley’s Donuts.
Here’s Annabeth in her first Sunday dress. I can’t even describe the joy I felt when I got her all dressed. She was the most precious thing since Jackson on his first Sunday. Do I need to tell you how much I love those Mary Jane socks?
Ready to go!
While Curtis was in the Shipley’s getting our breakfast, Jackson asked me about my wedding rings. For some reason I thought it would be fun to try to explain marriage to my three-year-old. I said, “One day you’ll find a pretty girl who loves Jesus and loves you and you’ll marry her.” Then his face lit up and he asked excitedly, “Who is it? Who is it? Who is it, Mommy?” He must have said it ten times. I told him I didn’t know, but Jesus already has her picked out. I hope I remember to tell that story one day at his rehearsal dinner. Okay, I have to change the subject now before I get emotional and have to admit to my husband that I’m crying about our son getting married.
On the way home, we were right behind my parents’ car and I thought about all the years that my original family of four drove that same route home in Dad’s grey Impala. And now there we were with our family of four. It was simultaneously weird and wonderful. I could go on about how the years will pass like the blink of an eye before my son and daughter are doing the same thing with whoever it is Jesus has picked out for them. But I changed the subject, remember?
Here’s my little two-month-old with Big Pink Bear. She didn’t cry this time!
In fact, we got smiles! These are the first real ones I’ve ever caught on camera. 
Your pictures and comments are such a refreshing way to start this Monday morning. Thank you for sharing with us.
Blessings,
Nancy
QT-pie!
aww…loving the clothes. I bet you all shop like crazy for her!
Jackson's multiple questions of "Who is she?" is so sweet!!! I've had similar conversations with my 4 & 6 yr old girls about who they are going to marry someday. My husband can't deal with those questions right now so he leaves it up to me to answer. 🙂
Your children are precious and beautiful just like their mama!
Sharon
Oh those thighs! Baby thighs are so adorable! She is precious, as were your ponderings. Keep praying for those spouses!
They do grow up sooo fast! I began praying for my son’s wives before they were born … and He gave me a beautiful daughter who is more wonderful than I could have ever even dreamed of! She is passionately in love with Jesus and my son! What more could a momma ask for! The next one is coming … soon, I hope!;-)
LOVE your pictures of your precious babies!
Little Annabeth’s smile is so cute… and the stories about Jackson’s “wife” and riding in the car as a family stirred my heart. God is so good!
sooo very presh!
That little girl is a real cutie pie!!! But, then so is Jackson!!!!! What great memories you are making and how sweet are the old ones!!!!
Blessings
Georgia in NO MI
Got me cryin’ – good thing I had not put on my makeup yet – what a precious way to start a Monday morning . . .
What a sweet little baby girl, that Annabeth! Jackson is becoming such a great big brother!
What a darling family! I can’t believe how big Annabeth his getting next to the pink bear:)
Thanks for sharing such sweet moments with your family! (this is why I feel like we’re real-life friends I’m sure!) My 4 and 5 year old boys sporadically ask about getting married too and it always makes me fight back tears 🙂 Your baby girl has a gorgeous smile!
Very Sweet! You and your entire family are special to me even though I’ve never met any of you. I’ve done all your Mom’s Bible studies and so I feel that you, Melissa and she are like family to me. . . and now your families are like family to me. 🙂
My youngest daughters name is Anna Elizabeth. So I LOVE the name AnnaBeth!
Love you all!
Precious! Just Precious!
I am crying with you becouse my 21 year old son just celebrated his 6 month wedding anniversary! AND it DOES go by in a blink of an eye.
Enjoy every minute and journal everyday! That is my biggest regret. I didn’t journal so I am now relying on my limited memory to pass stories on.
Many blessings to you, Amanda!
Amanda…could she be any cuter??? Seriously??? She is BEAUTIFUL!!!
What a beautiful day for your family. I’m going through something too and my “babies” growing up. Except my oldest 2 are almost 13 and 11. Geesh.
Love ya girl. Have a great Monday!
Adorable!!!!!!!!! Isn’t God good???!!!!!!
Blessings,
Ginger
Wetumpka, AL
Beautiful baby! I think too often those of us who have a rich inheritance of Christ following generations take it for granted…I know I do. Thank you for the reminder!
What a precious time for you Amanda! Both of the children are so adorable.
Blessings,
ROyana
God is soooo good!
How blessed you are!! How blessed we all are that He would lavish so much love upon each of us.
Cherish each moment! You are correct, they flash in the blink of an eye.
Write down what Jackson said. I already know you wrote it on your heart, but write it on paper lest you forget on that very emotional evening at his rehearsal dinner with the girl Jesus already has picked out for him.
I bet she will be pretty like his momma – on the inside and out!!!
Thank you for sharing your beautiful family with us!
Much love and many blessings!
Oh my goodness, the rolls on Annabeth’s legs. They are so adorable! And I LOVE the pictures of you and Jackson on the couch.
Rachel in Columbus, MS
Darling!
She’s beautiful Amanda! My girl is three and it’s still a blast to dress her. Enjoy every second!
Fun memories. That would be a perfect “Rehearsal Dinner” story! Annabeth’s adorable–love her outfit!
Hang on to those pictures of you and Jackson for that same dinner! He’ll love it. Oh, start a memory file for those slide shows now. You could be way ahead in 20 years!! I wish I had tho’t of that.
Blessings!
Thank you for sharing your beautiful family with us…
Annabeth has a sweet smile, just like the other women in her family.
Jackson is precious.
They are both such cuties!!
I am so happy fo you. 🙂
Amanda – Beautiful pictures! Thanks for sharing them. I also took pics each month of my (now grown) babies beside a big white stuffed bear. :o) By the way, my son’s wedding is in less than 2 weeks, so I can totally relate to what you’re talking about. But like you – I’m gonna change the subject – even though my husband already knows I’ve cried about our son getting married. ;o)
Oh I remember how much fun is was dressing my baby girl (after having 3 sons). Every color of pink and the cutest dresses and shoe. Then she grew up and now at eleven she has her own style of dress, which is very modest (thankfully that is very important to her) and different. But I don’t think there is a pink item in her wardrobe.
So enjoy this time, cause you’re right they grow up in an instance, Oh that right we changed the subject.
Pictures were so cute!
Just precious Amanda! She is a doll indeed just like her sweet mother and grandmother. Jackson is just a handsome little fella.
Thanks for sharing,
Beth
I have to ask…wherever did you find those darling socks???
She is growing so fast.
I remember dressing my girls for their first Sunday at church….complete with the big bow around their little heads! (A man at our church always referred to those as “brain squeezers”.)
Thank you for this post. Really sweet!
Thanks for sharing those pictures…they are adorable! I especially love the mary jane socks. I have 4 boys so I had no idea they even existed!
My hubby and I started a word document where we keep track of all kinds of cute things the boys say or do. It’s fairly easy to sit down at the computer, type out what the cute thing was (date it, of course) and have it saved. I never would have remembered half the stuff I’ve typed. It’s fun to go back and read through. You’ve got to write down the Jackson conversation so you remember…believe me, in a few years you won’t! Hugs to you all.
WHAT A DOLL!!! And you are right, it does go by in a blink. ENJOY IT ALL!
Blessings,
Deanna
Oh Amanda, I love those Mary Jane socks! I have a Granddaughter one week older than Annabeth. She needs some of those socks. She just needs them….where did you get them? Tell me they are not a Houston exclusive. We are going to Longview to see them for Easter. Now (after seeing those) I can’t go without a pair of those socks! You have just the cuites sweetest family. You are right though.. in a blink of an eye Jackson will be getting married to some sweet Christian girl and what a blessed girl she will be. Have a wonderful Easter!
(but tell me where I can get Faith some of those Mary Janes first) 🙂
How sweet!! Annabeth’s outfit is adorable!! She has such a sweet smile and I love her socks!
Sweet and fun pictures of you and you Jackson!! I think you will remember that story and will be sharing it at Jackson’s rehearsal dinner. 🙂
Love you,
Patty
Ok, the first pic of you holding Annabeth, her expression totally makes me think of your mom!! She just looks like she’s already thinkin’ up her first Annabeth Jones bible study! Just sayin… 🙂
Precious!
Stephanie
New Braunfels, TX
Oh that baby is so cute, she’s gonna be passing that bear in size soon!!
Oh Amanda, they are both so gorgeous!
Jackson’s story reminded me of a little boy we had a Vacation Bible School last summer who got every 6 year old in his class completely fired up when he emphatically told them “I DO have a wife, I DO! I really DO have a wife!!” Finally his teacher intervened and asked what the problem was. He told her, “these guys don’t believe me but I have a wife! My mommy told me God already has her picked out!” So adorable.
We’ll find out for that sweet boy and your sweet Jackson soon enough! Enjoy those precious babies.
Love you all of you,
Erica
Ohhh her outfits are just too much to handle!! I love it! 🙂
Your “baby” Jackson really is starting to look like such a big boy!
Those sweet socks were given as a gift, but you can find them at http://www.trumpette.com.
Oh Amanda,
That baby girl is precious!! Thanks for sharing those darling pictures!
Much love,
Sharon, NC
Amanda, Annabeth is simply too precious to be put into words. LOVED this pictures!!!! :o)
What a precious little girl – I love those thigh rolls!!!! And you and Jackson – wonderful!
Noogs, I just keep looking at these pictures!
What a beatiful & blessed family. So cute.
Just wanted to let you know that yesterday, my six year old son and I were talking and I said something about when he grows up and moves out. Not making a point of it, or meanly, or anything, just as a fact kind of thing “when you grow up and move out…” sort of comment. and he got SO upset at me. Started to cry and was SO upset that I would think he’s going to move out. Why would I think that? He’s not EVER going to leave me. I hugged him and talked to him and said I was sorry, I hadn’t meant to upset him, etc. and we moved on. Then when I put him to bed and after he said his prayers, he said again to me, very seriously – “I am NEVER going to move out from you. That’s NOT going to happen.”
My heart was just broken!! Such a sweet little boy!!
Beth, these words spoke to me and continue to speak to me. Please teach us, please guide us on how to do this. How can we increase our faith and not worry all the time?
I’m also prone to mental defeat when the enemy has pitched me a great opportunity to obsess about something or to give way to fear and stress. Each of these represents perfect moments to turn to my Scripture memory. There are tons of things we COULD think about today but we have the power in Jesus’ Name to choose the things that edify our spirits and renew our minds. Remember, every defeat and every victory takes place on the battlefield of the mind before it erupts in the exterior life. Listen, Darling Things, we don’t have to let every mental struggle turn into a stronghold. We can successfully cut things off at the pass. And this is one huge way we do it.
TOO TOO TOO TOO precious! I love the pictures of you and your babies. I see that Jackson has your smile!
Those smiles are precious… I love the picture of you and Jackson too 🙂
Blessings
That is the sweetest thing! The pictures with you and jackson are gorgeous, you’re glowing! That baby girl is a doll baby! She look so much like Jackson!
Oh Amanda, there’s hardly a woman out here who doesn’t understand exactly what you are talking about. The joy, and sometimes the bittersweet joy of watching your children grow…is just a reason for tears.
Blessings on your sweet family of four!
Melana in Wyoming
When my oldest asked about my rings, I told her that the rings showed everyone that I belonged to her daddy. Later, when I was very pregnant with our third, she became concerned when I had to remove my rings due to the swelling in my hands. That sweet child went and found a length of green ribbon (it was December) and brought it to me to tie around my ring finger…”so everyone will know you are daddy’s”. I have a photo of my hands the day I delivered her sister, green ribbon ring on my left hand.
Teresa, Montgomery, AL