I'm baaaaaaaack!

It's been awhile since I've put a post here but I've got a wonderful new subject that I need to show off so here goes! From now on I'll be using this blog mostly to update our out of town family on Jackson's day to day life so here goes! He's already 10 months old and such a big boy! He smiles and jabbers and gets more personality everyday. Here's a couple of video clips of his favorite tricks!

Praise God from Whom all Blessings Flow!

Jackson Daniel Jaye
I am blogging on behalf of my little sister Mandy, her husband Joseph and the new little prince in their life--Jackson Daniel Jaye! (So if I am given to bragging a bit you'll know it is not coming from humble Mandy.)

On November 17, 2008 at 5:25 pm, Joseph and Mandy welcomed little Jackson into this big world! He weighed in at 7 lbs, 15 oz and is 19 inches long.

He has blue eyes, floppy ears, Joseph's eyebrows, Mandy's beautiful lips, and golden fuzz for hair! We think he is absolutely handsome! God is good and we are thrilled to be a part of this blessing of new life!

Birthing is hard work! He was ready for a rest right away--as I am sure they all were!Wide eyed and taking it all in.Proud Mama and Daddy with their little man. I am hoping to get a good family photo when I go visit in a couple of weeks--will post then!Any one of you who have been through labor know this feeling all too well--utter exhaustion and utter joy all rolled in one! When I asked Mandy if there was anything she wanted me to post specifically she said, just tell them how blessed we are and ask for prayers! We are there for ya Mandy!How dare they take all his clothes off to weigh him! Chillaxin with Daddy!One Day Old!
This livin' is hard work--Mandy said she can hardly keep him awake!Boby holding her newest grandbaby--her will of iron made an apearance to get her there in time for the birth--I don't think an army of ten thousand men could have held her back! What joy!OK, so Papa Paul tells me Boby is not too good at sharing, surprise anyone? Papa managed to wrangle him away for a few moments!

Giving Thanks...

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
-I Thessalonians 5:16-18
I'm declaring today a Day of Thanks for myself. My February Thanksgiving! And why is that? I've somehow gotten extremely negative lately. I want, want, want, need, need, need, and I forget how much I have, have, have! Today, I'm re-focusing and thanking God for Joseph, my family, his family, our church family, our home, our Lucy, our jobs, our vehicles, for having enough to pay our bills, for our many, many material comforts, and much more. The list could go on for miles. I'm especially thanking God for his faithfulness in spite of my lack of faith. I guess I'm writing this as my accountability! So Mom, you better check up on me! (just kidding :) God is so good, faithful, and merciful and for that I am most thankful ( and humbled) of all.

Our Christmas in the Heartland

Joseph and I got to go to Iowa for a week for Christmas! It was wonderful to have a break for that long and see all my family. I had not seen my brother since our wedding so I was long overdue for a visit with him. Joseph and I felt very blessed to get to be there and enjoyed every minute. We spent the whole time visiting, and of course eating! We took family pictures too but I don't have them on my camera :(. Anyway, here are a few pictures of our good time!

John Hurston and Katie Grace put on a guitar/singing show for us. They are thinking of going on tour soon :).


Before Presents

After Presents


Katie Grace and Micah painted these paintings all by themselves (from looking at a picture)! We each got one from them. Notice one is not like the others. That one was for Amy, and we are pretty sure they made it unique to suit her personality :)!

Joseph spent hours shoveling snow and ice. THEN we had a winter storm and it snowed several inches! He finally gave up after awhile.


And finally, Lucy thought we were absolutely crazy for taking her somewhere so cold. This is how she looked almost the entire time we were there! (In case you can't tell, she's trying to sit down)

Winter Wonderland

Joseph and I are really ready to see some snow and cold weather. It's hard to get in the Christmas spirit when it's 80 degrees outside! We've been listening to Christmas music and decorating and even drinking hot cocoa although it's too warm for that. We've been to Christmas parties galore and I've shopped and bought presents like crazy and still it feels like July to me! I told my mom how much I miss the snow and she sent me these. Thanks Mom!

1 Year Anniversary

100 Things I love about Joseph

Just Kidding! I could name 100 things but I won't do that to those of you who might actually take the time to read this post! Instead, I'll just list my Top 10 favorites. Here goes:

1. He loves God and strives to put him first above all else.

2. He's hard-working and ambitious.

3. His attitude is almost always positive!

4. He treats me like a queen. (And thanks to Micah and Katie, he even calls me Queen Bandy sometimes)

5. Everyday he is excited about something new. He's a big dreamer.

6. He really, truly loves my family. He did from the very first.

7. He is confident and humble at the same time.

8. He's very complimentary. He tells me how he feels about me every single day and loves for me to feel good about myself.

9. When you meet him at first you see a good 'ol boy, but hang around him for very long and you see a quick thinker and sharp business man. I think that's what makes him a good salesman. People trust and like him right away. (Every once in a while he sounds like Mater from the movie Cars:)).

10. He's HOT!

When I look over this list I think about the time in college when Brooks and I made a wish list for the man of my dreams. I found that list not that long ago and it's really close to this one! What a blessing it is to have exactly the man I have wanted for so long.

We signed the papers on our condo on Friday so for our anniversary we got to stay there! We had planned to go to New Orleans but when we found out about closing we chose to do that instead. We had a REALLY nice dinner on Saturday at Ruth's Chris Steak House and felt really spoiled. We also went shopping together and bought ourselves a few nice presents for the condo. It was absolutely perfect for our first anniversary! We're just lovin' life :).

My Big Teddy Bear

This is right after he proposed to me!

1. Who is your man? Joseph Daniel Jaye (Otherwise known as Joe, Joey, JJ, Joe Joe, Joephies, studmuffin, and my personal favorite, Cutie Patootie.)
2. How long have you been together? One year and seven months (next Saturday)

3. How long dated? About 7 months, which still sounds incredibly short to me but I have to say that a year and 7 months later, the timing still seems perfect. God has really blessed me!
4. How old is your man? 27

5. Who eats more? Joseph, but not because I CAN’T match him, just because I CHOOSE not too!

6. Who said "I love you" first? He did, at my house in Iowa.

7. Who is taller? Joseph by about 4 inches.

8. Who sings better? Well, we both love to sing but neither of us is breathtaking. I might be just a little bit better.

9. Who is smarter? I think we balance each other out. There are so many things that he can do and understand better than me, but then there are some things I know more about.

10. Whose temper is worse? I get angry easier but if he ever gets angry, watch out!

11. Who does the laundry? Mostly me, he will sometimes put a load on but then he just pulls it out of the dryer and puts it somewhere in my way rather than folding it up so I would prefer to just do it myself.

12. Who takes out the garbage? Joseph
13. Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? Joseph

14. Who pays the bills? We split ‘em but I’m about to take over completely because after a year of marriage we’ve finally figured out a way to combine everything easily.

15. Who is better with the computer? We’re about equal on that one, I do the Mac thing, he does the PC thing.

16. Who mows the lawn? We don’t have a lawn yet but he will when we get one.

17. Who cooks dinner? I usually do. He will every once in awhile and it’s really cute because he’s really proud of his creations when he cooks.

18. Who drives when you are together? Joseph.

19. Who pays when you go out? Joseph usually, although I’m not really sure why since it all comes from the same place.

20. Who is most stubborn? That would be me.
21. Who is the first to admit when they are wrong? And that would be Joseph, he can be so humble.

23. Who kissed who first? He kissed me at the airport before he left Iowa to go back to Alabama.

24. Who asked who out? He asked me out in a way.

25. Who proposed? Joseph, at Green Castle Park while the sun was setting. (See picture above)

26. Who is more sensitive? Me by far, although every once in a while he surprises me.

27. Who has more friends? About the same, we both have some really deep, long-lasting friends that we’ve know forever. As far as fun, new friends, we sadly don’t have that luxury as we work every free minute we have!

28. Who has more siblings? Me.

29. Who wears the pants in the family? Joseph (or so I make him think)

30. Who’s my favorite person in the world? Joseph Daniel Jaye

Thanks for the tag Steph. You know I love to talk about my man. Next week is our one year anniversary. I'm sure I'll be posting a mushy blog about Joseph again then. I just can't help it. I made a really good choice :)! I would tag someone else but my only friends that do the blog thing have already been tagged! I'll tag Brooks and Liz again because neither of them have done it yet. Get to it girls!