a much needed update...

the very rare opportunity to capture on film - a smile


joshua and mom hanging out


joshua enjoying daylight



annie and her rain gear ready to play


........................................................

so i know it has been a while, so i will try my besy to do a short recap...

let's see...john still works at PV with the troubled youth, although with two kids now, he is slowly job hunting to see if he can get something that pays a little more than what he makes now...he enjoys his time with the kids and is daily encouraging many of the kids and staff spiritually... i am still teaching at the same two barns, possibly going to pickup another in the next few months and am tyring to get a few more students to help with the winter coming when the horse world tends to get rained-out a lot...

joshua is now 3 1/2 months old and his last weight check he was 11 pounds, 2 onces - he goes in the end of this month for his 4 month check and shots - not looking forward to the shots...he is getting quite the personality...during the day his favorite thing is to still scream/cry - john and i say it is his way of communicating with the Lord...he is starting to recognize annie and smile and laugh at her - which she thinks is amazing:)...at night he is now sleeping about 9-10 hours pretty consistantly...

annie - she is continually growing and trying to expand her vocabulary...john got a very bad case of poison ivy and had a skin infection on top of that - unfortunatly, he gave it to annie so it turned into a nasty diaper rash...so amidst everyone being on strong antibiotics or steriods - we are slowly getting a clean bill of health...

it is now fall in TN with tempuratures dropping into the high 60's/70's - finally cooling off - it makes john's job and mine a lot more pleasant to work outside...

hope everyone is well

A few pictures from the past...

Annie's first pickle experience...


Joshua's boxing mit to ward off Annie


Joshua & Russ at one week old...

Lisa, Joshua, Annie & John at Annie's first visit to see her hospital...

So this is in reverse order, but the above photos are phots of the first week Joshua was born. Our dear friend Lisa & Russ took care of Annie well John and I went to the hospital to deliver Joshua. Annie has taken some time to adjust to being the 'big sister' especially since it takes time away from her 'Daddy time.' She is very fascinated by Joshua and tries to help out by 'patting' his head and is still learning to concept of 'being nice' and not slugging Joshua across the face...

It was great to have my mom, Pat, here for several days a/f the C-section to help with Annie and to allow me to completly focus on Joshua. Plus, she got to spend time with her grandchildren who live so far away from her...John's mom, Linda, has been here since my mom left and is here for one more it week. It has truly been a blessing getting so much help from family to make the adjustment of two kids a little easier...the true test comes next week when grandma Linda leaves and I am 'mom' on my own with the 2 little ones...

Some photos....

Joshua snoozing doing Annie's birthday celebration


Annie got her first 'pound-puppy' from great grandpa & grandma Lewis


Grandma Pat, John, & Annie celebrating Annie's first birthday

Everyone enjoying Annie's birthday cupcake...

Annie's first bite of her cupcake

Annie enjoying cousin Josephine's carseat

Joshua and mom's favorite thing to do together...sleep

Oh how time passes...

New student Kiera at KY learning to jump...


Kaitlin, Kiera, & Abby learning Cross-Country Jumping in KY


Kaitlin preparing for her horse show


Yes, being close to giving birth to Joshua, I am still teaching with a large bellie

Abby jumping her new pony cross-country for the first time:)

The day we realized Annie's ear infection affected her balancing...she had a nasty fall in the kitchen...

Oh, the power of curiousity!

Baby Joshua, always growing...

John and Annie hanging out at the barn...

Enjoying life together

Sorry everyone it has been such a long time since the last post...the Fildes family has been plenty busy to say the least...here is a recap since the beginning of April...

John - has several new boys in his pd and a few of his boys have recently graduated from the program. Now he has the honor to raise the new boys to their fullest potential while trying to disiciple them in the Lord the through his time spent with them... somtimes John feels like he leads two lives, 100% at work when he is there and 100% at home being a husband and father. He has been so generous with his time helping me out at horse shows and watching Annie - what a blessing!

Jessica - busy with a few new students trying to get as many lessons and shows in before baby Joshua arrives. From the second weekend in April to this upcomming weekend (end of May) I have been coaching at clinics or horse-shows either both Saturday and Sunday or sometimes just one day. John, Annie, and myself have been to the KY horse park 3 times in the past 5 weeks for horse events. One of my students, Kaitlin, has her 'big' horse event in KY this weekend that we have been working towards since the beginning of March - crossing our fingers that she does well this weekend. Here is a link to a utube video that a friend put together of a recent coaching for Kaitlin to prepare for her big KY event http://www.youtube.com/user/GrayHorseDesigns.

After this weekend, horse stuff slows down in preparation for the arrival of Mr. Joshua...

Annie - now has 4 top teeth and almost 4 on the bottom...she so desires to be a grown-up lady already. She keeps trying to talk on her own, but isn't quite able to yet and wishes she could speak full sentences to everyone she sees...She is still in the high percentage of growth for her age and is enjoying exploring all life has to offer...on the down-side, she has been fighting with an ear infection since the beginning of April that we are praying the Lord heals it soon...she is scheduled to see a specialist next week...

Joshua - growing as he should - still active as ever and getting closer to for his blessed arrival day

Enjoy the photos!

annie updates 9 1/2 months old

Annie's new clogs & outfit...

Naptime with Annie & Dad...

Annie's first driving lesson

Annie's second driving lesson...

Now that the horse-show season is officially underway, John, Annie, baby Joshua & myself have some very busy weekends ahead of us before Joshua arrives...It's been such a blessing to live in a state that has so many horse competitions so close that students can have a pick of shows they want to compete it. This weekend we are all headed to KY to watch the Rolex KY 3-Day event in person with a few students:) John got to go kyaking in NC last weekend with a friend doing class 4 rapids/water falls - he had a a lot of fun and was challenged in his skills as a kyaker a lot!

We miss CO and our friends in Durango, but we are getting setteled into life here in TN trying to make roots to raise our family. We just started attending a new-members class at our church which is challenging John and myself to wait on God's timing and trust His calling in our lives.

God Bless,

Jess

Daddy and Annie ready for church...

Annie and her pet monkey learning how to clap...

Fun videos & pictures of past 2 months...

Here are a few videos & pictures of Miss Annie growing up the past few months...


"Potty time with Annie" March 14th, 2009...


She loves her new potty



Ian Young came to visit & check out Annie's new double-jogging stroller


Potty time with the Noah's Ark book...


When in doubt, bring something to snack on...


Annie eating homemade Bannana Cream Pie with Dad...

Here is another video John just took a few days ago...we were at a consignment sale & bought her her first potty...



We miss everyone!

-The Fildes Family

It's been a long, long time...

Annie giving 'kisses' after eating...

Paul & Erin Stroup, Ashley & Ellie Stroup, John & Jess & Annie Fildes all in Atlanta, GA for a

quick lunch get-together this past weekend...

Annie sitting in her highchair for the first-time ever...

Annie & Elli getting to meet for the first-time

Annie really likes Ellie Stroup

Annie loves chopsticks already...

Jess & baby #2 fildes still growing...

Greetings Everyone...

It's been way too long since our blog has been updated, we got way too busy getting caught up in life...here are a few recaps of the past few months & some fun pictures of our little Annie growing up!

John has changed clangs at his youth treatment center position and loves the new clang. His new clang has a hunger for God and spiritual discussions that keeps John's walk with the Lord ever increasing. He even had two boys join him for fasting and praying a few times now! God is moving through John in the lives of the boys at the center.

I am now teaching at three barns and have become the head instructor of a new barn in the 'upper class' portion of Knoxville area. God has brought in horse clients from all over and has been blessing the horse business financially in very unexpected ways the past few weeks:) The horse show season is now upon us with at least 1-3 shows per month until I take my maternity leave in June. Our little baby Fildes in the womb is growing as it should with a very strong heart beat.

Annie has her two bottom teeth and we are expecting to see at least one, if not two, top teeth any day now. She has finally hit the crawling stages fro almost two weeks now and wishes she could go even faster! She loves the adventure of being able to be "on the go" on her own right now. She is quite the curious little happy girl:)

We miss everyone!

God Bless,
Jessica

"The Lion Hunt Part 3..."