The curling star will make her season debut in Penticton when she skips her team in the World Financial Group Continental Cup.
Jones not only had Isabella a month early in mid-November but has also recovered from knee surgery she had last spring to clean up ligament issues in her right pushing leg.
鈥淚t caught me a little off guard but she鈥檚 healthy,鈥� Jones says of the surprise birth in Barrie, Ont., while she was visiting partner and Glen Howard second Brent Laing.
鈥淚鈥檝e been back on the ice for a few weeks now and I feel great.鈥�
That positive attitude hasn鈥檛 been hurt by the performance of her team while she was away.
鈥淚鈥檓 so proud of them,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hey had a great fall and they鈥檝e been playing really well and hopefully we can continue their great play into the new year.鈥�
Team Jones, with third Kaitlyn Lawes in charge, made it to the final of the sa国际传媒 Cup Dec. 2, dropping a close one to Saskatoon鈥檚 Stefanie Lawton.
Jones is on maternity leave as a corporate lawyer with the former Wellington West Group, now owned by National Bank and part of National Bank Financial.
But she鈥檚 not on mat leave from curling, as she gets ready to lead her squad into a season that will prepare them for next December鈥檚 Olympic qualifier in Winnipeg.
She earned one of the first spots in the qualifier in 2011, easing a lot of the pressure other teams are now facing.
鈥淔or us, this fall was just all about trying to get some games in and the timing worked out great for me to take a little bit of a break,鈥� she said.
This was the second season in a row that Jones鈥檚 team has missed one of its members for the early part of the season. A year earlier, veteran second Jill Officer also took the fall off to have a baby but returned quickly.
The Continental Cup is set for Jan. 10-13 and Jones won鈥檛 have a lot of downtime afterward. The Manitoba Scotties are set for Jan. 23-27.
