Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Week 25 Update

Well, there is no hiding this baby bump anymore!
BBB is about 13 inches and weighs about a 1 1/2 pounds but should start getting some of that baby fat in the days to come! I have gained 13 lbs so far - which is on track. BBB and I are both feeling good and loving this part of the second trimester! I can't believe there are only 15 weeks left in my pregnancy... CRAZY!

Chad and I traveled to Natchez this past weekend to visit Zuzu and pick up our new bed, Alex's old crib and Chad's grandfather's rocking chair. We also got to see our friends- most of whom are also having babies in the near future! Getting together will be a tad more difficult and chaotic pretty soon! Now that we have some baby furniture, though - we have to get the nursery organized!! And we are so excited to have Zuzu make our bedding! I was so glad I got to have free reign of fabric choices because I wasn't thrilled with most of the "boy" options out there. Here is the fabric we have chosen:

Baby B is lucky to have TWO super creative and talented Grandmas, so hopefully that will make up for my lack of it :) More pictures to come as the nursery progresses!

My sweet hubby is off on a fruit-craving errand at the moment and boy do I feel lucky! He is just going to be the best Daddy in the world!

Here is something to leave you with a smile...

Monday, February 14, 2011

Happy Day of LOVE!


I hope today finds you all well and that you know you are LOVED! I got some beautiful flowers from both my hubby and my daddy! Can't wait for my new valentine to be here next year :)
Also, yesterday was my 26th Birthday and we did some celebrating this weekend! I had dinner with friends at my favorite restaurant Saturday night - followed by cake, visiting and games at our apartment!And then Chad and I met my parents for a wonderful brunch on Sunday! Several mommy-friends reminded me to enjoy my last birthday that is all about me, so I did and took it easy :) My super thoughtful husband got me a new flip camera for my birthday - so we will have videos of Baby B to post once he arrives (and some of us before he gets here).

*cake made by the wonderful Tabatha Melton*


Saturday, February 5, 2011

B-O-Y

When I find out I was pregnant, I was automatically envisioning a little girl. Girls are all I know, and the thought of having a boy made me a little anxious. Growing up with my sister was great, and boys seemed like a whole other species. Now sure, I love the man that I married, but the 25 years of prep work that went in before I met him - a little scary. However, as my pregnancy progressed, God started changing my mind. I was constantly seeing adorable little boys or hearing father-son country songs on the radio (which may or may not have made me cry). Chad was so excited about the prospect of a boy – he shared so many experiences with his Dad that he couldn't wait to do with his son. Not to mention everyone around me kept telling me I was having a boy! My heart started to open to the idea of “boy” – whatever that is.

When I worked as a camp counselor (too many moons ago), we would be assigned 2-3 campers each week as our buddies. We were personally responsible for seeing to it that our buddies brushed their teeth, put on sunscreen, weren’t too homesick and ate enough at every meal. Normally girls had girl buddies and boys had boy buddies – which was my experience for the first 5 or so years I worked at camp. Then one week, Muddy (my camp director) decided to throw me a curve ball. Either she thought it would be funny watching me attempt to entertain 6 year old boys, or she knew I would adapt and learn some things. Knowing Muddy, it was a little of both. So there I stood on opening day with Logan and Nathan staring up at me. Yep, this week was going to be different. Instead of braiding hair – I chased them with their sunscreen in the morning. Instead of making bracelets, we went canoeing. Instead of giving piggy back rides through the grassy area – I listened to how tough they were for walking over stickers in bare feet. Instead of a good night hugs – I gave high fives. I loved it. And even more surprisingly, they loved me too! I know this because they hugged me when they left at the end of that week. They told their moms all about me. And the next year, when they came back with their friends, they sat with me at every single meal. Maybe I can do this.

Part of my current job is basically hanging out with the kids who participate in our research study while they work out. For kids, it is important for them to feel accepted to remain engaged in the program and want to keep coming back. So I spend a lot of evenings just talking to kids while they run on the treadmill- joking, finding out what they like to do, etc. And can you guess who some of my favorite participants have been? Not just boys, but ADOLESCENT boys. Thirteen to sixteen are the alien years, and if I can connect with that – there may be hope after all.

So when the sonogram technician announced, “Yep, that’s a penis,” I was not completely surprised. After all, it was a 50-50 shot, but somewhere deep down I knew I was having a son. Even so, there was still an iota of panic. A boy? But, what do they like to do? I’m going to get peed in the face, aren’t I? I can’t make good gunshot noises - or dinosaur growls – or crash sounds – or car revs! What age do they not want you to kiss them in front of their friends? I don’t know anything about jockstraps.

Chad’s reaction was a little different. He pumped his fist in the air, almost jumped out of his chair, and yelled, “Yes!” He later told me that some deep primal male urge had come over him in that moment. I was so excited to see him that excited! The boy adventure had begun.

Ever since we found out about Baby Boy Barnes, I have been able to connect with him on a new level. He has become a tangible person to me – an active little boy who is growing big and strong! Of course he’s a boy – how could I have thought any different? He is my son and he has always been destined to be my first born. Despite all of my girly-ness, God has been preparing me to mother a son. And it has become such a special job to me. Chad got me a little book on Mother to Son wisdom – and one of the first quotes is, “Don’t forget that as a baby, he will always be looking for your face. It will be this way forever.” My eyes have been opened to the wonderful relationship between mother and son. I am so excited to get dirty, be grossed out by bugs, and attend a zillion football/hockey/soccer/baseball games. And sure, he will probably be embarrassed by me in middle school, and I may not like some of the girls he chooses to date, and he probably won’t call me every day when he goes to college – but I will always get to be his mom.

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Ice-apalooza 2011

Howdy from the snowy (aka cold and icy) DFW! Here is the view from our new apartment building:


Us Texans love to freak out as the temperature nears 32 degrees and this time was no exception! It's actually pretty icy this time from the rain last night, and we have seen a lot of cars spin out in the street in front of our apartment. Chad and I have stayed safe and warm, but we did go out and play for a bit! I am currently 22 weeks and 1 day pregnant! This boy is getting bigger and its starting to show :)


Now, don't judge me, but...


In my defense, I couldn't have fallen and I was not about to run into a car - Chad is just a little overprotective these days :) And also, it was really fun! We had a good time for about 10 minutes and then had to go inside because it was beyond FREEZING!!! Seriously - it was 18 degrees!!!


We will have an update from our baby appointment next Monday - but according to the books/websites BBB is about 11 inches and 1 pound!