Number 1 of...13?!?

I just love this! Here is part of an article from The Natchez Democrat in October 2000:

Trinity Episcopal School 12th-graders joined senior citizens from the Natchez Senior Citizen Center Friday for a "Seniors Helping Seniors" day...

The Trinity seniors listened almost reverently as one woman, 90, recalled her "best moment" to be quitting school to help raise her 14 brothers and sisters. But it wasn't all serious. Chad Barnes, wearing his football jersey for the night's game, said his plan for the future was simply "to marry a beautiful woman and have lots of kids."

"We've got to give this young man a hand," Carrie Myles said as she reached to pat Barnes'(s) hand. "He's the only one who said he wanted to have, what was it? Nine or ten babies?"

"Baker's dozen," Barnes said as the room erupted in laughter...

Here's hoping he'll settle for a couple less :)

Sonogram Update & The Baby Pool

Well... he's not small! Baby Emmet is doing just fine in there and is growing big and strong - and just look at that sweet profile! His head measured at 35-36 weeks (2 wks ahead) so one big ole Barnes head is coming our way :) The sono tech estimated his current weight to be around 5 lbs, 3 oz already and predicted a "larger than average" baby!

So... it's time to get your predictions in on Baby Emmet!! Follow the link and enter your guesses for date of arrival, weight, length, etc: http://www.expectnet.com/games/CCBarnes4

Prize for winner is to be decided, but will include a lifetime of bragging rights :)

Thoughts at thirty three weeks

• I made 6 separate to do lists yesterday... as Chad will attest, I am a list maker. Glad to have things to do to occupy my mind for the next 7 weeks, but I'm also anxious to start crossing things off. Crossing things off of lists is my favorite thing ever - sometimes I write down something I already did just so I can cross it off.
• Our stroller travel system should arrive today and I am so excited! I don't know why I'm so excited to practice using a stroller and installing a car seat, but I am! I guess because it means we are one step closer to parenthood :)
• We went to visit Carlyle last week and when she realized Dach was there with no Nana (I was coming separately from work) - she cried. Kinda made me feel good, but not in a mean I-want-my-niece-to-cry kind of way. Glad she loves us so much, cause we sure love her!
• Chad and I spent Saturday afternoon in Ft. Worth as a little birthday celebration and had a lot of fun! Blog post and pictures to come.
• Emmet was measuring a little small at our appointment this morning. It is probably due to his weird position (aka his foot was sticking out of my side), but we are going to get a sonogram on Wednesday just to be sure. I'm just glad we get to see his little self again!
• I am losing site of my feet. And my mom told me last week, "You sure have that third trimester waddle."
• 
• I feel like everyone I know who is having babies - which is almost everyone - has more creative inspiration for their nursery than I do. Does anyone else feel this way?!
• There is joy in my heart because it is almost Easter! There is incredible significance in Christ's willing sacrifice just so He could know me in all my weakness. Easter is the ultimate definition of Love, the origin of Hope and the reason for Peace. I honestly get a little teary thinking about what Easter really means. I'm sure some of you have seen this video before, but I just love it and like to watch it again from time to time:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upGCMl_b0n4

He is risen! He is risen indeed!

Baby Shower (Part 2)

As promised, more pictures from my shower! Here are all of my lovely hostesses, whom I love dearly!

Sweet Friends:

Mom, Allison, Madelyn (Emmet's second cousin, once removed), Nance and me:

Aunt Allison:

Emmet's Memaw, Gramy, Mom, Zuzu and Aunt Lali!

Memaw is excited to welcome great grandson #3!

Opening the gifts!

Our adorable entertainment for the afternoon and my little helper!

Daddy-to-be got to come load up all the gifts :)

And Grandpa/Pop/Bob-O (TBD) didn't want to miss out on the fun either!

A loving and wonderful day :)

Week 32!

Hey - hey! Sorry about the lack of blogging lately; there hasn't been much to report. Here's a belly update. I must have gotten a lot bigger last week based on all the comments I got to that effect :) As Chad so lovingly says, "You look big! ...in a good way!"

Life has been grand around here lately - complete with some wonderful Texas weather! Here's an update for ya...

Time left: 8 weeks!! Emmet will be here before we know it!!

Mom's size: 21 pounds so far- which is pretty ideal at this stage. Still feeling great!

Baby's size: Emmet's fundal height has been exactly on point for all of our visits - so he's growing on track! According to the baby websites, he should weigh 3.75 pounds and measure 16.7 inches long.

Movement: He is always squirming in there! It feels different now that he has less room (a little more uncomfortable), but we are so glad he is healthy and active!

Nursery: Still in progress! We got so many of the things we needed at the shower, though! We need to acquire a few more pieces of furniture and hang some things on the walls and we'll be close!

Closet: Ever growing! E has some really cute clothes so far, it's been fun :)

Buddies: It seems like every week we find out about another baby is expected in 2011! Emmet is going to have so many sweet friends to play with! Congrats to the Slovers and Baumers on the arrivals of their sweet girls in the last few weeks!!

Daddy Chad: Happy Birthday to my sweet hubby tomorrow! My life has been so much better since he came into it <3