Barrett's Birth Story - Bringing Home Baby (Part Three)

 

We hugged necks and whispered goodbyes over his purring snore.

We said I'll see you laters to some of the ones who, in the past forty-eight hours,

 had become a part of some of our sweetest memories.

We captured last pictures of the room where he spent his first night.

We dressed him in a white linen frock with delicate blue piping.

The same one that first dressed his brother for his ride home almost three years ago.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And then, late on Sunday afternoon, we brought him home.

 

From Friday to Sunday, what a blessing to finally hold him in my arms.

 

 

 

 

Everything was prepared just so.

 

 

His bed so perfectly made,

gowns and cloths and the cutest little socks you ever did see tucked neatly in their place,

a sign over his bed with Elizabeth Barrett Browning's most love-filled sonnet,

all things baby - books, blankets, and washcloths.

Newborn diapers and wipes warmed for changing.

All the creams and powders and lotions that make a baby smell so scrumptious

with skin so soft.

His rocking chair primed for midnight feedings and wondrous daydreams.

 

 

Our home was ready for our boy.

 

 

When we brought him in, I took such joy in something that seems so silly.

I walked Barrett into each room, introducing him to our favorite spots,

where we share our evening meals,

his big brother's bed and favorite hiding nook.

I showed him our favorite books and where we'd cuddle up and read each night.

I walked him to pictures of our favorite memories and told him of the stories behind each, all the while giddy at the memories we would make with him.

 

 

Welcome home, my sweet boy.

Our house is not perfect.

It doesn't belong on the pages of a magazine or decorator's showcase.

There is often laundry beckoning to be folded, dishes waiting to be washed.

There are mess ups and spills.

There are occasional tears and tantrums.

But our house is a home filled with love.

There is forgiveness.

There are tickle fights and the best couch cushion forts you ever did see.

There are blankets for snuggling.

Off of our walls bounce the melodies of songs with made up lyrics and off beat tunes.

There are kitchen dance parties.

There are I love yous.

There is trust and respect.

 

And now, there is you.

How thrilled we are for the one whose presence has filled our heart to finally fill our home.

 

 

Our sweet little sack of sugar has been home for just over three weeks,

and I can't help but wonder how we ever lived without him.

  

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How sweet it is to love you.

And how very sweet it is to be loved by you.

 

Welcome Home, Barrett Bell.

Let the fun of life with two boys begin!!

 

Barrett's Birth Story - Part One

Barrett's Birth Story - Part Two

 

Baker's Birth Story

Barrett meets Baker - Barrett's Birth Story (Part Two)

There are few days in my life that stand out above the rest.

 

The day I was saved by His great grace.

 

The day I wound up in Bryant Denny stadium sitting beside a cute freshman, 

with a beard that would make a grown man jealous

and hair so wavy it made all the girls swoon, 

 and our Roll Tide romance began.

Let me just pause for a moment of silence over that hunk of a creature.

Hubba. Hubba.

 

The day that same good looking fella met me at the end of the aisle and

 put a ring on my finger. Feeling like the happiest girl in the world,

I said I Do to my best friend and got me a forever date.

 

The day we welcomed our Baker Boy into our hearts and first experienced the consuming love of a mother and a father.

 

On the third Friday in May, we met Barrett.

When he was placed on my chest, and I peered into his slate gray eyes,

I knew my life would never be the same.

If the day had stopped there, I would have gone to sleep an incredibly blessed woman, the mother of two precious gifts, and the wife of their adoring daddy.

 

But it didn't.

God, in his infinite goodness, had even greater plans for our day.

Ones that left us praising Him alone. 

 

I had dreamed of this day.

Brian and I had discussed a baby with Baker.

Against his daddy's wishes, we got him a baby doll, Baxter.

Instinctively, he nurtured, and loved, and fed, and diapered, and dressed him.

We talked about the baby growing in mommy's tummy.

We sat in Barrett's rocking chair and dreamed of the day my lap would hold another.

Baker couldn't wait to for the day he could read Little Blue Truck to his little brother and watch me wipe the predictable tears as I read Love You Forever for the billionth time. 

 

Dreams come true.

That's what we hope for.

 

But this time, the dream fell far short.

When Baker first laid his eyes on Barrett, it was more perfect than any dream foretold.

 

 

 

It was love at first sight.

 

This video melts my heart every single time I watch it.

So pure.

So sweet.

So full of love.

Oh my heart, be still.

 

 

 

 

The boys mimicked my goofy grin that threatened to be washed away in the flood spilling down my cheeks.

 

 

  

And my heart threatened to overflow watching the bond between these brothers begin.
 



As we sat in the bed together for the first time as a family of four,

Baker's and Barrett's futures flashed before my eyes.

 

 

 

 

I saw Baker and Barrett playing together,

 

 

 

protecting each other,

 

 

 

scheming against us,

 

 

 

standing up for each other,

  

 

 

 

picking fights and sharing jokes.

 

 

 

 

Loving and laughing and doing life together as brothers. As friends.

 

The celebration continued with a birthday party.

We clapped and sang and ate cupcakes to our hearts delight.

After Baker helped blow out Barrett's candle, we looked around the room and all nodded and smiled the same silly smiles,

agreeing that we just witnessed one of the most spectacular things this side of heaven.

 

God made Baker special, with a heart and a love that knows no boundaries.

Of all the things I hope he teaches his little brother, this one is the greatest.

 

 

 

 

Full.

 

Our home.

Our hands.

Our laps.

Our hearts.

His glory.

 

"Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,

the whole earth is full of His glory."

Isaiah 6:3

 

 

39 Weeks and Delivery Day!

 

It's here.

My last bumpdate.

 

This has been the perfect pre-baby week.

My water did not break as I was loading a second grader into his car at dismissal as I had feared,

nor did I lose my marbles halfway through the bread aisle at Publix.

 

I think Baker just knew life would be changing this week.

We snuggled a little extra, read Love You Forever with a little more oomph.

He and Brian had some manly boy time digging up dirt and laying sod and doing all of the other things boys like to do.

 

I wrapped up my school year at work.

And then took care of some fun pampering to get me looking beautiful for my baby boy.

 

Our bags have been packed and packed and packed again,

Baker's big brother presents have been tied with a bow,

a homemade blue wreath boasting the glorious news of a baby boy has been hung on our door,

lists have been checked and double checked,

freezer meals have been made,

monograms have been stitched,

cameras have been charged.

 

We are ready to meet our baby boy.

Oh how ready we are to smooch his little face and squeeze his little stuffing.

 

Today, at 39 weeks, I will be induced and will finally meet the little man I have been carrying below my heart.

And all up in every corner of my heart.

 

He has already permeated every morsel of my being.

I haven't seen his face, or kissed his lips, or snuggled his neck, or held his hand,

 and I already love him with a love so intense it can only be described as a momma's love.

 

Little Brother, you are loved.

You are adored.

You are celebrated.

You are our wish, our answered prayer.

Welcome to this world, my sweet angel.

 

Your mommy, daddy, and big brother are ready to meet you.

Happy Birthday, James Barrett.

35 Weeks

Thirty-five weeks!

35 weeks!

It doesn't get any less exciting the more times I write it!

What I’m Eating

Crushed ice. And fruit. Oh, how I am loving fruit. And Easter candy. And Coffee and Chocolate Chip Talenti Gelato.

Big Brother Baker

 He’s so happy about Little Brother’s arrival, he’s busting a move!

Sleep

I think we have entered the pregnancy insomnia phase, accompanied by the wildest and weirdest dreams. When I sleep, I sleep well. But when I’m awake, sleep is nowhere to be found. I have begun just getting up when sleep won’t come. I either tiptoe to James Barrett’s room and rock in his rocker, imagining a little him in my arms during the wee hours, or snuggle up with Baker in his new big boy room with a bed just barely big enough for two, cherishing the last few weeks of him as our only.

The prayers I pray for these two little boys are much sweeter than sleep could ever be.

Maternity Clothes

Yes, please. And bonus points if they are cool and comfortable, as in they don't touch me anywhere, all while being semi-fashionable. I have discovered an all new, head over heels, New Kids on the Block level of infatuation with maxi skirts. God bless the creator of the maxi skirt.

Size of Baby

A pineapple. And just as sweet, too.  

Baby’s Name

James Barrett

I have started receiving all of the monogrammed goodies I ordered, and seeing his name on gowns and blankets just makes my heart smile. Also, Dreft. Ahh, the sweet smell of Dreft.

Gender

A baby BOY!

What I Miss

At this point, I think I have begun thinking about the things I will miss about being pregnant when Barrett arrives more than anything. Each roll, kick, and hiccup is a reminder of God’s faithfulness and perfect plan for our lives. My belly is getting rounder, my toes are becoming less visible. My body is morphing into something so perfectly created for housing a growing baby and then welcoming him into the world. It’s hard to complain about, or miss things being another way, when this way has been so flawlessly designed.

Best Moment of the Week

I have officially begun the week countdown. Either that, or my doctor really likes me and wants to see me every Tuesday.  When I went for my checkup on Tuesday, Barrett’s heart rate was 149! The sound of his little rhythmic heart beating in such perfect sync never fails to brighten my day and calm that angst that seems, somehow, to sneak up every now and again

"Yet I will rejoice in the Lord. I will be joyful in the God of my salvation."

Habakkuk 3:18

Baker's Big Boy Room - Oh, the Places You'll Go

My little boy in a big room.

 

 

When we found out our family was growing by two feet (get it?), we began planning for our new baby to get all of Baker’s nursery furniture and for Baker to get a big boy room.

I never knew how difficult it would be to plan for my baby to transition to a big boy room.

I began pinning all the things.

 

I originally thought we would do a baseball theme, but Baker cares nothing about baseball, at least not any more than throwing every single little thing in sight. Then I thought we could do a rustic theme, with deer heads and faux fur (insert Tim Taylor grunt), but I never really liked dead animal parts on my wall. In addition, neither of those spoke of Baker, of his character, of his interests.

I walked into Hobby Lobby one afternoon for inspiration and found a cutout of the United States of America. The wheels started turning.

 

 

 

From the time we learned of Baker’s diagnosis, we prayed specifically for his future. As an expectant mother, I remember crying as I read the Dr. Seuss book, Oh the Places You’ll Go, over my growing belly. I cried, not because I was sad, or thought Baker wouldn’t go places. I read it and cried because I was inspired. I knew, that regardless of limited capabilities, my boy would be limitless.


                       “You have brains in your head.
                         You have feet in your shoes.
                         You can steer yourself any direction you choose.
                         You're on your own. And you know what you know.
                         And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go...”

The inspiration continued. I walked through that store adding things to my cart that spoke of Baker’s potential. That attested to his character.

 

                      “And will you succeed?
                       Yes! You will, indeed!
                       (98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.)

                       KID, YOU'LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!

                       So...
                       be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray
                       or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O'Shea,
                       you're off to Great Places!
                       Today is your day!
                      Your mountain is waiting.
                      So...get on your way!”

I love that part the most…Kid, you’ll move mountains.

As I sat in Baker’s room last night (thank you, pregnancy insomnia) and watched my angel sleep, I thought about all the mountains Baker has moved.

All the lives he has touched.

All the hearts he has inspired.

All prayers we have seen answered in his life.

Kid, you’ve moved mountains.

 

 

 

 

 
 Oh, the places my Baker Boy is sure to go!

30 Weeks!

Thirty Weeks

#NotMuchLonger #SoMuchToDo #SecondBabyProbs #We'reInTheSingleDigitsNowFolks

 

 

What I’m Eating

My tastes really haven’t changed much. Navel oranges are still a mainstay in my diet, as is Chick-fil-A Diet Lemonade and their Original Iced Coffee. For a short bit, I wanted fish sticks and macaroni and cheese for supper every night and would be content to eat gummi bears and Sour Patch Kids for breakfast every morning. I am still crazy about purple Sweet Tarts and can’t sleep if there isn’t a bottle of Diet Tonic Water and a sliced lime in the fridge.

Pregnancy, it’s a crazy, wonderful thing.

Big Brother Baker

A few weeks ago, we decided to transition Baker’s crib to a toddler bed. He hadn’t attempted to escape. He was sleeping through the night. He slept in his bed, and we slept in ours. Life was good.

#WhatWereWeThinking #IfItAin’tBroke #Don’tFixIt

Now, he’s up between three and one hundred eleven times a night, tip-toeing across the house until he reaches our bed. “Mama, Dadda,” he whispers, as if we hadn’t heard the pitter patter of little feet dance against our hardwood floors.

Unfortunately, it’s become our little nightly game, until about four nights ago, when I hollered, “TIME OUT!” We put the crib back together, desperate for at least a few more weeks of sleep before the baby comes.

Crib together - check

Bath taken – check

Book read – check

Prayers whispered – check

Baby nestled all snug in his bed – check

Brian and I high fived each other on the way out the door, almost running to our bed, so ready for sleep we may or may not have neglected to brush the sugar monsters off our teeth or packed lunches for the next day.

#MyOCDFreakedItsFreak

Not so soon as the sheep were all counted, we heard it, “Mama, Dadda.”

“Let him sleep. He needs to self soothe,” Brian said through sleepy snores.

And then we heard the dreaded, familiar sound, the rhythmic dancing of his toddler feet on the cold floors. And he was there. At our bed. Out of his cage. Over the protective rail of his crib. Freed. Like magic.

We. Are. Doomed.

I guess it’s true what they say, “We’ll sleep when we die.”

#Yawn

Sleep

See above. I cannot summon the strength to speak of our sleep woes anymore.

Maternity Clothes

Yes. Yes. Yes.

#AsosForTheWin

If you don’t know about Asos, listen up! They have super cute stuff – maternity and non-maternity. And they have free shipping both ways.

#Winning

Size of Baby

The size of a cabbage. Although, judging by the size of my belly, it’s a blue-ribbon award winning cabbage that you present at the state fair, not throw in a steamer to serve alongside roast and potatoes.

#WhoaBelly

Baby’s Name

James Barrett

Gender

Boy!

What I Miss

Not feeling like I could open a ranch with all of these Charley Horses.
#HoldYourHorsesBarrettBell

Best Moment of the Week

It’s all good! It is all so very good!

 

“For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;

his faithfulness continues through all generations.”

Psalms 100:5

Twenty-Seven Weeks

 

Baker's belly, now and forevermore, will win all of the awards for all of the cutest bellies in all of the lands.

 

What I’m Eating

A whole lot of everything.

My indigestion is out of control, and since no food makes it any better or worse, I have been eating it all. And the scales at the doctor this week confirmed just that.

 

I’m just gonna throw it out there, having to weigh in and take a glucose test the week after Valentine’s is just not nice. A pregnant girl should be able to enjoy a few dark chocolate truffle hearts without worry of an increase in a few, okay a few more than a few, pounds. If Valentine’s Day isn’t for a pregnant lady so hopped on lovey dovey hormones, then who it is for anyhow?

Big Brother Baker

This week, the thought of loving another boy, and replacing Baker as my baby has weighed heavily. How, when my love for him permeates to all the corners of my heart, can there be room to love another? I know it happens. My heart will grow, and I will wonder how I ever entertained such a preposterous thought. But for today, the thought persists. And because of it, I will squeeze him a little tighter, rock him a little longer, and savor him occupying so many morsels of my mommy heart until Little Brother arrives.

 

William Baker Bell, I love you to the moon and back.

 

 

 

Sleep

Meh. Not awful, not great. Just meh.

Maternity Clothes

I am still making a lot of non-maternity tops and dresses work, but am strictly in maternity pants and leggings. A friend sent me a post on Pinterest this past week. It's titled, "How Not to Shop in the Maternity Department." It inspired me to be more creative with my wardrobe. I have resorted to a lot of billowy tops and other nonconforming things that don’t touch me. Anywhere.

I loved a lot of these looks. This week I even busted out of my belt-wearing discomfort zone. I got so many compliments, and I lot of “Whoa! You’re pregnant!” looks and comments too. Elementary students will say anything. I sorta crazy love that about them.   

I don’t know why I have strayed away from bump-baring outfits in favor of shirts so tent-like, Columbia could sell them with their camping gear. I love when women show off their pregnant bellies! Here's to making the last trimester more fun and fashionable!

 

Size of Baby

Big! I feel like I am about as big now at 27 weeks as I was when Baker was born at 36 weeks.

Little Brother is the size of an eggplant, about 13 ½ inches long, and weighs over 2 pounds.

Baby’s Name

James Barrett

Gender

BOY!

What I Miss

Nada. There is nothing I miss as much as I am loving every second of all of this.

Best Moment of the Week

On Thursday, I had my glucose test and PASSED!! The best part of the visit was getting to hear my sweet boy’s heartbeat. It is positively the most beautiful sound in all the world.

And, I’ve started doctor visits every two weeks! Cheers to that!

 

 

Twenty-Five Weeks

I'm back this week!

Today marks twenty-five weeks of being pregnant!
Twenty-five weeks seems so much farther along than twenty-four weeks.
I got a lot of "You're really pregnant!" comments this week.
Each one made me smile.
And giggle a little too.
I love how real this is getting!

I have been at a fabulous Leader in Me conference the past few days, but am oh so ready to get home to my boys!

 

 

 

I did get to spend some time FaceTiming this little nugget early this morning.

Technology is a glorious thing!

 

I must admit, I enjoyed the break from posting last week, but I especially loved reading Brian's take on this pregnancy. If you didn't have a chance to read last week's entry, do it now. You'll be glad you did.

My husband is pretty much the bomb dot com.

What I'm Eating

In the words of Jim Carrey on Dumb and Dumber, "A lot. A lot, a lot."

The "Very Hungry Caterpillar" is a memoir of my life at twenty-five weeks pregnant.

"On Monday, she ate through a large apple, but she was still hungry. On Tuesday, she ate through two teaspoonfuls of peanut butter, but she was still hungry. On Wednesday, she ate through three scoops of ice cream, but she was still hungry. Now she wasn't hungry anymore, and she wasn't a little preggers anymore. She was a big fat preggers."

Big Brother Baker

This boy is a trip!
We obviously do whatever it takes to get through rush hour traffic. Let's just say Brian is working diligently to replace this hand me down purse (Baker's "baaaag") with something camo and rugged.

If a picture like this doesn't let you know your child watches your every single move, I don't know what does.

 

 

What fun is eating Pringles if you don't do a couple of duck faces with daddy?

Dinner is much more fun when you play with your food!

Sleep

Ehhh. I go to bed exhausted and sleep well...until I don't.


Maternity Clothes

I am still stretching the limit on non-maternity shirts and dresses and will continue until it gets just plain necessary to switch to maternity shirts. They just seem so, I don't know, maternal.


Size of Baby

He's 13 1/2 inches and about one and a half pounds. For all of you healthy eaters, he's the size of a rutabaga, whatever that is.

I sorta love The Yummy Tummy's post. They list real food that real people eat to compare to the size of the baby. This week, our sweet JB is the size of two rolls of decadent cookie dough.

Now, that is my language! Also, I'm now craving Pillsbury chocolate chip cookies.


Baby's Name

James Barrett Bell

I think I fall in love with it a little more every time I utter it aloud.


Gender

He's a he!


What I Miss

I miss eating without getting acid reflux and indigestion. It's getting pretty intense at this point. Earlier in this pregnancy, it only happened at night, and with very acidic food. Now, it starts early in the morning and lasts through the night and shows itself with any foods or drinks.


Best Moment of the Week

I think I have graduated to being fully pregnant. I have reached both the itchy belly stage and the one where people recognize I am pregnant in my everyday clothes. I finally look pregnant, and not just like I drank too many Chick fil A milkshakes. It's more fun this way!

Plus, everybody is nicer to a pregnant lady!

Twenty-Four Weeks (affectionately written by Brian)

What I'm Eating

Somehow Jenn finds a way to choke down this disgusting concoction of Apple Cider Vinegar, honey, and lemon every single morning. The smell alone runs me out of the bathroom, but she promises Pinterest boasts one hundred seventy-two thousand, four hundred fourteen reasons to be drinking the awful stuff.

She has started craving salads with cucumbers and avocados (no thanks), which amazes me, since anything green has had her turning green for the past 168 days.

Big Brother Baker

Baker is all about Baker.
"Hold me, Momma."
"Hold me, Dadda."

Barrett who?

He is soaking up these final weeks of being an only, and Jenn is more than eager to let him be her big baby.

Sleep

What was that again?

Maybe Bake is prepping us for life with an infant again. Whatever it is, the old, "I'll sleep when I'm dead" phrase has never been truer.

Especially now that some little rascal has commandeered her maternity pillow.

Maternity Clothes

I'm steering clear of this one. Unsafe territory here, folks.

Size of Baby

This week he is supposed to be as long as an ear of corn, but I think he's as big around as two or three. In my expert, baby growing opinion, he's going to be a hoss who never stops.

Baby's Name 

I'm calling him "J Bear," but Jenn insists that is not his name and refuses to monogram one of those girl gowns with it. Bake and I are in cahoots and we're calling majority here. J Bear it is.

Gender

He's still a he; but I have this nagging fear that all that wiggling  during his picture taking just might have us seeing things. James Barrett may be dressed in pink and renamed Elizabeth Barrett come May.

What I Miss

Anything missed is not worth having in place of this.
 
Best Moment of the Week -

How does she come up with one?

I got to take Baker to school this week. It's so great seeing him in his element and following his daily routine. However, I don't envy Jenn's task of doing this daily because leaving that kid to go to work is a different kind of tough.

Last night, Jenn and I got to watch Gone Girl on the couch together. Two things:  One, how incredibly bizarre that movie is. If you like a movie that leaves you saying "Huh?", this one is for you. And two, how does Jennifer get anything done all day. That boy is all go all the time, much like his big brother. Maybe they'll wear each other out...at least a dad can dream!