Barrett's Birth Story (Part One)



On Friday, May 15, 2015, at 12:37 in the afternoon, we met him.

James Barrett Bell.

The one who had already snuck into our hearts

was finally able to snuggle in our arms.  

 

 

 

We didn't know our family needed a second.

At least not yet.

 

Brian and I knew we wanted a house full of children.

Little Bells running amuck,

sneaking cookies before dinnertime,

hiding car keys and remotes,

displacing toys from their homes and scattering them all about every inch of ours,

bowing their heads for bedtime prayers,

sneaking into our room for late night and early morning snuggles,

high fiving and fist bumping and finger pulling in delight,

occupying our hearts and invading our home.

 

But we thought Baker was enough, for now.

He needed us.

We rationalized waiting for a second until Baker was more independent.

We were cautious,

hesitant that another would deter us from meeting Baker's different abilities.

 

But oh how we dreamed of another.

We prayed God's plan to prevail, trusting in His plans over our own.

Our arms craving the warmth of a newborn,

yearning to smell their yummy, scrumptious goodness.

We whispered baby names aloud,

schemed house plans and nursery decor and a big boy room for Baker,

dreaming of one day,

not realizing how differently God's timing and our timing were for that one day.

 

We learned, on a late afternoon in September,

that sometimes the greatest blessings in our lives are also the biggest surprises.

 

The following nine months would consist of unspeakable joy,

faith in a plan bigger and higher and greater than our own,

a little nausea and a lot of growing,

Sour Patch Kids and snuggles from my first baby boy.

 

I started with monthly doctor appointments, then moved to biweekly,

and finally, the time came for us to see each other once a week.

 

I approached each appointment with an unhindered excitement,

my list of aches and worry-filled thoughts silenced in the thunderous booms emanating from the handheld Doppler, monitoring each rhythmic heartbeat.

 

Each visit was memorable,

the first ultrasound to see our little butterbean sized miracle,

and the one proclaiming news of hues of blue,

but the one that sticks out the most vividly came more recently.

 

The plans for Barrett's delivery started the previous Thursday, May 7,

with a midafternoon doctor visit.

 

I visited my doctor for my 38 week appointment.

 Her angel nurse took care of all of the lab stuff,

I got to hear Little Brother's heartbeat -

a strong 137 beats per minute.

I made small talk, and we chit chatted away.

I was measured and progress was noted.

And then the words from my doctor,

"Let's have this baby next Friday."

 

A plan.

This girl loves a plan.

I could sleep in my own bed on Thursday night,

shower and fix my hair and apply my makeup just so on Friday morning.

Drive, unhurriedly, to the hospital.

And proceed from there until my arms were cradling my baby boy.

A plan.

We had a plan, and it sounded pretty great to me.

 

I visited her the next Thursday as well,

at one day shy of 39 weeks.

My appointment was preceded by Baker's first IEP meeting, an appointment to get my nails manicured, a trip to Edgar's bakery to grab some of my favorite sweet treats for my doctor and nurses, a thorough house tidying, and revisiting of packed bags.

Everything was a go for Friday.

I had progressed slightly more, and my doctor anticipated our boy's arrival before one o'clock the next afternoon.

 

In fewer than 24 hours, I would meet him.

My heart could hardly contain my delight!

I squealed in excitement all the way to pick up Baker from school.

 

Brian and I had a fun night planned for our Baker Boy.

We spent the evening culminating the ever-long process of saying goodbye to our only child in his first love language - toy stores, playgrounds, and ice cream.

 

 

 

 

Baker would spend the night with my parents. 

I have never had such a hard time leaving that precious firstborn of mine.

 

We snapped a few last pictures as a family of three,

and excitedly anticipated seeing him for the first time as a big brother!

 

 

 

 

 

 

The next morning, Brian and I drove the familiar route to our hospital.

The only events that get me on the road before the sun comes up are Black Friday and birthing a baby.

 

We got checked in around five in the morning.

I loved the busyness of the room from the start.

Nurses bustling about,

family checking in with whispered prayers and lemon drops and kisses on the cheek,

friends calling and texting, eager for updates,

the sound of LB's heartbeat - a calming, rhythmic pur from the machine beside me.

 

The next few hours were filled with an anxious excitement as we grew closer to meeting our boy.

 

 I cherished each contraction, eager to welcome and then will it away as quickly as it began.

 

Brian was vigilant, standing guard, his eyes somehow both glued to the monitor, while never breaking our gaze.

He was the perfect calm through each stormy contraction.

 

Even through the epidural, I could feel them intensifying.

I knew the time was drawing near.

I asked for my purse.

Everyone laughed as I carefully applied lipstick, and then liner, and then gloss.

 

Priorities.

 

Minutes later, my obstetrician visited.

As I anticipated, it was time.

 

Our lives were fixing to be forever changed.

Our hearts were fixing to experience a love like never before.

 

At 12:25, we said our see you laters to the family.

 

I held tightly to Brian's hand through the first contraction.

And then rested in preparation for the second.

Barrett was on his way.

I pushed and I pushed and at 12:37, he was here. 

First his head, with a full head of dark brown hair like his daddy,

then the rest of him, so fearfully and wonderfully made.

 

I heard utterings of a big baby,

a healthy boy.

 

Brian cut the cord, and the day continued as magical as it began.

My boy was placed on my chest, and for the first time,

I held the child in my arms I had held for so many months in my heart.  

My first words, through quivering lips and joy-filled eyes,

"Thank you Jesus for this precious gift that is too wonderful for words."

 

 

 

 

I couldn't break my gaze.

My eyes couldn't be diverted from this little blessing of ours.

 

 

 

 

I fell all over in love again with my husband.

What incredible moments to share with the man I love.

 

 

 

 

 

After several moments, the nurse took him to be weighed and measured.

 

All of our predictions fell far short.

At birth, he weighed 9 pounds and measured 21 inches long.

 

 

 

 

Our big old sack of sugar,

who would soon be affectionately named Little Bear,

had stolen our hearts and changed our lives,

and made us a family of four.

 

 

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights."

James 1:17

Stay tuned!
Parts two and three coming soon.

Part Two - Barrett meets Baker
(this is probably the most incredible thing I'll see this side of Heaven)

Part Three - Bringing Home Barrett

Read Baker's birth story here.

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

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!

Twenty-Three Weeks

 

 

 

See that sweet little handprint on the mirror?

 

I know it sounds like the most ridiculous thing in all the world, but I just cannot bring myself to Windex it away.

Some of my favorite moments each day with Baker are mere seconds.

The ones we carefully carve late in the evening, in between scrubbing until he's so clean he squeaks and the moment his incessant jabber finally stops and he succumbs so sweetly to sleep. 

He cocoons himself into a towel too big, plops down on our counter and lets me brush all of the sugar monsters away, comb his hair, lather him in lotion, and sing to the baby in the mirror.

Laughter bounces from each corner.

His little voice the perfect song.

 

Quite often, he reaches out.

His mind inquisitive as to how a mirror reflects his image so perfectly.

One day he'll know.

One day a mirror will no longer hold an adventure.

One day he won't have to touch the face smiling back at him.

One day his handprints will be larger, and he won't sit as easily on our counters.

One day, he'll brush his own teeth, and comb his own hair.

 

These are the moments I sometimes rush.

At the day's end when my feet ache and my belly is threatening to burst right out of my shirt.

When lunches need to be packed, the dryer needs to be started, the dishwasher emptied.

 

Today, he needs me. 

Today, he wants me in his memories.

Today, I'll save the handprint in case tomorrow is the day.

 

 

Whew.

You're welcome. 

Introducing twenty-three weeks of hormones.

Here I am choosing the least awkward bump selfie, or "bumpie," as the cool kids are calling it.

And out of the blue, I lose it over a sticky handprint on the mirror.

Dirt, y'all, has made me a weepy mess.

Instead of obscuring it from view, or directing attention elsewhere, I wrote words about it.

Real words.

And not just a few. 

Two hundred sixty-two of them.

 

You can send your deepest sympathies to my husband.

I know he covets your prayers during this wildly unpredictable time.



 

  

What I'm Eating - The better question would be, what am I not eating? Hello appetite!

Apparently, Little Brother will double in size over the next four weeks. I am trying my best to make sure I do the same.

 

Big Brother Baker - 

 

 

 

 

Sleep - I love it. It hates me. We're at odds right about now.

 

Maternity Clothes - At this point, I could stand to buy a few pieces, but I am really trying to refrain. Early in the pregnancy, I bought a few key items, and I am trying my best to make them work for the next few months. Praise all things good and holy for Shop Riffraff Pikos, Old Navy maternity leggings, the Target clearance rack, and Gap skinnies.

 

Size of Baby - He's about 9 inches long, and just over a pound - the size of a papaya.

 

Baby Name - James Barrett

 

Gender - BOY!

 

What I Miss - Not a whole lot.

 

Best Moment of the Week - I had another ultrasound on Monday to follow up with my anatomy scan last month. Not only did I get to lay eyes on my baby boy again, I got to take my big boy and mom with me! Baker danced while Little Brother's heartbeat filled the room, then lifted up his shirt to bare his belly. Getting to see both of my boys at the same time was almost more than my mommy heart could stand.

 

Our sweet ultrasound technician even printed Baker his very own picture of Baby Barrett. He carried it around so proudly and shared it with everyone we saw on our way out the door.

 

 

 

 

One final thought and confession - I have stared at this little profile for countless hours. I cannot wait to kiss all over his face and memorize his every beautiful feature. Oh baby boy, you take my breath away.

 

 

"Every good and perfect gift is from above coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights."

James 1:17

 



Twenty-Two Weeks

 

 

What I'm Eating - I'm loving cereal, especially for supper. And sliced apples with vanilla yogurt topped with crumbled Heath bits.
 

Big Brother Baker - This week, Baker has started calling Little Brother, "Bear Bear." My heart is a big ole pile of mushy gushy goodness. Brothers are going to be the best!

He's going to teach Barrett everything he knows...I know, because he's currently practicing on Elmo.
This went something like (a combination of signs and words),
"Elmo, Tee Tee? Potty? Yes? Yes. Ok."
"Mama, Elmo. Potty."
Runs to the bathroom. Hops on the toilet. Does intended business. Commences with Tee Tee Dance.
Brian taught him. I'm sure he'll teach you too. Be on the lookout for a YouTube video tutorial.

 

Sleep - Much better! In the words of Madea, "Praise da Lort!"
 

Maternity Clothes - Clothing is about the same this week. The hardest part about the past several days has been the shift from home for the holidays attire to heading back to work.
 

Size of Baby - Little Brother is the size of a spaghetti squash.
 

Baby Name - James Barrett (more on his sweet name here)
 

Gender - A baby boy!
 

What I Miss - Not much at all.
 

Best Moment of the Week - Announcing Little Brother's name. We had so much fun sharing his name with family and friends. It is a name that was chosen specially, with a lot of love, just for our baby boy.

And the kicking - it's out of control! I love each little jab and punch. Oh wild one, you are already so incredibly loved.

A time that's quickly becoming a daily must are early morning walks. I love this quiet time for me, while the rest of the world is still fast asleep. I am trying to walk around 15 miles a week to combat stiffness and swelling and some of the discomfort I felt while pregnant with Baker. Sometimes I take Harley, sometimes it's just James Barrett and me, alone with the Lord to reflect on life. I pray for my boys (all of them) and other prayer needs in our circle of family and friends, sing my favorite praises aloud, set goals for the future, and imagine big things for our growing family.

Workout clothes, especially ones suitable for sub-freezing temperatures are becoming increasingly more difficult to come by. Brian gave me some of his old Under Armour hunting shirts and they are perfect (for today, at least) for my growing belly.

 

 

It's finally sunny here today and we are headed to the Zoo! I cannot wait to be outside, and I always look forward to seeing Baker's face when he sees the animals.

See other Zoo posts here, here, and here.

 

What fun things are you doing for this long weekend?

I hope it's a wonderful one!