Nightgowns!

Okay, first I'm going to take this opportunity to say "Hi, i'm SarahKate's mommy and I've become an ebay junky"! After discovering that they don't sell those little Carter's gowns in sizes bigger than 0-3 months, I went hunting for some on eBay. I have found yet another brand that I've fallen in love with. Mary James makes the sweetest little nightgowns with the bottom open. (That elastic is gettin hard to fit over SK's round belly!) They come with adorable little appliques or you can have them monogrammed! Of course they are pricy like the Kissy Kissy gowns at the Frog, but they are oh so cute! I can't wait to get this first one in and try it out!

3 months!

Sarah Kate is now 3 months old and life is good. She's almost sleeping through the night. She's been getting up about 4am for the past week so things are looking up. She's gotten soooo big. She's outgrowing lots of her 0-3 month clothing. I'm having loads of fun shopping on ebay. I have bought several smocked outfits way cheaper than it's costing me to make one. I'm "working on" two dresses right now. One with strawberries and one with frogs. Hopefully I will get them done before she outgrows them! We changed to faster flow nipples this week and started apple juice. She is so alert. She's has lots to say and gave mommy a big laugh this week. Lots of milestones. . .





We are super excited about our first Halloween. We are having a bonfire at Meemaw's. That is, if, the burn ban is lifted. Right now that's looking like a very big if. My neighbors, Pastor Jim and Mrs Stephanie, are also having a fall festival. It will be lots of fun and include a very tiny guest. They are expecting baby number 4 any day now! Sarah Kate will have a little friend, maybe Sadie and maybe a little boy with no name yet!





Daddy is going out of town for two weeks! We've tried to prepare him with an overnight visit with Aunt Karen. But even that was hard, so Sarah Kate and I may have to sneek a mini trip to Murfreesboro for a couple of nights!





4 months is coming up fast. We are scheduled to see Dr. Scott for our next set of shots on the 11th. Mommy is not looking forward to it but it must be done!



Our first pictures didn't turn out so well so if anyone has suggestions I'd appreciate it. Unfortunately, I have money tied up in a baby plan already but worth the loss I guess to have pictures I love instead of ones that are just okay.



Lastly, we are enjoying the last of the warm days. Winter is coming and we will be hibernating indoors for the next few months. Yesterday was so beautiful, we decided to nap right on the front lawn!

Prayers needed!

My family needs your prayers. I'm asking everyone I know to pray for my newest cousin, Kristian Gray.

Kirk and Kristi Gray of Conway, AR had a son, Kristian, born Wednesday, October 13th. Kristian was born at 32 weeks. He was taken early due to a large amount of fluid around his tiny heart. At 32 weeks, he weighed 7lbs. They drained 90cc of fluid from his heart. For a brief time, they were hopeful as the doctors said little Kristian's heart was functioning normally. Just a few short hours later, they found out that the baby has bleeding on his brain. Kristian is now struggling to survive.

My heart is aching for this mom and dad. I can only imagine their pain and for that I am thankful. I look at my sweet girl's face and realize how blessed we are to have such a healthy, beautiful girl. As a mommy, this story hits so close to home. Please pray for Kristian Gray, that God may heal his little body and work a miracle before us. Pray for strength and wisdom for his mom and dad as they are sure to have many difficult decisions coming there way. I have never prayed in my life like I have for this little boy. Sometimes faith is so difficult for me, but I know his little life is in God's hands. Please keep my cousins in your prayers!

12 weeks!

Wow! Look how much she"s grown!

So it's been awhile since my last post. The Barkelews have been pretty busy lately. Sarah Kate is now 12 weeks old. She has grown so much. I'll have to backtrack a bit to catch everyone up.

First, I had a slight meltdown over breastfeeding or rather not breastfeeding on week 2. I anticipated this problem and now wish I had not even tried. The first two weeks were terribly emotional and stressful for all of us. I don't know that I've ever cried so much. Justin was home with us the first two weeks so that was helpful. And one of my super duper friends came out and held my hand for a few days till I was feeling better. It's hard to understand being so sad when you've been anticipating bliss for so many months. But, we made it through and I'm feeling much better now.

Second- going back to work! OMG! I knew that this was going to be tuff but didn't realize just how much till it happened. I stayed home with my other babies so this is new for me. I went back when she was just 6 weeks old due to a lovely corporate policy that caused me not to qualify for FMLA after 7 years of service. The first night was so hard. I wanted to cry every time someone asked me about my baby. But that too has gotten better. I am so thankful that SK stays home with her daddy when I can't be there. He is wonderful with her. He does diapers and feedings like a pro. He always puts her little gowns on at bedtime and even washes bottles. Daddy even packs up the diaper bag and takes her out for some one on one time to let me nap. I don't know what I'd do without him. I'm a lucky wife and mommy.

Third- Sarah Kate is. . . . . . well, she's just awesome. She is such a precious baby girl. She has been so alert right from the beginning and wants to watch everything. We finally got a good smile at about 6 weeks I think and she is all smiles these days. She loves her bath and absolutely LOVES being outside. She weighed 10 lbs and 14 oz at her 2 month check up. (Daddy went with us that day for support.) We decided on Dr Scott as her pediatrician. He's been great so far. I think we've finally gotten through the gas and Miralax has cured the constipation. Next on the agenda is to get baby girl to sleep through the night. I am hoping to move her into her nursery soon. She looks so big in her cradle now. She is growing and discovering new things every day. I am so in love with this little girl!

I don't have any pictures on this computer but I will try to add some soon. We had her first professional pictures made 3 weeks ago with Emily Payton Cook in Covington. I think they turned out well but unfortunately I am still waiting on the proofs to post!

New Neighbors

I got great news this week and just had to share. My mom and dad will close next week on a 6 acre lot located exactly 1.1 miles from my house. I am super excited. I love living in Tipton County but the one thing missing these last 5 years has been my momma. She's the best mom and an even better Meemaw. My dad aka Peeps is awesome too. Now they will be just around the corner. I can't wait!

They are going to build a house and a shop, plant blueberry bushes, and have goats for the grandkids. There is a huge pond, 6 pecan trees along the back, pear trees and more. It is the perfect place for my parents to retire. It will make great memories on holidays and birthdays and good ole Sunday dinner. Our first gathering will be a big bonfire Halloween night after we clean up all the brush from around the property.

My brother who I thought would never leave Rockin' Raleigh is talking about putting a house on the south end of the property and it's very possible that my brother in Sardis, whom I miss dearly, may also join us. What's funny is that my sis-in-law already lives two doors down from me. Oh and I forgot to mention that the name of the road is Trotter which is also my husband's middle name. This was his mom's maiden name. It's family land! Justin's great aunt who is the most wonderful lady is directly across from my parents' lot and a cousin next door. There are several relatives still up and down the street. Sarah Kate will have mommy and daddy's families on the same road. Life is good. God is good. What a blessing!

Happy Birthday to you. . . .

I know it's been forever since I've posted but the Barkelews have been a little busy. All 6 of us! She's finally here. July 9th at 12:02 p.m. Sarah Katherine aka Sarah Kate was born. She weighed 7lbs 6oz and was 20 in long. Here's the story. . . . .

On Thursday night we checked in at the Women's Pavillion at Methodist Germantown at 9pm. After somehow going from 3cm the week before to no centimeters the previous Tuesday, we decided to start the induction with cervadil. They were very busy that night so it was around 1am by the time we got settled in a room and got the medicine from pharmacy. I woke up contracting by 3 and started pitocin at 7. My doctor came in and broke my water at 9. I was handling contractions pretty well up to this point. We talked to the anesthesiologist after we got into our room who advised us that an epidural would be fine this time around. Although I was apprehensive, I decided to go ahead and get it at 5cm. I could no longer talk through my contractions and I feared a long labor once again. They just went a little higher in my back to avoid scar tissue from previous spinal taps and it worked perfectly. As soon as the pain subsided, I realized that I had a TON of pressure and warned my nurse that my last two babies were born in the bed! 15 minutes later I was 8cm and in no time I was complete and dying to push. They held her head in till my doctor made it across the parking lot and 2 pushes later she was born! It was so easy. Epidurals are FABULOUS! After 3 grueling, excruciating labors, this one was awesome!

She is a beautiful, perfect, healthy girl who looks just like her daddy. We are so in love with her. I can't even find the words to describe how wonderful her daddy has been. I'm so proud of him and love him even more. Her big brothers and sister have been the biggest help and just adore her. We are so blessed. Our family finally feels complete!

The Nursery

FINALLY! The nursery is done! Last week, the custom bumper and curtains I ordered finally arrived after what seemed like forever. Although the wait seemed unbearable, (okay, so maybe that's being a little dramatic), they were well worth it because both pieces turned out just beautiful!


So this is Max who is solely responsible for my daughter having a room taken over by sock monkeys. I saw him at Walmart while Christmas shopping and thought how cute he'd be in a little boy's nursery. Then after finding the pre-made bedding online, I decided, boy or girl, that he or she would have to have sock monkeys! The little rocking chair he's sitting in was my hubby's when he was little. It matches my not so favorite cradle that I would show you, however, IT'S STILL NOT FINISHED! Almost though. We should pick it up tomorrow. Whew!






This is the chest of drawers obviously. Funny, I just realized I used to call them chester drawers when I was little. The chest and dresser were mine from a bedroom suit my parents bought me at an antique flea market when I was 14. Using these pieces was the compromise I made with hubby in order to get the crib I wanted. On top is the first sock monkey I actually bought and the Jack in the Box or Monkey in the Box, I guess, which still scares me, I must admit. It sits on top of this great keepsake box I found at Old Town Hall. The picture hanging on the wall is of two lady sock monkeys with jewelery and lipstick. Too cute! The odd colored bobble head figures are my children's contribution to the nursery and more precious than words even though they don't match.

This is the dresser/ changing table. I painted the letters and the bow holder and also the tray for the wipes and powder. It's hard to see, but there is a little sock monkey candy jar that holds cotton balls and q-tips. It's the first gift I received for the baby. My friend Tori found it at Cracker Barrel of all places right after I decided on sock monkeys. She also got me a super cute monkey night light. Funny they had sock monkeys in their Christmas decor this year. The hamper took me forever to find and just has a trim of the matching fabric pinned on the front with a sock monkey applique, again, found on Etsy. ( Thanks, Amy!)

This is one of my favorite parts. We got this great leather rocker/ recliner at Ashley when I was barley pregnant. It's super comfy and will be great for nursing with all the traffic in my house. It doesn't swivel but that's okay. I also painted the shelf and hanging rack above it. It's got a smocked doll dress from The Freckled Frog, a willow tree prayer angel, a mini sock monkey (Etsy again) and some other cute stuff. See where we are gettin overrun with monkeys at this point??? I think my mother hates it and won't say to spare my feelings! I actually sewed the lampshade cover myself. Not well, if you flip it over, but it's pretty cute from a distance. I even painted the curtain rod and brackets and capped the ends with tennis balls covered in fabric. . . my mom's idea.

This of course is the crib. I love it. Her quilt is hanging over the back. She won't be able to use it till she's 5 seeing as how it's HUGE. The lady that made it for me kind of had her own ideas on size and pattern. It was a favor from a friend's mom so I didn't complain. It was quite a nerve wracking process however. The good news is that it is beautifully sewn and SK will be able to use it for years. I think it is probably big enough to fit a twin bed! I love the way her name turned out on the wall. I enlarged the embroidery off one of the diaper bags and transferred it to the wall. My mom painted the letters and we had a lady from Munford come paint the design. I've since decided that I could've also done that part myself too seeing as how she used the exact images I printed and transferred them with carbon paper just like I did the name. I had wanted a similar vine running all through the letters but I'm pretty happy with it anyway.

So that's my baby girl's nursery. Finally complete. The only thing still "in the works" is that I haven't found a rug I just love yet. The one in front of the crib is a little $4 woven rug I found at Big Lots and it just happened to be red, brown, and cream. I figured it would do till I found one I wanted. I've had lots of fun and a little stress putting this room together and I'm pretty happy with the finished product. I can't wait to bring my baby girl home next week to see it!

Ohhhh, yes, that's right. I haven't posted that, huh? I am going in for an elective induction on the 9th. Not exactly what I had planned but the pain of pitocin and no epidural is welcomed at this point if it will get me out of these 12 hr work nights! Although, I was 3cm on Monday and lost my plug later that night (sorry if that's tmi but I figure we're all girls) so I'm really hoping she will decide to come on her own in the next 8 days! Wish me luck!