Cutest Flower!

Sarah Kate was the cutest little flower for her first Halloween! It was such a fun time. We started out seeing Nana and Great Grandmother and then caught up with Meemaw and Peeps at the first annual Bushnell Bonfire! Cousins and 2nd cousins and 3rd cousins were there. It was much fun. The big kids did a hayride and we made a quick trip to the festival in Atoka. Since we are too little for candy just yet, she got some little Halloween socks and sock monkey stickers in her boo bucket. She had no idea what was going on of course, but stayed warm and comfy in her costume! I can't believe next year she'll be walking and maybe even saying trick or treat!

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!