Nesting? or just getting organized?

I guess I've begun what's called "nesting". I am trying to just organize and clean spaces that have seemed to get a little cluttered. But I tend to do this annually so I'm not sure if it really is nesting or just getting more organized. I dunno.

Jack painted the nursery yesterday and it looks wonderful. I picked Filtered Shade by Valspar, thanks to Melissa. I think it just might work. Now my mom is working on the bumper, skirt, and sheets. I also have bird cage addition, which I'm not supposed to know is a present from Mary, but I was there when she bought it. I think it is a nice touch. It hangs on the wall and you can clip photos or cards on it with clothes pins. I've seen the CUTEST mobiles on etsy... think stuffed clouds with hot air balloons and kites. I'm trying to talk my friend, Anna, super sewer and creator extraordinaire into making these and selling them.

Back to the original thought, so I cleaned out my "memories" stash. I seem to keep everything sentimental so I have pretty much every card anyone has ever given me. Notes from 6th grade of my boyfriend telling me "the reason I don't talk to you in public is because I'm shy. Don't think I don't like you because I do. I love you. Ps. Give me your phone number after school". Or a typed letter from Vertical Horizon telling me that they appreciate my letter asking them to play at my friend, Katy's, birthday party but here is a cool sticker.

I have a million from my mom, Mary, Mary Jane, Katy, Keesha, Kim, and Lindsey. Some are quite comical. I also have every card or note Jack has given me. It's so fun to go back through them and remember. I have saved my honorable mentions. Enjoy.

Very faded but it's the Amy Grant Concert featuring Michael W. Smith

1988. I still remember.

My birdcage find that Mary got me.

Notice the Filtered Shade color behind.

Oh yeah, mix tapes.
My favorite movie and saved the stub, Dumb and Dumber. December 23rd, 1994 $6
I would put on these "Fun Weeks" in high school and college where themes would be incorporated. This one was tame, but fun all the same. Fun sock day, bake sale day, fun hair day, show and tell. I still remember I brought my miniature bottle of ketchup that I got the night I met Luke Perry.
I had so many funny letters from Katy. This is one of my favorites.
My friend, Jessamine, and I visited Jared and Luke, high school buds, at UT. They have this huge rock that gets painted and repainted. This was our message and it got put in the school paper. **See my name in the lower right corner
Awww. My baby arm band from when I was born.
I had four skating parties in college every year for my birthday. This one drawn by my roommate, Melanie. So awesome.
Nursery BEFORE... soon to have an after!

Baby Fabric

I finally picked my fabric for the baby's room. It took me forever because I'm so darn indecisive these days (I'm not usually like that). I feel so accomplished! Now to actually do something with it...

More Baby Details

Here are a couple of belly shots, I really didn't start showing until about week 17 or 18 (by the way they are in reverse order due to stupid blogger). I really popped around week 22. It's so fun, I think the best part is feeling baby barrett move. It's especially sentential being pregnant around Christmas, for once I feel like I could relate to Mary (you know, Jesus' birth mother).

So I took a pregnancy test on July 19th... I remember because Lindsey and Sam were in town for her birthday and we had a super Luau Party for the Lindz. I had been feeling a little nausea but didn't want to jinks myself so I kept putting it off. That Monday I knew I had to take one because I was too nauseated. The funny thing is I didn't get one from work-a place where we give FREE pregnancy tests everyday. For some reason I felt bad for taking one, like I was stealing. But it's free, anyways... I get one from CVS, get home and it is not in the box. Are you kidding?! I hate taking things back and causing ruckus, so usually I would have not gone back, but I marched right over there and got a new one. Got home, took it and I could not believe my eyes. That moment felt forever. Jack got home and I didn't wrap the test this time (last time I wrapped the stick and gave it to him as a early anniversary present) but just said, "well, I'm pregnant." There's nothing better than sharing a moment like that with someone who gets it, gets everything you are feeling and you're in it together. That kiss was amazing.

Over the next several weeks God really protected me from anxiety over losing the pregnancy when I could have easily stressed out. At 9 weeks, we had an ultrasound-same time as last time, but this time we a had very different outcome. I can't tell you what that feeling is like to see a heartbeat and know that it is okay. Yes, tears were shed and I have to say I feel in love with little baby barrett the moment I saw it.

Pregnancy has been good overall-the first 17 weeks were rough. Lots of nausea, vomiting, and migraines! but I feel great now. I did have a little fun in telling my friends and family-from recorded cards, to baby mama t-shirts, to flying in for the weekend- it was so fun to finally share the news to those who have been praying so hard for us.

22 weeks in San Diego
I think 20 or 21 weeks
20 weeks
18 weeks on camping trip
Mary Jane and I both at 17 weeks! We are due 2 days apart! I also saw her at 7 weeks and had just found out about her. I was dying to tell her but we hadn't told anyone yet. hehe. This is her third-first was twins. So excited for her and Jason!
I tried everything to relieve nausea, including these awesome wrist bands.
Just thought I'd throw in a picture of Katy, one of my many friends who prayed for me regularly. She's freakin' awesome.
I don't obey the rules, I went tubing and tried wake boarding for the first time while I was pregnant. I eat sushi (okay, cooked but in the vicinity of uncooked), Caesar salad, wine with dinner, and sandwich meat not heated-GASP!). So I don't like rules, but terrified of authority. That's not me above, but my co-workers-yeah, we had lake day for work.
This was at Yazoo with Mary and Akirbs. I think I was around 7 weeks maybe? so I would take a little taste and fill up Jack's glass. Hehehe, so sneaky.

God's Blessings

I've taken forever to do a blog post on Jack and I being blessed with a baby coming in March! I guess I knew everyone who reads this post already knows, but then I figured some of you may want to know details. The real reason I'm posting is to brag on God. One thing I hate is cheese church, so if anything treads on cheese I get the ibbeygibbeys. BUT my bible study teacher said something tonight that made me run home and post-share the blessings God's given you because it gives back to him. That's exactly what I want to do and yell to the world how wonderful God is. You guys it really is a testimony to how faithful he has been through everything. It's so amazing to see his work play out. If anything I hope this encourages you when you are going through something so hard, it hurts and you can't imagine deliverance, it will happen. He will wipe our tears and he will change us.

As you know through this blog, my molar pregnancy and treatments were rough and not pleasant to go through to say the least. As any woman knows who's gone through a pregnancy loss it causes you to question a lot about possibility and if your getting chemo treatments it causes you to question even more. It causes guilt, pain, and loss in so many areas. I'm so thankful for this time. Looking back I still feel that pain that was palpable but I heard God's faithfulness through it and suffered gaining strength and closeness to him. Now I never said I wasn't scared I could never have children of my own, I didn't know that. What I knew was that God loved me and there was a reason. I knew he promised he didn't abandoned his work, that my tears would be dried, and that he does good for those who love him. So I am overwhelmed at his blessing to give Jack and I a baby. I can't believe that he would give me such a blessing and it is only given through him. Jack and I aren't good at making babies or have super eggs/sperm, it is only God's to give. (so take note, if someone brags about this talent, it's not there's to boast about)

I think I also hesitate to post about this blessing because I know the pain of reading someone else's blessing when I long for it. So please guard your heart, don't read things that cause you more pain (so this may be too late to say now that you're this far down the post), and draw boundaries around your heart. I had to learn a lot about distancing myself at the right time and taking care of myself when no one else could.

This is how God works: God takes my heart and heals it. He sends several women in my life not afraid to face my hurt and give me words of encouragement. One of my friends gave me a name of a counselor and I was able to see her and work through grief. You may remember one of my posts mentioning this... I think this was May. God also gives me a full time job that offers health insurance! Yes, I had no health insurance because I was denied due to my treatments, but having a full time job they can't deny me. I get that job in August and we found out we were pregnant in July. We also had been narrowing down adoption agencies to get started on the process and we decide to wait one more month before putting down the $300 deposit to apply. Yes, we find out that month. Isn't God amazing?! He has perfect timing, knows all things, and gives all good things... yet we still question. I continue to pray that questioning is not in my life, that his faithfulness abounds. I can't help but see this looking back on what he has done.

So thanks for letting me be a little cheesy and praising God. On a scale of Tim Tebow cheese to Joel Olsten cheese, hopefully I'm somewhere in the middle.

"Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name, make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted. Sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things; let this be know to all the world. Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you." Is 12:4-6

"Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed, says the Lord, who has compassion on you." Is 54:10

Where has the time gone?!

It has been so long since I've posted! Ahhh! I'll make it a new priority. Thought I'd post some pics of Jack and I's camping trip. I've given him a hard time because it's always the guys who want to go camping, never the girls. Blah blah. Why is that?! I love camping.

Jack told me to plan it and we would go. We've actually been waiting to go with our friends, Kim and Mike, but time never works out, plus Mike doesn't want to go (due to football season, he has to constantly have a tv available and we planned to just not tell him and show up at a camping site).

I picked Nathan Bedford Forrest State Park (ah hem. I didn't know his link to KKK, otherwise I may have recalculated this decision. BUT Little Tay tay, my super smart history teacher friend, says he didn't start it). I picked it out of a Tennessee camping book b/c the guy said it had great sites and was beautiful. The sites were good, we got a great one but we and one more tent were the only ones there-everyone else were in campers! I guess that's the way to do it now. I was amazed how everyone was decked out in Halloween decorations. It looked as if they do this a lot or they were staying for a while.

We had a great time-hiking, seeing the "river people" museum, and roasting hot dogs, popcorn, and smores over the fire. We didn't get a lot of sleep on the hard ground, but it was still fun.

PS. If anyone can tell me why these weirdos had the camouflage skinny tall tent, it would be much appreciated. There is no way anyone could do anything but stand in it. Is it a changing tent? Potty place? I dunno.

Beepers

Remember when beepers were the "it" thing and we didn't have cell phones?! I remember dating Jack and my junior year in high school and him beeping me numbers that would spell out stuff. Ha. That's embarrassing, yet hilarious. Ah, the memories. We should totally bring these back.

Nieces and Nephews

This summer Jack and I have gotten to see some of our nieces and nephews that we don't see as much. My brother came for about a week (he hasn't been here in about 2 or is it 3 years!) and Jack's brother's family came for a week, too.

My brother, Chad, who is three years older than me came with his two children, Rowan and Tavin. Chad and I are a little similar than my sister. We can both be quiet and introverts, but he is much more than I am (I know some of you are thinking I'm not an introvert, but I can definitely be!). He was always a home body and moved out to Colorado with his wife once they got married ten years ago. It was really great to have them here. Manda couldn't come because she was in school, bummer, but at least we saw some of them.

The week was full of food, pool time, and adventure science center. It was also fun to have them here because Rowan had recently sent her "flat Rowan" to stay with us, so it was exciting to see where flat Rowan stayed.

Chad has also really gotten into biking in the last year, so he, my dad, and I did about 15 miles in Franklin. I'm so impressed by him for biking because he bikes in Colorado, this is not whimpy Nashville with some hills.

Both Rowan and Tavin have bright blue eyes. Rowan is very creative and talkative. She definitely thinks outside the box and sticks to her guns. Tavin is very shy and gets his feelings hurt easily, very sweet.

Jack's brother, Brandon and wife, Liz, also came for about a week. Brandon is a pastor at a church in Williamsburg and Liz is now a stay-at-home mom, who is also a family practice Doctor. They have four children and one on the way. We had lots of pool time, dinners, and fourth of july fun on horses. Caroline is the oldest, she is always helping her mom and dad, very responsible and loves to draw. Henry has been called the "little Jack". They are similar in a lot of ways: clumsy, same body shape, love to eat, likes to be goofy, and has attention to detail. John Mac is next, who is just adorable. He is the fearless one and has such an excitement in his eyes all the time. Hannah is the youngest, she's about 8 months and Liz says she has been the most adventurous, stubborn one. She loves to keep seeking out new things and tries to keep up with everyone else.

Earlier in May, we also saw Jack's sister, Julie and her husband, Andy. They both came the weekend of the triathlon I did because Andy was in it, also. He is a freak. He's done an ironman and pretty much has a race EVERY weekend. He won first in his age group and 3rd overall. Sickening. Especially for me. Dori is their little girl. She also loves to draw and is starting to talk more and more. She always has the cutest pigtails, but I will forgive her for being a Bama fan, because it's not her fault :).

Our last two nieces and nephews (count em, 9! and one on the way!) live here in Nashville with us and that is why we don't have a story about how they came to town. But I need to highlight them if I am highlighting everyone else and let me just say, they are a hoot. They are my sister, Stephanie, and my brother-in-law, Matt's, children. If any of you know my sister and Matt, you know they are characters. This is directly reflected on Grace and Cooper. Grace loves loves animals and would rescue them all if she could. She is super talkative and has such a sweet heart. Cooper loves attention, dirt bikes, and is hilarious. Every time we go to their house, the whole neighborhood is there.

Jack and I are very blessed to have such a great family. Enjoy some pics.