one month

Happy 1 month birthday, little Miss Evie J! 

I can't believe you have already been here for a whole month. Every time I think about a memory or detail of your actual birth day, it just seems like last week! You have survived and thrived for 30 whole days- congrats to you and to us! 

At one month, you are doing the following: 

Eating: every 3-4 hours. 

You are such a good eater! I am so very thankful that you like to eat and have taken to feedings so well. We had a little trouble the first night home, but a pound and a half later, I'd say no one is worried about you starving!

Sleeping: 

You have been sleeping in your crib since your seventh night home. Normally, you get really fussy in the evenings for about 2 hours while your dad and I rock you, pat you, feed you, burp you {basically whatever we can think of} and pass you back and forth until you finally doze off. We then dread putting you in your bed for fear that you will open those pretty little eyes, scream and we start all over. However, after you finally fall asleep, you are a good sleeper! You sleep pretty hard for the first 5-6 hours and then about every 3 after that. You only wake up once a night to eat. Hallelujah! 

Napping: 

Ehhhh this would be your area for improvement. Everyone says newborns sleep like 20 hours a day...not you, sister! You like to stay awake most of the day and then nap for a while around 2:00. However, you keep me guessing everyday if you will actually fall asleep that afternoon or not. You fall asleep better when I am in the room, but not paying attention to you. Today at 3:00 after no napping, I had to call your Bull so I could talk while you fell asleep. And it worked! 

Liking: 

Eating, gas relief drops {that taste like Pina Colada}, your hands by your face, MAM pacifiers, your giraffe sound machine, having visitors {you are a little angel when others are around...show off}, being rocked, and being held at all times! If you are awake, you want to be held. I shouldn't complain because I know one day I will wish this was still the case {cue Darius Rucker's, "You're Gonna Miss This"}, but as of today I have started about 7 projects that have gone unfinished due to the fact that I need hands to complete them. 

Disliking: 

The taste of your reflux meds {which your dad tried and also agreed they are yucky} and those baby mittens that cover your hands.

Undecided: 

You are not sure or not if you enjoy walks in the BOB, baths or  your activity mat. However, you are coming around on all of these things! 

*Disclaimer/Mom confession- you are still changing so much every day so it's hard to tell what you actually like and dislike. It changes all the time! I don't think you even know yet. And that's at least what I tell myself when I can't figure out why you are upset.* 

Milestones: 

Everything is a milestone at this point- it's your first 30 days of life for crying out loud {pun intended}! You are making eye contact with those pretty blues, starting to track objects moving slooowly in front of your face, smiling at us {although I'm pretty sure it's involuntary at this point, but a mama can pretend}, and holding your head off of our shoulder. You've got a strong neck under all those chins! 

Happy one month, sweet Evie girl! We have loved every moment with you and can't imagine what we did before you entered the world...just a short month ago! We love you baby girl! 

evie's birth day

We are so very excited to announce... 

Evie Jacquelyn Barrett has arrived!

Born

Tuesday, 3/25/2014 at 1:10 PM

9 lbs. // 5 oz. // 20 inches

 

I went in Monday 3/24 at 40 weeks and 5 days to start induction. This girl was not coming by herself, so we had no choice but to help her along! And at 9 lbs., 5 oz., I am thankful we did not wait another day or she would have walked herself out of the womb! Aunt Lynley came into Waco Monday to keep me busy and my mind off of induction. We went to lunch and got mani/pedis before Tate and I headed to the hospital that evening. After being admitted, the labor and delivery nurse asked my pain level. I told her, "uhhh 3 I guess." She said, "wow, that is pretty good considering you are having some pretty decent contractions." I said, "so THAT is what those feel like! In that case, I've had those on and off for a few weeks." In some ways, the entire experience was a wonderful blur, and in other ways time stood still. Either way, I pray that we remember the details of this oh, so happy day forever!  

Monday 3.24

4:30 PM- Did balloon induction (twice)

6:00 PM- Admitted to Hospital. Nurse Emily, Debbie, and Lee got us admitted and IV ready to go

Tuesday 3.25

5:30 AM- Started on Pitocin 

7:30 AM- Dr. Patterson came to check me before her rounds and decided to break my water at last minute 

8:30 AM- Epidural! Best/weirdest thing ever 

12:00 PM- Tate leaves my Labor & Delivery room (for the first time in the 18 hours we've been there) to grab a quick lunch. Also, Bull, Aunt Lynley, and Poppy leave for a few minutes to eat. When they leave, Bull says, "don't push until I get back." I laugh at the thought of that happening anytime soon.

12:01- Dr. Patterson arrives and has me just try a "practice push." She announces this baby has a lot of hair and decides its go time! 

12: 10- Gran Jan, MiMi, and Aunt Kelly reenter the room to check on us. Everyone realizes we haven't called Tate, so he has no idea what is going on while eating his Which Wich in the hospital cafeteria. LaVon calls him and he literally comes running.

12:25- Pushing begins with me, Tate and Nurse Emily "1...2...3..4..5..6..7..8..9..10..rest...again" 

12:50 PM- Dr. Patterson comes back 

1:00 PM- I look over to see Tate munching on a granola bar! 

1:10 PM- Evie enters the world and our lives are never the same!! 

Other Evie birth facts: 

-The week Evie was due {one week before she arrived}, Dr. Patterson guessed she would only weigh 7 lbs, 5 oz....she was waaaay off! 2 lbs to be exact. 

-After delivering I told Nurse Emily, I was so thankful because "nothing was as hard as I thought it would be." She said, "Good, maybe I will see you same time and same place next year then." Haha, nope. 

-As Evie was getting weighed, the NICU nurse announced, "We have one at 13, 10" Tate said, "she weighs THIRTEEN POUNDS?!" Nurse Nick chuckled and said, "No that is what time she was born- 13:10 military time or 1:10 PM."

-Evie was famous among nurses and doctors as the "big, healthy 9 lb., 5 oz baby girl" born after only being pushed for 45 minutes. 

-Family at the hospital on the day of her arrival: Gran Jan, Bull, MiMi, Poppy, Aunt Lynley, Aunt Kelly, Grandma Flo, Grandpa Lyn, PaPa, Aunt Roxi, and Aunt Katie. The aunts represented well since her famous rockstar and baseball uncles were earning a living to buy gifts for their new precious niece 

-Speaking of, Evie was born the same week Uncle Shawn was assigned to the Rangers Opening Day roster! 

-Evie's first visitors at the hospital included: Sarah Moore, Meredith Lancaster, Mallory Allcorn, Kate McCunniff, Erin & Tyler Ellis

-Evie was born a day apart from Brooklyn, the new daughter of my good friend and co-worker. Evie and Brooklyn were practically hospital roomies, staying only 6 rooms away

We are so thankful to God's grace during this whole experience and to those of you that have prayed for a safe and healthy delivery. Your prayers were so evident due to my peace during this process and the ease of a quick, safe delivery. We knew Evie had meconium in her fluid, but found out later the cord was wrapped around her neck twice and I lost twice the amount of blood than was expected. However, everyone is healthy and happy and we praise God from whom all blessings flow! We couldn't be happier with our 9 lb., 5 oz. bundle of joy! 

amarillo shower

1.25.14

 A few weeks ago we were showered with lots of love and cute baby girl stuff at our Amarillo shower for Evie! Tate so thoughtfully sent his prego wife {and mom in law} on their merry way on the 7 hour drive while he hopped on a plane to meet us there. Ok, actually, he had to teach his Friday ENV lab from 1-5 and the only way he could make it was by plane, but I still like to give him a hard time about it. We had a great time visiting in Amarillo and celebrating E's arrival! I can't believe next time we go back we will be a family of 3...er....4 {sorry Wrigs}! 

{Our wonderful hostesses- love you all!} 

{E is for Evie!}

{snacks...noms...grub...shower essentials} 

{Evie's first Bible and a keepsake hat which also has a blue flower,

 meant to be her "something blue" for waaaaay down the road. Thanks Gran Jan!} 

{Barrett boys representing with a giant card that was given to 

Tate's grandma when his dad was born. A cute addition to E's room}

{Famiy! So glad you all came in for the shower to celebrate E} 

{Present opening time!} 

allen shower

Last weekend was my baby shower in Allen! I was overwhelmed with the love and support of wonderful family and friends that came together to celebrate our baby girl. It was a packed house.  I had 6 amazing hostesses {shout out to Lynley, Meg, Kels, Lezah, Katie, and Nikki! You guys are the best!} that carefully thought out every tiny detail. It was the perfect way to celebrate baby E! There is no way I could do it justice with words, so go ahead and see for yourselves. Sidenote: we had to buy a new car to get all of our goodies home, but more on that later...

 

As they say, "it takes a village," and we are beyond blessed to already have our little village rallying around and loving on baby E before she is even here! Thank you Lord for lifelong family and friends.

traditions- new and old

As my mom always said, "Make new friends traditions, but keep the old, 

one is silver and the other gold." 

{This is the song she casually sang around the house, 

then it got stuck in your head on repeat for 48 hours.}

Traditions are so very dear to me. I am not fearful of change, I welcome it actually...until it comes to holidays. Then step off. When it comes to celebrating the holidays I like things to be familiar and reminiscent, as we all probably do in our own way. People have asked me what was the toughest transition after getting married? Tate would say sharing a bed {to be fair, I am kind of a sleep schizophrenic}, where I would say sharing holidays. We both love our family, including the families we were so very blessed to marry into, but shaking up those traditions you've had for over 20 years can be an adjustment. We are getting to the point, coming up on 5 years of marriage believe it or not, where even the things that were once new and foreign are now becoming warm and familiar- for me new traditions included: tacos {or "tacas," as Grandma would say} on Christmas Eve, multiple trips to the outlet mall pre/post any holiday, presents ON the Christmas tree, and reading the Christmas story before opening gifts {funny thing- the first time Tate's parents said " it's time for the Christmas story," I thought they were going to read Twas the Night Before Christmas and was shocked when they pulled out the Bible, but too embarrassed to tell that story until now}. For Tate new traditions included: mac and cheese on the Thanksgiving table, stockings, gambling at Grandma Flo's {wink}, and fried shrimp Christmas lunch. I get excited thinking about passing on these long-standing traditions to our growing family. It also makes me stop and think about what I want the focus to be in our home during this season. It's easy to get wrapped up this time of year, but I certainly don't want to miss Jesus. I want to experience the joy, peace and hope that He brings. 

This year we are introducing something new to our house that I hope carries on each year, the Advent calendar. I never heard much of the term "Advent" growing up, but I have learned more about it in the past few years. Advent is more than a Christmas countdown, it is a time when peace, and hope, and joy can break through the anxiety of our busy lives. It is a time to remember and reflect on Jesus' birth. For centuries God prepared His people for the coming of the Savior, which is why I think it is so special to take time every year to prepare my heart for the same thing. So here we go! Every night, starting with Dec. 1st {cough, or Dec. 5th when I actually got around to making the calendar}, we read designated scripture for that day. I love the thought that next year we will be reading these together with our 9 month old baby girl! I hope she enjoys the Christmas story...both the real one and Twas the Night Before Christmas.

In case you want to join in on the fun...

Thanks to the only source of creativity, Pinterest, I found a really simple printable here. Also, I found a free daily Advent devotional here. It's by Billy Graham, so it has to be legit, right?! 

24 weeks: ear of corn

Happy Thanksgiving our little ear of corn!
We are so thankful for the healthy, growing baby that you are and the joy you have already brought to our lives.

You are just over a pound! Uncle Tye and Aunt Katie just got a little kitten, Bruiser, who is also a pound(ish), so when I held him, I thought about heavy you are...but hopefully less furry. You are also about a foot or so long! You are still kicking away, but mostly still at night right now, or at least that is when I notice it. It's like you know when I lay down in my bed and go to town. Since this week is Thanksgiving, we have gotten to see lots of family! The Williams/King/Walton clan came to Waco for an early Thanksgiving celebration at our house. 19 people! It was a packed full, fun time! As we were laying in the living room floor watching the Baylor football game, Aunt Kelly, Jayma, Bull and Gran Jan wanted to take turns feeling you move. We spent the day before Thanksgiving, the day of and the day after in New Braunfels with the Barrett crew. We took 3 trips to the outlet mall in 3 days, per usual, and LaVon "Mimi" jumped at the chance to buy you some cute outfits. In other big news, Lynley and I got a LOT accomplished in your room this week! Here is a sneak peek, with more to come later. We go for our next check up next week. Can't wait to hear our heart beat again! 

gender reveal: bows or bowties?

Bows it is!
-Sugar and spice and everything nice,

that's what little girls are made of-

A few weeks ago we had a little gender reveal party! We found out that baby B is a girl the day before, but wanted to see our friends and family find out in person. It was a blast! In order to have a successful gender reveal, you need a few essential things:

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1. Delectable treats...check!

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2. Good company...double check!

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3. An adorable puppy sister that thinks she's human...check!

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4. A fun way to reveal {it's pink, shhhh}...check! 

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{3, 2, 1...it's a girl!!}

{and for the family and friends not in the 254, we sent reveal cards to open}

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5. And last but not least, a dedicated silly string cleaner-uper! Thanks Rob!

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It was a night for the books! We had a great time celebrating baby GIRL and seeing LaVon literally dance in circles upon seeing PINK silly string! Thanks to all who made this day special! Thankful our little one will be surrounded with great family and friends.