6 days

Little Will...it is hard to believe that tomorrow, you will have been in our lives for 1 week already! Josh asked me today if it seemed like forever ago that Will was in my stomach...and it kind of does. :)

G & G Petersen headed back to SL this afternoon, and Grandma Barber is now here for a few days. Becca & Jack stopped over tonight for a few hours...it has been a good day! I am TIRED and may have a headache...but oh, Josh and I are SO blessed by wonderful family members, great friends, and two precious babies. :)

Yesterday, Grandma Petersen made sugar cookies for Keatin to frost and decorate. OH MY - Keatin stuck with this activity for probably 1.5 hours! It was fun to watch her and help out.



Keatin and Will were hanging on the couch this morning...tried to get a few good pictures!

restless night...but still perfect :)

Will decided not to sleep much last night...not sure what his deal was. More restless, awake a lot, and just wanting to eat more. Oh well...I guess I will cut him some slack, given that he is only 5 days old. :) Mommy and Daddy are TIRED, but we will just hope for a better night tonight! Keatin, however, slept all night AGAIN...which I am SO grateful about! So far, she really has handled this transition SO well...I really am so proud to be her mommy. :)

I got the staples taken out of my incision this morning, so that feels good. Will had his checkup at the hospital about an hour ago. When we left the hospital on Wednesday night, he weighed 7 lbs. 2 ounces...and today he was up to 7 lbs. 5 ounces, which is great! He showed no indication of jaundice and in the nurse's words, "he is perfect." :) Wait...we already knew/thought that. :)

Thank you to all our friends and family who have called, sent messages, visited, or sent gifts. Will truly is blessed and we are one lucky family!

Just a few pics...this was Will last night when we were cooking dinner. I appear to have another child who likes their pacifier. :)

Keatin and Mommy time - baking some cookies! (Please ignore the very tired, nothing done to her hair or face Megan.) :)

~ home ~

We are home! Will and I made the trek across town last night before supper. It is SO wonderful being at home with my family...my family, I like saying those words. :)

We have enjoyed a lazy day at home. Grandma Petersen & Aunt Jen went out to run a few errands for me, and Daddy got to go to the gym and do a few projects around the house. Will has been a happy camper and has spent the day sleeping, eating, and pooping. :) Keatin went to Jessica's house mid-morning, and we will pick her up whenever she wakes up from her nap. Tomorrow morning I have to get the staples out of my stomach and Will has a recheck at the hospital at 1 pm.

Snoozing at the hospital yesterday morning...

Mommy put my "going home" outfit on me...Big Sister Keatin picked it out for me. :)


The Barber 4! We are ready to go home...


The whole fam - it takes an army to get a baby home. :)

Daddy and Mommy gave me a quick bath this morning. I cried of course...but did pretty good!



My daddy and me. :)

Snoozing in the bouncy seat.

big sister-little brother

Got a few good pictures of the big sister with her little brother last night. :) Keatin was SO excited to hold Will...and they actually cuddled together in the chair for several minutes. Makes my heart smile to see my babies together like this. :) (And yes - she wore the same shirt yesterday...Josh said she insisted she put her sister shirt back on yesterday morning.) :)

[our little man]

Our lives have been forever blessed again... :)

William Paul Barber arrived yesterday morning (12-13-10) at 8:19 am via c-section. He weighed in at 7 pounds, 13 ounces and is 20.5 inches long. I could tell from the instant sparkle in daddy's eye once they got his precious little body out that Josh now had a son. :)

It is still up for debate who Will looks like, but he definitely has my/Keatin's nose.

Keatin was SO excited yesterday afternoon...both to see mommy & daddy, and to meet her Baby "Whale." (OK - I know that looks funny, but oh - it is adorable the way she says it.) :) She did a good job last night of being careful around mommy and being gentle with Will.

I am TIRED, but feel SO much better today than yesterday. Will and I have been hanging out all morning. He already got circumcised and has been pretty sleepy ever since.

I just keep looking over at his precious little face...wow, I am one blessed mommy. :)


Before we headed back to the OR yesterday morning...

Will is here...the pediatrician and nurses check him out!


When Keatin arrived, Will was under the warmer/heater. We got her a chair to stand on...and she was in awe. :)




The proud grandparents... :)

Mommy, Keatin, and Will...Keatin was giving me some kisses before she got ready to go home with Daddy.

Took these pics this morning...I think he is pretty good looking!

just the 3 of us...1 more day...

We are the Barber "3" for just one more day... :) SO exciting and nerve-racking at the same time... I am 39 weeks pregnant today...and will be a mommy of 2 SO soon!

God has produced the first big snowstorm of the winter to help us celebrate - ha ha! We are in a blizzard warning until tomorrow morning...VERY cold here, high winds, rain/ice earlier today, and now blowing snow everywhere. G & G Petersen and Grandma Barber are planning on coming to Ames tomorrow afternoon. Of course, we hope they can make it...but Josh and I both said tonight, it is NOT WORTH IT to have 3 of our parents all in a car together in bad weather. We would much rather they arrive SAFELY later on Monday to meet their new grand-baby. :) I guess only time will tell...

I think Keatin has sensed all week that something is about to change. We have talked about the new baby A LOT this week, and she keeps saying how "cited" (excited) she is. :)

Today, we joined Becca, Lyle, and Jack at an event at their church...live nativity, Christmas crafts, musical puppets for kids, and even cookie decorating. Keatin enjoyed it all and it was really nice to hang out with such good friends, celebrating the season and all we have to be thankful for. :) Enjoy the pics!

Keatin was all excited to see the animals at the live nativity...but of course, was scared once she got too close...go figure!

Josh, Keatin, Jack, and Lyle...and a bunny. :)

Inside, making a paper bag snowman with Becca...



Decorating cookies after lunch...they were yummy!

38 weeks

38 weeks pregnant today...kind of surreal to think about. :)

Keatin and I are just hanging this morning...Josh is at work. We are going to go shopping in a bit and she is going to pick out one girl and one boy outfit for her baby sister/brother to wear home from the hospital. I thought that would be special for her to know she picked it out. :)

I packed the baby's bag this morning, and will work on packing my own as well...I had 2 people at work yesterday tell me they didn't think I would make it until the 13th...so not sure if they know something I don't, but makes me wonder if I appear to other people HUGE and ready to be done! It is weird to tell the kids at school that I will be there one more week...and then I will be gone - AAHH! I haven't had the HORRIBLE carpel tunnel in my hands like I did with Keatin, but they have definitely been sore/more swollen the last week or so. Josh told me last night he didn't even recognize my fingers...thanks hon. :) But, I can say as I type this, it is hard to get them bent and in the right positions... I will be going to work sometime this weekend...still need to finish all the lesson plans for my sub when I am gone....nothing like waiting until the last minute, huh? :)

Hope you all have WONDERFUL weekends - I plan on enjoying my awesome family and some friends! :)