Get in my belly

 

Happy Wednesday! My King Ranch Chicken turned out excellent.  So excellent that I decided to have it today for lunch. And I'm sure I will eat it once more for supper.  A good thing about Trever going back to college is there is actual leftovers when I cook.  If he's here, it will be gone in one sitting! (Sorry Trever!!)

Speaking of Trever, here's a kind of recent picture of him.  I never see him enough to take a picture of him.  He's ready to get this Spring semester over with so he can get out of East Texas. I don't blame him. 

Seriously a picture of a donut.  This is someting I was craving at 4:00 today at my office.  I can't help myself.  I really can't.  I walk by it and all I can think about is warming it up in the microwave and how good it will taste. And it was soooooooo good! I need to take advantage of these situations, bc once Tenlee is here....my will power has got to be stronger and I must be harder on myself!  

 

So cheers to donuts!

Tonight my club volleyball team has their first game (scrimmage).  We needed to scrimmage someone before we left for San Antonio this weekend.  Worked out wonderfully because it's in Longview! Yippee for not having to drive to Carthage.   

News....And it's pretty BIG!

We had a really good weekend.  And it all started early Friday morning. 

 

 I got a call on Thursday afternoon that a realtor wanted to show our house about 9:00 that morning.  So Thursday night, Leven and I cleaned and cleaned the house for the showing that next morning.  Friday morning rolls around and I leave the house smelling nice and clean with lights on! I get another call about 10:30 am asking if another realtor could show our house around lunch time. What? Two in one day? My heart was pumpin! And then I get another call later that afteroon asking if one more realtor could show the house about 4:00! I was speechless. 

 

Now let me back up just a little.....

 My SIL is our realtor and we've had a contract with her for 6 months.  We prayed, thought about it over and over and finally decided that after our contract was up with her that we would try listing our house with another realtor.  It was such a tough decision because she is our family and we didn't want any feelings to be hurt.  But she completely understood.  Now here's the kicker...her last day on our contract was FRIDAY! Can you believe that? Her last day before we changed realtors and our house was shown 3 times.  Now, I know you are probably wondering if any of those 3 showings turned out to be a keeper.  YES! The couple that looked at the house at lunch was very interested and made us an offer Friday night.  We went back and forth with them all day Saturday and finally agreed on something.  We signed the contract with Chrissy on Sunday. 

 

Now let me back up even more.......

Right after Christmas, I get a Facebook message from a friend in Mexia.  She starts off the message by saying, "You will probably think I'm crazy....".  She goes on to tell me about the St. Joseph statue.  She asked me if I had ever heard of people using this statue to help sell their home.  Well, of course I hadn't heard about it and immediately googled it.  At this point I'm pretty desperate and will try anything. 

 http://www.ehow.com/how_8032708_st-joseph-statue-burial-instructions.html

So after reading about how it all works (different sites give you different instructions), I got on ebay and ordered the Barker family a St. Joseph statue.  Now of course Leven thought I was crazy and when the statue came in the mail a couple of days later, he didn't want to have any part of the burial.  So Taydem and I grabbed a shovel and headed to the front yard next to the FOR SALE SIGN in the freezing cold and followed the instructions.  I buried that little man and read the prayer that came with the kit.  I'm not catholic by no means, so Taydem and I said our own prayer afterwards. 

Now again fast forward to this past Friday.  Is this crazy or what?  Our friend in Mexia said it worked for them and two of her friends.  After the third showing, I called Leven and quickly reminded him of the little man buried out in the front yard.  I'm not saying this St. Joseph statue worked for us, but I know the POWER OF PRAYER did. 

 

Please continue to pray for us and for this couple to NOT back out on the contract like the first couple did.  We are so ready to get moved out and headed to Tatum.  I am so happy that this is all taking place befor Tenlee makes her arrival. Now if we can only make it to the closing date!   

I haven't bought too many things for Tenlee yet, because of our friends and family throwing us a baby shower.  I really want to wait until after the shower and then figure out what all I still need.  I still have Taydem's car seat but of course the seat cover isn't up to par.  So I found this 5 piece set and got a really great deal on it.  I couldn't pass it up!

This is some kind of smore something I got while waiting in the grocery check out line in Walmart. It was very tasty.  Just something else that I was craving at the time.

Saturday night I met up with some old girlfriends for a night of catching up and painting.  It's been just too long and I really enjoyed myself.

We were painting wood that night instead of a canvas.  Very cute idea. So I was trying to match the baby bedding for Tenlee's room.

After we got the final look, they showed us how to go back over the edges and some parts of the wood to make a distressed look.  I was pretty proud of my "Picasso" self.  You can't really tell in the pictures, but the distressed look turned out really good.

Lacey, Brittany and the baby bump...AKA myself!

Happy Tuesday!

I am making King Ranch Chicken tonight.  It's been forever since I made this.  The first time I had it was in college.  My good friend, Samantha, made it one night and I have been hooked ever since.  

 

DB

Enough already..

I have been sick with a cold for more than a week now.  I am about to cut my nose off (not really)! But having to blow my brains out every 15 minutes is about to drive me cookoo! I am taking medicine but, um....I don't think it's working very well. 

 

So last night I added my new iron pill to the rest of the pile.  I can't stand taking medicine.  Sorry I'm complaining today, but goodness.

One more complaint then I'm done----> Enough of this nasty weather already! This is probably why I can't seem to get well.

Club volleyball is going really good.  I know I say it every year, but I LOVE this group of girls.  Just the sweetest most hard working gals ever! I can't stand the fact that I can't get out there and play along with them.  Two practices ago I was tossing free balls over the net while the girls were playing it out.  I was standing in the middle of the court with the ball cart in front of me (well it was mainly to the side of me).  All of a sudden our middle hit a good one, and I mean GOOD ONE right at me.  I turned my hip and stuck my butt out so my belly would hide behind the ball cart.  The ball hit me right on the side of my hip.  I was completely ok and I was pumped because of how good the hit was.  But the other coach freaked out and pretty much everyone else in the gym.  So I got fired from throwing free balls over the net.

 

I'm excited about our first tournament.  We are heading to San Antonio for two days of volleyball.  Leven is going with me and Taydem will stay with my parents on this tournament.  She will drive us crazy in the car for that 5-6 hour drive!

 

After the weekend of volleyball in San Antonio, the next weekend will consist of my nieces 2nd birthday party.  They are having their birthday together this year! Awesome. Then the following weekend (which is also Super Bowl Sunday), our family and friends are throwing us that joint baby shower.  So we are pretty much booked up for a few weekends.  I wasn't going to register, but I decided I better register for a few things.  It's been over 6 years since I've had any kind of baby stuff in my house. 

 

Happy Thursday!

DB

Smart Ones

Hey guess what?? Trever made the Dean's List for this past Fall semester! This is one accomplishment that I never got to put on my resume.  Gosh, we are so proud of him.  And he was actually pretty bummed out about that big 3.65.  He says he's going to do better this semester.  I love that he's a "go getter!" He is really wanting to go ahead and transfer to a university for next fall and he's thinking about A&M (if he can get in) or Texas Tech. He's ready to graduate and start making some $$$!

 

He asked me today if he could drive down to Tatum and pick Taydem up from school and spend the rest of the afternoon with her.  He heads back to school tomorrow and wants to spend some time with her before he has to leave.  Now, listen ladies (girls!), is this a sweet guy or what?? Taydem is going to be so excited.  He's taking her to AirU and probably grabbing a bite to eat.  This is why she's sad when he's not at home.  He plays hide and go seek with her all the time. And she just laughs and laughs.  And makes noises so he can find her! She just can't help it. 

 

I got a letter from Tay's teacher yesterday asking permission to have her tested for the Gifted and Talented program.  Why yes, you sure can! I can only pray that Taydem is as smart as her older brother. And that she never asks for help on any math or science homework growing up through school.  Because this Momma will not be any help! Hopefully she will do well and get asked into the program.  If not, I'm just glad she was asked!

  So....here's a look at my new (normal) hair color! I loved the blonde for like 3 months and then got tired of having to get it colored over and over again.  That's rough on some hair.  My hair was constantly tangled and just not at all healthy looking.  I'm loving the dark chocolate color and I hope it doesn't fade too much.

Do you ever give yourself a challenge? I can be that type of person every now and then.  I like a good challenge.  So my challenge right now is NOT biting my nails.  Thanks to my parents (they both do it) I bite my nails.  Always have! So my goal is to not bite my nails until after Tenlee arrives.  I'm also ready for the challenge of losing all this baby weight once she arrives.  That will be a big one! But I'm always trying to prove someone wrong.  And right now it's Leven Barker.  I want to show him that I WILL lose this weight! I enjoy being pregnant and all the perks that go along with it. 

 

She's a miracle and God's blessing to us. 

Baby Love

I think this is a good amount of baby clothes to start with.  Considering they are 6 years old!  Danin and I are so blessed with wonderful friends and family.  They are throwing us a joint baby shower at the beginning of February!

Saturday we headed to Tyler to find some Annie Sloan paint (painting the rocking chair and baby bed) and to buy myself some maternity clothes.  We got the paint and got the clothes. Oh, and some Marble Slab!

When we got home from shopping, Taydem and I decided to go for a walk.  I needed some exercise (walking off that Marble Slab) and Taydem wanted to ride her bike.  I love that she can ride without training wheels now.  Makes it a whole lot easier for the both of us. 

Yesterday I had another doctor appointment along with another sonogram and the wonderful glucose test.  I passed the glucose test (yippee!!) but found out I'm anemic.  Which just means I need more iron in my body.  She called in a subscription for some iron pills and I should be getting those sometime today.  Tenlee is getting BIG.  She is weighing 2 1/2 lbs and really starting to fill out.  Her due date went up a day because of her size.  So now we are looking around 4-4-14! And this is the day I really want to have her.  She would not stop moving.  I finally rolled over on my side and she captured only 2 shots of her.  The one with her hand next to her face looks like she's smiling.  Awh! It's getting so close and so real! Hopefully this weekend we will move Trever's bedroom furniture down to Tatum to the apartment where we will live while our house is getting built.  Then I can start working on Tenlee's room.  Poor Trever is getting kicked out!

Time for the blonde highlights to hit the road.  I love change.  So I am going back to dark brown and I think I'm cutting it around the length below.  So we will see after this afternoon what I decide to do! If only I could get my hair to be wavy like that.

TGIF

I don't know about you, but I'm ready for my kids and husband to go back to SCHOOL!!

Today my mom and dad took the older grand kids to the movies. And then Austyn and Taydem were getting to spend the night. I get just as excited as Taydem does. Because right now at this exact moment while I type on my phone and post to this blog, I'm soaking in a really hot bubble bath with candles lite! Sooooo nice and relaxing. If Taydem were here, she would've already busted through the bathroom door at least 5 times telling me some random thing that she's been sitting around thinking about. So thanks Mom and Dad!!





Yesterday marked my 27th week of carrying this tiny human inside of me! Scary how fast it's going. SCARY! I go to the doctor on Monday for my lovely glucose test and blood work, another sono and visit with my doctor. Tomorrow Mom, Danin and I are headed to Tyler to look for some Annie Sloan paint so I can paint Taydem's baby bed and rocking chair. AND, I have to break down and buy some maternity clothes. I've been blessed so far with my friends letting me wear theirs. But my gosh, they must be way smaller than me Bc I suddenly can't wear their stuff!


New Years Day I was moody. I've been pretty good this pregnancy with my mood swings but Wednesday just wasn't a good day. I started feeling bad on Monday and I never took any medicine. And of course I kept getting worse. By Wednesday I was just flat out pooped. And I had to take Christmas down that day. No at all what I wanted to do. By bedtime I had a heating pad on my back and was in bed early! Then in comes my knight in shining armor with a chocolate milkshake from Wendy's (BTW-the best!). After my bad day, this piece of heaven made it alright! He knows what will make me happy!


I ended up finally going to the doctor yesterday and staying home from work. I didn't get out of bed until after noon.

This is a picture from New Years Eve! Taydem and her sweet friend Julia. Her parents are new to town and I invited them to come hang out and meet some more people! So glad they came.


Whew- I am now sweating while still laying in this bath. Time to get out! I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend. Keep praying for our house to sell!!

❤️
DB

Out with the old....in with the NEW!

Happy New Year's Eve!

 

I am so ready to get off work and go home and take a nap.  The past few nights I haven't slept well at all.  I remember being pregnant with Taydem it was the same way.  The bigger I got, the harder it was to sleep.  Not only getting bigger, but I can't stand going to the restroom this many times a day.  And having to wake up from a good night's sleep to go empty my bladder wears me out! Well I start my 3rd trimester next neek so the count down is on.  And it also means more restless nights ahead of me.  I don't even want to weigh myself.  And I am already looking up different work outs on Pinterest so I can be ready come May.  These next few months are going to fly by.  And with coaching club volleyball, my weekends are already filling up.  I feel like a roly-poly!

 

On a good note, some of our friends brought us some diapers that are now to small for their baby girl! Heck yes, we want them!

We are so thankful for anything we can get........

I took an updated picture last night of my gut, I mean my beautiful growing pregnant belly :) OMG! It's getting out there for sure.  And so is my face! And my legs! And my arms! And my boobs....well they've been out there for a few months now! The joys of making a baby inside of you.  I'm almost 27 weeks. 13 more.....I can do this!

So remember last week when I posted about different things Leven has been saying about my ever growing gut? Well I have some new ones. And yes, I laughed at them all:

- "That cookie cake won't last until morning!"
- After eating at Sam's in Fairfield, I say, "Man, I'm full!" And Leven responds with, "well you should be, nobody else in there got any bread pudding!"
- I get out of the bathtub one night and he says, "Dang, where'd all the water go?"
-"I'm not taking you out in public until you lose that weight.  I'll probably end up getting you a personal trainer!!!"

Oh Leven..............what would I do without your annoying sarcasm? I would def miss it!

So cheers to the last day of 2013!

 

Each year brings new highs and lows. 

Leven took a new job (yeah!), we put our house up for sale (any day now!), Trever graduated high school then started college and we bought him a new truck, Taydem moved school districts and grew like a foot taller, WE MADE ANOTHER HUMAN, we bought a fancy red camaro (that neither Leven or myself can get in and out of very easily), and we each celebrated another year on this earth! We also said goodbye to some loved ones.  We miss Mike each day and Taydem talks about him all the time. 

The Circle of Life.....

 

Tonight we are headed to Tatum to sit around a bonfire and laugh and make new memories with our friends.  And I'm just blessed to have my brothers and sisters as my family AND my friends!

 

 May 2014 be a year to remember