Christmas Card Photos

The months leading up to December I was thinking about our Christmas card. It involved a pencil skirt and big necklace for me, and perhaps a suit coat and scarf for Aaron. A lot of reds, blacks, and whites. Something very classy. I spent countless hours trying to figure out a way to make this idea in my head come to life in a very affordable fashion. Nothing was really coming together, but I held hope that I could make it happen. Then one day in November Aaron says to me, "Let's do a cheesy ugly sweater Christmas card this year." In an instant all of my classy Christmas card ideas were gone, I said, "That is an awesome idea. Let's do it." 

I enlisted the help of my mother and her awesome thrift store finding abilities to help with our cause. One large package of sweaters later we were set. Camera. Tripod. Timer. Perfection.

In case we weren't able to get our card out to you, here are the three pictures that made the cut.

I honestly don't know where Aaron learned to make faces like that, but he has some serious skills.

Here are a few honorable mentions.

We only took about 10 pictures total and the whole process was hilarious from start to finish.

So Merry Christmas Y'all! From the Super Dee Duper Barnards!

The First Trimester with Baby #2

I should have been more tipped off to the "you're probably pregnant" vibe when I started feeling nauseated. Food tasted funny in my mouth despite enjoying those same foods just a week prior. I talked myself out of it, however, because I was never sick or nauseated with Grace. Nausea wasn't part of my last pregnancy, why would it start now?

That was just the beginning of the completely wrong ideas I would be having about how this pregnancy would go.

Mind you with Grace I rarely felt pregnant, especially in the first trimester. Other than going to the doctor and seeing the baby on the ultrasound I didn't really have a lot of pregnant lady symptoms.

This pregnancy has been nothing like the last one. From day one I felt nauseated. It started in the morning and usually lasted all day. Saltines and DDP-CF (caffeine free) seemed to get me through. At the six week mark I started to spot. It scared me. I told myself "I knew this was too good to be true," but clung the the nausea as proof that things were still going strong. After a little more spotting the next day and a little more nausea, I was in the clear.

From that point on I learned that if I ate specific foods that I would feel better. They had to be salty and full of protein. Peanuts, eggs, string cheese, and more fast food than a person ever wants to admit they have eaten. I drove through Taco Bell twice in one day. I spent a week eating Wendy's homestyle chicken sandwiches for lunch or dinner. I craved greasy, salty fries and burgers. I would trek to Five Guys or In-N-Out to really treat myself. You know how on normal occasions after you eat fast food and you feel greasy and heavy and yucky afterwards? I would eat it and feel amazing. I hated myself for how good it made me feel. But it curbed the nausea for long stretches and I was in complete and total survival mode.

Sweets were the enemy. Pure and simple. As a sweets loving person this was really hard for me. I wanted sweets, but this baby did not. It was hard to back off my normal inclinations for things like sweets. I would go places and add them to my plate but as soon as I took the first bite I would be sick and the nausea would stay an unwelcome guest. I remember having a few bites of cheesecake at a Relief Society meeting and it was a huge mistake.

My system completely slowed down. My insides felt like they were in a constant battle. Do you blame them? Nothing but fast food and hormones, I'd back up too. I was (and sometimes still am) about 2 seconds away from banging on Jamie Lee Curtis' door and begging for an IV of pure Activia.

Hormones. I remember crying once or twice while pregnant with Grace for completely unjustified reasons. Once was after ruining waffles. I started crying and just couldn't stop. Now I have zero control over my emotions. I cried during the trailer of the Hunger Games. Not even the movie, but the trailer. While we were in Utah Aaron and I took Grace to a playplace at McDonald's to let her run around. While Aaron was getting us some ice cream Grace got completely knocked off her feet and leveled by a boy running around the structure. She started to cry, and so did I. The little boy kept trying to apologize and I was trying desperately to not let him or his mother across the room know that I was crying because Grace had gotten knocked over. I cried for a good 5 minutes. I felt so stupid. I cry during commercials or when people say nice things to me. Thank goodness I always wear water-proof mascara.

I can say most of these things in the past tense now. At 14 weeks along things are tapering off and I'm starting to feel more normal. I can survive the day without eating fast food, and I have welcomed sweet treats back into my life with open arms. I still prefer super salty foods, but I can get away with most things just fine. I feel like I'm starting to show, although Aaron is still yet to be convinced.

I have no inclinations one way or the other about what gender we are having. I'm a little trigger shy at placing a guess. I was dead convinced that Grace was a boy, and was totally floored when they said girl that it took me a good week to wrap my mind around things. This time I am not leaning one way or the other and would honestly be happy with either. This baby was such a surprise that it can come however it wants to and we'll be happy.

The number one question people are asking me is "Do you guy have any names you like?" With a calm and grounded confidence I can tell people that we have no names. Not even a small or short list. Aaron likes to play the "name game" after we know what we're having, and I like to play the name game two years before we even start trying. So we have played it a few times laying down names that we like on the table and we have learned pretty quickly that we don't like the same names. Naming Grace was really easy. From day 1 of our marriage Grace Katherine was our favorite girls name, it required no discussion. Now, neither of us is dead set on a name and the ones we both love the other doesn't like in the slightest. This goes for both girl names and boy names. It should be an interesting process naming this baby.

I can't believe 3 months have already gone by, but I'm looking forward to the second trimester and finding out what gender B. Barns the Dos is.

The Happiest of New Year's Eves

We started off our New Year's Eve in the best possible way. Double piggy buns.

We got together with friends later in the evening for homemade chili, bite sized pieces of cornbread (just kidding Dave), and Mac and Cheese for the kiddos. Our hosts went all out in the decor department, and I was in awe of their skills.

At 8pm we did a Kids Countdown.

And Grace gave a New Year's kiss to her favorite man.

Then after scriptures and prayers the kids were tucked snugly into bed and then the adults became crazy party animals.

Now, your definition and my definition of "Crazy Party Animals" might differ. Let me read to you from my personal dictionary.

Crazy Party Animals: (noun) those who make lovely conversation, feast on apple cobbler and ice cream, roll their eyes at the MTV countdown, decide to watch the NYC countdown at 11pm Texas time because why delay the inevitable, chat until midnight, watch the NYC countdown again, then pack up their toddler and head home to fall asleep as soon as humanly possible.

That matches your definition, right?

I saved my New Year's Kiss for my favorite man as well.

2011 was a wonderfully interesting year but I am really looking forward to all that 2012 will bring. Also, please do not be deceived by the flowiness of my shirt. It makes me look a whole lot more pregnant than I am.

Thank you Pistorias family for a fabulous New Year's Eve celebration.

Things We Love About Christmas 2011

Traveling to Utah (and making all our connecting flights)

Playing with Aunt Rachel in the snow.

Playing with the snow, until realizing the snow and bare hands aren't a good mix then crying and begging to have your hands in warm water.

Beautiful, gorgeous mountains.

Cafe Rio (and maybe eating there three times...)

Free kids quesadillas at Cafe Rio

Visiting Diana

Finally getting all of the girls together. Grace, Ella, Brooklyn, and Audrey.

Realizing that Grace finally grasps the concept of a funny face picture. I couldn't have been more proud in this moment.

Running to Chick Fil A with a car full of kids

Waving to the Chick Fil A cow and literally throwing French fries to the back of the van for the girls.

Learning to play Tetris on the GameBoy.

Magelby's French toast with butter syrup. Mmmmmmmm.

Drawing with Aunt Sarah.

Laughing hysterically while playing Balderdash. Favorite made-up definitions:

Scurfer: A southern term for "What are you scared for?" (written by Aaron)

Slumboes: A slumber party for young boys. (written by Joe)

Relaxing

Coloring

Doing the Nativity on Christmas Eve

Setting up all Nativity pieces in a chorus line rather than the usual spots.

Setting out a plate of cookies and milk for Santa, and carrots for the reindeer.

Being awesome at making gingerbread people.

Muumuu lady- Kara; Surfer dude- Rachel; Sumo Wrestler: Aaron

Getting out butts kicked by Grandee in a Christmas Eve game of Phase 10

CHRISTMAS MORNING!!

A brotherly fu-man-chu shave party with matching shirts.

Lunch with Great Grandma Shirley

Searching for her hidden Scooby Doo. Seriously, where are you?

A Grace and Grace reunion

Seeing all the airplanes.

A champion flying companion. (and stickers and iPhones making it possible)

We had an incredible time with Aaron's family in Utah this year celebrating Christmas. It was the perfect way to send 2011 out with a bang.

How We Found Out

I am a fan of stories. Long stories. Stories with too many details that put you exactly in the shoes of the person telling the story. I love hearing them. I love telling them. Don't be surprised when I tell you the reader's digest version of your story really isn't cutting it for me.

So for those of you passionate about stories with too many details. I have a story for you. How we found out I was pregnant.

Like clockwork my period came. It should have. It always started light and after four days it would kick into high gear. I had the pattern memorized at this point. I had taken many a pregnancy test convincing myself that my "light period" was implantation bleeding. The tests were always negative and I wound up doing a lot of laundry. It happened more than I care to admit. A heartbreaking roller coaster that I loathed and yet could not get off the ride. This time things were different. I held no hope and moved forward with my life. Taking the necessary steps to prevent unneeded days spent in my laundry room. I was holding no hope. We had a fertility specialist appointment scheduled less than two weeks down the road. I thought about which tests would be done, constantly thinking how the doctors could probably care less about my timeline and the tests alone could take months. Oh well. I moved forward.

My Mom came in town that weekend. She was having surgery for a deviated septum and with my Dad at work she figured the best in home care would be in Texas. Stacey and I were willing to be her nurses for the ordeal. On Sunday Aaron and I drove to my sister's house for a family dinner. After good food, good conversation, and a football game, Aaron kissed me goodnight and headed home. I was spending the night at Stacey's to help get Carly to school and watch Taylor while Stacey took my Mom to the hospital. During the hustle and bustle of the nighttime routine I went to the bathroom where I made a shocking discovery. My period had stopped dead in its tracks. Three days in and suddenly nothing. I was confused and thought to myself, "There is no way. We didn't even try this month. No methods to improve our chances. Nothing. There is absolutely no way."

A few weeks back Stacey mentioned to me that she had a spare pregnancy test should I ever want to use it. I was convinced I was not pregnant and wanted instant confirmation that was the case before I rode the hope roller coaster all over again. I explained my situation and after a brief ransacking of a few bathroom drawers we couldn't find the test. Part of me was relieved. I didn't want to relive the disappointment that always followed test taking. I knew I wasn't pregnant. I didn't need a test telling me  too. Normally a situation like that would drive me mentally insane, but I was calm and confident that I knew what was happening. My body did funny stuff all the time, why would this be different. I texted Aaron and asked for his advice, he wrote back, "I would wait a week or so before you take a test. Give your body some time, it always does weird stuff." I wrote back, "Good call. You're probably right."

The next morning proceeded as scheduled. I got Carly to school and the little ones fed and entertained.

I didn't feel very well, but I chalked it up to the fact that I don't sleep well in different places. In the afternoon Stacey brought my Mom home. Drugged, dry mouth, sore nose. My heart went out for her, she didn't look comfortable in the slightest.

The little ones flocked to her and offered the best comfort they could think of. Foot massages. I'm sure Grace really had no idea what she was doing.

We made sure she was comfortable and we sat on the couch talking. In our conversation it came up that my Mom probably needed a slurpee to help with her dry throat. At one point we were quiet and my sister whispered, "Did your period come back?" for fear that my whispering would lead to questions I wrote a response back on my phone. "No." Stacey whispered, "Do you want me to go get you a pregnancy test. " I wrote back, "No. I'm scared. I don't know if I want to take one." I don't know how much time went by before I stood up and said, "Mom I'm going to go grab you a slurpee, what flavor do you want?" It was my cover to buy a pregnancy test.

My heart pounded nervously. "Why am I doing this? I'm just going to feel stupid again." My mind was in a million places yet I was oddly calm. I felt a spiritual feeling, one I equated to feeling when I was about to get bad news, and my heart sank. Heavenly Father was trying to protect me before my heart broke again, I just knew it. But I kept driving. I quick stop in Walmart. Then a quick drive to RaceTrace for a slurpee and I was on my way home. After giving my Mom her much needed cold beverage I snuck upstairs to take the test. My heart pounded so hard I could barely see. I sat with my back to the sink texting a friend about a play date we were planning for our girls. I tried desperately for 3 minutes to pretend that everything was normal. And then my timer went off.

I stood up.

The constant mental battle of "What if its positive? and What if it's negative?" played a million times in those few seconds. How would I react? How would I handle it? What would I do? I had thought millions of times how it would feel once it was positive.

I turned around.

I was scared to look down but dying to see it all at the same time and I looked. There they were. Two pink lines intersecting. Lines I had never seen before. I knew right away it was positive. I had taken enough tests to know what negative meant and this was the first test that even came close to being positive. I was shocked. Oh my gosh. oh my gosh oh my gosh oh my gosh. It's positive. I stared at that pink plus sign with my jaw touching the floor. There is no way. I laughed and tears welled up my eyes. I had to tell Aaron.

With Grace sleeping just down the hall I snuck into my niece's room. My hands shook as I dialed his number. I kept my voice down trying keep the news a secret from the other members in the house. Aaron, "Hello?" I could hear his co-workers in the background and I could tell that he was trying to keep his voice down as well. I said, "Hey babe, remember that advice you gave me about not taking another pregnancy test for a week or so?" "Yeah?" "Well I didn't follow that advice and I just took a test and it was positive!!"Aaron, "Are you serious? That is awesome." I could tell he was desperately trying to control his voice as to not lead his coworkers to believe that something exciting was going on when it totally was. Then he said "I've never been so glad that you didn't heed my advice."

We texted shortly thereafter where we could be more cavalier with our excitement. He texted "This is so exciting." Followed by about 27 exclamation marks. I couldn't stop myself from smiling. With my newly learned secret I made my way downstairs. While putting things away in the kitchen Stacey met my eyes and mouthed "So?" I couldn't help but smile and I motioned upstairs where I showed her the test. We did our best to keep our voices a whisper. There were screams and "Oh my goshs" and Stacey hugged and congratulated me. Apparently we failed at keeping our excited whispering to an unhearable level. My niece shouted from downstairs, "What are you guys whispering about? We can hear you whispering up there." I suddenly realized that my new secret wasn't going to stay a secret for long. I tucked the test away in my pocket and casually made my way downstairs. After busying myself for a few minutes I walked over to the couch where my Mom was sitting. I said, "If we could get you a gift, any gift at all, to make you feel better what would it be?" I tried to play it off like Stacey and I were going to surprise her with a get well soon gift of some sort. My mom paused and thought for a moment, then she looked at me and said, "For you to be pregnant." I started to cry as I pulled the test out of my pocket and handed it to her. We hugged and talked and estimated when my due date would be.

Later in the day I took two more tests, just to be extra sure.

I sent it to Aaron and said "Definitely pregnant."

Later that day we called and texted our immediate family members the wonderful and unexpected news.

And that is how our story began.