Santa Baby!

We had fun dressing Bella up for the Ward party and Rob's work party at the Olive Garden. She was a hit! Who can resist a baby in a Santa suit?

Sweet, Sweet, Bella

Bella is starting to require more attention these days. She's growing fast! So she wants to eat a lot! I weighed her on the 12th, the day she was due, and she was 8 pounds 8 oz. I can't imagine if I carried her full term!

She would have been a big baby!

Our New Family!

Introducing the newest member of our family . . . Isabella Muriel Barrick. We're so happy that everything went well and she's here and healthy.

First Breath, November 5, 2008 11:00 pm

Isabella Muriel Barrick is here! We named her after my Grandma Church and Rob's Great, Great, Grandma Watson. Bella wanted nothing to do with a Christmas birthday like her Mom. She surprised us five weeks before she was due. We expected her to have breathing and eating issues, but she must have been ready, because she was perfect! She is 6 pounds and 18 inches. The doctor said that if she was term she'd be a 10 pound baby. . . thank you Bella, for having mercy on your mom!

She's PERFECT!

You can't imagine my relief when I could see for myself that Bella was strong and healthy and perfect! I feel more blessed than I can express!
This poem was given to me by my friend Louise Leavitt about 11 years ago. It's one of my favorites.

Day-Old Child

My day-old child lay in my arms.

With my lips against her ear

I whispered strongly, "How I wish-

I wish that you could hear;

"I've a hundred wonderful things to say

(A tiny cough and a nod),

Hurry, hurry, hurry and grow

So I can tell you about God."

My day-old baby's mouth was still

And my words only tickled her ear.

But a kind of light passed through her eyes,

And I saw this thought appear:

"How I wish I had a voice and words;

I've a hundred things to say.

Before I forget I'd tell you of God-

I left him yesterday."

-Carol Lynn Pearson

Rob loves his girls!

Rob stopped by to see me and the baby before he had to go to work. He was so supportive and loving. I know he would do anything for his family. He takes such good care of us!

Kelsie holding Bella

Kelsie has been waiting to hold her baby sister for a long time! All of the kids were so excited to meet and hold her.

Brycen holding Bella

Grandma Barrick holding Bella

Hunter holding Bella for the first time

Hunter thinks that Bella and all of her little clothes are really cute. He, like the rest of the children, are very insistant the Bella be happy at all times. They are quick to inform me if she is crying or seems to be unhappy.

Bella in her blanket

Kelsie has been waiting a long time to see her baby sister in this blanket. Kathy took Kelsie to some garage sales this summer and Kelsie brought home this treasure for the baby.

On our way home

We weren't really ready for Bella since we thought we still had over a month before she was due. I didn't even have a car seat to get her home in. Plus they had to do a carseat test before they would release her. So Rob ran to Wal-Mart before he went to work and Craig, Rob's dad, brought it to me. Kathy, Rob's mom, came and picked me up and took us home later that afternoon. Thanks for your help everyone!

2nd Day Home

Grandma Barrick let the kids pick out an outfit for Bella. They picked straws to see who's outfit Bella would come home from the hospital in. Hunter won, and he's the one who cared the least. The yellow outfit is Brycen's choice and the pink one is Kelsie's.

Kids holding Bella after school on her first day home

Halloween 2008

We had a great Halloween. Brycen was a Disco-Man. Kelsie was a Fairy-Princess. Hunter was Bat-Man. And Bella was a Jack-o-lantern. The kids went trick-or-treating and then we went down stairs and watched "Journey to the Center of the Earth" and ate treats!

Family Vacation to Arches National Park

This summer our family went with

G&G Barrick to Arches National Park. It was so much fun. We visited Mesa Verde and Canyon Lands as well. The kids had the most fun at the hotel and the swimming pool.

Rob's Elk

Dad and I headed up to the Thorley's Property on the last weekend of the hunt. We weren't sure how the weather was going to cooperate. It stayed good enough to shoot a couple of nice elk and still make it out in time to listen to the BYU Football game. What a wonderful weekend with my Dad.

Dad Gets a Six Point Elk. (Viewer Discretion)

Good Job Dad! That was so much fun.

Getting Ready

Rob's Buck Oct. 2008

I didn't have much time to hunt this rifle season so I decided to run up after work. I threw some of the kids in the truck, picked up Brandon and we were off. If we timed it right, we would get to the spot we wanted to go with only minutes of light to spare. We were almost there when I noticed a flat tire. We changed it in record time and flew down to the pond where we had seen some nice bucks before. With very little light left I spotted this incredible buck 70 yards away in the aspen trees. I raised my gun up and he took off running through the trees. I tried to be patient and wait for it to make it's way to a small opening 100 yrds away. He bounded right into my cross hairs and it was over. We ran down to the trail and there he was. It was so fun to have Brycen and Hunter there with me. Brycen put his hand on my shoulder and said, "Dad, I am so proud of you. That is one nice buck. This is the funnest hunt ever!"

It was the funnest hunt ever. It is great to make your son proud every once in a while.

My First Buck!

I'm not sure how Rob talked me into hunting 6 1/2 months pregnant, but he did. We actually had a really good time. I've never seen so many deer. It was cool! We were hunting the Heaton Ranch near Alton. We stayed in the lodge and they fed us really good. I have to say. . . Rob was smart to make my first hunting experience so enjoyable. I might actually want to do it again. However, I could have done without some of the pressure. I had my dad, husband and guides all hoping I would be able to get a really nice buck. I'm really glad I did it though. It made for an experience that I will always remember. My dad was in heaven with all those bucks running around! He was really proud and happy that I would give hunting a try. He loves that his daughter got such a sweet buck! I definitely have a new appreciation for hunting. I never thought I would say this, but thanks Rob, for encouraging me to try something new.

A day in the Mountains

Rob was deer hunting so we decided to do a little photo shoot. If you take enough pictures, some of them are bound to turn out!

Giggles and laughs!

The kids sure have fun on the trampoline!

Hunter tries to sleep

snow already!

Yes, it has already snowed in Cedar. I picked all my tomatoes green before they froze. I've bottled them 4 times! I think we'll have plenty of tomatoes to last us the winter!