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.