My Valentines

Valentine's Day was filled with love at the Barnes' house yesterday! Beau had a great party at school complete with pancakes and Capri Sun drinks. We made heart-shaped rice krispie treats to go along with the Spiderman valentine cards he picked out. He brought home a load of goodies from his friends and teachers. There was a red ribbon trail through the house waiting for him when he got home. At the end of the ribbon there were balloons and a squishy football. Todd surprised me with a super cute Go Hogs plaque that he actually shopped for all by himself! I was impressed! We had a home cooked meal of one of his favorites, poppyseed chicken. That was my gift to him - haha!

Sweet Bennett was all smiles when Daddy D and Gigi visited. This pretty baby is already 7 weeks old today! I can't believe it. She is sleeping good at night and a content baby for the most part, especially if someone is holding her and bouncing. She weighed
10 lbs. 1 oz. and was 23 in. at her 1 month check up. Can't wait to see how much she's grown at her 2 month visit!

We had pictures made the last week of Jan. Bennett is 4 weeks old here. It was tough with both kids. Neither were very cooperative, but Melanie still managed to get several great shots. Love these of the two of them!

Excuse the order and quality of the pictures. I am trying the Blogger app for the first time. Maybe I will update more often if this works!

Bennett's Arrival!

Bennett Rhea Barnes was born Wednesday, December 28. We were all thrilled to finally meet her and see that she is a healthy, beautiful baby. Todd and I arrived at the hospital at 6:15 a.m. for induction. The pitocin was dripping by 7:30, water broke at 9:00, and by noon I was asking for the doctor! Everything went wonderfully, and Bennett made her debut at 1:01 p.m.

Beau was so excited that his baby sister was finally out of my tummy! He was the first in the room to see her and never left her side. He sang "Away in a Manger" to her and changed "Jesus" to "Bennett." Seeing him to sing to her was the sweetest sight for this mama! Later he sang "God gave me you for the ups and downs". We feel so blessed! Our family is complete!

1st picture - Bennett weighed 7 lbs. 14 oz. and was 20.75" long

Beau and Bennett meet - the best moment of the day!

Holding Bennett for the 1st time

3 days old celebrating her first New Year's Eve

So alert and talking to Mom as soon as the boys finally left the house and it got quiet

Bennett and her great-grandpa and namesake - Papa Vaughn Bennett

1 week old and looking like a little diva

1st bath - she didn't like it. She prefers to be covered up, warm and cuddly!

Christmas 2011

Beau was so much fun this Christmas! He was excited about Santa and, most importantly, was able to learn about Jesus' birthday. He sang Away in the Manger and Go Tell it on the Mountain in church and all around the house. He always has a song in his heart, and I love that about him! We were all anxious to see when baby Bennett would make her appearance. I'm thankful she decided to wait a bit, so we didn't have to have Christmas at the hospital!

Finley and Beau at the fire station to see Santa
Telling Santa what he wants for Christmas-big truck, scooter, and Francesco the race car. His list grew every time someone asked what he wanted for Christmas!

Christmas at Aunt T's house

Beau with cousins Andrew and Nathan- he always has fun with the big boys!

Beau and DeeDee

Decorating cookies for Santa -sure hope he likes strawberry icing

Looking for Santa - priceless picture that was not staged!

Santa was good to us!

Santa filled Bennett's stocking, too

scooter!

A rare picture with my parents and sister on a beautiful Christmas day

3 days before Bennett's arrival!

Fall Fun

We have had a lot of fun this fall, including a trip to the pumpkin patch, trick or treating, and the church fall festival. Beau loved horseback riding and the hayride at the festival. He went as many times as he could all by himself. He is getting so independent! We are anxiously awaiting the arrival of our baby girl, expected Jan. 3. Beau has been so sweet talking and singing songs to her. We'll see if he continues this when she gets here!

Driving the tractor at the pumpkin patch

Walking the logs with Gigi

NeeNee went with us for a fun day

Mom (7 months pregnant with Bennett) and Beau

Picking just the right pumpkins: 1 for carving and 1 for pumpkin pie!

Carving his first jack-o-lantern. NeeNee scooped out the goopy stuff. Beau wouldn't touch it!

The face is drawn and ready to carve!

Daddy D helped carve

The finished Jack-o-Lantern

Eating homemade pumpkin pie! Thanks, Gigi! It was yummy!

Beau parked his motorcycle next to Daddy D's. He's ready for a road trip!

Our cute little fireman

Ready to trick or treat!

1st horseback ride at the fall festival. He rode all four horses at least once. This was a big step for a kid who was scared of the goats at the pumpkin patch!

Beau's 3rd Birthday

Beau's 3rd birthday was a blast! We celebrated for a week, starting with cookies at school and ending with a BIG Mickey Mouse party at the park. It was so cute that he was so excited about everything.

The birthday boy at school.
Beau's class having yellow cookies with a #3 on it. Yellow because it was yellow week. A school bus came to visit, too!

Ready for his Mickey party!

The park was a fun place for a party!

Beau and Cameron

Ready for snacks. Those cute little boys are Hayden Prine and Austin Fontenot. Both go to school with Beau.

Mickey cupcakes - Beau took a bite out of two before the party barely started!

My attempt at a group pic. (Beau, Hayden, Cameron, Finley, and Katherine trying to get on the bridge, but the boys are bouncing it. Kaitlyn and Kenley are the pretty girls in the back.)

The best one and all the kiddos aren't in it. They were a fun group! (Beau, Hayden, Kallie, Cameron, Finley, Katherine, Kaitlyn, and Kenley)

Family pic after the party.

Tired birthday boy with his Nee Nee

Having a leftover cupcake for lunch...oh well, it's his birthday!

Totally unrelated to birthday, but cute picture with his Daddy and the new riding lawn mower. What kid doesn't love mowing with Dad?!