Elli Grace Barker

Story to come but here is a preview of pictures...

The morning of labor - just before leaving to go to the hospital.

After the epidural - much happier

Day 2

So awake and aware of everything

Day 3 - in the nursery for light treatment

Getting ready to go home

So tiny for the carseat - seemed impossible to get her in

She arrived right on time!

Elli Grace Barker
Born 2/24/2010 at 4:15PM
6lb 11oz
18.5in
cutest thing I have ever seen

pictures to come soon...

39 Weeks makes you bored and crafty

So we officially made it past the date that I thought I would deliver. I thought for sure I was going on the 17th - one week early but NO. Here I sit at 39 weeks and nothing has happened - I shouldn't be surprised since I work in healthcare and know that first time moms rarely go early. But I thought for all the hard hours of standing at work that maybe it would get me going. Plus it would have been really convenient since my supervising doc is at the Olympics for this entire month and I have seen all the patients I needed to. I guess I will just enjoy this time off - and what do I do with my time? Get really crafty...





My cousin Marcie taught me how to make these really cute bows - she makes the cutest onesies and then matches the bows to them. So I tried to find some fabric to match some of the baby's outfits. Pretty freakin cute!

I used to sew things in Jr. High and Highschool on my mom's old machine. For Christmas I asked for a sewing machine of my own so that I could get back into it. The machines are WAY more fancy now. I have an automatic bobbin loader and automatic needle threader - love it! And it is all computerized too - but cheap from Costco :) I sat down today and read the instructions then decided to just go for it. I made 6 burp cloths that match the bows. Not too bad I have to say - but how hard is sewing straight lines :)


I was checked again and maybe effaced a little but not much on the dilation. Alex has been really cute - he is sooooo anxious. I think he asks me AT LEAST 10 times a day if I am in labor :) He makes me laugh. If I am anywhere near him, I think he will know right away if I am going into labor - and if not, he will be the first one I call. Still, I enjoy his repetitive phone calls - "Hello" "Are you in labor" "No" "Oh all right then" click. He has put the car seat in the car, packed the diaper bag (with a rattle I might add - yes, so my newborn can grasp a rattle and shake it - hee hee), the room is entirely ready to go. We hung our last shelves and hooks, washed the sheets, towels, burp cloths, wash cloths etc. We go on daily walks with the dog - which do give me contractions but also leg aches.

One thing is for sure - she has to come eventually!!!

38 Weeks

Well, 38 weeks and a little change. I progressed from being closed to almost 1cm dilated and 50% to 70% effaced. That is something I suppose! I am really ready to be done though! Getting harder and harder to sleep, eat, breath - some essential functions :)

Check out the belly from the front and back...

37 Weeks - Term (no not full term but at least ready to go any time)

My "nesting" phase really kicked in over the weekend. We hung a vinyl wall scene of trees in her bedroom Friday - it took about 5 hours. Then Saturday and Sunday I organized all our bills and file folders from the past 5 years, wrote out thank you notes, organized our bedroom, put away and organized all the Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas decorations that were spread across our basement, made the basement bedroom livable, picked up the basement family room, and finally green-machined the carpet in the basement where the dog vomited a few times (umm, actually a collection of 6 times over the past few months - don't worry, not chunky just bile/spit - still sick I know). Oh and then I cleaned out the green-machine and packed it neatly away. It is no wonder at midnight I woke up with horrid stomach cramps, diarrhea and then subsequent vomiting. Awesome. Plus my lower back was so sore Alex had to help me out of bed. So all day Monday at clinic I was contracting like crazy, was slightly queasy and EXHAUSTED. But no true labor. I tried to take it easy once I came home so I didn't force her out. But I thought at least it would have helped me progress - but alas, no. I was checked Tuesday and I am still 50% effaced and closed. She did move down a hair but otherwise no change. I will likely go at least to my due date if not over :( Whatever happened to being super busy/stressed at work and being on your feet all day helping you get going with labor?

The nursery before...

After...

On another note...
I was walking through Babys R Us with Alex the other day, picking out some final items we needed to get ready for the baby. We were trying to figure out what else to buy to be prepared when it dawned on me - this is the first time in my life when I have NO IDEA what I am in for, what to expect, how to prepare or what I am doing. Sure, starting college or getting married or moving is "unknown" but it is only about you, and your adult spouse. Now I have another being coming into my life who solely relies on Alex and me. And I don't know if I am supposed to let her cry long periods, how often I should feed her, if I need to wash all her clothes before she wears them, if I need to buy sanitizing wipes for my breast pump, how many diapers in newborn size is appropriate, do we really need a bouncer seat and a swing, what do I need to take to the hospital - the list goes on and on. And it is starting to make me a little nervous. I am sure we will be great parents and you learn as you go, but it is a new feeling for me to NOT KNOW. I have always been too prepared, too anal to not know the exact plan and have it mapped out on color coordinated notes. But in that same feeling of fear there is excitement. I am excited to start this new part of life. To not know exactly what she will be like but to see her personality and how she is a mix of both Alex and me. To see her grow and to see us grow with her.

35-36 Weeks

Wahoo - check out my belly

Ok, I finally reached a point of being uncomfortable. I think if you felt good the entire pregnancy you wouldn't be ready to endure the pain and suffering of the delivery. But I am getting to the point that if I have to feel like this for 4 more weeks, I will do ANYTHING to have this baby. It seemed to all start Saturday - I am suddenly having swelling in my hands and feet. I have sausage toes by the end of the day. I can no longer sit comfortably in a movie theater. My SI joints are killing me. I bump my belly into everything and everyone. And I have episodes where I can't breath. Whine whine whine I know.

But...she is still super wiggly and it is so fun to feel her elbow or foot rub across my stomach (hurts but cool). I can't wait for her to come. We have almost everything we need. Just a few more small items. Her room is pretty much ready. Just need to get some window coverings and put up this really cute wall decal. And I can't wait to put her in all the cute outfits we bought - she is so spoiled already ;)

Dr. Smith checked me at 35+6. I was 50% effaced and my cervix was soft but closed - his interpretation - I will likely go all the way to my due date - dang it!! Alex and I still have hope that if I jump on a tramp, walk around a lot, eat raspberry shakes, vacuum and do the OTHER thing to DO a lot, maybe she will come a little early :)

FYI - For any of those who make fun of pregnant women who waddle - just you wait!!! I told my family to tell me if I EVER waddle so that I can stop but I am telling you, having a baby head between my legs and 15-20 pounds sticking out from my stomach makes it pretty hard to walk normal. I do try to avoid it at work but all bets are off at home.

33-34 Weeks

Only 3 more weeks until I can stop worrying about her coming early!!! I can't believe she is almost here. I was a bit nervous a few weeks ago but now I am just excited. I had my appointment yesterday and Russ was out of town so my dad did it for me. That was fun to see him in action like the old days :) I am small but my belly is measuring right on and we measured her head and torso and she is right on too. It was fun to see her again on the ultrasound. Her head is super low in my pelvis - why I feel her hiccup in my butt ;). She was yawning and then practicing breathing which is crazy! I could see her lungs expanding and contracting - a good sign that she is getting ready for the world. Her back is still mostly on my right and she grinds her feet against my side on the left. My favorite part about being pregnant is feeling her move around - although it hurts a lot sometimes. She has dropped down some too since my heartburn and ribs aren't near as bad as they were a few weeks ago. Kind of a nice relief but a trade-off for low back pain and weird pelvic pressure.

WATCH OUT BELOW FOR A REAL BELLY PICTURE - CLOSE YOUR EYES IF YOU'D LIKE...
I wanted to see what my belly looked like so I decided to post it :)

I have been working on her nursery - a theme of owls and trees/leaves in pink and green. We cleaned out the office this weekend and got all the furniture moved in. It still needs some finishing touches but it was a start. At least now she has a place to sleep. I made some art with Amy and my cousin and FINALLY finished it last Sunday. It was way more work than I anticipated but I LOVE how it turned out. They are made of paper glued to a canvas and I just cut and pasted it together. Hope it holds up!


The start of the nursery...love love love my chair. It rocks, literally, and is soooooo comfy.


On a random note to self - I spent 2 1/2 hours at the mall today trying on bras. It has been over 3 years since I have looked for one and it was as dreadful as I expected. I finally just bought a bunch and brought them all home for Alex to decide. The sad truth - I am now officially a 36 D. But I did find two good ones - one without wires for breastfeeding and one that, as Alex put it, "doesn't make you look like a jungle goddess and helps separate your belly from your boobs." Thanks honey. (I do admit - the sports bra look was getting old)

Andrea's 26th Birthday

26 - Yikes - that is closer to 30 than to 20. Big time bummer. But I had a great day. Alex and I went to Cafe Rio for lunch, then drove around trying to find a birthday cake for me. I was hoping for Nothing Bundt Cake but they were closed - how rude. We ordered take out from Sawadee and had Amy/Shawn, Krissa/Tom, and Amanda/Gerard over for games and junk food. Thanks everyone for making my birthday special even if it is right after Christmas!

Merry Christmas from the Barkers

Since I was so sick over Christmas, I didn't take hardly any pictures. Here is a recap so I can remember what we did...

The night before I got sick, we had an Ugly Christmas Sweater Party with Alex's family. Ya, Alex and I overdid it compared to most everyone else - but we had fun.

We spent Christmas Eve at Paula's and ate a fantastic dinner (I wasn't able to eat much). We played games together then went to bed. It was the first Christmas that Alex and I actually slept in our own bed. He and I had our own little Christmas morning together. Again, I was super sick and couldn't hardly move. Suka got lots of plush toys - destroyed in minutes - and a huge raw-hide bone. Alex got a bunch of games to play with friends and family, including Ticket to Ride which we played for 5 hours straight the next day with Gerard. I got a super cool video camera - Flip - that is smaller than my cell phone and a digital picture frame. We went to Paula's again and got to see Evan open some presents. She was really excited about the first 3 gifts then realized there were more presents. Then she was just excited to open presents and didn't really care what was in them - note to self - kids only need about 3 cool presents and then be done :) We spent most of the day hanging out at Paula's but did make it over to Amy's to see her kids. They got American Girl Dolls and cute matching outfits. It was a fun and relaxing Christmas.

New Year's Eve was at Krissa and Tom's house. The boys stayed awake and Krissa and I fell asleep on the couch early. Guess that's what happens when you are pregnant or just had a baby :)

New Year's Day at Amy's house - Suka got to play outside forever. The kids and dog came back in and it smelled like wet stinky socks in Amy's house - sorry :) He had a blast!!

A Decade of Change

I wanted to write down all the things that happened to me in the last decade. It will probably be the decade with the most changes in my life. I can't believe that Y2K was 10 years ago!!!

2000 - I was in the 10th Grade
2001 - Became an aunt for the first time
2002 - Graduated from Brighton High School, moved to Logan for college
2003 - Got engaged (at age 19 yikes)
2004 - Got married
2005 - Received a scholarship for tennis
2006 - Graduated from College at Utah State - started Grad school at the U
2007 - Started my clinical rotations and saw my first real patients
2008 - Graduated from the U of U with my Masters of Physician Assistant Studies
2008 - Went to Alaska for the first time
2008 - Started my career as a PA at TOSH
2009 - Bought our first home, bought our first boat, bought a dog and got pregnant - whew big year!

I am excited for the next 10 years which I am sure will be focused around being a mother and a wife!

31-32 Weeks

Well there have been a few changes over the past 2 weeks:
I am finally feeling bigger. I can't slouch or she will kick me in the ribs. And if I even bend over an inch, my heartburn rages! She is still super active but I think that will start dwindling down. The other morning she was kicking so hard it looked like "Alien" when the thing comes out of Sigourny Weaver's stomach. It was CRAZY! I had my first day of bad swelling to where I couldn't get my wedding rings off. Fortunately that hasn't come back yet. The best part of the last 2 weeks is that she has started having the hiccups. I can feel a repetitive movement down low where her head is. So bizarre that they can get that already :)

At 31 weeks exactly I got the stomach flu (last Wednesday). I had to take my very first sick day in all of my clinical rotations and since starting my job. They say for those who work in medicine sick days don't exist. I have to admit, it was a little weird to not go to work and suck it up. But I couldn't keep anything down and was so dehydrated that I started having contractions. I ended up getting 2 liters of LR at the office and still didn't pee for a few hours after! But at least I was feeling a little better, or so I thought. I had the same issue on Christmas morning - diarrhea and vomiting so I was real fun to be around :) Then that night I started in with a head cold and haven't been able to shake it off yet - 1 week later. Ugh. At least my docs gave me the day off tomorrow so I don't have to take another sick day - doesn't help that I worked 14 HOURS on Tuesday in surgery - I felt pretty crappy after that.

Looking forward to the dwindling time left until our little one arrives!

Fake Christmas

Since Rachel is living in Switzerland and she just had a baby, my parents and Cam are heading that way for Christmas. So we couldn't ruin the family tradition of Christmas Eve dinner and slumber party. This past Saturday we all got together at my parent's and ate the usual: Crab legs, green and red jello, home made potato rolls, tri-tip. It was delicious. Then we opened presents that night instead of the morning. Even though there was no santa presents and we only do gift exchange between siblings, it still took us forever! And I got just what I was hoping for - a sewing machine! Now I can make cute homemade stuff for the baby with all my spare time - ha ha. I hope to at least make a few cute burp cloths.

Enjoy...

29-30 Weeks

30 Weeks - I'd like to consider this the start of the countdown! Only 10 weeks left - 9 if I am so lucky as to go early :) Things are still going well. I have been getting the best sleep and haven't hit that "too uncomfortable" state yet. But . . . my belly button has finally popped - the turkey is done as some would say. It is so weird looking - I thought about taking a picture of it but didn't want to freak anyone out! And when I sit up or strain, it pokes out further - makes me laugh!
She continues to move around like crazy. I think I can feel her rolling inside me but she always comes back to the same spot - butt in my right ribs and legs kicking my left side. She is getting pretty strong too. Still getting some sweet heartburn. Can't bend over without erping. Awesome.


And the dog still wants to play when I get home, but it is getting uncomfortable to sit on the floor with him. So I take our little chair, set it in the middle of the carpet and he brings all his toys to me - ALL of his toys...
Above we have plush bone, squishy fish, indestructible bone toy, rope, ball, squishy flower, raw hide and chunk of former plush alien. Think he likes to play?!? "I am ready..."
Alex's nice boss bought Suka a huge plush candy cane toy - because she knows how much he loves to destroy them - and this was especially gigantic. I think it took him about 2 minutes to have most of the stuffing all over the house. Thanks Erin :)

27-28 Weeks

Feeling good. I seem to still have some energy and get pretty good sleep, which is a bonus!

I took our little one to her first concert on Monday. Amy, Mckenzie and I all went to see 30 Seconds to Mars. We stood right by the speakers on the left of the stage and by the end my left ear was a bit dull :) She liked the singing - when it was really loud she didn't move as much but when the crowd was singing along and it wasn't so loud she liked it - I think she flipped around - I could feel things rubbing across my whole belly.

I had my 28 week check up today. Things are going well. My weight gain slowed which is awesome!!! Only 2 pounds in 4 weeks!! She is measuring exactly on. Amy and I took a peek at her with the ultrasound which was fun. WE haven't seen her for 8 weeks now! We saw her wiggle, put her feet by her head, yawn a bunch of times and suck on her hand - it was so stinkin' cute! And she is head down!! Wahoo - lets just hope she stays that way ;)

Her hand in her mouth - yes the hole is her eyeball but you can see her nose and lips with her hand right there!

Footie - I remember when she wasn't even this big! And this is what keeps kicking me always on my left side!!

Legs - look nice and strong.

Face - she is laying on her side and looking right at the scanner. Right eyelid, nose and part of her mouth.

Top of her head - she has hair!!! I hope it stays - I was born with just a little and it would be fun to see the difference! Look at 2 o'clock.

Getting ready for Christmas!

He is just cute so I had to put a few of him in here...

We spent Black Friday decorating our house - it took us ALL DAY LONG. And when we were done it didn't seem like that much stuff! We put up lit houses on all our shelves and they even all turn on.

Our tree is chuck full of ornaments - looks like a festival of trees tree. Alex and Paula did most of the work :)