Congrats to Papaw Danny

I'm tickled pink to announce that Papaw Danny is officially retired!. YAY!! He may have retired from his "paying" job but I think I heard about a 'Papaw To Do' list waiting for him at the Windy Hills Lane house. There is alot to do to get ready for our girl and I nominate Papaw D as the Crew Chief for this project.

As a matter of fact, Mommy and I went to Little Rock Saturday and spent the whole day long buying fabrics and all the decorations that a little girl must have in her room. I do admit, I may have gone a little over board with the pink poodle and rag rug but it was so very cute, I just couldn't resist! Anyway, Huge Congratulations Papaw Danny, we hope you enjoy your new found freedom! See you at the Hill and don't forget your toolbelt!!

Sandwich Anyone?

Just when you think you’ve seen it all, something will come along to surprise you! I was looking on a site at lunch and found The Lazy Mammy Sammich Cutter. This thing is amazing and I just may get one for myself as well as one for Caroline!
What child doesn’t love PB&J sammiches? It’s a staple in every toddler’s diet, right? Look here - in one quick motion, this clever gadget quarters sandwiches into perfect, tot-pleasing pieces, while removing the bread crust. No more slicing Mommy’s fingers while trimming crust!! It even seals the edges to minimize messy oozing. Ideal for picky eaters; works with peanut butter, grilled cheese, and more. The best thing about it? My two favorite words – Dishwasher Safe!!

Shhh, Little Ears

It’s week 23 and sweet Caroline can now hear noises outside the womb! That’s probably why she kicked Saturday morning! Mommy, Caroline, and I were lounging around talking before starting our busy Saturday. We were discussing the nursery, diapers, baby clothes, day care, pediatricians….while we were chatting, Caroline put in her two kicks worth! Two precious, tiny, little flutters as if to say ‘Excuuuse me, I can HEAR YOU ....’ Then, as if to dismiss us, she quit moving and promptly went back to sleepy-town.

After reading about development on several baby sites, I found that experts strongly encourage family to talk to our baby during this time so she will get used to the sound of our voice. While this may seem a little unusual, they say we will be rewarded when Caroline instinctively turns toward the sound of our voice shortly after delivery! Unbelievable, I guess we better w-a-t-c-h what we s-a-y in front of the b-a-b-y.

Caroline's First Laptop

As you well know, we live in the age of high tech technology. Computers, smart phones, iPod, iPads, you name it and it can be found somewhere. This started me thinking (which can be dangerous at times) but anyway, I think Caroline needs a laptop all her own, so…..I found her one, online of course!! 
It’s called Baby's First Laptop Computer by Gund. The brightly colored baby pc makes crinkling sounds and plays Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. The fuzzy mouse and space ship themed laptop is the true 'baby's first laptop.'  It’s baby proof and baby safe! Caroline will be sharpening up on her computer skills as she plays. Now, if I can just think of a really cute email address for her!

Hey Sugar, Sugar

This is week 22, which means there is  125 days left until we can meet our sweet little Caroline. That’s right! For those that haven’t heard, our baby girl will be named Caroline!! A most beautiful name for the most beautiful baby girl ever!
Caroline weighs in at a whopping pound (give or take an ounce) and she is eight inches tall! (Imagine a pound of sugar!) She now has all of her eyebrows and eyelashes, and a fine covering of hair on her dainty little head. She can perceive light and dark and can also hear voices. She is well acquainted with Mommy’s heartbeat, her gurgling stomach, and the whoosh-whoosh of blood circulating through Mommy’s body. And…as her brain and nerve endings develop, she often reaches for her face just to experiment with her newfound sense of touch. In fact, her grip is quite developed now. I suspect she is practicing on gripping her shopping bags! That must be what she’s thinking of as she smiles during her ultrasounds!

Peeptoes and Kitten Heels

After Christmas, I was on my way home from Mommy and Daddy's house when I got a call from my friend, Angie. She was at Dillard's fighting the crowds in the After Christmas sales. She sounded very excited but I was about to lose her so I pulled over to talk. (A very good example for my Grandbaby I might add.) Anyway, Angie was in the baby department and  had found several outfits and two pair of shoes on sale. She wanted to know if I'd like her to get them for the baby. Why yes I do I said and I SO appreciate you shopping for babygurl Barton!!

Ohmygoodness I picked up the items yesterday and as soon as I looked in the bag, I knew right away these little peeptoes were indeed my flavorite shoes! I  can see her now - in style for the summer and it's only January!

Baby's First Snowman

Windy Hills Drive

Mommy and Daddy sent me this shot Sunday afternoon of their snowy white Windy Hills driveway! It's so pretty when it's all clean and white...snow that is! For us on Walnut, well we didn't get the sparkling snow :(  We got sleetie slushy stuff which turned into ice as the night went on.

Poppie went to work early this morning and reported that the roads in town were 'ok'. I asked him what 'ok' meant! I'm still home waiting on the call from work to see if it's 'ok' out there so I can somehow get there. Us girls may have to bundle up and carpool today. As I sit beside a toasty fire, it wouldn't bother me in the least to stay home today, zzz. Be safe and stay warm.

WWW-Winter Weather Warning!

Although the sun is shining gloriously right now and the temp is 36 and rising, I'm hearing chilling rumors of icy weather coming! I checked out the Weather Channel to see what smokin' Joe Cantore has to say and it appears that we are looking at snow... possibly more. Hmm, maybe I better go get a few extra treats for the weekend, just in case we get snowed in!! Please be careful, stay warm, cover the outside pipes, leave the lavatory cabinets open, check your anti-freeze, bring the pets inside... Predictions are that the temps will drop down into the ttteens!! For us folks down south, tthat's really ccold. Here's what Joe said:

*  PRECIPITATION WILL OVERSPREAD THE REGION FROM SOUTHWEST TO NORTHEAST SUNDAY MORNING AND CONTINUE ACROSS THE REGION INTO SUNDAY EVENING. THE PRECIPITATION SHOULD END FROM THE SOUTHWEST SUNDAY NIGHT. FOR AREAS ALONG AND NORTH OF A BASTROP LOUISIANA ..SNOW...POSSIBLY MIXED WITH A LITTLE SLEET OR FREEZING RAIN. CURRENT INDICATIONS ARE  4 TO 8 INCHES OF SNOW IS LIKELY IN THIS AREA.

My Old Booster Seat

I saw this article on Yahoo the other day and it caught my attention. Things Babies Born in 2011 Will Never Know

I thought, you know, it’s true – our little girl will probably never know about paper maps and how difficult they are to refold. Will she ever thumb through an en-cyc-lo-ped-i-a? ( had to spell check!) Which leads to... dictionaries? Will she look up a word in a book to check it's spelling? What about cassette tapes, cameras that require film? I miss those black film canisters with the snap top; they were great for storing small things. Oh and here’s one we all know about - bills that come in the mail? Everything you can imagine is delivered electronically now; will she ever get a bill in her mailbox? I’m not waxing nostalgic or anything but I am a little excited at all the things she’s going to teach me about iPods, iPads, iTouch, Twits, Tweeks, gosh, am I’m behind or what? Remember when we made booster seats out of phone books?

Houston, We Have A Talker

Mommy and Daddy went to the doctor yesterday for a check up and ultrasound. I am thrilled to report that everything is perfect, all systems are go, and just as it should be! GoMommy goMommy! Doc says that our little girl weighs almost a whole pound!! The Bump website says she is around the size of a canteloupe. Awwwe!
As the ultrasound was going on, Mommy said they could see Sweet Pea moving her wittle bitty mouth as if she were talking up a storm!! She smiled for them several times and gave them a few yawns as well! Personally, I think she’ll be ready for 3rd grade in August. After all, she’s very advanced for her age -  I mean, she’s halfway through the second grade now! Mommy said Cootie Patootie is a little breached but there’s nothing at all to worry about. Now I’m certainly no expert but I think our little dreamer is just laid back, resting, and waiting on her special day to appear to give us all a run for our money! 

Happy Heels Are Here

The Kayla in 0-3 mos.

Hey, remember the camo house slippers and the golf shoes that I found for baby Barton early on? Well, that was when I didn’t know what we were having….Now that I know we are getting a real live princess, I can start buying like I’m getting one!! Cha-chinggg!!
I think I’ll start my cart with these uber-hot and hard to find Heelarious High Heel Crib Shoes that Angie found online last week. The zebra print, called Kayla, is the rage with all the Cribbies right now. The crazy soft shoes come with a one inch satin kitten heel and the insole sports a hot pink satin lining. The Crib Shoes are completely soft and the heel is made of totally crushable fibers and come in several other prints as well as hot pink and shiny black fabric! Don't mean to be short with you today but the clock is ticking and I've only got so long to press Confirm Your Order Here !

Think Pink !

This is week number 20 and we are halfway there anxious followers! Our little Stunshine is around 10.5 inches and 10.5 ounces of baby-miracle-goodness! Her delicate little bones continue to ossify, (which means to harden in our language), and toughen while her oh so tiny, itsy, bitsy finger and toe pads are finishing forming her very own unique little prints. Cutie Pie’s arms and legs have reached their relative proportions and she is now a perfect little baby girl in appearance. Her pink lips are more defined and I personally think she’s honing her sassy pout and thumb sucking skills. Eyelashes and eyebrows are growing in quickly to frame those gorgeous little blue eyes. Blink, blink, pout....she gets what ever she wants!!
Sweet baby girl sleeps and wakes as much as a newborn does now. When she sleeps, she settles into her favorite position or 'lie.' Some babies sleep with their chins resting on their chest, while others tilt their heads back. I think our gal is on her side dreaming of days to come in her own little kingdom! Over the next few days, her scalp hair will start to grow and she will begin working her Shirley Temple curls. 

2011...Bring It On Baby...

This is NOT the author.

And a Very Happy New Year to you and you and you....I had such big plans of having a blog in place and ready to post at midnight then I thought, wait a minute...some followers get a notice when I post and they may get it on their cell phone and then they may be asleep and then I may wake them up if their email goes to their cell phone and then....whew. Good thing I fell asleep before I got the post finished!

I'm vewy, vewy excited about this new year. There's alotta changes comin' and I know they are going to be good, great, fantastic, and awesome! I just know it! As you probably know already, I enjoy quotes of most any kind. So rather than babble on about resolutions I plan on breaking, I thought I'd list a few quotes....we I need to start out my new year with a chuckle or two.

*Make your life a mission – not an intermission....
*Every day may not be good, but there’s something good in every day.....
*People always emphasize the negative. Ever seen a sign that says: Beware – Nice dog.....
*Beauty is over rated, what's important is your mind. Who wants a fifty-dollar haircut on a fifty-cent head?.....  and my favorite for this year is....
**The main thing is keeping the main thing the main thing.**

HAPPY NEW YEAR, mmwaahh!

The Barton Family




A picture is worth a thousand smiles.

 

Hope Your Birthday ROCKED Poppy!

It's a little late in the day to wish our rockin Poppy a Happy Birthday but we can't let the day go by without featuring him in our blog. So a BIG Happy Birthday to you Poppy!

We got up early this morning and fixed breakfast for his special day and then once again, HE opened presents and cards! After lunch at Granny's and a nap, we went to Monroe and I treated him to big old steak and tater for his birthday dinner. I snoozed off and on as he drove home!!

This is my favorite photo of Poppy when he went full out as a rock star to a company party. Can you believe that dressing up in a costume was a requirement? I think we did pretty good putting together a rock star costume, matter of fact, he's wearing Mommy's Seven jeans!

We wish you a happy day and hope you know how special you are to us.

Merry Christmas Day

Christmas breakfast was deeee-lishous. Granny came early to help me prepare the pancakes, bacon, sausage, scrambled egg omeletes...after everyone was filled to the gill, it was time to open presents! Bethany played Santa, passing out gifts and opening several of them as she passed them out! I got everthing I wanted and more. Lindsey and Jeff received more gifts for our little Princess than they did for themselves! Jane-Marie got her wish for a jacket this year. She looks good in hot pink! Dana is still working on putting together a chain saw sharpener but I think he's about done..finally.  
We are all laid out in front of the fire now, drifting in and out of consiousness. Today has been a wonderful day, the type of day that ends too quickly. The tree is a little bare as there are no gifts left but we still have it lit. As I listen to the crackle of the fire and the quiet snore here and there, I am so thankful that we have this time together. And I think of how next year will even be better. We'll have Bethany to play Santa but I plan to be holding the other little girl helping her open her own presents.
Hope you all have had a very Merry Christmas.... love to you from the happiest Grandma on Walnut!

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

As I sit here and reflect on the last twenty four hours, I can't help but think about the wonderful news we've been given this year for Christmas. What better way to start the holiday knowing that we have a beautiful little GIRL on the way. Another to add to our collection! Carol and Danny will have three and Dana and I will have two!! Oh my at the bling-bling to buy!! Can you imagine the sleep overs and parties?

As the day starts to dawn and I get involved in last minute (forgotten) tasks of wrapping, cleaning, and getting Dana his list of chores, I pause to offer a prayer of gratitude to say thank you God. For without Jesus, the gift that He sent us, there would be no reason for hope or celebration today.

And just in case I get busy tomorrow with breakfast, gifts, and conversations about baby girls...I wish you, all my family and dear friends a very Merry Christmas. You have been so very kind and encouraging to us on our baby journey.

IT'S A GIRL....IT'S A GIRL.....IT'S A GIRL

Noticed a slight change in the color of the blog? WE ARE HAVING A GIRL!!!! This has been the wildest and most anxious day waiting to hear news from Mommy and Daddy. I must admit, they were very strong inspite of all sneaky attempts from friends and family to try to get inside info from them. 

After work this afternoon, Dana and I took a gift out to Danny and Carol for Christmas. While we were there, each of us texted Mommy and Daddy trying to get some sort of hint as to pink or blue. Mommy asked me where we were and I told her. She told me to stay put. This led me to believe they were on their way over. FINALLY they arrived with two gifts, one for each grandmother. Hmm, could the green bow mean a boy? Ahh, teal tissue paper, a boy? Ohmygosh - oh my gosh, a pink bib, a pink and purple stripe onesie, a pink frame in the shape of a baby buggy! OHMYGOSH A GIRL A GIRL!! Of course we were thrilled and yes I cried. Carol and I went giddy as Dana and Danny watched the grandma show from the sofa! THEN....pictures of the baby were brought out. That was the most awwesome sight I've seen. That beautiful little girl was yawning in one shot. In another, she was showing off her little tummy, well, actually it was a little plump! There were several others shots and all were just plain gorgeous. I think she is going to have her Daddy's nose and her Mommy's yawn! And I think know she is going to be our precious doll baby that will be smothered with all the love we can possibly give her.

No News As of 1:52

There has been no communication between the Barton parents and their family members as of 8:00 am this morning. I regretfully have no news to report regarding the gender of the Barton baby at this time. You are invited to stay tuned for updates as I will post the results as soon as I have the permission of the parents!

Personally, I feel like calling the AR State Police, have them stop Mommy and Daddy, search their vehicle for photos or videos, and report to me the findings of the search!!! Oh no, wait, did I just say that out loud? Ooops. I meant to say that I am going to follow the advice of the Queen Mother as she spoke to her subjects during a time of unrest ..."Stay Calm and Carry On."