Anyone out there?

So, it seems like I'm mostly just doing this blog for my mom. While, she is worth the effort, she'd be just as happy if I e-mailed her some pictures or sent a pic CD every now and then. If you're reading this let me know! Leave a comment, send an e-mail... I'm feeling like it's not worth the trouble, but if people are actually reading it I'd be happy to continue posting.

Reed's first Christmas!

This was our first real Christmas in the house (last year we spent the day painting our bedroom and everything was still in boxes). Reed slept through most of the day, but Brent and I had fun just having him there.

Sarah got him this outfit when she came to visit in August and he already fits in it. I wish I could dress him in it every day!

Reed loves his new mobile!

And we all love our new backpack (our family present - mostly we got a baby this year for Christmas!). We look forward to starting to hike again this next year.

I hope everyone else had a great Christmas too!

Oops - 10 weeks!

Time is flying. On Tuesday, Reed had his 2 month appointment and he is getting big! 12 pounds 5 ounces and 22 1/2 inches! He's healthy, but Caroline wishes he'd slow down a little.

The Sunday after Thanksgiving, while all the family was in town, we had Reed blessed.

Reed is fascinated by the Christmas tree - all those light!

He is so smiley.

5 1/2 weeks

Time seems to be going so quickly. I can't believe it's been almost 3 weeks since I posted last. Sorry. The days just all blend together and time is flying by! Reed's continues to grow before our eyes, it's amazing - and heartbreaking. I've always heard people say their kids grew up so fast and to enjoy them while they're little because they grow so fast. Well, we're finding out how right they are and we're trying to soak up every sleep-deprived day we have with him because he's GROWING SO FAST! I went to put on the outfit we brought him home from the hospital in and the snaps are bulging. So sad. He's awake for a lot more of the day now and we are getting better sleep at night. Hallelujah!

Brent passed the big test that he's been studying for for 4 hours a day after work for the past 6 weeks. Hooray! It's a huge relief to have it behind him now and I'm so proud of him and how well he's done. It's fun to finally enjoy spending more time together as a family.

We are looking forward to having our first Thanksgiving in our new home with my (Caroline's) side of the family coming in from California and Colorado. Reed is being blessed the following Sunday while everyone is in town. Exciting times!

Anyway, here are some of the latest pictures:

He's getting so big - and smiley!

He loves studying our horizontal blinds, but he's been branching out and becoming much more aware of other things too - faces, the mobile above his bed, the overhead light in our bedroom...

Life is good.

Happy Halloween!

My mom bought him his first halloween "costume" and I just want to wrap him up in it everyday! He's just the cutest watermelon ever!

I guess I wouldn't be so happy about sitting in a pumpkin either...

2 1/2 weeks!

It's hard to believe it's already been two weeks since Reed came into our lives. He is so fun and growing so fast (already gained almost a pound and has very squeezable cheeks!)

He is such a happy boy (most of the time).

He has expressive little hands. When he’s fussy or worrying he looks like he's wringing them. He clasps them when he's relaxed, and pumps them up and down when he's unhappy.

Reed was borderline jaundice for the first week of his life and we had to go every day for a bilirubin test (they prick his heel and sqeeze out a small vials worth of blood - SO sad. It was no fun for any of us.) They told us to put him in the sun a little every day to help and he finally was cleared last Wednesday of being at risk for jaundice. HOORAY!

His favorite place to sleep is on mom or dad's chest.

More fun facts about Reed: 90% of the time he gets the hiccups after he's eaten and just when he's drifting off to sleep. Baby hiccups are so cute, but at 2 am...

The hair on top of his head sticks straight up. Very stylish.

Reed loves playing with his tongue and making funny faces. He furrows his brow and looks like a very serious baby, intent on looking at who-knows-what. He’s has his eyes open for much more of the day these past few days.

Thanks Oma!

You'd think while Reed sleeps I'd take advantage of the quiet moments to get things done. Instead, I just watch him sleep. He is just so amazing and Brent and I feel so overwhelmed with love for him, it's hard to leave him. I'm told we'll get over it soon, but he is just such a cutie! The reason that I'm able to enjoy our new little boy so much is because my mom came out to help while we adjust to our new routine. Some times we even let her hold Reed (usually when he's fussy, because she knows what to do to help him with his "bubbles")!

Her presence has been an HUGE blessing to our family. She makes it possible for us to enjoy little Reed and not have to worry about anything else. As a new mom, I'm very grateful to have her input and help. I don't know what we'd do without her. She fills in where she sees a need, takes care of the house, meals, and runs errands and somehow knows all of our needs. We haven't had to worry about anything but our new little boy and Brent and I are able to focus all our attention on Reed.

We are often tired and take for granted that she is doing so much to help us. She has been very cheerful and patient with us (who are sometimes exhausted, tired and much less than cheerful or patient) and keeps life runnng smoothly. We appreciate her help so much and can't thank her enough.

Reed Joseph Barton has arrived!!!

My water broke Sunday night at 9:30 and little Reed was born at 5:38 am on Monday morning. We just can't stop watching all is little facial expressions. He just smiles and gurgles and is such a sweet, mellow baby. We're just waiting for his lungs to kick in...

Our brand new addition - we aren't just a couple any more!
Minutes old Reed with our OB - Dr. Macy.
7 pounds 6 ounces - 20 ionches!
So happy to finally be able to hold him.

Reeds first bath. Basking under the warm sun lamps.

All clean.

Mom getting to hold her clean little boy. He smells so good.

Brent studying for his upcoming Series 7 exam - telling Reed all about stocks.
Mom and Reed are ready to go home!
The Barton Family getting ready to leave hospital and go home.
First night home. Poor little guy has sensitive skin. His eyes swelled from the ointment they put on them right fter birth and the harsh hospital detergent they use on the shirts and blankets made his whole little body red and splotchy. We would have brought our own stuff if we'd known...

At home with his own hat and blankets, the rash is already going away.

I still have a belly button!

37 weeks and all is well. At my Sept 30th appointment I was 2 cm and 80% effaced. That could mean we have weeks left or he could come any day. We are so excited to meet him!

Making jam

My friend Paula came out for a visit at the end of September and helped us get ready for the baby. We went to the Salt Lake Farmer's Market and we had the best time admiring and sampling all the beautiful produce. I've heard people talk about how good Utah peaches are, but hadn't really had a chance to try them until that weekend. They are so good!

I have desperately wanted to learn how to can (or bottle, apparently, if your from Utah) for some time now and Paula is a pro, so she offered to teach me how to make jam (since I don't have the supplies for canning and jam is the next best thing). So we bought a box of peaches and brought them home. It was so much easier than I though it would be and I am now less intimidated by the whole process. Thanks Paula!

I have no idea what I'm doing with this whole blog thing, but I'll learn as I go I guess. I thought I'd set it up before the baby comes so we can let our friends and family know what's going on with us out here in Bountiful, Utah. We're expecting baby Reed any day now and are so excited. We're all ready (as ready as we can be anyway) and can't wait to meet him!