Another Barrett on the Way...

Before I know it, I am going to have another one of these...


















(my big belly ... 12/26/05 ... the day before Jared was born)

or maybe it will look more like this:
































(this is the belly pic (thanks Alishia) taken in May of 2007 - 2 months before Will was born)

Awww ... but then I get one of these...

















Sweet newborn Jared...




















Sweet newborn Will ...

In case you are the last to hear, Tim and I are expecting our THIRD BABY!! I am now about 9 weeks pregnant. We are so excited and thrilled the Lord would entrust us with another precious life. This new baby is "scheduled" to arrive sometime around November 22, 2009. There has been a lot of praying, talking, and thinking about this new babe at the Barrett house and what it will mean to our family.

Jared is sooo excited. He's been asking for a "new baby" since before the "old baby" was even one year old (Will is the "old baby" now ... if you are around our house for more than 5 minutes you will hear us refer to Will as "Baby Will" or just "Baby" ... I know, he is HUGE and walking and talking ... what can I say? Once a nickname sticks ...).

Jared talks about the new baby everyday. He is careful not to sit on my belly or do anything that might squish or hurt the new baby. The other day he asked if he could take his baby stroller to the park and if I could take the new baby out of my tummy so he could push him around in it for a bit. This morning, he asked if I could read the Bible and do our devotions with the new baby, too. I assured him that the new baby could hear and was listening. Tonight, he asked if he could buy the new baby a stick horsey like he and Will have ... I told him he had about 2 years to save up for it since it would be a while before the new baby could walk and play with it.

Being pregnant I think I am dreaming more vividly than I usually remember. Last night I had a very realistic nightmare ... well sort of a funny dream if you know me.

Most of you know that we had our first two babies without the aid of an MD or a hospital. Jared was born at a birthing center, Will at home - both with midwives and both were wonderful experiences. This time around, we are going to go the OB/hospital route thanks in part to our awesome health insurance (thanks, Chase) and in no small part, also, because I want some REST after the arrival of our new little lamb.

Having Will at home was wonderful for the labor and delivery part ... just not so much for the recovery since I figured I was just fine hours later to go back to normal life caring for my husband, toddler, and home. My midwife about had a heart attack when she came for my post-delivery checkup just 15 hours after Will's arrival and found me downstairs in the kitchen making lunch for the family. Let's just say that strategy of getting right back into the groove didn't work out so well for me... This time around I am fully intending to take at least 2 days to LIE DOWN and recover - I'm hoping that being at the hospital will help with that. My two little boys are high maintenance yet and I can't quite envision how I would get much rest at home with them!

So... that's the background to my dream last night. In my dream I gave birth in California (not sure why there?) and that directly after giving birth sometime during the day, I threw a big party for a bunch people (random?). I remember thinking I was running on adrenaline. Somehow, a day or two later I am back in Phoenix and so exhausted that I am calling my doctor AND the hospital to let them know that the baby is here and to try to get them to let me BACK IN the hospital because I am so doggone tired ...

On a more serious note, we are thanking God for his perfect timing in the conception of this child. We know that the economic outlook for 2009 and the next several years looks bleak, but we are confident that God has a plan for us and will provide. I am so grieved by the trends of increased abortions that are showing up everywhere as a result of people's dire economic circumstances. I'm not sure what I can do to help besides pray fervently for these families ... I do know that we can have this one baby and in doing so, hopefully, make a counter culture statement about the value of life ... in all economic climates.