Saturday morning

I wish these were fat free.

If they were, I'd eat them every Saturday morning with my husband. 

Trader Joe's cinnamon rolls. 

No hydrogenated oils.

No high fructose corn syrup.

Five in a pack so you can have some the next morning too. (And they were just as fabulous.)

18 minutes in the oven and you have a new best friend.

I should keep a stock of these on hand for myself our guests who come to visit the baby.

Multitude Monday

Counting my way to 1,000 blessings...

#600...baby kicks after grape juice or Shirley Temples.
#601...surprise baby showers at work that make my day.
#602...sunshine that melts snow and ice.
#603...holding the sweet newborns of my dear friends.
#604...a productive weekend at home with the hubby.
#605...Trader Joe's cinnamon rolls on Saturday mornings.
#606...Two mornings in a row with no alarm. Soooo nice.
#607...Being reminded to look for God's grace in all things.
#608...Finding out we're going to have another nephew! (That makes seven!!)
#609...Stacks of baby clothes and blankets and bibs that are waiting to be washed and put away.
#610...Feeling so protected and loved when Tom puts his arm around me or hugs me as he passes by.


So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
Colossians 2:6-7

Multitude Monday

Counting my way to 1,000 blessings...

#591...New OPI polish. It's the small things in life.
#592...Seeing grass peak through. At least until the blizzard this weekend.
#593...Staying in hotels with comfy beds/sheets and lots of fluffy pillows that I don't have to wash.
#594...Listening to Tom sing and talk to my belly.
#595...Making it through a long and tiring but productive week.
#596...Being blessed by our first small group meeting in our new church.
#597...Birds chirping.
#598...Making it home safely after driving six hours in rain, sleet and snow.
#599...Having lots and lots and lots of people love on our unborn child.
#560...Spending an entire weekend surrounded by most of my closest friends and family.


Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in obedience to him. You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours. Psalm 128:1-2

36 Weeks

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 36 weeks (due one month from today - how is this possible?!)

Size of baby: 18.5", almost 6 lb (that is so crazy to me!)

Total Weight Gain/Loss: 20 lbs

Maternity Clothes: You know you're getting large when even your maternity tops are getting too tight. I figured they'd fit the entire time, but I guess not *smile. Up a size I go! 

Gender: So many people think it's a girl that I'm almost being convinced they're right.

Movement: He/she moves often. I like to press on little body parts and feel him/her move under my fingers. Tom says I'm disrupting it's development and over stimulating it, but it's just so darn cute!

Sleep: Sleeping through the night is, like, so 2010.

What I miss: Sitting comfortably without an achy back.

What I WILL miss: People showing so much care and concern ALL the time, free back rubs from the hubby without the expectation that he'll get one back (gotta love that!), super sweet and fun baby showers.

Cravings: Nothing crazy. However, I tried some coffee this weekend after not being able to even stand the smell of it all my pregnancy, and it was like being reunited with a long lost friend. I was so worried I wouldn't get my love of coffee back. We also had grape juice this week that I couldn't get enough of.

Symptoms: Braxton Hicks contractions, crazy emotions, dropping things sometimes multiple times, losing my balance, back achiness, getting up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom, having to position a pillow perfectly underneath the belly, and being very thirsty.

Best moment this past week: My over the top and so-much-fun Irish themed shower and weekend with amazing friends and family in Des Moines. Our birthing class last Saturday was also a lot of fun.

Exercise: Running, biking, lifting, using the stair climber and lots of stretching. (I don't want anyone to get the wrong idea about this list, however. I am only at the gym 2-3 times a week so don't be too impressed *smile.)

The count down is on! 

We have a long list of things to still get done at home, but I am feeling more and more ready for this sweet little babe to make his/her arrival. (But another 4+ weeks would still be appreciated if I get to vote.)

This happens often...

It's normal to come home from a great cardio workout at the gym and immediately start dunking Trader Joe's Joe Joe cookies, right?

When you're almost nine months pregnant it sure is.

Can.Not.Get.Enough.

I've talked about it and blogged about. There's proof. 

*smile

Happy Valentine's Day

I had to run some errands tonight, so I thought our Valentine's Day dinner was going to have to be postponed. Until Tom offered to run to our favorite expensive grocery store, Kowalski's, where we only shop if we want super good food while I was gone. He picked up fabulous beef tenderloin and chive and sour cream twice baked potatoes and we had ourselves a very relaxed and romantic candlelit dinner at home. 

Eating a great meal in my pj's is right up my alley. 

The only thing missing was a glass of red wine *smile.

He told me dessert was a surprise, and then had me close my eyes and brought these out on a plate. I love pretty much anything miniature, including Haagen-Dazs single serving ice cream. 

Adooooorable!

I picked chocolate peanut butter and it was divine. I was a nice wife and let him have 1/4 of mine though b/c he was jealous of my peanut butter swirls. The funny thing is that if I were to dish my own bowl of ice cream, it would have been three times this amount. Isn't it funny how we over-stuff ourselves? Or maybe I am the only one who has this problem when it comes to something super yummy or just plain Joe Joe cookies from Trader Joes...

We chatted about work and talked about goals for our family and how we'll handle life once he/she arrives. We obviously have no clue what life will be like, but it's good to at least discuss how we'd like laundry, groceries and house cleaning to be handled *smile. We'll be flexible about the rest b/c I have had more than one person tell me that is the key to success as a new mom.

Ok, now I'm wishing there was more ice cream left.

I cherish nights like this with the hubby. He also cleaned Leo's cage for me as a surprise, which is only the second time in Leo's five years of life that he's done that and let me tell you - it was nice to get a break. (Who needs flowers?!) The boy sure knows my love languages are "acts of service" and "quality time".

I do love him with all my heart - on this day and every day.

Multitude Monday

Counting my way to 1,000 blessings...

#581...lotion for dry hands. And arms. And itchy baby bump bellies.
#582...hearing Tom laugh out loud in the other room watching The Office.
#583...sunshine in the evenings lasting longer and longer. Yay!
#584...a car that heats up very quickly.
#585...rare mornings that Tom is up before I leave and I get a hug AND a kiss.
#586...nightly back rubs.
#587...all day birthing class that makes me more excited than scared. I can do this!
#588...watching episodes of Parenthood online on the weekends.
#589...working together in the garage to make room, throw away and organize.
#590...the undeniable and fabulous smell of spring.

I love singing along to worship music in my car, and I heard this one recently and had forgotten how simple yet beautiful and powerful it was. May it bless you as it blessed me.

In the morning, when I rise

In the morning, when I rise

In the morning, when I rise

Give me Jesus.

Give me Jesus, 

Give me Jesus.

You can have all this world,

Just give me Jesus.

When I am alone,

When I am alone, 

When I am alone,

Give me Jesus.

Give me Jesus.

Give me Jesus, 

Give me Jesus.

You can have all this world,

Just give me Jesus.

When I come to die,

When I come to die,

When I come to die,

Give me Jesus.

Give me Jesus.

Give me Jesus, 

Give me Jesus.

You can have all this world,

Just give me Jesus.

Happy Valentine's Day!

The View From Here

I live in this robe.

I may even take it to the hospital *smile.

Baby Shower in Woodbury

My sisters-in-law, Trisha and Nikki, and good friend, Erin, threw me a baby shower two weekends ago. It was elegant and special and far exceeded anything I could have dreamt up myself. They, along with other friends, certainly showered us with lots of love. I felt so blessed!

-------------------

The amazing hosts! I love these girls and all their sweetness.

Thankfully we (my in-laws were in town for the weekend so Tom and his dad dropped us off) arrived early so I could get my tears out. (I know, shocking that I cried right?) The tables were set beautifully with gorgeous flower centerpieces and an Irish blessing at every plate from everyone who was in attendance. 

There were also old pictures of me and Tom set throughout the room. I love the picture below of me and my three siblings with our rabbits. Apparently, I wasn't happy about something and didn't want to be sitting there any more. I blame my stubbornness on the red hair *smile.

Nikki made me the most adorable diaper cake! She included newborn and size 1 diapers to get us started, along with multiple toys, the sweetest little socks (squish!), safety outlet plugs, and organic baby shampoo and body wash. I loved everything about it, including even the perfectly matching ribbon that held it all together. 

They pulled out all the stops, including these green frosted "baby feet" sugar cookies with a note that said:

I'm almost here,

I'm on my way;

I'm the reason you celebrate today.

You've planned and prepared for me to arrive,

Love is the reason I'm alive!

So I thank you all from the bottom of my heart,

for helping my mom and dad give me a great start.

Love, Baby Barntsen

Is that not the sweetest?!

After a beautiful and heartfelt prayer from Trisha, the girls individually served all of us fabulous tomato bisque, salad (with caramelized almonds - my fav!) and a warm roll. Trust me, it was delicious.

Dessert was two options of cheesecake with Godiva dipped strawberries. 

Heaven.

They surprised me with a video of Tom answering questions about the baby and our future as parents. I had to try and guess how he would answer and then we watched what he actually said (I only missed three! We must be soulmates.) I was laughing and smiling so hard, my cheeks hurt, but there were plenty of times a collective "awwww" was heard around the room as well. It was so sweet and precious and I can't believe they pulled it off. 

(Lucky for them, I was out of town the prior weekend!)

People were so generous with their gifts. This baby is blessed!

(Bib says "I'm a McCutie" - adorable!)

The crew minus two girls who had to leave early. I love my friends!

I can't wait to see this man as a daddy *smile.

I couldn't sleep the night of the shower b/c I was replaying it all over and over in my head. It really was a day I'll never forget with friends and family I'm so grateful for. They have each added to the joy that this pregnancy has brought us!

Multitude Monday

Counting my way to 1,000 blessings...

#571...Homemade popcorn with (lots of) white cheddar on top.
#572...Random non-maternity tops that somehow still fit.
#573...The smell of blooming lilies.
#574...Seeing so clearly how God is working in our lives.
#575...Jack's Pizza on Friday nights. I don't care how cheap it is, it's yummy.
#576...Friends at church who "just want to get rid of baby stuff" and it's exactly what we need.
#577...Afternoons at the spa getting a facial and a massage with my SIL. Ahhhhh...........
#578...Hitting almost 30 degrees - such a nice change!
#579...Using up food/groceries we already have.
#580...Soft flannel sheets on the bed - better late in the season than never.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:15-17

34 Weeks

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 34 weeks

Size of baby: almost 18", about 3.75 lb

Total Weight Gain/Loss: 18 lbs

Maternity Clothes: Pretty much all maternity except for a few random Gap shirts and t-shirts. I also found that it's important to try on the tops I wear to the gym before I pack them in my bag. I may have been running with my belly hanging out of a veeery tight t-shirt recently, I can't rightly say.

Gender: This week I have no clue.

Movement: He/she moves often. I like to press on little body parts and feel him/her move under my fingers. Tom says I'm disrupting it's development and over stimulating it, but it's just so darn cute!

Sleep: This past week was rough. I think part of it was because we came off a very busy weekend and had a busy week, but I was soooo tired. I was up pretty consistently at 3:32 am but slept until 7:30 am this morning, so maybe it was just random. I'm hoping it was just random.

What I miss: Sitting comfortably without an achy back.

What I WILL miss: People telling me how cute my belly is (this is definitely the only time that is fun), movement from within, and talking to the baby and about the baby.

Cravings: Not much sounded good this week. I ate a lot of english muffins with peanut butter, granola bars and raisins.

Symptoms: Braxton Hicks contractions, crazy emotions, dropping things sometimes multiple times, losing my balance, feeling absolutely stuffed after five bites, back achiness, and being very thirsty.

Best moment this past week: Tom being able to hear the heartbeat when laying on my tummy (so cool!) and my beautiful shower with friends and family.

Exercise: As crazy as it sounds, I find running to feel SO good. After sitting all day, it feels great to stretch out and get those muscles going. And it's crazy, b/c walking makes me have Braxton Hicks contractions and seems to be harder. Still lifting and lots of stretching.

Somebody is kicking and wants to say to everybody! *smile

Progressive Dinner Time!

Two weekends ago I made the trek home to Charles City, Iowa to see some of my childhood girlfriends. Megan had baby Drew the day after Thanksgiving and I was very eager to meet the little guy. We snuggled and then he cried so I gave him back to his mom. I did love his little jeans though. Baby jeans are the best. Libby (25 weeks pregnant) and her mom were there as well so it was fun to chat with them, Megan and Megan's parents.

Megan is awesome with Drew and such a natural!

A few of my girlfriends and I have done a progressive dinner the last couple years. You may remember last years, which was equally as wonderful (Kara gave birth to Gabe that night so we missed having her there.) And yet again this year, we had LOTS to celebrate. What a difference 365 days makes! WOW! One little guy named Gabe celebrated his 1st birthday, two healthy pregnancies and two exciting Christmas engagements. God is GOOD! I love it when wonderful things happen to those I love.

We started the evening off at my parent's house where my parents served hot chocolate and my mom's famous sugar cookies. I neglected to take any home with me for Tom, who was quite disappointed. I guess I just need to perfect the recipe.

Kara has wanted to try this for "years". I'm not sure it really looked all that natural? But I think life as a brunette would be kind of fun *smile.

Appetizers at Kara's house were fabulous! Stuffed mushrooms to.die.for.

Love this pic! So much to be thankful for and look forward to....

Huh, that's odd...I'm usually pretty good with kids.

Next stop: salad at Amanda's mom's house.

Spinach, pears, strawberries and orzo...mmmmmm.

Apparently our conversation was boring for Bruce who fell asleep at the table.

Wouldn't be a right without at least one "look confused" picture.

We're getting full, but not too full for the main meal!

 Next up was pasta salad, cheese bread and either baked chicken or fish at Libby's parent's house.

Yum!

And last, but certainly not least, the final stop...DESSERT!

Laura impressed us with her "almost from scratch" tiramisu.

I have no idea how we lasted until 2:15 am last year. We all were pretty tired by midnight but pushed through until 12:45 and headed home to sleep in our own beds. (It's so fun not having a curfew even though I'm in my parent's house! Ha.) We had so much to talk about and discuss - I think we needed another 10 hours.

8:30 am church came veeeery early *yawn.

Love these girls and their parents! I love our tradition and hope it continues for many years.