Catching Up

Here are four generations of Barnett men. We took this picture at Lake San Antonio where we go every year with the Barnett extended fam to celebrate Thanksgiving and Clark and his dad's birthday. Clark and Clay share a birthday which is pretty special. I tried to have Colton share the day too but my February due date was just a bit too far from November! This picture looks like one person at four different stages of life! They are all identical and it is hilarious. My dad and I thought our genes were strong, um not quite! Barnett genes are supermanish (hence, Clark "Kent" Barnett).

Our little man is almost 10 months old!! (9 months in this picture though) He is really growing up and we are loving every minute of it. I do not have much sadness for the teeny baby he once was. I don't know if something is wrong with me as a mother because all the other mommies say how much they miss the previous stages and don't want their kids to grow up. I love that he is growing up! I love watching him learn new things and become more independent. I love that he doesn't need me to take him from point A to point B (because he will crawl there or walk holding onto things!) I guess some day there will come a time where he actually pushes me away - that I am NOT looking forward to. But any other stage where my boy can become a "big boy" makes me proud and joyful. I love him more every day.

The Barnett Family in Palm Springs. We were there with my dad, stepmom and sisters' families to celebrate Thanksgiving. While we were there we had a professional photographer take some pics of the entire family. This is a copycat taken by my brother-in-law. Colton looks really excited, doesn't he? Clark is whispering something amusing in his ear to get him to smile - very sweet! No doubt he is telling a knock-knock joke. Colton LOVES knock-knock jokes but just for the knock-knock part. We never get to the punchline! He's an easy laugh!

Old man Colton. So many people tell us that he looks like an old man. They say that all he needs are some wire-rimmed glasses and he could pose as an accountant. He's not THAT boring! (Just kidding to my accountant friends). Anyway, here he is in his too big pants that we pulled waaaay up. Go Pepperdine too!

Big Boy Colton!

I can't believe Colton is 8 months old! My boy is growing up. I'm actually glad he is growing up and I don't miss the younger stuff so far. I love him more and more every day. I can't wait til he is old enough to talk and say funny things and say "I love you, mom." This is one of his newest faces. I think he is chewing on his lips b/c he is teething. Yes, folks, he has been teething for about 14 years and no teeth yet. They say the teeth are stronger the longer it takes for them to come in. While I don't usually believe in that stuff, I hope its true!

This is my boy playing with his stuffed animals in his crib. I kept looking at this pic and thinking the crib looked white! Then I realized it is the wall b/c the crib is brown. Weird, huh? Anyway, it just goes to show you how you can see things differently depending on your perspective. That's what my dad always says.

This one is for Teta! You know why, girl...but I don't think he is lying about anything....but he was probably up to no good. This was him trying to crawl. Still not crawling yet but he did scoot around backwards for a few miles (feet). Did I already blog that he says "mama"? Well really he says "Ama" when he is crying and need something. But he will face Clark and say "dadadadada" and then face me and say "mamamama" so I think he might be getting it.

Just a cute b'day suit pic. I love that smile. I think it is a smile that makes the whole world smile! SMILE, darn it!

Okay so now an update on Tami. "Who's Tami?" you ask? Well, the girl who once used to blog here until she had a kid and now its all about him of course. Anyway, many new developments. I have quit all jobs and I am starting my own law firm. I will be practicing adoption law, juvenile dependency (foster care stuff) law, I'll do legal guardianships, estate planning and some family law (special cases only). I'm just getting started and I have no paying clients yet. I know the Lord is faithful and He is literally providing for our daily bread. That is amazing to see. Sometimes when the money comes in regularly and you are pretty comfortable, it is tough to see God's provision. Take all that away and God's provision is clear. I'm thankful that I get to see that.

More Positive

I'm trying to be more positive. Right now it is tough. I feel like I'm drowning. I'm reading a book called "A Complaint Free World" and it is great....but challenging. I am such a negative complainer. In all fairness to me, I often feel like I have a lot to complain about (haha, I don't). I genuinely feel that positivity brings about the positive.

I've got a new motto: "Get your hopes up". Usually we say the opposite but I feel that not getting your hopes up can sometimes be a lack of trusting in the Lord. While He doesn't always give us what we want exactly, He always gives us what we need. What is best for us and His kingdom. Anyway, I'm trying to get my hopes up about stuff but this is harder than it sounds. Getting your hopes up means trusting in the Lord with ALL your heart to do what you need Him to do. It means allowing yourself to be so vulnerable that you are not afraid to feel hopeful for what you desire. It means believing in what you want so much that you are shameless about your hope. Its okay to hope and not get what you want. We all have wants and its okay. The best thing is that God knows better - He knows what you need.

The Long and Short of 7 Months

7 months - how did time fly? Only 7 months, feels like years! Those are the feelings I have on a daily basis! Here is a pic of Colton with mommy. He is regular hair and chubby cheeks. No teeth yet though but lots of drool (as you can see).

Getting ready to go to his cousin's high school football games.

Auntie Traci and Colton are soooo cool!

Colton and his pal, Jackson, had fun times together. They finally recognize each other and they interacted! Colton is on the left and Jackson is on the right - they could be brothers (actually they both look like miniatures of their fathers). Jackson is such a sweetie - look at those eyes!

Colton's First Trip to Hawaii

Colton and I traveled to Hawaii just for the long weekend. We went so his grandpa and grandma could get a "Colton fix" and I could say goodbye to my Uncle Sonny who is living his last days with lung cancer. We had a nice visit and I was able to see my uncle who looks very thin and sick but will soon be in a better place.
Dad is absolutely in love with Colton and Colton loved him! It's easy to love the little guy because he basically laughs and smiles all the time. Here he is in his super cool sunglasses.
Grandma Beth loved having a baby in the house. She was even willing to wash all the bottles, bowls and spoons we used!
My dad gave Colton his first taste of poi and he LOVED it. I call it "crack poi" now because he couldn't get enough of it. Best of all for me - after he ate poi he slept longer and better than ever!
I was a little worried about the airplane and his ears but he was fine. He laughed and smiled the entire plane ride (and slept some of the time too). On the way home we sat next to the women's volleyball teams from Penn State and UCLA. The girls fell in love with Colton and he got passed around the airplane (which was nice for mommy too). All in all, Colton loved his trip to Hawaii.

Half a year!

I know, I know! It has been way too long since I blogged. Here are some highlights of our lives since I last wrote:
1. Found a job - praise God! It is bittersweet because I loved my old job, my coworkers and my clients. I felt I was in my niche. But my new job allows me to be at home 3 days a week and the other 2 days are only 10 minutes away at the office. It's not practicing law but its doing research for a tech company. My research could eventually provide a great service to the community so I still feel that I'm helping people indirectly. I'm so thankful every time I get to wake up and not have to say goodbye to Colton.
2. Childcare is pretty much solved - hooray!
3. Clark started back at school - the first day he had a crier and a puker but he survived!
4. Colton is drooling like a bulldog but no teeth yet.
5. Colton has a new exersaucer - the best thing in the world as far as he's concerned.
6. Colton is almost able to sit up all alone.
The number one question we get is: "Is he always this happy?" Answer: yes, always.
Handsome like daddy!
Colton haha. I can't believe it has been 6 months. I've been a mom for half a year - I've survived half a year! Wow, it has been the shortest and longest 6 months of my life.

One of my new coworkers shared with me a concept I hadn't realized: Babies laugh because they are pleased, not because they are amused. Adults laugh because we are amused and think something is funny. Babies will just laugh out of pure joy. I'm glad he put it that way - when I'm around Colton I want to laugh out of pure joy too!

Recent pics

No time to write now b/c it is tough balancing work and home! It is Saturday and I need to go be with my fam.

1st trip to beach - went to Zuma
First attempt at surfing - on land!

Best pal, Jackson, hanging out. Later Jackson peed on Colton in the bath - a story to last a lifetime!

PS Colton's health is really great. He has caught up on his weight and he continues to grow. We are very thankful to the Lord for taking care of him. We are hopeful he will continue to grow and be strong. Thanks for your prayers and love!

Some Cute Pics

My wonderful little family : Clark and Colton on Father's Day! Clark is such an amazing father, I am so blessed to be partners with him for life and in parenting Colton.
Our friend from Pepp, Lauri, and her husband Jon, had a daughter shortly after Colton was born. Here is Colton meeting his friend, Kirsten, for the first time! Believe it or not she is 2 months younger than him and weighs two pounds more than him! Cute and chubby!
Colton giving his Father's Day card to his daddy. He was going to eat it but decided against it...
Colton playing the "Stand Up Game" with his Papa (Clark's dad). I didn't realize this was a movie! Hopefully you can see it if you want to. We took Colton on his first trip to Hanford (or as our friend, Katy, calls it - "Podunk") Haha! When Clay said "up", Colton pulled himself up to his feet with his own muscles (Clay just holding his arms to steady him). We are so proud of our boy! Colt absolutely loved playing this game with his Papa.

4 Months

Colton was four months old on Father's Day! Here are some new pictures of him. I'll post the Father's Day pics later this week.
He has started grabbing his clothes a lot - not sure why but I think it shows good fine motor skills....
Colton went to work with me a couple of times this month. Here he is reviewing a file. He is very smart! He was the hit of the office.
Pig in a blanket? No...baby in a blanket!
Cool Colton wearing his sunglasses with his friend, Nancy (she teaches with Clark and is a great friend to all of us)!

Colton 3 Months Old

Colton is almost four months old! In some ways it has flown by but in others it seems like it has been years! This picture is our little family of three at Clark's Open House for his third grade class. He did a wonderful job and the walls were decorated amazingly.

Me and Colton just hanging out.

This picture reminds me of that old Lily Tomlin skit where she sat in the big chair and acted like a little girl. I used to imitate her when I was a kid. Here is Colton sitting in the big LazEBoy chair that we usually rock him at night. Why is that giraffe looking at him like that?

This picture shows how much weight he is gaining! He just had a bunch of formula and he is goofy and full. What a cutie! I just want to eat him up!

Look at this Face!

Here are some new pics of Colton. He is about 12 weeks in these.

Laughing with Grandpa Stan in the morning - he's definitely a morning baby. Too bad he has two nightowl parents!

Colton and his best bud, Jackson. They don't really know each other exists yet but they will soon!

Colton haha again. This picture is a good one to show how tiny he is. He's like the tiniest man ever! You should see how funny it looks when he "stands" on our lap. Hopefully we'll get a pic of that soon.