Oh happy days...

Heinz had a wonderful doctor visit yesterday! He gained 3 ounces --- which made his mama and daddy so so so happy! Moving up -- spirits and weight!:-)

On Subday sweet Reese from my class came by to see Heinz! She and her sweet mama brought us dinner from lost pizza (one of my new fave meals -- brad found something new on the menu that I might like and I loved it!!!). They stayed and chatted for a while and brought heinz some gifts. So sweet and fun! :-) 

Heinz looking adorable for church in his gown aunt Katie gave him! :-) 

Look at this snuggly big in his swing. He loves his elephant ears pillow! Check our those arms and hands. I just can't get enough of this cutie! 

So Monday night also brought bad weather. We spent hours in the laundry room riding out the storms/tornadoes. I hate this type of weather. Makes me so scared and literally sick to my stomach!! I take it so seriously. Maggie and Johnny came over before the storms came -- felt safer at our house. Loved having the here. So in our laundry room we had: 3 adults, a 9 hear old, a 5 week old, and 2 dogs. Oh and I also had my breast pump --- might as well stock up ;-) ha ha. The dogs were very well behaved/scared! Here is a snoozing pic of Mullen and Heinz --- mul has his nose propped up on the pillow.

Starkville was blessed not to get hit with the storms but other places not so much. Still so sad about all of the devastation is so many places but especially in tupelo and Louisville. Keep those towns and those people in your prayers. #prayformississippi 

Two of my dear friends organized this project the day after the storms. Props to lacy and Lauren ann for having such selfless and giving souls. Proud of you girls! 

Going to end with some sleeping pics of my sweet boy -- so glad he's gaining and happy! 

Xoxo

Liz 

One month old!

Here are some pics! Heinz was one month old on April 21st. :-) 

This boy loves to have his hands and arms up around his head and face! "Hmmm, mama I'm thinking!!!" 

We had a busy week --- probably too busy. You will see later that I am going to be home a lot more now. Pumping. And that is okay. :-) here is a sweet pic I snagged of Heinz and Maggie at lunch one day. 

This week we had jenny McNeill (the fabulous photographer from our wedding) do some newborn pictures of Heinz. He did such a good job -- was so wide eyed and happy! :-) love this boy! Here is a sneak peak of some of the beautiful pictures! 

I love having this boy in my arms and those kisses are my favorite. :-) 

We also went to Johnny's school this week for ward Stewart idol. Johnny sang "this girl is on fire" with three other boys. Johnny was nervous but he did an outstanding job! :-) it was fun to see him and some of my old students. :-)

On Friday I took Heinz by the doctor to get weighed again.... He's not losing weight but he is not gaining weight fast enough. Brad and I are working really hard to get this boy gaining. I have started pumping to use breast milk bottles as supplementation after I pump. I am trying everything I can before using formula. I have talked with a lactation consultant -- trying everything I can! I am taking Heinz back to the doctor on Tuesday to be weighed and then meeting to the LC. Please keep us in your prayers l,  but especially him. Thankful that he hasn't been losing weight but need him to start gaining faster. 

While I nurse I am talking to heinz to keep him engaged and actively nursing. One of the things we talk about is praying. I am teaching him how to pray using his hand!! Check out this picture! 

It's late. I'm up pumping -- but so so happy to. 

Xoxo

First bath

Let's just say brad is much better at the bath thing than me! 

I was so nervous! Shocker! Ha ha.  Anyways Heinz did a wonderful job during his first bath! I was lame and didn't get too many pictures! 

I'm thinking this will probably be a daddy/Heinz thing until he gets older! :-) yay for sweet daddys! 

Hoppy Easter some bunny loves you

Happy Easter! :-) 

We went to 9 am mass on Easter Sunday and then headed over to brads parents for lunch. Heinz to to see his two great grandmothers again and meet his great grandfather for the first time. It was such a joy to watch! 

He is such a lucky boy -- amazing grandparents and great grandparents! :-) 

Three generations of Barksdale men right here... So adorable and special! 

A few more Easter photo shoot pictures... 

He wasn't having the eggs.. 

Happy Easter! So blessed and thankful for our Savior! :-) 

Van

II So... I have a minivan! 

Brad sold our Tahoe on Craig's list on a Wednesday and I had a van on Friday. I was very hesitant at first --- I didn't want or need anything else new... House, baby, sleeping schedule, lack of sleeping schedule,---- just didn't know if I could handle anything else. I LoVE THE VAN! It is so comfy and so easy with Heinz's carseat! Good call brad Barksdale! :-) 

Brads parents drove us down to mobile to buy the van. It was so nice of them. It would have been rough having to drive separately in two cars back to Starkville the next day. Since we were in mobile Heinz got to meet the mobile heinzs!! 

Heinz loved meeting Ben, Teresa, Connell, Clara, and Charlie! :-) thank y'all for letting is stay and for the yummy meals. Brad loved the shrimp and BBQ! I loved the corn and and potatoes! 

I brought sugar cookies, icing, and sprinkles -- brad and I had fun with our Neice and nephews while Heinz snuggled with Ben and Teresa! 

The next day we hung out for a while before we took Heinz to meet Ms. Doris! I loved that she got to hold him and love on him. He loves you so much already ms doris! 

Charlie helped brad make sure Heinz looked his best before we left the house. Sweet sweet boys....

After lunch at moes BBQ and the Barksdales first visit to old Dutch ice cream we headed home.... In our minivan. :-) 

Love it.

Tacos...

On Wednesday we had a fun family night! We we attempted. Maggie and Johnny came over -- we had a dinner and Easter activities planned for the evening. Heinz was having a "fussy" day -- not sure if newborns have fussy days but poor fella didn't want to nap at all and just seemed uncomfy or something. Needless to say it made mama a little sad... But we made it through! :-) The other child who was there to participate aka Johnny -- he was having a "fussy" day too ha ha. 9 year old boys have attitude man -- god bless my sister! We love you sweet Johnny! We had tacos, made Easter fruit/peep kabobs, and dyed Easter eggs! 

Brad hung curtains in our bedroom and in the guest bedroom -- I love curtains! Total dork. But seriously, I love the new curtains in our bedroom. I also bought new curtains for the living room/front door from Ballard designs. I still need to buy new rods and tie backs -- I can't wait  to see what it all looks like! Our new home is definitely feeling like our home. I was just telling brad the other night that at first I felt like we were staying in someone else's house or at a hotel or something. Slowly but surely we are decorating and making it our own! :-) Grass is supposedly going to be laid on Monday --- fingers crossed! Mullen       ( along with his mama and especially his daddy) is ready! 

Thursday night we went on our first walk on campus as a family! I was moving slow and we didn't go far ---- yay there is room for growth and improvement! But hey all 4 of us (Mully included) got some much needed vitamin D! Heinz loved his stroller, Mullen loved leaving the house, and brad loved seeing the football stadium (visions of tailgates danced in his head ;-) )!!! 

Family walk documentation... :-) 

Mullen didn't know what to think about the bully statue.... 

Going to end with a sweet picture --- Heinz is so lucky and blessed to have a sweet boy cousin and sweet aunt that love him so much!!! We love you Maggie and Johnny --- and we love having y'all in Starkville! :-) 

Dates to document..

April 7th -- Heinz had his first doctor appt. Two week check up went well! He is still a little guy but he is gaining since we left the hospital! At this appointment he weight 6 pounds 15 ounces and was 19.75 inches long. Love our sweet boy! 

April 13th -- The first sightings of the goopy eye. After tons of googling, talking to my mom and my sisters, and talking to the doctor we have come to the conclusion that Heinz (along with tons of newborns) has a clogged tear duct. I have been massaging it and cleaning it with a warm washcloth just like all of my resources told me! It made me so sad the first day to see his little eye --- it seems to be getting better and mama is handling it better ha ha ;-). 

April 15th-- Heinz's cord fell off! Yay! Real bath in his bath tub coming soon! :-) 

April 15th-- Heinz has his first mini play date. We loved having Lauren ann and Rhett over to "play" and visit! 

More to document in the days to come I am sure! Leaving y'all with a happy picture... Sweet angel! 

Happy moments...

Brad and I talked a lot about who we would choose to be Heinz's god parents throughout my pregnancy. To be honest, it was a hard decision. There are so many people in our lives who we would love (and still hope) will be a huge part of his life... Especially when it comes to helping him know The Lord and helping him to be a good person! We came to a decision! Maddie (our niece who is a freshman in high school) will be his god mother and Brian (Brad's brother) will be his god father. We are so excited for Heinz -- he has such an amazing family and wonderful friends in his life already. Maddie and Jamie (one of my bffs from college) were our first out of town guests in our new house! They came to meet Heinz when he was one week old! :-) loved their visit -- so good for the heart and soul to be surrounded by the people you love and who love you! 

Our first night sleeping at home was not perfect by any means.... Snuggle nest to the rescue! I suggest this to anyone and everyone. Heinz loves his snuggle nest --- I think his awesome bassinet/pak n play  that our sweet nephew Charlie let us use (thank you big brother Ben and Teresa) just felt a little too big and too empty for him. The nest is great -- and portable which is awesome! :-) 

At 3 weeks old.. Heinz had his first road trip! We went to Mimi and JoeJoe's! We went to a baby shower for Ginna and baby Tate and we went to a celebration for my sweet friend Lauren and her family of 3 (the Lucas family)!  Heinz was a good little nursing boy and everyone he met loved him! I loved having some of our high school group get to meet him! :-) He also got to meet Dottie, nick, and all the kids! Such a fun weekend of travel with my family of 3 and Maggie and Johnny! Traveling as a mama for the first time! 

Some of the high school crew plus brad and jake ;-).

Family photo #1 (just missing our sweet Mullen who was at the vet in Starkville).