Blessed Beyond Measure

Our family is unbelievable blessed. Anna Kathryn (Anna Kate) Perry arrived on Monday, October 25! We are so thrilled that she is finally here. She was 9lbs 3ozs and 21 inches. A little smaller than Barnes was on his debut into the world but still a big girl. She is perfect in every way. She has long fingers, a head full of black hair and looks JUST LIKE her daddy and big brother. I don't believe she has a dimple like the two of them though.

We came home from the hospital yesterday and shes been a doll. Eating good, sleeping good and just a very happy little girl. Barnes is smitten with her. He loves to touch her hair and say, "hi sissy" in a sweet little voice. He wants to know if she can play hockey or go to the choo choo with him. He wants her included in all of his activities. He even tried to feed her some of his lunch today (ham sandwich and Cheetos!)

I am so grateful for my many blessings. These two healthy, happy children are at the top of my list.

Daddy already wrapped around her finger
llooks just like Barnes in this pic!

with mommy on day 2

right after we had her and Barnes and family got to come in

REALLY? I CANT EAT?!

Its 12:16 am and Im giving birth tomorrow. But not until 3:30 PM. Which means I CANNOT eat until way after 3:30 PM tomorrow.

Dont worry... I just ate a sandwich and a BIG piece of Jennifer's left over birthday cake. Im going to make it. :)

Oh the fun we have had!

As Ive mentioned in previous posts... THE GUILT. I have lots of it to go around these days. Irrational, unstoppable, unreasonable guilt. Now I'm not saying I believe that Barnes going to be loved any less after his sister arrives or that I'm ruining his life by having another baby. I know its completely irrational and hormonal so I do understand it. But that's as much as I can do about it. Understand it. Stop it? Nope.

My child has benefited greatly from said guilt. I have packed in just about every activity possible into the days and weeks leading up to the arrival our our newest family member. We have had SO much fun. Whether it was just the two of us at the park or playing in the driveway, a football game with daddy on a Friday night, watching our friends play hockey on the weekend, going to the pumpkin patch or just hanging at home in our PJ's watching Thomas the Train.

I am sure of one thing. Ive done the most with the time we had each day to make it special. Barnes is my little partner and sidekick. He hops in the truck and goes wherever mommy goes and we practice our counting and colors and talk about all the things we see on our adventures.

Here are a few pictures of the places we have gone and the fun we've had over the past few weeks/months.

Farm Outings

going down the tube slide

riding ponies with daddy

riding ponies at another farm we went to the next week with our friends

my sweet boys

Matt, Barnes and Gavin

playing with Georgie in the yard

Playing at the park

look at that sky! The weather has been gorgeous!

we had a picnic at the park

started out that morning at the train museum

Lunch at Red Robin with daddy and mommy

practicing his hockey skills

YES, he can skate!!

He looks like a pro! And hits like one too!

We bought skates, a puck, and sticks at Toys r Us after the hockey game

This last pic is where all of the hockey obsession started. Barnes' friend Ben and his brothers play hockey and Barnes has developed quite an interest in playing. He loves BEN and loves playing with him. Ben invited us over earlier this week and the literally played for two hours straight. Hockey, golf, jumping in piles of leaves, football, soccer and just running round falling down. What fun that little boy has had.

I know Barnes will be the best big brother Anna Kate could ever hope for. He is such a strong, sweet boy. He is rough and tumble so she better come out tough but he also has the biggest, sweetest heart and wants to please and love and snuggle. She was kicking in my belly tonight and he told me she was playing hockey. Hope she also is athletic! ;)

I thank God everynight for this life he has given me. What blessings I am given everyday. To have a partner like Brad. He is a wonderful father, husband and provider. Patient when mine has long run out and willing to get down in the floor and wrestle because I sure cant at this time! To have a son like Barnes. Strong, sweet, innocent and caring. He is all the best parts of Brad and me. Im so blessed that God chose me to be his mommy. Im thankful for this baby girl, who has been a pregnancy breeze compared with her brother. She has been easy going, let me eat most everything I want and given me joy in planning her room and wardrobe like only a little girl can. I would be remiss if I didnt also include my closest friends, Gail, Jennifer, Amanda, Lindsay and my dearest mother in this post. Each have supported me, help me decorate, fixed my family dinner, driven 2+ hours to celebrate my shower, organized my closets and washed my clothes, and loved me and listened to me during this time. I am thankful for all those people who bless my life. I continually wonder what in the world Ive ever done to deserve so many warm, giving, loving people in my life.

I thank the Lord for all of my many blessings, including those reading this.

Let's try this again... 10.25.10

We thought baby Anna Kate was going to come on 10.22.10 but plans change! Our doctor's office called yesterday and cancelled the C-section. Its now rescheduled for Monday, which is 10.25.10. Famous people like Pablo Picasso, Minnie Pearl, and Katy Perry (Ugh!) were born on this day. Disney World was dedicated on 10.25, Windows XP was released on 10.25, and Anna Kathryn Perry will be born!!

Its going to be a great day!

One other side note, we had an ultrasound today AKP measured EXACTLY the same weight as BBP did at this visit at 38 weeks. 9 pounds 6 ounces. I find this fact really interesting, but I have gained almost the exact amount of weight as with Barnes. (34 pounds for the record with him, 32 with her) NOT that ANYONE WHO READS THIS is keeping up with it.

We are excited to meet our baby girl and Barnes is thrilled to be a big brother. He has been practicing being gentle and we have been talking about how sissy will cry sometimes and be happy sometimes and eat a lot.

Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers on the big day!

10.22.10 - A special day for the Perrys!

Just a little update... went to the doctor on Monday and Anna Kathryn (Anna Kate, or Sissy as BBP calls her) will be making her arrival on Friday the 22nd! I cannot wait to meet our daughter. What a special day.

I'm trying to spend every last minute with Barnes and pack in as much excitement as possible. In the last week, we've been to the park, to the train museum, to two different farms to see animals and ride ponies and we are trying out a new music class on Friday! But tomorrow we are just staying home and taking it easy. We might stay in our jammies all day and watch cartoons!

Love to all~

Big Boy Room

Room before painting

after painting one wall and the ceiling

nautical theme

Barnes has been sleeping in his new room every night for the last two weeks. I'm finally ready to announce that its official... hes a big boy! He goes to bed great each night (with a couple of exceptions) but the best part is that he hasn't realized he CAN get out of the bed without me. He knows HOW to get out of the bed and once I come into his room he gets out. But he wont get out without me. PERFECTION! How lucky can I be? My biggest fear with the big boy bed was that he would get out constantly in the middle of the night and come into our room. But so far (holding breath) the thought hasn't occurred to him.

I'm so proud of my little biscuit. (insert proud mommy face)

Fall has arrived! And just in time!

Fall his FINALLY arrived in Jackson. This week we have been waking up to crisp mornings and have been able to make careful decisions about incorporating our fall wardrobe into the mix of things! The first photo below shows my fave fall outfit so far that Barnes has. Well, actually I love them all but this one is especially cute with his new wallaby shoes. SIDE NOTE FYI: Once your little boy hits a size 9 in shoes all bets are off for finding cute little boy shoes. You either wear the mini version (Wallabys, New Balance, Converse) of big kid/people shoes or you brave the kid size section at Stride Rite or Target filled with shoes that have wheels, that light up or have so much neon orange/lime green on them that they glow and could double as a night light!

Okay, okay so I know my blog is NOT a kids fashion blog so I will get on with it.

We have had a great week enjoying the weather! It has been fun to play outside again - forgot what that was like. We've been trying out our local parks and we even got a visit from Poppy on Thursday. He took us to a yummy lunch and then took us to the park where he and BBP just had a big time!

In other Perry news, we go to the Dr. next week and will hopefully find out the date of AKP's arrival. Very exciting.... Ive been spending as much time as possible with Barnes and doing things Barnes wants and needs to do. I know our outings will be diminished greatly after baby sissy gets here. So far BBP says, "Sissy comin'!" and that Sissy will cry a lot when she gets here.

I know one thing, Sissy will be one lucky girl to have him as a big brother. Just as we are all lucky to have Barnes Perry in our lives. ;)

dinner out with mommy and daddy -

so stinkin' cute!

playing outside

Georgie Pumpkin Barnes Perry enjoys the weather and playing fetch

Barnes and GP play fetch (for the record, this dog has NEVER played fetch

with a ball outside with Brad or me) We tried for years!

This just started with Barnes. She honestly loves that child.

A boy and his dog

At Picasso pizza with poppy

Poppy making the ship sway

Barnes having fun on the other side!

North Park is an amazing park.

I'm thankful to those who raised the funds to build it.