Merry Christmas from the Barker's

Elf Yourself

One with the pets =)

Columbus Zoo Lights

Since Doug and I have lived in Columbus, we try to go to the zoo lights every year!

This year was even more special because the baby was with us!

Too bad she couldn't see the lights but she was surely wiggling on the way there!

I think she could sense our excitement!

Doug and I are anxious to bundle her up next year and show her the lights in person!

us looking a little "elf" ish =)

So pretty!  

Last night was in the mid 50's so it wasn't too terribly cold but we did get some hot drinks!  I had some yummy hot apple cider and Doug got hot chocolate.  We walked around and enjoyed the lights!

Job update...

So, most of you know that I really really hate working nights!  I have been working with my boss for over a month to try to switch to day shift.  I had a little meeting with her today to see what my options are if I can't move on day shift any sooner.  It was a good little chat =)  I'm still 2 people away from moving to days but she offered me a evening shift position that might open up sooner.  I'll be working 3-11pm!  I'll still get night shift pay so that's a plus.  I'll only work 4 days a week b/c I think 5 days will require me to poke my eyes out *lol*  It's just too much in a nursing job for anyone.  But that will only give me 32 hrs.  Rarely do we ever get out on time so making up those hours won't be a problem and I can always continue to pick up extra hours at the doctor's office.

So, I think I might take the evening shift position and keep my fingers crossed that I can switch soon.  There is one girl who wants to move from evening to nights (my shift 7pm to 7:30am) so we can possibly just switch jobs and there is another girl going on maternity leave in January on evening shift (3-11pm).

With switching, I won't be so sleep deprived and will actually have an entire day off and not have to sleep half of it away!  I also made sure that moving to evenings won't hurt my chances or move my spot back from moving to day shift (7am to 7:30 pm) and she promised it wouldn't!  yeah!!!

So, maybe after the new year, I'll have a much better work schedule!  I'll miss my night co-worker's terribly but I will get to work with them for a few hours each day I'm there! =)  Doug and I think this shift will work well with the baby.  It will require 1 extra day of day care but she won't have to be there the entire day each day so that's a plus!  Just half days from 2pm to 5pm! =)

So, keep your fingers crossed it all works out!

12 Days of Christmas Holiday Challenge Day 6

Day 6 is Gift Ideas for me!!!!

There isn't much on my list this year b/c we are devoting everything for the new baby!

I would much rather have gift cards or items off our baby registry =)

But...if I have to pick a few things.... hehe

Cricut Cartridges!  I love scrapbooking and now that the basement is semi organized again, I now have a working scrapbooking station where I can continue and work on the baby's album.

We also NEED an electric meat thermometer *lol*  I broke our old one and we bought a regular one and I put it in the dishwasher and then washed it again...ugh!  It needs to be heavy duty people!

Roaster with warming trays for the top.

12 Days of Christmas Holiday Challenge Day 5

So, I'm already a bit behind =)  oops!  With working and the holidays starting, I got a bit behind.


This week is Favorite Holiday Movie/TV Show Special


Well, this one is easy!  Elf!  We have already watched it and laugh each time!  Oh and don't forget Christmas Vacation!!!  "Don't throw me down now Clark"  haha love that one!


Doug and I bought a new Christmas tree this year and put up our holiday decorations and it looks great!

Lola even got into the Christmas Spirit =)

OSU-vs-Morehead State

Iris had her first encounter with OSU Basketball tonight! 

Doug was offered free tickets from his boss so we were lucky that I didn't have to work and were excited to go!  We weren't as close as last time but still had pretty great seats!

I'm sure she was wondering what all the noise was from but she seemed to enjoy it b/c she was wiggling the whole time!  I think she's going to be a cheerleader!

Of course they won!!! =)

O-H-I-O

12 Days of Christmas Holiday Challenge Day 2

You can link up over at Aly's and Molly's

Day 2 - Black Friday/General Shopping Tips & Tricks

Well, I certainly do not have any tips.  My goal is to try not to buy for myself during my shopping trips =)  I keep seeing all those great deals and it's so hard to not buy for yourself!!!  I love Aly's quote "One for you, two for me"  It's so true!!!

This year I work so I won't be participating in the morning shopping!  I'll leave that to the rest of the crazies including my MIL and husband!  I think they are going to go out that morning.  (make sure you buy me something "real nice")

Some rules that I do try to follow while I'm out shopping anywhere is to wear layers so I don't get overheated standing in those long lines.  Stay fully hydrated with coffee (decaf this year!) and other beverages of choices, and to stay well fed!  As my family knows, I need fed at least every 2 hrs if I'm out shopping or I'll melt and want to poke my eyes out (haha I'm sure you are laughing Kate!).  It makes for encountering those not so nice shoppers a bit easier and I don't want to trip them in line =)

Happy Holidays!!!

12 Days of Christmas Holiday Challenge

Hey everyone link up to Aly and Molly for the 12 days of Christmas Challenge!

I'm super excited for christmas and have been listening to it on the radio as we drive around!  I love seeing all the lights on people's houses and I'm getting super excited!!!

Today is Holiday Traditions!

Doug and I  haven't really started any holiday traditions as a family yet but can't wait!  We try to put the decorations up the weekend after thanksgiving and enjoy a date night out with coffee and driving around to look at all the christmas lights!  One of my favorite things!!!

Growing up, we would always go to the Wion's side Christmas Eve and have a nice meal and open up presents.  My grandma would have the lights dimmed with candles and have the tree on.  It was so pretty and one of my favorite things that I looked forward too!  Christmas morning, we would wake up and wait for my dad to get his coffee ready, get the trash bags and everything all organized (used to drive us nuts b/c we were ready to open gifts!!!!!)  And then finally after he was set (I think he went slow to drive us nuts) we would open our gifts!  That afternoon, we would all go out to my grandma's and spend most of the afternoon there.  We would play with our new toys, eat lots of great food, and come back home to add it all under the tree!  I love the holidays as a kid!!!

Now that I'm married, it's been a little tricky!  My parents are divorced and my grandparent's on the Wion's side are deceased and I don't get to see the rest of the family as often.  And adding a new family through marriage, it's been hard finding time to fit it all in now that we live 1 hr away!  But each year we try to make it work the best we can!  I still look forward to the holidays and baking and eating all the yummy food!

I'm even more anxious to start a new tradition with the baby and come up with a few things that will make her christmas's magical!

20 week Ultrasound

We had our 20 week ultrasound yesterday morning!  We were so excited to see the baby and to have Iris's photo shoot (as Doug called it)!  We were anxious to make sure everything was good and that she was healthy and...STILL A GIRL! =)  And she is!!!!

Now, let the fun of decorating the nursery begin!!!!

Don't be alarmed, there are no pictures this time.  The little miss was not cooperative and so we have just a hand and foot shot =)  We did get a semi-clear view of her to know that she's still a girl but that was about it.  She flipped over as soon as we started the ultrasound and stayed face down and kept her legs crossed and bent up to her butt =)  She's a shy one!!!  It was so much fun to see her wiggle around and kick her little legs.  She's still head down which is good and I have been feeling her kick my arms when they are resting on my belly!  She's 12-13 oz right now so she's almost a pound!!!  All pushing right on my bladder and pelvis *lol*  That's wonderful =)

The due date is still April 7th but she's measuring 4 days early so around April 3rd! =)  Dr. Pool said the baby is growing well!  She said she's not too big and not too small so right about at the 50% mark!  I knew we weren't having a huge baby *lol*  So, we're pleased she has a 4 chamber heart and her development is spot on!  She's a healthy one!!!

I gained 9 lbs back of my original 12 lb weigh loss so the doctor and I were very pleased!  She wants to have me gain a slow 1/2 to 1 lb each week for the remaining months.  I hope I can continue to eat healthy and not pig out too much!  I'm super hungry all the time now so it's been interesting!  I still crave sweets and fruit and have horrible heartburn with red sauces and now apparently milk?!?  Silliness!!!

As for the name...we're still struggling with that!  We love Iris but are getting mixed feelings from everyone *lol*  We want a classic older name and nothing trendy so we'll see!  We still have time to decide but so far, we have been calling her Iris!

We're just super excited to have a healthy baby growing!!!

***Major highlight of the week****

Doug felt the baby move this morning!!!  We went back to bed after he made breakfast and were laying there.  She started moving and so I had him place his hand on my belly and she finally kicked (or punched) hard and he was able to feel it =)  Best day!

We also bought the bedding today!  We got it at Pottery Barn and I can't wait to get the crib and put it all together!!!  It's super cute with little owls and birds on it.  It's perfect and what I had in mind when we were searching!  It was even on sale =)

Here's a 20 week picture

Looking down at my belly

can't see my shoes haha

Cutest Airedale on the block!

Lola was groomed yesterday and you could tell she was super excited and felt like a million bucks!

She was acting crazy when I picked her up!

She looks great =)

Shutterfly Holiday Card Promotion

Hey everyone!
Don't miss out on this great deal =)  Shutterfly is offering 50 Free holiday cards to bloggers!  Shutterfly has some great products and I have been ordering from them for over 5 years!  I usually order my husband the cute 12 month calendars and fill them with the previous months activities!  This year I was thinking of finally ordering some holiday cards since our family is growing and will now be a family of 2 humans rather than a family with 3 pets =)  I figured everyone would be happy to see pictures of the baby than of our fur children!  (sorry Wesley, lola, and lynx...you get the boot!) 

You can see their great selection of holiday cards at:  http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery  They have so many great choices to pick from but I think my favorites are "all wrapped up" and "bright blooming tree."

The photo cards (http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/photo-christmas-cards) are also super adorable and the quality is always amazing with everything I have ordered in the past!

I'm so anxious to order those cute invitations (http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/invitations) and announcements when the little miss is born in April!  How fun will that be to show off our cute new baby girl =)

So, all the bloggers, jump on the opportunity to get your free 50 holiday cards from shutterfly =)  Go here to submit your blog!  http://blog.shutterfly.com/5358/holiday2010-blog-submission-form/

I can't wait to order mine along with my 2011 calendar!

Happy Holidays!

20 weeks! Holy cow! 1/2 way there =)

How far along?  20 weeks!

Total weight gain: Not weighing myself until our 20 week ultrasound on Friday!  I'm anxious to see how much I gained!  I know I gained a few since my belly is growing, growing, growing, but hope it's not too much and will have to watch what I eat b/c I love food now!  OMG...can't get enough haha

Maternity clothes? Yes!  I have 1 pair of jcrew jeans that still fit due to my weight loss.  They are super baggy so they fall down but are cozy enough on my growing belly so I pull them out if my maternity jeans are dirty.  I can still wear some of my longer all shirts but have to watch b/c my belly tries to poke out from under them if they are too short *lol*  It makes Doug happy to see my belly =)

Stretch marks? I haven't noticed anything new but I'm sure that will come!

Sleep: still interrupted.  I hate working nights so when I do have to work, my schedule gets all mixed up.  I have trouble getting comfortable and still switch from side to side but that's how it's going to be =)  **keep your fingers crossed I can switch to days soon** 

Best moment this week? Just spending quality family time with Doug and the baby!  We had an amazing trip last week to Chicago and spent all weekend together (had to call off work on saturday b/c I was sick with some bug).  I have also felt the little miss kick more from the outside so that has been neat.  Still trying to time it right so Doug can feel her.

Movement? She moves a lot more now.  Still not crazy active but I notice her more after I have been up and moving and go to sit down.  She must wake up then and want to be rocked more =)

Food cravings? Anything! =)  I still don't want to eat a lot of meat and (ugh typing it makes me gag...) sausage but I can eat just about anything else and want to eat all the time.  I eat small meals frequently and I try to pick healthy choices so I'm not eating junk all the time but I do still crave sweets ALL.THE.TIME!  I have also been having trouble with heartburn so I have been trying to eat less tomato based foods so I have been having to give up pasta =(

Labor signs? None =)

Belly button: Is still getting shallower...I sure hope I don't get an outie haha

What I miss? WINE!  Rodeo Red, oh how I have missed you!  I can't wait to have a glass once this baby is out!  Maybe for my birthday next year =)

What I'm looking forward to: The holidays!  Even though I have a horrible work schedule and I'm super sad over it, I'm still excited to spend time with the family!  I am also anxious for Doug to feel her kick just once =)  I know he's super eager but every time he puts his hand on my belly, she stops moving.  Silly girl!  I'm also excited to have our 20 week ultrasound on Friday to make sure everything is okay and to see if my due date has changed any!

Milestones? Reaching the halfway point!  I never thought I would reach 20 weeks but it has gone so quickly!  I'm sure the next 20 weeks will fly by but I will try to hold on to the little moments we have so I don't forget them!


I don't have a 20 week picture yet but here's a 19 week shot from Chicago! =)

From www.babycenter.com

How your baby's growing:

Your baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. He's also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom and about 10 inches from head to heel — the length of a banana. (For the first 20 weeks, when a baby's legs are curled up against his torso and hard to measure,measurements are taken from the top of his head to his bottom — the "crown to rump" measurement. After 20 weeks, he's measured from head to toe.)

He's swallowing more these days, which is good practice for his digestive system. He's also producing meconium, a black, sticky by-product of digestion. This gooey substance will accumulate in his bowels, and you'll see it in his first soiled diaper (some babies pass meconium in the womb or during delivery).

20 Weeks

Next week

Sam's Baby Shower

It was so much fun to catch up with all my wonderful Chamberlain friends last night!  It was also great to celebrate Sam and her bundle of joy!  I can't believe she's 35 weeks already!  Seems like yesterday that we were going to the Movie Tavern to see Sex and the City 2 and she announced her exciting news =)

I can't wait to meet Brandon!  He's going to be adorable!

So, we decided to have our Women's Health professor do Leopold's Maneuver on Sam to see what position baby Brandon is in!

Mike "dad" trying to feel!

The gang!

Brandon is going to be adorable!

The gang!

touching bellies!

Sam is 35 weeks and I'm 20 weeks =)

Congrats Sam and Mike!  

Back from our "baby-moon"

 Doug had an opportunity to go to a conference in the "windy city" for work so we decided to jump on the opportunity and make a little vacation out of it!  We left on Saturday and came back last night!  We had the best time and didn't want to return!  It was great to get a few days away from work and internet =)  The dogs were at the in-laws getting into trouble and the cat had the house to himself so life was perfect for us all!

Doug and I decided the easiest and cheapest route to travel would be through megabus!  We have taken this before and had a positive experience so we decided to take it again!  The bus wasn't very full on the way there or coming back so it was nice to stretch out and sleep during our 6 hr journey!

it was a double decker bus!
The bus going to chicago had a huge windows on the top so you had a great view!
The bus coming home didn't but we still sat on top =)

Our suite on the 26th (top) floor!  

We reserved our hotel through hotwire.com to get the best price and scored a great deal with an amazing room and view!

Our bed was a murphy bed where the mirror is  We had to pull it down to get the bed.
Not the most comfortable bed but you couldn't beat the views!
Nothing better than at night time looking in at people's apartments who left their window's open *lol*
(my family know's that's one of my favorite things to do haha)

First Meal was at Giordano's!

The most amazing pizza I have ever had!  

After a sleepy night, we went back to our hotel and slept!  It was so amazing to fall asleep to the beautiful view and wake up to it the next morning!

This is where I found Doug the next morning while I was getting ready

I think he's in heaven!  Nothing better than coffee and beautiful buildings to make his day =)

After we had breakfast at Einstein's Bagels, we headed out to our favorite stops!

We had to hit up the architecture store first to get gifts and found some cute things for the baby's nursery!

We picked up a few gifts and then headed to Shedd's aquarium!

Below are some pictures during our walk!

From walking from Michigan Ave through Grant Park and down to the water, 

We finally made it over to Shedd's Aquarium!

View from Shedd's Aquarium to Navy Pier!

Yes, only I would decide to walk it =)  We have already walked at least 2-3 miles so what's adding 3 more???  I'm an idiot!

Inside Shedd's Aquarium!

We were standing on glass and the sting rays swam below us

After Shedd's we took the last of our 6 mile hike to Navy Pier then back to our hotel!

As you can tell, no more photos from that night b/c we were about to die!

Our legs hurt so bad and I swore I was going to go into labor afterwards haha!  

We had a late lunch/dinner at Bubba Gump Shrimp at Navy Pier then went home.  I don't even think we enjoyed ourselves at dinner b/c our legs were still vibrating from the walk and we were beat!  The view home was nice b/c we walked along lakeshore drive a bit and sat along steps to look at the lake =)

Very romantic!

We were back to our hotel by 5:30 pm and had intentions to going back out but never did *lol*  We sat on the couch and watched house hunters on HGTV (I miss cable) and were in bed by 9:30pm ;)  

Pathetic!

Doug had his conference on Monday so he left early and I slept in as much as I could!  The bed was so uncomfortable and my legs still ached so I got up, showered, and treated myself to...what...more walking?!?  Yes, I decided to shop a bit more *lol*  I did take a cab to Pea in a Pod Maternity then walked and shopped along Michigan Ave.   I had lunch at Jimmy John's then came home to take a nap before Doug got home.

Once we arrived after a long day for him.  He said his conference was good but the afternoon just dragged on for him.  I think he was just too anxious to sight see more =)

He's like a kid in a candy store in Chicago!

So, we headed back out for our last night on the town!

baby bump picture at 19 (technically 20) weeks!

After shopping at the architecture store one last time, we headed over to Millennium park to see the bean and these neat screens =)  They blinked, smiled and changed faces!

The bean!

We go to Miller's Pub every year!  Seems like we have our favorites and if we don't go to them, we miss out =)

The restaurant is Greek and has the most amazing food!

Of course, my drink is the water with lemons =)

After a yummy dinner, we walked back across to get dessert at the Cheesecake Factory!

We were sad the night was coming to an end!  We were not ready to leave!

Trump Tower

We had breakfast at Einstein Bagels one last time and took a taxi to our bus stop!

We said our goodbye's to Chicago and boarded the bus to head back to Ohio!

Sleepy Doug =)

We both had the best time!  We wish our trip could have lasted longer!  Darn work =)

We were excited to have one last quick trip before the little miss gets here!

We're so excited to take her next time and show her all our favorite places!