Fall Festivities

10 weeks under my belt and I think I'm flailing a little less. It has been a BUSY ten weeks with many relatives visiting, Josh's business booming (meaning long hours and lots of traveling), seasons changing, and the usual day-to-day craziness that is our lives.

Doesn't Dean look happy? Poor guy had bronchitis.

This Halloween Josh and I took the kids to a "pumpkin patch". This was no ordinary pumpkin patch. Actually, it wasn't a pumpkin patch at all. It was a fall theme park that just happened to be on someone's farm. There were bouncy castles, a petting zoo, huge tunnels through hay, barns with hay 5 feet deep to play in, and 2 story slides on potato sacks. There was a tractor ride that took you to a field where there were hundreds of pumpkins spread out and every person got to pick their own (I guess that justifies calling it a pumpkin patch). We had a great time.



When the actual day came around Dean dressed up as a dinosaur/dragon and went trick-or-treating around the neighborhood, with Jess and Cooper in tow as Batman and Robin. He LOVED the idea of everyone giving him candy. Who wouldn't. Josh and I made sure to ease him into the sugar high capital of the year, by consuming the majority of his earnings ourselves. A sacrifice we took very seriously. The hard part now is getting Dean to understand that you only go trick-or-treating once a year.



We traveled up to Michigan this year for Thanksgiving to be with Josh's family. The original plan was that Dean and Josh would drive up with all our stuff, accompanied by Uncle Zach and Aunt Elizabeth (and Bowser her bulldog of course), while Riley and I flew (we weren't ready to attempt a drive that long with a 2-month-old). Josh ended up traveling all week on business and rather than fly back to NC just to leave that same day to drive 13 hours, he opted to fly directly to Michigan, leaving his brother and sister to drive the 13 hours up with our 2-year-old. Thankfully he is a really good traveler and Uncle Zach and Aunt EB are very patient people!

We had a great week with almost everyone from the immediate family there. Joel's new fiance Catherine and Elizabeth's boyfriend Michael were out of the country and could not attend. They were both greatly missed.

Josh and his Uncle Kim carving the turkeys.

It was SUPER cold most of the time we were there, but that didn't stop Josh, Dean, and Bronwyn from getting out in the kayaks for a spin around the lake.

It was a full house with 8-9 adults (depending on the day), a 2-year-old, a 1-year-old, a newborn, and 4 big dogs. We had great time visiting, playing with the kids, and eating to our hearts content...DAILY. My mother-in-law, Bronwyn, sent my sister-in-law and I off to the masseuse while we were there - a pampering for mothers in need. And the grandparents babysat a few times to let us "kids" go out together and have a few drinks. It was really nice to have that adult time, not to mention all the help with the kids.

One day that everyone seemed to be working or have other plans, my sister-in-law Lauren and me took our 3 small children an hour away to the Ann Arbor Children's Museum. We were optimistic that we could get everyone there, have fun, and back home with no big upsets...and we were RIGHT! It was great fun and 4 out of 5 of us (because I was driving) even managed long naps on the way home! Sadly, we managed the whole day without taking a single picture though .

Dean and my nephew Noah watching the sun rise over the lake.

Noah and Aunt EB's dog Bowser. GG got him pjs with bulldogs on them because they act and look so much alike.

Greatgrandma Barricklow and Riley

Noni and Riley

GG and Riley

Pop and Riley

Aunt EB with Dean and Bowser

With Christmas coming and Josh's business still incredibly busy the chaos of the season seems to be upon us. We managed to get a Christmas tree and put up decorations inside, although our lights for the outside are still in a heap in the living room. Laundry goes undone, floors go unswept, and faces go unwiped, but we're happy and healthy with so much to be thankful for. It's been quite an amazing 11 months and I'm sure this last month of 2010 will not disappoint!

Nighttime with the Barricklows

This is the nightly routine in the Barricklow house:

Bath time - making life easier by bathing them at the same time

Followed by milk on the couch watching Mickey Mouse

I gotta say, I really like our nighttime routine. I am always in PJs at the same time as the kids (7:30pm) and we all get snuggle time on the couch. A good way to end the day.

1st week with 2 children

It's the end of my first week home with 2 children. I honestly can not complain. I have had it EASY. Not only do I have a doting husband, but my doting brother-in-law Joel and his wonderful girlfriend Catherine were here for the first few days I was home, and my beautiful, loving mother has been here all week. I think I've had a total of 2 hours where it was just me and my children. Tomorrow morning may be a rude awakening!


Both kids are doing so well. Dean, while indifferent most of the time, seems to like his baby sister. He even has bouts of affection coupled with tackling motions and pacis thrust in faces. All in all, a great start for us. A few things seem to baffle the Deanster though: he does not seem to understand why she cries when she's hungry and has taken to imitating her when she does; and he is completely confused as to why she doesn't have a penis and is worried that she's lost it every time she gets a diaper change. Just for good measure he reaches into his diaper to make sure his is still there. He then proceeds to go through the list of people he knows asking if they have a penis. One interesting thing that Josh and I have noticed (and I've heard from others with multiple kids) is that Dean, while perfectly fine around Riley, has been having random tantrums in other areas. None of these tantrums seem directly linked to his sister, but instead seem to be his attempts to grasp at some form of control. For example, he has had outbursts about diaper changes or taking off his diaper that he's never had before, and has been very particular about how things are done while you are with you. The latter we think may be linked to his desire to have your full attention. You can't half-ass it when you have a 2 year old determining every second of play and changing it up when he thinks you aren't paying attention to him. We're both interested to see how the next several weeks go as Dean gets more used to a new routine in the house, and hope to keep a good deal of focus still on Dean so that he continues to feel love and attention from us.


Mommy and Daddy are doing really well. We're getting in the swing of nighttime feedings, a million diapers a day, and the smell of spit up. We are so thankful for such a good first week of sleep. Riley had 2 nights where she wanted to be up most of the night - one of which we dealt with, the other my fantastic mother took care of (a bonus to bottle-feeding, THANK YOU ZIBAH). Other than that it has been a dream of only 2 feedings/night followed fairly quickly with more sleep each time. Yahoo! I'm going to sing praises even though it makes me nervous to think that this could all change tomorrow (or tonight - ah!). Hopefully she'll take after her brother and be down to one feeding a night within a month.

We have had a slew of visitors from near and far: Gigi (Josh's mom), Zibah (my mom), Deeda (my dad), Uncle Joel and Catherine, Aunt EB, Uncle Mark, Aunt V (Veronica), Uncle Jim, a party of extended relatives, neighbors, and more. Riley has performed well and slept through just about all of it. While Aunt V was here she dubbed Riley "Winky" after her somewhat slow eye. Unless Riley really feels that you are worth viewing she tends to prefer to just open her right eye at first, leaving the left eye to follow suite once properly awake. The left eye is getting stronger every day, but until then Winky she will be!

Welcome Riley Wyn Barricklow

Riley Wyn Barricklow came into the world last night, October 1, 2010 at 8:38pm. She weighed 8 pounds 3 ounces, is 20.75 inches long, with a full head of dark hair (where did that come from?), and the signature Barricklow chin. She's strong and healthy, ready to meet the world.


Labor was almost storybook even though I had to be induced. Things progressed at a reasonable pace and Josh and I used it as a day's vacation - sitting in the quiet hospital room watching TV and movies enjoy some "down time" together. We skyped goodnight with Dean, Gigi, Uncle Joel, and Catherine at about 8pm, and shortly after hanging up with them Riley decided she wanted to come join the party! I had some post-delivery complications, but Riley did great and after a few hours everyone was sleeping soundly.




The morning was filled with visitors and fun. Big Brother Dean seemed fascinated with "Liley" when he arrived this morning, but was quickly distracted by all the relatives around, not to mention the fish tank down the hall. We were able to get some great pictures of him giving kisses and "holding" Riley before he was running around the room and playing in the curtains.






Thanks to all who sent notes of encouragement and congratulations. We are so blessed with such a strong supportive group!

Happy Birthday Dean!

I can't believe it's been 2 years! Dean turned 2 years old on September 29 and we had our first round of birthday celebrations with Uncle Joel, Catherine, and Zibah. We started the day with Kindermusik and play time at Zibah and Deeda's house. Then home where Josh took him out for chicken nuggets and to see the airplanes at the airport observation deck. After a good nap by all, we were rejoined by Zibah, Uncle Joel, and Catherine for presents, pizza, and donuts.


I was really amazed at how Dean seemed to really grasp the idea that it was his birthday (or at least that it was a day where everyone was focused on him) and knew his age! He loved the act of opening presents and playing with them all immediately. One great thing about a 2 year-old's birthday is that gifts don't really matter. Dean got to open everything from rain boots and a Mickey Mouse play set to juice boxes and fruit snacks, and loved them all! After much celebration we all went out to Monkey Joe's for bouncy castle fun. Unfortunately, Dean was a bit freaked by the huge inflatable monkey and would only play back in the back corner. Still seemed to have a blast though, as did all the adults who got to play for free (minus over-pregnant mom).


Dean went to bed exhausted and woke up wanting more. Go figure! I think this was just stage 1 of many birthday celebrations for him since relatives are coming into town over the next week to meet his soon-to-be-born little sister. Hopefully he won't come to expect a week's worth of celebration and presents next year. I guess, as long as he's ok getting juice boxes and fruit snacks it doesn't really matter though.

Happy Birthday to my baby boy! Your Mama loves you very much!!!

No control

I think that the biggest lesson that I keep learning over and over and over again, is that I am not in control. This seems to be forgotten as quickly as it is learned. Recently Dean has decided that when I put him to bed it is the absolute worst thing in the world. He claws, kicks, screams...in general, throws the biggest tantrum a 2 year old can throw when I try to put him in his crib. One would think that it had something to do with the bed, but when my husband puts him to bed it's peace and quiet, down for the count in a matter of minutes. Maybe he can sense that something is about to happen to mommy (the baby) or maybe it's just one of those seemingly random phases that kids go through. Either way, it has had me pulling out my hair, constantly in tears, and generally exhausted for a week now. I have tried every trick in the book with the same results. Last night my husband put him to sleep, with no fuss of course, but at 3:30am he was awake with the same tantrum and hysterical screaming. We decided to see how long he could go. Josh put earplugs in and turned on the TV in our room. I retreated to our den, aka "the cave", turned the TV on, and grabbed my laptop. I spent the next hour trying to tune out the wailing and thumping, and writing out my prayers. I have alaywas been one to process outwardly faster than inwardly, so the writing was a big help to me. 2 pages into it I realized my problem was not that Dean was in hysterics - that was going to happen off and on for his whole childhood. The problem was how I was handling it. I was trying to control every element of the situation, every behavior that he had. I started to receive that familiar sense of peace that I get when I know I'm truly listening to God. I could see him shaking his head with a smile on his face, so happy to have me come around yet again. The crying eventually stopped (an hour and 15 minutes later) and Dean fell back asleep until the morning, when he awoke as if nothing had happened. How thankful I am for a gracious God, and the knowledge that I am NEVER in control. What a wonderful world THAT is! Yes, I will need to make decisions, and yes, I will need to be an active participant in this world, but I DO NOT control it! This I can remember this lesson when Riley comes along and I am trying to manage a 2 year old and new born? Or better yet, do you think I can even remember this lesson tonight when Dean is having another tantrum? Maybe, maybe not. The learning process is all part of the journey.

Soon to be 4

3 1/2 weeks to go in this pregnancy and I have the usual mix of emotions: anxiousness, fear, joy, excitement, and a little sadness. Anxious of what labor will be like and how the first few months home will be. Fear that I will not be able to give both my children and my husband the time and energy that they deserve, and that they will not know how much I love them all. Joy that our family is expanding and a little girl is coming into our midst. Excitement to see her develop and how similar and different she is from each of the rest of us, and excitement to see her daddy hold her for the first time. Sadness that the chapter we are in is coming to a close: that we it will no longer be just the 3 of us, that my days will no longer be Mommy and Dean. I rock Dean before bedtime and naptime just so I can sit and hold him and let God know how thankful I am for him. Those peaceful moments where he lays his head on my shoulder and lays against my chest make up for even the hardest of days.


As exhaustion takes over and my physical movement becomes more and more limited, I can't stop thinking of all the things that I wish I had done before now; moments that I will never get back. Luckily my pregnancy hormones do not allow me to stay in one emotional state for too long. As quickly as I dive into sadness for what is "lost", I jump right back out and get so excited about watching Dean and Riley grow up together. Watching Dean teach her how to get into mischief, seeing them play with their cousins and swim at the lake, opening presents on Christmas morning, Dean trying to give Riley a bottle or get her to play with him...so much to look forward too.

When I was pregnant with Dean I was completely convinced that I would give birth at least 2 weeks early. I was enormous and by measurements, so was Dean...well, enormous considering my normal size and frame. When the 2 weeks prior came and went, I was encouraged by my physician to schedule a c-section as early as a week before my due date. Josh and I both agreed that this was not in the cards for us and opted to push on through. When my due date came and went, an ultrasound was scheduled estimating that Dean was approximately 10 pounds. Of course there was worry that I would be able to pass a 10 pound baby and again a c-section was pushed. We declined. At a week overdue my doc had had enough, and said that they wanted to schedule an induction. By this point, I was just so ready to have the baby I would have agreed to just about anything. Well, I won't go into detail about my labor, but let's just say it was quite abnormal. I never got to experience the excitement of the first contraction or my water breaking. I missed out on getting to call people to say I was going into labor. I didn't even get to practice any of the relaxation techniques that we had learned in class.

People have asked me if I'm nervous about labor or giving birth. I immediately say NO. I know it's going to be hard. I know it's going to hurt. But I also know that a baby comes out of it. And I know that with that incentive I can get through anything. Josh and I packed a bag today and talked about our plan for what to do with Dean. It was so fun to see him practically giddy about the whole process. We day dreamed about Dean coming to meet Riley for the first time in the hospital, what songs we wanted to put on the labor playlist and post-labor playlist (such iPod nerds, I know), and what bottle-feeding from the beginning will be like (again...another story that I may tell another day).


3 1/2 weeks to go...or 2...or 5...the not-knowing when it will happen is sometimes harder than the physical weight of it all. I know one thing though. This time, I'm not letting myself get emotionally attached to the notion of Riley showing herself early. In fact, I am trying to think of it as being 5 more weeks so that I can be pleasantly surprised if she comes earlier :) Reverse psychology I suppose.