Adjusting to Life at Home

Little Wren has been home for 9 days now and she is starting to adjust to life at home. She no longer screams every time she gets her diaper changed. She is also enjoying bath time a little more. Depending on the night, she sleeps between 3 and 4 hours at a time. We discovered the amazing Johnson and Johnson Lullaby CD that came with her bedtime bath gift set. I do not recall who gave that to us, but we are eternally grateful! We put that on last night, fed her, changed her, snuggled her in a blanket, and she fell asleep on her on in her own bed! We were so excited!!!!
Brance is an awesome daddy! He comes home almost every day during lunch and plays with Wren. Today, Wren was asleep so Brance sang to her and played with her while she tried to wake up. Her facial expressions are hilarious when she is trying to wake up. We go on a family walk around the block every night. Wren loves to be held by her daddy while we enjoy the evening air. Things are going well here in the Barker home! Thanks for checking in on us!

We are Finally Home!

We welcomed Wren home from the hospital on May 5th! She is doing so great! She is sleeping at least 4 hours a night without waking up. I never thought I would get that excited about just 4 hours of sleep! She is eating well and is already lifting her head!!! She is so precious and I don't even mind being woken up in the middle of the night. It just means that I get to hang out with her for a little while longer. I love her eyes and her dark head of hair. I think her eyes may turn brown like her daddy's. Thank you again for all of your prayers and the ways each of you have blessed our family. We would be much more overwhelmed if it weren't for our wonderful friends and family lifting us up every step of the way.

"The Lord has done great things for us and we are filled with joy"- Ps. 126:3

Wren Elise Barker has arrived!!!

Hello friends and family,

Thank you for all of your prayers, calls, notes of encouragement, and support, over these past nine months. Michelle and I are pleased to announce that little Wren Elise safely arrived at 4:46 p.m. on Saturday, May 3, weighing in at 8 lbs, 8 oz, and is 21 inches long. She is cute, precious, bright eyed (when she's awake), and has some surprising strength for just a one-day old.

Michelle did a wonderful job throughout it all and is doing well. We are looking forward to going home on Monday. Our first night with Wren helped us clearly understand why everyone kept telling us to get sleep before she comes. :0) We are exhausted, but our little one is completely worth it. We apparently have a huge learning curve, but we are grateful for many great parenting role models and for a Lord who is faithful.

We appreciate the role you have played in our lives, and are grateful for the people who will be in our little girl's life. Wren, Michelle, and I wish you all the best.

Sincerely,
Brance Barker

Coming Soon...

Well, I went to the doctor yesterday (Thursday) and he encouraged me to schedule an induction because my body isn't doing much to get ready to have this baby. I am scheduled to be admitted into Arlington Memorial Hospital at 8pm tonight (Friday) and will start the pitocin at 5:30am on Saturday. Please join us in praying that I go into natural labor before 5:30am tomorrow morning. I would really like to try having Wren without the epidural, but if I am given an induction, that is pretty much out of the question. Brance and I have plans for eating a big dinner tonight before we go to the hospital! I am thankful for the extra time to get last minute things done, but I would love to go into labor today! Thanks for your prayers as Wren will be here tomorrow!!!!!

Wren is Coming... Or is she?

Well, it is 3 days past my due date and there has been no action so far! Brance and I are actually really excited about this. Due to our busy week, we have been praying for May 2nd to be her birthday. We have really enjoyed the past few days of getting last minute things done before Wren comes. Brance is finishing up his mini-dissertation paper, while I have been trying to finish up the baby's room. I was also able to be with my kids on the TAKS test days. I am officially starting my maternity leave tomorrow even if Wren hasn't come. I am ready for some down time! Thank you to all who have been praying for us. We hope to post some pictures of Wren soon!