Wren's First 4th of July

We celebrated the 4th of July on Thursday by going to Lone Star Park with our young adult ministry. We set up our blankets, watched a couple of horse races (no, we did not bet on anything :), and visited with friends. Wren kind of napped and ate. She really enjoyed being outside and around lots of new things and people. Finallly, it was time for the fireworks. We settled down onto our blanket and Wren watched the 20 minute display intently! She seemed to love it!

One of my dear friends, Lauryn got married on the 4th of July. She had a beautiful outdoor wedding in Azle. We took Wren and thankfully, she was a perfect angel! She was wide awake the whole ceremony but didn't make a peep (well, she tried to make a peep and we gave her a bottle :). During the dinner and dance, she slept for a little while and then allowed a friend to hold her while Brance and I danced to a couple of songs. We had a lot of fun and were so proud of Wren!

Dads are the Best!

Victory for Dad! I had been having trouble getting Wren down for her morning nap. By the time she was fed and changed, she seemed hungry again. She was fussy and I knew she was tired but just couldn't figure out why she kept acting hungry. We had had some feeding issues in the past, so I just figured she wasn't getting enough. I would feed her again, change her again, and the awful cycle would go on until 2 pm- no morning nap achieved... Enter Dad! Saturday morning, we were beginning the cycle again. She was fussy and I was making breakfast, so I asked Brance to pick her up and see if he could get her to sleep or see if she needed a bottle. A few minutes later, fussiness stopped and I went to check on them. She was fast asleep in her swing! I asked Brance the secret to his success. He said that he put her in her swing, held a pacifier in her mouth for a few minutes and she fell asleep. Glory be!!! He got our baby to sleep in about 2 minutes and it had taken me hours!!! I use the "Brance method" now after morning feedings and she is out for about 2 or 2 and a half hours. God knew what He was doing when He gave kids a mom and a dad!

Sleeping Angel

Sometimes Wren likes to sleep in her swing. On this particular day, she was making all sorts of faces as she slept. I couldn't capture them all, but I loved these two !

Talking to Mom

Wren has just started cooing. Its so cute! She is also smiling! It just melts our hearts!!! Hope you enjoy!

Growth Spurts

Well, growth spurts are no fun at the Barkers! Poor Wren is so hungry that she doesn't sleep, but then she is so sleepy that she doesn't eat well. Put it all together and it equals a screaming, unhappy, exhausted baby! Fun times! Thankfully, she is beginning to sleep better at night. She is in a pretty solid routine of a 7 hour stretch (from 11pm to 6am). The other good news is that Wren is looking great! She is really filling out and she has grown 2 inches in 6 weeks! As rough as this week has been, we have also had some very sweet times. Wren is growing more interactive as the days go by. She continues to smile more every day and still loves to go on our evening family walks. She is holding her head up for longer periods of time and beginning to have "conversations" with us by cooing in response to questions. It's so cute! Of course is she changing so much every day, but she still looks like Brance. Updated pictures should be coming soon. Thanks again for checking in on us!

Enjoying Life

Wren is really starting to enjoy life! Bath time is getting more fun, eating is getting easier, and she is starting to smile!!! We haven't caught it on camera yet, but we are enjoying every minute. Her first smile and laugh went to dad! I think it's because she loves all the games he plays with her. She also likes when I play "So Big" with her during diaper changes. She is such a sweet baby and we are so thankful for her!

Awake and not Crying!

Wren is so much fun! She is getting to where she can be awake and not crying, not need to eat, and not need to be held. She just wants to chill out in her swing or on her play mat! It really fun to interact with her when she is in this place of calmness. It usually lasts about 30 minutes and then the need to eat or be held resumes :). She is such an easy baby and I am so thankful for her! Brance is doing so great as a daddy! Since I am breastfeeding, he takes every chance he can to change her diaper, burp her, or hold her. He loves his little girl and is such a wonderful dad!
The following verse has truly come alive for us as we hold little Wren.

"I will praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are your works!
Ps. 139:14
God is so good!