Visual Legacies Photography

~ADORABLE!~

Ok, so the quick story goes something like this. The morning we were getting ready for Bryce's little Birthday party, I get a text from a friend in my ward. She told me about a friend she has who is a photographer and needed a newborn model. The way it works is that I get the pics for free for letting her use my baby as a model. Her company is Visual Legacies Photography, you should check her out on her website or facebook. So, we went and Viola! Aren't these so fun! Aleah Anna Barlow in her first professional shots. Cutie pie!

Background story: So she was asleep for all of the pictures. Including this one.
We got her all snug as a bug in this basket for the other basket shot below.
Then she was still being so sweet and kept smiling in her sleep.
So, the photographer told me to wait a second and came back with this huge pink
flower headband and put it on her. At this point Aleah's head kept falling forward.
The photographer had the brilliant idea to prop her head up on her hands like so.
Then she started snapping away and we got some cute expressions, but my
absolute favorite is this millisecond smile. It was pure talent that she caught it on film.

The perfect holiday dish ;-)

So, peaceful.

Pucker up baby! hee hee

She is just over 1 month old and Bryce is 2yrs. today!

Yes, Yes, she is here! 

Aleah Anna Barlow

Born: October 7, 2011 @ 12:39PM

8 lbs. 7 oz.

22 in. long

sweet little smile from our sweet little girl on her blessing day
11/6/11

She is beautiful, she is amazing, she is everything a little girl ought to be. Her middle name, Anna, is actually after 3 of her great grandmas. All on my side of the family. Her great great grandma from my dad's side and two of her great great great great grandmas on my moms side of the family. Pretty cool huh? Anyway, thank you all for your love and concern =D I couldn't be happier with her. I'll write the details of her birth day at the end of this post. For now I will say that I seriously had the hardest time ever, mentally, post labor and delivery. Uhm....I thought I knew what kind of pain I was in for. I mean I was in labor with Bryce for over 24 hours before we had to go to the hospital and have an epidural etc. I mean I was even pushing for 2 hours and all. But no no no...I had no idea what I was in for with a successful natural, non-medicated labor and delivery. WOW!!!! Can I just give props to every mother who has ever done that!!!! It is seriously the worst and the best all at once. It is hard to remember that there is a best part during it all, but hey, we are human. Thank heavens that we all have a loving Heavenly Father and Savior, Jesus Christ, who can pick us up and carry us through. Quite literally. People always ask me why I chose a natural birth. For a few weeks I said, "I have no idea".  I'm still not sure how to answer that question. HOWEVER, I think after all is said and done I know why I would do it again. It builds my relationship with my Heavenly Father and Savior. I have to rely on them 100% and I feel His closeness, His love, His strength, His mercy and more, for me and the baby SO SO SOOOOO strong during that time. Doesn't mean it is less painful or enjoyable (although I know people who can feel that way during labor and deliver), but I come out of the experience with greater faith, greater personal experience and a stronger more personal relationship with my Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ. So, if getting a precious baby isn't reward enough, the reward is augmented with a deeper testimony and relationship with my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Now lets enjoy some pics of her on her birth day.

Moments after birth 

New baby with her daddy, John

Right after her hospital bath

That very night the Cox kids came to visit and see the baby

Bryce came the next day, 11/8/11, to visit his little sister.

Aleah (without a name at this point) the next day, 11/8/11.
And I in the background looking so lovely ;-) HA!

This is the video of Bryce seeing the baby for the first time at the hospital. PRECIOUS! We were all in tears. REMEMBER to pause the music so you can hear it =D

Now for a tribute to our sweet boy Bryce.

Happy Birthday BRYCE!!

2 years old. WOW!

Bryce on his first "Neigh Neigh" ride (he calls them by their sound)

It's amazing to reflect back on my first child's life. We have been through so much together in such a short time. All of his "firsts" are my firsts as a mother. It's a relationship built on love and patience. Them being patient with you and you with them. It's exciting to watch him learn, grow, discover, explore. All positive words for pushing the limits to see where they are and how far he can go ;-) I love it. I mean it can be rough, but I love being his mother. I feel so blessed that this amazing little boy was placed in our family. He has such a sense of adventure and bit more on the dare devil side than I would like. He knows how to love and can show that love through hugs and kisses. He was moving a stool around the kitchen the other night while I was cooking dinner. He ran over my foot with all four legs of the stool. It hurt a lot. So, I said, Bryce you have to watch for people's feet because you just ran over my foot with the stool four times. He then bent down and gave my foot a kiss and asked if I was "otay?" (ok). That melted my heart. He is active, has no shame in showing emotions, the good and the bad. He LOVES the baby and is quite understanding when I feed her, or have to leave something because she is crying. I know that having Grandma and Grandpa in the same house is very helpful because he almost always has someone to go to. There is so much more. but the mothering duties call. And if I want to keep blogging then I have to remember that "a little of something is better than all of nothing" as my dad would say ;-)

Aleah's Birth Story (I'll come back to this)
The days leading up to her due date I tried everything I
10/6/11

NO, she is not 2 days old....

In fact, she is 0 days old. Yes, once again I'm past my due date. Yesterday I was feeling all kinds of faith, peace and comfort. Today I've just felt frustrated, angry and grumpy. On the bright side...I have been experiencing menstrual type cramps for the last 2 days. I hope that is a good sign and I hope it progresses into the beauty of LABOR! I've never wanted something so painful so bad!
Anyway, I'll obviously make a great announcement once she arrives, but until then we can look at the pictures of the baby showers! Yes, I put a plural on that shower because John's department at Banner was so sweet and thoughtful and threw him a Daddy shower by decorating his cubical and giving him a signed card with a gift card for our Baby Girl! (that was a LONG sentence) How sweet is that for our precious John and his first daughter?
And of course my Non-Surprise Surprise Baby Shower was super fun and SO SO appreciated!!!! So much thought, effort and love was put into it and I thank each of you so much for being there! It feels so good to be so cared about. LOVE YOU ALL and thank you 10 billion times over because I had NO girl stuff. THANK YOU!
~Remember to pause the blog music in the Right-hand column before starting the slide show~

Make your own thank you

A non-surprise SURPRISE Baby Shower!

Today I had such a sweet surprise from my co-workers. They asked me what I was doing on Friday. I thought maybe I forgot about something important. So I asked them what I was doing this Friday. They said, you are going to Josie's at 1PM. I asked why, they call me Dori at work (Finding Nemo) and I thought this time I really had lost my memory. Then they explained that they were trying to throw me a little surprise Baby Shower, but schedule conflicts kept coming up. So once they told me about it, they said to invite my friends and family!!! It's short notice so I thought I could invite you all this way....
So, you are INVITED...

TO: All my Friends and Family
What: A little "non-surprise Surprise" Baby Shower for Baby Girl Barlow (please feel no obligation to bring a gift. I just want to SEE you =D )
When: This Friday September 2, 2011 @ 1PM
Where: Josie Brooksby's Home
              21156 E. Saddle Way
              Queen Creek, AZ 85142


If it's any incentive....Bryce will be there too =} It'll be a casual and comfortable gathering. I'm super looking forward to it. 
I'll be there looking like this pic...only BIGGER ;-)

Bryce will be looking like this pic...only cleaner (at first) ;-)

Hope to see you there!! 

A Splash Pad Story

To Keep Your Sanity:

*****BE SURE TO PAUSE THE BLOG MUSIC  (Down and to the Right) BEFORE playing the videos.*****

Make your own photo album

Here are a few videos to complete your journey with us to the Splash Pad =D

Oops....how could I miss this precious photo? Nathan and Bryce.

It's A......Baby SISTER!!

I better get this posted before she actually COMES! Which by the way our due date is October 4, 2011. So I have a little saying to go along with it....."10/4, over and out!" yeah? =D

Yeesh, how can I be so bad at keeping up with somethings that I love so much? I love her, I love my family, I love blogging, etc. 

Anyhow, you can see the date on this Ultrasound was 5/26/11. This is her 6 month Ultrasound(US). John got work off, my mom and dad came too. It was so exciting, not only to find out the gender, but I was more concerned about her health because of the infection and scarring etc. that I had from the complications after Bryce. I had nightmares about a mutant baby...and honestly I still do. I mean, US are amazing technology, but they still don't tell all. But some of the most important stuff we know....she has a head, limbs, hands, feet. One of my favorites is to see the 4 chambers in her heart and all the organs were accounted for too. 
          I am currently 31 weeks and HUGE (everyone thinks I'm due any day now or have twins. And they tell me that too. hee hee). But truthfully I feel due any day now. I feel now like I did in my last 2 weeks with Bryce. I've decided that for anyone that wants to know what it is like to live day to day at 7-9 months pregnant like me, there is a way. Duct tape a basketball around your waist for 1 week. Wouldn't that be fairly accurate? You can't bend over or suck in, you can't reach beyond your stomach, you hit things with the belly bc hey, you aren't used to having it there =) etc. etc. My frustration is when I'm trying to compensate for room in the front, so I don't hit my belly on something, and then I end up knocking something over with my rear end. I mean seriously, how rude is that? Geez.
So, back to the US. Some of my impressions really quick. First off, for some reason I thought that the pictures would pretty much look just like Bryce did. I honestly didn't think or know or expect or something along those lines...that these two children of mine could be that physically different at this "age". I was astounded that there were actual physical differences. Her legs and feet especially. Her legs are long and lean. Her feet are long and narrow. Bryce's legs and feet at his US are like little athlete legs and box feet. He still has box feet and athlete legs. Ha ha, I love that! I love that they are different. I love that she is feminine and he is so BOY...and always has been, you know?  It is true what they say, "Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose." -The Family Proclamation. It's awesome.
            K- So I had to include some precious pictures of my masculine little boy gearing up for his baby sister. He doesn't know that, but I do =D Quick precious moments....We currently live with my parents and she had all girls so there are plenty of dolls in the toy corner. So, he gets the toy babies and puts them down for Happy Nappies. He takes his blanket and wraps the toy baby up. He bends down and gives it a hug and kiss. He then will turn to us and say "shhhh" with his finger up to his lips. Hee Hee....he is going to be such a great daddy. Another thing....he has a push toy with a little compartment at the bottom. He likes to sit in that compartment and have John push him around the house. Well, he is getting to big for it and the wheel keeps falling off when they take corners. Soooo, now he gets the toy baby and puts her in the little compartment and pushes her around house. So Sweet!!!!!
            Latest pregnancy update from this week. I took a very unexpected ambulance trip to the ER. Yes, it is true. Such a strange day. So....it was Tuesday 8/2/11. I was at Serrano's at a work lunch celebrating one of my dearest friends and co-workers Birthday. We had about 15 min. left before the lunch hour was over. I hadn't even really touched my food, just the rice, bean dip, salsa and chips. Ha Ha Ha...that is all...just ALL that "other" food that I apparently don't count as "my" food. Anyway anyway, I dropped my napkin on the floor right between my legs. So I backed up my chair a little, bent my legs out and such and reached down with an extra *hmph* to close the gap between me and that napkin that I couldn't reach because of the cute basketball I have around my waist ;-) Well when I came back up there was this pain in the back of my left thigh just above my knee. It felt like a pinch, or poke, or tweak of some kind. So I was moving it and trying to help relieve the pain of whatever I just did. Then I looked up and realized that I was about to faint. So I grabbed my sisters arm and said, (Thanks to Gina for my exact quote ;-) "I'm going to pass out. (then I turned to my co-worker)" and said, "Happy Birthday" and went unconscious. I laugh so hard now hearing that. But we were not laughing then. I went in and out of consciousness 3 times for about 30 seconds each time, they said, and in between I couldn't quite gain complete consciousness back, I remember that too. Whole thing lasting about 10-15 minutes. Eventually we elevated my legs and then I finally stopped fainting. They had already called the ambulance and so I took a ride from Queen Creek to Banner Gateway ER in Mesa/Gilbert. First ambulance ride for me and I remember them saying "She's a bleeder!" when they were starting my IV and when they stuck my finger for my glucose reading. The pain in my thigh got a little worse and spread over the hours, but nothing came of it. They did a doppler on the baby first thing and she was at 160. Which they said was great and fine, maybe a little water would help her. For me they did a full leg US, an EKG, blood work, and hooked me up to a Cardiac monitor. In the end all the results came back and the Dr. came in and said, "You are the healthiest person on paper we have seen all day!". Everything was normal. What a great blessing! They think what happened is that when I bent down I somehow restricted the circulation to one of my main arteries. Because of the position I was in and being pregnant, it didn't allow for full blood flow so I couldn't regain consciousness completely until my legs were elevated which allowed the passage of blood more freely. So an ironic tidbit...on the same day all during this same time my dad went to his cardiologist appointment. The cardiologist sent him to Banner Baywood hospital to have an US done on his leg because of a hematoma he had from his procedure at the hospital about a week prior. They wanted to be sure it wasn't still bleeding. So, the same day....two different hospitals....my dad and I are laying around having the same exam done. HA HA! My cute cousin said the next time we make it a family hospital day it needs to be with a healthy baby and a healthy labor and delivery. So I say to that....."10/4 there good buddy, OVER and OUT!" 

Only Profile picture she would give us, it's not the best. For example, hope she has a nose, upper lip or both ;-) 

Barlow babies are PROUD of their gender! Never bashful and apparently very obvious, they say ;-)

Sweet little lean girl legs. SO opposite of Bryce's legs in his US (Ultrasound)

Gotta love those feet! Long thin girl feet. Still looks like she has the toe spread from John and I.

Keepin' her "seat warm"

Practicing for her Grand Arrival. Brotherly love and adoration! 

I MISS BLOGGING!!!!!!

 I miss blogging terribly! Like oh so terribly. Thank you to those who miss me as much as I miss you!!! I miss documenting our lives. I miss the creative outlet. And I miss keeping up with my friends blogs too. Can't necessarily say I miss staying up till the wee hours of the morning, because I still have to do that most days to finish my work from home (see 3).
So, this is my come back, yet again ;-D
So...lets catch up.
1- We moved the last week of September from house-sitting our "rental mansion" as we affectionately call it. It was so sad to leave. We loved every instant of living there. It was a truly amazing experience and a huge blessing. Flip side though, it took me a good solid 3 weeks to deep clean that house and I don't miss that. We moved into two of my moms bedrooms. And put 95% of our "Earthly Treasures" to sit in storage for our return ;-)

~Oct. 2010~
Bryce is happy to be at Grandma and Grandpa. Just playing in the front yard.

~Oct. 2010~
 "Way Up High"!

~Oct. 2010~
And as you can see...Bryce has made himself right at home.

Why you ask did you move in with your parents?  Here is the gist. It was after much thought and prayer. John's career goal is to be an MRI technician. To do that we must apply for a radiographer program (x-ray tech essentially). From what we have researched this is a 2 - 2.5 year full-time program. Some require even more prerequisite classes that John still needs to take. Most programs disallow working at all while enrolled. Then after he graduates from that he must go on to specialize. Some programs help you specialize and some don't.  #1 reason this is going to be quite an expense. So we are living with my gracious parents. The #2 reason is because the application dates are so vast, between Jan. 2011 to July of 2011. Some are in-state and some are not. So we had no idea where, when or if we would be accepted. How do you sign a lease on a rental with those unanswered questions? #3 reason is because my parents are madly in-love with Bryce and Bryce is madly in-love with them since birth. ;-) I've got pictures to prove it!

~ Jan. 2010~ Baby Bryce with Grandma Katy. 

~July 2010~ Sleeping soundly.
And that says a lot for both of these light sleepers

~July 2010~ Grandpa Max and Brycee Boy at Lake Tahoe

~Nov. 2010~ Grandpa Max with the youngest grandbabies. Bryce and Elaina.
Look how sweet--Bryce has his head resting on Grandpas chest.

 2-  John started school again to get some of those prerequisite classes that some of the programs require. John started a new job at Banners East Valley Corporate office in their Central Scheduling Department! And it was a pay increase for us and great benefits as well!!! Super Duper YAY!!!! This was a difficult decision for us because we loved AZ-Tech. They treated John really well. They were flexible and he worked great hours to allow for the additional schooling he needs. It's hard to leave a good employer. However, they announced that they would not be able to give raises for the next two years and their benefits were expensive for our whole family. Bryce and I both needed insurance really soon. So, one day as John and I were crunching numbers to see how much we needed to save for Radiographer School and living expenses we realized that we would have to save more $ each month than we even made. John got on the computer and started applying for different positions. We didn't think much of it at the time. But then he got called for an interview. About 5 days later they offered him a choice of two different positions. We panicked, we prayed, we chose, and we have been so very very happy. Looking back now I don't know how I even hesitated, but change can be scary sometimes. But we have felt a super strong confirmation from Heavenly Father since we made our decision. 
3- Back to Jensen Family Medicine. After I had Bryce I quit my old job. A few months ago JFM wanted me to do some work for them at home. So we got 98% all set up for the position. We were waiting on that 2% that was out of my control. In the mean time I started doing a few other things from home for them. It would take me 1-2 hours a day. Then they offered me a temporary part-time position at their office until they hire more full-time employees. I also was asked to take on another position in addition to Front Desk. I'm the the Training Supervisor as well. AND I still do the 1-2 hour job at home. It's a bit more work and time than I anticipated I would be investing. However, it has been a huge financial blessing since we have to save an insane amount in a relatively short amount of time. My sister and I have devised a Babysitting flip-flop schedule so that we can both work and have the other babysit. She is the JFM Office Manager. This adds on another day and a half to my weekly schedule, but I get to be with Bryce, get to help my sister and her family and have a complementary (*;-)*) babysitter when I work. So that makes me very happy. And this is also temporary which is exciting. But THEN even more good news. That 2% needed to work from home was finished and now I do that Tues. - Thurs. and go in half day Monday. It's like a dream come true and it's a win-win for both me and the office. That was what I hoped for =D YIPEE! It's another huge blessing.
4-In about the last year and a half I've had more medical trauma, on a personal level, than I have my entire life. Unfortunately, we didn't even make it a full year without another hospital stay. On the morning of Saturday Oct. 23, 2010 Bryce got stung my a scorpion while in the shower. We saw the scorpion, but at first were unsure if he got stung. It's a long story. Briefly though, Banner Poison Control was very helpful. Called the ER to notify them. They were waiting for us at the ER. Bryce was vomiting out his nose and mouth. He aspirated that fluid as well which causes risk of infection. They finally got him stabilized by Tracheal intubation and sedation. He was then transported via ambulance to the PICU (Pediatric Intensive Care Unit). We had to stay 2 nights and 3 days. It was a super scary yet faith-building experience. Good news is that Bryce was never completely cut off from Oxygen so brain-damage is not a concern. Bad news is that Bryce had the worst reaction level (level 4 on a scale of 1-4) that one can have to the scorpion venom and if there is a next time it'll be the same. Unlike adults, in young children and babies the venom attacks the nervous system not just the localized area. The pictures help fill in the gaps of emotion that I can not describe.  We were discharged from the hospital on Monday Oct. 25, 2010. He is completely fine and recovered perfectly!

5-To preface the next part...On Oct. 18, 2010, the same day John started his new job I took a pregnancy test at work and it was POSITIVE! Monday Oct. 25, 2010 when Bryce was discharged from the hospital was also the same day that my miscarriage started ='( I was about 7 weeks.

It was confirmed through an Ultrasound on Nov. 1, 2010. We felt so fortunate that we could get pregnant at all. Because of the complications, infection, and scarring I experienced after giving birth to Bryce the Dr.s told me that I probably wouldn't be able to get pregnant again and if I did it would most likely be a tubal pregnancy =( So with faith, fasting and prayer we tried and it was a miracle I even got pregnant. The Dr. told me to wait another 6-8 weeks before trying again. And we did.....

6- So, on January 24, 2011 we took another pregnancy test and it was POSITIVE!!!! We had an ultrasound at about 8 weeks because I was having sharp side pains (sign of a tubal pregnancy). But....everything was fine =D The baby was "in the right whole" as I like to say. MIRACLES! Today we are going to have our Ultrasound to find out the gender of our sweet baby. And I'm hoping and praying the baby is healthy and happy. I had a much rougher first trimester than with Bryce. I was very sick and even had to take prescription nausea medication (which worried me to death, but so did throwing everything up all day). My second trimester so far has been wonderful. On a humorous note: I look like I'm 9.5 months pregnant with quadruplets, but I'm barely 5 months along =D Yeesh....there are some cute women in my ward who are much farther in their pregnancies and I'm bigger than all of them (probably even put together). I'm not complaining at all, I just feel a little bit on the HUGE side ;-) Again we feel incredibly blessed and super de duper HAPPY!!!!!!

Celebrating!

Here we go!

Here we are in Reno, NV. (I'm 3.5 months along)

This is last week. I'm 5 months.
(and it's actually not the same pink shirt as the picture above ;-)

He likes hats and we sing the Hat Song every time he puts one on.

There is so much more to catch up on. Bryce's 1st Birthday, Thanksgiving, Christmas, My Birthday, Park Days etc. etc. But sometimes you've just gotta post what you have. So, I'll leave you with these recent (more uplifting) pictures of Bryce. Who is perfectly well and happy!

Eating birthday cake for his cousins birthday.

He was watching "Blue's Clue's" and wailing MAAAAAAIIIIIIILLLLL!!!!!! (mail)

...and the sweetest look you've ever seen. Melts a mama's heart!