Newborn Photos

Sebastian Boo Boo's First Halloween

Sebastian's First Weekend with Nathan and Bella

Happy Birthday Sebastian!

He's finally here! Sebastian Anthony Pessoa was born at Memorial Hermann Katy on October 20th, 2011 at 6:10PM weighing 7 lbs. 12 oz. and 20 inches long.

There isn't much excitement to our baby story since I wasn't going into labor on my own, but it was the most amazing experience for me regardless. Thinking back to the day Sebastian was born is just as surreal as it was in the moment. The day before his birthday I passed time with a relaxing spa pedicure, followed by dinner at the original Lupe Tortilla's. I got up Thursday morning at 4:00AM to prepare for my baby boys birthday. I wanted to get fully ready with washed hair and the whole nine yards. I had been ravenously thirsty for ice water the entire pregnancy and my biggest worry was going without liquid until the baby was born. I went ahead and had a few ice cubes for breakfast. Still not satisfied though.

We left the house at 5:30AM and we were at Memorial Hermann Katy hospital precisely at 6:00AM. We got to go straight to the labor and delivery room to get started. By 8:30AM I had my epidural, but I knew something was wrong as I could still feel the right side of my body. When I felt strong contractions I knew something was definitely wrong and demanded more pain medicine. After checking out my epidural they decided there was something wrong with it so I got a second epidural. This time it felt right and I could finally relax.

I'm ravenously thirsty, but they are at least letting me have ice chips. I'm trying not to devour too many but it's so hard not to. I'm disappointed every time they check and I'm not dilated any more than I was before they started the pitocin. At this point, I'm getting exhausted from my lack of liquids. Around 3:30PM the nurse informs me that my doctor will be back after his office hours around 5:30PM and would most likely need to do a c-section. Another 2 hours of waiting later, and sure enough they are prepping me for surgery. The nurse took my ice cup away and informed me I wouldn't get anymore until 1 to 2 hours after the baby is born.  At this point, I instantly felt a panic attack.

They wheeled me into the surgery room. I've had a visual of this procedure for years since Heather has had two c-sections. But even with that knowledge I was unsettled (not sure if it's because I'm panicking about not having my ice or the actual procedure). It all started so quickly, and before I knew it they had begun cutting into me. I didn't expect all the pulling and tugging to be so vigorous either. My eyes were about to pop out of my head. Then at 6:10PM I heard the cries of my baby boy and felt such overwhelming elation. A few tears went down my face as I watched him being cleaned up by the nurse and his proud papa snapping photos of the process. I couldn't believe the amount of love I instantly had for him, I thought I'd loved as much as humanly possible already.

They sewed me back up and wheeled me into recovery which wasn't as bad as I was expecting. And I got my ice chips much sooner than anticipated so that was a huge relief! I recovered quickly and by 8:30PM I was in my room with my baby boy in my arms for the first time.

It was such an amazing experience, one I hope I get to do at least one more time.

An eCard from Auntie Bingle:

Last Checkup

Today was the last checkup for this pregnancy. According to the ultrasound, this little prince is now 8lbs. We will see how accurate that reading is when he gets here on Thursday. Once again the ultrasound technician tells me that he has chubby cheeks and big lips. She's now telling me he also has long legs.

It is really sinking in that my pregnancy journey is coming to an end.

Showering Baby

Baby Shower at Ashland House.

Birthday ~ October 20th!

And just like that, out of the blue, I'm told our baby's birthday will be October 20th! I definitely wasn't expecting to be given the actual birthday at this checkup, but we were expecting the doctor to induce between October 24th and 28th. I never thought it would feel so surreal being told your baby's birthday. Then the realization that I'm about to spend my last weekend pregnant set in, which made me feel nostalgic and emotional that my pregnanacy journey is coming to an end. Don't get me wrong, I'd much rather have my baby boy in my arms where I can see him and cuddle with him over pregnancy any day. I'm sure once he is here I won't have any time to reflect on not being pregnant anymore and will be purely focused on the present.

Identical Boy Cousins?

For the first time ever, my twin sister and I are pregnant at the same time. Not only are we only 3 weeks apart, but we are both expecting boys! It is such a special experience to share with your sister (especially your twin sister), and for both of us to be having boys makes it even more special. I hope that our boys will always be close, just like their moms. We joke about them being identical cousins as we know there is no way they will look anything alike given how different their daddy's are. Here we are together in a photo taken on August 20th, Heather is on the left at 27 weeks while I'm on the right at 30 weeks.

Of course, I will never forget the day I found out Heather was also having a boy. She insisted that she had to tell me in person, so I was left anxiously waiting for hours. When she came through the door I was on my laptop writing an email which I wanted to finish before looking up at her. Something told me not to look until I was ready, and when I did look the first thing I saw was 'OH BOY' written in large letters on her t-shirt. I was beside myself with excitement. After having two girls, I knew that the odds of her having a boy this time were lower than before. Needless to say, I was happily surprised!

Read my sister's blog about the day she found out she was having a boy: http://abeainmybonnet.blogspot.com/2011/08/oh-boy.html

A Summer with Nathan and Isabella

Every summer we eagerly anticipate being able to spend more time with Nathan and Bella, and we try to fit in as much as possible while they are with us. It's not the summer trips that most families look forward to, but instead the simple every day things of life that we miss out on with them. Every summer brings its joys and accomplishments and this summer was no exception.

I have to start with one of my favorite photos of the kids when I caught them off guard in their cowboy/cowgirl hats and boots. The minute they realized I was taking a picture they tried to come out of the accessories.

They look so much older now, very much past the pre-schooler age now but still cute as ever.

I finally convinced them to take a proper picture in their cowboy/cowgirl hats and boots and it's another favorite. I can't help but feel nostalgic at these as I know these two are growing up faster than we can seem to keep up with them.

One of the first things we did this summer was meet up with my nieces Hayley and Hannah at their neighborhood pool. As usual with my family, it was all girls and Nathan. The kids had a blast and this was the beginning of Nathan and Bella starting to swim without their swim vests.

On another weekend we decided to take the kids to Galveston to meet up with my other nieces, Beatrix and Charlotte, to celebrate Hotel Galvez's 100th birthday. After catching some waves on Jamaica Beach first, we headed to the hotel festivities where the kids had some special ballons made. Bella chose a bracelet and Nathan chose an alligator. We spent the rest of the afternoon at the festival listening to some fabulously entertaining story tellers.

From there we went to our hotel, The Tremont House, which is a sister hotel to Hotel Galvez and just as interesting. It's nestled in the heart of Galveston Island's Strand Historic District which is a blend of 19th century charm and 20th century sophistication. A true gem in my book. Here are Nathan and Bella with Philip at the roof top cafe on top of the hotel.

Later that night we met back up with my sister and her family to watch the 100th birthday fireworks being set off at Hotel Galvez, which I might add were some of the best fireworks we have ever seen. The hotel really put it all out there for the 100th birthday. This was basically our 4th of July with the kids. In the photo below Nathan, Bella, and Beatrix are seemingly calm while we waited for the fireworks, but I can assure you this picture lies.

The next morning we got up and met my sister's family once again, this time at Stewart Beach. The kids did their usual playing in the sand and boogie boarding.

  

Next up was Father's Day weekend. Needless to say, it was a very special weekend for Philip. The kids and I worked on self portraits made from scrapbooking paper for Philip's Father's Day gift. They turned out fabulous and are now proudly displayed in their Daddy's office.

Here are Nathan and Bella with their Daddy for a Father's Day dinner at our favorite local restaurant. It was a fun but exhausting day which started at Hungary's for brunch with a friend and his kids, a birthday party for my best friend's twins Grace and Jack at Chuckie Cheese, a fabulous 1st birthday candyland party for Olivia, and finally dinner.

On Father's Day, the kids went back to Louisiana but we got them again three weeks later. One of the first adventures we had was to take the kids back to Discovery Green. We've been taking them there since they were four years old, and we were way overdue for another visit. Nathan and Bella posed for us in the middle of the green, which is precisely where their Daddy proposed to me on April 8th, 2010.

We had to make another trip back to the beach, and once again took the kids back to our favorite beach spot in Galveston (near Jamaica Beach).

And one of the biggest milestones of the summer, we finally got Bella riding her bike without training wheels! There she goes...and as promised Philip is looking for a new bike for her. When asked what color she wants she responded with gold and silver. Bling bling!

What other milestones did the kids accomplish? Well, they were swimming, diving, and going under the water to fetch water toys.

Here is Nathan diving into the water and immediately going to the pool floor to get his toys.

And Bella is doing the same...

They also spent a week at our church's vacation bible school where the theme was Route 66. Neither one of them could get enough of the Worship Jamz CD that they got the first day. We listened to it every time we got in the car and they made their Daddy play it on the way back to Louisiana.

VBS had family night at the Dairy Ashford Roller Rink. I took this picture as I remembered my twin and I had our 7th birthday party at this same place almost 30 years ago.

And Nathan and Bella completed Level 1 of swim lessons! These lessons were the best investment of money and one of the activities that they both looked forward to the most.

We certainly packed a lot of memories into four weeks and we will cherish them forever. Now the kids are back in Louisiana getting ready to start the 1st Grade on August 12th.

I hope they will have the same fond memories as we do....

Big Day in the Pessoa House...No Training Wheels for Isabella!

We had another monumental day on Friday, Bella finally learned to ride her bike without training wheels. It came two years and two months after her twin brother learned to ride without training wheels. With lots of encouragement and support from Daddy she finally trusted herself and started balancing.

It was already starting to get dark, so the video is a little grainy but it's the first video of her riding without training wheels so we'll always treasure it.

Isabella Riding Bike Without Training Wheels

In the beginning we weren't sure she was going to get it this time around. There was a lot of wobbling and with every bump in the grass came an exclamation of whoa's and oh's. At one point, Nathan said it was taking longer than he thought and asked if we could just put the training wheels back on.

And here was Nathan two years and two months ago doing his thing on the bike...

Nathan Riding Without Training Wheels

It's such a nostalgic feeling watching Nathan's video from when he was four years old. He looks tiny in this video, they have grown up so much in the past two years.

Both have brought tears to our eyes, and nothing brings more joy than when we can be a part of these moments with Nathan and Bella. Looking forward to many many more happy memories.

Trent Joseph Barnette

Trent Joseph Barnette was born at 9:30AM Wednesday, July 13th, 2011 weighing 7 lbs. 9 oz. on his due date!

This photo was taken 10 hours after his birth...



His proud parents are Travis and Sheri. I had the privledge of meeting this couple through Philip where he and Travis go back to their college days at LSU. Travis and Sheri have spent the last 4 years living in South Korea so I only just got the opportunity to meet them in the fall of 2010. Sheri was back first, the day after Philip and I got married, so she was the first of the Barnette clan I met. Then a month later in October I met Travis. And that month Sheri found out she was pregnant with Trent.

It's funny how God works, I'm convinced there is a reason why not only Philip, but now Sheri and Travis are a part of my life. I was astonished to find out how similar my life path has been to Sheri's, and to be able to have baby boys around the same time is a huge blessing.

Here we are together on the Saturday before Trent's arrival after lunch at Chuy's. I'm at 24 weeks and of course Sheri is at 40 weeks...

From the time Sheri found out she was having a boy she was willing me to also have a boy and was waiting anxiously to find out the news the day we found out. I have no doubt that Trent and Sebastian will spend many wonderful adventures with each other and I'm looking forward to every bit of these little boys growing up together.

S is for Sebastian

What the baby name book, 'A is for Atticus: Baby Names from Great Books' says about the name Sebastian.

From day one this was the only boy name in the running. When I was five weeks pregnant and on a 12 hour round trip drive to Louisiana to pick up Nathan and Bella with Philip's sister, I had already made up my mind that if we were having a boy his name would be Sebastian Anthony. The middle name is also Philip's first name and a name I thought went great with Sebastian. Aunt Bingle seemed to like it, his Daddy loved it, and we never looked back.

Baby Bliss!

It's been too long since I last made a blog post, but what better way to start it up again than with the news of the arrival of a baby due October 30th, 2011! Of course we are excited beyond words and I'm counting all my blessings for this opportunity to experience motherhood to its fullest.


I confirmed I was pregnant on February 23rd, 2011 but had my suspicions that I was pregnant days before. At this point I was already 5 weeks pregnant.


At 12 weeks we got the first picture of our baby (whom I was affectionately calling Poppet). And this is our babies profile, arms in the air above the head and apparently very active.

Finally at 19 weeks and 2 days we got to find out if our baby was a boy or a girl...and what a surprise for me, snakes and snails and puppy dog tails, it's a BOY!

Everyone, except a few people, told me they thought I was having a boy. But deep down I was thinking girl. Perhaps this had something to do with the fact that the last four children born in my family have all been girls (Hayley, Hannah, Beatrix, and Charlotte). Nonetheless we are thrilled to be having a baby boy and can't wait to meet our little man.


We also got a 3D ultrasound at 19 weeks and 2 days. His head is slightly tilted to his left. Both of his hands are in a fist and he appears to be sucking on them. Sweetness.

As for baby names, the only name we had come up with was for a boy. We had been throwing around girl names, but we were not set on any of them. A few days after finding out we were having a boy we went ahead and finalized our name...

Of course I couldn't wait to get his name monogrammed on something, so I ordered a pillow slipcover from Etsy monogrammed with his name and birth year.

Yes, this pillow was really meant for the last name of a family and the year the family moved into their house but I figured I could use it to establish the year Sebastian entered our lives.


Here I am with Nathan, Isabella, and Sebastian's ultrasound photos. Before the ultrasound technician told us what we were having, Nathan's guess was a girl and Bella's was a boy. When the technician said boy, Nathan said he wanted to change his guess to boy. He certainly didn't want to lose that one to his sister.

We have four more seemingly long months until Sebastian joins us and I'm already anxious for his arrival. Until then, I'm filling my free time getting prepared for this little bundle of joy.