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.

An American Girl Birthday

I will never forget the day I found out my first niece was coming, it was just a month before I moved to London. I couldn't believe I was finally getting a niece but wasn't going to be here to be a part of it. Although I wasn't here on the day she was born, I got here just a few days later to help welcome her into the world. It was one of the happiest days of my life, and I couldn't help but cry when I held Hayley for the first time. That was 8 years ago on November 25th, now I have a total of 4 nieces. Hannah was born on December 28th, 2005, followed by Beatrix on November 21st, 2006, and finally Charlotte on July 27th 2009. I cannot imagine what life would be like without these precious little girls. They have given me the biggest gift they could possibly give me: the chance to be an Auntie!

And what better way for an Auntie to celebrate with her nieces for their November/December birthdays then a day trip to the American Girl doll store in Dallas. We made so many memories, going through all the dolls, clothes, and accessories. All the girls got to get their dolls ears pierced and hair styled as part of their special day. Here they are showing off their dolls new hair styles.

We took a break from the American Girl store and relaxed in the Galleria before their birthday bistro lunch. I just loved watching all my nieces playing together and managed to snap this photo of all four of them.

Back at the American Girl store, we sat down for the girls birthday bistro lunch. They all enjoyed some pink lemonade while their dolls sat quietly by their side.

And finally a picture with the girls and their Mom's/Auntie's...

That's me on the far right...notice how the girls have migrated over to me! I'm the only one that isn't also a mother of one of these girls. They think I'm a kid like them!

"Only an Aunt can give hugs like a mother, can keep secrets like a sister, and share love like a friend."

Happily Ever After

If you had asked me a little over 4 years ago where I would be today I would not have been able to dream up the story my life has become---seriously if I had any talent at all I would be able to write a book about it. I was bruised, hurt, and starting to wonder if all the dreams I had for finding love and starting a family would ever come to life. But the past 4+ years have been amazing and taught me all about true love. I married the love of my life on September 11th 2010.  He helps me through life and all the lessons along the way. He is content and humble and gives me the only gifts I could possibly need: love, patience, and guidance. I knew instantly that he was the one, I had that special feeling that so many people talk about but I had not yet experienced until I met him. On our first date I found out he has boy/girl twins named Nathan and Isabella who at the time were 3 years old. Of course, this was after I started talking about my twin Heather (as I always do). And nine months after our first date I finally met Nathan and Isabella for the first time on Halloween night, Octoboer 31st, 2008. We got engaged April 8th, 2010 and married 5 months later at St. Paul's Methodist Church in Houston, Texas.