The Barton Family Blog

I hardly ever let Hollie wear her hair down... it is the rattiest nightmare I have ever encountered in a head of hair. It is soooo beautiful but very difficult to keep under control. That said, I just had to have it down for this photo shoot. It's getting so long and her curls are just beautiful. Little stinker was getting fed up w/ photos and def. not preforming for the camera. After Kenz snapped that last shot of Natalee, Hollie decided to be "cute" and tried to pose for Kenz one last time. It was quite comical... I really should have Kenz send me all the strange "poses" Hollie managed before Kenz snapped this one. Ha! It was good comic relief for a stressed mom of 3! I love you Hollie May

At first I didn't really like this first picture - Natalee looks sad or bothered or something - but it is artsy and unique and I do like that part of it. This picture was by far my most favorite picture Kenz captured of Natalee. I was feeling like giving up... Natalee kept doing this cheesy smile that she managed to perfect throughout the photo shoot... and no picture seemed to capture her. I had high hopes of capturing some good birthday shots of her but like I said, at this point I was about to give up. Kenz suggested heading to a park here in town and I half-heartedly agreed tho' I wasn't sure Natalee was going to perform. Right before we packed it up, Kenz snapped a few of the girls in a random spot and voila'! I ADORE this shot!!! Yes! She is beautiful!!

Shyanne was just in her element this day. She posed for the cutest shots, had the biggest smile and Kenz seriously caught the most beautiful pix of her. This is the only one she's sent me thus far but I can't wait to see all the other ones. My sweet beautiful Shy

Mackenzie just has a great eye for photography! I can't wait until she starts her own photography business! Thank Kenz for your time for the photo shoot PLUS all the time you took to edit. We love you!!

We had a little photo shoot with the amazing Mackenzie Rice... Here's a preview: More to come.....!

Can't believe my baby is 4 years old. Where does time go? She is just a beautiful little girl. She makes my heart hurt with love. God has blessed us with you sweet Natalee Grace! We love you! love, Daddy & Mommy

Happy Saint Patrick's day! They're all wearing green (: tho' it may be a tad clashy! Last year was worse! Alyssa & Kyah (friends of ours that I babysit twice a week) Shyanne just had to have a pix w/ Alyssa too! Close up of Alyssa! Beautiful baby

We did go to the zoo last week. The weather called for a little rain but 60 degrees so we thought it wouldn't be too bad. There was no rain all day. The weather was perfect! And we had a lovely time. It was $4 Tuesday so we got in without having to pay and arm and a leg which was a bonus! Unfortunately my photography skills (or lack-there-of) demonstrate that I have a long way to go! I think there's a pix of a real animal somewhere... (: Love this shot of my girlies - too bad there's not a real animal in the pix! (: My sis and me. There's a tiger too.... but he's right behind our heads. O here's a real animal!! An orangutan (isn't it a weird spelling? I had to look it up!) Favorite animal for some... the tigers were very cool Sweet Pea Hollie... just checkin everything out! Ok.... I saved the best for last. Not the best pictures mind you.... but by far the coolest animal EVER: Giant Sea Lions It was just so cool how they swam right up against the glass...

"I'm a princess" I'm a princess from Danielle Barton on Vimeo .

The girls love to help me in the kitchen, even if it's just retrieving ingredients, or helping here and there. Last week they helped me make pizza. They were thrilled! I don't own a rolling pin, so the dough looked a little funny by the time I got it all rolled out... ... but man was it yummy anyways!!! Pride in a job well done: "We made this!"

A few days ago we headed up to the free OSU lambing barns. We hadn't been since 2009 when I only had one little munchkin walking around . The girls we very excited about the sheep and Shyanne announced that she was going to feed them and pet them. She's so cute when she gets around animals because she always tries to whistle and clap to get them to come to her, which usually ends up driving them away. (: There was only one little lamb born the day we visited. Here he/she is: It's little legs were just wobbling and wobbling while it stood there. Cute to see one so very new. The lambing barns we pretty bare as we arrived on the very last day that they are open to the public. Only 1/3 or so of the stalls were in use - I don't know where they move them when they're old enough to be moved, but I'm assuming that's what they do. I only ended up with a few good pictures, and we didn't stay very long. Right when we drove up, Johnny got a phone call offering ...

Overheard: Shy: "We have a new baby! Tell me 'gradulations'" Natalee: "I'm pregnant!" Shy: "'gradulations!" In recent conversations: The girls had me cornered one evening while driving somewhere. They adamantly demanded to know how the baby is going to get out of my tummy. I himm'ed and haw'd for a bit before having a "brilliant" moment of revelation. "The drs are going to cut the baby out of Mommy's tummy", I announced. Genius that I am, I considered how I saved myself from explaining vaginal births for at least the next few years. What I failed to realize, however was the impact the "cut" part might have on my 4 & 3-year-old's brains. Fast forward a few days. Again, pinned down in the car, Natalee tentatively asks: "Mommy, what will the dr. have in his hand when he cuts you open??!?!" Good thing I HAVE NO IDEA what that dr. has in his hand since I can't ever see what...

We're Going to the Zoo from Danielle Barton on Vimeo .

Today Shyanne awoke from her nap screaming bloody murder. I rushed into her room. She was sitting up in bed and her eyes held terror. I grabbed her into my arms and she clutched me desperately and sobbed. I rocked her and prayed for her, and whispered words of comfort. I prayed for wisdom and insight into her little mind. I prayed for peace and the presence of Jesus to surround her. Slowly her little body calmed down. I thought back to our first months with little Shyanne. Months of prayer, frustration, hope, and confusion all wrapped into one. Not a night went by that she wouldn't awake in sheer terror. Multiple times a night, I would rock her and hold her tell her everything was going to be ok. That no one was going to hurt her. That she was safe. That she was loved. That I wouldn't leave her. That Jesus loved her. That angels were watching over her. Slowly we began to see progress. And then regression. And then more progress. It was a long battle. But one morning I...

We got to see our baby again yesterday. There was a small concern about his/her heart so we were referred to a level two ultrasound in Eugene. When I heard that I'd get to see the baby 3-d, I was pumped to go (and not at all worried about the baby's heart!) Turns out baby is totally healthy with no concerns. The dr. said that if he had see what they saw at my first ultrasound he never would've sent me for a leve 2. I'm so glad they did tho!! He/she is SOOOOOO beautiful and amazing and EXTREMELY active! I would love to watch a 3-d ultrasound all day - like a movie. So exciting! At this age they still look pretty skeletal in the 3/d - they haven't gained much fat yet. This profile is so cute. Don't mind what looks like a gaping hole in the head (: it's not -just the way the 3/d works - it can't pick up everything when the baby moves a lot (and mine moves A LOT!) During the regular ultrasound, the baby started yawning and just held the yawn for the lo...