Registry Wants and Must Haves

As we prepare for our baby shower next month I am talking about the registry must haves that I was told about, that I wanted to add, and of course the random ones where why not add them.

Crib- We decided to do a dark color nursery since we already have dark furniture that is staying in his room.  $160
4-1 Convertible Crib

Dresser- We elected to focus more on a changing table that had drawers under it mainly for the changing table aspect not the dresser aspect. We have cube storage in his room which is what will have his clothes in it.  $170

3-drawer dresser

Carseat- We were fortunate enough to not need to register for our car seat since we got it used. We got the Graco 35 XL. Its part of the click connect so it connects into a stroller base which was given to us as well. 

Bassinet- While I would love to put the Halo Bassinet on my registry I elected to put a way cheaper bassinet on our registry instead. I put the Ingenutiy FoldAway Rocking Bassinet. At only $54 it is way more affordable. 

Ingenuity FoldAway Rocking Bassinet

Breast Pump- I was told the Spectra is the quietest breast pump out there and if I was buying one for myself I might have put that on my registry but I was lucky that I was given a breast pump. I was given the Medela Pump In Style Advanced in a backpack. All I need is new tubing and new shields which is way more affordable than a new pump. I plan on trying to breast feed as long as I can produce milk so pumping will help as well return to work and daycare.

Seat- Instead of a Bumbo I have heard great things about the Fisher-Price Sit Me Up Floor Seat. It is better for their hips and legs then the Bumbo is. $40
Sit Me Up Floor Seat

Diaper Bag- I wanted a diaper that my husband wouldn't be afraid to carry because it wasn't masculine enough. I can carry any bag it doesn't bother me. I wanted a back pack and something that had tons of pockets for the amount of things that a baby requires. $50

Backpack Diaper Bag

Boppy- I wanted a nursing pillow that I could change the cover on and wash due to breast milk, liquids etc all getting on it. I have been given covers from a friend. Thats why I elected or the naked pillow $30

Boppy

Rock n' Play- I have heard so many mixed reviews on the Rock n' Play. I have heard they are wonderful, people use them for bassinets, and that they have saved their cranky baby. I have put it on my registry and it is something I would love to receive, if I don't I'm not sure I would go purchase it myself. $80

Rock n' Play

Of course clothing is essential. We have been given tons of clothes from various people and I am so appreciative for that. It means we only need to get a couple more things for his wardrobe to be complete. Onesies, sleepers, banks, outfits, blankets, socks, etc. Those are all essentials its up to you have fancy you want to get with it.

We are doing Preston's room in a baseball theme. On our registry we have added a couple baseball things, but really the decorative features will come from Hobby Lobby in time. Our Amazon registry has more baseball theme things than our Target registry, 

The registry has been fun and stressful to make. The hardest thing for us is we live 3,000 miles away from our families so our registry has been difficult to do. I don't want to expect to get anything from people who cant attend the shower because its not expected. I wanted to put things on my registry that my friends and co-workers can get for us that they can afford. Plus with all the things we have been given we don't fortunately need much. We still just need the biggest items. If we get them great, if we don't thats fine too. Our son will be just fine with what we do receive and we will be grateful for anything. 

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Team Boy or Team Girl?

So we had our anatomy scan on Monday April 9th where we got to see our little gummy bear again. We hadn't seen our gummy bear since 8 weeks. It is so crazy how much they grow and change in 10 short weeks. The ultrasound technician asked if we would like to know the gender. OF COURSE! Why wouldn't we? We were so excited to know it just he and I! While the technician was getting to the leg area our little one didn't act shy at all and let us know that he was a BOY! We are having a son! I was shocked but not a bad shock at all. I just had sworn I was having a girl so to be told he was a boy was shocking but not disappointing. There is something so amazing about a mother and son relationship. 

Our little one will be here in less than 20 weeks! I cant believe we are past halfway!

This was gummy bear at 8 weeks

Gummy bear at 18 weeks

He wasn't shy at all!

We're pregnant, now what??

Well its been a long time since I've posted and I am so sorry about that. Life got in the way in a major way for us. Since my last post Tim got a new job working for TDS which is a decal company who wraps cars, race cars, commercial vehicles, buildings, etc. He is loving this job and I love that he is happy. That is all I want as his wife is for him to be happy and doing something he enjoys. I have also left my old job with Starbucks and I am now an infant teacher working with babies every day! I love my job so much and I couldn't be happier doing it.

We were able to travel home to California for Christmas and get to spend some time with our families which was overdue and much needed. When we returned from California we were actually talking about me going on birth control and getting through life before we were ready to start a family. Right after the new year on January 2, 2018 I realized my period hadn't come and decided to take a pregnancy test and to my surprise it came out positive. Holy shit we were pregnant. I was carrying a baby. I told Tim, and it wasn't in a fancy way like I would have imagined but the point got across. We kept it to ourselves at first and then eventually told our families the news. 

On January 22, 2018 Tim and I went to the doctors where we got to see our baby for the first time and hear its heartbeat. 

I love that Tim got to be there with me for that. At this point we were 7 weeks along. I immediately set up an appointment with midwives for all of my pregnancy care. The following week I went in and got to see our baby again. 

With each passing week we grew more and more excited. We debated our announcement and how we wanted to tell our families and friends the news. 

We announced when we were 12 weeks along around Valentines Day. We had so many people sending their love and support to us as we embarked on a new chapter we were scared and excited about.

Here we are now and I am almost 17 weeks along. I just heard our babies heartbeat a week ago and in a little over a week we get to find out what we are having. That is so surreal to find out if I am carrying a daughter or a son inside of me. Heres to the future Barile.

Airline frustrations

Anyone who has ever flown on an airplane or out of an airport knows there can be issues. 

Well last weekend my husband had to travel to New Hampshire for the race. He got to the airport on Thursday afternoon, checked his bag and got something to eat. He heard his name over the intercom to come to his gate. When he got there he was told that he didn't check his bag correctly and he needed to go back to the ticket counter to re-check it. After all that was said and done he ended up missing his flight. He spoke with his bosses and they told him to go home and they would fly him out the next day. 

Well all the flights were sold out the next day so he ended up missing the entire weekend of work because of an employee who was worthless and didn't know their own job. Here's the real kicker; his bag ended up on a flight Friday morning to Manchester. Well he called American Airlines to find out about his bag and they said it should be on a flight by Saturday. Saturday came and went as did Sunday. No one he spoke with could tell him where his bag was, which airport it was in. No one he spoke with was helpful regarding the incident. And they decided that supplying him with 7,500 miles should suffice for the inconvenience. He called twice on Tuesday and the second time he talked to someone she informed him that his luggage was back at the Charlotte airport and they tried to call him earlier that day. We drove her get his bag and I have never seen someone have so much relief and tension escape their body.

American Airlines is where the real problem lies. They don't train their staff well enough, there is so much miscommunication that occurs between their employees and their customers. Explain to me how someone being without their luggage for 5 days and no communication is good enough. How is 7,500 miles going to get back the weekend my husband missed out on work? They need to fix their customer service and they need to make their customers the priority again. Unfortunately my husband has to fly on them the rest of the season since Charlotte is a hub for American Airlines. I hope that we don't encounter any more issues during the season. 

Dating your spouse

I'm sure we have all heard the saying "Never stop dating your spouse". Well I recommend sticking to that saying and remember to date your spouse and fall more and more in love with them every day if possible.

So far this summer, Tim and I went to a local AAA baseball game followed by a surprise decision to go to the Billy Currington concert that was right next door. His work rented out the rooftop terrace which provided us game tickets as well as food to enjoy. It was a beautiful night, not too hot and not chilly at all. 

As part of the SpeedStreet event going on in Charlotte there was a concert to be held at the park next to the ballpark. Who wouldn't want to go to a concert that meant hey didnt have to pay full price? We left the baseball game in the 6th inning and went to the concert. What a concert that was. It was our first concert as a couple and we sang along, danced, and enjoyed one another company. 

A simple date night of a baseball game turned into an amazing date night of a baseball game, a concert, and spending some time with my best friend. 

Most of you know that we went through rough patch while Tim wasn't working and that truly does take a toll on a couple and on a relationship. It was so nice to smile and laugh and truly remember that I love my husband and I love getting to have date nights with him.

Date nights don't have to be something extravagant. They can be a simple as a dinner at home. They can be a picnic at the park. They can be a walk on a nature trail. We definitely have those fun easy date nights every week. Its something we strive to do. We try a new recipe, we take turns who makes dinner, and we help one another when it comes to household chores.

Dating your spouse should always happen and should always be a priority. I look at my husband when he is in his pajamas and fall more in love with him. I look at him when he is dressed for work and think how lucky I am to be his wife. I look at my husband sitting on the couch watching baseball and think about how our future is going to be the best because we are doing it together.

Never stop experiencing life, trying new things, and dating your spouse. 

Baby Fever

Its expected once you've been married over a year for everyone to ask you when you re going to get pregnant. Everyone feels like it is their right to tell you that your clock is ticking and that time is running our. NEWS FLASH...were 29! Time is not running out, we just aren't going to be the young parents, we are going to be the older parents. There is no right or wrong time to start a family. It is all about what works for you and your significant other.

I am so fortunate that while I have baby fever I get to have it taken care of Monday-Friday at work. I work with infants 6 weeks-6 months. The best possible job I could have while having baby fever. I get to love on little ones while their parents are at work providing for them. I get to feed them, hug them, and rock them. I get to see their smiles, I get to see their tears. I get to see their first crawls. I am so fortunate for the job that I have while I am going through my baby fever. 

I am the typical woman who says we aren't ready. We aren't financial stable enough. I know there is no perfect time to have a baby. But I do know that I am not ready to bring a baby into the chaos that is mine and Tim's life with new jobs, and figuring out everything we are figuring out. I know that I want to have health insurance. I know that I want us to be both be working full time. I know that I want our families to be ready for us to have a baby. There is a lot to consider. 

I know that Tim isn't ready at all. The minute I bring up the "B" word he freaks out. He shuts me down and I know thats because its scary concept for most men. They aren't usually around babies like women are so for them the whole thing is an unknown. I know that in a few months or in a year even we will have the conversation again and maybe by the time we turn 30 he will be a bit more ready.

I just know that in the meantime I am going to love on all my friends babies, my babies at work, and my niece via FaceTime. I am a fortunate woman to have around me the solutions to baby fever!

Anyone else out there have baby fever? Whats your solution? 

Its been awhile and this is why....

Sorry for being MIA lately. 

Where to start? 

The season ended on sort of a low for us. My husband was let go from the team he was apart of for the last three seasons. It was believed that the team would be shutting down. Instead the team stayed together and hired Matt DiBenedetto as their driver and he was bringing his own PR person with him which meant Tim was still out a job. We crossed our fingers, said prayers and hoped that by Daytona he would find a job. Well February came and went and he wasn't with a team and he wasn't working.

I left my job at Starbucks and ended up going back to my career field of working with children and got an amazing opportunity working with infants in a child care center close to home. I am happy every day when I leave work, and I look forward to going to work every day. Not many people can say that I believe.

We hit March and he got an interview with NASCAR itself for a job. We were excited but didn't want to jinx it or ruin the chances so we didn't tell anyone or talk about it at all. He got the job and we praised everything above that he was back working in the sport for an amazing company. He has since gotten his uniform, hard card, email address, etc. Its real and his first race of the season is coming up. It is so bittersweet and this is why.

I love my husband do not get me wrong. I am so glad that we have had the opportunity to spend some time together over the last few months, but I am so ready for him to be traveling and gone again. I miss my time to myself getting to watch DVR shows, read a book, relax and have some time alone. With him not working he has been home every day for the past few months. I know he is looking forward to traveling again and I know I am looking forward to missing him the days that he is gone and getting those butterflies back when I see him after a few days apart.

It isn't easy by any means going through a significant other being unemployed. I don't recommend it to couples out there, but it makes you so much stronger. Did we fight through it all? YES!! Do I love him any less? NO!! I am so proud of my husband and I love him even more for being strong and going through what he just went through. I will always support him emotionally and mentally with everything we face as a couple and as best friends.

So expect an update soon!