The Barnetts

Cutting Down our Tree

2010-12-17T22:05:00.000-08:00

This was the first year we, or even myself personally, went to a tree farm and picked our own tree and cut it down. It was a lot more work than going to Lowe's next door, but worth it. I liked that the kids saw where our tree came from and it was just a great family outing and tradition that we hope to continue.

Our Christmas Letter and photos 2010

2010-12-17T19:25:00.001-08:00

Merry Christmas Family and Friends!
A Barnett Family Update, 2010

Warmest greetings from the Barnetts. We, like many, love this time of year and we hope that this season is blessing you with lots of fun and family-time, and, of course, anticipating the memory of Jesus’ incarnation - God’s most generous and merciful gift to us.

Desperate for something interesting to share in this year’s Christmas letter – we decided to have another baby and are pleased to announce that we are expecting yet another who should arrive just around the end of the school year. What a fortuitous piece of timing that is – no? Not exactly a coincidence. Of course, with Facebook, this is old news for most of you. Nevertheless, we are very excited to welcome another little Barnett to our happy family.

Meanwhile, the basic format of Barnett life is very similar to what it has been like. We continue to be blessed and are truly grateful that Melissa is able to stay home with our kids. We’re not exactly sure how it works – it just somehow does and God is good. She also continues to tutor Kai, now a senior in high school (she’ll be a free agent next year if you know anyone who needs a good tutor…) I know Melissa is really proud of how Kai has grown over the course of her time working with him. Motherhood continues to be the highlight of her day. The trio of mommy, Caleb and Gracie can be found all over Ventura county on any given day – and home for naptime no less! Melissa remains keenly aware of how blessed she is to have a supportive and fun community of mommy-friends she has made over the years. Although she denied it until yesterday, Eminent Baby #3 has slowed Melissa down a little bit – tiredness and unending hunger are constant themes. While excited to return to School Counseling someday when the time in right – right now, there could be no higher calling or more fulfilling way to spend each day than being a mom to our kids.

Caleb and Gracie are crazy and fun. Most of the time they play very well together. Check out Melissa’s videos on Facebook for some of their adventures and exploits. Highlights are sword duels, wearing six pairs of eye-wear at once, stomp-rocket fun, blocks, owl hunts, bed bouncing, dancing, playing Dr. John Caleb Barnett MD, painting, cardboard box creations, cooking, reading, and, of course, eating. Caleb and Gracie still love Kindermusik class, First 5, and a little “play-school” mini-co-op with a few friends. Our kids teach us so much and keep us so humble. They themselves are a lesson in gentleness, trust, forgiveness, and joy. Of course, they can be selfish and disobedient too, but we don’t talk about that in Christmas letters now, do we…☺

Teaching continues to be a fulfilling vocation for me. This has been a good year at the Visual Arts & Design Academy, with great students, fellow teachers and parents, and the Academy feels grounded after some transitions. Of course, it is education, so things are always changing, but we just keep going, knowing we are doing something important by creating an engaging and relevant high school education for artists and creatives in the program. It’s great to have a job – and even better to have one you enjoy, but the real highlight of my day is coming home, as you can imagine. The fun and joy and lightness of one’s children bring deliver immediate and much needed perspective to the day’s busyness and troubles. Thank God for them. Speaking of God, we continue to seek Him at our church, the Ventura Vineyard. I’m excited to be starting a new group, with some familiar guys, but this time, with more of a focus on discipleship and the pursuit of a Jesus-like life in all spheres of our daily lives.

Well, we certainly hope that you and your families are doing well and will do well in the year ahead. As always, we wish for you, a year of abiding peace and joy – no matter the circumstances.

May God bless and keep you,

the barnetts

Gracie wearing my 1st Christmas Dress

2009-12-17T20:16:00.000-08:00

This is one of the only, if not the only, dresses of mine that I have for Grace. I wish I had more. I loved seeing Grace in it. To think that I was in this 30 years ago.... And if you look carefully, you can see her 2 little teeth that just poked through last week!

Portrait Shots of Caleb and Grace

2009-12-16T21:04:00.001-08:00

I decided to take Caleb and Grace in for the first time to a studio - JC Pennys. We take so many of our own and Caleb never smiles for people he doesn't know, so it never seemed worth it to me. Well, Gracie is so smiley and I really wanted some photos of her in one of her first Christmas dresses. And it is hard to take shots at home with Caleb and Grace together since Caleb isn't quite into sitting for a shot. Anyway, I was happy with the photographer a friend had recommended and he has honestly been the first person that Caleb didn't know that he smiled for. The guy was funny, but not overly goofy - perfect for Caleb. Anyways, I was happy to get some great Christmas portraits of the kids.

Some Christmas Shots

2009-12-15T22:45:00.001-08:00

Gracie's 1st Christmas!

Caleb, like always, is such a great helper! He did a great job checking out the trees to find the right one and help drag it home!

Dan and I hosted our annual Christmas party, and had a great time! I felt even more thankful this year for an evening with friends since Dan and I rarely get time with friends together without Caleb and Grace. We are thankful for the community of friends God has given us!

We had our "Christmas" celebration a couple of weeks early in IV with Jason, Holly, Samuel, Hope and Jeremiah since we aren't going to be together at Christmas. Here was our attempt to get a photo of the cousins! Like always, it is always a blessing to be with them!

I loved putting Gracie in the reindeer outfit Caleb wore during his 1st Christmas too!

We dressed Caleb in his tux for the VADA Christmas party! He was one of the ring bearers in Aunt Michelle's wedding in May. We had to put him in it one last time before he outgrows it! He was the best dressed at the party I must say!

Abby and Caleb :)

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-15T21:31:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas Family and Friends!
A 2009 Barnett Family Update

By far the most exciting thing in 2009 was the arrival of Grace Estela! She came February 20th and is now 9 months old. She just cut her first tooth, claps at the sound of music, waves at everything (including herself), and gnaws ineffectually on slices of apple. Although she isn’t crawling, she’s an efficient roller who nimbly navigates her way around the house until she gets hung up under a footstool. She’s an amazing and beautiful baby, who brings us constant joy by her smiles, laughter, and sweet spirit. Through Gracie, God reminds us of the happy and joyful attitude He has towards us.

Caleb, now 2 ½, has also been a ton of fun this year. His sensitive, sweet, inquisitive and detailed personality is a gift. He’s total little boy, frequently running laps through the kitchen and living room with his right arm raised as if holding some curious imaginary torch. Known best for his fascination with eating, Caleb will most often be found at the snack table for the duration of any given play-date. Caleb also loves his classes – First Five and Kindersmusik (Gracie loves them just as much!). Speaking of music, I doubt our little introvert will ever be a performer, but he has some pretty hilarious impromptu singing and dancing sessions. Caleb loves to sing and read books. Building Geo Trax, marble runs and doing art are favorite daddy moments. And he continues to be mommy’s little boy and good buddy – giving her hugs, snuggling and desiring her companionship throughout the day.

Going from a family of three to four has been a blessing. There is nothing quite like the joy and innocence that kids inherently bring to a home. Gracie adores Caleb. And Caleb has taken to G-baby…G-bear…Baby Gracie…“Gra-cie-yah” quite well. He enjoys mimicking her sounds and playing with her toys. There has been nothing quite as cute as seeing the two of them interact, and make each other laugh and smile.

Melissa, by God’s grace, is still able to stay home raising our kids, loves it and does an amazing job. She is savoring this season of life, and all God has in it for her and her family. Since she spends all day momming, Melissa continues to be thankful for the Chicks with Tots group and other friends in town, allowing for some social/play time. Melissa has been tutoring a high schooler named Kai for the past 3 years, and still really enjoys that time too. A highlight for Melissa, and our whole family, was Michelle and Erik’s wedding on May 30th. It couldn’t have been more special with Jason officiating and the four of us being part of the ceremony. That was a day we will never forget, and we are thankful to have Erik officially apart of our family.

Year 3 at the Visual Arts & Design Academy (vadasbhs.org) was good, but challenging in many ways. Navigating an organization through change and budget cuts had its ups and downs – but the staff Dan works with is amazing and the teaching part of his job continues to be fun and fulfilling. Dan does an amazing job balancing work and his family. I know I am partial, but I really think I have the best husband and dad to our kids! He cares for them so well and loves being with them.

After taking 2 years off, we began a home group through our church. We structured it in a way that took care of the babysitting problem, and also allowed for some meaningful time to connect with others on a spiritual level. We alternate guys and ladies meeting from week to week. We really missed the connection to community and have both been blessed by this time together.

With all that said, we wish you a year filled with God’s abiding love, blessing, peace and joy. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Dan, Melissa, Caleb and Grace

The following family shots were taken in November at a nearby beach by my friend and talented photographer, Raya Carlisle

Grace Estela Barnett is here!!!

2009-02-24T20:16:00.000-08:00

Grace decided to come early and was born on Friday, Feb. 20th at 6:04am. She weighed 7 pounds, 9 ounces and was 19 inches long. We came home from the hospital yesterday and are thankful that things have gone really well. The c-section and recovery thus far has been a better experience than my first with Caleb. Caleb has done so well -with family while we were in the hospital, during hospital visits (besides seeing us, he LOVED the hospital food every afternoon), and now that we are home. It is so sweet how affectionate he is with Gracie. He loves peeking on her, holding her in his lap, touching her "black" hair/hands/feet/etc, and telling her to drink "all of her milk!" And all of a sudden he wants to drink milk every time Gracie does - so he has been consuming A LOT of milk these past few days! He has been so good in terms of my time being split between him and Gracie and does not fuss when I tell him that I cannot pick him up to get out of his crib, in his high chair, etc... And Grace is just beautiful. She has thick, black hair and such a sweet face. We love just staring at her. She is such a blessing. So thank you for your prayers and support. We really feel like our prayer requests have been answered, and in ways that are so much better than I could have even imagined.

And yes, we have TONS of cute shots already. Here are a few, and there will be more to come....

love,
Dan, Mel, Caleb and Gracie

Gracie is almost here - update and prayer requests

2009-02-12T21:46:00.000-08:00

We are 10 days away from meeting Grace! I am scheduled for a c-section on Monday, February 23rd at 7:30am. We are very excited to finally see her in person. It is hard to believe that this little body that has been developing inside of me for 38 weeks, and whom I feel constantly, will soon take her first breath of fresh air. We can't wait to hold her in our arms.

I am still feeling a bit nervous about how much life is going to change in a week or so, especially in regards to Caleb. I do still have moments of being sad that this season with only Caleb is coming to an end. But I also feel really thankful for the peace God has given me in this past month as I have really tried to surrender it all to Him. As soon as I was really real before God about how I was feeling and realized that He was the only one that was going to give me peace, I saw Him really work. Beginning practically the day after I had this encounter with God, I began really talking to Caleb about his sister Gracie, telling him things like - "Mommy is going to go to the hospital and the doctors are going to take your baby sister out of mommy. And papa and nana are going to stay with you." We have continued having these types of conversations daily, and mainly because he brings it up! He often will tell me "baby out, papa and nana come." And now that my body is in more discomfort I can no longer do as much for him (pick him up right when he needs me to, etc...) and when I move a certain way that hurts, Caleb will say "baby out, papa and nana come." It is almost like he kind of gets it.... and to a degree I think he does :) So I know that God is preparing all of us for this new transition - even Caleb.

Thank you for your excitement and support through the last few months. And we would also appreciate your prayers as we begin this new season in our life. Please pray that I would continue to rest, trust and rely on God through it all - my c-section/recovery, our separation from Caleb while we are at the hospital, transition with Caleb back at home, lack of sleep/energy, our family time, etc... I really want these coming months, as exhausting as they will be, to be a sweet and precious time for our family.

thank you
melissa, dan and caleb

A Barnett Family Update 2008

2008-12-18T19:37:00.000-08:00

Christmas Greetings friends and family! 2008 was an exciting year for us for a lot of reasons, but news that we would be having a baby girl has to be at the top of the list. Apparently Caleb by himself wasn’t enough, and honestly, he’s so amazing and cute, that it only makes sense that there should be more where that came from. Gracie is scheduled to arrive in late February. We are obviously very excited about this addition to our family.

Caleb, as previously mentioned, is about the cutest little guy we could imagine. We are blessed that Melissa has been able to continue to stay home with Caleb, and she is doing a phenomenal job raising our little boy. He’s now about 1 ½ and making small sentences, artwork, music and already being chased by girls – namely his little friend Abby. We are amazed to watch how quickly Caleb learns and absorbs the world that surrounds him. Caleb and Mom spend the morning exhausting the interest of anything found in our house, and typically get out of the house once before and once after his midday nap. Caleb’s current interests are delaying bedtime (with more books, sips of water or whatever works), pouring water from “up-high” in the tub, the moon, Kindermusick class, the harmonica, magnets on every metallic surface in our house, yogurt, helping with laundry, and grazing the food table at mom group pot-lucks.

Melissa is loving staying home. She continues to do a little private tutoring in the evening until Gracie arrives. Time with other mom friends and participating in a couple of mom’s groups have been a highlight, not to mention getting to be present for every nuance of Caleb’s growth and development. Without a doubt Caleb and Melissa are best buddies.

And in other parenting news, I (Dan) am also loving being a dad. It’s like everyone says – incredible at the most profoundly deep level. The highlight of my day is the playtime after work. There’s just nothing quite like hearing “upwiddadada” (as in ‘up with the dada’) – which translates to carry me…
Year 2 at the Visual Arts & Design Academy (vadasbhs.org) has proven to be more of a challenge in my second year, for the simple reason that, the further into something you get, the more complex it is. I still love it a lot and we have accomplished a great deal in just a year. During these times, what a blessing to have a job, and on top of that, one that is meaningful and fulfilling. While I love the program visioning and leadership aspects, working with my students has been the most refreshing part lately.

With sincere gratitude and a discipline of thankfulness we take this time to bear witness to the blessings God has given, even in the midst of our difficulties which pale in comparison. We hope your year past and year ahead are full of blessing too.

Much Love, Dan, Melissa and Little Caleb, and Forthcoming Gracie

Grace - now 29 weeks along....

2008-12-13T19:35:00.000-08:00

We got to see Grace this past Thursday - she is now about 29 weeks. She is so big that we could no longer get a shot of her entire body. And to our surprise, they let us see her in 3D form! It was so exciting to see her face. We think she looks similar to Caleb (We added a shot of him at 26 weeks - photo #3). The technician noted that Grace already has a ton of hair at this point - so it will be interesting to see how much she has when she is born! I am feeling her move around a lot - and her movements are strong! They often surprise me. My friend hugged me the other day and felt Grace on her tummy too! I love when she moves. There has only been a few times when I am trying to fall asleep that I wish she'd be asleep too :) I guess she is starting to give me a preview of what is to come! We love her so much already and we are excited to meet her, and to introduce Caleb to the "sister in mommy's tummy."

Updates on our little girl

2008-11-17T12:58:00.001-08:00

Here is our little girl, Grace Estela Barnett. We love the name and meaning of Grace, and Dan and I are excited to pass down the middle name of my mom and mine, Estela. A few weeks ago we had another ultrasound - she is 21 weeks in this latest shot. She is moving all around now. It is fun to feel her strong movements - often one right after the other on different parts of my belly or two different parts at the same time. Her movements remind me that she is such a miracle - a gift of God. I am humbled by His design - I feel honored to have her grow within me.

These are a few shots of me lately - at 17, 19, 24 and now 25 weeks. Caleb will come and kiss her when I prompt him - "Give you sister a kiss!" It is sweet.

It's a Girl!

2008-09-25T19:49:00.000-07:00

On Monday we went in for an ultrasound and saw our little one moving all around. The first photo is at 8 weeks and the next one is this past week, 17 weeks. In 2 months our baby had changed so much. It was truly amazing. Dan and I were in awe at this miracle. The technician got some key shots and is pretty confident that this little one is a girl! By the way, I don't think Caleb is as nervous as he looks in this photo:) And I don't think I can handle the pink on this page for too long, but we had to do it for now!

Story TIme with Mommy, 16 months

2008-09-16T10:08:00.000-07:00

Caleb and I have been reading together every morning (and many other parts of the day) for a long time, and I finally got a little clip on video. I go through all of his books, and he always tells me which ones he wants me to read and which ones he is just not in the mood for. It has been fun to hear him say new words (and lots of animal sounds) almost everyday and to see his attention span grow. I can now read some pages before he wants me to turn the page :) He was being a little camera shy here, but you can see just how cute he is...

Caleb at the Zoo, 15 months

2008-08-18T19:50:00.000-07:00

Caleb gets VERY excited about animals and the fact that there is always the "other" to look at of something! He is at a great age for the zoo. We have a yearly membership to the Santa Barbara Zoo which we have already used a lot since we bought it in May.

Caleb on the playground - 13 months

2008-08-16T20:38:00.000-07:00

This is some footage of Caleb when he was 13 months- already 2 months ago! I love how excited he is about life. He has been enjoying parks & playgrounds for awhile and when we go as a family I can actually get some video!

Caleb Walking -day 4

2008-06-30T13:31:00.000-07:00

A little more footage of Caleb showing off his new moves to Uncle Joey and Auntie Lu on Saturday :)

Caleb Walking!

2008-06-30T13:22:00.000-07:00

Caleb started walking last Tuesday in the play area in the mall. My friend Colleen was visiting me and she first noticed Caleb and then quickly got my attention. He was just cruising. Like I thought, as soon as he was ready he would just take off. He has been walking holding my hands long before he was crawling. I guess he was just finally ready to let go! So now he is walking everywhere and even standing up from the ground without holding on to anything. I am still savoring watching his little body crawl around since I know he won't be doing that for much longer :)

11 month shots...

2008-05-30T19:21:00.000-07:00

We took these shots in a friends' backyard last month as we waited for Whitney, the photographer, to take some family shots.

Caleb - 10 months

2008-05-30T14:22:00.000-07:00

These were taken by a photographer in my mom's group 2 months back. My sister, Michelle, was up during her Spring Break so we got to take a picture together :)

Asleep in the Ergo

2008-04-11T18:54:00.000-07:00

Caleb still loves the Ergo, and we do too! I wear him everyday.

Palm Sunday

2008-04-11T18:52:00.000-07:00

Caleb's first parade - daddy and Caleb held up the rear of the parade at church. It was so cute to see Caleb waving his palm branch as he walked around.

We LOVE this!

2008-04-11T18:49:00.000-07:00

Caleb has been doing this for quite awhile now. He makes such a funny noise. We have no idea where he learned this one!

Bathtime with Daddy

2008-04-11T18:48:00.000-07:00

Caleb still enjoys his baths, and his time he spends with daddy.

Other fun shots... 10 months

2008-04-11T13:44:00.000-07:00

Caleb still enjoys playing with his car. He sometimes likes to turn it over and touch all of the holes on the bottom. I know his grandpa and Uncle Joey would be proud of him. He also likes to lift up the hood a lot. He as yet to actually ride it.... He really likes to play with that gray tube. It makes him laugh so hard when we are at the other end of it and we talk or blow into it and he feels the air on his face on the other side. The joys of a baby are endless. I love how the little things in life are so fun and exciting. Caleb always helps me to slow down and just enjoy life.

Baa

2008-04-11T13:39:00.000-07:00

Caleb's lamby is the first and only thing he has shown attachment to (other than mommy & daddy). One day he spotted it on his floor and just started smiling. It was the first thing that he would crawl with excitement to. He still gets very excited when he sees it and calls it his "baa." It is always on the changing table with him and he must have it with us when he nurses - especially at night. He likes to touch his ears. I love how much affection he shows towards it, and he also thinks he is pretty funny. Thank you grandma Barnett for giving Caleb this lamb even before he was born.

Park shots

2008-04-11T13:33:00.000-07:00

We are at a park at least once a day now. Caleb loves the swings. Sometimes he is totally chill, and other times he gets really excited and moves his arms and legs around at the same time. It is really funny.

Buddies

2008-04-11T13:31:00.000-07:00

When daddy is home he always sits next to Caleb when we go out. I love how much Dan loves to be with Caleb, and usually Caleb is a lot happier to have daddy beside him :)

Finger Foods

2008-04-11T13:25:00.000-07:00

Caleb loves to feed himself. He still eats his porridge :), but he will eat just about everything we put on his tray - tofu, veggies, fruit, cheese and his favorite - beans! He also eats quite a few Os and puffs during the day as his snack when we are out and about. When we were visiting Tina and Nez a few weeks ago Dan decided to be Caleb's highchair/food guard.

Eggs!

2008-04-11T13:22:00.000-07:00

Caleb really enjoyed all of the eggs during Easter time. He loved pulling them apart and then he would try very hard to figure out how to put them back together... I think next year he will have the fine motor skills to do it!

Fun with Daddy

2008-04-11T13:19:00.000-07:00

On of Caleb's favorite things to do with daddy...

Samuel's haircut

2008-04-10T20:37:00.001-07:00

I think Samuel had more fun cleaning up his hair after Uncle Dan cut it :) The entire time he held Aunt Shelly's hand - it was really sweet.

Fun with Family

2008-04-10T14:26:00.000-07:00

Last month Michelle and Erik were here during their spring break so we all hung out a lot. Here are some shots of us having fun on the playground.

Bubbles!

2008-03-21T09:31:00.001-07:00

This was Caleb's first experience with bubbles - and he loved it! Daddy also had a good time.

More Fun...

2008-03-21T09:26:00.000-07:00

Just a few more shots of Caleb's favorite things to do at the park - he always goes right for the steering wheels. I am realizing that they are at just about every playground (the things you start noticing as a mom...). And we send him down the slide now when there is someone to catch him at the end! He also still loves his car - he mostly likes all of the gadgets, and opening and closing the hood.

I love play structures!

2008-02-27T12:40:00.000-08:00

These past 2 weeks have evolved into lots of time at play structures. With Caleb's new desire to explore standing up and walking around with assistance, he now loves to go to the park and play. My days of sitting around with other mommies on blankets and chatting are slowly ending! I just realized yesterday at my Baby Bonding play date that I might start taking Caleb to the little Peanut play groups with the toddlers who are between 1 - 2. His personal favorites are the play structures with the steering wheels. Thankfully, the park right down the street has one that is perfect for his height.

His little BMW...

2008-02-27T12:37:00.000-08:00

A friend in our play group has this car, and Caleb loved hanging out on it!

Caleb Highlights...

2008-02-26T14:23:00.000-08:00

I love Caleb in his sleepers! I just think his little body looks so cute in them. Here are some morning shots. I love hanging out with Caleb in the morning - he is so happy and energetic. Daddy gets his morning time with Caleb on the weekends (while mommy sleeps a bit!) We got a shot of Caleb's favorite drawer in the house - the one full of office supplies. There are pretty much all "no-nos" in there! Every little and dangerous thing you can imagine. I always hang out right beside him while he moves these gadgets around to make sure they stay out of his mouth. He is quite the explorer these days since he has learned to get around by foot with the help of me. However, he has learned how to CRAWL! Yeah, at 9 and 1/2 months! He does it regularly now (with some frustration) when he spots something that he wants, but he still prefers to stand and walk when I am around :)

More of Caleb at 9 months

2008-02-26T14:19:00.001-08:00

Dan took these shots on a ride home when he was sitting next to Caleb in his car seat - I thought they turned out great given what he was working with:)

Some Fun Shots..

2008-02-26T14:14:00.000-08:00

We took these photos a few weeks ago when we were out and about. It was such a nice day that we were down by the beach twice. Caleb enjoyed swinging and playing in the sand. And we finally got a good photo of his first tooth that came in at month 8.

Snowy mountains behind Ventura

2008-02-25T21:47:00.000-08:00

This shot was taken about a month ago after all of the rain - it was beautiful. One morning we were walking on the beach and were caught off guard as we looked behind us and saw this beautiful view!

Caleb - 9 months!

2008-02-08T10:49:00.000-08:00

Caleb is now 9 months! He is still moving around quite a bit, but is not crawling yet. He loves to play with his toys and stand up when we are supporting him. He takes steps when we hold him and I can see his eyes eagerly scanning the room as he makes his plans of attack for when he can crawl!

Samuel's 3rd B-Day Party

2008-02-08T10:42:00.000-08:00

We celebrated Samuel's 3rd birthday party on Saturday. I didn't take any photos of his actual party, but did get some cute photos of the cousins before the party began. Hope and Caleb are just about the same size now so they interact quite a lot. Hope likes to go up to Caleb and touch him, pat him, kiss him, and even tackle him. Caleb is a little unsure about what to do with her. It is really cute to see them together. I think Samuel just kind of stays out of it. :)

Fun in the bath with Daddy

2008-01-21T21:31:00.000-08:00

This video was taken tonight during bathtime. I don't know who likes the new bath toys better - Caleb or Dad?

Expressive Caleb

2008-01-21T21:16:00.000-08:00

This video was taken today while Dan and I were having lunch. Caleb enjoys playing with his toys, and is sometimes content doing so as we eat. Today I bought him a few new toys so maybe he was overstimulated... Dan and I were cracking up as he was being extra expressive (with both his face and his sounds)! We had never heard and seen some of these ones...

Our Day in Santa Barbara

2008-01-21T20:50:00.001-08:00

"Why don't we come up here more often?," is the question we find ourselves always asking each other when we do make the time to hang out in Santa Barbara. Dan and I both love Santa Barbara - for it's beauty and for the years we spent up there in college and after college. We decided to spend the day there on Sunday since Dan had a three day weekend. We loved just hanging out and walking around. We went to lunch at Sojourners, then to the Art Museum (free on Sundays - and I didn't get to see the new exhibit last weekend), and then just walked around State Street. I ran into my friend Saba from Ethiopia in a coffee shop which was a blessing from God because I never get to see her. Dan and I always enjoy hearing how life is going for her.

Caleb always loves being out and about. He gets so excited when he sees us putting on the bjourn! He just loves looking around at everyone and at everything! I think we have re-committed ourselves to enjoying SB more since we are one a half an hour from it.

Dan's 30th Birthday Celebration Weekend

2008-01-21T20:32:00.001-08:00

Here are a few photos from last weekend. Since Dan is a Christmas Eve baby it is always challenging to really celebrate his birthday. So I decided to plan something weeks after! We had a great weekend and a great day on Sunday celebrating his 30th Birthday. On Saturday we spent the day in Venura with his parents doing some of our favorite things here in town - going to the Cajun Kitchen for breakfast, walking to Farmer's Market, and then down to the beach. We love that all of this is in walking distance. We don't have to move our car for the day once we get downtown. That night we played lots of games since Auntie Gail, Lu, Michelle and Erik were with us. And on Sunday we went to the Santa Barbara Art Museum and to Rusty's for lunch. The day was so beautiful that we took a stroll on the pier. It was a lot of fun to celebrate Dan, and to bring his family and some of his friends together.

Caleb's first Car

2008-01-09T17:50:00.000-08:00

Thank you Grandpa and Grandma!

Opening a present from Auntie Lu

2008-01-09T17:35:00.000-08:00

Caleb playing with his toys

2008-01-09T17:27:00.000-08:00

Caleb Playing with his Box

2008-01-09T17:03:00.000-08:00

One of Caleb's favorite things to do these days is to sit with his box full of toys. As you will see in the video, he enjoys taking out all of his toys and playing with his box.

Caleb spots Muffins!

2008-01-09T16:54:00.000-08:00

Caleb sees Nikki again!

2008-01-09T16:23:00.000-08:00

Caleb meets Nikki, 7 months

2008-01-09T16:16:00.000-08:00

Over the holidays we learned that Caleb gets VERY excited when he sees a cat or a dog. It was really fun to see Caleb around the pets in Santa Rosa and in Vista.

Caleb eating, 7 months

2008-01-09T15:59:00.000-08:00

Well, Caleb really isn't this messy when he eats - I have learned to give him his own little spoon to distract him. But I don't mind if he makes a little mess :)

Caleb enjoying his books

2008-01-09T15:24:00.000-08:00

Every since Caleb was a couple of months old he has loved laying on his back and listening to me read to him. It always amazes me how excited he gets and how long he can listen for. Now I usually give him his own soft book while I read that he can play with, and I have also started sitting him up while I read to him. But this is the most recent video we have of him enjoying his books. You can also hear him saying "da-da" near the end.

Present Preview

2008-01-09T15:13:00.000-08:00

Daddy shot this video of Caleb one morning when he was hanging out with him while I was sleeping :)

Christmas time in Vista

2008-01-09T12:39:00.000-08:00

On Christmas morning we flew down south to be in Vista. We also had a good time here, but again - my dad and michelle came down with the stomach flu! It was still nice to get time with everyone. Caleb is very thankful for his big car seat that he got from both of his grandparents. Thank you! He looks so cute and small in it right now.

Christmas in Santa Rosa

2008-01-09T12:32:00.001-08:00

We were in Santa Rosa for a few days up until Christmas day. We had a good time relaxing and being with family. We learned on this trip that Caleb gets super excited when he sees cats and dogs! He looks like he can barely contain his excitement. Unfortunately, we did bring the stomach flu to 4 of our family members - but we are still thankful for the time we got with everyone.

Some random shots...

2008-01-09T12:28:00.000-08:00

I love pajamas, and I thought it was really cute that Caleb and I both had our snowflake PJs on one morning. The day before we left it was raining. Since I was recovering from my flu Dan had to take Caleb out and about on the errands we needed to do - Caleb seemed to like the rain, and to be bundled up in Daddy!

Chistmas time as a Family

2008-01-09T12:19:00.000-08:00

Before our travels to Santa Rosa and Vista, we enjoyed a few days at home and had a "Christmas Morning." Caleb enjoyed tearing at the wrapping paper and ribbon the best.

Christmas Letters and Photos 2007

2007-12-18T12:16:00.002-08:00

Hello One and All,

Just a quick update on the Barnett family in 2007… As you probably know, the highlight of our year was the addition of Caleb to our family. He was born on May 7th, is healthy and doing great. As all parents know, the addition of a baby to the house I such a joyful thing. Caleb is so much fun in every way. We can barely remember the long nights and hard moments in the midst of how he is now. We feel like we have really found a good rhythm right now (yes, we know he will change). Like typical new parents, we dote over every single little cute thing he does – which is, of course, almost everything except pooping. With the experience of caring for a baby very close this Christmas season, nuances of the Nativity story and what God did when He sent Jesus has been alive with a reality and depth that we have never known before. It really was and continues to be amazing – the Incarnation.

Melissa is truly grateful that she can stay home with Caleb. Most recently Melissa has begun to do tutoring part time, which is a welcomed supplement to our one-income-living experiment. Virtually all of our friends from church had babies this year (or recently), so we have a wonderful community of new parents and people at our same place in life around us. Melissa also loves another mom’s group called Mama Mia that she meets with several times a week, which has also been a blessing. We are both very thankful for the amazing blessing of community, which we don’t take for granted.

As for me, (Dan), this year has been full of other surprises (Caleb was not a surprise…) and changes with work in particular. An incredible opportunity presented itself late this summer when very unique position opened at Santa Barbara High School as the Director of and Teacher in the Visual Art & Design Academy. Because I used to work for the academy I still had a strong understanding of how the program works and was offered the job. Although hard to leave an excellent teaching situation at Nordhoff, it has been great - and an excellent fit for me. I am growing in some areas that are not my natural strengths, and on the other hand, getting to use many of my gifts, talents and passions on a daily basis. This wonderful blend is truly a blessing. I can really say I love my job.

We know that gratitude and thankfulness are developed attitudes, and so we take this time to bear witness to the blessings God has given, even in the midst of our difficulties that pale in comparison. We hope your year past and year ahead are full of blessing too.

Much Love, Dan, Melissa and Little Caleb

More shots of Caleb, 7 months

2007-12-17T20:24:00.000-08:00

Caleb is now sitting up and rolling over. He continues to talk a lot, smile and laugh. He loves it when I read to him - it is so cute to see how excited he gets when the book comes out and while I read. Daddy started bringing out the big, white ball and that seems to make him happy too!

Mama Mia Holiday Party

2007-12-17T20:19:00.000-08:00

The mom's group I am apart of had their holiday party this Saturday. Caleb experienced a lot of "firsts" - pony ride, train ride, and the bounce house. I am not sure who had more fun - Caleb or Dan and I?

Our Christmas Party

2007-12-17T20:08:00.001-08:00

We had a great time at our Christmas Party this year. I think we fit over 30 people in here, which was a lot of fun. We did our annual gift exchange, had some apple cider, and lots of yummy food. Caleb loved helping daddy pick his gifts and open them! We did our best at the end of the party to get all of the babies/toddlers (and their moms out of necessity) in a photo :)

Christmas Day with Jason, Holly, Samuel and Hope

2007-12-17T19:35:00.000-08:00

Since Jason and Holly are going to be in Texas for Christmas this year, we had our own "Christmas Day." Caleb and I spent the day with Holly, Samuel and Hope. Once Dan got off of work we opened presents and had dinner. It is always a blessing to be together.

Christmas Tea

2007-12-17T19:31:00.000-08:00

Here are some shots from our Christmas Tea that our church puts on every year. It is always a fun thing to do with the ladies and a great way to start out the Christmas season.

Caleb in his 7th month

2007-11-30T21:37:00.001-08:00

Caleb -this time, asleep in his Jumper!

2007-11-30T21:34:00.001-08:00

He jumped himself to sleep!

Time in Vista over Thanksgiving break

2007-11-30T21:14:00.003-08:00

We spent the first 2 days of our Thanksgiving holiday in Vista. It was a lot of fun to spend time with everyone - our house is quite busy now with Samuel, Hope and Caleb! It was also great to see all of my relatives - as you can see, we barely fit when we sat down to eat our meal! We also celebrated Hope's first birthday!

Thanksgiving with the Barnetts

2007-11-30T21:06:00.000-08:00

We spent 2 days down in San Diego at Laura's home after our time in Vista. On Friday we went over to Laura's work and walked around. Saturday was a beautiful day and we went for a long walk at a beach in Torrey Pines.

V-Room

2007-11-30T21:02:00.001-08:00

Every year our church puts on a dinner theatre with live music. It is always a lot of fun to see people we know acting and singing. It was also a fun night for Dan and I to get out and do something together. Thanks to Julie for coming over!

Time with Aunt Shelly, Samuel, and Grandma

2007-11-30T20:54:00.001-08:00

Caleb and I enjoyed spending time with Aunt Shelly and Samuel for a weekend a couple of weeks ago while Dan was up in Santa Rosa. It was cute to watch Samuel try to interact with Caleb. He really enjoyed helping us give him a bath! Grandma also came by on Sunday.

Caleb & Sofia

2007-11-30T20:49:00.000-08:00

Well, they aren't the little ones that just lay on their backs next to each other anymore - Caleb and Sofia now play!

Caleb, our little Eater

2007-11-30T20:33:00.000-08:00

Caleb is quite the little eater these days! He has not turned down one thing I have given him, and will eat until it is all gone :) He is quite messy at times - wanting to suck on his hands during the meal, and he often likes to grab the spoon as he sees it come near. During our time away during thanksgiving, he became such a mess as he ate in his bumpo that we stuck him in the sink and gave him his bath for the night.

Spending time in Santa Barbara with Friends

2007-11-05T20:26:00.000-08:00

This Saturday Tiffany ran the half marathon in SB. We showed up after the race and hung out with Tiffany, Robin and Andrea. It was so good to connect with them and to introduce Caleb to them. I am so thankful for these friendships.

Asleep at the Party.....

2007-11-05T20:19:00.000-08:00

I have been blessed by being apart of a mom's group here in town, Mama Mia. A couple of days a week I do a stroller fitness workout (which I love), and hang out with other moms and their babies. I am enjoying being out and about with Caleb, and getting to know other moms in Ventura. This past Friday we were all hanging out at Leahna's (there were a ton of us!) and Caleb was playing in the exersaucer. He loves that thing! All of a sudden I hear people talking excitedly about Caleb and as I jump up to go over to him, I realize he is asleep on the exersaucer! It was hilarious - there was so much noice in that room. He played so hard that he just dozed off! It cracks me up as I think of how hard I try at home to get him to take a nap sometimes!!!!!

New photos of Caleb at 6 Months

2007-11-05T20:08:00.001-08:00

Caleb really enjoys bouncing - and not just in his jumper! Whenever we hold him he automatically starts jumping up and down. He is also very verbal these days. The other day I really think he said "mama" and "mom" over and over. Unfortunatly, I dont think he realized what he was saying.

Fall Party

2007-10-28T20:48:00.001-07:00

We had a fun time hanging out and taking photos of our little ones this past week - Abby the bee, Naomi the angel, Caleb and doggie and Sofia the doggie :) We are so grateful that we have friends in town - and it has been such a gift to support each other in this new season of parenthood - and to just enjoy the gift these babies our to us. Oh - and we also got a good laugh looking a Dexter, the latino doggie :)

Our day in Carpinteria and Santa Barbara

2007-10-23T19:53:00.001-07:00

We had a fun day on Sunday going to a few of our favorite places. On our way up to the Free Trade Market we stopped at the Cajun Kitchen in Carpinteria and enjoyed our favorite bfast (as Caleb napped in his stroller). It is always fun to be back and to see Marie, our waitress. We then took a nice walk down to the beach - which is my favorite beach (and probably Dan's too!) We did get engaged there! After the free trade market we took a little stroll around Westmont which is always so nice to go back to - such a special place to us, and so surreal to now be there with Caleb.

Pumpkin Patch

2007-10-23T19:39:00.001-07:00

We enjoyed taking Caleb to the pumpkin patch, and getting some cute fall photos. He was a little overwhelmed the all of the people, but he seemed to enjoy looking at everything. He was so cute next to all of the pumkins :)

Caleb at 6 Months

2007-10-15T21:19:00.000-07:00

The beginning of month 6 - His first meal! We had a lot of fun feeding Caleb for the first time. He seemed to really enjoy the rice cereal. And today he tried Avocados! Our little baby is growing up! Caleb also stared rolling over from back to tummy, and getting stuck (and often frustrated). Daddy had to rescue him in the middle of the night this past week!

Family Time October 07

2007-10-15T21:04:00.001-07:00

We had a great time hanging out with family this past weekend. Chrissy, Michelle, Erik, Jason, Holly, Samuel, Hope and the grandparents were all over. We enjoyed the day in V-town down at the beach and back at our home. We also spent some time up in I.V. on Sunday. It was a lot of fun to see the cousins together, and to see them interact with each other. This time Caleb just didn't stare at them!

Caleb at 5 Months

2007-10-09T09:25:00.000-07:00

Spending time with the Barnetts

2007-10-09T09:15:00.000-07:00

We had a great time with family this weekend. Caleb enjoyed time with his grandparents, unlce and aunt. On Saturday we went down to Farmers Market, downtown and the beach - all in walking distance. We also celebrated Uncle Joey's Birthday.

More photos of Caleb at 5 months...

2007-10-04T07:26:00.001-07:00

Caleb continues to love talking to mommy & daddy, jumping in his jumper, playing under his discovery mat, looking (and sometimes reading) books, putting everything in his mouth..... He continues to become more and more interested in life around him. We took him out this past weekend to Natures Grill and he LOVED looking all around. He is such a joy to be with.

Caleb in his 5th Month

2007-09-23T22:21:00.000-07:00

Caleb is beginning to enjoy his jumper... he loves it when mommy and daddy lift him over their heads as they lie on the ground.. he still enjoys his discovery gym... he spends time in his bumpo and bouncer watching mommy & daddy... he is continuing to talk a lot - especially when mommy is reading to him....

Our visit with the Hauns and the Zakaryans

2007-09-23T22:17:00.001-07:00

Caleb loved meeting mommy and daddy's good friends, Cheryl and Casey! It was also a lot of fun to be with Kim and Brent. Dan and I love spending time with these dear friends. We are so thankful for them. And thanks for the Westmont onesie! So cute!

Caleb at 4 months

2007-09-16T21:34:00.003-07:00

These photos capture Caleb's 4 month of life. He loves to hit/hold his toys on his discover mat, talk with mommy & daddy, blow spit bubbles, and look at books. We love caring for him - and just spending time with him.

Cousins

2007-09-14T20:06:00.001-07:00

I love seeing the cousins together. Samuel is now about 2 1/2 years old. Hope is 9 months. And Caleb is 4 months.

Our time in Vista

2007-09-10T21:43:00.001-07:00

We went down to Vista this past weekend because Aimee was in town! It was so good to see her, and to meet Ryder. He is adorable. Another highlight was going out with Donna and Aimee on Sat. night. After putting Caleb to bed I went out - it was my first time out with my girlfriends since Caleb. It felt a little odd, but it was so nice! It was also nice for the grandparents and Aunt Michelle to spend time with Caleb. And for the first time in months Caleb did not cry once in the car. It was wonderful!

Time with the Glogers

2007-09-07T15:07:00.000-07:00

We had a great time hanging out with the Glogers. It was so good to see Ruby, and for her and Caleb to meet :) Caleb had his first official kiss with a girl - initiated by Ruby!

Hanging out with Friends

2007-08-23T13:42:00.000-07:00

Best friends - Caleb & Sofia

Shannon & Sofia / Caleb & I

Auntie Julie

This shot is from our childbirth reunion at the beginning of this month. It was a lot of fun to come together with our babies. Last time we saw one another we were sitting around a room with big bellies learning about labor.

The babies!

Family Time with Caleb at 3 Months

2007-08-23T13:29:00.001-07:00

We spent this past weekend in Vista - Caleb's first time in mommy's home town. Caleb got to spend time with his grandparents and with his cousin Samuel. On our way home we stopped at Aunt Mac's house for a BBQ and Caleb met some relatives for the first time - Aunt Mac, Aunt Pam, Uncle Joe - and some second and first cousins - Tony and Shayden. Caleb also met his great grandparents. We enjoyed visiting them on our way home too. It was a busy weekend for Caleb :)

Cousins Samuel and Hope

Grandpa and Caleb

Grandpa and Samuel playing with the hose!

Samuel spraying himself!

Caleb thought Grandpa was funny!

Story time

Second cousin Shayden

Great Aunt Pam

Cousin Chrissy

Great Grandma Pachita

Great Grandpa Nacho

Caleb at 3 months

2007-08-23T12:16:00.001-07:00

This week Caleb weighs 14 pounds, 12 ounces. He has started to reach for things, which is a lot of fun to watch. We can now wear him facing forward in the baby bjourn. He still smiles a lot, and he likes to talk to us. It is really cute to hear all of his noices. I can tell that he is looking at us and really trying to imitate sounds. It makes me laugh when I see him talking to his toys dangling above his head.

BLOOD DIAMOND

2007-08-12T15:41:00.000-07:00

Blood Diamond

Mel and I finally got to see a movie last night that we've been wanting to watch for a while - Blood Diamond. Although the movie is infomative about the problem of how diamonds are (sometimes) harvested (slave labor), and makes some close-to-home indictments of the world and American market that drives that industry, it really isn't a movie about diamonds. That just happens to be the context of the story.

It's really about what life is like for too many people in too many parts of Africa today. A standard that is unexceptably and savagely destructive. When I say "savage", I don't mean that the people are inherently savages. I mean we are all inherently savages when faced with the kind of desparation and hopelessness that too many people in too many parts of Africa must live with. Many of their conditions are not self-created. Many have more global and economic ties. Anyway...

We have been concerned about the problem of child soldiers for a couple of years now, not to mention epidemic rape, murder, and genocide. We think people ought to see this movie becouse it does what good movies do - it leverages the immediacy and rawness of film to communicate the reality of a situation.

I guess this is all to say that we recommend you view the film, and we'd like to know what you think. We are in the middle of thinking about what we can practically do - the first thing being advocating for awareness of the situation. You can follow the links at the bottom of our blog to sites that deal with similar issues.

A warning. The film is extremely intense and emotionally exhausting. There is quite a bit of graphic violence.

I (Mel) cried for awhile after seeing the film. My heart hurt over what many have and are currently dealing with. And I know God's heart is also hurting to see his children killing others, to see families torn apart, etc... Life has so much meaning and I couldn't get over how so many live in such tragic situations - so much hurt, abuse, evil. I am so grateful that I have seen this film. My heart has been moved, and I pray God will continue to touch me in regards to what is going on here.

Caleb's Dedication

2007-08-08T21:32:00.000-07:00

We are thankful for the friends and family that joined us as we dedicated Caleb to God. It was a special time that we will always remember.

BBQ Celebration

2007-08-08T19:36:00.000-07:00

We had a great time hanging out at the park after Caleb's dedication. Thanks to the grandparents for all of your work!

Family time during the weekend of Caleb's dedication

2007-08-08T10:19:00.001-07:00

We had a great time with family this past weekend. Caleb got lots of time with Grandma and Grandpa Barnett, Auntie Lu and Aunt Beanie. He showed everyone how much he loves books!

Family time at Jason and Holly's new home

2007-08-02T21:19:00.000-07:00

We loved spending time at Jason and Holly's new home in I.V. A highlight of mine was reading to Caleb, Hope and Samuel. It is so cute to see them all together.

My Birthday Day

2007-08-02T21:10:00.000-07:00

My birthday was spent with my 2 boys :) We enjoyed a day together in our favorite cities, Carpinteria and Santa Barbara.

Caleb loves looking out the window. He is a great traveler, which we are thankful for!

Our favorite breakfast joint - The Cajun Kitchen

Caleb gave me a birthday card - it was a highlight of my day! (thanks Daddy...)

We spent a little bit of time walking around our old stomping grounds, Westmont College. It was neat to walk around with Caleb since this is where his mommy and daddy met.

We also went to the Court House and walked State Street.

Thanks Matt and Amy for watching Caleb so we could go out for dinner. I think you are his first official sitters, other than his grandparents.