Thursday, July 30, 2009

First Week with Brecklynn- lots of pics

These pictures are all out of order but my computer is being dumb so they'll have to stay the way they are. I can't believe its already been over a week since Brecklynn joined our family. In some ways it feels like a lot of longer and other times, it seems like just yesterday I was still pregnant. Crazy!! Its been a busy week and so here are some fun pics from the events leading up to now.


My mom came down for a couple of days with my sister Jarica to help me transition from two to three kids. It was great having them there and I really appreciate all they did for me. I felt a bit spoiled with them there.

My mom woke up with the kids and took them on walks in the morning before it got too hot.

Here is Baby Darrek, Sara and Darren's little boy. Isn't he so cute. He's Brecklynn's twin :)

Here was our first picture of them together. So funny. Brecklynn kept getting all over Darrek and Darrek wasn't liking it too much. I'm excited to see them grow up together and see how their relationship develops.


Here is Baby Grady. Rachel and Ty's baby. He was born in June so they are I believe 5 weeks apart. I'll have to get a better picture of all three babies sometime soon.

While I was still in the hospital, my parents took my kids to make it easier on my kids and us. So they weren't here for the huge 24th celebration and it was so hard to be apart of that without them, but it was still fun.

Here we are waiting for the fireworks to start. This is Pat, a family friend. Yes he's holding Brecklynn :)

Doesn't she look so cute!

This was actually earlier today. Ridge has been handling very well which was a great suprise. The only time I notice him getting jealous is when I nurse Brecklynn. Here I was feeding her and he wanted me to play tractors. I told him I would as soon as I was finished feeding her and before I finished, he fell asleep. I felt so bad but it was so cute at the same time.

Another cute asleep picture.

He's enjoyed all the baby items around the house. He also loves her pacifier but my mom has all those pics so I'll get those later.

On Sunday, my parents brought the kids home to us and Ridge was in a cranky mood. The only thing we could find to distract him was youtube videos of tractors. He couldn't stop yelling tractor etc. So cute.

My family all came to meet Brecklynn. This is my brother Connor.

Here is my brother Jaymon, and his fiance Shantay(yes they just got engaged on the 25th and we are very excited to have her in the family).

Jarica

My dad


Tesia

Kayla


My mom has many more pics than me. I am already starting off bad by not taking as many pictures as I did with my first two. I hope I can be better about that.

Breckylnn is the best little baby. She never cries unless she's hungry. She's probably my best eater so far. I am truly blessed to have 3 beautiful kids.

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Introducing.....our new addition Brecklynn Shea Allen!!!

I cannot believe she is already here!! I was ready for her to be here but was suprised when the time actually came. So here's the story...its long sorry.

I went to my Dr. appt on Monday already having contractions about 5 minutes apart but not getting over excited just yet. The Dr. stripped my membrane but also said they wanted to go ahead and induce me because of my high blood pressure and the issue with my inflamed gall bladder. They wanted me to go that day but I asked if I could go Tuesday just to be able to plan. I was also hoping to still go on my own because I hate being induced. Well to my great surprise, my contractions kept going. About 6:00 that night, I was having them about 4 minutes apart and my Dr. had scared me into making sure I went soon enough since I was strep B positive (yuck). So we went in but I was so scared they would still send me home. We went in, they got me set up and they checked me and I was a 4. They started me on the antibiotics and we realized it was the real deal. My sister-in-law, Sara ended up being there as well in labor. Very ironic. We had joked our entire pregnancy about going into labor together. She is actually due a week after me. So we enjoyed walking the halls together and all the nurses in the hospital loved watching us walk together. Kind of nice having company like that. Well she opted to get the epidural so she was confined to her bed after awhile and I was trying to go without so I continued to walk alone for awhile. I was so determined. They tried to break my water and for some reason it was extremely hard to do. It actually took them 3 tries and they were 3 extremely painful tries. I continued to walk and did so until almost 5 am in the morning getting to a 7 on my own, but I was so extremely tired by that point that I gave in and said I would take the epidural. After I got it, I was actually able to sleep for about 45 minutes and then things started to progress. Funny thing, my sister-in-law and I was pretty much in sync the entire time. When I was a 7, she was a 6 and so on. Well we actually went complete the exact same time. Our poor Dr. didn't quite know what to do. It was a little funny at the end 'fighting' who would deliver first. The Dr. checked me and asked me to try pushing and then I pushed her out in 3 pushes- shocked everyone. I was so shocked that she was a girl. I couldn't believe it. I was so sure it was going to be a boy. The Dr. then literally ran down to my sister-in-law and she delivered 24 minutes later, a little boy. So first cousins born down the hall 24 minutes apart. So fun.

I was so tired after delivering but there was such an excitement with everything that there was no time to sleep. I actually suffered with an epidural head ache that made me extremely nauseous. I did get to have my kids come down and see Brecklynn. Cambree and Ridge were so cute. Cambree was so excited to see and hold her new sister. It was an amazing feeling to see all my kids together. Ridge handled her very well and actually loved holding her and giving her kisses. My mom and dad did take them back to Phoenix so that I could recover so I really appreciate it.

I am not sure who Brecklynn looks like. Her hair is way lighter then Ridge or Cambree, but she has the chunky cheeks like Ridge and Cambree. We had an extremely hard time getting her awake to eat for the first 24 hours, but now she is a pro. Its fun doing this all over again and I hope I can adjust to yet one more child. Luckily I do have a few days to get some sleep before getting all 3 kids. I am excited to dress her up and put bows in her hair and show her off. I love her to death.

My mother-in-law has better pics of us walking the halls, but this one at least shows us in labor together :)


Notice the hair....

I couldn't believe we caught this. So cute.

Ridge prepping for a kiss

Cambree truly loving her sister

Just delivered

Our first family photo. I look 'lovely'. I was suffering from a major headache from the epidural and was extremely nauseas. But oh well. Weird to see our little family of 5. CRAZY!




Monday, July 20, 2009

Getting Induced!!

Well I just got back from my last Dr. Appt. and we are going to induce me tomorrow. I really didn't want to be induced, but my blood pressure is elevated and my gall bladder is really inflamed. They wanted to do it today but I asked to have a little time to get things ready- if I can choose :) So we'll see what happens tomorrow. I hate the idea of being in the hospital that long but oh well. Its for the better right? So be watching for the official update later. Can't wait to see what this little bundle is going to be...wish me luck!

Friday, July 17, 2009

Happy Birthday Bonnie!!

Just wanted to wish a special Happy Birthday to my best friend Bonnie Colyar!! We've been through a ton together and I am so glad that no matter what, we've been able to stay close and in touch. I hope you have a great relaxing birthday!!



Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Time to make your predictions!!! Boy or Girl?

Ok, so I am getting close to my due date and I want to get everyone's guesses. Am I having a boy or a girl? When? How much will the baby weigh?


Just so you have an idea- I am due July 27th. With Cambree I was late, Ridge I came on my due date.

So make your predictions...

Monday, July 13, 2009

Waiting Till Wednesday

Well I wasn't smart and somehow made my blog private already, preventing many from giving me their email so I am postponing my actual day to go private till Wednesday. Hopefully I'll catch everyone. Thanks

Friday, July 10, 2009

Going Private

After much thought, and weighing of pros and cons, I have decided it is best that I go private. My biggest hang up was making sure I added everyone that gets onto my blog. So I will go private on Tuesday the 14th. Hopefully I will catch everyone by then. Please leave me a comment with your email. Thanks!!

Monday, July 6, 2009

4th of July Fun!!


The kids really enjoyed their 4th of July this year. It started off with being woken up at 5:30 by the firetrucks. The kids were so excited to see and hear their sirens. We got ready and headed out to the parade. Ridge was completely mesmerized by the fire trucks and Cambree loved all the candy.



After the parade we all headed back to the Allen household for a great pancake breakfast. Pat and Steve then thought up the idea to go the river with everyone. I had never been so was excited to see what this famous river was all about!! The kids loved it. It was really muddy and dirty but they even Cambree was brave enough to enjoy the water. It was so hot by the time we left. Each kid took their turn getting absolutely filthy.
Daisy loved eating all the dirt :)


Ridge was in complete boy heaven sitting next to a body of water in mud, able to throw rocks and mud into the water.

Cambree provided entertainment for her uncles by playing fetch with a bottle in the water. They would proceed to tell her how high to hold the bottle, and of course she would obey. She loved it though. I was surprised and proud at how brave she was with this water.

Do you see all the mud and dirt....
Ecksen loved the mud too. I guess this was his first encounter with mud and like any little boy, was loving every second of it.

Here's all the grandkids that went to the river. We left just in time. My kids were exhausted from an early exciting morning.

Calder and Alston showing off their rippling muscles :)


That night we enjoyed the firework show. We stopped and got taco bell as a last minute dinner and sat and enjoyed the weather and scenery.


I was surprised by how much Ridge loved the fireworks. He kept clapping and saying 'cool' or 'pretty'. This was probably the best year ever for the fireworks. We were literally right under the fireworks. We would have been better set up if we had blankets to lay on. The ashes kept flying into us. Made it more thrilling :). We were so close though that it kind of scared the kids with the sound for a bit. After awhile they got over it and loved every second of it.




It was a fun 4th of July with our kids this year. We ended up not getting home till 10:45 from the show so of course our kids were done but I was so glad we could end off the night that way.

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Its time for another kids update

I figure before my life gets so hectic again, I wanted to do a kids update since I haven't done that in quite awhile. I can't believe how fast these two are growing. Each day I am amazed at these two little human beings that call me mom. They make me laugh so hard and just treasure being a mom. This is going to be a lengthy post, but its more for me to document and keep track of for my own journaling purposes so I apologize in advance for how long it is.

Ridge is now barely 21 months. He is becoming more and more like his sister in being a little ham. I think he now realizes what his competition is and is constantly doing the funniest things. He loves to walk really low like a sumo wrestler with his arms out. He's got the cutestet most amazing faces. He has this one where he turns his head to the side, yet maintains eye contact with you. In the last week or so, he has started to parrot EVERYTHING anyone says. Sometimes its hard to understand, but he makes the effort. He is saying a lot more (finally), but his favorite word is 'this'. He will comment that he wants 'this' and point and it takes us forever, if ever, to figure out exactly what it is he wants. He has a major love for tractors still. He can spot them from anywhere and that seems to be a fall back on getting our attention too. At night, he has figured out how to get out of bed and come up with some 'reason' to get out of bed. For example, almost without fail, every night he will come out of his room and he will hold his head and start saying 'owe', while he's smiling mind you. We will kiss it and send him back to bed. He will sometimes do this a couple times before we literally have to force him in bed to stay. Its hard not to laugh when he does it. He refuses to sit in his booster chair at the table any longer so half of his food ends up on the floor because he is so short and the distance his utensil has to make to get into his mouth is so great. He finally has more teeth to speak of which is truly exciting. He loves his big sister. They play so well together. Lately they play house where Cambree is the mom and Ridge is the baby and she puts him to sleep all the time. He has the innate ability to find mud no matter what. We will let him outside for two seconds and he will be covered in mud that we didn't even know existed. He loves WATER!! If he sees any kind of water, you won't get him to be quiet about it.

We just gave him his first buzz cut this last weekend. I was nervous about how short it would look, but immediately after I loved it and so did Ridge. He loves to feel it and loves for anyone else to feel his hair. He couldn't stop talking about it on Sunday and would lead with his head so people would touch it. It is so funny. We might just do it more often. He loves to go on golf cart rides with his GG. Cambree and Ridge have switched positions when it comes to this. Cambree doesn't like them anymore, and its hard to keep Ridge off of it. He is finally doing good with nursery. Took us long enough :) The other night he started to say prayers for us. You can't really understand anything but he says it in a high pitch soft voice and we can understand amen. He is so proud of himself for saying his prayers too. So cute. He also reads scriptures with us. He will open pages and 'read' them to us. I recorded the movie 'Dunston checks in' by chance a couple weeks ago, and little did I know how much the kids, especially Ridge would love it. I think we've watched it about a million times. He loves monkeys now because of it. We started doing animal flash-cards with him and his favorite animal is the monkey of course. Besides that, everything is a 'meow' or 'moo'. We're working on it though.

Now for Cambree. Let's see, where to begin. Well she just had her 3rd birthday as everyone knows. But the funny thing is, she is adamant that she is 15. That is what she tells everyone. She also remembers every gift she got for her birthday and if Ridge wants to play with it, she reminds me and Ridge that she got it for her birthday. She loves her 'search and find' books. I am about done with them, but I'm glad she likes them so much. She is a very eager learner. Whenever I get out anything to do or make or anything, she gets so excited. I started letting her get on the computer to do starfall.com by herself (I highly recommend this site to anyone with preschoolers. I use it in preschool to teach the letters and the kids love it). But she can sit there for hours going through the letters and navigating herself. Very weird to see a 3 year old doing that all by herself. Hair styling has become a huge thing for her as well. It was another birthday gift that was definitely worth it. Every day she wants to do my hair, but not just brush it, blow dry, curl and wet it down. I love it when people come over because she gets to do someone else's hair and they aren't tired of it like I am :) She is very curious about everything. Always wants to know what is going on, why things are the way they are. She is also my social bug. She can make friends no matter where we go or for any amount of time. She is very good at articulating what she wants. Cambree is constantly talking about our new baby coming. She will even sometimes tell the baby 'TIME TO GET OUT'. I agree completely!! She's going to be an awesome helper. We had her in dance for a couple weeks but after the two weeks didn't go like planned, we have decided to pull her out and try again in August. I hope it works because she really does enjoy dancing. She has a new found fascination with makeup. Lucky me :) She has found her way a couple times, into my makeup and put it on. She loves her GG so much. She constantly disappears and goes over to her house without saying anything to us. We are telling Grandma that she needs some kind of alarm to sound when she goes over. She knows her way around her house and knows how to get drinks and food there. I can't blame her, who wouldn't love getting spoiled by their great-grandma. Still its frustrating for us. She is the biggest helper. She loves to help me pull weeds, or pick up branches after pruning, or cleaning. I love seeing this side of her come out.

The other day we decided to cut her hair again. I was so excited to see the end result. She looks super cute. I took her picture (above), but its not the best because she was swimming and being a ham for the camera as normal. She was so funny about getting her hair cut. She knew about it for a couple days and was so excited. We get there and it was like the dance situation all over again. She freaked out. Thankfully Rachel Peck, was great with her and eventually got her to calm down and cooperate. She did an amazing job on it. The other week I started taking pictures for different people. First my sister-in-laws family and then a couple other people I know down here. Cambree was around for all of them. She was so funny at how frustrated she was getting that it wasn't HER that I was taking pictures of. She loves the camera, and I have to say, the camera loves her too. Just a couple days ago, Cambree finally figured out how to pedal her little trike. Its taken a long time, but she finally can do it. Sadly last week, her best friend moved away. Before she did, we had her over one last time to play. These little girls are always wanting to play together. They attended school together for only one semester, but grew a neat little bond. Everytime they get together, its hard to pull them apart. We will really miss Kierstin, (and Marci :). We'll have to make sure to get them together when we can.


These two kids have been so fun lately. I have been really trying to come up with things for them to do, so that they aren't bored and are still learning while I want to be lazy :). So we are doing a 'preschool' every morning where we doing our letters and flash-cards, read some books, and practice coloring or writing and then doing some kind of activity. It has helped make the time go by faster, and they really enjoy it. Their favorite thing lately is to jump from the little box in between our couch and chair, to the couch and jump continuously to the other end. Then they push off all the cushions onto the ground and jump onto them. Ridge loves to get up Cambree's bunk bed and play with her up there. Mind you, he can't get down by himself, but he loves to climb. They both love outside and I try to get them out when I can. It has been hard lately though, with how hot and humid its been. They love the rain, and playing in it. They love the thunder too. These are a couple pictures from the first real monsoon rain that we got. They loved it so much. They were soaked by the end of it.



Every day, it has become a ritual for them to give Curtis a hug and kiss before leaving for work. Curtis made the mistake a couple days of leaving without giving them their hugs and kisses and they literally lost it. I had to call him and tell him to swing by home really fast to give them hugs and kisses. They get so upset if they see him leaving without offering a hug. They really love their daddy. They love to watch 'So you think you can dance'. Cambree imitates every dancer and is really quite good. Ridge just does a little jumping move all over and call that dancing.

These two are the best kids ever. I have lost my patience with them a lot lately, but they are great kids. I love them so much and grateful for them. I can't even begin to imagine what one more kid will add to this little family.

If you could all do me a favor, I am trying to record all their little funny stories here for journaling and want anyone that has one, to add them here so that it can be documented for them later on. Thanks :)