Allie is 2 months old!

Well we survived all the craziness of the holidays and had a great time celebrating Jesus' birthday!! As usual, I took way to many pics and could spend hours posting them all, but I just don't have the time! :) Just know that we had a wonderful Christmas with our family and Joe and I spent a wonderful New Year's Eve having a nice dinner without children!!

I can't believe we are past all of the holidays and Allie is already 2 months old! Time flies!!

Allie had her 2 month check up yesterday and here are her stats:

weight: 12lbs, 4oz (90th percentile)

height: 22.5 in (50th percentile)

Whoa she has gotten so big!!! I had to already box up her newborn clothes because they don't fit her anymore. I was so sad to already be done with that phase. :( It goes by so fast and I just want to relish in every little joy of her being a baby. A few nights ago, I walked in the boys room to check on them before I went to bed and I just sat there watching them sleep with mixed feelings. I was sad because they are just getting so big and growing up so fast, but I was also happy to think of all they have become and will continue to be! I am excited to see the little person Allie is going to be, but I sure don't want to rush it!!! Anyway....

Allie has been the greatest baby. She rarely gets upset or cries, but when she does...she makes it loud and clear!! She has been sleeping through the night for a few weeks now and I am so thankful for that! She likes to take small naps during the day, but if you know me...you know I am already working on getting her on a napping and eating schedule!! We have the eating schedule down pretty good, but the napping is a little harder! We'll get there!! She is really starting to smile and laugh which just melts my heart! Her favorite time to "talk" is when she is laying on her changing table. For some reason, she always has a lot to say after her diaper is changed! Her brothers are still madly in love with her and still continue to tell me that they want to keep her! (Thank goodness because I think I want to keep her too!!) Now that she is 2 months old, we are starting to take her out with us a little more. Every time we leave the house now, the boys ask if Allie can come and if she can be around a lot of people yet...I think they are just so excited to show her off! :)

She watches their every move!

(BTW - I realize the flower on her head is the same size as her head and looks a little silly...but I still thought it was cute/funny!!)

Love this smile!!

Still Alive!!

It has been a while since I've had a chance to blog, but we are still alive!! Everything has been going great since the arrival of Allie, but it has been a change and we have been busy getting into our new routine! I can't believe Allie is already over a month old. Time just flies by!

I don't know what she would do without superman and iron man to protect her!! :)

As busy as it has been I am trying to slow down and enjoy the little moments with Allie....her little coos, her smell, her brothers loving and kissing on her, her smile, the list could go on and on. She has just been the perfect addition to our family! I sometimes tear up just seeing how much the boys love their little sister! I think every parent fears how the other children will take the addition of a new baby in the family, but they couldn't have done better. They understand when I sometimes have to meet Allie's needs before I can play with them or read them a book. They have nothing but love for her! They are such great big brothers as I knew they would be!

Allie has already had many first in her short little life...

First Bath

First of many photo shoots :)

First Thanksgiving

First time getting a Christmas Tree

First Santa visit

and we are getting ready to celebrate her first Christmas!!

Allie's Here!

As most of you probably already know....Allie is here and absolutely perfect!!

Allie Grace Rearden

October 29, 2010

8:42 A.M.

8 lbs 14 oz

19 inches

Allie has been a perfect addition to our family!! Mommy and daddy are head over heels for her and her brothers are just in love with her too! Adding a third child to this already crazy house as been an adjustment, but we are finally getting into a routine!

Our family is complete!

Last Month as 4

So I haven't blogged in the last month because I have just been trying to eat up my last days with just my family of 4. I am so excited about the arrival of Allie, but of course I do have some sad feelings about leaving my family of 4. At the beginning of the 9 months, I thought October would never get here. Now that it is here, I just want to look back and make sure I enjoyed every moment I could with my boys before my time is divided even more. With all that being said....I look forward to the new memories we are going to make as our family of 5. I look forward to seeing the boys with their little sister and seeing Joe with his sweet baby girl. I look forward to having a baby girl that I can teach all things "girlie" to!!

So here is what has been going on for the last month as we have counted down the days and prepared for Allie!!

At the beginning of October, some amazing family and friends had a baby shower for me and Allie. Being that it is my third child, I didn't know if I would have a baby shower, but I am so glad I got to!!! There was so much pink stuff and I loved it!!! I am so grateful for all of the thought and hard work put into this shower. It meant so much to me to have all of my family and friends celebrate Allie's arrival!!

The ladies who made it all happen!!

Audra, My Mom and Corrie

The whole crew of family and friends!

With all of my mixed feelings about becoming a mommy of 3, I have not wanted to miss out on a thing with the last few days of just having my boys. I wanted to do every family tradition and every school activity. Well as things sometimes go, my blood pressure started going up at the beginning of October. This is the reason I was on bed rest with the boys so I was petrified that the last month I had with the boys was going to be spent on the couch or in the bed.....Thankfully, the doctor just told me to limit my activity and my walking. So we had to cancel one family tradition of going to Cagle's Dairy, which I was disappointed about, but I had to make sure I was taking care of me and Allie. I was worried I was going to miss the boys pumpkin patch activities at school, but there wasn't that much walking involved so I was able to go!! It was so much fun to see them interact at school with their friends and teachers and I am so glad I was able to go. They had a hayride, fun games, face painting, cookie making and story time. It was a fun day!!

Their class at school which btw has 2 sets of twin boys in it!!

So several months ago I bought tickets for us to go see Toy Story 3 on Ice. This was going to be our last hoorah as a family of 4 and I was so excited to take the boys. The blood pressure issue threatened to take this night away from us and I was so upset. Again, thankfully when I went back for my checkup, my bp had not elevated anymore so I was able to go with the boys!! We had soooo much fun and the boys were sooo excited!! Throughout this evening Luke got quite the crush on "Jessie" the cowgirl and hasn't really stopped talking about her since!!! :) On the way home he said "Mom,.....I want Jessie to hold my hand!!" It was the cutest thing ever!!

Enjoying his $10 foam hat and cotton candy....

they rip you off but it is worth is to see that smile!!

Enjoying his $10 Jessie snow cone...he insisted on having Jessie!

"The Crush"

Intently watching the show

"Buzz"

"Woody"

Our family of 4.5!! :)

We will be complete when our little girl joins this picture!

Lastly, Joe's bday is next Wednesday....there is a possibility he could forever share this special day with his daughter!! Hopefully she will hold off until Friday to make her appearance, but you never know!! Because I know next week will be crazy and she could come any day now, I wanted to go ahead and celebrate his birthday. So I surprised him with a special date night out to Morton's. Joe loves a good steak and unfortunately for him he is stuck with me who only eats chicken. So I wanted to treat him to a nice night out to his favorite steak house! As we sat at dinner, I reminded him it was probably our last quiet night together just the 2 of us for quite a while. Needless to say....we enjoyed our night out!!! This is his last year as a young man in his 20's so I hope it is great!!! :) Happy Birthday Honey!!

The next time I write may be to announce the arrival of our daughter...wow that is just crazy!!! (I'm trying to hold back the tears...) If I don't go into labor or have anything crazy happen with my blood pressure, Allie will be here by c-section next Friday, October 29. I am so thankful to God for keeping Allie safe in my belly and me on my feet with my boys. I will truly cherish every fun and quiet moment I have spent with them in the last month!!

I am physically ready for Allie to be here, I am just praying God helps me prepare mentally and emotionally for being a mommy to 3 amazing children! I feel so blessed!