Christmas at the Allen home

We had a great holiday season this year. Skylee got to see Santa Claus a couple times, some better than others, but getting a candy cane was the highlight each time. For Christmas Eve we had the Davenport family over to join us for our traditional homemade clam chowder and rolls dinner. It was my first time carrying on the tradition by myself, but everything turned out just like my Mom always made it. It wouldn't have felt like Christmas Eve without it! We really enjoyed Daniel, Nicole, and their two kid's company...the more the merrier right? After visiting with the Davenports for a little while after dinner, we drove around to other friends' homes and took them a plate of homemade goodies that I had baked that day. Although Skylee was already pretty tired, she loved giving them their plate of goodies. Once we got back home, another tradition had to be done...you know, Christmas pajamas! Skylee opened hers and one other present to ease her excitement until the next morning. I intended to do a lot more that night, but I'll have to be better prepared in the coming years.

Christmas morning Skylee woke up earlier than she should have, and had a rough night too. We recently have taken her off of her beloved pacifier! JOY! She was so excited to get out of bed and open her stocking and presents. First she was able to dig in to her stocking, pause for homemade cinnamon rolls for breakfast, and then on to all the presents waiting for her under the tree. For one little person, she got a lot of stuff! I thought I got her a lot, but after all the presents came in the mail from other family members, she's just spoiled :)
Skylee's favorite gifts this year:
*Rose Petal Cottage (Play house from my parents) "my house"
*Water Baby (from Juliana her cousin) "my purple baby"
*V-tech Baby game (from Santa) "my video game"
We still haven't gotten around to even opening all the gifts, it's just not necessary right now. When she gets less entertained with the ones she has, then we'll pull out some new ones!

Ryan asked for a couple new pairs of shoes (running, and casual) and some athletic pants. His seemed to have a theme: "workout" He got me 8 place settings of new dishes that I needed. We've been married for almost 3 years, and we were still using the dishes my mom sent me off to college with! My theme: "feed me". We realized that our gifts could send the wrong message to each other, but they were what we asked for, so no harm done. We spent Christmas day assembling new toys, playing, relaxing, and enjoying the time of year. Thank you everyone for the Christmas cards sent, warm holiday wishes, phone calls, and gifts you sent our family. We are so blessed with a wonderful family, great friends, and the gospel in our lives! Merry Christmas!

December

The little gift to come

(Our little guy)

I'm 24 weeks pregnant and I had another ultrasound today. I have been a little concerned that I even needed another one, considering I had one only 4 weeks ago and it was the doctors request to peek inside again. It was so fun to see how big he's really grown this past month. I've seen my tummy grow, but with all my eating lately, I thought maybe I was packing on a few extra holiday pounds. I'm sure I still am, but he's getting some of what I eat apparently :) Originally I was supposed to have a regular doctors appt. then the ultrasound with a different technician later on. I guess my doc wasn't going to be in today, so we rescheduled for next week. I'm anxious to talk with her to see what put up a rd-flag, so to speak, for another ultrasound. The ultrasound technician said that his measurements looked good and he's 1lbs. 5oz in there! Just thought I'd share one picture that (if you can make out what it is) looks like he's trying to peek back at us. And by popular demand (really, like 4 people) I made Ryan take a picture of my always growing tummy! Enjoy...lol!

(He's hiding in there...a whole little person!)

Holiday Baking!

I don't know if it's pregnancy, the season of Christmas goodies, or just being myself...but I've been baking A LOT! I love sweets, and I enjoy baking much more than cooking. The staple in our home is chocolate chip cookies, which I usually bake at least once a week (it's so bad, I know) but being the season that it just so happens to be, I've been a little more adventurous. Ryan requested Russian Tea Cakes,http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Russian-Tea-Cakes-I/Detail.aspx which I had never made before. I was a little nervous, but I found a good recipe...they are like the easiest things to make, and tasted just like I always remembered. Tonight I made "Magic Cookie Bars",http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Magic-Cookie-Bars-from-EAGLE-BRAND/Detail.aspx?prop31=1 again...very easy and SO good! Once these bars are polished off I'm already planning on making "blondies", or "snicker-doodles"? There is so much I look forward to baking. Whenever I see something sweet, I want to make it and lately I have. My OB/GYN should be proud of my weight gain this month!

"It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas"

We finally got our Christmas decorations up around the house. Now it feels and looks like Christmas. I've missed the joy and fun of decorating our home for Christmas since Skylee was a newborn 2 years ago. Last year we were in the thick of moving, so we didn't get to put up anything, it makes this year that much more enjoyable! Skylee "gets it" this year. She's been having so much fun with the holidays, always wanting me to sing "Jingle Bells" or "Rudolph the Red-nose Reindeer" and she loves the old classic movie "Rudolph the red-nose reindeer". Since we had no decorations in stock, Skylee and I had a fun day of shopping for all of them earlier in the day. When Ryan got home from work we went to the tree farm and picked out the perfect tree. Ryan thought I was totally crazy when I was frantically gathering up all the tree trimmings off the ground at the tree farm...but I had ideas! I remember one year my mom went to the tree farms and got their tree trimmings for free, wrapped them in lights, and made beautiful real garland. I gave it a try and now Ryan appreciates it! Besides looking great, it adds the smells of Christmas to our home! I still have to add the ribbon on the tree, but here's a look at our creation! Merry Christmas!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SKYLEE

My little girl is all grown up...well at least 2 years grown up! Skylee had a birthday on November 29th, so we took her to the zoo. We had a birthday party for her in California with all our family, but we thought she would enjoy a day out of the house where we could have fun celebrating her! We got to the zoo around 10:30am and noticed right away we might have a problem...there were police cars surrounding the entrance and the gates were closed :( We could hear the officer at the gate announce that a bobcat had gotten loose and the zoo was temporarily closed! My first thought "This kind of stuff always seems to happen to us...like the pumpkin patch hunt last month!" We were pretty bummed but thought maybe we could find something in Jacksonville to do for the day. We drove around aimlessly for 30 mins and headed back home feeling a little defeated. As I approached to zoo exit I thought "hey, who knows? Maybe it's open again???" We drove back with success! They had opened the gates and we just had to wait 10 mins, for the okay. Even with the initial set back, we had a great day. Skylee loved the elephants especially. She got to brush baby goats, play on the play equipment, eat a snow cone, ride the train, and most of all see all the animals she loves! When we got back home I still hadn't done my shopping for her birthday...give me a break, we were gone the previous days! I had to hurry and get her presents, make the cake, dinner, wrap and then get our festivites here at home going! She didn't get to bed until 9:00pm! I'm so sad since the brand new batteries that we bought didn't work! I didn't get to take pictures of her blowing out candles, opening presents, eating her cake or playing with her new toys! I got some of the action on my video camera, but for posting sake...I've got nothin! Ryan and I got her the new "Tinkerbell" movie, pink (girly) building blocks, and Sleeping Beauty pretend make-up. She knew exactly what to do with her make-up and had fun making Ryan and I beautiful all night!

I thank my Father in Heaven for sending me the little angel that Sklee is. Now I understand when mothers say "my children are my life!" Skylee (and Ryan) is my life, and I wouldn't have it any other way. Skylee is the sweetest, funniest, smartest, and most loving little person, and I am so blessed to be her mother. Thank you Skylee for teaching me so much in these 2 short years of your precious life, Happy Birthday Skylee-bug I love you!

Giving Thanks

We had a nice Thanksgiving holiday spent with the only family around for miles...near Atlanta. Ryan's Aunt Debbie and Uncle Brad invited us to their home for the occassion. Ryan's Grandma and Grandpa Eatchel were also there, whom had never had the opportunity to meet Skylee. Although Skylee was dealing with her first ear infection, getting over a cold, and really grouchy...I think they enjoyed her company :) I was sick too, I've been dealing with a pretty severe cold for about 8 weeks on and off, but I really appreciated spending time with the family. After we put Skylee down for bed on Wednesday night, we snuck out of the house to catch a movie "Quantom of Solace", Ryan said it he didn't think it was that great, I however had a great nap! Thanksgiving day we watched the Macy's Day Parade on TV and enjoyed eachothers company. Aunt Debbie and Uncle Brad worked hard in the kitchen preparing our wonderful meal! I was hesitant to be in the kitchen since I couldn't get rid of my symptoms, and Skylee was a major handful!!! For dinner we had: Turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, rolls, green beans, stuffing, spiced apples, cranberries, and candied yams. Everything was delicious! Thanks again to Aunt Debbie and Uncle Brad for letting us into your home once again, it was great to see you guys! I wasn't too great about taking pictures this trip, but here are a few...enjoy! Happy Thanksgiving!

Another trip to CA!

Halloween 2008

It's a BOY!!!

Ryan and I are so excited to say that we will be having a little boy this coming April. As you could imagine Ryan is a proud man, and finally the numbers will even out in this house. It is great to know that we will be able to experience being parents to both genders already with just two. We plan on having more, but it's in the bank now! We can't seem to think of many names at all...we need help! The dilema: Allen is such a common last name. Solution: we need something unique, but not weird. Any suggestions??? Our little guy seems to be doing well from what it looks like, I have another ultrasound in two days at my regular doctors office so I'll get to peek inside again!

While we visited family in California this last week, my sister Jennette and I took a couple hours to our-pregnant-selves, and went to find out together what we would be having. Jennette was up first. While the ultrasound tech was making small talk with her, she casually asked about her son Ethan and said that he would be happy. "why is that?"..."becuase you're having another boy!". We were both so excited! Her little one was so cute and active. When it was my turn, it didn't take long at all for the technician to figure it out, "you're having a boy too!"...two boys in our girl-ruled family, just like that! Ironically the two cousins were in the exact same postition, and a strange one at that. We are all so excited to meet these little studs in 20 weeks!