On the road to D-Day!

It has occurred to me that I've posted not one picture of me pregnant. Perhaps this was part of my evil plan all along; or perhaps I'm a busy mother of two (soon to be three). Which do you think? :)

As of the date of this post I am 37.5 weeks along. I'm having mild-moderate contractions just about every day, which kinda frustrates me. Especially due to the fact that I'm an hour from the hospital AND both my boys came in less than eight hours of labor AND by the first hour I'm ready for that magical potion with pain-free granting abilities. . . The Epidural! So with all this seemingly false labor, Joey and I are living life on a constant "is THIS the real thing" roller-coaster. This is our third time around! We should be Pros by now, right?!

Wrong! Any woman who has been pregnant at least twice will tell you that every pregnancy is different. Just as the boys are like night and day, so were there gestational period! For starters, with Bae, I was the classic first time mom. I read all the books (cause I actually had time to read), and did everything just like they said. I watched everything that I ate and actually exercised (gasp) the whole way through. I was determined to be as healthy as possible. The nursery was completed before I even hit my second trimester. I did have morning sickness, but around that magical 12 weeks, I was done with that and actually enjoyed the rest of my pregnancy. Hey, we even squeezed a childbirth class in there and toured the birthing suites at the hospital.

With Brek, however, I read NO books, as I barely had time to actually THINK much less read! Keep in mind that Bae was only 12 months old when I got pregnant with Brek! I was sick well into my fifth month, but when I could eat, I DID! Anything I wanted; hot wings, ice cream, and my very favorite. . .Fazoli's fettucine alfredo! Yum! Despite all that indulgent eating, I gained the EXACT same amount of weight with both pregnancies. AND I didn't exercise at all, unless you count running around after a toddler all day long! :) Brek's nursery didn't get completed until just before the beginning of my third trimester and my poor husband barely even knew how to get to the hospital before I was in labor and headed in that direction!

So, it's no surprise that I've been even more lax with this one! I did break out a couple of books, though I was drooling on the pages while I slept far more than I was actually reading them! I've been sick pretty much the ENTIRE time, but luckily have felt like eating enough to enjoy most of my favorite things! The big difference with this one for me is my apparent lactose intolerance. This creates a multitude of problems for me. For one, I LOVE ice cream! Anything chocolate of course! And cereal is my favorite bedtime snack. But, I've been nearly unable to even think about these things without knowing that apparent heartburn was soon to follow. Which brings me to my next point, the HEARTBURN!!! Seriously, we should've bought stock in Tums this time around. I think total, I've consumed about six containers! Not the little rolls either, the huge FAMILY size boxes! And as I speak, Brodie's nursery isn't done! The walls are painted and the crib is up, but none of the finishing touches are done. Hmm, perhaps that's what she's waiting on!

So, anyway, my bags are packed (and the boys and Joey's); I'm ready to go! The only thing we're waiting on is the new little boss of our house to decide she's ready to make her debut! She better hurry too, or my patience is going to take a turn to impatience and you know the old saying, "When mama is impatient. . ." ok, that's not a saying, but it should be!

Until D-Day,

Our little man is FIVE!

Well, after months of Brek telling everyone it was "gonna happen", it finally happened! Brek is FIVE! He had a pirate birthday and he was excited for weeks beforehand! (He would love for everyday to be all about him!)

On his actual birthday, January 27th, we took a trip to Jacksonville and visited Chuck E Cheese. Brek was beyond thrilled that HE was the reason for the trip. Not to mention the fact that he got to MEET Chuck E Cheese, in the flesh. . .er. . .fur!


Brek and Chuck E.

The following Saturday was the big day! The party actually turned out pretty good considering that it was so freezing cold that day, I doubted anyone would make it outside! I was surprised when everyone spent just about the whole party hanging by our deck.



My Aunt Jeanne and Uncle David brought their bouncy house down, so the kids (who had energy to spare despite the cold weather) jumped to their hearts delight.

I made the cake myself (compliments of Family Fun magazine), and it turned out to be a huge headache because it just wouldn't cooperate. It fell apart multiple times and literally was held together with enough chocolate frosting to cover my entire house! (OK, that may be a little dramatic). In the end, it held up nicely for pictures and tasted even better! (The trick is to add real butter to every cake mix, even the ones that call for oil).



Brek opened all of his presents with almost exactly the same comments. "This is what I've ALWAYS wanted!" or "I've been wishing for this my whole life!" He is very appreciative and is hilarious to watch opening gifts!







Our little man is all grown up, so he thinks! Five years old is the new thirteen didn't you know! :)

Hoop It Up

The boys started basketball in January. As with sports of any kind, they both love it. Joey and I both played basketball through high school and we've always said that we would never force our kids to be interested in any certain sport just because we were. But, if there is a sport that I could make them love, it would definitely be basketball. Luckily, they love it on their own!

At their first practice, they split the team into two groups. Bae was on one end of the court and Brek was on the other. They were basically just seeing what skills they already had (Pretty much none) and what they needed to work on (pretty much everything!) So, about halfway through practice, Bae came over and said, "Mama, are Brek and those little kids on our team too?" I said, "Yes." He said, "Well, they better learn how to shoot, cause we're out to win!" He ran off and I laughed. Bae tries to be a good sport, but he doesn't like to lose! :)

Last week at practice, Brek (who is definitely a better defensive player than offensive) was playing defense during a scrimmage. The coach was explaining to everyone what their jobs were and Brek and his "man" were having a little conversation. The little boy said, "I'm gonna come down here and score." Brek replied, "When you come down here, I'm gonna get the ball." I (and several other parents who overheard) giggled at this four and six year old "trash talking" one another. Well, they started to play, and the boy came down and sure enough, Brek stole the ball. A couple times down the court again and the boy dribbled down and Brek stole it again. His coach said, "Good job, Brek." and took the ball to show another kid how to dribble. Brek turned to the other little boy and held his arms out to his side and said, "Everytime!!" I haven't laughed that hard in a long time!

New Years Eve

New Years Eve, we ended up having a little impromptu get together. Joey's mom, brother and Taygen, Gannon & London rode up and ate with us. The kids had fun playing while the grownups sat around talking.

The funniest part of the night was at midnight. The kids had been watching a movie in my bedroom, YES, they all made it, even Brek and Gannon, the four year olds, but they came into the living room for the countdown. I had poured them each a little sparkling grape juice to toast in the New Year. Well, midnight came and they all clinked their glasses together and sipped their juice. Bae & Taygen took one sip, made a face, ditched their glasses, and headed back to finish the movie. Brek (who will eat and drink anything) and Gannon probably drank about four sips before ditching theirs as well. London, however, kinda cautiously was sipping his and looking from me to Kathy (Joey's mom) with an odd look on his face. A kind of guilty look. He drank what he had in his glass and asked me for more. Since nobody else wanted any more, I poured him a good bit in his glass. He took a sip and leaned over and whispered, "Is this really wine?" I cracked up, I couldn't help it. I suddenly realized why he was looking guilty. I told him no, it was just juice. We did wait until after he left the room to all have a good laugh.

Happy New Year!

Christmas Day

The boys actually slept in on Christmas morning. (Joey and I didn't mind!) Brek was the first one up, as usual, and promptly woke up Bae. They were excited that Santa had come, but truthfully, I think after the festivities from the night before, they're a little burnt out! I know I am!

So after they opened their gifts and played a little, we got dressed and headed down to Florida to my Grandmother's house (my dad's mom). Here, we have another circus-like group consisting of Maw-Maw (my dad's mom), Aunt Jeanette & Shelton, Aunt Jeanne & Uncle David, Wendy & Stanley, Gina, Chris & Sarah, Noelle, Dylan, Jazmine, and fairly new baby Gabe. Plus, my parents, brother and his family and Caitlyn.

We also made time that day to ride into Jacksonville to see Joey's dad, Papa Crock.

By the time we made it back home that night, we were all exhausted. We read the Christmas story before bed and hit the hay! We spent the next few days recovering. Until next year. . . . . .

The Holidays. . .Fa la la la la la

So obviously, all of you can tell by the date that this actually got posted that I'm a tad bit behind in the blogging department. Ok, so I'm so far behind that it's pathetic, but in my defense, things have been more than a little hectic at the Allen house!

Thanksgiving this year was bittersweet. The boys and I were actually home this year (last year, we had Thanksgiving in Huntington), but Joey wasn't able to make the trip home. :( Though he was invited to his friend, Todd's house to share Thanksgiving with him and his family. I was very grateful for him not to be alone. Plus, my man loves food, so he told me countless times about how great the food tasted. AND, Todd's mom sent him back to his apartment with enough food to feed an army, so he was able to stuff himself as full as a tick for days!

December was quite a busy month for us! We kicked off December with a visit to Nahunta's annual Christmas Festival. It was freezing cold and raining, so pretty miserable. . . but traditions are traditions, right?! The following Tuesday I had my three hour glucose test (remember, I failed the first one miserably). The only thing this time was that once I downed the sugary concoction, I had to go and lie on my back for an hour for the sonogram. We got some awesome pictures!

However, after lying on my back for an hour, plus having had nothing to eat since midnight the night before, I was feeling. . . .GROSS! I told the sonographer that I just needed to run down to the bathroom really quickly and on the way down the hall, I thought to myself, "I'll just put a cold cloth on my neck and I'll be fine." Well, I had barely even gotten the door to the restroom opened when. . . . .. .well, let's just say that orange glucola is just as bad coming up as going down! Yuck!

Later that week, on Saturday, was my in-laws annual christmas party. None of us had been able to be there the previous year, so the boys and I were excited to get to see everyone.

On December 20th, the boys had their Christmas play at church. Brek was a donkey in the manger scene, and then he was Santa Claus (to illustrate that Christmas was not about Santa!) He was so excited and he did a great job!

Bae's class put on a Western themed Christmas play. He got to play his guitar for one of the songs. I was so proud! And relieved to see that those lessons really are paying off!

We had a little Christmas Miracle this year, as Joey was able to be home for Christmas (more about that later).

On Christmas Eve, we started our yearly "running around like crazy people, trying to fit everyone in, gift giving, food eating marathon". We started out at my mom's this year. There, we exchange gifts with my dad and mom (Gigi and Pops), Granny Lois, Uncle Mitchel and Aunt Penny, my brother, Brandon (B) and his wife, Ashley, their two girls, Calli and Ava, and my little sister Caitlyn. My dad built little barns for the kids "big gift" this year and they were all so excited. We also took our annual Christmas family photo. This was exciting for me because this is the first time in three years that Joey has actually been able to be in the photo because of his job.

From there, we head over to my other Grandparents house. My Granny Louise and Pa Hendrix both have been gone from us for quite a while, but we all still meet up there every year just like always. Let's recap the family we see while we're there. There's Nanny & Uncle Wain, Shebby, Uncle Don & Aunt Dale, Kellye & Bradley, Chuck, Sheron, Ashlyn, Matt & Stacy, Darrell & Sandra, Danette, and Wesley. We had already gotten together with my cousin, Kristie and her two kids, April and Shane earlier in the week. Her husband, Jamie, couldn't make it this year.

Aunt Nancy got Bae & Brek the Elf on the Shelf book this year. They were so excited! I actually was a little excited too! Now I'll just have to remember to include him in our traditions every year.

After we recovered from gift giving (and I ate way too many shrimp), we headed down to Florida to participate in what I have dubbed the "Harris, Allen, Kassab, Heavener Christmas gift Massacre". Down at Joey's parents, it is truly a sprint. There are nine grandchildren all together (ten next year!), all but one under the age of 11. Crazy!!! We've got Ganny & Papa, of course, Aunt Stacy & Roger, Uncle Chad, Aunt Kim, Uncle David & Aunt Alysha, Christin, Zachary, Jack, Dawson, London, Taygen and Gannon. Add our family of four (soon to be five) in the mix and it's truly a free for all.

By the time we're done there, all the kids are exhausted. We loaded up and headed for the house. The kids fell asleep perfectly on the way home and it was a good thing, 'cause "Santa" still had quite a bit of work to do.