May has been full of fun!

Charlotte's 1st birthday was very fun. The sun even came out! Yummy cupcakes!

Kickin it at the b-day party in his little shoes!

May has brought smiles! Although we don't often allow the camera to catch them.

Braeden and Charlotte checking eachother out!

We took advantage of a beautiful day and met up with Janine and Liam for a walk to Carillon Point from the boat launch in Kirkland.

Braeden got a chance to hang with Hudson just a week after his arrival!

Attending his first wedding in Cresent Bar for Casey and George!

Loving having Dad home while he is on paternity leave! Lucky boy!

Meeting Great Aunt Joyce for the first time over a wonderful family dinner get together!

May trip to Spokane

Braeden already looking up to Nathan!

Nathan is ready for another boy to be around. Very excited for Braeden to get bigger so he can have some fun with his cousin!

Braeden and Nina

Papa and Nina with most of their grandchildren!

Things to remember...

I hope I don't ever forget the little things about the first five weeks. Example, last night while I was nursing Braeden he lifted up his little foot and was kicking it around and then let it rest on my boob. I know totally random, but it was really cute. I love that he likes to sleep on his side just like me. It cracks me up when he flails his arms around as if he is falling. Seems to happen the most right when he is falling asleep.

He is a hungry little monster today. Can't believe it is almost noon. The days fly by so fast.

Two Dogs and a Baby

Braeden, Gracie, Oscar and I just went for a great walk! It was our first time out of the complex and both dogs behaved great! I think my horse back riding skills came into play from using double reins. Had to have both leases in one hand and keep one hand on Braeden (he was in the moby wrap). We got lucky because it started to sprinkle just as we returned home. Now we have some errands to run and hopefully some cleaning of the house.

Pictures over the last four weeks

Nina rocking Braeden

Sophie feeding Braeden, Nathan enjoying the boppy

Braeden's first bath

Oscar and Gracie supervising the first bath

Papa and Braeden

Auntie Johnna and the baby burrito

Auntie Sheryl, Bre and Ella pop in for a visit!

Hanging out with Emma and Nathan

Trying to play photographer

Oscar always wants to snuggle

Braeden in his special blanket Grandpa made

Braeden, Grandma, Gracie and Oscar getting cozy

Lunch with Great Aunt Maureen and GG

Four generations

Easter Brunch in Spokane

Time Flies and suddenly it has been 4 weeks

The past four weeks have flown by. We took a trip to Spokane for Easter and Braeden got to meet his cousins, aunts and uncles and spend time with Nina and Papa. Nina came back with us and stayed all last week which was so great! Nothing like being pampered for a week.

This week we are settling into our new temporary routine of Dave being back at work full time and me enjoying the stay at home life. I am already dreading my return to work.

We have ventured out on a walk with the dogs once thanks to the moby wrap. Today the wrap will help us take out the trash, recycling and another walk if the rain will stay away!

Tonight is my first night out solo. Going to dinner for Natalie's b-day.

Welcome to the family Braeden Patrick Allen

March 16th 2010 Braeden Patrick Allen arrived at 3:57pm 7lbs 3oz 19.5 in.!!! As you can guess our Tuesday morning appointment resulted in us being sent to the hospital for a scheduled 2:45pm c-section. We were bumped back due to an emergency c-section, but aside from that everything went smoothly. Braeden had to spend some time in the NICU to monitor his breathing and help with his circulation, but then we got him all to ourselves.

Grandma, Grandpa and Nina were all there to welcome him along with GG, great aunt Maureen, Ano and Brian. We had lots of visitors in the hospital which was so fun!

Braeden is an absolute dream. He is definitely changing our lives. Gracie and Oscar are adjusting to the new addition and have been so good around the baby. Give us a few more weeks and we will all be pros. Not looking forward to Dave going back to work. It has been so nice to have him home.

Thursday March 11th - Monday March 15th

We went in for the ultrasound/turning consultation Thursday March 11th and found out they wouldn't do the procedure due to my fluid being low. I left the appointment knowing that we would now be booking a c-section for March 27th and in addition to our weekly check ups I now had weekly ultrasound and non stress tests scheduled. Dave and I spent the weekend getting ready feeling pretty rushed with the c-section only two weeks away. Friday we went to happy hour at Z-Tejas and did some shopping at Bell Square. Saturday was clean house and organize day followed by dinner at Andrea's with Joe, Lesli and Charlotte as well. Sunday we continued getting ready and then I went to Tutta Bella to celebrate Danielle being in town since she is applying to Pharm school at UW. The weekend was busy and helped take our minds off the low fluid and c-section.

Monday arrived and we both went to work. I headed to my 2:25pm appointment only to find out the fluid was even lower than before. It had been 7 at the previous appointment and was now 5.4, 5 being the cut off for bad. During the non stress test the women attending let me know we had a very happy baby. As we chatted I mentioned I was a little bummed about having to have a c-section and the fact that I already knew my sons b-day. The women just looked at me and let me know she bet we would have the baby by the end of the week. She also let me know she almost didn't give me any water as she thought the doctor would send me straight over to the hospital after the ultrasound results. They did let me leave and told me to expect a call from my doctors office. I made the call to Dave to let him know the baby was probably arriving well before the 27th. I went back to work thinking I better really get everything done asap! Not long after I arrived back at work my doctors office called and let me know they wanted me back in the next morning. She told me not to eat anything after midnight. I asked what kind of test they were doing and she let me know it would be another ultrasound. At this point I asked if I should have my bags packed and she said yes. I stayed late at work and then headed home where the evening was spent packing bags, trying to figure out names and being very nervous!

Breech Baby

Week 37 and the little one is still breech. We have an ultrasound tomorrow morning to decide whether or not we should do the turning procedure. If we opt to do that we will be back at Evergreen on Friday and go from there. If he stays breech we will be scheduling a c-section for the weekend of March 27th. On the bright side, our Dr is on call that weekend. We shall see what happens. Either way hard to believe with in the next few weeks we will be in charge of a newborn baby! Very exciting and scary all at once!

We made an offer!!!

A few pictures of the house. We shall see what happens. It's a short sale, so we are trying not to get our hopes up too much!

Visit from Isabella

Kacie came over with little Isabella and her Mom on Monday night. We also had Justin and Nicole over. Lots of fun to catch up and spend some time with everyone. Isabella is a doll!

We look forward to lots of play dates in the future!

Nothing like late night laundry

So I had to share the latest about Oscar. I must begin by explaining my third trimester has been going great, but I am definitely feeling a loss of energy and increase in mood swings. I fell asleep on the couch with Gracie and Oscar. Dave woke me up at some point and I moved up to the room. He asked if I had taken the dogs out and I gave him a cranky response that I had not. I was too tired. At some point in the night I woke up to Dave turning on the light and feeling around the bed to find that Oscar had peed the bed in his sleep. He was still out when we discovered this. I got "the look" and Dave took both dogs out while I changed the sheets. When they all came back upstairs I moved Oscar aside to get back in bed. To my dismay there was a little remnant from Oscars potty break outside which was unfortunately number two. Oscar doesn't always have a clean sweep, so it is routine to check his butt after he goes potty. Needless to say we have already put those baby wipes to good use. So after a few baby wipes and new set of clean sheets and it was back to bed. Hopefully this is all preparing me for what is to come.

Saturday 2/13 7:03am

Well I have been up for over an hour. Already checked the housing market, eaten some breakfast and found nothing worth watching on tv. Have been meaning to start a blog so figured now was a good time. Why am I up so early? Because Oscar, who loves to eat things he shouldn't, started making the sound giving the two second warning before puking. This woke us up at about 1am as well, so I was already tuned in that something wasn't sitting well in his belly. Luckily, this time, I got him to the tile in the bathroom. To my surprise three coins came up. I explained to him he is not a piggy bank, so hopefully he will not attempt eating any more change. Grandpa will be happy to get his coins back!

So here I am 46 days before my due date with a long to do list. I can now check off start blog! Figure this will be a good way to document the new addition to our family and share with family and friends.