Grady Ray Allen

Grady Ray Allen

born on 11.11.11 at 10:21 am

19 inches, 9lbs 5 oz

Sorry it's taken me four days to put up a photo, but between the pain and just wanting to enjoy my new little one I haven't really had much time to even take any photographs.  Grady is precious.  We all love him so much.  He's a chubby verison of his big brother (you can see here).  He's been sleeping and eating like a pro.  I feel so incredibly blessed and am in complete awe of my new little guy.

Hopefully I'll get some time today to edit the photos I have taken and put up Grady's story today or tomorrow, so stay tuned!

I am Thankful for...

this guy.

This man I married is one of the best guys in the whole world - one the best husbands.  I couldn't have asked for anyone better to love, marry, create a family with, and to spend the rest of eternity with. 

Kyle finished his exam on Friday.  We're both so relieved.  The pressure and stress that has been waying on us has lifted.  We're eager to find out the results, but we have 8 weeks until then so we're not even worrying about it right now.  Kyle has spent almost every free moment studying for that crazy exam so to have him back is wonderful.  But,  this is what is even more amazing about him:  Instead of thinking "Oh, I just took all this time working, I deserve a break"  he has jumped right in to help me with whatever I need.  He's been giving me breaks.  He's contantly playing and laughing with Leon.  He cleaned pretty much the entire upstairs last night with barely any help from me (I'm not really that helpful right now even though I'd like to be).  And then before we went to bed, he gave me a much needed massage to help me relax.  Tonight he is letting me have a Ladies Night Out.  He is taking most of his vacation time to spend that next two weeks after the baby is born to stay home with us.  I feel blessed.  He could be going fishing or playing video games or trying to restore his old '55 chevy Truck that he's had stored in his parent's garage for years, but he chooses to be a husband and father first - and a good one at that. 

I love you Kyle!  Thank you so much!

You CAN Dew It!

Leon and I went out to the store today to get Kyle some "study" food for tomorrow.  He is taking the day off of work so that he can study all day for his next big actuarial exam that is taking place THIS Friday.  I know that he likes to have some snacks when he studies and I thought it might be a good way to keep him motivated throughout the day.  These exams are a big deal and they're pretty crazy hard.  I don't think anyone can really grasp how terrible they are unless they are taking them or if your a spouse of someone who is taking them.  I try to explain to people what it's like, but no one seems to really understand unless they've been there.  It's recommended that for every hour of exam you take that you should study for 100 hours.  So, a 6 hour exam should require 600 hours of studying in preperation.  Yeah.  600 hours!  Kyle spends alot of his free time studying for these exams.  He's been gone alot.  However, there is good news!  This is his second to last exam.  If he passes this one, then he only has one more!  Hooray! 

If you could please say a little prayer for Kyle, I would appreciate it so much.  It's been hard the last couple of months.  I don't want all his hard work to go to waste.  Also, pray that this baby doesn't decide to come tomorrow or Friday.  That would just be terrible.  I'd be having a baby all by myself ;)

Happy Halloween!

With Leon's love of anything and everything train, I thought it would be appropriate to dress him up as a train engineer for Halloween.  It was super easy and cost be about $10 total.  He thought it was pretty cool.

We did the trunk or treat at our ward and a halloween party with the local Mom's Club, so Leon had plenty of candy before it was actually Halloween.  However, Kyle took him out to some of our neighbor's houses on Halloween.  I think they got a kick out of him.  Leon was very, very good about saying "Trick or Treat" and "Thank You"  which made me proud.

After a few houses, Kyle and Leon came back and relaxed with me on the porch while we waited for the other tricker treaters.  They also played catch with Leon's little football - he loves playing catch.  Here is Kyle and Leon.  Leon is munching on some of that candy.

This is the pumpkin we carved.  I really wanted just a traditional jack-o-latern this year.  Leon thought that carving the pumpkin was pretty neat and took the whole process very seriously.

Pregnant and Barefoot

2.5 weeks to go.  Heck yeah!  I'm beyond done being pregnant.  BUT Kyle's exam is next Friday, so I have and am willing to hold on.  Also, just about everyone is telling me I'm not going to make it, so I kind of want to just to prove them wrong ;)

Anyway, the above pic is how I spend most of my days - barefoot.  I actually had to bend over slightly to take this picture.  I have about 3 pairs of nonsandals that fit my swollen, fat feet.  I can't wait to be able to fit into all the others.  Then again, maybe if I can't, I can just go buy new ones, right? 

Hmmmm...something to think about. 

I have a seriously cute maternity dress that I just bought from a second hand store.  It's GAP.  I got it for $18 with the tags still on.  It was orginally $60.  I really want to wear it, but all my cute shoes won't fit. 

It's not fair. 

My contractions are slowing down which I'm not sure whether to be happy or mad about.  I think I'm going to be happy about it since I'm having a c-section.  Who needs them, right?  I've already had a ton.  It's time for a break. 

I can't wait to hold my baby.  We're not any closer to picking a name.  We actually just added a few names to the list.  It's going to hard.   Hopefully, we see him and just know.  Leon loves to give my belly kisses (especially when he knows he is starting to push the limits - he's sly, I tell you) and also loves to do belly bumps.  It's pretty stinkin funny.  He's been going 100% - he's serioulsy a wild child right now.  He's going to be such a fun big brother.

Bubble Baths are Always the Best

Some little pointers for any of you ever wanting to do some bath time pictures:

• Make sure you get AS MUCH natural light as possible OR learn about white balance.  Bathrooms are known for their terrible florescent lighting which can make everything very yellowy and therefore unpleasing.  I'm lucky enough to have a great big window over our garden tub in our master bathroom where I did these pictures.  And please, oh please, turn off your flash!
• Use lots of bubbles.  I had just enough before I ran out.  You need to hide all those private areas, especially if you plan on posting or publishing ANY online.  Seriously - if it shows those private areas, then it can be considered child pornography even if that isn't your intention at all!
• Have fun and let your kid be a kid.  The best pictures come from when they are just enjoying themselves.  I did make suggestions to Leon like "put the bubbles on your face" and "can you go swimming"  and "no please DON'T get me" because of course I knew he would think it was SO funny if he did.  I laughed and squealed at every little thing he did and that's how I got so many good pictures of a little smiley boy looking right into the camera.
• Usually bath time pictures always look good in black and white, so give it a try.  It can also be a good cure if your pictures do have a yellow cast to them.

4 Weeks

(35 weeks)

I have a whopping 4 weeks left until I deliver.  The end of this pregnancy has been well...pretty miserable.  I'm finally starting to feel a bit better.  I feel like I can make a few more weeks.  About 5 weeks ago, I was measuring 6 weeks bigger than what I should.  Luckily it was nothing, but can you imagine what it felt like to be SO big SO early?  Yep.  You should see my stretch marks.  However, I'm catching up to my measurements which is good because it means that I'm not getting any bigger - at least, for now I'm not.  I've been having contractions for the last 2 months.  I can't fit into most of my clothing, including maternity clothing.  I think I have about 6 shirts that fit (which are starting to get a little small), 2 pairs of jeans and 5 pairs of sweats that fit out of my entire wardrobe.  Thank goodness for those sweats.  I wake up with swollen feet and hands.  What I'd do for a good pedicure and foot massage.  I've had no energy - you should see my house.  Things are getting better.  I'm finishing up the baby's room and starting to get a little more obessed with things getting done in the house.  My arms are wide open to that nesting instinct.  It can come whenever it pleases and stay for as long as it likes.

What has made it worse is that up until about 2 weeks ago, I was having irrational fear of having another baby.  I kept thinking "what if I don't want to hold the baby" or "how on earth am I going to take care of Leon and a baby" or "what if the baby blues are way worse this time - they were pretty bad with Leon"  or "can I really do this again?" and many others which, of course, I can't remember.  Thankfully, I've gotten way over that.  I can't wait to meet this little baby boy.  I can't wait to kiss him and hold him.  For heaven sakes - I even can't wait to nurse the kid ;)  I can't wait for Leon to be a big brother - to see his reaction to this baby.  I know everything will be okay.  I know I'll love this baby.  I'm so excited to have another little person in our family. 

So 4 weeks.  I can totally do another 4 weeks.  Let's just hope this kiddo can too.