Summer Living

We have taken quite a hiatus haven't we? So far spring in CT has been challenging. In March we have mid summer temperatures. Now that it is June we're having temps in the 50's!! CRAZINESS!! Wouldn't you agree? My son, Seamus, has his end of the year beach field trip cancelled/postponed until three days before the end of school. Talk about cramming everything in!

Hmm what's been going on with us? Not really anything. We've been contemplating purchasing a home here in CT in the upcoming fall season. We are ready to be homeowners. We're a little nervous though. 

As for summer time fun? We've pulled out our kiddie pool once. That's it. One time so far. The kids had a blast though. The love to be silly and to play in water.

Seamus and Lylian. They were taking turns filling up a bucket of water and the dumping it out. For what reason? I have no clue. But do they really need one? Nope they were quiet and getting along and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Seamus striking a pose. He always poses for his pictures. Maybe he'll be a model. I'm hoping for a soccer star. He's super talented either way you slice it.

Maddalaena is charming adorable highly energetic and goofy. Always the center of attention. 

And my Lylian. She's goofy too. But she's a little bit more reserved. When she's 16 I'm going to show her this picture. Then I'm going to show her that I shared it with the entire blogging community lol. Imagine her reaction...

Our son Seamus is a budding soccer star and we're also contemplating on sending him to a few soccer camps to strengthen his skill. The girls have been making friends and are enjoying the warm weather.

We've been spending a considerable amount of time with my grandparents. After all they are the only great grandparents that our children know.  And they're the only grandparents to the hubs and myself that we really know. Gotta soak up all that elderly mentality. Learn those life lessons. And enjoy their expressions of their relationships and joy with our children.

As for our home? The DIY projects have come to a little bit of a stand still. We've been enjoying and adjusting to baby Blake. With how much he eats and now he's teething and staying awake longer, I'm finding less time to get things done. As a result I've been calling on the help of my hubby. Speaking of the hubs, he has started college again. Which means I get to handle the baths and he gets to handle the homework and essays. 

Here he is in all his educated glory. The hubs, big man on campus, The Don and the love of my life. What's funny is that he actually isn't all that big physically. He's not tall, or super built like a bodybuilder. But he is quick and knows some cool take-you-out techniques. That's what makes him the big man on campus. And just because he's dad.

I know that some of you browse through these posts for information and some how-to's. Others just take a peek at what's going on in our lives. And I appreciate that soo much! You'll never know truly how much. The hubs and I will be working on some up coming DIY furniture projects in the upcoming months before his/our departure from Connecticut to Maine. We have orders to report to the Miami. Recent submarine to catch on fire. You all might have read about it. Yep we're going there. I'm not too excited. But it will be a new experience. In the meantime we have a to-do list to get accomplished before we leave in Oct/Nov. Here are some pretty pictures with links so you can look at the items yourselves!

Our Bedroom:

Inspiration: 

Farm House Nightstand

Do-It-Ourselves:

Farmhouse Beside Table by Ana White

Hudson Extra Wide Dresser by PotteryBarn

Hudson Dresser by Ana White

1.

2.

Farmhouse Bed by PotteryBarn

Farmhouse Bed by Ana White

The Girl's Room

$10 Ledges by Ana White

Camp Dresser by PotteryBarn Kids

Small Dresser with Open Shelf by Ana White

Kendall Dresser by PotteryBarn Kids

Simple Bunk Bed by Ana White

Photo Credit: margjack at Ana White

The Living Room

Benchwright Tower by PotteryBarn

Benchmark Storage or Media Tower by Ana White

I hope you've enjoyed this post!! Photo credits to PotteryBarn, PotteryBarn Kids and users at http://ana-white.com. Keep a look out for posts featuring these projects and more home updates! Thank you for taking the time to swing by and check this place out.

The Waiting Game

Morning all!! Have you ever had to wait for something? You know, wait for an uncertain amount of time?

Wait for something you desperately wanted but had no clue when it was going to arrive? Like a package? Or an occasion? Or perhaps I don't know, a baby?

I am 38w and 4days pregnant. I have been having Braxton Hicks contractions for awhile now but for the last three days they have been 8-10minutes apart. And then last night they dropped to 4-6 minutes apart.

Now for those of you who don't know, Braxton Hicks contractions are contractions that prepare your uterus(the thing the baby grows in) for labor. They are relatively painless and can happen sporadically.
When you get closer to delivering the baby they may become more intense and more consistent.

I was having them about 5 minutes apart for over two hours. I tried calling my hubby at work but I couldn't get ahold of him(of course right??). My mom was over preparing to watch the kids for the next few days in case I delivered.

So my hubby comes home, changes and we're off to the hospital to get checked out and see how everything is going. Little man Blake here is active as ever. And of course my contractions die down to one like every 12 minutes. I'm not dilating at all. Nothing is progressing. So we're sent home lol.

Now here I am playing the waiting game. I wait and wait and I have no clue when this blessing is coming. Now here's a little history of how my past waiting experiences have gone.

Seamus 2006

With Seamus(my eldest) I had inconsistent Braxton Hicks contractions for about 2 days. They weren't intense but they were there. Then one night while eating lasagna and drinking orange juice, I started having actual labor contractions. So we jump up(well Richard did lol) and we were off. The car was already packed and we didn't need a thing. From the looks of it you would have thought we were moving into the hospital. Richard had his PS2 and magazines. Pillows and clothing and other miscellaneous items. We get to the hospital get hooked up to monitors in an Early Labor room and settle in. I get to 4cm and I'm admitted into an awesomely cool birthing suite. At about 12am my contractions stop and I pass out. The next morning I'm checked and I'm about 5cm. Then labor hits again. I'm given an epidural(I HATE those) and a few short hours later with a vacuum, pushing on my stomach and worried glances, we welcomed our precious son Seamus at 1:21.

Lylian 2008

Lylian was another story. I delivered Lyl at 38w and 4days. That morning I had seen my doctor and had gotten my membranes stripped. They agitate the membranes around your uterus or water sac. I can't remember. All I know is that it really hurt. Then I went home and had two tablespoons of Castor Oil. That stuff is, well you don't want to take it if you don't have to. I now know why parents would discipline their children with it. Anyway, I took it with Gatorade. A few short hours later I went into labor and went to the hospital. I get checked again and it's the same song and dance as with Seamus. Except, when my contractions stopped they tried to send me home. But I and a fellow nurse fought tooth and nail. I was 4 cm dilated and admitted under the ruse of pain management. I was induced the next morning and then by the early afternoon I delivered Lylian at 3:18.

Maddalaena 2010

Maddalaena's went completely differently. First I woke up in early labor. There was no stripping of membranes or having contractions for multiple days. We went grocery shopping in the morning(we had no food) and I wore heels to help advance my labor. Then I had my Dr.'s appt. By that time I was 4cm and ready to go. We get to the hospital walked a few laps around the Labor and Delivery floor and my water broke( that never happened with the other two. Seamus the broke on accident and Lyl I was induced(they broke it for me)). Then I was admitted at around 4. At 8:45pm I had Maddalaena.

 

Seamus 2012                                         Lylian 2012                                   Maddalaena 2012



So now you know the general background of my labor and deliveries. Which way do you think this one will go? Do you think he'll be early, late or on time? What were some of your experiences with labor and delivery, if you've had any?

Birthday Boy Review!!

First off let me start by saying Good Morning!!! How are your days going so far? Getting little ones ready for school? Or getting ready for work? At the Allen House we are about to head off to school on a very special day of the year. Today marks the day that my first born, my son, was welcomed into this world. Seamus Wylliam Allen was born at 1:21pm March 26, 2006. Weighing in at 6lbs, 05 oz. and he was 21.1" long. So today I am going to share with you a picture montage to my beautiful first born Seamus.

6 months pregnant with Seamus

38 weeks

The day he was born

1st day in the hospital

1st day home

With Daddy

With Mommy

Sleep deprivation

First smile

Eating daddy's shoulder while daddy is out cold

Meeting Nana for the first time

Great Grandma Rose and Seamus

Holding his head up for the first time

Playing with Daddy after daddy returned from deployment

Airplane!

"Say something to my face!"

Standing for the first time

Seamus was such a happy baby. This is what he looked like all the time.

I loved to dress him up lol. This was for church. My mom took the picture.

17 months old

Getting ready for soccer

Another thing Seamus did all the time way play with his nipples lol.

Figuring out the hose on a hot summer afternoon.

This was one of Daddy's closest friends, Uncle Steve. Seamus ADORED Uncle Steve and his cellular devices lol.

First day of Pre-K

My little rock star!! He loves to strike poses.

Soccer 2010

Decorating a gingerbread house in Pre-K

Seamus' 5th birthday

Seamus receiving a certificate of participation from AWANA Cubbies

Striking a pose last summer at his great-grandparents house

First day with new glasses. He absolutely hated these things. And he still doesn't like wearing them lol. It took so much patience and bribery to get him to take this picture.

Daydreaming I suppose

Helping daddy out in the garage

Seamus at his 6th birthday party

Phineas and Ferb Wii game

Super cool Ironman Car

AC adpater for the LeapPad

Seamus reading his birthday card from his great-grandparents

Beautiful...

I hope that you enjoyed a little montage of my baby growing up. He truly is a blessing from God and we are so grateful to be able to share in his life.