B&G

Bathtime

Fifteen years ago today...

...Jacob Allen asked me to marry him.

I said yes. And have been grateful every day since.

September phone pics

Gracie girl was only a few days old in this photo. She looked so small in her car seat.

Just waiting to pick Ben up from Kindergarten. Usually I walk up to get him, but every once

in a while I wait in the pick up line. I drive back and forth to the kids' schools five times a day.

I'll refrain from writing about how much I love it and how crazy it makes our days. Did I refrain?

A riveting photo of our new car. Well, at least a small part of it. We finally have a car

that fits all six of our children at once. Good job us. Actually, good job Jacob. He picked

it out, bought it and brought it home to a bunch of excited kids. Happy day at our house.

This handsome guy received a Robin van Persie soccer jersey for his birthday. But the delivery

didn't make it in time. So when it did arrive, a few days later, Cam was in the backyard. 

We grabbed the package and the kids and I took it out back to Campbell--singing our family

birthday song with great gusto. Those are the moments that make being a mom the best.

These are some of the trees in the backyard. And I have no idea why I included this photo.

We spend large amounts of time at soccer fields like the one you see above.

And...a photo of the sunrise the other morning during my walk. Which has

happened like once since Grace was born. Be impressed. Be very impressed.

Gracie girl

Grandma Cammy

It was so nice to have Jacob's grandma come and see us for a little while this week.
It was fun to introduce Grace to her and to visit for a few minutes. Thanks for coming Grandma!

A final game of numbers

After this post almost two years ago, I've had several of you ask me if our Grace fit into our birthday pattern.

The answer is no.

The answer is also yes.

As some of you might remember, our family birthday pattern, after Nate boy arrived, went a lot like this: 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14. A lovely pattern indeed. So it stands to reason that we were all hoping that Grace would be born on either the 2nd or the 16th. Except in truth, I wasn't.

Because in order to be born on the 2nd, she would have to show up five weeks early, on September 2nd, which was not worth it in any way. (Technically she could have arrived October 2nd, but we have done this enough to know that was definitely not happening. Yours truly was not having a baby two days before her due date. Not possible.) And the 16th was only two days after our Campbell's birthday. And because I like to make such a big deal out of birthdays, I sure am grateful to have as many days between them as I can. So I was just hoping little Grace would show up on a day that was already in our birthday pattern and we could call it good.

Just over two weeks ago, on September 9th, I woke up feeling strange and like something wasn't right. Which is a funny thing for someone who has had painful contractions for almost 20 weeks, along with a million other crazy pregnancy problems. I couldn't really verbalize why, but I knew without question I needed to call the doctor. I did and and made an appointment for later in the afternoon. And even though I knew I needed to go, I felt a bit silly. I had just been in four days earlier and had another appointment in two days. But off I went.

And about thirty minutes into the appointment is when I was told I would be going straight to the hospital and that our baby girl was coming that day. As I mentioned in a previous post, I called Jacob to let him know and then just kind of sat in the car trying to wrap my mind around the fact that our little girl would be here soon.

Not many minutes later, Jacob showed up at the parking lot of the doctor's office and the first words out of his mouth were, "So are you okay with our baby being born on the 9th?"

And without hesitation, I replied, "Absolutely."

You see, in those quiet moments I had spent in the car, I had been thinking and praying. I was feeling so overwhelmed with the privilege it was to be a mom and for the five children I already had that I adore beyond what I could ever convey. And while this pregnancy had been the hardest I had ever had and I was just oh so very exhausted, I knew, with every part of my heart, our little girl was worth anything it took to get her here. She was supposed to be in our family and both Jacob and I knew it, long before she actually joined our family on this earth. And I couldn't wait to meet her. Because I knew, absolutely knew, that this was the day she was supposed to be born. No, I don't think the Lord cared one way or the other that her birthday was on the 9th, but I did know that her day to come was that exact day and He had protected her and kept her safe so that she could arrive when she should have. So whether it was the 2nd or the 16th or the 9th or the 23rd...it suddenly didn't matter in my heart.

So to answer the question several of you have asked me...does our little Grace fit within the birthday pattern I originally planned? Not like I thought might be the case. And yet, like each of our other children, she fits perfectly.

Just exactly where she belongs.

(And I guess I really should mention, if you really think about it, she technically does work 

right into our birthday pattern quite well. 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14. See how she fits right in the

middle there and makes our pattern complete? Just like she does for her momma's heart.)

We proudly introduce...

My Gram

I am so grateful my grandma was able to visit for a few days and see baby Grace.

I'm so thankful to my Mom for making it possible for her to be here.

I seriously love this picture of my grandma and little Grace together.

Some photos that make me laugh

 This one cracks me up. Milk on the face and a look that says, 

"If you could knock it off with that camera, I would greatly appreciate it."

And I can't decide if I love this one or if she looks like a little elf.

I think both.

Some photos I love

Another special day for Cam

During church today, our Campbell was ordained a teacher. It was one of the sweetest

moments I have had as a mother so far and that is a saying a lot. My mom and my grandma

 were able to be there and we are beyond grateful for that. (In fact, Cam's handsome tie was a gift

from my mom.) I'm so thankful for these two men in my life and how they honor the Priesthood

and how that blesses my life every single day. How I love the gospel. How I love this boy.

 And the photo below was what the two of them pulled when I asked them to pose for a photo.

I couldn't help but include it. This about sums about their relationship. Love them.

And if you want to gasp in shock (okay, maybe that is just me), take a look

at this post from two years ago. Has our boy changed at all? Good grief.

Campbell Jacob

FOURTEEN words to describe this incredible boy:

• Happy • Hilarious • Smart • Kind • Athletic • Loving • Helpful •
• Responsible • Faithful • Handsome • Caring • Leader • Patient • Fun • 

Happy Birthday our amazing Cam! You are so very loved.

Pink

Meeting Grace

The next day

Brand new

 

She's here

Grace Susanna Allen 

September 9, 2013

9:56pm ▪ 6 pounds 6 ounces ▪ 18 ½ inches

Grace because she is exactly that to us.

Susanna because of my incredible mom.

Allen because she is ours.

Horseback riding

Yesterday Annie started something she has been dreaming about for years...horseback riding lessons.
And honestly, as her mom, it will forever be one of my favorite memories of her. I didn't know fully

what to expect, or even if I was expecting anything, but watching that sweet girl of ours, full of

confidence and excitement and concentration, did something to my heart. She truly was amazing

on her horse and within minutes looked like a complete natural. I think the days between lessons

are going to be mighty long. For both of us. Good grief, I love our Annie girl so much.

Labor Day

If you are going to get up early on a holiday, at least watching a game of soccer makes it feel almost worth it. And watching Campbell play in the championship game for his age division in a local tournament definitely made it feel worth it.

Cam's team won. And took home some pretty cool medals. Cam was thrilled, we loved watching and the rest of the holiday was ours to spend how we would like.

I took a nap. I'm nothing if I'm not exciting. Good grief.

Pregnancy perk

There is a relatively small grocery store in the town we live in. I do my major grocery shopping at a bigger store with more options (and less expensive items), but when we need to grab just a few things, it is definitely convenient to run to this nearby place.

And not only it is quite close to our house when an item or two is needed, I'm a fan for another reason.

If you haven't heard, I am one of those. At least for another short while. And being able to park close to the entrance is quite wonderful, I'll admit. Almost makes pregnancy worth it.

(Sweet chicken, it so completely does not make pregnancy worth it. At least to this lady who doesn't do pregnancy well. That was the permanent delirium I get during the last few weeks of pregnancy talking. But it is a nice perk when you are expecting a baby.)

And I don't think the two parking stalls marked "Senior Citizen" next to it are anything more a coincidence. Even if I walk incredibly similar to most senior citizens I know these days. Well, any senior citizen over the age of 97. The rest of them could beat me in a foot race in a heartbeat.

But at least I'm not bitter. After all, look at the fancy parking space I get each time we almost run out of milk. I'm like a celebrity.

Or not at all.

But at least I have to hobble a few less feet each visit to the grocery store.