Sneak Peak

I want to write much more this week about Christmas and a look back at 2009. But for now, I want to show a sneak peak (picture at top) of my girl for her birthday! This is the picture we'll be using for her invitations to her party. I think it is the best picture!!! And yes, that is a giant cupcake...that we made! It is the "test" cake for her party. She will have one just like it as her smash cake, but I wanted to see if I could do it first.

Just stopping in!

Well, it has been a few weeks since I gave a real update. As some of you know, my sister Kimberly, has been in the hospital due to pnuemonia. Thank goodness she is doing much better and finally home. Now my mom has pnuemonia, and we're hoping for everyone to be well in time for Christmas. I really want to say thanks to the rest of my family for stepping in and helping with Allie. Normally my mom keeps her during the day, but my aunt and grandmother came to my rescue! Of course, my poor grandma is probably exhausted and a bit crazy from chasing our little monkey around all day.

Now, an Allie update. I can't believe my baby girl is going to be 11 months old next week! She is such a little girl now and, I have to admit, I miss that itty bitty baby! I was just telling DJ last night that I am really sad knowing that we will never see that tiny girl again. The saying, they grow up too fast, is so true! The reality of it has really hit me the past few days...and it makes me sad when I see other little babies. BUT, I will admit that Allie is really fun these days! She has the best personality that I have ever seen in a child. She is constantly happy and smiling...and into everything! She is definitely curious, and wants to check everything out...there is no hiding anything from her! She is crawling like a maniac, standing on her own (without holding on to anything), and she took two steps last week! She loves to feed herself, and basically, that is the only way she will have it these days. She is also very loving, giving everyone "sugar" that asks for it, including her stuffed animals. Her newest thing is holding her baby dolls and patting them. I love seeing that girly side of her come out.

I am looking forward to the next couple of weeks. We have a busy holiday season planned with many family events. I am so excited to have Allie this year and spend our first Christmas together as a family. I'll admit, buying for her has been a blast! I know she doesn't really "get" Christmas yet, but it is fun for me. In the midst of Christmas break, I am also going to begin planning Allie's first birthday party. I already know the date, and have the place reserved...but it is time to get busy on invitations & decorations. I have a feeling that her actual birthday is going to be emotional for me. Like I said before, I can't believe my baby is getting so big!

Daddy don't leave!

Due to Kimberly being in the hospital, DJ is dropping Allie off in the mornings with my grandma. This morning he took this super cute picture of her and said that she was begging him not to leave. Sorry for the poor cell phone quality.


I will post more of an update on things later.

Busy Week!

Since my last post, we have been busy, busy, busy! I was off work all of last week, and coming back this week, I feel like I need a break from my break! ha! I will admit that even though the week was busy, it was a great week. I did a LOT of shopping, especially on Black Friday. We got to Wal-mart at 4:30 am and I got home at 5:45 pm!!!

Last Monday, November 23, was our 4 year anniversary. Wow, what a fast 4 years! We celebrated a few nights later by going to the Radio City Christmas Spectacular with the Rockettes. It was GREAT! We also went to Surin West for dinner. It was nice to be out as just the two of us.

Thursday was Thanksgiving, and Allie's 10 month birthday. We did a lot of running around, but it was nice to spend time with all of our families.

This week is already coming to an end, and I only have two more weeks until Christmas break. I can't believe how fast this year is going. At this rate, Allie will be driving before I know it!

Allie eating ribs

My mom, dad, and grandma took Allie to eat lunch with them on Monday. While they were there, Allie had her very own rib (she had her first one on the 4th of July). I can't save the video since it is on YouTube, but here is the link. I think it is pretty funny!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7z0w4BNn-Yg

My Sick Baby

Well, the time has come...Allie is sick. I am definitely praising the Lord that we made it this far without getting sick, but it sure does stink to see her so pitiful. She has an upper respiratory infection and a double ear infection. Today is my second day home from work with her, and she seems to be feeling a lot better today. I will admit, I do feel helpless though. As a mom, I have learned that you feel like you should always know what to do and how to fix it...well, when they're sick, you can't. At least my instincts were right in taking her to the doctor. I always hate thinking I might come back hearing "there is nothing wrong with her."

On the other hand, at least she will be over it by next week to enjoy the holidays with our families. Thanksgiving is going to be crazy for us! We are doing three family get-togethers...11:00, 1:00, & 3:00! Since our anniversary is the same week, we are usually out of town, so we never have really established a "plan" for Thanksgiving. It's going to be crazy, but fun...and I can't wait to create our plan of attack for Black Friday. Yay!

Fall is in the Air...finally!

Wow, can I just say that it is FINALLY starting to feel a little more like fall, and I already see Christmas decor!!! Okay, so enough about that. We have been so busy the past couple of weeks. My hubby was out of town, my classes made and launched rockets all of last week, I was in charge of the Halloween dance, we had Halloween, and my best friend had a baby! Whew, I am tired just thinking about everything!

Anyways, so back to Halloween. Allie was the absolute cutest ladybug ever (of course I am not partial!) We went trick-or-treating with our friends, Michelle & Jamey, and their little girl, Ella Kate, who was also a very cute ladybug!

On Tuesday, our best friends, Caleb & Linda, welcomed their second child, Ryan Michael into the world. After a worst nightmare kind of delivery with her first child, Linda had the perfect labor & delivery this time...Praise the Lord! He is so cute and we are so happy for them!

And, the last part of this post will be an update on Allie. We went today for her 9-month check-up and shots. The doctor said she looks great! She is 17 lbs, 8 ounces and is 29 inches long. That puts her in the 25th percent for weight and 90th percent for height. Yep, looks like we're going to have a tall and skinny kind of girl. Trust me, pants are already an issue!

Inside/Out

So according to one of my friends, yesterday was Allie's "Inside/Out" day. In other words, she was 9 months old! She has officially been out in this world as long as she was in my tummy. I mean, I know I say all the time how fast time is going, but holy cow, it is insane! She does so much now, and since she has started crawling like a crazy kid she has really gotten skinny too. It's amazing that I am already starting to think about her first birthday party!!!

So, other than my little weed growing, things are pretty busy around the Jenkins' home lately. It seems like we have things going on every weekend. This upcoming weekend is the annual Ride for Rett and Halloween! Of course, I am so excited to see Allie in her ladybug costume, it is so cute! The next few weekends we have our church's fall festival, a friend's baby shower, my nephew's 3rd birthday, my dad's 50th birthday, and then the holidays begin! Whew, I am tired just thinking about everything.

Well, my dear hubby is out of town again, so I think I am actually going to go to bed early. Allie is already down for the night and I think I am going to follow her cue. G'Night!

Here are some of Allie's 9 month pics. To see more, check my album on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2071409&id=66501249&l=d7f480a2de

See those long, skinny legs??? (Yep, 90% for height folks!)

Little Punkin'

We have really enjoyed "family time" the past couple of weekends. Two weekends ago we headed out to Homestead Hollow after church for some time outside and yummy food, and this weekend we went to the Great Pumpkin Patch in Hayden. While we were there Allie got to meet some cute animals in the petting zoo...her definite favorite were the geese! (I think because they were so loud!) Then we got on the big hay ride and headed out to the patch where we all three gathered our cute little pumpkins. After lugging three pumpking, Allie, the diaper bag, and the camera back onto the hay ride and to the car, we decided on a big cup of fresh lemonade. Well...Allie LOVED it! She has mastered the art of sucking out of a straw and was crazy over this lemonade! ha! After some pictures and walking around, we called it a day.
We have truly enjoyed this great fall weather (even with all the rain), and I look forward to more weekend adventures coming soon...especially Allie as a ladybug on Halloween!

Just the Two of Us...

Well, for the rest of the week it is just going to be Allie and me. I don't think I realize how much my hubby does until he is not going to be there to do any of it. He is such a huge help, especially with Allie, and I don't think I always recognize how truly blessed I am.

So my prayer is that I get to work on time! In the mornings, DJ usually gets Allie ready, feeds the pets, and does the last minute clean-up since our house is for sale (he leaves the house an hour after me in the mornings). Now I have to do it all and get myself ready, and get out the door! Aaaggh! I know we will be fine, but I am already planning on loosing some precious sleep time every morning.

New to This!

Well, I have finally decided to start blogging. Our life has changed so much, and Allie is changing daily! I thought this would be an easier way to keep up with everything going on in the Jenkins' home.

Allie is 8 months old now, and I feel like I was just in the St. Vincent's hospital room where I delivered! These have been the fastest, and most incredible 8 months of my life. During the past few weeks she has started crawling, pulling up, and has cut two more teeth! It won't be long until her first birthday party and that really makes me so sad.

Anyways, I am going to keep this post short. I will leave you with a new pic of Allie getting read for fall!