The Oldhams

Chaim Newborn Photo Shoot

2011-06-15T19:31:00.000-05:00

Chaim Joshua Oldham

1 Day old

Happy Birthday Chaim

2011-06-14T19:02:00.076-05:00

Chaim is here! But not without his own dramatic birth story. So where do I begin? Lets start with Monday June 6th 20ll I have my 39 week appointment with Dr. P and to my surprise I was dilated 2+ cm and Dr. P made the comment that he would be surprised if I made it to the following Monday without going into labor naturally I had also been feeling a lot of contractions (which apparently is more normal with each baby) so I went home to finish the nursery, pack a hospital bag and write out my birth plan.. I know nothing like waiting till the last minute but hey this is number 2 and you just don't have all the time to prepare like you did with your first. My contractions intensified throughout the week even to the point of being 5 minutes apart for 3-4 hours and then they would stop. That week was probably the longest week of my life. I went to see Dr. P on Thursday of that week because I was nervous that with all the contractions I had been having my labor was going to be really fast once it started and I wanted to know where I was at going into the weekend. I went in and he said I was maybe at 3 cm but was concerned because the baby was still sitting so high. He made the comment "I hope his cord isn't around his neck because that could be why he is not dropping" I brushed this comment off one because there was nothing I could do about it at that moment and I didn't want to spend several days worried about it and two I didn't want anyone else to worry about it if it was truly nothing. We had decided that he would induce me on the 13th if he hadn't come by then because he was also worried about his size getting too big for me to deliver if I went much longer and at the appointment that thursday he said with me already dilated to a 3 my body was preparing and maybe this would get him to drop and move things along. Not to mention that compared to my pregnancy with Allie this one was much harder on me the pain level was significantly worse to the point where I was in tears every day for the last 3-4 weeks and I had gained a lot more weight and was very swollen which was all the opposite of Allie. So by the 13th I was more than ready. The weekend came and went and at 4:45 am the hospital called me so off Noah and I went. The check in process took forever but at about 9 am the meds had started and labor slowly began. Being induced was a totally different process than starting labor naturally and the contractions were pretty intense but I kinda liked knowing when it was all going to happen and that it was during the day and I wasn't up all night like last time :) Anyways by 9:50 they broke my water and labor started progressing really quickly by 12 am I was 5cm and 8 minutes later I was 9cm then my blood pressure started dropping around 40/70 and Chaim's heart rate would drop in the 60's so the nurse decided to stop the Pitocin and when she did that everything stalled. It went from us thinking I would be ready to push any minute to a prolonged weight. They added more water back into my cervix which made Chaim a happy boy but even at 9cm he still hadn't dropped down. They quickly realized it was his cord around his neck and it was keeping him from coming down naturally. He was also turned the wrong way which explains the intense back labor! After about an hour I was at a 10 and they wanted me to try to push even though he hadn't come down. Everytime I would push the cord would wrap tighter around his neck and would pull him back up rendering my efforts pretty much useless. Dr P told me he was getting nervous and started throwing out thoughts of a C section. Bascially he told me I had about 2 minutes to get this baby out or we were going to the OR. The cord was wrapped tightly twice around his neck but I was determined not to have a C Section. So with everything in my I pushed and got him to a point of no return where C section was no longer and option but he still was not in the clear. I continued to push and eventually after a total of 2 hours of pushing he was out. But instead of all the warm fuzzies of them putting him on your chest and dad getting to cut the cord they wisked him away put him on oxygen and were trying to get his circulation back to normal. They told me he was going to have to spend the night in the NICU because he was not doing well without oxygen and his circulation did not look good. Then slowly he started to do better and it changed to spending a few hours in the nursery to eventually he was fine and I could finally hold him after he was about 45 minutes old. That might have been the longest 45 minutes of my life I just wanted to hold my baby. Then they let me have him for about 10 minutes before taking him off to the nursery and I didn't seem him again for almost 2.5 hours. Needless to say I was a bit frustrated and just wanted my BABY! By the time I finally got him I was so excited and he was beautiful, perfect, and a complete blessing. I instantly couldn't imagine life without him. Chaim Joshua came at 4:58 on June 13th weighing 8lbs and 20 3/4th inches long. He is amazing and we are completely in love!

20 Months

2011-06-03T20:04:00.003-05:00

June 3, 2011

Oh my baby girl is no longer a baby and is so ready to be a big sister. I can not wait to see Allie with Chaim. I can already see her natural mothering tendencies and unfortunately for Chaim he will probably always feel like he has two mothers. Allie loves babies! She loves on all the little babies at church, rocking them in their car seats, telling there momma's when they need a paci or baba, she is a natural... oh boy look out! On a completely different note we had to go to the doctor this month for a sick visit but I found out Allie is 29.5 lbs and almost 34 inches, which means Allie is still holding strong in about the 95% for height and weight. I am buying some 3T clothes this summer....WHAT?!? Yeah crazy. One of the biggest changes I have seen this month is in Allie's vocabulary... WOW... it has gone from about 50-60 words last month to over 150!! She surprises me with new things that she says every day. Also get ready for this... my 20 month old knows her numbers 1-10 and ALL yes that is right ALL of her letters. She can even tell me what the sounds are that some of them make. Thank you Leapfrog, since being pregnant is not going to win me mother of the year award when it comes to teaching her; though I do quiz her on a daily basis... she thinks school or "cool" is fun! She is getting so verbal that the other night I came downstairs in a dress (all 9 months pregnant and it being 100 degrees out) but it was a dress none the less and Allie looks at me and says... "ooh mama you look cute"! Yes compliments make you feel good even when they are from your 20 month old. She loves to say that clothes are cute and she wants to pick out what she is going to wear (I wasn't aware this started so young) by telling me what she thinks is cute. Yes she is still ALL girl!

Allie,

I can't believe how much you grow and develop on a daily basis. I see so many changes in you everyday and you are so smart, fun, outgoing, strong willed, passionate, loving, sweet, and just full of life. I love you baby girl and I wouldn't change a thing. I know you are going to test me, challenge me, wear me out, and probably drive me crazy most days but I wouldn't change a thing. I am blessed to call you my daughter and I love every single thing about you! I am so excited to see you transition into a new role as a big sister in the coming weeks. I know you will be amazing! I love you!

Memorial Day Weekend

2011-05-31T18:29:00.000-05:00

Memorial Day weekend we had a low key BBQ where we just hung out with friends and laughed at Allie playing in the sprinkler... Allie was hesitant to really go jump in the sprinkler but with a little help from daddy she would mosey her way over there. I don't think she ever went through it by herself but found a way to make everyone there go through it with her. It did feel great cause it was hot! As always she was TOTALLY animated and hilarious.

37 Weeks - Maternity Shoot

2011-05-30T20:21:00.010-05:00

My little dancer

2011-05-15T08:37:00.003-05:00

Noah, Josh and Todd (aka Fallowed Feast) played a house show opening for the one and only Owen Pye on May14th. Allie can't help but let the dancing flow out when she hears the music. I love her lack of inhibition. I just love this little girl.

19 Months

2011-05-04T20:25:00.002-05:00

Allie was 19 Months on my 27th birthday. So we celebrated by Nana and Papa taking us to cheese cake factory and then that night Allie hung out with Nana and Papa while mama and daddy went out on a much needed date! I have been really slacking on taking many pics the last couple months because my point and shoot is broken but now I have a new camera (that my wonderful husband bought me for my birthday!).. so we will see if I get back into my normal routine.

This month Allie and I have spent a lot of time together making things for Chaim, getting the house finally settled and watching a lot of sesame street in my bed because lets face it nearing the end of the third trimester is an exhausting time and well we like to "lax" as Allie says or relax and snack on goldfish... don't judge me!

Here Allie is being a big helper putting together a blanket for Chi Chi as she calls Chaim.

Allie's vocabulary is starting to really grow and expand. She knows about 60 words and uses them regularly. She knows what she wants and gets really frustrated if you don't get it. We are going through our first major attachment phase this month. Not sure what is up with that but she is throwing a fit any time I leave her whether it is in the nursery or at home with someone else... this has never been an issue before so it is all new to me. She does fine however if she is the one going bye bye. She has also turned into quite the little performer and dancer. She loves music and just can't help herself when she hears the beat. In the car we frequently listen to the Rizers and she immediately starts dancing and then calls out anyone's name in the car who is not dancing with her... oh yeah I get lots of awesome looks going down the road! She barely lets the song come to an end before she asks for more. She hasn't realized that there is always a small break between songs. Allie also loves worship time at AG and immediately lifts her hands when we walk into the worship service.

Oh Allie your personality is just blooming and you are such a precious and sweet little girl. I love watching you grow each day... you continue to astonish and amaze me and I am always so proud of you. Not to mention you crack me up still every day! I am so thankful for you little girl. I love you!

An Oldham family Weekend

2011-05-01T11:07:00.000-05:00

Well the last few days of April Nate, Betsy and the kids came up for a visit to hang out with us here in STL and do a fun day at Grant's Farm. The last two years they have come about this same time and we went to the zoo. It has become tradition that either Betsy or I are pregnant during this yearly tradition. In May 2009 I was pregnant with Allie, 2010 her with Liam and this year me with Chaim... so next year Betsy may just be pregnant with #4 :) She might kill me for saying that but time will tell! I have been really bad about taking pictures lately mainly because my small point and shoot broke (But Noah got me a new one for my birthday but thats not for a few more days) so I borrowed a camera to take to Grant's Farm with us to capture a few memories of the weekend.

18 Month Photo Shoot - KBK Photography

2011-04-30T09:52:00.000-05:00

Easter

2011-04-30T08:23:00.000-05:00

This year for Easter my entire side of the family congregated in St Louis to spend the weekend together. This was the first time we were all together in a long time! Thank goodness we are now in a bigger place and we all had some room to spread out. Unfortunately, it rained literally the entire weekend so we didn't have many options but to hang out inside together. Here are a few pics from our Easter morning.

reading about Jesus' Resurrection with daddy in her bible

now it is time for her to read it to Nana

Easter Basket time!

she got preoccupied with the coloring book and crayons for a little while

but then found her new sunglasses and puffs

and her new swimsuit which she wanted to put on and model for us

ready for summer!

Uncle B trying to show her how to blow bubbles

time for an Easter egg hunt

I was amazed at how quickly she picked up the concept with no one else around "hunting" eggs with her. It was like we didn't even have to tell her she just knew what to do. She found all 40 eggs with out much help from anyone else.

time to dump out all the eggs. Unfortunately for allie mom didn't put anything in them this year. She didn't even know that she was missing anything :)

Easter dress that I made

Here it is the finished product I love how it turned out even though the pants were a little snug,

Allie's second Easter... what a big girl she has turned into.

attempting to get a family easter pic....

My whole fam at Easter and Chaim at 34 weeks in my belly!

18 Months

2011-04-03T16:27:00.020-05:00

Allie,

The last 18 months have flown by and yet in this short year and half that God has blessed us with your life I couldn't imagine our lives without you. You are so full of personality and life. Those small glimpses of baby are almost totally gone and before me I see such a beautiful, smart, and funny little girl. God really couldn't have made you more perfect. Your words are turning into small sentences and you continually assert your Independence. At this month's doctor visit you weighed in at 28.5 lbs and were 34 inches long which still puts you in the 97% for height and 80% for weight! You also got one of your first shots this month and you didn't even shed a tear. Maybe that was because you were preoccupied watching sesame street! When you are focused on something or set your mind on something there is no averting your attention, though this is an amazing quality it is posing its challenges with raising you right now. I love watching your mind at work as you are constantly figuring out new things and immediately practicing and perfecting what you learn. You still love your babies and I am convinced you will be a great big sister in just a few short months! I love you baby girl and I am so proud and blessed to get to be your mommy!

SICK SICK SICK

2011-03-10T19:06:00.000-06:00

I am officially ready for winter and sickness to be over. Our whole family has had a rough go of it this winter. It seems that more often than not one of us has been sick. Unfortunately, Allie has had a stomach bug, an ear infection, a sinus infection, and now some deep chest congestion accompanied by a fever. Oh the joys! I hate it when my baby is sick and I hate that I can't make her feel better. I am sure every mom feels this way but Allie is so sweet and pitiful when she isn't feeling well. Also these high fevers are for the birds. I am worried about her all night long and last night she would sleep for 20 minutes at a time then start coughing and be up crying for 10-15 minutes before I could get her back to sleep for another 20 minutes. Needless to say it was a long night for everyone. Pray my baby feels better soon and that it doesn't move into her lungs.

When Allie gets the chills this is how she chooses to dress... she is still her own person!

Life is just better with your hat

Allie during lunch

propped up ready for a day of sesame street!

17 Months

2011-03-07T19:49:00.001-06:00

On Allie's 17 month birthday Kelly Beth came and got her for the day so mommy could have a day to get things done, like clean the house, grocery shop, run errands, and get my glucose test. All things that are slightly easier to accomplish without an ever so helpful 17 month old :)

First they went to Barnes and Noble for story hour and from the sounds of it Allie had lots of fun. We will have to visit story hour more often. Looks like from the pic below she found them elmo section.

Apparently she LOVED the train table. Good thing she is going to have a little brother because I am sure she will get more opportunities to play with trains and cars in the future.

During story hour she was a bit shy and stayed close to KB

But perked right up when they started singing the itsy bitsy spider... which is currently her favorite song. When we start singing it we have to repeat it numerous times before moving on to the next thing.

Allie wanted to take the trains home but agreed to leave them when she got to pick out a new book about dogs... another favorite thing right now.

When they got back to KB's they had fun playing with babies, eating lunch, watching sesame and just having fun. I can't believe my little girl is really this big. She still loves her baby doll's and is practicing every day to be a good big sister!

Later in the day they went over to play with KB's neighbors. They took their babies for a walk in the strollers...

Looks like something was wrong with her baby and she needed to stop and comfort her. What a good little mama she is

Then it was time to play on the play set out back. Allie LOVES slides. We will definitely get a slide and play set when we move into our new house!

Looks like they had a great day! Allie loves playing with older kids, she seems to do better with them at this point in life. We are still working on sharing and appropriate behavior with friends... but from what I hear this might be a long process that I cant magically escape... so for now we are just taking it one day at a time.

Some new things this month: you have started to repeat everything we say... I know we need to watch what we say now. You have learned Josh's name and I think you have a slight crush on him. Today you acted like you were talking to him on the phone and then wanted to look at pictures of him on facebook. You can also kind of say Todd and JuJu for Juliet, you recognize them in pictures. We are still working on Kim but you have trouble with the K sound. We are also working hard on Chaim. You are having a lot less outbursts now that you are getting better at expressing yourself with words. You are so sweet, you love to give hugs and kisses especially to your mommy and daddy and babies. Mommy is trying to figure out how to get rid of your paci... we are successfully down to only naps and bed time not sure how to make the next big step. You still love to dance and are full of life and personality I hope you never lose that. This month you have started telling me night night when I put you in bed and then blow me a kiss... it is one of the cutest things I have ever seen and I am lucky that you go to sleep so well. Allie I am so proud to be your mommy and I love that I get to watch you grow every day... just dont get too big too fast. I love every moment of life with you. I love you Allie, always and forever... no matter what happens my baby you will be!

A Warm Day in the Park

2011-03-02T11:19:00.003-06:00

We have been having a couple random warm days every now and then so when we had our last one

a couple of days ago I decided we were going to go to the park and just enjoy being outside. Allie had fun just being able to run free and I had fun snapping pictures of my outgoing little big girl. There isn't much green out yet but oh this made me so ready for SPRING!

She found the ducks and wanted inside.

I had to stay close because she would have walked right into the lake with the

ducks without thinking twice about it.

Running away from me :)

She played so hard she fell asleep in the stroller on the way home.

Allie as of late

2011-02-23T20:28:00.001-06:00

My little girl has found another love... jewelry. The girly girl streak continues; which totally cracks me up because anyone who knows me knows I am anything but girly. In fact Noah is always asking me to dress more girly and paint my nails etc. Well Allie is ALL girl.

A couple funny stories:

First, the other night I was painting my toes and Allie wanted hers painted too so of course I painted her toes pink. She blew on them as soon as I was done and then ran down the hall to the living room where daddy was vacuuming the floor. She proceeded to walk behind him lifting her toes in the air for him to look and see. Yes all she wanted was for her daddy to notice her pretty toes.

A couple of days ago I was getting ready in my bathroom while Allie ran back and forth from my room to other parts of the house. I was keeping a relative close eye on her... I thought until I hear a little voice behind me say "Mommy pretty" and no she wasn't talking about me. She pointed her two thumbs at me where I found my wedding band on one and engagement ring on the other. I quickly took them thanked her for showing me and explained daddy gave those to mommy because he loves me very much and always will. She said mine? So I think Allie wants daddy to buy her diamonds... guess it starts early.

Tonight I got the laundry out of the dryer but got distracted so I didn't fold it right away. While I was doing a series of other things Allie had gotten every under ware of mine in the stack and put it over her head and around her neck like a scarf or necklace. She then got shirts and anything she could fit and put it over her shoulders... I think we are about to hit the dress up stage!

Lastly, so I really had no intention of starting potty training yet but recently Allie has gotten very interested in Noah and me going to the bathroom. She comes running in the second she realizes what we are doing and says "OOOOOH" and then wants to flush it and say bye bye. I am more cooperative with letting her be apart of my bathroom time than daddy :) In his defense she put her head between his legs when he was peeing and if you know Oldham boys at all you know they are very private bathroom takers... so she just bangs on the door while he is in there. I started asking her if she had to go poo poo when I could tell she was going to go in her diaper and set her on the toilet a few times she has gone but mostly because I got her on there at the last possible second and she had no other choice... Well I got out her cheer for me potty and she has sat on it a couple times and nothing has really ever happened but she is getting more and more interested. Until tonight.... she started seeming like she was going to go poop so I put her on her potty... she sat and sat and sat.. but nothing. So I walked out of the room to get a new diaper.. as I was walking back into the bathroom I heard the music start to go off from the potty I see her jump up and start dancing. I look in the potty and sure enough there was pee pee in there! So I made a big deal of it told her what she did and that was it. Not sure if she even knows what happened but I feel this was a huge step. I am in no way trying to force her into potty training yet, but if she keeps being interested we will keep trying till she decides she wants to. Because if you know Allie at all if its not her idea its going to be a fight and well... I am choosing my battles these days!

Our Valentine's Day Festivities

2011-02-16T14:52:00.002-06:00

Valentine's Day I got up early before Allie could wake up and before Noah got home from the gym and made a big breakfast for my two valentines complete with heart shaped pancakes.

This was the first time Allie had ever eaten pancakes and she was intrigued to say the least. Though she is more of a bacon lover. Turkey bacon at least :)

Then mommy and daddy gave Allie her valentine's day present from us

She got a new elmo hooded towel, an elmo potty book, some pj's and a few more animals for her noah's ark set.

giving me kisses for her present

Momma and my little Valentine, she is getting more and more loving EVERY day. She is SO stinkin sweet ALL the time

Then we had some friends come over and play and we went to the park. Despite the snow on the ground it was in the low 60's and beautiful out. This was the first time we have been able to play outside since October!!

When we got home Allie helped mommy make chocolate covered strawberries for daddy ( and for Mommy and Chaim...Chaim LOVES chocolate covered strawberries)

I had made jello early in the day so we could make jigglers...

lets just say I need to practice my jello jiggler making skills cause it was an epic fail. But it still tasted good!

I quickly realized this project needed a bib

the one and only half way decent jiggler that fell apart as soon as we picked it up.

Happy Valentines Day!

While I was cleaning up I had my back to Allie and didn't realize she had gotten into the fridge by herself and gotten a strawberry. I turned around to find this...

Being the mean mommy that I am I took it away right after this pic but gave it back to her after we ate dinner

and we enjoyed the rest of her jello.

We had a blast. I am sure it will just get more and more fun in the future when Allie gets more into it all. We put Allie to bed early and Noah and I enjoyed a relaxing night together. Good Times!

Daddy's Girl

2011-02-09T14:18:00.002-06:00

Ever since Noah got back from his world adventure Allie has been quite the daddy's girl. She cry's every time he leaves and puts her hand out and says up because she thinks if he is holding her he has to take her with him, when daddy puts a hat on Allie wants a hat on, when he gets home she squeals with delight. Yes she loves her daddy... what can I say I don't blame her I love him too. So when Daddy needed to study last Sunday Allie decided she wanted to "study" too in her highchair with crayons. So this is what they did for a while anyway...

double fisting it

So ever since then Allie has gotten really into coloring with crayons...

giving me kisses because I gave her crayons

and then inevitably at some point they start to go in the mouth. I tell her not to put them in her mouth and if she doesn't listen she no longer gets to color. She is never very happy about this but maybe someday she will learn not to put them in her mouth.

Contemplating what to draw next?

Snowpocolyps 2011

2011-02-04T09:24:00.002-06:00

The news channels forecasted it, everyone took off work for it, we all prepared for it... but what was it? We will never know. On February 1st 2011 we all prepared for what was to be one of the worst snow/ice/ blizzard storms to ever hit Saint Louis. Literally Saint Louis shut down as we were supposed to get 4 inches of ice and 20 inches of snow with blizzard conditions... scary. What we got? 5 inches of sleet... yeah that was about it. The roads were bad for the day but the hype made for one big let down. However, we seized the day at home with daddy to stay in our pj's and have a blast just being us. I made a homemade potato soup (which noah told me was the best soup he has ever had...) and daddy and allie built a fort in the living room.

Allie thought it was more fun to knock it down but daddy persevered.

and whoa la Allie's first homemade fort complete with her daddy.

they even created a secret passage way

Allie was dying to get outside for a couple days following but there was no real snow and the sleet was so compact that your foot barely made a dent in it. We went out on our snow covered porch and lasted all of 10 minutes but it was totally worth it.

She tasted it.

stomped on it.

touched it.

and loved it!

She loved it until her hands got cold because she refused to put on gloves. Time to go inside. Better luck next year.

16 Months - February 3rd

2011-02-03T07:38:00.002-06:00

16 Months.

Seriously where has the time gone? My baby has turned into a full fledged toddler with her own will and desires and she makes them known. She is so smart and so loving. She gives kisses to her daddy and me and her babies all day long! She really is super sweet when she isn't throwing a fit because I told her no or she didn't get what she wanted. She loves all her baby dolls she got between her birthday and Christmas (and Noah and I didn't buy one of them... she has 6). We have to have one baby with us at all times if not as many as her little arms will carry. Throughout the day at random times she will start saying "Mama" and then she picks up her baby and starts loving on it like it is talking to her. She also tells me to SHHHH when her babies are sleeping and she never forgets to feed them their bottles. Some babies are not allowed to wear clothes while others have 2 and 3 things on... I am not sure the rational but I don't ask questions. She LOVES finding her socks and putting them on her babies feet. In fact some of Allies favorite things besides babies right now are socks, shoes, and hats. Everytime daddy leaves she wants her hat out of the closet (I think she thinks if she puts in on she gets to go with him) and then she wears it around the house for an hour or so. The other day she found a hat in my room that I had made for her and she wanted to put it on. She wore it all day and then wore it to church... go figure. She also loves music and to sing and dance. She has become quite the American Idol fan.

See I told you. She loves to watch them sing and if she likes the song she will dance and put on a show. She will also dance in the car and at church pretty much anywhere there is music she is ready to go. I have an awesome video of this if I can ever get it off my camera!

My sweet big girl.

She will only eat something if she can feed it to herself. This makes things like yogurt and applesauce something I think twice about before giving her. MISS INDEPENDENT defines Allie really well.

But she is so stinking sweet at the same time!

She is practicing a lot to become a good big sister. I am not sure she is ready for Chaim to enter the world but I can guarantee she will know how to mother him!

This is one of my favorite faces because it is when she is walking around the house patting her baby on the back saying SHHHHHH... because apparently her baby is upset and needs to be comforted.

Another love of Allie's is the chair we got her for Christmas I had no idea this would be her favorite present but she does love it a lot. Also with her other loves hat and baby... oh and we can't forget BUNNY! Bunny is a good ole faithful friend that we could not make it through the day without.

Allie also has become fond of my growing belly. I tell her there is baby in there and she says "awww" while hugging and kissing my belly. Randomly throughout the day she will walk over and lift up my shirt and stick her finger in my belly button and laugh. Then she wants to kiss it. If I ask her where mommy's baby is she points to herself and then she lifts up my shirt and points in my belly button... so maybe something is clicking?

So here she is my little 16 month old independent, drama filled, sweet, loving, strong willed, precious little girl and I wouldn't have it any other way!

Finishing up Florida Fun...

2011-02-02T06:43:00.001-06:00

I had a few pictures left on my camera from Allie's stay in Florida that I hadn't pulled off yet. Here are the rest of them...

Allie loved my parents dog Tobie, she had a blast chasing him in the yard and taking him for walks. She also became quite a big fan of her Papa while she was there. Even since she has been home she will go to the computer and say Papa. However eveytime he comes to the computer she gets all shy and hides.

Playing with Papa and Tobie in the yard

Blowing Kisses

Allie flying like a plane..

Papa showing her how to do it.

Time to relax by the fire with mama and Nana... she had to sit in her very own chair. She thought she was such a big girl.

I also discovered that Allie LOVES blackberries maybe even more than blueberries. We have had to get them several times since we have been home. Fortunately for mommy we have learned to eat them without making this big of a mess... but she looks adorable :)

Taking Tobie for one of their many walks where she got to hold the leash.

As you can see Allie had a blast in Florida with Nana and Papa... now we are trying to figure out when they are going to come visit us!

Our European Baby Moon

2011-02-01T18:47:00.007-06:00

Well here it is... what you have all been waiting for! Before you get into the pictures I have a few disclaimers... 1. I didn't take my nice camera so all these were taken with a point and shoot that I am not that familiar with... 2. I honestly was not worried about getting amazing pictures. I wanted to just enjoy every moment with my husband and sometimes I can get lost and consumed being behind a camera. 3. I probably have forgotten a lot of details for this blog post... lets just blame it on prego brain. That is fair right?

With that said... Europe was amazing! I don't recommend going when you are pregnant cause you are going to walk... a lot... like more than 6-7 hours a day on your feet. Yeah you start to feel it really quick. This was an experience of a lifetime and honestly it made the world feel a lot less huge. You have seen all of these amazing things in books, pictures etc but to see it all in real life is just amazing. I have added hyperlinks throughout the blog so if you want to find more info about something just click on the link. Enjoy your history lesson :) and don't judge me for using Wikipedia!

Headed out our first morning in Paris ready to see the city. We decided to do a walking tour which meant this was a 7 hour walking day but we saw a lot of Paris and our tour guide was AMAZING!

Standing outside the Fountaine St Michael

this was where our tour started from. It had started to drizzle just a little but it was in the high 40's and well though Cold it wasn't in the single digits like it was in STL!

this was our tour guide ( I forgot his name... pregnant brain) but I highly recommend if you ever go to Paris to check out this amazing Free Walking Tour!

I give you the Notre Dame de Paris. This amazing cathedral is just breathtaking. That architecture is breathtaking. The building process began in 1163 but didn't finish until the 1300's! Every aspect of it is intricate and beautiful.

inside. No flashes allowed so this was as steady as my hand would get to take a pic. One of the first buildings in All the world to use flying buttresses.

The Louvre. The Louvre is so huge that there is no way to even begin to capture it in one picture. So here are a series of several from all around the outside. It covers 6 city blocks and is 4 stories tall... yeah a little overwhelming to say the least.

A little interesting factoid: King Louis XIV lived in the Louvre until 1682 when he moved to the Palace of Versailles because the Louvre was just to small for him.

This is the famous entrance to the Louvre

Looking down the Champs-Élysées

This is one of the most prestigious avenues in all of Paris... the shopping on the Champs-Élysées is similar to shopping on 5th Ave or Rodeo Drive.

for example the headquarters for Louis Vuitton can be found here which was started in Paris.

at the end of the Champs-Élysées you will find the Arc de Triomphe

This is the Les Invalides it is a military museum in France and is where Napoleon Bonaparte

is burried.

Ahhh the infamous Eiffel Tower

Sorry that several of the images below are turned... for some reason they switched when uploaded... weird.

The Eiffel Tower glowing at night

then sparkling... this is a magical moment when you are sitting with the love of your life watching this... wow is all I can say!

inside the Louvre... no flashes allowed and I think they put something in there that makes all your pictures turn out blurry despite your best efforts!!!

I give you: The MONA LISA!!! Ok so there is absolutely NO way this picture or any picture of this painting can begin to do it justice but in person it really is breathtaking.. even though it is behind an inch of glass and is about the size of an 11 X 14 approx.

What I came to the Louvre to see.

This is the Code of Hammurabi the history that this encompasses is crazy! This "code" or monument dates back to 1700 BC during the reign of the 6th Babylonian king Hammurabi.

The Basilique Sacre Coeur

Then Off to London.

Our first day we got in and to our hotel a little after noon. So after lunch all we had time and energy to do was go to the British museum which is the home to the Rosetta Stone

The next day we opted for a bus tour instead of walking. So we sat on the top of a bus that was open to all the elements and took in London that way. Much less strain on the feet!

on the top of the bus trying to stay warm!

One of the entrances to Buckingham Palace

outside Buckingham Palace waiting for the changing of the guard.

During the Changing of the Guard

Hey kids look... theres Big Ben

Westminster Abbey

Noah and I attended one of their service's on Sunday. It was a pretty interesting experience to say the least but it was also pretty incredible just being in that building and the amount of history it encompasses. Also in the words of Noah Oldham "There was nothing out right blasphemous" so I guess all in all it was a good day.

in front of the Tower of London in case you didn't know this is where Anne Boleyn was beheaded..

the tower bridge

Here is the London Bridge - well underneath it as we pass under on the River Thames cause the top isn't anything special. However it is interesting that this was the only bridge over the river Thames until 1729. The current bridge is the third bridge at that spot to be called the London Bridge and was built in 1973, however the first London Bridge was built in 50 AD by the Romans. It has had to be rebuilt because it has fallen a couple times... (London Bridges falling down....)

Big Ben in the background... we are on a river cruise

Our last day there it was pouring down rain and we were more than a little exhausted at this point so the only think left that we really wanted to see was the Metropolitan Tabernacle (now known as Metropolitan Tabernacle Baptist Church...which I think is pretty funny). This was Charles Spurgeon's church... the late, great Reformed Baptist pastor and theologian known as "The Prince of Preachers." Unfortunately this building was bombed in WWII so the only original remains are what you see Noah standing in front of. Noah wanted to stand in the pulpit that Spurgeon once preached from, but had to settle for a picture with his bust.

The next day I left on a plane to go back to Miami to pick up Allie and Noah stayed for a missions conference. I think we are finally starting to get back to life as normal but we had a blast and it was all worth it. We have decided that we are not going back until we can afford to fly first class... Ha which will probably mean never!

15 Months - January 3rd 201

2011-01-22T20:40:00.003-06:00

Allie turned 15 Months while we were in Florida. I decided that to celebrate we would go to Chick Fil A and she could have her very own ice cream cone. She ate the entire thing and loved every minute of it! I had fun just taking her picture to document this experience.

After the ice cream we played in the play place for a while. The chick fil a play land was a frequent stop. It showed me how grown up and independent she is becoming as she would run through the tunnels, drive the car and slide down the slide. Oh my baby is growing so fast before my eyes.

And when you are on your way home and there is no paci to be found your toes work just the same...
Nice Allie especially after you ran barefoot around the play land for an hour... perfect!

but they sure are super cute toes

This month Allie has really learned the art of throwing a temper tantrum. She has learned the word NO and knows how you use it, and her will is out in full force. Allie you are going to be one independent, strong women now we just have to figure out how to channel that will... time for me to get cracking on some books... anyone got any recommendations?

Chaim Joshua Oldham

2011-01-21T11:55:00.000-06:00

On January 10th, 2011 we found out that we are going to be having a baby boy!

Chaim Joshua Oldham

We actually fell in love with this name a while ago. Chaim means life in Hebrew. Joshua (Hebrew Yeshua) means Jesus so the verse that Noah claimed as his life verse is Psalm 49:7-15 which teaches us that because of our sin, each one of us have earned eternal separation from God. But through Jesus (Hebrew Yeshua...Joshua) God ransoms the life (Chaim) of sinners. Basically Chaim Joshua is a picture of the Gospel and what Jesus has done for us.

After walking through the pain and suffering of a miscarriage I loved the idea of celebrating the life that God has blessed us with. I can not wait to meet our little miracle and praise God for the blessing he has entrusted to us. I am so thankful to know that had we not walked through the valley we would not be able to meet you. What a reward on the other end of a long, tough journey! May God continue to use your life in a mighty way to bless those who ever know you. I love you my baby boy and so does your daddy and big sister!

Florida Fun

2011-01-20T11:51:00.000-06:00

Uncle Brandon gave Allie a pop up tent for Christmas and well she LOVES to play in her house with her baby dolls, read books etc. I think she just likes that it is her space. Nana set it up at her house and she would play in it all the time. Unfortunately we don't have the same time of space in our house so it goes up and down every once in a while.

One of Allie's favorite things to do in Florida was go to the park. We went several times while we were there. She had a blast and progressed to being able to climb on the equipment and go down the slides ALL by herself! She is becoming such a big girl. Enjoy these totally unedited but fun photos of one of our many park days :)

Love this girl!

Time to go... Love that baby bump! Notice the Sheridan Hills van behind me... that was our ride while everyone was home because otherwise we can't all fit in one car. Good Times!

Christmas Day

2011-01-10T14:40:00.000-06:00

Christmas Morning Allie woke up around 6:45 so that meant everyone had to get up cause it was time to celebrate! We were at my parents house, as was my brother and my Grandpa. We all got totally spoiled but Allie really made out pretty well this Christmas.

Here she is checking it all out... not exactly sure what is about to happen.

The Stockings all stuffed

The presents busting out from under the tree

We started off the morning reading the Christmas story while Allie played with the nativity. We talked about the different characters and why we celebrate Christmas

Allie opened her stocking first while all the adults watched

She got a baby bottle and toothbrushes in her stocking and that was enough to make her thrilled!

Then it was time for her to be Nana's little elf again and hand out Mommy's stocking

Daddy's stocking

She also gave Brandon and Papa theirs too. Then she handed out presents..

She took her presents to daddy this time for him to help her open them

She is finally seeing her new baby bed for the first time

I love this picture! Isn't she adorable :)

She loved all her new presents

This was her new baby doll from Nana and Papa as soon as she saw what was inside she starting going "OOOOOH" and pointing.

She also got a pretty cool mp3 player/ book e-reader which is awesome to take in the car and into restaurant's! This may be just as much a present for Noah and me

After this present Allie was worn out from the morning and all the festivities so she left over half of her presents and went and took a nap while the adults opened our presents

When she came back her shopping cart was waiting for her

She loved putting her baby in and out of it and food in and out of the basket

Then she opened her present from Uncle Brandon. It was a pop up tent. She LOVED it! She would run in and out of it and scream and laugh and just act crazy!

she crawled out the window SEVERAL times

She thought she was pretty hillarious

Thanking Uncle Brandon for her tent and worn out again from opening all her presents. She is ready for another nap. We all had a great Christmas and I hope you did as well. To bad I didn't get a family picture!

It is tradition that we always have a big brunch on Christmas Day so in the midst of the craziness we sat down and had a wonderful meal together as a family.

Christmas Eve

2010-12-25T08:48:00.001-06:00

Christmas Eve started out pretty low key at the Haumschilt house this year. During the day everyone just relaxed, watched tv, cooked food etc. We had a yummy steak dinner and then opened a few presents before my parents went to the Christmas Eve service at church and A went to bed for the night. I love low key days!

Allie convinced the boys to watch Sesame Street with her and below she is dancing to the theme song of Elmo's World. HA HA Love it!

Snuggling with Papa. She has become his buddy after being there a while

Noah and my dad putting together one of Allie's Christmas presents from Nana and Papa. They also put together her new shopping cart while she took a nap.

Giving Nana some lonvin

Allie was Nana's little elf. She loved handing out the presents. The only problem is she wanted them ALL to go to Uncle Brandon. I think she liked him best.

wanting Uncle Brandon to help her open her Christmas Eve present.. wonder what it could be?

Jammies!

2 pair!

Nana and Papa helping Allie put on her new Christmas PJ's.

YAY! So Cute!

She thought she was big stuff walking around in her new PJ's.

Even her baby got some Christmas PJ's

My girl and me

Allie helped mommy open her present

and she helped Brandon

and Papa

Nana let her open another present on Christmas Eve and it was an elmo book and pen. It really is pretty cool. You put the pen on different parts of the book and Elmo talks to you. She loved it.

Allie tried to take everyone's PJ's and try them on which means putting them around her neck..

She also helped Daddy open his present and then got some lovin from Daddy.

Snuggling with Uncle B with her baby and some wrapping paper.

Before Allie went to bed we read the Christmas story out of a book she had gotten from Aunt Janet

she sat in Daddy's lap and let him read the whole thing. Precious times!

Merry Christmas Eve everyone.

Pre Christmas Festivities in Florida

2010-12-24T19:26:00.000-06:00

We arrived in FL on Tuesday December 21st. We started out our pre-Christmas festivities by baking some Christmas cookies. As you can see (if you saw the other post) Allie's Cookie decorating skills have drastically improved.

It was actually several minutes before she even attempted to taste it. However, once she did....

forget decorating cookies... just give me that icing...

YUM YUM

Trying the cookie she made with the icing...

and sharing some with Nana...

then she went to hang out with the boys while we finished and cleaned up.

Lovin on her Papa... she has become his little buddy after being here several days.

Goofing off with Uncle Brandon. I have never seen her be some into someone that wasn't mom or dad like she was with Uncle B. He gave her lots of attention and she loved it. She was very sad when he left!

Later that night we went to look at Christmas lights (which is slim pickings in South Florida)

Even though we all laughed at how bare everything was Allie still had a great time and loved seeing the lights. We went to this one house that had a computer lights show where the lights danced to different music. There were 5 different songs and we stayed to watch all 5. It was an experience, Allie loved the music and well it makes for a funny memory for the rest of us. It was impossible to get a pic of the house without a flash.. so this picture doesn't do the house justice but it is all I could get.

taking it all in with Nana

dancing to the music

hanging with the boys while they pick the next song

Daddy took her to see baby Jesus

Our little family

It was a great pre Christmas festivity.

Christmas at Home

2010-12-22T19:25:00.000-06:00

I love Christmas! I love everything about it, but Christmas is taken to the next level of total awesomeness when you have kids. Last year Allie was 2 months old so it was not the same as it was this year but wow I look forward to so many more special Christmas' as a family in the future. We spent our family Christmas the Monday before we left for FL to spend Christmas with my family on Tuesday. Noah and I stayed up late Sunday night putting things together, stuffing her stocking, and wrapping presents. Monday morning this is what Allie woke up to...

I went and woke her up at 8:30 am cause come on its Christmas.. I guess she didn't get the memo..

Mom seriously I just woke up get that Camera out of my face..

Dad why is she still taking pictures of me?

She closed her eyes while she drank her morning milk and I changed her diaper... really Allie its 8:30 not 6am!

She entered the living room and said "OOOOOH" she was immediately awake. We had hidden a baby carriage behind a big present but she found it immediately

forget the rest of the presents she didn't need anything else she was so occupied with this...

she is just starting to notice there are other things out... she walked over to her new chair and sat down

and started pulling things out of her stocking... no one had to tell her what to do. So Funny!

Her baby bottle that was in her stocking might have easily been her favorite present. She opened almost every other present with it in her hand.

time to start opening some presents!

everytime she opened something she would take it to daddy immediately to open so she could play with it for a while before going to the next one.

an elmo phone! We got some amazing video of her dancing around when she opened it because it plays elmo's world theme song

she also got a little people boat for the bath tub

oooh look!

Little People Noah's Ark!

hmmm... what is this big wrapped thing in the middle of the room??

a baby bed!

Christmas is definitely more fun with kids!

Christmas with the Oldhams

2010-12-19T09:46:00.001-06:00

Our family had a marathon Christmas this year. Our first Christmas was the weekend before when we went to Eldorado to celebrate with the Oldham Clan. Friday night we went to Nate and Betsy's and had dinner and played, danced and had a great time. This was Allie's "Christmas Eve" Outfit. Unfortunately this was the only pic I took all night. We have so much fun when we are all together it is hard to remember to get pictures... that and we are trying to keep kids under control :) Next Christmas is going to be a whole new ball game with two more babies in the mix!!

"Christmas Morning" and the Oldham Christmas tree..

Allie and Daddy ready to eat breakfast before opening presents.

Papa playing with the kids. They all love him and he does a great job of playing with all of them.

Allie driving the car.. she LOVES this car and want to "drive" it all the time while we are there..which means someone pushing her cause she doesn't know how to make it move herself yet

Ready for some of Grandma Cathe's yummy breakfast!

There she is cooking away

HK is ready to eat.. she is licking her chops

The three "big" grandkids

Daddy trying to steal some kisses

Cousins playing while the adults finish breakfast and wait to open presents

Papa Roy as Santa

giving kisses

wrestling

There is Little "Big" Liam.. you are going to have more cousins your size really soon buddy!

All the Oldham Boys

After the boys got a picture HK insisted that we get a girl picture.... so here are the Oldham Girls with two babies in utero Terrah is having a girl and we are having.... we will find out in a couple weeks!

Allie liked helping hand out presents!

Ready to open presents

Here we go

I get to open this? For real?

Nolan is ready too...

Baby Tickle me ELMO!!!

Hurry Daddy!! Get him out quick

All the kids in the play house I made HK

in the super hero cape I made

The girls and their matching babies, HK's is just twice the size!

HK in her house

Trying out her babies bottle

Aww.. they love eachother

showing daddy where her boogies are :) HA!

Still Lovin on Elmo

Bowling with Nolan and his new present

It was a great day and we all had a great time! Love getting to spend time with family and my niece and nephews. It is only going to get more fun!

14 Months - December 3rd 2010

2010-12-04T16:04:00.008-06:00

Allie, this month you have turned a corner and your personality is brighter than ever. It is official you have a strong will.. now I just have to figure out how to channel it so you can change the world! You will not do anything that is not your idea (or at least that you think is your idea) and you have become obsessed with toothbrushes and any drinking object. You also LOVE food and LOVE to eat. I am thankful for this although sometimes I feel you eat more than a teenage boy. I guess this is better than the alternative! I love you my little firecracker, independent, strong willed baby girl.

Toothbrush 1 of about 10 that you have

Toothbrush #2

Here Allie is telling me the sound that liquid makes when you poor it out...Shhhhhhhh

pouring her sippy cup into the water bottle

Allie found this in my purse and before I knew it she had it opened and was eating it...

and then hiding from me so I didn't take it away... she found a treasure!

This is Allie's usual position after her afternoon nap. For some reason it takes her a while to wake up from this nap and so this is when we watch Sesame Street... She loves Sesame street!!! She has even coordinated her own dance to the opening song. Unfortunately every time I pull out the video camera she wont do it she wants to look at the video camera..

Little Miss Drama Queen

Playing hide and seek behind the curtains. This is a daily activity!

another day another toothbrush...

My little big girl at 14 months! I love you more than ever Allie Grace!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

2010-12-02T20:45:00.000-06:00

Before Noah got home from work Allie and I made Christmas cookies for us to have while we put up and decorate the Christmas tree.. This was the first time I have let Allie really help and not cared what the outcome was and we had a great time. I love this picture progression...

Allie just got her first taste of icing... notice the big smile

let's get a little more of that stuff...

OOOHHH this stuff tastes good!

did I get it all off?

yeah I think I'll have some more.. the cookies can wait

Oh yeah

lets try it with a cookie

I'll put some on my knee to save for later...

notice she did get a little on her cookie

yeah it was time to remove the shirt... it was getting a little messy

double fisting... Allie's first beater licking experience.

yep it is just as good off here as it is the spatula

attempting to put it on the cookies again

forget the cookies lets just eat the icing

sugar rush?

she is trying to get me to try it

SUGAR RUSH!

Mommy's Cookies

Allie's Cookies... Yum! Want one?

We made a total mess but we both had a blast and that is all that matters. For those of you wondering about me the cookies were from fresh milled wheat and sucanut... so as healthy as sugar cookies can be... the icing well what are Christmas cookies without icing?

After dinner it was time to decorate the tree. Allie got out all of her nativity and played on the rug that we had turned over so it wouldn't attract needles from the tree. Allie some how thought this was all of a sudden an awesome place to play!

Helping Daddy with the tree..

Fluffing branches.. she was a little scared of the prickly branches

but eventually she would carry the ones mommy fluffed and give them to daddy to put on the tree

time to get out the ornaments

oooh those look yummy let me try to eat them...

lights!

We had a bit of a lights fiasco so the lights didn't make it on before Allie went to bed.. However 2 trips to Walgreens later the lights were on before Noah and I went to bed that night!!

Allie putting her ornament that SHE picked out at Hobby Lobby on the tree...

She kept wanting to take it back off the tree so she could shake it since it had a bell in the bottom

Oh look its a snow man baby! Allie instantly assumes the mother role.

back on the tree

back off the tree... we have really had to work on not touching the tree!

All in all it was a good tree trimming experience and I look forward to expounding on our traditions next year!

Thanksgiving Weekend

2010-11-29T19:20:00.001-06:00

We went to Eldorado to be with Noah's family for Thanksgiving. I only got a few shots from Thanksgiving day and the days that followed. But I will share what I have (and borrowed)

Whenever we go to Papa's house he always swings Allie in his arms. She loves it. Now all he has to do is ask her if she wants to swing and she walks over to him turns around and backs her booty into his arms. It is hilarious!

She also really enjoyed the car this time around she would climb in and beg any and everyone to push her around the house.

Later that morning HK, Nolan and Liam (and Uncle Nate and Aunt Betsy) got there. Allie LOVES Hallie Kate. Just when I think she wont put up with her being in her face Allie cracks up and gives her kisses. Hallie Kate gets away with things that Allie doesn't let ANYONE else do.

And that is all I took that day... what a shame...

The next day we went to Nate and Betsy's and just played and relaxed all day.

Allie and I babysat Liam while Betsy snuck a moment to herself to take a shower. Allie LOVES babies and wanted to hold Liam. He did great the first time. When we tried to get a picture of it later he was not to happy with the idea of his 1 year old cousin holding him,

Later when Liam and Nolan went down for naps (and Allie refused to nap) we all played outside while Noah and Uncle Nate put up Christmas lights.

Papa helping Allie kick the ball while playing soccer with HK

Then Soccer turned into tackle football?

To warm up we went inside to snuggle and rest... yeah that was the plan but when you have these two crazy Oldham girls... thats not really going to happen.

Allie getting into the Doctor kit

and trying to figure out how to use and wear the stethoscope

around the waist seems like a logical spot for it....

We had a great time visiting with family.. We love being able to hang out at Nate and Betsy's house!!

13 Months - My little Momma

2010-11-19T08:43:00.000-06:00

So on November 3rd Allie turned 13 months (I know I am behind but I have good excuses)

Allie got a baby doll for her birthday and well it has turned her into a little mama she treats her baby like a real baby and loves every minute of it! She is totally my little mama! Check out these pics throughout her 13th Month

Stroller Rides

Asking me to hold her baby while she does something else

patting the baby on the back I guess she needed to burp

A stroller ride when the stroller is actually fixed properly

time to change the baby's diaper

loving the baby

rocking the baby

reading stories to the baby

watching sesame street with her baby

time for another diaper change... she also feeds her baby with a spoon out of her tea cups and gives her baby a bottle with her sippy cup.

Another milestone this month was I let Allie try peanut butter for the first time. I had been a maniac making sure she had NOTHING with peanut butter well I figured it was time to give it a try and see what happened...

as you can see I think she liked it. I gave her apples with a dish of peanut butter (because she loves to dip things) and well she ate all the peanut butter before she touched the apples (and she loves apples)!

Happy 13 Months baby girl! I love you

Fall Family Pics - Allie's 1 year photo shoot

2010-11-09T09:21:00.001-06:00

In early November we had a date with KBK Photography
for several reasons:

1.We needed a new family pic because the last time we had one taken Allie was 2 months old.

2. Allie just turned 1 and I wanted to get her 1 year photo taken

and

3. August Gate was chosen as a recipient of the Midwest proceeds of 29 Coffee and they wanted to put our family pic on their website (go to 29coffee.com and check it out)

Unfortunately it was cold and Allie only gave us about 40 minutes of cooperation so KB did an amazing job getting what she got! I am having a hard time deciding which one I want framed in my house!

Right now I am leaning towards this one as my favorite family pic

And this one as Allie's best 1 year photo

I love that KB captured this face. This is Allie's reaction to everything that she likes she says "Oooooooohhh" like it is the most amazing thing ever!

I also love this photo. I think I love it more every time I look at it! I feel like it captures her personality.

The last three are just for you to see what happens when Allie decides she is done for taking pictures

and now she is just ticked off... the end

Thanks KB!! We love you

Meet the Flintstones

2010-11-02T09:19:00.000-05:00

Meet The Flitstones:

Fred and Pebbles with her orange FRO!

The whole fam!

with Betty and Bam Bam

Here is our whole crew

Allie digging through her Halloween candy. Unfortunately for Allie she only got a piece of licorice and mommy and daddy enjoyed the rest for her. Maybe you can have more next year baby girl :)

An Eldorado weekend

2010-10-30T10:18:00.001-05:00

Last weekend we went to Eldorado just to spend time with family and had a great time just hanging out and celebrating Noah and Uncle Nate's birthday. Friday afternoon we had lunch with Gma and Gpa Gray and then went to Nate and Betsy's to play and for naps. Later that evening when Papa got off work we went there for dinner and the rest of the evening. Below are pics of the 3 cousins playing at papa's.

We had a spontaneous dance party and Allie joined in the fun

HK doing the sprinkler

Nate and Liam sleeping during the dance party...

Allie and her serious dance moves

Allie bringing me her meds, we found out Friday that she had an ear infection, Thanks Dr. Oldham! It sure is nice to have a doctor in the family :)

Allie eating breakfast with her adoring fans

Papa let her stick her hand in the yogurt to eat it and she thought that was both awesome and funny. Thankfully Papa opted to clean her up after breakfast!

Reading books to Papa and Gma Cathe

and putting on Papa's shoes (allie has a slight shoe obsession these days)

The next day we went to Nate and Betsy's to have a cook out to celebrate Nate and Noah's birthday.

Allie got to open her birthday present from Uncle Nate and Aunt Betsy and the kids, it was the little people nativity and she loves it, I think it was a hit with all the kids.

The birthday boys

Allie giving HK kisses

Nolan giving Papa kisses

Papa swinging Allie, she loved this. As soon as he would finish she would back up into his arms so he would do it again and just laugh the whole time.

hanging out with Gma Cathe

Giving Liam some lovin... she LOVED the baby

HK talked the boys into making a pyramid :)

Gma Gray with Liam

Allie mowing the grass

and playing with the girls

digging in the dirt

playing wiffle ball with all the kids, isn't she turning into such a big girl?

a pic of Liam from the day, we snuck this in the middle of all the fun and festivities :)

All in all it was a beautiful day gorgeous weather and a great time hanging out with family. I just wish we could do that more often. Thanks for hosting Nate and Betsy!