Thanksgiving 2007

Haven't posted in a while... just wanted to news about the newest member of the Allen family to sink in!

Recently, Alex celebrated her first Thanksgiving and Alyse, her second. Though Alyse's sampling of all the Thanksgiving menu items was a slight more appetizing than Alex's bottle of Enfamil formula, it was a festive occasion to remember just the same.(I'll spare you the seventh-grade essay-esque drollery of the foods Alyse "seemed to enjoy" and "the things she did," etc.)

Photos for your enjoyment:


Alyse understands the concept of posing. Alex does not.



A king's ransom of Thanksgiving food!



Waiting for the turkey-flavored formula bottle.

Number Three is on the Way!

Yesterday morning (i.e., Tuesday, October 23, 2007), Charlotte and I were shocked to find we are pregnant with our third child! This pregnancy, by far, caught us the most off guard, as Alex is only 4 months old.

The past year has been a really remarkable time for our family as we've moved into a much bigger house and Charlotte is able to stay home with Alyse & Alex now, which is more of a blessing than we ever dared dream.

Just to ward off any future questions, yes we are hoping for a boy this time around, but obviously will not in any way be disappointed if we are blessed with another little girl.


I'll keep you updated here.


Pregnant with baby number three.



Pregnant with Alexa.



Pregnant with Alyse.

This past week was cause for much celebration as the Butlers (i.e., Jeremy, Amy, Jack, & Evie) were down visiting from Wyoming. The primary significance was it was the first time any of the Allens (i.e., Drew, Charlotte, Alyse, & Alex) had got to see little Evelyn (a.k.a. "Evie"), and the first time any of the Butlers (i.e., see parenthetical notation above) got to see Alexa (a.k.a. "Alex").

Of course, Alex and Evie together ranked top in the cuteness department. Below are some pictures of this happy reunion (initial union is some cases).

(You can see more pictures from the Butler's Visit on Flickr!)


Evelyn Jane Butler & Alexa Lylith Allen


Unky Jeremy & Alex Bear


Aunt Charlotte & Evie


Aunt Amy & Alex Bear


Evie & Alex Close Up!


Jack Greets His Newest Cousin


Aunt Amy & Alyse


Alyse & Jack


Worn Out from all the Attention

First Laughs!

Yesterday when I got home from work, I was holding Alex while Charlotte was on mom's computer, somehow patient enough to commence internet operations on a dial-up connection.

Alex had just woken up about fifteen minutes prior and was all smiles. Charlotte began intermittently thrusting her face back and forth toward Alex while speaking baby-gibberish and a half-garbled voice...

Alex's noise started out as a sort of high pitch grunt that translated into something of an affirmation of her amusement, but as the intensity of Charlotte's bizarre activity increased, the grunt evolved into a laugh, though awkward at first because of its virginity. Although a new vocal ability was being exercised, it quickly matured to resemble a much wiser laugh, possibly one of the sweetest sounds acknowledged by the human ear.

As my video camera is on lend and our camera is dead, this moment escaped digital immortalization. But the memory of it is will remain sharper than almost any other in my lifetime...

My Girls...

Much apologies as to the recent absences of posts, what with moving and all...

Here are a couple of cute pictures, though:

Alex

Alyse

Funny Girls...

One never knows what to expect when Alyse & Aubrey get together except, of course, for hilarity. Two videos for you to observe this claim:

Our Little Cutie

Pleasant Look
Originally uploaded by drewesque

As is the case with most babies, capturing Alexa's smile in a picture is particularly difficult, but she will throw looks at me like this all day long.

It's Been a Little While...

July 11, 2006


July 21, 2007

Funniest Picture Ever.

Funniest Picture Ever.
Originally uploaded by drewesque

This picture kills my head. Alyse & Aubrey were doing a performance, using the fireplace hearth as a mini-stage. I don't remember just now if there was music or if we were prodding them on, but hilarity ensued.

Don't It Make You Smile...

Alex has started smiling a bit, though mostly whilst dozing off. Here is the closest photographic evidence I have to support this claim:

Noticeable Similarities.

This seemed inevitable. I guess that's why I'm doing it.

SONOGRAM
Alyse

Alex






WAITING ROOM
Alyse

Alex





READY TO DELIVER
Alyse

Alex







DELIVERANCE
Alyse

Alex






THE WEIGH-IN
Alyse

Alex






MOMMY & DAUGHTER
Alyse

Alex





DADDY & DAUGHTER
Alyse

Alex






CLOSE-UP!
Alyse

Alex







UNKIE B-MONKEY
Alyse

Alex






ANDY & HER COUSIN
Alyse

Alex






HOMECOMING
Alyse

Alex

Father's Day

For Father's Day this year, we spent a quiet day just spending quality time as a family. We went to eat in the afternoon and, despite the excruciating humidity, made a stop over at the park for a while.



With the attractive playground equipment, Alyse experienced a bit of sensory overload which manifested itself in a sort of adamant protest when we decided to leave.



Arguably, Alex's time was better spent napping:



Alexa has matured to a stage, however, where she is actually awake more often than she is asleep! Fortunately, for the most part, she is still a very content infant. She cries when she is hungry, and cries if she wakes up and no one is holding her.



All in all, the girls are absolutely loving their mom being home with them all day (even though Alex can't appreciate that concept like Alyse can!).

Alex's First Video!

After being peppered by several requests to show Alexa in video form, especially after a particularly nasty one that took on the form of a veiled threat, I decided to lazily compile this montage of Alex at 4 days old.

At the first, I tell Alexa that she is so pretty; immediately the clip cuts and Alyse may be heard mumbling in the background to which I reply, "Not you, Alyse." Just for clarification's sake, this was not a response to the "so pretty comment," but rather something entirely different.

Alex on the Good Shepherd Website

Check out Alexa's newborn nursery picture on the :

Good Shepherd Medical Center website

Alexa Lylith Allen

Alexa Lylith Allen was born at 3:03 pm at Good Shepherd Medical Center in Longview, TX on Saturday, June 2, 2007. As the "pushing" phase only lasted about 10 minutes, Charlotte and I were dually surprised when Alex registered a whopping 9 lbs. 8 oz. on the scale! (She was 20 inches long.)



We're infinitely blessed to have had another incident free delivery, not to mention a second perfectly healthy and beautiful baby girl!

Many more pictures to follow, but be sure to visit the Flickr! photoset from her birth.