Baby Like Beckham

Generally, I try to contain my gushing about Alyse, but we may have uncovered her talent a little early in life. Every time I watch this video I am more and more astonished...

It's a Girl!

We were so thrilled to find out we are having another little baby girl, and Alyse will have a little sister! Here are a few of the sonogram photos:


Little foot.


Again, definitely a girl.


You could almost swear she's posing for the camera.


Another nice capture of the face with her hand above her right eye.

We do have a name picked out, but you'll have to ask to find out what it is.

I know a girl, a girl called Party.

Here are a few select pictures from Alyse's big first birthday jamboree on Sunday, Feb. 11, 2007. If you'd like to see all pictures from this event, kindly follow this link to Alyse's Birthday set on Flickr!

Alyse sporting her cool Dora birthday hat.

Alyse & Aubrey are genuine party animals!

The Birthday Girl, mommy, & daddy.

Alyse had quite a time with her birthday cupcake.

Alyse opening a Dora DVD from her aunt Joanna.

Alyse shows how much she loves uncle Marshall's present--a portable play tent with connecting escape tunnel!

Alyse Turns 1!

Alyse & Andy enjoy some pre-ceremony rough-housing.


Alyse is the only one not interested in the time-honored tradition of blowing out the birthday candle.


The unforgettable fire.


Alyse chows down on some birthday cake!


Alyse shows off her sporty new Dora sun shade.

Stroller!

Out of Control

At a couple of weeks before her first birthday, Alyse has mastered walking; indeed, it is a rarer occasion these days to see her crawl. In the video you will observe this, and also my inability to summon her. (In the third shot we closed the door!)

Advanced Walking 101

Alyse demonstrates some higher level motor skills by walking to a ball and bending down to pick it up without sitting down. Also, her walking is becoming more fluid and less awkward.

Alyse's First Christmas

A few photos from Alyse's first Christmas:


Christmas at Papa & Grandma's house.




Uncle Charles shows Alyse the toy he and Aunt Rachel got for her.




Opening presents Christmas Eve morning at our house.





Helping Daddy unwrap one of his stocking presents from mommy.





Sacked out Christmas Eve night before our trip to Tyler.





Opening presents Christmas morning at Grammy's house.





Alyse & Aubrey flash their cool Dora chairs.





Opening her present from Aunt Amy, Unky Jeremy, and Jack!

Two Videos...

After Alyse took her first steps independently on December 13, a few days after her 10-month birthday, we've scarcely had the opportunity to catch her in the act, so fascinated is she with the video camera. Here she is on Christmas Eve eve showing off just a little bit




Alyse plays with a learning toy given to her by her Uncle Charles and Aunt Rachel the night before. At 10 1/2 months old, she displays the depth of her operational cognitive abilities.

¡Alyse Navidad!

Merry Christmas from the Allen family!

You Gotta Stand Up

Dancing Queen!

Alyse throws down some jive moves to the mono-melodic strains of "Old MacDonald" emitting from her bouncer.

You can dance, you can jive, having the time of your life
See that girl, watch that scene, dig in the dancing queen

Nanny Heather!

We are so fortunate to have a live-in nanny for Alyse now and got her out of the evil daycare! Heather is wonderful with Alyse and they get along beautifully.

Now we just have to be careful, lest Alyse's first word is "Nanny...."

It's Official...Moreso...

I suppose every pregnancy seems a little unreal until you get to see that first sonogram, which we did on Wednesday. Shortly before the scheduled sonogram, we had to make an unscheduled appointment with Alyse's pediatrician because Alyse has been very sick for several days (later revealed to be an ear infection). Her emergency appointment (3rd floor of the Diagnostic Clinic) was scheduled for 2:00, and the sonogram (1st floor of the Diagnostic Clinic) was scheduled for 2:30. Needless to say, at 2:29 we were still waiting to see Dr. Hudson. Kindly, his nurses had us go to the sonogram and fit us back in after we were finished. Alyse, being the thoughtful child she is, waited until after we were out of the ultrasound room before vomiting in my jacket.

...

Early Morning Alyse

All Bundled Up!

As the weather has turned colder, we've had to go shopping for more fashionable winter clothes. Observe:

That Makes Four!

Alyse is holding the positive pregnancy test if you can't tell.

Random Video Clip

I'm not sure, but I think she was trying to pump water...

A Few Pictures...

Alyse continues to astound us with her advanced maturation. Video soon to follow, but her new favorite activity is walking the length of a long object that she can hold herself up on (e.g., a coffee table, sofa, etc.).

Anyway, here are a few pictures: