The Allen Girls...

Sunday, March 30, 2008

28 Weeks with Allie

Charlotte realized she is almost three-quarters through this pregnancy and we don't have many "pregnant with Allie" pictures. We try hard not to show favoritism, so here are a couple of Charlotte at about 28 weeks:

Also, those kind of you to harass us about posting videos, you finally get your way. I have plenty of video of the girls, it's just my computer is getting on in years and doesn't do such a swell job of editing, or even processing high quality digital video anymore. Sad, really. These are videos taken from our regular digital photo camera, hence the exceptionally poor quality audio/video.

Alyse rarely does anything when the camera's lens is trained on her, so her contributions to this performance of "Old McDonald" is more than I could have expected:

Also, nothing really happens in this video. I just think it's freakin' cute when Alyse says "Alex Bear." Also, Alex is in it, so that's a plus.

Thursday, March 06, 2008

Alexa's Last Stand

And by "last" stand I, of course, mean "first" stand.

This post coming about three weeks late, I can only apologize and post these pictures of Alex as she has randomly started standing by herself:

Monday, February 11, 2008

Sonogram Pictures!

Here are a few select pictures from our recent sonogram:

Definitely a girl. Like her sisters before her, she's not modest about it, either.

A sweet close-up of her precious little face in color.

Another clear face shot. This one is my favorite.

A regular sonogram picture of her little foot.

A great 3D shot of her little legs!

Thursday, February 07, 2008

Alyse's Birthday Present

The news is officially in.

Super Tuesday for us this year was much more about finding out that we will be having our third girl, than it was finding out who becomes the clear front runner in the Democrat and Republican parties. As the news (about our baby, not the primaries) came sandwiched between Alyse's birthday party and her actual birthday (today - Thursday, February 7, 2008), we're counting it as one of her presents.

Picking out a name has come with much more difficulty this time around than with Alex. Charlotte and I wanted to stick with the A.L.A. initial scheme, but had not intended for the first *two* letters of the first name to be the same, nor the fact that the first and middle names have the exact same number of letters. Ergo, we have resolved to stick with it and do the same for our third daughter.

Naturally, we have disagreed on each other's picks and a peaceful negotiation doesn't appear to be coming anytime soon.

With it, the gender news also brings with it some tacitly implied news: the Allens will have at least four children.

But it will probably be more.

Meanwhile, here are some pictures from Alyse's grand old birthday shebang.

(To see more of Alyse's birthday pictures, please visit her birthday picture set on Flickr!)

Tuesday, December 04, 2007

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.

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

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.

Tuesday, October 09, 2007

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

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

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...

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

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

Friday, July 27, 2007

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:

Thursday, July 26, 2007

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.

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

It's Been a Little While...

July 11, 2006

July 21, 2007

Monday, July 16, 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.