Busy Little Bee..

Or actually I think I'm a big bee now :)
Either way, Shawn has been busy with finals..boring. I hate it because he is gone night and day. I have found something new to fill my free time, no one will probably ever see these things in real life so I have to put them on here for a little validation! It took more work then I thought, especially the chair..Please check out the projects that have been my friends the past few weeks and done a great job of keeping me company..

This is the bedding my mom made a few weeks ago. I really tried to help, but in all honesty she would have been better off without me. Every time I see it I think about her being so excited and trying to teach me little things about sewing,and Aunt Abby staying up late after we were too tired to keep our eyes open and finish tying the quilt so I could take it home to Utah with me the next morning. I love those two they are the best with all the grandkids and neices/nephews.


This is an old lamp that my aunt gave us after we got married. It is pretty plain, but lamps are expensive and we are NOT rich..so I made it into a lamp that I liked just a litle more. Both of my feet went to sleep at the same time while i was making this lamp because I was kneeling on them for too long and it was the most pain I've ever had. way worse then any part of being pregnant.



This my friends is my very favorite! The best for last..again this is attributed to my MOM. Last summer we walked down to a garage sale and found this rocking chair. It was so comfy and it just seemed perfect for a nursery..the shape of the chair was perfect--but the fabric was HIDEOUS.


We dragged it all the way home, it was only $30. I was hesitant but she knew rocking chairs like this are hard to find for a good price. I bought the fabric to recover it and my neighbor came over to help me. I have to be honest, she pretty much ended up doing it while I watched, but I did my best to help every step of the way. It was much more physical labor then I thought, we had to use a complete set of tools. My back was killing me and I had cramps by the time we were done, I actually called in sick for the first time in my seven months of being pregnant the next day. I will NOT be recovering another chair anytime soon..but this is now my favorite thing in the nursery. I hope I can use it for a boy or girl so I tried to pick neutral fabric. It is so comfy and I have spent a lot of time making sure I am getting good at rocking in it.


I had lots of help with these projects but they kept me thoroughly entertained all week..Everything we have in our nursery is home made or from a garage sale except our crib itself. I still have a little table and a changing table to re-paint. Your nursery is made with love little boy, because your mom is saving her dollars! Even if me and you are the only two people who ever see it...
XOXO

Spring?

Spring is creeping it's way back in.
My favorite part of Sugar house is beginning to come back to me.
I love these trees. They cover the streets just so perfectly..I wonder how long they have been here. Whoever planted them was genius! Of course it reminds me of a quote from my good friend Anne (of the island at that point, I believe) but I'll spare it.


We took a little sunday stroll around the block to celebrate the nice weather over easter weekend.
The easter bunny came to visit us, in the very best (and cheapest) way he (or she?) knew how. We must have been good little Allen boys and a girl this year. Shawn was surprised, I was proud. It could've been better, but I think the bunny gets better with age, and probably finances.

Shawn's mom spoiled us with a package, including a little Arizona Diamondbacks baseball outfit for little Allen. She is the very best. And so is he, he deserves a baseball outfit. Now Shawn is imagining taking his three week old to a DBacks game before the season ends..we need to chat about that one.

We colored easter eggs with good friends.
I worked, and dressed up a little teeny tiny for his first easter in this crazy world.
We laughed about the fact that our little babe wants us to make sure we know he exists at all times. Whenever we are deep in conversation he reminds us he is to be included. His cute little legs have mastered a swift kick. Don't worry little guy, trust me we know you're there :)

And sometimes lately, I am guilty of daydreaming about a paradise like this where time doesn't exist and we are away from schedules of any kind. Right now Shawn's schedule is really tight, I have to pencil myself in. We are on the countdown it's finals week!


I love spring, we have been celebrating new life this spring. In every way shape and form. Happy Easter and Springtime and love life time to anyone and everyone :)

Conference Sleepover Weekend..

Conference weekend was wonderful. We relaxed, slept in, ate good food, saw family and good friends, what more can I ask for? We went to the Sunday afternoon session of conference, we love every single chance we have to go. Every time we go we wonder where we will be next conference time, and if we will have the chance to be back at the conference center. This time I couldn't sit still knowing that next time we have conference we will be watching it with a little boy hanging around..even though we will be loving watching it at home with him-I'll never get sick of being so close to the speakers, and hearing the choir live. It's one of my very favorite things!

Since before we were married I have had my special spot when I watch TV or a movie with Shawn. Whether it's my parents house, his parents, or our own house, I always have to be on the inside of the couch-about half way under the back couch cushions as tightly squeezed in as possible because everyone who knows me knows I like to be burning hot all the time! Not just warm, but over heating. Every time I get home from work, I grab a blanket and Shawn, and he automatically scoots to the outside and does his job. This weekend I jumped in my spot, comfy and cozy as can be. Something very tragic happened. I'm sad to admit that Shawn wasn't comfortable anymore because my belly has started to invade his space. He tried to nicely tell me that we are going to have to rearrange for the next few months..We tried staggering our heads on opposite ends but it just wasn't fun with his feet by my face! I used to use that trick with Jaimee in the back seat of the Astro van and it worked much better because her feet had painted toenails and were probably a size six. Shawn's feet are a size 12 and his toe nails are not as beautiful as mine of course are.

[this was the result..]

We tried sitting on different couches and it was far too lonely. So we pulled out the patched up old air mattress, I let it mess up my front room the entire weekend, and it was delightful to fall asleep and wake up on at all hours of the day and night. We had great sleepovers in our front room and we wondered why we slept so good. We realized when we were putting it away Sunday night that it's actually bigger then our real bed..which is a full. Poor Shawn was happy to not have his feet hanging off. I loved being lazy..Monday was back to real life. Work, school, and a clean front room. But it was fun, I have to be honest. I would be up for making at least one conference weekend a year a sleepover weekend with the air mattress in the front room from now on..we just might. Even when we are forty. Then we probably REALLY won't fit on the couch anymore and not just because I'm pregnant..but let's not go there :) Hope everyone enjoyed conference! Happy spring, hopefully someday..

[VERY well rested and ready for conference!]


Isn't he the most handsome husband?! Besides YOUR husband of course :)

23 whole weeks..

Time is just flying right on by! I feel like I can't keep up with it. I swear just yesterday we found out we were having a baby..now we are over half way-only 16.5 weeks left! I'm starting to be a little bit sad thinking that the one on one time I have all day everyday with this little mystery baby is ever going to come to an end. I spend almost all my time thinking about him, imagining him and wondering what he is doing when I feel a little flutter inside.
I have to admit I'm getting a little nervous..what's new? I get nervous for everything big in my life..Life is scary, and it's a huge thought that a little baby will be here under our supervision.



As time flies by we wish we could push pause-on the anticipation of such a great blessing, on the teeny tiny flutters that I finally started noticing last week..maybe on the times Shawn tells me I look pretty right before I'm about to break down because my jeans won't do up.. The whole excitement of having a baby, and the whole experience that has came along with it so far means the world to me-now I just need to work on a little bit of bravery.
we love life at the moment, it has been very good to us. We are taking the whole adventure one day at a time..
Can't wait to teach our little boy, the joy of life's adventures. In his room, above his crib will be this:

"Whenever Possible, Choose Adventure."

Please hurry up little baby, and slow down all at the same time!
There is a big huge world here waiting for your little footprints..

Brutally honest about Boys.

Lets be honest, anyone who knows me knows the truth...I have always wanted a little girly girl that smells good and minds her manners to dress up and slap a tutu on. We have had her name picked out for years, and her image is engraved in my brain. So..when we found out on Friday that we were having a BOY I was very surprised..and excited..But you have to realize, I had to change gears a little bit. My family is by far outnumbered in the girl to boy ratio so when we get together it's all about girls. Without realizing it, this baby in my head was coming into a pink room with ruffles and bows no matter what the gender. So, I have been thinking lately about my little boy..and the whole weird breed of boys in general.



Boys let loose..when we found out we were having a boy I produced a smile, and maybe a silent tear or two. Shawn jumped up out of his chair yelling "YEAHH that's what I'm talking about!" "I knew it!" I quietly had to urge him back into his chair and remind him that we were in public and other women were in the waiting room. When we got in the car I struck up a conversation about how we need to sometimes be more considerate of others in public. Shawn came back with Who cares, I'm having my BOY..I have to admit, it was a priceless reaction that I won't forget anytime soon.

Boys are innovative..the other day I came home to find my sewing kit and needles out. Shawn came home in his work pants with a long story about how he had sewed a hole that was of course in the crotch area. I examined his work while he was beaming with pride. I found that instead of just sewing the hole shut, he took a button and sewed both sides of the pant to the button. SO when you turn the pants inside out a huge button is just sitting there coming from nowhere. Really?! A few days later he used my decorative smell good candle to scratch up and melt to use for waxing his snowboard to save a few bucks up at the Canyon's. I love the creativity.

Boys are easy going..when something bad happens I have such a hard time flipping a 180 and going on with my day. Shawn on the other hand can't figure out why. Almost every day I watch my boy getting ready and hear whistling from another room, or him laughing at something while he gets ready, he doesn't care if his socks match or if his shoes are worn out. His comeback for everything is come on girl, Life is Good..

Boys. They make wonderful friends. They chomp their cereal. They have endless energy. They are so different, yet so entertaining. They love girls.


It is the things that they do just because they are who they are..It is the cereal bowl put in the sink as an attempt to make a wife happy, but of course with no water in it to soak. It is the endless energy and the loudest laughter. It is the games that are created with just a simple ball in an attempt to self entertain. It is the worn out face at the end of the day from someone who can't ever seem to sit still until after 11 pm. It is the echo of sports center that never ever ever gets old to a sports fan no matter how many times the same stories are on. It's swimsuit confidence no matter what, all year round. It's drama free, it's being friends with everyone no matter who they are, where they came from, what they wear, or if they are nice to you or not. It's grass stains on nice clothes, and little tan lines from baseball gloves on my patients at the hospital. It's a good soft heart, that just takes a while to find.

Boys definitely have their strong points. This weekend we went to Park City and while we were there we walked around the outlets looking at a few outfits for our little boy. It is in Park City that I kicked the bows and dresses officially out of my brain, and turned whole heartedly to the basketball shorts and ball caps..with a little help from Shawn. Shawn made me promise the weekend we found out I was pregnant that if it was a boy he would pick out the outfit for his first real day of life outside the hospital. And so on Friday our search began and nothing was quite up to par..Shawn has pride in his soon to be son, and it has rubbed off on me.



I'm already obsessed with everything about the one boy that I have. We will be the parents of our baby boy come a few short months..after all my careful consideration about the opposite sex..it is with wide open arms that I say WELCOME to our fam, and welcome to team Allen tough little boy..let's kick our feet up..I'm hoping and praying like father like son.

Valentine..

Valentines Day was supposed to be a big great perfect day for us! Shawn was busy all day so a few weeks ago we took a little weekend overnighter to make up for it. Our sleep over was soo fun, but for some reason I still felt like Valentine's day needed a little celebration. After all, it is my third favorite holiday, after Christmas and the fourth of July. I reminded Shawn that many times. We have been waiting for about 6 weeks hoping to find out that day if our baby was a boy or a girl! I went to my step sister's bright and early to get my hair done..which I always look forward to. I thought my day was going to be perfect. While I was there my doctor called and said he was sick and we had to postpone until Friday! Like any hormonal girl would, I decided to let it ruin my entire morning and part of the afternoon. I went home and got into bed and turned off the light and insisted that Valentines day was ruined. After 45 minutes, and a lot of Shawn's patience before work I realized I was being ridiculous. Surprising?

So I got up and tried to turn around a day gone bad. Shawn didn't get home CLEAR until 9 pm so I went to the gym and came home to make heart shaped blueberry pancakes that turned out looking like little fetus's and actually grossed us out. When Shawn came home my world was fixed. He took me to Red Mango and we sat by the fire eating our yogurt and talked about past Valentine's days we have had..At the end of the day I realized all that mattered about the day. I am obsessed with my Valentine. The one I never see because he works and studies so hard, the one who can change my mood 180 in literally two minutes, the one who just has to sit next to me or walk through the door to make me so excited about life. I didn't know I was capable of being so obsessive...Thanks for choosing me and sticking with me Valentine..I'm proud to be the other half, soon to be third of Team Allen.





P.s..we are hoping today is the day, boy or girl!?

Adventure.

I'm a major sucker, for any idea that includes anything even close to that dang word adventure. I am a very illogical thinker when it comes to these things, and I always find a way in my head to make impossible things seem totally average and possible. It actually annoys me, so I cant' imagine how it annoys my mom, or how about my husband. But still, when a few friends wanted to go to Tonga after nursing school, I had about $50 in my bank account and imagined up a perfectly impossibly possible plan and somehow barely scrounged by, I wouldn't trade my time there for anything.

When my friend suggested I fly to Alaska to meet her and work construction in Nome the very next morning, again I thought up an impossible plan to clear my schedule and go, again I wouldn't change it. Last year Shawn's parents invited us to join them on an Alaskan cruise that we probably should have turned down, however when it involves seeing new places as tempting as it is we never can just say NO. We joined them, and it was once in a lifetime and completely amazing.

Since that time I have came up with probably 100 plans that my husband laughs at, and that soon become too impossible to be even closely possible. However, my reaction was no different when my friend from work mentioned to me that she is going on an operation smile mission, and wanted me to join. Operation Smile is an organization I have been interested in for a long time. It is an organization who goes to third world countries repairing cleft lip and palates. I can't imagine being a child who had an opportunity to get their smile fixed! I can only imagine it would mean the world to them.
And so once again, I am an unbelievable sucker for adventure, and the word No just wouldn't come out. I brought the idea of going to Peru with operation smile up to my Doctor. Surprisingly she seemed very unconcerned. She explained that we will look over the immunization and medication list and make sure there is nothing that could be potentially dangerous for an expectant mother. So for the past few days I have had off work, I have been working on my credentialing, and finishing my application, while I dreamed of the faces that wait for me in Peru.


Last week I worked a dreaded night shift. One of my required two a month. I rocked a baby with a form of cancer to sleep, and I glanced over at their mom asleep on the cold tile floor, which I'm assuming seemed more comfortable then the offered hard parent bed. The room had a gorgeous view of down town Salt Lake city, and the lights from the city illuminated her sleeping face. I thought about what a crazy adventure this must be. To be a mom of a child, and wanting everything to be all better no matter what.

And then I realized I am starting out on my newest of adventures. This type of adventure is foreign to me. It will be being called Mom, and it will take me by surprise with ten little cute tiny fingers and ten little perfect toes. It will come to me and hopefully look just so much like my Shawny boy. It will bring much more excitement and all kinds of emotion then any previous adventure could have ever been even imagined up to be. This is what I look forward to..the new, the unexpected, the scary and once in a lifetime. This is my number one priority, and if that means putting any other adventure on hold then I can gladly do it. My mom was thrown a few unexpected adventures of her own, and overall she handled them with a queens grace. In my mind,she earned the title of world's greatest mom.
Thank goodness life is full of built in natural adventure..I suppose I don't mind being just a little more tired than usual, or falling asleep at 8 when it's supposed to be our date night in. It's all part of the joy in the adventure. Keep it coming.


but for the record, if it is safe and possible..I'm not saying I can say completely no to Peru next month. Don't judge. :)