Some recent pictures...

Emma and the class bear, "Cuordoroy". Emma took care of Cuordoroy for 3 days, and we took some pictures of her with him for the class journal!



Mamaw, Emma and Gabe


Cutie pie!


Emma and Brendan fed the ducks on the Ohio River. This was at the WorldFest.


Our two babies and their favorite blankets!



Emma had a tea party with Cuordoroy!


I love this picture of Emma, taken on 8-25-08.


Emma in her bedroom


My dad and Mike built our pergola. It doesn't do much "shading" from the sun, but hey, it looks nice!

Emma shared her breakfast with Coudoroy.

McCain/Palin!

Going into the Republican National Convention, I was a bit nervous about McCain's choice for VP. However, after hearing lovely Sarah Palin speak Wednesday night, I have become more confident and more eager about this election. (And after seeing McCain's 96-year-old mother sitting in the audience, I am a bit less skeptical about his age--ha ha.)

Okay, enough politics. Emma started ballet yesterday for the fall session, and she really likes it. She goes every Thursday now. We are also a virus-free home once again! Everybody is healthy!

Gabe added a few more words to his vocabulary. I was reading a Dora book to him, and he pointed to Swiper and said, "Biper". It was so cute. He loves Dora! He can say diaper, and when I change his diaper, he says "all clean!" He will even tell me, "I pee pee". Or course, that might mean that he's peed or it might mean something even bigger :)

Have a great weekend!

Happy Labor Day!

Well, I hope all of our friends had a better Labor Day weekend then we had! We did go up to the festival on Saturday, and had a lot of fun with our friends, Carmen and Charles, and their little boy Brendan. But Gabe wasn't eating a lot, and we could tell he didn't feel up to par. But we stayed for a few hours and ate some yummy food, and when we came home that night he was fine. He slept through the night, and yesterday he didn't eat much. Oh, and Mike woke up with the stomach bug yesterday morning, so he felt horrible all day yesterday.

Emma, Gabe and I met my parents and sister for dinner at Cracker Barrel, and Gabe didn't eat anything. And when we came home, he threw up again (sorry I am talking about this so much!) Anyways, my whole point is that this virus is apparently not a 24-hour bug, or even a 48-hour one. Gabe has not been himself since he took it on Thursday. Last night he slept all night again, and woke up this morning thirsty and hungry, which is a good sign! This virus has taken a lot out of his little body! But he's been playing today, and drinking which is the most important thing. I am so ready for this virus to leave my house! I have been bleaching everything.

So far, Emma and I haven't come down with it. And I am praying that we don't!

4-year checkup

Emma had her check-up on Thursday and did wonderful! First we did the developmental questionaire, and Emma loved it! She breezed through it, and according to that, she is on the level of a 5 year old! She did great on her hearing test, and her eye test went well: 20/25 on each eye. She weighs 40 pounds and is 40 inches long, which put her in the 75th percentile for both. And then came the dreaded part--shots! I had dreaded it all morning, even waking up with a sick feeling in my stomach thinking about it. I just knew she would do horrible. But Emma Caroline never ceases to amaze me. The nurse came in with the 3 different needles (4 vaccinations but only 3 sticks thank goodness)! Emma let me lay her on the table and I held her arms like I was giving her a big bear hug. And you know what? She didn't shed one tear. I was completely surprised! And she was so happy when she got to pick out her stickers--of course she chose Cinderella! And then we went to the candy store to pick out her treat!

In other news, Gabe picked up the Stomach bug. He threw up 3 times on Thursday, but Thursday night he slept through the night. And then he woke up Friday still feeling icky, but no more throwing up thank goodness! But today both Mike and I are feeling a bit queasy. Please, oh please, don't let me catch that. That virus just about kills me! We are heading up to WorldFest in Louisville on the river, so hopefully everything will be fine until we make it home. HOPEFULLY!

The Birthday Bash

Gabe enjoyed the cake mommy made him on his second birthday--8-15-2008

Emma enjoyed it too--and she helped us sing "Happy Birthday" to Gabe. Actually, she helped us by "whispering" it--she didn't want to sing out loud, although she has no problem singing out loud any other day!

Gabe loves the cool rug that Nana and Grandpa sent him! It has tracks on it--tracks that he can't get mad at and toss across the room! Woo hoo!

Gabe's big, soft, cuddly puppy sent all the way from Germany!

Emma and her "princess partner in crime"--Macy!

All set up for the big party! But it was so HOT!!

Mamaw, 2 princesses and one little monkey!

My sweet boy!

Isn't he adorable?

Gabriel Allen and Papaw Allen

Brenna "celebrating" with Emma!

Princess Emma getting ready for the fun part--opening gifts!

Gabe's cake

Emma's cake

Gabe started falling asleep and nodding off--almost into his cake!

Emma enjoyed playing "pin the tail on the donkey"--although there was some cheating going on!

Another little cheater--Brendan

And yep, she ended up cheating too. Brenna! It was so cute--they all would peek!

Emma in her new Princess Aurora dress-up outfit!

Happy 4th Birthday Emma Caroline!

Today is my baby girl's 4th birthday. She and Gabe had their big party on Saturday, which I have tons of photos to post later! Today she brought cupcakes to share with her friends at preschool, and was line leader and she told me her friends sang "Happy Birthday" to her. She was so excited. Gone is my baby--because she has certainly developed into a beautiful little girl. Although, she will always be "mommy's baby" in my heart!

2-year checkup

Today was Gabe's 2-year checkup. He now weighs 31 pounds, and is 35 inches long! He is in the 75th percentile for both height and weight. He is right where he should be--both developmentally and physically! He had to get 1 shot today--his 4th prevnar. No more vaccinations until he's 4. (Except for the flu vaccination in the fall--but we might try the nasal mist with him instead of the shot) He was so angry after his shot! I carried him out of the dr's office kicking and screaming. He would not leave the bandaid on either! For some reason, Emma and Gabe do not like bandaids! I am glad that's over with!

Emma's 4th birthday is August 25th, and she has her 4-year checkup on the 28th. She will receive 3 vaccinations this time, and I absolutely dread it. I think its worse when they are older! My mom is going to watch Gabe because I am sure I will need both hands free for her!

Emma loves her preschool class. Emma had a gold medal today, and she told me she won the balloon races. I think they had "olympics" today. She looks forward to going every day!