Tummy time, sun, & snuggles

Sean LOVES his kids so much, all three of them

Caleb being silly and "helping" Chloe with tummy time. He likes to join in when she is practicing. :)

I LOVE my kids so much. It's even more amazing than I thought it would be to be a parent, their parent.

This is Caleb's "I crack myself up" face. He was giggling hysterically by this point.

Snuggles with Chloe... who has had enough affection for the moment!

We call her "mini Mommy" sometimes :)

Grammy loves her snuggles too!! Man, does Caleb get excited when the doorbell rings!

We had to do a little photo shoot with Chloe's awesome, cute-as-can-be sun hat. Yes, she's also wearing a jacket. :) It can be windy here in the spring! Sunny but windy...

Love her soft, squishy cheeks!!

Potty training journal II

After the first several days where I felt like we were constantly (I know that's an exaggeration) cleaning the floor and changing his outfit, Caleb had a day with no misses! Every time that day when he needed to go, he said, I need to pee, then went and got on the potty. He is peeing into the potty most of the time now, with just one or two misses per day. Sometimes when he is playing or hanging out in the kitchen, he will stop, look down, and a puddle materializes. But more and more he is realizing the urge and making it to the potty!

We are still working on pooping into the potty. If he is already sitting on the potty, he does well, but he doesn't necessarily stop playing to go #2 on the potty. I have some underwear to clean today, and they're more than just wet. Ahem. Is this TMI?? I feel like it's important to document, but I realize this is pretty detailed!

Yesterday, he had a couple misses but stayed dry during his nap-- that is good progress!! You can't really "teach" someone not to pee while they are sleeping. :) That's more of a maturity thing, or being smart about limiting their liquid intake for an hour or two before sleep. (??)

There have been several days where he has successfully gone first thing after waking up, or mid-morning. I think we will do Pull-ups for church, Bible study, and errands... We haven't tried using public restrooms yet, and I'm really wishing we had one of those portable potties for kids.

I might just bring our kid potty in the car and try that... but Caleb likes to climb around in the back of the Pilot, so he may be distracted if I put him and the potty back there and expect him to just sit on it and go. Why sit still when you can climb over the seat, push the light buttons, and grab the handles in the ceiling? :)

The last few days Caleb has really resisted going to the potty. But if we just say, it's time to sit on the potty, even if you don't go, and "help" or "encourage" him (i.e. carry him kicking and screaming) to sit down, he will usually go. :) We are working on having a good attitude in obeying Mommy and Daddy. I am so grateful he is doing so well at calming himself down enough to talk in a regular voice. We will often ask him, when he starts crying or whining, "Please try again in a normal voice." It might take a few tries, but he really does have a remarkable ability to do it, for a two-year-old. He's a special kid and even in the challenges, I am so grateful God gave him to us for a time.

Caleb's Corner (Jan-Feb)

Chloe gets a lot of attention these days... but Caleb is such a joy!!! I want to enjoy him (and blog about him!). He says the greatest, funniest things! Almost daily I think, "I need to write that down," but rarely manage to. Here are a couple examples of cute and/or funny things.

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A few weeks ago we purchased the classic Disney movie Lady and the Tramp. We've watched it with Caleb twice now, and I've seen a couple effects.... 1) During pre-meal prayertime, he asks for "proteck from bad doggies" (and from "bad monkeys," which is related to on of Sean's coworkers scaring Caleb with a gorilla mask a few months ago). 2) He likes to role-play a lot, and has started issuing instructions when we are playing together. One day recently, it was, "You be Butch, Daddy. I'm Lady." He proceeded to refer to Daddy as Butch (the Tramp) throughout dinner, which was hilarious to me. "Thank you, Butch."  "I all done, Butch. Get down, please, Butch?"

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Yesterday, Caleb and his daddy were tossing a soccer ball back and forth while I was sitting nearby. After Caleb threw it, he looked over and said, "Mommy, clap!" (Only it sounded like, "Mommy, cwap!" and I wasn't sure at first if he had said "crap" or "clap.") He knows what he wants, I guess... We are working on learning to not demand things of others...

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Caleb tripped and landed on his bottom. He asked, "Mommy put bandaid on Caleb's bottom?" I had to chuckle.

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"Kwo-wee two old months," instead of "Chloe is two months old."

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And now, some pictures, because pictures are just awesome. :)

chalk time with Daddy... Caleb's quite the artist ;)

at Santa Barbara Zoo-- it was a beautiful (bright) day in January

with our buddy "Cam-wun" (Cameron)

hanging out in the back yard one day... he really wanted to wear that hat

checking out the bbq

he loves hugging and kissing, and even sharing with, his sister Chloe!

our beautiful boy

I'm starting to understand it when people say their kids are growing up way too fast. My kids are growing up way too fast!!! :) I'm loving each new stage, and getting to watch him mature a little more every day. It's incredible. A little scary, too, to teach him now to navigate the world. It feels weighty because we are entrusted with such responsibility to train and instruct and guide Him toward God, though only God can save him. He's learning so much from us, whether intentional or incidental--the whole "caught" vs. "taught" concept. Our kids will pick up what we really believe by how we live, and they will notice whether our actions match what we say we believe. God is refining us all through this process, and I'm so glad He's given us the kids He has, all three of them. :)

Caleb & Chloe

This is so typical of their relationship!

SLO Children's Museum!

A couple weeks ago, we "cashed in" a gift certificate from Grammy and Papa J (my parents) for a trip to the  Children's Museum in San Luis Obispo! It was a blast! There were lots of neat activities for Caleb (and, ahem, the big kids) on three different floors, and outside.

a 360-degree train table!

fire truck!!

an air tube that suspended different types of balls-- very fun!

I just love Caleb's face in this one :)

water table

It was a beautiful, warm day!! Not bad for end of November :)

You'll notice Caleb is "all done" playing with the Legos, while the men are still enthralled (trying to perfect their dam/waterfall)...

I think Papa might like one of these???

cool "shadow wall" with glow in the dark surface that stayed lit for a  few seconds after a flash

It was a really neat place that I think we'd enjoy visiting again. We topped off the morning with lunch together at New Frontiers, a "natural marketplace" with yummy healthy food and a deli/soup/salad bar. We are looking forward to more Grammy/Papa outings in the future. It's a blessing to be living in the same town for a season and we want to capitalize on it!

(No Baby Chloe yet.... Stay tuned...)

Counting my blessings

There are so many things we can be thankful for here. I've been wanting to catalog the "easy to take for granted" ones, so here goes. I'm sure there are more I will think of later!

1. Sidewalks in front of our house. This was one thing that bugged me every time I went jogging or walking from our house in Colorado. There were not very many sidewalks near our house, so I would have to walk on the street, evading cars and dealing with a slight slant to the road. Here there are tons of sidewalks, and neat neighborhoods to explore.

2. Two parks within walking distance. The closest park to our house in CO was 0.9 miles away-- not insurmountable, but it was sometimes enough to dissuade me from making the trek. (I am a pretty pathetic pregnant lady, very bad at wanting to exercise much, despite my earlier enthusiasm for going to the Y.) Now, we have a great park just around the corner from our house! We pass five houses (along the sidewalk), turn right, and Caleb sees the roof of the play structure down a block and says, "Slide? slide? slide? slide?"

3. Familiarity with the area. It's very nice to not have to look up directions or an address every time you want to leave the house! I already know how to get places, and going to the base is no sweat (used to commute there every day!). I am a little rusty on where specific offices/buildings are on base, but it's coming back to me. :) It's funny how what I once thought of as "all the way at the other end of town" takes, at most, 10 minutes to get to. I was used to driving 20 or 30 minutes to get most places in the Springs, since we lived on the north-eastern edge of town. We currently live north(ish?) of where my parents live, so I am having to get used to the fact that some things are south of me.

4. Caleb's moldability. He has started saying, unprompted, "choo choo train after dinner" when we put him in the high chair, even at snack time or breakfast time. It's so great to see (and hear) confirmation that he is absorbing at least some of our instruction! I have started reading Bringing Up Boys by James Dobson, and want to re-read Shepherding a Child's Heart and dive into Instructing a Child's Heart, both by Tedd Tripp, I believe. We need help!!!! Caleb distracts himself (and tries to distract us) when we are trying to discipline him-- recently he showed us his belly button while we were "having a talk." It's so hard to stay serious when he does stuff like that-- it's so cute!-- but at the same time it's super frustrating when he refuses to pay attention and tunes us out. It's very important that he learns to listen to us, especially in light of his new game of running away when we call him, to make us chase him. VERY bad if he were to run into the street. We are still working on that one...

5. Timing of our move. Fall Bible studies are just starting up, so we will hopefully be able to get plugged into a church fairly easily. We have visited five so far, one for each Sunday we have been here, and have some great options. I am looking forward to getting back into more of a routine with midweek Bible studies.

6. A healthy, uneventful pregnancy. Today (9/5) I had my first OB appointment with my new doctor here in CA, and it was great. (We are officially 25 weeks, 6 days today.) He wanted to do an ultrasound to check out the baby (in 2D and 3D!!!), and of course I was thrilled to get to see her! That's always a treat. Everything looked good, and measured on track with my existing due date, as far as the baby's head and abdomen size. It doesn't hurt when the doctor says you are "thin." :) It's such a miracle, so surreal to see a little human body inside you. She was kicking, too, in response to the pressing of the ultrasound probe. Very cool. I happen to think she's super cute!! Can't wait to meet her and see her up close and hold her. That's a special moment, meeting your baby for the first time.

Just chillin...

No more paparazzi, please!

7. The mild climate. It has been in the 60's and 70's here, which is 20-30 degrees cooler than it would be in Colorado Springs! When I was pregnant with Caleb in the summer, I remember being very uncomfortable, and my feet were often puffy. Here I haven't noticed having that condition once! It's more humid here too, with the nice ocean breeze; my skin always enjoys that.

8. An abundance of fresh produce. I have really been enjoying the farmer's markets here! We haven't gone to a "pick your own" place yet, but that is definitely on our family radar for sometime soon. This past weekend we went to the Avila Valley Barn with Mom and Dad and got watermelon, asparagus, corn, nectarines, strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries. SO YUMMY. I don't even like raspberries that much, but they were sooo good. I can't say I love watermelon, but maybe it's just bland, watery, pithy watermelon that I don't like. :P Fresh, primo-ripe fruit is just so good. I'm so thankful we have access to such a variety of fresh (and usually organic) fruits and veggies. I cannot WAIT for pumpkins. Caleb will really be old enough to enjoy picking out pumpkins this year, I think. Fall's my favorite season... and I love pumpkins. I just love harvest and hay and orange and red... and baking. Lots of baking. I bought the big box of butter at Costco today- four one-pound blocks, which is equivalent to 16 sticks. (Hey, it was way cheaper per pound than at the grocery store!) I usually slice the bricks into sticks, then freeze all but a couple. I have many, many good-looking recipes I want to try out-- strawberry bread, apricot breakfast muffins, autumn muffins. I LOVE cinnamon and nutmeg and cloves. I will let you know how these new recipes turn out. :)

9. My amazing husband. Not only does he give me the opportunity to have (beautiful) children, he takes care of us so well. He's so diligent, and more often than not, if I happen to run an errand while he is at home, the dishes are done when I come back! He likes to straighten, he plays with Caleb and puts him to bed most nights... He does laundry and gives good back rubs (it's a toss-up to me, which of those two is more romantic!). It's so sad to think about "falling out of love" or not wanting to be married anymore. It kills me to think about us drifting apart, and I don't want that to ever happen; I never want something to come between us. I used to wonder, How can you know if your marriage will make it? So many of them don't. So many people give up, even after 20 or 30 years of marriage. And I have decided, at this point, that I can only do my best with today, and 'a long obedience in the same direction' will Lord-willing result in a long, stable, happy marriage (happy in the sense of "we still enjoy hanging out with each other after 10 or 20 or 30 years," not in the "he will fulfill all my wishes" sense). As in so many areas, with marriage, I am responsible for being obedient to God today. It's impossible to guarantee where you might be in 20 years, but I know where I am today (most of the time!), and I can be faithful with the big or little things God has given me at this moment, whether it's changing messy diapers or respecting my husband, cleaning bathrooms or training a two-year-old. Any task can be done for God's glory, whether it's fun or not-so-fun; visible or transparent; important or just necessary.

10. Family close-by! This is a biggie, and I'm not just saying that because my mom reads my blog. :) It is such a huge blessing to be near family. We really missed that in Colorado, especially around holidays where we couldn't go home. (Looking forward to Thanksgiving and Christmas this year!) We get the blessing of awesome meals that I didn't have to cook, fellowship, wise counsel, a "home away from home," a place where people know you and love you... and have known you and loved you your entire life. They get the blessing of being able to invest in their grandson, and soon granddaughter, and of course their daughter and son-in-law. It has been a really neat element of moving back. We are enjoying the opportunities for date nights too, with the best babysitters around. :)

I'm sure there are many more things to recognize and appreciate, but for now I'll stop at the nice, round number of 10. :)

Talk soon,
M

Settling In

We have been in California for exactly three weeks now, and are settling in well. So far we have partaken in several Central Coast specialties, though we haven't taken a single picture:

San Luis Obispo Farmer's Market - one of the oldest and largest farmer's markets in CA, with an average of 10,000 people weekly. Lots of fresh fruit, restaurant stands, live music and entertainment (bands, jugglers, balloon animals, etc.) and random protestors warning of genetically-modified corn or quoting Bible verses. (You can even register to vote at one of the booths...)

Avila Beach - Caleb LOVED the water and let the waves come up over his legs. He didn't want to leave! He's getting much better about tolerating sand on his feet too. There's also a nice playground with slides and swings. We enjoyed lunch at a place called the Hula Hut, with amazing salads, sandwiches, and wraps (and clam chowder!). It was a beautiful, sunny day. Sean and I threw around our frisbee a little bit-- I can still bend over to pick it up okay, but I can tell those days are numbered as my tummy gets bigger! The seagulls rifled through our paper bag of snacks while we were down at the water! The bag was pretty much demolished, and they ate some bread and who knows what else. Ooops. A beautiful day all around.

Bonfire/BBQ at Grover Beach - Sean's squadron held a social event there last Friday night, and it was neat to meet new people (and reconnect with a few people I knew when I worked with the Training Group on base three years ago-- some of the current squadron members were my students when I taught in the Group!) It was a gorgeous day, warm enough for short sleeves, with an amazing sunset to finish off the evening. In central-coastal CA, you always bring a sweatshirt to the beach, even in the middle of the day, in case it is "socked in" or foggy. But we didn't need our hoodies! I ate way too much tri-tip and chicken, but it was just so good! A place in Lompoc called Floriano's catered the main dish (ie. the meat) and it was amazing. I ate about half a chicken, I think. I "helped" Sean with his plate after he was done, too. There were a bunch of other little kids that Caleb played with, which was fun! He had sand EVERYWHERE... made for a fun bathtime (and a very sandy tub).

local farmer's markets - most of the farmers provide organic produce and it's a fun experience to wander among the canopies and enjoy free samples of peaches, strawberries, or grapes. Haven't bought squash, local honey, flowers, lettuce, artisan bread, or tomatoes there yet. :) Mom and I (and Caleb) went this past Wednesday and got some nectarines, white peaches, apples, and strawberries. YUM!

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There are many, many places and things we want to rediscover as a family, introducing Caleb to places Mommy and Daddy went when they were just getting to know each other four years ago. We met in October of 2008, so we'll be coming up on "anniversaries" like becoming an item (Jan. 25, 2009), first date, first Valentine's Day, first kiss (that date's a secret!), engagement, first "I love you," etc. I enjoy reminiscing about stuff like that.

Here are some of the places we want to go, with or without Caleb:

Oso Flaco Lake hike

Avila Valley Barn (with pick-your-own fruit and petting zoo for Caleb!)

Point Sal hike - one I've done many times, with various friends

Montana de Oro State Park - one of our favorite places to hike and camp

Jalama Beach - we camped there with friends during Thanksgiving '09, before we were even dating!

Splash Cafe in Pismo Beach - famous for their clam chowder in bread bowls, it's not uncommon to see a line of people snaking out the door and around the corner of the building, waiting for chowder or fish and chips.

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We have also been able to have a couple different people over for dinner-- on Sunday we had over Sean's coworker Jon, who just PCS'd here too (with Italian sausage/zucchini/tomato pasta and amazing oatmeal chocolate-chip cookies).... and Tuesday night, our friend Melanie who lives next door now (Mexican stuffed shells, Greek salad, and fresh fruit).

It's been a busy couple of weeks! All the boxes in the garage are at least opened, though we will need to go through several of them and pare down (i.e. get rid of junk). We have lots and lots of linens we aren't using, and I figure someone else could be using them RIGHT NOW. How many twin comforters do we need, anyway??? We have two twin beds... and about five comforters. I am determined to consolidate my mementos into one large tub: whatever doesn't fit, goes... and if I want to add something new, I will need to make room or get rid of something else. Right now I have several medium-size tubs of various memento items... and numerous shoe boxes with every birthday card, recital program, and wedding invitation I've ever received (or so it seems)! Yesterday I worked through two smallish moving boxes, and it felt quite liberating to go from two cardboard boxes full, to a shoebox of small papers and blank, usable notepads.

We have had some good quality time with Mom and Dad-- especially since they have laundry facilities and internet! ;) We finally got our wireless stuff figured out, thanks to the Comcast guy.... still waiting to buy a washer and dryer until we get our move money sorted out with the military. We've enjoyed some awesome meals at their house and good hang-out time. Sean likes all the meat Mom cooks in her meals. :) My penny-pinching, meat-stretching ways have been found out! (But as long as Sean is okay with upping our food budget, and he is, I am okay with cooking with more meat.) Caleb frequently asks for "Grammy cars," "Grammy hold you," and "see Papa?" We are really grateful to be near family, and not just for the free babysitting. :)

Caleb has been doing okay in his toddler bed. We have been trying it out since we moved, with varying results. The first few nights he did great! Now, occasionally he'll get up multiple times during the night... or come super early to our room and say something adorable like, "Daddy sleeping? Hello, Daddy," or my favorite, "Come out, Mommy? Mommy breakfast, please?" It's such a weird experience to hear something cute like that when you are soooo not fully awake yet, and wishing you could sleep some more. Part of me does enjoy his cuteness and treasures it away, and part of me is just very, very tired. He's been getting up at 6:30 most days this week... so I have too, for the most part. I realize that some people may not consider 6:30 to be excessively early, but I am admittedly not a morning person... and not really a night owl either. I'm more of a 9 a.m.-9 p.m. person! HA! Especially while pregnant....

Today he played with my night-table items until about 7:20, when I finally got up. The last few days this week at nap time, he has made a game out of seeing how many times Mommy will put him back in his bed! On Wednesday I lasted about an hour before giving up and letting him out to play. He was fine, in a cheerful mood the rest of the day, though yawning more than normal. Mommy was the grumpy one, from not getting her nap and her wishes being defied! Off and on I have been having difficulty sleeping lately (thankfully, it's not every night). One night I woke up at 4 a.m., wide awake, and just read on the couch until the day really started (we don't have a table lamp in the bedroom yet so I went in the other room to let Sean sleep). I've had some leg cramps and limb discomfort that keep me awake, or wake me up. But it makes me even more grateful when I do get good sleep. I am grateful too that I can safely enjoy a cup of coffee, and can stomach the taste/smell of it. During the first trimester, you aren't supposed to drink coffee, or consume caffeine from any source, really, because they think it might increase your chance of miscarriage-- I'm not sure how strong the link is between the two, but hey, it's worth refraining just in case. For awhile there (and I do love me my morning coffee!) I would make a cup, then take about two sips before not being able to drink any more. Thankfully, now I can enjoy it again, for whatever reason.

Anyway.... all that to say, I am usually tired at any point in the day, and trying to enjoy what free time I have, when Caleb is playing nicely with cars or trains, because I know those days are numbered. Soon, even if The Toddler is gainfully occupied, there will be an infant needing a feeding or a changing or a burping! It's still hard to believe. Even with feeling and looking increasingly pregnant, I still can't quite fathom the fact that there will be a new baby in our lives in less than four months. It will come soon enough, so I want to enjoy time with "just Caleb" as much as I can. Even if I am tired and NOT a fan of battles of wills.

It's really been a challenge for me lately, the stage he is in! I don't mind the outright kicking and screaming when he doesn't want to leave the park/beach/playground.... I just pick him up and away we go. Either other people will understand, or they won't. I am getting less and less worried about what other people think about my screaming child. The big tantrum is somehow easier to deal with because at this point I can somewhat control the outcome (by picking him up and walking away, or strapping him in his car seat, etc.) I don't try to reason with him or "ask nicely" for him to obey; I just "help" him obey. What gets my goat is the mischievous look he gets on his face when he is testing the boundaries, or the times he intentionally disobeys! He knows what we want him to do, and he does the opposite. Or throws food on the floor right after I just told him that was not okay. Repeatedly. That is the most tiring aspect of parenting, I think. Reinforcing things over and over. And staying patient when it is messy or exhausting or frustrating. It points us back to Christ, because we are not adequate for the task. He can help us, and give us wisdom, for which I am so thankful.

And now I am off to rest while Caleb naps! I lowered the mattress on the crib today, from the "infant" setting to "keeps in toddlers." He and I tried starting his nap in his bed today... then when he got up five minutes after I left, into the crib he went. He fussed for about five minutes, and is now quiet. I am totally okay with going back to the crib for awhile. There is no rule that says a child has to sleep in a toddler bed by a certain age, or ever. He will get more, better sleep this way... I will get a little time to rest or be otherwise productive. We are both happy when he wakes up-- win win!

We are pleased to announce...

God is blessing us with a baby GIRL! We are thrilled, and I am already starting to brainstorm a "kids' room"  decor scheme, something neither too girly nor overly masculine. (Current plan is Americana, with deep red, dark denim, and a creamy taupe. I can't wait to make a quilt for Caleb's bed!) We decided to make our second bedroom a guest/sewing room, and the third bedroom The Kids' Room. A toddler bed, crib, and bookshelf fit very nicely in it! :) She will probably be in our room for the first six months or so after she's born, so Caleb can still play in there unhindered. When Caleb was an infant, we used a co-sleeper next to our bed that worked very well for night-time feedings. He has still been sleeping in a crib in his room, since he hasn't tried to climb out yet (knock on wood), and has not yet slept in his toddler bed, but we are planning on trying it out tonight!

We have arrived safely in California, after a four-day road trip through Colorado, Utah, Arizona (very briefly), and Nevada. We have been staying with my parents until we get our house put together, and it is coming along nicely. I hope to download our pictures from the trip soon so I can put together a post with pictures! We saw some AMAZING, gorgeous Creation while we were traveling and I can't wait to share it.

During the trip, people (strangers) started asking me when I was due, so I think I am looking pregnant now. :) Definitely starting to feel pregnant! Like... walk a little funny, can't bend over pregnant. :)

It's bath time for Caleb, so I better go!!!

More soon!
M

Baby Shower, CA-style

In mid-July I was privileged to be able to go to CA for a week to visit my parents (and gobs of other people!). Among the activities on our itinerary were the wedding of my dear friend Luke (one of my "oldest" friends; we've been friends since 9th grade) and a baby shower for the newest Allen-to-be. Both activities were part of a whirlwind weekend that went by way too fast, but it was a ton of fun. Wedding post to come, but for now, BABY!


A sampling of the amazing food prepared by my amazing mother

I just thought this picture was funny. Joy, the diligent note-taker (and a dear friend of Sean and me), and.... me, being goofy as usual. With one of many too-cute tiny boy outfits. We have been so blessed by people's generosity and thoughtfulness!

My artistic grandma, Athene, whose coastal paintings grace our hallways. My paternal grandparents live in Redlands, about a four hours' drive south, and they were able to come up for the day! Poor Grandpa was sequestered away upstairs while all the estrogen invaded the house (it was LOUD and busy with all those ladies!), but I don't think he minded too much; he did get a nice nap.

Family portrait!

Sean was able to come to CA for the weekend, for which we were so thankful. I'm really glad we all get along so well. It was really neat to be able to visit Santa Maria together, since I have come out a time or two by myself. We very much enjoyed our time "back home"-- Sean lived there for nine months, I lived there for about 12 years, but we both have good memories of the Central Coast, for many reasons. It doesn't hurt that's where we met, right? We always enjoy being pampered by our parents, too. :) Now, being a wife, I very much appreciate being cooked-for and taken care of.

Cooking is currently one of my greatest joys (honestly!), but sometimes it's nice to "help" in the kitchen, without having to mastermind the "what's for dinner" plan. Mom's an awesome cook, and no, I'm not saying that just because she reads this blog (hi, Mom!). I'm so glad she passed on that love of cooking to me. Sean even told me today, I hope you don't stop cooking. My response was, as I looked over at the pot bubbling on the stove, Oh, it doesn't need to be stirred for another few minutes. He meant "don't stop" as in, "please don't get tired of it a couple years from now." I hope that never happens! I know it can be difficult to come up with new, exciting, healthy meals involving the same old chicken... but I have some resources at my disposal, everything from cooking magazines to blogs. One blog I've recently discovered is written by two sisters who attended my college (one of whom lived in my dorm!), and it's been extremely helpful so far! They write about frugal, healthy cooking, which is right up my alley. I want to learn and get better at it, since I'm just starting out. It's called Near to Nothing, and I heartily recommend you check it out.

So, to sum up, the baby shower was awesome, and cooking is awesome. And my diamond ring is really sparkly. :) Sometimes I still can't believe this is my life now. I think I've gotten used to being married, somewhat, so it's not a shock every morning when I wake up in a big bed (not my old twin bed) with a ring on my finger and a pretty-amazingly-wonderful-handsome-affectionate husband. Life will only get more interesting as our family grows! The other day I was trying to picture having an eight-year-old offspring (for whatever reason). I can almost picture having a baby as part of our family (though that thought is still kind of hazy), but it's hard to imagine caring for an elementary-school-age child, or even a kindergartner who can TALK and write and read! Good thing they grow gradually. And good thing God's mercies are new every morning! We're going to need all the help we can get. It's a good adventure.

Summer Visitors

This summer, we have had the privilege of seeing several out-of-state visitors! We are so excited to be able to open our home, this home that God has given us. (We still marvel at the home we get to live in!) Before we moved in, we prayed every day that wherever we ended up, God would help us be hospitable and let us use our home for Him. I definitely want to be more proactive about having people over for dinner or a game night, but it's really nice when people just let you know they are stopping through your area and are willing to come see you!

In June, my dear college friend Kaitie stopped by overnight on her way from CA to NH (along with her friend Kathy and kitty Wesley, not pictured). In college she and I would often exchange back rubs to counteract those insidious studying-induced knots, or stop by each other's study carrels in the library for a little chat break, and even though we lived in different dorms, we were able to hang out quite a bit. She has a beautiful singing voice (we were in a big choir together, then later on she made it into Chorale, the more-selective 60-person group that goes on a tour every summer), and enjoyed studying biblical counseling (and even took a couple years of Greek). She ended up staying and working in Santa Clarita after we both graduated from college in 2006, so her apartment was the place I stayed whenever I'd come down for a weekend visit, which was fairly often the first year or so. She's got lots of good books on her bookshelves, and is now starting a new life-chapter back in New Hampshire, where her mom and brother live. It will be cool to see where God takes her!

In July, my mom's Uncle Stan and Aunt Phyllis stopped by during a big RV trip, where they visited Wyoming and Montana and all sorts of places over a period of several weeks. They were in Golden, CO and contacted me about a visit before they headed home to Visalia, CA. I'm so glad they thought of me and were willing to stop by for lunch! Sean was TDY in Utah at the time, but hopefully next time they can hang out with him too.

Quite recently, on August 5th, another dear college friend, Kristi, met me in Castle Rock for lunch! Her parents live in Littleton, CO, and she is currently out here visiting them (she and her husband Brian live in Santa Clarita, CA). She and I met the fall semester of our freshman year; we survived a Tues-Thurs 8 a.m. Old Testament Survey class together (completing the special project as a team, as well-- we designed and created a "choose your own adventure"-style booklet on Jonah), and we were wingmates to boot, living just a few doors down from each other. She's the sweetest person, very careful that her words are only positive or uplifting, and really wants to honor God with her life. She has been an elementary-school teacher for two years and spearheads a junior high girls' Bible study at her church. I was blessed to be in her wedding a few summers ago. :) She's also about 10 weeks behind me in her pregnancy, which is so exciting. I can't believe we are pregnant at the same time!! It's just a strange thought that we are sharing this life-phase too, in addition to those crazy college days. Kristi gives the best back rubs and was always willing to take a moment to talk in the hallway, or lend me midnight snacks or craft supplies. One more thing I can't neglect to mention.... the origins are long-forgotten, but somehow our nicknames are KK and MM. That's even how she is listed in my cell phone: simply "KK." I guess there are enough Katys and Kristis that she gets her own moniker.

It's been a good summer for visits! The Allen Fam B&B is always open for business, so come on down! I love catching up with "old" friends and seeing how we are different/older/wiser, and yet how we are still the same. I absolutely love it when you can pick right back up where you left off, with no awkwardness. God is good, and those conversations are always encouraging.

SMV Discovery Museum's Easter Egg Hunt 2009

I was hoping to post this around Easter time, but blogging slipped way down the priority list and here we are a few weeks later. Still fun to reminisce!


Here's Sean, "supervising" prize distribution :)

The kids, rarin' to go and waiting to be released into the museum for the hunt

Our cohorts in crime, some fellow Lts, Megan and Cam; a Sgt and his SO; and far left, Jennifer the museum director. It was a pretty neat event! Lots of fun and only slightly exhausting. I forget what all we actually "helped" with; most of the work was done when we arrived. It was mainly being there to help kids out if they needed it. Good times from one year ago.