New Beginnings!

Life has been quite busy over the past 6 months! Lots of changes & lots of new experiences. At the end of December we said "goodbye" to Texas & "hello" to New Orleans, Louisiana! We miss our family & friends back home, but are thankful for the new friendships we are developing out here in NOLA. We recently became members of Vintage Church- Metairie (vintagenola.org) & couldn't be more excited to get involved. The kids enjoy the church & their new friends. We have been blessed to have found a church so soon! This is one of the MANY prayers He's answered during this transition.

Austin & Sophie are doing great & growing like weeds! Austin is talking so much & is constantly surprising us with his development. He is growing up so fast, hard to believe he's already 2 years old. He has an amazing memory. He can remember peoples names & even gives us directions out of our neighborhood!

Sophie isn't too far behind. Her walking is steady & her communication skills are developing. Having a big brother to watch & learn from is a huge advantage. Austin is always teaching her new things, like how to climb chairs & tables (YIKES!!!). She's a big girl with a big personality!

They get along so well & love each other so much. They have their moments, but 99% of the time they are good buds. It's sweet to witness their relationship develop. At a recent doctors appointment another kid in the waiting room was picking on Sophie. The kids dad came up to him & corrected him, but before I could get involved Austin stuck his arm in front of Sophie, pushing her behind him to protect her! SUch a good big brother!!!! I was so proud. I called Matthew right away! =) He was proud too, of course.


Since we've moved out here we've been able to get them memberships at the children's museum, zoo & aquarium to keep us entertained. We've been trying to go on 2 outings each week. It's been fun & we especially like how close everything is located to us.

I really am going to try to post more often. I know I've said that in every other post, but hopefully this time I can follow through!

Here are a couple pictures of the kids taken by our friend Lindsey!
You should check out her website. She's an awesome RGV photographer!
http://www.fullofjoyphotography.com/

Austin's 2 year old photo shoot: (October 2010)


Sophie's 1 year photo shoot: (December 2010)

Sophie's 6 month photo session!

Hey Y'all!

This is the link to Sophie's 6 month pictures. I just can't get enough of them- can't stop looking at them. We just love our baby doll.


Enjoy!
http://www.suburbanchicphotography.com/assets%5Fd/7203/client%5Fftp/allison/

Go USA!

He's ready for the game!

Hermann Park

Fun at the park!!!

Sophie's gonna be a talker!

Here's a short video of Sophie sitting up and talking up a storm! She's growning up so fast.

Yeehaw!

Here a few picture of our little cowboy!

3 Months Old!

Happy 3 Month Birthday Sweet, Sweet Sophie! Daddy, Mommy & Big Brother Love you very much!




Austin enjoying fresh air!

picture update!

here a few recent pictures of Austin & Sophie!

Austin turned 16 months old on Feb. 21st & Sophie will be 3 months old on March 4th! Our littles are growing up so fast.

Baby Bunny


Baby Tigger


Toe-sies


Waking sister up!


cutie!


I love to stand up!

My babies!

All is good in the Allison household!

Austin love his little sister so much. Anytime Sophie is within his reach he's in her face giving her lots of hugs and kisses. Sophie is great and love her bother just as much. I often catch her smiling while Austin is around her. Here are some recent pictures... ENJOY!!!



after his naptime!



Cowboy up!



caught you Austin!



my own personal shredder!



LOVE IT!



little doll!



precious baby girl



my handsome boys



Austin chillin in his playroom... Loves the disney channel!



He loves his little sister.



dolly!



He's always snacking on something!



Mommy & her princess

Sophie's newborn pictures!

Austin & Sophie are doing GREAT! Last week was my first week at home alone with both kiddos and I must say... it wasn't bad at all.

OK, I wanted to post this link so that ya'll can look through SOPHIE'S newborn pictures taken when she was 2 weeks old!

http://www.suburbanchicphotography.com/assets%5Fd/7203/client%5Fftp/allison/

Enjoy! I am hoping to post another blog with more recent pictures SOON.

Hello Beautiful!

We are thrilled to announce the arrival of our beautiful baby girl, Sophie Elizabeth Allison. She was born on December 4, 2009 at 9:52am. She weighed in at 7lbs 14oz & was 20 inches long. She is absolutely beautiful.





At approximately 9:15ish on Thursday evening I began having contractions, but wasn't too certain whether they were "real" or not. I decided to take a shower and rest in bed to see if the pain would subside, but it never did. At that point (11p-ish) I decided to contact my doctors office to speak with the OB on call. Based on my response to some of his questions he end the call by saying he didn't think this was really "it." Some time around 12a I couldn't take the pain anymore. My contractions were approximately 3 to 5 minutes apart from one another & I was doing my best not to cry or breakdown. We called our neighbors and asked them to stay with Austin while we went to the hospital for an evaluation.

We arrived at the hospital at 1am, at this point we were still unsure as to whether or not Sophie would be joining within the next few hours. After checking my vitals they checked to see if I was progressing. The day before my doctor told me that I was 1cm dilated and 50% effaced (I had be there for the past 3 weeks). When they checked me then, I was 5 cm dilated and almost fully effaced. I WAS IN LABOR!! Too cool!!! I was immediately admitted and continued on, but with an epidural. I was in labor for about 11 hours when the decision to have a c-section had been made. All along my doctors were concerned about her size/measurements, especially her abdominal area so the possibility of having a c-section had been discussed. Because of this, I was able to prepare myself mentally for a c-section. I ended up with a c-section because Sophie was measuring a bit large, after all she was born 2 weeks early. Had she gone full term she probably could've reached 9lbs or so.

Sophie and I are doing great. Praise the Lord!!! Sophie is incredibly healthy lungs were fully developed, developmentally- she was right on target for 38 weeks, hearing results were perfect, apgar scores were terrific and despite my issues with gestational diabetes, her blood sugar was perfect. As always, Matthew was such a great help. He has taken great care of us throughout the pregnancy, during delivery and now after. I am recovering well. I have the expected aches and pains, but thanks to my pain meds, i am doing great!

Thank you friends and family for all of your love, support, encouragement and PRAYERS!

Below is a video of Austin and Sophie meeting for the first time. Due to H1N1 our hospital did not allow visitors between the ages of 1 and 12, which meant Austin had to wait until Sophie got home to meet her. We had expected Austin to demonstrate a little jealousy, which he did, just not in the way we expected! He was jealous because he wasn't getting to hold Sophie, not because we weren't holding him.









Sophie's Room: (minus- window valance and 3 slot picture frame over her changing table.)