HAPPY FIRST BIRTHDAY SWEETHEART

I can't believe a whole year has passed since our little princess joined this family. She's gone from a tiny newborn that drowned in preemie clothes, to a raucous little girl who climbs, dances, growls, has attitude, gives wonderful loves, and enjoys her crazy brothers immensely. I've had a great time being a daddy to my boys - and they're boys to the bone, no doubt about it - but I'm finding the experience of being a daddy to a little girl, something I was never (and probably will never) be fully prepared for.

These days I identify very easily with George Banks (Steve Martin) from Father of the Bride, and won't deny that a tear may appear when he doesn't get to say goodbye to his little girl at the end of her wedding reception. I already know it's going to be trying when the boys come around, and she begins to show affections elsewhere. Luckily Tobin's tendencies lean somewhat toward the aggressive, and I think his protective efforts will alleviate some of my worry...

If there's a more beautiful baby girl in the world, I wouldn't believe it. Allegra has the largest, clearest, most stunning eyes I've seen on a baby, and I love to just watch her - and if she stops whatever activity she's wrapped-up in and just looks back at you, it's gotta be better than Heaven.

It didn't take more than a couple of weeks out of the hospital, and our Princess began smiling at us. It's evolved over the past year, from a pure baby smile, into something that would melt anyone's bad day. She adopted a nose-scrunch with her really happy smiles, which was too cute. Then once those 4 front teeth came in, that cute smile added a hint of devilish.

She is without a doubt, the happiest child I could have ever dreamed-of. We've said quite often, that we're glad she's our third, because had she come before, we would have been wondering what we screwed up with the boys. Shy of the expected small fits (which we fully expect to only get worse as the teen years approach) when she wants something (usually food), Allegra almost never cries, and usually displays that lovely smile of hers. When she's ready for bed, you can ask her and she'll nod her head, and then you can lay her down and she puts herself to sleep for the night. (I know we're not supposed to pick favorites, but if we were, and it were based on this one thing, no brainer...)

So now at a year old, Allegra can stand up without pulling herself up on anything (that began today), she can take a step or two, and she can climb to just about anything she wants. She's got 3 teeth on top, and 2 on the bottom. She weighs 17lbs and is 28.5 inches tall. She says 'mama' and 'dada', and 'hi' sometimes. She eats real food - preferring meat and veggies to fruit - usually out pacing her ravenous brothers. She's got a little attitude in her already, and has a giggle that's not to be missed.

Most of the time, Allegra can be found only sporting one sock (things just aren't right until she kicks one off), and dressed to kill in one of 10,000 outfits that Kristen, family, and friends have found for her. I believe she'll have to change outfits 3.8 times per day in order to get most of them on before she outgrows them - good luck my dear... Though I'd by lying if I didn't admit to picking up a few outfits for her from time to time.

Our Sweetie-Peetie fits right in with her brothers before her, in that she loves a good toss into the air by daddy. Mommy hates it, but she smiles and giggles uncontrollably. And what does she do first thing in the morning (after a little milk)? She goes looking for her brothers, and the non-stop entertainment that is part of the package with them. She couldn't adore her big brothers more, much to the dismay of Kristen and I, even when they're in her face way too much.


Allegra - I can't imagine what my life (and our family) would be like without you in it. That holds true for each of your brothers as well, but having a daughter is something special. I already know I'm in for it - I've known since the moment I found out that you were a girl - and I beg of you, please go easy on me as you get older. You know you've got me wrapped around your delicate little finger. Please don't take complete advantage of that fact.

Keep smiling for me everyday, and making a bee-line for the door when I get home in the evenings. Don't stop demanding, "Dadadadadadada!" when nothing in the world will be right without me holding you. Please don't stop leaning in and giving me a sweet love while I'm holding you in my arms. Please don't let your hair go much blonder - I need a little more brunette in the family...

I love you my Princess. There's no two ways about it. Happy Birthday, Sweet Cake.
Love,
Dada

AS FAR AS THE EYE CAN SEE

Everyone says that the only reason we have more than one child, is that we forget everything from the last one. I don't know that that's true - there are an awful lot of things I'll miss about having a baby around. However one of the things I had most certainly forgotten was the mass of toys that can be found EVERYWHERE in the house when a baby comes along.

The boys are bad enough about having weapons and Legos out, but they're usually at least in a osrt of ordered-chaos (or as I like to call them, 'piles of organization'). But with babies, you tend to just have baby things - mostly toys - out everyplace you might possibly be with the baby. So not a square foot of floor (or sitting) space is without some baby toy, or binky, or bib, or package of wipes. I find myself shuffling through the house, in order to push the toys out of my way, instead of trying to step between them like some sort of Sesame Street Gauntlet.

OUR BIG GIRL

Taking the title away from Niki, Allegra is getting to be our Big Girl awfully fast. Too fast for us - especially Kristen. Being the last little one for our family, Kristen wants to cradle this little baby as much as she can. It's amazing how she's already outgrowing the things we brought her home in just over 4 weeks ago.

Her face is getting a little pudgy, and she's already doing so well at trying to hold her head up. It's so wonderful having a baby that's so easy to care for and enjoy. We definitely didn't know the joys of an easy baby on the last 2 rides on the merry-go-round. I don't know if it's because she's a little girl and doesn't have the chutzpah that her brothers were born with, or if she just knows she's the last one. Whatever the reason, she's an absolute pleasure and we are so very blessed to have her in our family.

Now operation protect-her-from-her-brothers-who-are-going-to-love-her-to-DEATH must continue...

TWO WEEKS ALREADY

When's she gonna do something? (I keep asking Kristen this to drive her nuts.) In all fairness, she eats and fills diapers very regularly, so she's clearly doing something.

Allegra's umbilical cord fell off earlier this week, so that's out of the way. For me that's the final piece of the whole birth process, and I'm glad to get it over with, as it's much easier to care for a baby without that dried-up thing rubbing or catching on diapers.

She's a great sleeper - most nights so far - and allows us almost 4 hours stretches of sleep. But she grunts and coos and makes all kinds of noises whether she's awake or asleep.

Leggy's been getting plenty of attention from her big brothers who can't get enough of her. They've been guilty of waking her on several occasions just to "say hi to her!" But they love her like big brothers, and that's great to see.

ON HER WAY

This little girl is on her way! We've been at the hospital for a few hours, and been doing a lot of walking. So it looks like today will be the day! Pictures will be soon to follow...

CRAVINGS

I thought it would be a good idea to mention the cravings that Kristen's had during this pregnancy. The funny thing is, for the most part, they've been non-existent. But there are a couple of quirky things that she's been seen doing over the past 9 months...

Ice
She's just been eating ice. The woman who cringes when I 'chew' ice cream has been going through glasses of crushed ice like nobody's business. Interesting (and cheap, accessible) craving.

Cherry Coke
The former Dr Pepper Queen has had quite the taste for Cherry Coke during this term. Not that she drinks a lot of soda, but when she has, Dr Pepper has not been the go-to beverage. Very strange indeed.

Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries
I think that in the past 7 years we've had chocolate-dipped strawberries one, maybe two times. Then in the past 6 months, we've had them at least 3 or 4 times. And there's a double-large carton of strawberries (and I assume, white & semi-sweet chocolate chips) on the counter as I type this...

So a couple things I guess - none of which are all that crazy, just interesting to see the different preferences from the norm. It's been by far, the easiest pregnancy so far, and that's been a nice change. The kidney stones I'm sure she could do without, but otherwise all is well.

I'd like to take this chance to mention too, that She's looked absolutely radiant these past 9 months. I know I married a beautiful woman, but I've caught myself staring at her on several occasions in recent months, amazed at how gorgeous she truly is. I know I keep saying that I hope the 3rd time's a charm for a dark baby who looks like its daddy, but who am I kidding? She'll be blessed to be as beautiful as her mother.

FALSE ALARM

On Saturday of our Memorial Day Weekend, we had a wonderful time as a family. We got some yard work done in the morning, saw Shrek 3 before noon, played soccer at the park, and then Kristen's contractions began. For 3 hours they were coming every 5-7 minutes.

We calmly prepared burgers on the grill, packed bags, got the boys prepped, made arrangements for the dog - basically tied up all the loose ends we hadn't been planning on just yet. The boys were dropped with Meme and Grumpa, and we were off to the Hospital by about 7:30pm. I was calling for a dark-haired daughter by midnight.

Unfortunately, as soon as Kristen was admitted to the Labor and Delivery Triage, the contractions stopped. So almost 4 hours of nonstop, hard contractions (Kristen was pretty out of breath) and then nothing. Dr Gipson - who when returning Kristen's page, greats me on the phone with a, "Hi Nick, it's Sheri" We seriously love her - checked everyting out and sent us home, but not before reassuring Kristen that, "I've got all these degrees, and even I was sent home with mine, so don't feel bad."

I don't think it was a matter of feeling bad, as much as it was feeling annoyed that she wasn't having this little girl yet. Not to mention the latest kidney stone(s?) that are making the continued pregnancy what I can only imagine to be unbearable. So feeling let down, we went back to get the boys and break the news, that their baby sister wasn't ready to come out and play just yet.

So we're still on baby-watch here. There's 3 and a half more weeks until the official due date. We were spoiled with the boys who came 3 and 3 and a half weeks early (at 6-11 and 7-7 respectively). If this little girl kicks it off like a diva and keeps us waiting, it's going to be a long remaining 23 days...

OVER HALF WAY THERE

Kristen often comments on how active this little girl is. Kicking and moving around, and hiccups like nobody's business. But She's been treating Kristen pretty well so far - though she insists she's stealing her beauty...I disagree.

Unlike with Blane and Tobin, the naming process is coming along haltingly. Which is to say, we can't come up with anything! Emails and phone calls between Kristen and I during the days result in nothing either of us think much of or agree upon. We've got about 4 months left, but it feels like we're unprepared. I guess we can always just name her using the name of the people in the room next to us, right...?

Kristen also determined that since the boys share a room, they'll need a little more space than they currently have, in order to accommodate 2 dressers and all their stuff. Since the room which has historically been the baby room is a few inches longer at one end, we're moving them in there. This way we can repaint that room for the boys, and let the pink-tide crash on the current boy's room. Should keep us plenty busy. Maisy Grace (get it, Mais-n-Grace???) will be here before we know it!