Mirra Allie Allsop

WELCOME BABY MIRRA!

Finally she came!

Born on August 17, 2010
At 10:13 a.m.
Weighed 8 lbs 10 oz
Measured 19 inches long

We are doing well. Thank you for all of the kind emails, gifts and letters. We are excited to have Mirra a part of our family.

Kids and Mirra at the hospital

Mirra in dress made by Marcia

Mirra in dress made by Marcia

Celie and Mirra

Celie and Mirra

Mirra in Celie's blessing dress made by my Aunt Marcia Robinson

Mirra and flowers from Daddy.

Mirra in baby blanket from Grandma.

Mommy and Mirra minutes after birth.

Our friend Becca and Mirra pretty in pink.
After Mirra's first sponge bath.

I can't believe we have 4 wonderful kids!

My little swimmers

The kids have really gotten good at swimming this summer. I think we have gone more this summer than any other. Celie and Jack dive to the bottom now (as long as they have their goggles). Jett follows their lead by dipping his face in every once in a while. We only did a few swimming lessons, but it sure paid off. I hope they will keep their skill and interest throughout the year. All three will go down the big slide now. Many evenings Daddy would take them to the pool as soon as he got home. The kids have cherished those times. What a crazy fun summer

Don't cross me

Ignore that "Who's Coming" side bar picture of baby reading "Baby is here" well baby is not. Those tickers are worthless. I need a crane to help me roll over in bed now and I have had contractions every 10 to 15 minutes for the past few weeks. Why do we have due dates anyway. I told myself to not think about the due date, but it is unavoidable. I am much more impatient this go around. I did have my parents in town to distract me last time. That did help. I am missing my mom now. She is probably hogging my little one all to herself up there and not letting the baby go. Let it go!!!

My kids

Jett and Celie

Brothers - best friends.

Celie doing one of her beautiful, on the spot dances.

This handsome smile is what greets us every evening when Daddy comes home, cranks on the music and cuts a rug with the kids. All three kids beg to be swung around by Daddy. I have the best husband in the world. He lives life to the fullest and loves with all his heart. I love you hun.

Celie decided to start doing her own hair. It has been like this for many days now. I am trying to teach her how to match colors and use sparingly, but I think it will just come with practice. She says she feels beautiful. I think she is. I am proud of her being so independent.

This is Jett's Birthday cupcake. What a big boy he is now.

I didn't have a battery charger when we had our good friends the Larsen's over for the 4th of July week end. This is the only picture I took. These kids had so much fun together. They only see each other twice a year at most, but they played together so well like they were together everyday. We went blueberry picking, swimming, to a movie and of course played settlers of catan (one of my favorites). It was a fun holiday. Thanks Larsen's! We love you guys.

Due Date Come and Gone

Well, here we are again on my due date. I wonder how long this baby needs to cook? I hope it will be done soon. I think this relates to my cooking directly now that I think about it. I over cook everything. I was hoping that it was a sign when I cooked my first pot roast perfectly (thanks to Derek and Becca's expertise) that the over cooking streak was finally over, but alas, it is not. I still cook food too long and keep my babies in too long. I am bouncing on my exercise ball and I like to think it helps. We will find out tomorrow at my appointment if a weeks worth of regular contractions has made any progress! Hopefully my next post will have a cute picture of a baby!

Friends

A couple of Celie's friends from kindergarten.

Summer time

Happy Birthday Jett! He turned 2 on the 13th of July. He had a fun birthday. We had a few friends over to help us eat cupcakes. Thanks Grandma for the pillowcase and tool set! Jett is potty trained after a couple of weeks working with him. He is such a big boy now. I think he is ready to be a big brother now.

Here is Jack at 3 1/2 years old. He is loving his gymnastics and swim lessons this summer.

Here is my clan! Aren't they cute?

I got some yellow and red peppers this year from my garden. The tomatoes didn't turn out so great this year. I am officially done with gardening this season as I am too big to bend over now :)

Here is Celie's update on her elbow wound. This is a picture of her after 3 months of healing. I think she will have the scar forever.

Happy Fathers Day! I can't think of anything else in this world that these kids love more than their Dad. He is the best dad in the world!
Their father's day present was to walk on his back for a nice massage.

Lisa came for a short visit. The kids cried when she left. She was the best game player.

Celie - 6 yrs old

Happy Birthday Becca!

Celie's kindergarten teacher. She had a great year of school.

Celie's favorite work station. Reading and book writing.

Some of her close friends.

Remembering Mom

I can't believe it has been a full year since the passing of my dear mother from the unforgiving disease of pancreatic cancer. It was a grumpy day for me. All of the memories flooded back and overtook my mind. I felt like I was reliving the pains over again. I don't know how to get over the negative thoughts of 'what if I had done this' or 'if I had only done that'. I will never forget the way she looked at me before she slipped into a comatose state before passing away. The only way I can describe it is the perfect love of Christ. That moment is branded into my memory. She was such a fighter throughout her sickness. I am so proud to call her my mom. I love her with all my heart and I am looking forward to the day that my family and I can see her again.

Laura Robinson Benson 1952-2009

Mom with me after Jack was born.

My favorite picture of her because I know this is where she was most happy.