Bryce & Brennon

I am now 23 weeks pregnant. It is weird how close I feel to you even though I've never held you or see you in person. You kick ALOT!! You are very active. The first few months of pregnancy I didn't feel like I was really pregnant. I only gained 2 pounds in the first four months so it wasn't quite realistic. But in the 5th month you grew ALOT and I grew along with you. I love having a big belly because it symbolizes you!
Last weekend we went to see Brady, Danielle, and Maggie. We got your crib and rocker. I am very excited about getting everything decorated (I love that kind of stuff)! Your father and I are in love with Maggie and can't imagine how we could love you more but we know we will love you far and beyond the love we've ever felt before. We already do.

You are SO strong now, Bryce! My ribs are probably bruised from all the kicking you are doing. I joke and say that you're gonna be a great athlete if your activiness in the womb is any reflection of how you'll be outside! I'm glad that your bones are strong but I'm not sure how much longer I can handle it. Last night I slept on the bed, then on the guest bed, then on the floor, then on the couch...I couldn't get comfortable. I have a feeling you're gonna be a big boy. My father has 4 brothers and they are all over 6'2''. Your uncle Britt is only 17 and he is about 6'1''. So I'm pretty sure you're gonna be tall. When we had a sonogram at 20 weeks we could see your thigh so clearly and it was very filled out and muscular looking. My mom (Jo Jo) said you took after my thunder thighs but I think it was muscle!! We'll see.
I love you.

I am now 24 weeks pregnant. We've got August, September, October, and a couple of weeks in November to go. I had a doctor's visit today and she said that we are doing great. I have gained a total of 11 pounds, my stomach is measuring 24 cm., and your heartbeat was 140. I'm having a little trouble with my kidneys so I am going to have to drink alot of water from here on out. Besides that everything is just doing wonderful. Your father asked me if I could still see my feet but I can easily see them! I'm not sure if he was joking or not!! In a couple more months he'll really be thinking my stomach is big.
Your cousin Austin gave you a teddy bear that says a little good night prayer when you push its tummy and I've been playing it to you. We sing songs to you and your dad reads you Dr. Seuss "Green Eggs and Ham". Hopefully you're hearing some of it!

I can't believe that it is already over half way to your mommys' due date. On one hand, there is so much to do before November. On the other, I am so ready for you to get here. I have saved my entire two weeks of vacation time to spend with you when you are born.
You have been kicking your mommy really hard for a while now. I have felt you kick and I can't imagine what it feels like for her. Try and go easy on her. She is trying hard to work while she still can. I know you will love her so much. She is a pretty great wife and friend, so I know she will be a great mother too. It's time for bed. I love you son!

I am working so much with school getting started this week. Not that I'm complaining about the money that's for sure. I've got to get all the work in I can now because when you get here it's all over with. I'm gonna be with you. Today I took an hour off to get a message and boy was it worth it! It was great!! You were moving around the whole time. Hopefully it will make my back feel better because it has been hurting alot here lately with me standing on my feet so much. Tomorrow I have almost an 11 hour day and I didn't schedule a lunch so I will be beat tomorrow night. Maybe your daddy will rub my feet when I get home!

Mrs. Parker made me a homemade apple pie today and between my mom, Josh, and myself it is half gone already. It is the best thing I've ever tasted so I'm sure you're felling pretty happy right now because I am.

I teach a Wednesday night class at church for ages 8-12. Sometimes there is a large group of about 15 or so...and sometimes there are only about 7 just depending on the week. Tonight we (Aunt Rhonda and Pam taught with me) split the class up into boys and girls. I had the boys. I noticed how they all laughed and played so well together and I got so excited that you are a boy. I've never had any boys that are close relatives of mine...I'm use to girls. So I have been a little worried about what we will do together. But tonight I realized that you and I will have a blast! We will have so much fun playing together. I can't wait.

I wanted to just put down a few of the things that are going on right now with this pregnancy. Talking to other women, it seems that you forget what you feel while you're pregnant after the child is born.
First of all, I love that you are inside me and growing and doing so well. But at the same time I wish that it was time for you to be born. I am almost 26 weeks and I can't hardly stand it anymore. Sometimes when I breathe in really deep I feel like there is no room for the air that is coming in. I honestly feel as if I might pop. And I've got much farther to grow. I have also lost my memory. Well, short term memory at least. There are times when I can't even finish a sentence for thinking..."what am I talking about?" This may be from talking to women in the shop all day and having to carry on so many conversations in one day, but whatever the culpret, it's getting to me. I have also started being able to get up a little bit better in the mornings. At the first part of my pregnancy I was So tired. But now I feel pretty good most of the time. My eye sight has gotten a little bit worse but that could be from not wearing my glasses enough in say....10 years.
There are some things that pregnant women experience that I, however, have not experienced with you. Some women's feet grow a shoe size. Or their nose gets larger. These things haven't happened to me yet. I don't have stretch marks or moodiness. I do get emotional and cry at the drop of a hat but while I'm crying I'm laughing because it is so silly. My sense of smell isn't too hightened like some pregnant women's. Apparently they can sniff out anything. Best of all, I haven't been very sick. Hardly any morning sickness, not even enough to mention and that is wonderful when you're a working woman.
All in all this is a great pregnancy and I'm loving every minute that I can feel you. The other day you jumped when the air conditioner came on and it was the cutest thing! I can't imagine how entertaining you'll be when you're actually here.
I love you.

Today I bought the paint to go in your room. It is light blue and it is beautiful. Your daddy took down the guest bed because we have to make room for your crib. I'm going to have a garage sale with Mandi and get rid of alot of the stuff in the guest room. Grandy painted your armoir (spelling) white and we have it here so whenever we paint the room we can move everything in. The only thing that hasn't come in yet is the rocker and your bedding. Your room's theme is going to be sailboats. It's going to be adorable. Daddy is going out of town this weekend and it is going to be very hard to keep myself from painting your room. But he says he'll do it when he gets back. We still have 14 weeks until you are due so there is no rush. We're just going to do it a peice at a time. (but I really wish we could call one of those tv makeover shows and have it done in a day or two)
I love you.

I have another doctor's appointment this Wednesday. Last time we went to the doctor she said that there was some blood in my urine and I could have a kidney infection or even kidney stones. But this time when I go I'm sure it will all be cleared up because I do not feel like I have anything wrong with my kidneys. The only time that I have back pain is when I have been standing up all day working. If something was wrong with my kidney then it would be hurting more often. Dr. Thompson said that it wouldn't hurt you at all if I had either but to drink lots of water. I have been drinking lots of water and cranberry juice. We'll see when we go Wednesday but I'm sure that everything is fine now! Update you then!

I am now 28 weeks pregnant. I went back to the doctor last week and she said that there is nothing wrong with my kidneys they look perfectly normal. But....I have to now take iron pills because my iron is low. If it's not one thing it's another! I have been getting a little sick from the iron pills in the morning but besides that they are fine. Supposedly if you have low iron it makes you tired but I feel more tired this past week since I've been taking the pills. I have felt very good this whole pregnancy so far though. A little tiredness I can handle! I also took my sugar test last week and my sugar levels are a little high so I have to go back for another test this Thursday. It is going to last 3 hours!! I have to drink some yucky orange stuff and sit there until an hour passes and take my blood. Then they'll take my blood twice more every hour. But like the kidney thing I feel sure that it will be fine because I don't have any of the symptoms of gestational diabetes. I'll just try to cut out refined sugars like cokes, cakes, candies and ice cream (which I just noticed all start with c) for the rest of this pregnancy.

Daddy took this picture at the doctor's office.

I am so excited!! We only have 9 weeks left and I can't wait for them to fly by! I went to the doctor Thursday and she said that everything looks great! You kicked her while she was feeling my stomach! And when she listened for your heartbeat, she found it as soon as the stick (I don't know what it is called) touched my stomach. I am already so proud of you. She just said we were doing good and that was about it. Thank goodness! Hopefully we won't have anymore 4 hour visits in the future!

Daddy and I went to Little Rock, AR last weekend and spent some time with Brady, Danielle, and Maggie and we had a great time! I love you guys! We just can't wait to see you and Maggie playing together, Bryce! It will be a blast.

Love you bunches.

We went to see the doctor today. I told her that I have been very uncomfortable the last couple of weeks and she said that is because my belly is all baby. You are taking up every inch of room I have in there plus some! She said that you are getting behind my ribs and pushing them. This is very uncomfortable for me but it is all worth it because in 6 weeks we will be able to see you. Your heartbeat was good and we've gained a little more weight so we're doing great! You are also head down so that gives us one less thing to worry about. You have stopped really kicking... now you just kind-of skwirm around in there poking up your knee or hiney sometimes. At night you get the hick-ups and I can feel you stretching at times too. It's all so neat. Your daddy feels sorry for you when you get the hick-ups he always says,"Poor guy!"
Our next doctor's visit will be in 2 weeks.
Keep up the good work!
Love Mommy

We had two showers this weekend! One here in Atlanta given by all of my friends here and one in Kirby that Aunt Betsy got together! We got so many wonderful things! We are almost completely set for your arrival. I personally don't think I can wait any longer!!!! I'm about to go crazy! I'm ready to see you and hold you. I know that everyone says these last few weeks are precious but I'm so anxious.
Anyway...back on track...we got so many good things and had a great time at the showers. Your father helped me open gifts at Kirby,AR and it was funny to see him get so excited about things! He's going to be a great dad.
At the shower in Atlanta they all wrote a little comment in a note pad that read on the front "What to do when". It was funny to hear everyone's advice!

I go to the doctor Thursday (Oct. 14) and I'll update you all then.

Here are some pictures of all of the things we got, we're going to have to add on to the house to accomodate all of this baby stuff!!

I went to the doctor today. Everything looked normal and we have four weeks to go. I am SO ready to have this little guy! I dream of the day she says, ok....it's time! Dr. Thompson said that we may have another sonogram next visit. But for now, everything is normal.
I'm going to start cutting back my work hours. I've tried that before and I can't seem to do it. I have a hard time telling people no. They make it seem like it's an emergency EVERYTIME! But next week I'm only working 4 days and I'm not going to work full days. This week I've worked until at least 6:30 every night. That makes me too tired. I go home and just crash!
Well...that's all for now.
mom

I just thought I would update everyone. Brooke woke up around 2:00 am this morning in pain. She told me when I got up at 6:30 that she had been having contractions for a while now. We called the doctor and the told us to time the contractions and try to relax. They were coming in every 3 to 7 minutes. We called our doctor and she told us to come on in. Once we got there, they hooked Brooke up to a monitor and gave her a exam. They determined she was in labor but they wanted to stop it since she is only 35 weeks and 6 days. They gave her a shot of something and gave her a med. for nausea. The doctor said if she can make it one more day, she(the doctor) will not stop the labor next time it starts. So, could be 1 day or 4 weeks. We are back at home now and the meds they gave her knocked her out. Just wanted to fill everyone in.

Well, yesterday I went to the doctor to check up on how everything was going after Monday's shock. My blood pressure is good and mine and your heartbeats are great. However, you are BREECH! So now we have changed the due date to Nov. 9. Dr. Thompson said she will take you the 9th no matter what. If you turn around between now and then hopefully they can induce because they don't want you to turn breech again. However, if you are still breech on the 9th of November then I have two options: We can either let the doctors try to turn you head down and then induce or we can just schedule a c-section. I am scared of a c-section for some reason. I've never been in the hospital over night and I have never had any kind of surgery other than getting my wisdom teeth taken out. I'm a little shaken. But I am a firm believer in prayer and I have faith that God has made you just the way he wants you and you will come into this world just as perfectly are you were formed in the womb.
Thankfully everything in the sonogram yesterday looked perfect. You have all of your organs and all of your physical features are intact. You had the chubbiest little cheeks and I hate to tell your father but you're going to look like me with those cheeks!!! Your estimated weight right now is 5 pounds which is actually a little under schedule but that's ok because your grandfather Ronald was only a little over 5 pounds when he was born and he now stands over 6'4'' and is a very tough man so this doesn't worry me. Plus Dr. Thompson said that the smaller you are the easier it is for you to turn because you have more room.
With everything that has gone on this week I'm even more excited to see you and I can't wait until Nov. 9th...or maybe even sooner!
We'll keep everyone updated. Thank you all for your calls and prayers. It means so much to us. Please keep us in your thoughts.

Well Bryce, we've got two weeks to go until we meet you and I can hardly stand it! I'm doing every yoga position and home remedy known to man to try and get you to turn head down. I'm not sure if it's working yet but it is worth a try! I'm feeling somehow more comfortable than I was a month ago. Maybe because I've become a little more use to being so much bigger. I sleep well and am still working some everyday. This week I've limited it to a color and highlight a day that's all I can handle right now. I've already got a couple of people booked for next week but I'm not sure if I will make anymore appointments right now. Dr. Thompson said I could just do whatever was comfortable for me. It gets really boring at home and I feel great so why not?!
Well I guess I'll go get in "downward dog" (yoga) and see if I can get you to move!!! =)
Love you

Ok....so I know that I said the 9th of November but we went back Thursday to the Dr. and she said that we are on the schedule to come in Monday November 8th at 6:00 AM. Which is very early in the morning for me! She said that we will get everything started about 8:00. She will give me an epidural (spelling?) and then they will start to try to turn you. I am positive that everything is going to go smoothly. I'm not nervous yet but I'm sure I won't sleep a wink that Sunday night before we go in. As of this Thursday you are still breech but have turned kind-of diagonally, so keep on going!!! I have also been having contractions since Wednesday but they have been mild and irregular. So we are still just waiting to see what you are going to do but for sure we'll see you on the 8th. I can't tell you how excited I am. And your father is beside himself! He just grins from ear to ear when we talk about you being born. We can't wait!

Well Bryce, it will be 5 more days until you get to come into this world! Everything is doing great with you and me as of our doctor visit today. I couldn't be healthier and your heartbeat sounded great. Now we're just playing the waiting game until Monday.

This is our last night without you Bryce! It is about time!!!! We've been waiting on this day for 9 months and it is finally here and I can't believe it! We will go in tomorrow morning at 6:00 AM and not come out again until we see your face! HOW EXCITING! I have to admit around Friday I was freaking out quite a bit. But that has kind of gone away and now I'm more anxious and slightly nervous. My head was just spinning because this is my first pregnancy and first delivery and the unknown is always a little bit scary. But it will all be worth it to have you and hold you, to see your smile and even hear your cry. I can't wait! I already know you'll be perfect!!!
I'm anxiously awaiting your birth and can't wait to meet you! I love you.
Mommy

Well, it has been quite a while since I have written anything about our pregnancy so I thought it was time.  I am now a little over 4 months pregnant.  We will be having a sonogram in 8 days and will hopefully (crossing my fingers) be able to tell the sex of the baby.  It is a couple of weeks before my 20th week so the baby will have to be turned the right direction.  As for my health it is so much better...I really didn't think I was going to make it through those first few months.  My last doctor's visit I was close to being hospitalized because of dehydration.  I am feeling much better now and keeping down food more regularly.  This is a big change for me because Bryce was such an easy pregnancy.  I was only sick when I ate too much.  I am showing a little at this point.  At my last doctor's visit she ran lots of tests because I was feeling so faint and we found that the baby is starving me.  So I have strict instructions to eat 3 full meals and 3 snacks.  Anyone that knows me knows that this is hard for me because I am a big meal eater.  I like to eat about 2 large meals a day and hate eating snacks!  It just annoys me...I don't know why.  But I have definately made myself eat things like peanut butter crackers, fruit, peanuts, and cheesy things.  Apparently I need protein.  I have blacked out only twice since I started eating so much.  Last visit I had yet to gain weight so I am almost positive I will gain like 10 pounds this time with all the eating!  I am admitedly not the healthiest eater in the world so maybe eating this many times a day will stay with me even after the pregnancy, from what I hear it's best to eat 5-6 small meals a day.  Anyway, I'm not low on iron or sugar and the baby is growing wonderfully.  So, I'm sure that my next update will have lots about how much weight I've gained and how well I am feeling!  Thank you everyone for your prayers and a big thanks to my mom for helping me on those mornings I didn't think I was going to get Bryce dressed and to school.  And of course I thank God everyday for such a wonderful husband to put up with all of my complaints! 

After we were discharged from the hospital for Bryce's pneumonia we proceeded to my sonogram appointment.  I wasn't going to go but Bryce was feeling so good that I went ahead and had the sonogram...it took 15 minutes.  He went with Mimi and she got his perscription filled for us.  When we got the sonogram, the baby was breech so we saw the head first (Bryce was breech even when he was born) then the second picture she said, "Can you see that?"  And of course we could and knew exactly what we were looking at.  It is a boy!  There is definately no guessing!  So we are proud to announce that we are having a baby boy!  Bryce and he are going to be so close, it will be precious.  And wow is he active!!  Bryce was a kicker, but this baby is a mover, from fingers to toes and back again.  It was just amazing!  He was moving the entire time of the sonogram.  He was balled in a little ball for a while, then he stretched out long with hands above his head and feet straight out.  He looked directly at us for a minute.  He has all fingers and toes, his spine looks great, and he is just beautiful...even if he is alot of skin and bones right now!  I'm just so excited!  Another boy, what will I do with myself?!

Brennon Joshua Allen arrived at 8:28 friday morning. He weighed 6 lbs and 13 oz. He was 20 inches long. His entry into the world was smooth and controlled. I will let brooke tell the story when she feels better. Here are some early pics of Brennon. We will have more soon. Thanks for all the prayers and thoughts.