Thank goodness ofr insurance....

well this week has been good but has totally flown past. Reuben had a health visitor check on Friday and is weighing in at a healthy 12lb 5oz (it is probably more than that now!).
we have been doing things but nothing specific or particularly interesting.
I did loose a diamond out of my engagement ring on Friday. Thankfully it is covered by the house insurance!! so i will now be taking better care of my rings!!

this coming week is run up to easter so getting geared up for the concert on Easter Saturday...rick working hard for that one!
other than that nothing much. plan to take reuben for his first swim any day now...we bought all his stuff so we are good to go.

here he is playing happily...and reading his book (clever boy!!)

Busy week

Well since my dads birthday last thursday we have all had a pretty busy week.
It was Lindsays Birthday onTuesday so the three of us went to Carrick and celebrated there... This is lindsay sporting his new Simpson pyjamas from Winnie! Apparently there is a photo of him in them but we aren't sure if we want to see it!

Saturday the allens, winnie and the three of us watched the rugby (i slept)! apparently it was very exciting. On Saturday night we all went to the Saltwater brig in kirkubbin for winnies birthday absolutely delicious meal... and reuben slept through it all! what a good boy!!


yesterday we were in Ballymena at my aunts house for mothers day. It was good craic as we were all there, my nana and great aunt (yes reuben has a great great aunt!) and uncle, my cousin Julie and of course mum dad and stew. Very good day! afterwards we called at my other nana and papas on the way home and so they could get a cuddle of their great grandson. he really is the centre of attention!

what blog recently has not featured reuben?? well a big THANK YOU to auntie J in New York! She sent us over two magic sheep. They aren't really magic. They are called sleep sheep and play nature sounds to get reuben to fall asleep. They work an absolute treat!! every time (so far). They also keep him quiet when he is getting his nappy changed. His favourite sound is ocean. As always, here are a few photos...

Hi everyone!

Hey everybody.

Below is a video of Reuben enjoying some music. He has been a wee angel, even though I haven't been too well over the past couple of days. Ah the joys of breastfeeding and all that...

anyway, promised Jacqui I would load this up, it is very cute! Some great pics too.
Enjoy



HI EVERYONE, MY NAME IS REUBEN, AREN'T I JUST ADORABLE!!




Today is also my dads birthday... 1 year off the big 50. so happy birthday dad and reuben says happy birthday grandpa. Have a good one!!

Smiles and laughter...

well we have had a good week. the weeks are flying by and the visitors have kind of dwindled. Reuben and I have had fun spending some time on our own. Rick has been working hard at the scout hall. Thriving Life moves in there all being well within the next couple of weeks (we'll keep you posted!).

anyway, below are a couple of recent pics of reuben. busy weeks to come... lots of birthdays (my dad, ricks dad and ricks granny). Just realised that next year my dad is 50 Lindsay is 60 and Rick is 30! Better start saving now. (hope I didnt divulge any big secrets!)

NEARLY 4 WEEKS OLD...

Hey there,

so Reuben is now nearly 4 weeks old... how time flies on the other (more preferable) side of pregnancy!

Rick has been back to work for 2 weeks now and mum and baby are coping not too badly at home by ourselves (not that we have been by ourselves much as Nana amd Granny have been down to visit a few times!).

Reuben is now 9lb 6oz and still growing fast...he eats A LOT!! All three of us are having a ball
Below are some more recent photos of Reuben.

Glad to announce the latest Allen arrival...

So as most of you probably know Reuben Joseph Allen (Ben) arrived into the world on Monday 29/1/07 at 12.27pm. He was 8lb 9oz and 54cm long.

Since then we have been enjoying every minute of parenthood (including the sleepless nights, it all seems so worth it!). Reuben is a very good baby (or has been so far) doing everything baby should do.

Rick is off work this week on paternity leave, so we'll see how well mummy copes on her own next week!

Below are some photos... the first week of Reuben Allen.

UPDATE

Baby Allen must be very comfortable, as there is no sign of movement yet!
Now a week and 2 days overdue beanie has no choice but to be delivered next Thursday night or before (if it decides to come out of its own accord).

That will have given beanie an extra fortnight of warmth and comfort and that is plenty!!!

Thanks for all the prayers, will keep you all posted but at least we can say that by next weekend Allen junior will have arrived!

x

so...

So still no little allen appeared yet. Today is my due date, however only 5% of women go on their due date so I am guessing it will now be sometime in the next fortnigt (o my goodness, can I keep carrying this 10lb bump around for another 2 weeks?)

Happy birthday to Stacey for yesterday... hope you had a good one!

we will keep you posted on the beanie thing- everyone jst keep praying.
Thanks

xx

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS ALL ROUND

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME (because I came first)
and also to little Caleb my special birthday buddy nephew ... 1 today!!

The pictures below are me on my 1st birthday...


Hope everyone (I know a few people) who's birthday it is today has a good one-

xx

As promised... He-Man

Anyone who can translate this please leave a comment. In a couple of days I will post the script which we think young David was trying to say...

don't worry Dave, your cool!

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Well everyone,

its great to see that my days sitting at home can be more interesting as the Canada Allens and Elia now have started to update their blogs. I love reading them guys, it keeps me busy!!

Christmas was lovely this year. Very relaxing and totally pampered! Spent Christmas Eve and Christmas day at L+L's with Winnie. Lovely day of food and craic (although we did eat so much junk most of us felt ill!). This was my first Christmas day at the Carrick Allens and really enjoyed it! Presents were great too...

We then travelled up to Ballymena on Christmas night to celebrate a second Christmas on boxing day. Apparently Christmas day had been non eventful in Ballymena without the presence of rick and I (lol) so we opened more Christmas presents. Boxing day was lovely with my nana and papa, we also got to visit some of my other family. Very relaxing...



New Year was spent with Keith and Jude, Calin and Mia. An indian and some champagne was a great way to bring in 2007. Rick and I popped into the Ulster Hall to see my wee bro play sax on stage- it was a very good set and enjoyed listening to him.

COMING SOON

A RICKNKATE BLOGSPOT EXCLUSIVE

STARRING
DAVID ALLEN "HE-MAN"
"defender of ne nooniverse"


Will be available with subtitles...

WATCH THIS SPACE

This is worth a look- TRUST ME!!

Just watch and listen-

if it isn't up and running yet come back and visit soon, as it will be working shortly!

Mum and Stewarts Birthday

Well my little Bro stewart was born on my mums birthday 18 years ago tomorrow. A very important year for them both as stewart hits the big 18 and mum the smaller and more insignificant 50!!!!!

Sunday was Stewarts birthday lunch of choice which was the red panda at junction one. Lovely meal. Then home to open presents (stew got a chocolate fountain).



Tonight we went with nana and papa to Ballyrobin for mums birthday te surprise (it was a surprise up to a point). Again another lovely meal and a great night had by all!!




HAPPY BIRTHDAY MUM AND STEWART...

Christmas is near, its that time of year!

Well, we had a great nights craic at the senior allen house last friday night! I didn't realise making ginger bread houses could get so competitive (what was I thinking, with lilian, rick, nicola whyte and may green in the same room of course it would be competitive!) anyway, it was loads of fun and here are some pics of the finished products...by the way we should have won beacuse we had a window!!

The following day Lilian and I went and bought a Christmas Tree. I have never chosen a real Christmas Tree before but apparently it was my fault that the trunk bent half up the tree... it was fun, although lilian did all the decorating. That seems to be the way I help her decorate, to sit back and watch! :)

To further the Christmas spirit Rick and I took my nana and papa mccartney and ricks granny winnie to Crawfordsburn Inn for afternoon tea on Monday. Apart from the service lacking a little professionalism when we arrived the food was delicious and the atmosphere was perfect. The fire was lit and while we ate our scones and cream and cucumber sandwhiches we simply had a great time. These are memories to be treasured for sure!!

So long, farewell...

Well, as sad as I am to say this, I finish work today. Slightly earlier than originally planned but when beanie says stop, I stop!! So after 19 weeks in the Department of Health at Stormont, I am leaving.
Civil service definitely has its benefits and I have learned a fair wee bit from the Doctors here (especially since I plan to go into psychology type things at some stage!)
Well bye bye government ppl...

also tonight we are going to the allen parents to make ginger bread houses (secretly quite excited). The Christmas spirit has begun...

xx

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

First of all today is Daves birthday in Canada.... so HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAVE and hope you have a really good one!! Missing you guys!




Secondly, above you will see two pictures...one is Louis Walsh (manager of bands such as westlife, girls aloud and mentor on x factor). The second is a headshot of my uncle Bill who works in the TV industry (very important person!!) in America.

Can you guess which is which??
Leave all comments below...

xx

An update

Felt that we haven't written in a while but that is mainly due to the fact that we haven't been doing anything out of the ordinary.
Anyway, here is boring blog entry.

So, we have been busy but just working, church stuff and getting the house ready for beanie's arrival. Katie and Rick finish work in 3 weeks for Christmas woohoo!! Rick will go back but Katie wont. Rearranging furniture, building wardrobes, tiling bathrooms...very time consuming but these things need to be done before Christmas!

Well I don't like reading blogs without pictures... so here is a pic of a pram very much like what we bought for beanie a couple of weeks ago- how exciting.

Preggers Katie

Well as I said last week I feel huge and ever expanding. As some of our friends (Janet in US), (Steph in France) and of course the Allens in Canada have not seen Katie in some time...

this is what she looks like!!




She is a bit uncomfortable and beanie is a real mover, but both are well...
all very exciting!

...and I love you BABY

Babies, babies , babies,

and boy do I still feel VERY pregnant- 10 weeks and counting!
Both sets of friends who were pregnant have now given birth! Keith and Emma (who Rick sails with) had a wee boy last Thursday and called him Ben and Keith and Jude (from James Bond pics below) had a wee girl this morning and called her Mia. All mums and tots well.

Just me to go now! Can't wait to see the little babies, get some practice in, I don't even know how to hold one!

Pics should follow soon
K xx