1st Swim Meet

Tonight we got to go to the first swim meet of the season. And it was even more special since it was Garrett's first swim meet ever! I really think that our kids have been adopted as the Pike swim team mascots- they are affectionately known as Little Coach Allen and Littler Coach Allen! Sadly, I forgot our camera, so we had to take pictures of our red and Pike apparel once we got home.

Tori looked adorable- thanks Grandma Allen!

Jared was a very proud daddy and loved showing off his little boy (he looked adorable as well thanks to Grandma!)!!

I have to admit that I loved showing off our cute boy as well!

Hurrah for another swim season- the girls got it off to a great start!!!

1 Month

Garrett is already one month old - it is so crazy how fast it has flown by!  For being around for such a short amount of time, he has made sure that his likes and dislikes are pretty apparent.  Garrett likes being held, Tori - he (usually) quiets down when she is around, eating (he has gained almost 3 lbs in one month), being in the water during his baths, and taking naps with Daddy!  He definitely dislikes having his diaper changed, being washed in the tub, being lotioned, and having his clothes taken on or off - basically having anything go over his head).  Garrett had his one month doctor appointment today and he is now weighing in at 7 lbs 12 oz and is 20 inches long - he is growing like a weed!!!

Here he is - our big one month old boy!!!

Isn't he just so handsome?

Yep, he sure is!

Tori was a big helper during our photo shoot today :)

You can't really tell in the picture - but Garrett was actually playing with his bear, or at least grabbing onto him!

He has changed so much in the past month!

Garrett had his first shots at the doctor's office today - can you tell how he felt about it?

We have a very talented kid on our hands - he can even wave while he is sleeping!!!

Wheels on the Bus

Tori loves singing time in nursery every Sunday and has started to request those songs when we are getting her dressed, washing her hair, or changing her diaper.  Recently, one of the favorite requests has been 'The Wheels on the Bus.'  Tori started out by asking us to sing about the typical things/people on the bus - for instance the Mommies, Daddies, babies, dogs, cats, driver, door, etc.  But now that we have been singing it for a bit, she has come up with some fun new things that ride the bus at the Allen house!  Here is a list of her new additions and the things we frantically had to come up with for them to say or do (some of them are pretty great!)!!

The horsies on the bus say neigh, neigh, neigh.
Rapunzel on the bus says I have a dream (I know she sounds much like Martin Luther King, Jr., but it was all I could think of at the time)
The Prince on the bus says bow down now (if we think she is referring to her princesses) or ruff, ruff, ruff (if we think she is talking about our puppy)!
The Nino (Prince's raccoon toy) on the bus says squeak, squeak, squeak!
The Grandma on the bus says I love you!!!
The Nemo on the bus says Where's my dad?
The Dori on the bus says I speak whale!
The Rella (Cinderella) on the bus says Where's my shoe?

I am sure that Tori will continue to keep us on our toes by coming up with new requests - it sure makes it more entertaining to sing this song with her.  I just wish I could be in nursery when she asks for the Nino on the bus!!!

It's Always Fun When Grandma Comes

Sadly, Grandma Allen had to go home to Texas this morning.  We have all had so much fun over the past two weeks - it definitely flew by far too fast!!!  This visit was so great - especially for Tori!  Although, Garrett got lots of fun Grandma time as well!  In case you were wondering what a visit from Grandma entails, we have photo documentation to fill you in!!!

Of course there is lots of fun hairdos...

That look absolutely adorable!!!

I was amazed that she actually left these in!

Grandma let Tori wear her headband- she loved checking it out in the mirror!!!

Coloring princess pictures was a must! 

Reading lots of books was also on the docket!

Tons of playtime was a given!!!

Tori especially loved playing with her doll house!

Grandma made sure that everyone in our family was represented - this is Mommy and Tori!

Daddy (and everyone else for that matter) loves to go in the door!

Occasionally, Tori got all played-out!

She had a great time lining her princesses up on Grandma's computer!

But the very best part of Grandma's visit- the cuddling!!!

Thanks so much for an awesome visit Grandma - we are so glad you get to come back in a few weeks for Thanksgiving!!!

Photo Shoots

One of my most favorite things about Grandma Allen visiting is that she takes tons of really cute pictures of our kids!  I love that she sets things up for a photo shoot and then captures so many fun smiles and poses!!! The only down side is trying to pick the pictures I want to post - we have so many great ones :)

The matching Halloween outfit photo shoot!

Tori and Garrett looked absolutely adorable together!

Our little man!

Aw, I love it when Tori gives Garrett kisses!!!

The Halloween pajama photo shoot!

I love the look on Garrett's face in this picture - so like a little brother that is heckling his big sister!!!

They were both looking at the camera!

This is such a great picture of Garrett!!!

After a while he started to get a little concerned - I love the furrowed brow!

The Big Sister/Little Brother photo shoot!

We started out a little rough- Tori did not want to sit up!

And then when she did finally sit up, she kept doing crazy things with her fingers!

Once she put her crown on, she was a happy camper!!!

The Disney-themed photo shoot!

Garrett was a stud and represented Cars!

And of course Tori was our princess poster child!

I love that she crosses her ankles!!!

The unthemed photo shoot!

Check out how strong Garrett is getting- way to go on holding your head up!!!

I think this is Jared's favorite Garrett outfit right now!

Tori is getting better everyday at letting Garrett get close to her!

Here is our cute boy - I love this picture of him!!!

Thanks for all of the amazing pictures Grandma- they are priceless!!!

Wee Slides

For the last several months, Tori has been in love with slides! Whenever we pass a playground, or a slide, she will say, "wee slide" for as long as it is visible. Tori has been in heaven for the past week and a half - with Grandma here she has been able to try out many wee slides! 

Our first slide visit with Grandma was at Burger King.  The steps were a little too far apart (tall wise) for Tori to get up them by herself.  Grandma was awesome and provided an extra step in the middle!

Tori had so much fun going down the slide!

And it was an added bonus that she got to eat a few bites of her lunch in between her wee slide runs!!!

Yeah for the wee slide at Burger King - we are big fans!!!

We are so lucky to have a playground in our neighborhood that is within walking distance.  Tori and Grandma have been able to go on several peanut butter and jam sandwich picnics to the park.  And of course there are some wee slides!!!

Tori can now get to any of the slides all by herself!

She discovered how to get up this with Grandma's help!!!

Occasionally, she would take a break to try out something else - like the sheep toy...

or the wheel!

But then she was right back to the slides! Again...

and again....

and again...

and again!!!

Thanks Grandma for taking Tori to play on the slides so much - she loved every moment!!!