Katelyn Allsop

Katelyn came on Tuesday, February 19th, 2013 at 7:31 a.m.!

5 lbs 12 oz (only 9 days early, but small and healthy)
19 inches long
34 cm head circumference

I'll relate the birth story later. Not my favorite labor but well worth it. I am overwhelmed with love for little Katelyn, and its funny how my love grew for Liam and Troy at the same time. I still can't believe Ben and I have three kiddos. We are so blessed!

38 Weeks!

I took this picture before my 38 week appointment yesterday. I made it to 38 weeks!

I was fine with being pregnant yesterday, but I'm not so chipper this morning. I had contractions for a good 5 hours last night that were consistent every 5 minutes the whole time. I felt like throwing up most of the time and my stomach needs a rest. I finally fell asleep around 4 a.m. This is the 3rd round of "pre-term" labor and I'm not a fan, NOT A FAN. I'm still grateful that she is healthily moving around. I'm starting to feel like this is going to be a long two more weeks with more ineffectual contractions. My doctor said I havn't changed since I went into the hospital and it could be awhile, but he also thinks I might go soon because of my history. Really, I just need prayers and sleep. Still smiling at the opportunity to carry little Katelyn. Happy Valentines!

Liam is 2!

Mr. Liam Timothy Allsop turned 2 yesterday, February 11, 2013.

We celebrated on Saturday as a family and went to the Provo Beach Resort.

Troy's favorite things were the toddler play place and the race cars...

Liam's favorite was shooting basketballs. We spent most of our card (like $3) on this game. Liam could not get enough.

We tried skiiball, but Liam didn't get the concept. He just kept climbing up, chucking the ball at the holes that were blocked by the net... so the ball would hit the net and fly back to us. Haha.

Troy actually got it by the end of round 2.

Liam also loved watching the surfing, so we took him to the observation deck. But he got really scared when we got up there. I've never seen him so solemn.

This was the closest thing to a smile I could get out of him, which is not Liam like. Liam smiles ALL of the time and screams out of excitement at everything. Every morning is just the most exciting thing for Liam. It's so fun to go into his room to get him because he gets SO excited to see you. If he gets really excited he puts his hand to his mouth and yells "abababababa."

We got happy meals for both boys afterwards. Liam eats everything, while Troy plays with both of the toys and eats a little.

While the boys and I took a nap, Ben went to play basketball with Alan, Devin and cousin Nate. The boys stay very close to him when he gets home.

Sunday: We had a Liam celebration at Mom Allsop's house. The pictures we took are on Ben's phone, so I'll have to get them later. He LOVED his gifts from Grandma: cars, shirts, and a toy laptop. Liam is obsessed with letters, so the laptop is his new favorite thing. He sings the alphabet all of the time, and even grunts the entire song. It's so stinkin hilarious. I have yet to catch it on camera, but Ben does a good impression :)
We had such a great time and wish we didn't always have to leave early for the boys bedtime.

Monday: Last night we had a party at our house with my family. Liam loved playing with the balloons.

Grandma brought some fun for the boys, but only Troy could do it. Liam thought it was funny though.
That's mom on the left, Megan, Corey, and Troy.

We had Krispy Kreme donuts and Sarah made Texas sheet cake! So yummy. From Troy's side, Jason, Ben, Devin, Sarah and Jimmer (their dog.) Jimmer was Liam's favorite guest :) Alan, Tyler, Annie, and Halli were there as well. Maddy was at work and Michael was dog sitting. We had lots of fun together as a family! Thanks family for making Liam's birthday so special!!!

Some tidbits about Liam:

• He loves books, but only at a very fast pace. (Like everything else he does.)
• His favorite letter is W and he pronounces it, "doubledus." 
• He spends about 45 seconds in the tub before the bathroom is soaked. I get him out VERY quickly every morning. 
• He'll eat anything and recently loves raisins. His vitamins are the highlight of his day. 
• Going out in public with Liam is a nightmare and he has to be strapped tightly in a stroller for me to consider going anywhere. 
• He loves playing in the car and doing his own buckles. 
• He loves to throw balls at your head and say, "bonk." Ben taught him this. He laughs hysterically when Ben throws a ball at his head. 
• Liam is very independent and gets out everything by himself. If he wants an apple, he opens the fridge, gets the apple, closes the fridge, gets the apple cutter, and tries to cut it himself, can't do it, and then gets me to help. 
• He tells me when he poops and wants to go pee in the potty just like Troy. His toots are AWFUL. The nursery, without fail, thinks he has pooped every week, when he hasn't. 
• He is starting to sing a little with Troy - Once there was a Snowman and Popcorn Popping and I Am a Child of God are his favorites. He also loves to sing the clean up song. He cleans up SO well thanks to that song. 
• He is out of breath most of the time from expending so much energy at everything he does. Running is his favorite activity. I'm a little afraid for Katelyn. I'm pretty sure I will be protecting her any time she is near Liam. 
• Liam lights up our family with his little exciting personality every day. We LOVE our Liam!!

p.s. We are anxious to meet Katelyn, but she is just not ready to come yet. I'm relieved that she wasn't born on Liam's birthday. But ANY time now is fine :)

Ben's 29th Birthday and Brothers

Ben's Birthday! Big 29!!! Mom had sparkler candles and it took like 60 seconds to blow them out. Each time he blew, the candles would relight each other. Haha. Yummy Lemon Creme Pie.

Liam's awesome winter coat from Grandma. So cute.

Play date with Jake and Gavin. They are the most chill boys. Troy and Liam just play with what they want and trade what they want and they don't care. As long as they have a toy they are pretty content. It's awesome.  

Troy's new obsession. We have to be very careful about letting him play because he's so attached. He's actually gotten okay at it! He doesn't get last and even won 1st in the mushroom cup 50 cc for all of you Mario Kart players ;)

Liam turns 2 on Monday! He is still Mr. mischievous  He escaped nursery a couple of weeks ago and wandered into the other Sacrament meeting. One of the young men eventually found me to tell me. Kind of scary, but funny. He loves to play with Troy and cries whenever we drop him off to Joy school. He also gets mad if Troy's not awake when he is. They definitely fight A LOT, but they play a lot too. Liam is actually the tougher one right now, so Troy is the one that cries from being bullied. Haha. I count my blessings that Troy never hits back. Liam is a great communicator, hurray! Not the best listener, but he understands at least. He escapes from my grasp about once a day when we are at the clubhouse, or getting the mail, etc. My pregnant self is getting too big to  keep this up, so we just don't leave as much. But we have lots of fun at home with balls, reading, and play-do.

Troy is loving his joy school. He had it this morning and told me about all of the activities he did. He encourages Liam, "Good throw Liam!" And chastens Liam, "Liam, do you want to go in your high chair?!" Which is what I say if he starts playing with the faucet at lunch on the big stools. He also recently picked up "Whatever..." in a giving up sense. Haha. I say it when I've given up trying on something, and he said it when he gave Liam a toy. I'm not a big fan of the word... He is officially potty trained and has been for a few weeks. Just in time! I hope it sticks! He's excited for a little sister! I couldn't have asked for a better big brother.

Close Call

Katelyn almost came on Friday night. Ben and I went out to dinner for his birthday and then saw Les Miserables.  Half way through the movie, I started getting pretty strong contractions that were only a couple of minutes apart. I didn't want to leave if we didn't need to, so I stayed for about 10 minutes, but they were getting stronger. I told Ben that we HAD to leave and go to the hospital. It was about 9:30 p.m. The contractions told me I was definitely going to have a baby soon, but I didn't get a reassuring feeling that it would happen that night. I have felt throughout this pregnancy that Katelyn would come at full-term and I was only 36 weeks. BUT my contractions were REALLY hurting, so we went to the hospital. The nurse checked me, I was at a 3, but my contractions were a minute apart and 45 seconds long. Obviously - we thought we were going to be staying. Devin and Sarah were with the kids and we told them to just go to bed. I was so grateful that they were already at our house.

The contractions started to slow down, then speed back up, and continued to do so for about 2 hours. I progressed to a 4, but that is very slow for me. My doctor decided to give me a shot of morphine to see if that would possibly stop the contractions, but if my body was ready, then I would keep contracting anyway. I fell asleep at about 1:00 a.m. and the nurse woke me at about 2:30. She, the nurse, told me I was still contracting, but I couldn't feel them very strong anymore. The doctor left the decision up to me if I wanted to stay and see or go home. We decided to go home, and I crashed and didn't wake up till 11 the next morning. Sweet Ben was so tired and slept after I woke up.

It was a mix of feelings leaving the hospital because I felt like I had started labor and didn't like the idea of having to do it AGAIN. Plus, she would have been born on Ben's birthday. BUT I also really want her to be full term, and her health is the most important. We tried to make Ben's birthday still special by going to his mom's for dinner and dessert. She decorated beautifully with balloons and candy. 49ers colors of course :) We had so much fun, but we were pretty exhausted.

Sunday, the labor caught up with me, and my body ached so badly. After church, I crashed again. Katelyn seemed to want to stay very low and it was pretty painful, sitting, laying, or standing. This morning I felt a lot better, I think she came back up a little and relieved some pressure. I'm grateful she is still healthy and growing in the best place she could be. If I can last till Wednesday, I'll be happy. I still feel contractions every once in a while, but I don't think it will happen quite yet. We are excited to meet this baby girl!!