Dear Allison-Rae...

Dear Allie,

When people say that you marry someone like your Dad, they aren't kidding. I have been frustrated lately (like since about 3 months after we started dating) with your father for his lack of romanticism. For the love of God, please someone teach this boy how to be spontaneous and romantic! (mind you I write this whole letter with all the love, sarcasm, yet truthfulness in my being - and with a big smile, okay grin).
Last year we were blessed with having just learned that you were coming right around this time...which happens to be around my Birthday. I spent my 30th Birthday lying to people that I was drinking because we didn't want to tell everyone just yet. I have been approaching my 31st Birthday AND Mother's Day planning on celebrating 30, 31 and my first official Mother's Day all with a bang. I then thought maybe a fun day with friends hanging at the house and just enjoying company and some beverages mid-afternoon would be fun. It has now turned into me (and you) getting kicked out of the house so that your father can scramble to pour the new floor, re-plumb, tile, assemble and do everything else to the basement bathroom and adjacent bedroom in time for our assessment to refinance in a few weeks. He has to get it done this weekend and then only after work because opening fishing weekend is next week and he has to be up north for that (duh, why would he push that off to spend time with his wife on her birthday and then get the bathroom finished).
Now, with that said, you can imagine (or maybe not, you're just a baby at this point) that rushing to do this, while wanting to do it correctly and to our liking can add up in cost and effort. Bear with me I'm getting to the point.
Your Father and I went, on our 2 year anniversary, to look at Mother's Rings. I had picked out a few different options which the jeweler said repeatedly they would all take 4-6 weeks to order, size and put new stones in like your Dad had wanted. It is now 5 days away from needing that ring and on this past Saturday says "yeah, I was going to go to the jeweler after work yesterday, but when you called me upset about all the bills due and stressing about money, I thought we should wait until it won't be such a stretch". Logical - yes, justifiable - yes...except for that in my world, he still would have gotten it - 6 weeks ago!!!!!!
Now when I say you marry your father (figuratively), your Grandpa is about on the same level as your Father when it comes to being romantic. Your Grammy has intentionally reset all of his pad-locks, garage codes, key-fobs, etc... to have their anniversary as the code. He still forgets some years. Your Father will not forget our anniversary...this early in life at least, but he will have great thoughts (that I probably planted) and then just let them go. Okay, there is still a chance that he ordered the ring and is saying that he didn't because he knows this will be my reaction and he wants to surprise me - but if he did't, there goes my hopeless romanticism again.
Moral of the story: Do marry someone just like your Dad. He could very well have different interests, political views, talents, and much more - but you will receive the most true love you could ever imagine. It still brings me to near tears merely thinking about how lucky I am to have your Dad. His love is incredible and how much he loves you is even more. Just don't expect surprise roses for no reason, or two "whatevers" when you really only needed one.
Love you honey (Dad and Allie),
Mama

4 months!

I promise I will get Allie's 4 month picture up ASAP (with Bumkins). I forgot to upload the pics.

Some milestones to make note of though:

-Friday, April 29th - Allie Rae had her 4 month check-up and was 13lbs 14oz, she is just over 24 inches long and her head is 16 and then some inches. She is 50th percentile for her weight and 75th for height and head! She did well with her shots. It was just her and Mama today which was not easy, but Dad had to stay at work (much to Mama's dismay). We made it though and she is super healthy and growing...and happy!
-Sunday, May 1st - Allie Rae tried rice cereal (if you can call the runny mush that) with a spoon...and let's just say, she's not quite ready for a spoon yet! She still has a very strong tongue thrust so she just pushes everything out.
All weekend...Mom and Dad were reassured by the 5th or 6th blowout over the past week that it is now time to move on to size 1-2 diapers! She still fits in her 3 month clothes for the most part, but those poos need more room!
Allison Rae is on the verge of rolling from her belly to her back. She did it once at day care all by herself (which I didn't see, sigh) and she has done it a time or two when we tuck her arms in for her. She'll get there soon I'm sure!