The Allred Kids

Josh is happiest being held and in this family it's not hard to find someone who's willing to hold him. Avery's first in line with Dad and Jake next, usually Dad wins that one.





This was a few weeks ago when I took this picture of the kids on our bed. I love it!! As a side note: Jake LIVES in this Batman costume. Spencer came home one day from work and asked, "Does Jake wear anything else?" I guess I really didn't notice. He'd wear it to the bus stop to get Avery and I never thought twice about it. We love you Jake. Good thing Dad just got him a new one this one was getting too small for him.

Growing Up

It's sad to see my babies grow. Josh is doing great and is almost three months now. Emily is Emily and we love her busy little spirit. We're all excited for her to start pre-school and be a Busy Bee in September. Jake is getting tall! He's almost as tall as Avery and starts Kindergarten in August! Avery is so wonderful and is still my amazing little helper. She is going to a day camp with her Girl Scout Daisy Troop tomorrow- so grown up!!

This is Josh with his twin cousins Jackson and Joseph born 10 days after Josh.

Grandpa with Avery and Jake at the Rodeo. They got to see Rascal Flatts; they LOVE their songs! They had a blast and loved to spend time with Grandpa and Dad.




Joshua smiling at 2 months. So cute and makes all the crying all worth it.

Joshua at one month

I took some pictures of Josh when he was one month. I love pictures of baby hands. They are so cute and tiny. They do grow so fast I can't believe my first baby is already seven. I'm trying to enjoy my babies while they are little. I love them so much and they grow so quickly!

One day at a time

I know it's been a while since I've posted anything new life's been really busy taking care of a new baby and sick kids and a sick husband. I'm trying to get over it myself now. Today I have no voice and every time I attempt to discipline them they give me the strangest look. They almost turn their head just a tad, like a dog does when hearing a strange noise, like I think Mom would be yelling at me now if she had a voice to yell with. Anyways as I rest my voice enjoy these pictures of the past few weeks.


I did have a fun time straightening Emily's hair for the first time. She looked so different to me and it was so nice to be able to run a brush through it! It is so long! It didn't last long in the morning it was ringlets as usual.




As soon as Avery was better I let her hold Josh again. It was so nice to have her healthy again so she could hold him and I could get a few things done. The kids love to hold him and constantly ask me, "Mom can I hold Josh?" It's nice but I can completely trust that Avery will not move from her spot even if she breaks out in a sweat after 20 minutes. It gets really hot after holding him for 15 minutes. She's my great little helper and loves her baby brother.


Sorry, I'm not sure how to turn the picture.

I know Valentine's Day is over but I had fun with the girls hair to celebrate it. Of course I got my ideas from those great hairdo blogs that I love so much. I didn't really get a picture of Avery's but it was the same concept of Emily's just having one big heart instead of Emily's two. In the above picture you can kind of make out the top of the heart braids.

Joshua Spencer

It was 1:30 am when the contractions first started. They didn't hurt but started getting closer together so by 3:30 we decided it would be best if we went to the hospital to be safe. After showering the contractions had stopped and I didn't feel anything on the drive there either. We went to the ER and by that time it was almost 5 am. Spencer was scheduled to be at work at 6:30am; and yes this was January 7th, my birthday. The nurse hooked me up to the monitors to evaluate the contractions I was having. They were every 2-3 minutes but still did not hurt although they were fairly big. I was still dilated to 2 cm. She kept me on the monitors for an hour and then rechecked me after an hour and I was at 4 cm. She called my doctor and he said to take me to labor and delivery to get the epidural and not wait for the labs to come back because I have a history of fast labors. Up in L&D I got the epidural and stayed at a 6 for about an hour. Finally around 10 am I felt a little bit of pressure but by 10:30 there was a bit more pressure and the nurse checked me and said I was complete and the dr would be here in about 5 minutes. Spencer was funny and said I'll give him ten. He timed him and he was there in 6 1/2 minutes. I pushed through two contractions and Joshua Spencer was born at 10:41 am on January 7th.



Joshua Spencer weighed 6lbs 6 oz. and was 19 1/2 inches.



Mom with beautiful new baby boy.



Emily holding her new baby brother.



Dad and Jake holding baby Joshua.



Avery is so excited to have a baby brother!



She loves him so much!



Joshua Spencer 24 hours old.



Love playing with the babies! They're so cute!



Daddy with his newest son!



Josh's had a rough day, so tired!


Spencer with baby Josh.


Love the baby hands- so wrinkly like a little old man.


So tired!




Itty bitty baby toes and feet

Itty bitty baby fingers- so sweet!

It's been almost two weeks since Josh has joined our family and we love every minute of it. Sure there is a lack of sleep on our parts but the kids love him so much and we are so blessed to have him with us.

Happy New Year!

Avery turned 7 on January 1st. She helped me make cupcakes and picked her favorite dinner on that day. Spencer was at the station so I let her pick two gifts to open and then save the rest for the 2nd when we would have Dad with us and we would go out to eat at a restaurant of her choosing and then have Grandma, Grandpa, and Heidi come over for dinner and open the rest of her presents then.
This is after dinner with the family opening a few cards. Love the toothless smile. It's been since October that she lost those two front teeth- are they ever going to grow in?!?

Don't you love the packaging for kids toys? They're adult proof and kid proof! Thank goodness for Grandpa and his knives. He and Spencer always have one in their pockets. Spencer's gotten me in the habit of having one in my purse also.

I love getting pictures of Spencer with the kids. He hates his picture taken but too bad. He's lost some serious weight and I've gained it but he looks great and I'm so grateful to have such a wonderful husband who takes such good care of all of us. The kids adore him and when Avery talked to him on the phone on her birthday she teared up because she misses him so much and is so sensitive. She is such a sweet girl and I love her so much. She is so excited to hold her baby brother- but did not want him to be born on her birthday! She's been such a wonderful helper. Last night while Spencer was again at the station while I was putting Emily and Jake to bed she started putting the dishes away from the dishwasher without me asking. She was done by the time I was with the other two. She then helped me with the two sinks full of dirty dishes. She wrote a few thank you cards, picked out my jammies, helped put clean sheets on my bed, and helped repack my hospital bag. By that time it was past her bed time but she did get to talk to Dad again before having to go to sleep. She's such a good girl and I am so grateful that she came into our family! We love you Avery so very much!