Day 29: Cleaning out her closet

So, today I reorginized Cambell's room & put up all her old baby clothes that she can't fit in anymore.  We are keep some stuff...ok, well more stuff than I realized...in case we have another baby girl.  I found her little hat and gloves they gave her in the hospital and teared up remembering the day that changed my life forever!  She is a little peanut, but looking back at some of the clothes she used to wear all the time I realized how much she has grown.  AND I AM LOVING EVER MINUTE OF IT!

Day 28: A Walk

So, today Cambell and I went on a walk around the neighborhood.  She LOVES being outside.  She gets quiet and peaceful and looks around at everything.  What it must look like outside for a child...I would imagine it's like one big kaleidoscope!  That song "I hope you dance" comes to mind...the line that says, "I hope you never lose your sense of wonder" is my wish for my baby girl. 

Day 27: The cheese

So, as you can tell, this is not a picture but a video.  This past week Cambell started doing this really funny smile with her face we call "The Cheese" or "Cheesin".  I had to share.  She is such a joy to my life, I pray that this makes you smile today!

Day 26: A house, on a rock...on an island, in Jamaica

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Day 25: Rain, rain go away!

So, I guess we haven't had a rain storm in a while, because we had church tonight and barely anyone came...and it wasn't even that bad.  It is so crazy how the media can strike fear into people.  I am glad that my protection lies in Christ alone.

My picture I had was of my friend Brittany, holding Cambell, who is prego with twins, but it was too blurry.  So, here is another pic (taken with my camera phone).  This is what Cambell looked like when we got home from church. 

Day 24: Sundrop

So, it has finally happened...Sundrop has made it to Florida.  Now if we can only get some Cheerwine...we would be set!  Anyone going to North Carolina?

Day 23: The FAST is over!

So, tonight our church celebrated the end of our 21 day fast with ENCOUNTER (a night of prayer and worship).  I have always hated fasting, especially food, because I hate the way it makes me feel.  However, through the FAST this year I realized that fasting is hard but worth it.  I looked around the church last night and saw so many broken people...and it broke me!  Life is hard and I get it, believe me.  BUT, We need to not let life rule us, we need to rule our life!  Somewhere along the way we start trying to do things in our own strength and it never seems to work out the way we hoped.  BUT when God becomes first in our life again, it always amazes me how things seem to fall back in place and into the right order.  My fast may be over, but my pursuit of God for 2011 has just begun! 

My meal after the fast...I didn't go too crazy!
Thanks Chili's!

Day 22: I got nothing...

So, I was gonna show you a video of Cambell talking and playing but after half a day of trying to load it...I decided to change plans.  I bought this corn tortilla mix to make homemade tortillas.  NEVER AGAIN...unless I have a tortilla press.  They ended up tasting ok but having to try and press the dough between a frying pan and sauce pan and then scrap it off with a spatula...yea...not so much.

Day 21: Friday...I'm in love!

So, I don't have to work on Fridays.  It is my day off and I love it!  My Fridays are usually pretty relaxing.  It's my day to catch up on...whatever!  Laundry, t.v. shows, sleep, cleaning, etc.  This Friday I just hung out with my daughter and spent some quality time together.  She took a long afternoon nap which meant I got to take a long afternoon nap too!  Sometimes you need days like this to recharge because before you know it, Monday is here again!

Day: 20 Explosion

So, I learned something tonight...

DON'T MICROWAVE GARBANZO BEANS!

Day 19: ...that is the question

So...this is where I found her the next morning.  I mean seriously...how does she stay asleep?  It was a little early so my photography skills are not that good.  She has that..."I just woke up & this flash is so bright" look...so cute!

Day 18: To Sleep or not to sleep....

So, bedtime is always interesting because I never know which way my baby wants to lay down.  Sometimes it is on her belly, sometimes on her back with her hands behind her head, & sometimes on her side with her fingers in her mouth.  Tonight, this is what she looked like when I put her to bed. She was pretty awake but put herself to sleep in 5 mins. (So proud.)  The funny thing is that she always wakes up in a completely different position than she went  to bed.  I am going to take a picture tomorrow morning to see where she ends up.  Does anyone else have a baby that does this?

Day 17: Learning how to edit

So, this picture is from Christmas but I am learning how to edit.  It is very hard, especially when you are using photoshop and you don't have an idea what the heck you are doing.  Here is the before and after.  It's the first time I've done this so I know it's amature, but hey...I'm trying. 

 

Day 16: Breakaway

So, I am getting ready for Breakaway to start.  My friends Josh & Crystal Franklin are dedicating their baby tonight.  I really wanted to be there but since I can't I am blessed to be able to watch it live from http://www.destination-church.org.  I pray God does some mighty things tonight during the last session of Breakaway.  I am so lucky to have such amazing leaders & people in my life who have encouraged me, believed in me, and loved me...every step of the way.  I would not be the person I am today if not for each and every one of them. 

Day 15: A wedding

So...tonight we went the Braddock wedding.  It was in an airplane hanger and was super cool!  This was probably one of the best weddings I've been to in a while.  The atmosphere was fun and different, everyone seemed to be having a great time, and most importantly there was not a lot of waiting around.  They kept things moving and you weren't bored and hungry!  The Groom & Bride looked very happy & I even got in a dance or two with Melissa Sprung.  Here are just a few pictures that I liked.  Oh, yeah...and I dyed my hair.



She was very excited to be there.  Either that, or she was really excited to eat!



My handsome hubby and I!

Take 4???



It took us many times to get this photo.



Day 14: I love her

So, this picture was taken with my ghetto camera phone...but...I had to share. 

I JUST LOVE HER!!!

Day 13: The cone

So, our precious dog has been licking a place near his back leg so much that it has caused a "hot spot".  (You can see the red spot by his back leg in the picture).  We decided to put his cone on him so that he would stop.  I have never seen him look so sad! It kind of make me cry-laugh.  He keeps running into things which is funny but also so sad...poor guy. 

I told Josh...that is going to be hardest part of parenting for me...Doing something for your kids that you know will benefit them in the end but breaks their heart in the process.  I pray that God continues to give me the wisdom and grace to be the mom that he has called me to be!  I don't think I can handle too many coned-head-Dozers!

Anyway...here is the picture of Dozer...

Day 12: Rubber Ducky...You're The One!

So, I gave my baby a bath tonight and just had to take a picture of her in her bathrobe.  I mean (say it like Chandler Bing) "Can she BE any cuter?"  A seven month old in a bathrobe?  I love it!

Day 11: What is he thinking?

So, this is where I found my dog when I woke up this morning.  

This is so NOT his bed.  What was he thinking?

Day 10: Headbands

So, my friend Brittany came over and we did a photo shoot with Cambell.  Brittany has a 2 year old son and is prego with twin girls!  She is making headbands and wants to start selling them! They are super cute!  She asked if Cambell could be here baby model.  Of course I said yes!  I got to use my new camera.  They were taken around our house and still need to be edited but here are a few pictures from our shoot...  

Day 9: Dozer

So....sometimes our dog still thinks he's a puppy. 

Day 8: SO...

So...I have decided to start all my blogs with the word SO...in cause you couldn't tell.  AND I have also decided that the more (dot, dot, dot) you have, the better... It may not be proper, but who ever said I was?

Today was a pretty relaxed day.  Just hung out around the house.  Josh has been working on some onyx lamps that we are planning to take to art fairs and sell them (hopefully for a lot of money).  They are pretty cool and unique.  Cambell and I went outside and hung out with him for a little while.  Here are some pictures of him working.  These pictures do not do it justice...just wait!

Josh cutting the onyx

Fabricating one of the lamps

Oh, and Cambell found a leaf!

Day 7: Beans...the more you eat, the more you....

What?  They were having a sale!

Plus, being on the Daniel's fast...I have eaten way too much beans and veggies.

Hopefully this vegetarian chili turns out good.  Making it in my new crock pot!

Day 6: So what...I'm still a rockstar...I got my rock moves...

So, last night I got in my car to go over to my friend Crystal's house for dinner and in the front seat I see this...

For those of you who know me pretty well, this is very fitting.  He bought me a Hannah Montana mic that when you sing into it your voice comes over the radio! I am my very own rockstar!  When Josh first met me I used to have this pink blow up mic that my friend Emily gave to me.  It would come in very handy when one of those songs comes on the radio.  You know, one of those songs you feel the need to sing to at the very top of your lungs.  You know, like a Celine Deon song or some old school NYSYNC? (Don't hate!)

The best part about this gift is that it had a card with it from my husband that said "I have been thinking about you all day and wanted to give you something to show you that I love you!"  He sure does...I mean a Hannah Montana Microphone...yep, he's a keeper!

Day 5: I'm Famous!

So...in case you didn't know...I am kind of a big deal! Well, in my mind at least.  Yesterday my friend Kate sent me a link to a wedding website for people living in Massachusetts.  The website is http://www.maweddingguide.com/ and the newsletter is http://www.maweddingguide.com/newsletters/Brides/MA2011/jan4.htm
If you click on either one of those you will see my beautiful face!

See...I told you I was famous.  The coolest part about it is that those people got my picture from my friend Kate's website.  She is a very close friend of mine...a sister from another mother...and did my makeup for my wedding.  I still say my wedding day was the most beautiful I have ever felt!  There are obviously many reasons for that, but Kate did my makeup so amazing and I barely had to tell her what I wanted!  She just knew.  Just click below my picture and it will take you to her website http://www.facesbykate.net/.  Check her out!

Ok, so, I just had to share...it's not everyday you are on the front page of a website! Dreams really do come true! LOL!

Day 4:Life church

So my picture is not taken from my awesome new camera but from my ghetto camera phone.  But, hey, it works! I'm on my lunch break so I thought I would post something real quick.

If you haven't heard of www.lifechurch.tv you should totally check it out. 

The Pastor's name is Craig Groeschel and he is very easy to listen to.

The teaching are revelant and he preaches from the word.  No sugar-coating here!  I learn something new and am either challenged or convicted everytime I listen or watch one of his teachings.  I mean with sermon series titled Toxic, Once Upon A Marriage, So You're Dead: Now What, and my personal favorite...Girls Gone Wild: Bible Style, what's not to love?  I often listen to him at work while I am in my office.  It's hard to catch everything he says when you are doing something else, but I always catch something quoteable.  I encourage you to listen in or watch, I promise you will learn something new! They just celebrated 15 years together! They must be doing something right.  So, happy anniversary Life Church!

Day 3: seven months

Today my baby is 7 months old.  It amazes me at how much she has grown.  She is learning something new everyday.  Her new favorite thing to do is watch the doggies.  She loves when they come up to her when she is in her jumpy and try to lick her.  She starts cracking up...and you have to do a lot of different things to keep her laughing.  I am always telling the dogs to 'leave her' because the idea of the dogs licking Cambell's hands and then her putting them in her mouth just doesn't sound like a good idea to me.


So, I saw the dogs outside wanting to get in and thought it would be a good idea to put her on the floor on the other side of the sliding glass door to see what would happen.  She just sat there in amazement while she watched the dogs play.  I love watching her discover the world more and more! 
SHE IS AMAZING! 

Disclaimer: I don't do windows! 

  

Day 2: The hard wood

Back to life...back to reality....do you remember that song?  I wonder how many people remember more of that song than those 6 words...because after that all I do is hum the rest of the tune...

ANYWAY...tomorrow I have to go back to work! But this past week I have had vacation and the first time since I can remember I really had NOTHING TO DO!  We didn't have any trips planned, we didn't make any plans, we simply got to do anything we wanted to!

So in typical Allen family style (I'm married to a visionary) we (and when I say we, I really mean Josh and 2 friends) decided to put laminate floors in our living room & hallways in ONE DAY!  I have to say, it was a long day but they did it!  This was our Christmas present to ourselves and they look amazing!  I am so impressed by all the skills my husband has.  He suprises me all time with something new he knows how to do!

Now all we have to do is have a party and invite everyone over so they can see how great they look!  Here are some before and after pictures.  Let me know what you think!


Our living room before



Our living room before (with my handsome man)







Our living room after (back of house)





Our living room after (standing at the front door)



Day 1

For Christmas my husband gave me an amazing camera.  It is a little expensive but I have wanted this camera for a while.  So he got a few of our family members to pitch in and on Christmas morning I opened a gift I totally did not expect! (He told me he did a lot of lieing this Christmas...lol)

So, I decided for 2011 that I would take a picture a day with my amazing new Cannon T2i camera.  What a great way to document the year and to explore some of my creative giftings God has given me!

The first picture I decided to take, although not very exciting, has a meaning...This is our Christmas Tree...well, was our Christmas Tree.  It has sat outside our house like that for about a week.  I took down the Christmas decor a few weeks earlier than I would like (upcoming pictures would explain why) so there it has sat since Monday.  This tree is special because it was Cambell's first Christmas and our first Christmas together as a family of 3. 

As I looked at our poor tree sitting there it spoke to me...well not literally...but nevertheless, this is what it said...

We celebrated change of a new year last night and with new things sometimes you have to get rid of the old! The Christmas Tree sitting in front of our garage door symbolizes the enjoyment and end of the last season and the beginning of something new!

So, Bring It On 2011! I am curious to see what all you have for the Allen family! I will forever love 2010 because it gave me my beautiful baby girl but I am excited to see what God has in store for us.  Read along if you like...if not, my feelings won't be hurt.  I am doing this more for me than anything else.  God is going to do great things in our business, ministry, family, and ourselves.  I am ready for the journey...camera in hand!