Introducing.....

Chase Matthew Milota Allen

Born April 19, 2011 at 3:39 pm

8 pounds 2 ounces

22 inches

Tuesday morning, at 3:54 am my water broke.  I can honestly say that feels like about 12 hours ago.  I have NO idea where the last three days have went.  Everything has been a wonderful, amazing blur!

We made it to the hospital by 4:45 am and got up to the room...all without one contraction!!

By 7:30 am I had an epidural and by 3:39 pm, Chase greeted us! 

Everything went very smoothly, with no complications.  We continue to say how blessed we were to have such a wonderful experience.

Chase has been a wonderful baby!  As soon as he was born, he let out a couple whimpers, then just looked around checking out the situation.  (Pretty sure he gets that from Matt!)

We arrived home Thursday around 11:30-noon.  Bella and Charlie were quite excited to see us and check out this new "toy" we brought home.  Once they sniffed him out, they were just fine.  However, once the first crying started, they got a little curious and worried.  They felt they had to cry a bit, too, just to make sure Mom & Dad heard everyone. 

And now, when the crying begins, they barely even blink!

Thanks to all for the texts, e-mails, calls, cards, flowers and gifts.  Please know that they were received and appreciated.  Despite everyone telling you how your lives will change and time will fly, it's impossible to comprehend exactly how true that is until your days go by in a haze of feedings and diaper changes.

Hey there!!!

Well, Pregnancy Brain strikes again!  They were surprised at the doctor’s office today…to see me.  Evidently my appointment is next week!  Oh well, they were nice about it and squeezed me in anyway.  

Everything is progressing very well!  The doctor is pleased with everything.  The thing that they measure at all visits now is my belly size.  I was told that the measurement should match my weeks pregnant.  And, so it did!  Today I was at 25 ½ inches from the bottom of my belly to the top of my uterus.  In three weeks, I’ve grown just at 3 inches, which I find pretty cool!  After measuring, she listened to the heart beat.  I will never cease to be amazed and calmed by that sound!!  The heart rate is sticking around the same range age 148-150 beats per minute.

My next appointment is in three weeks, which the doctor and nurse kept saying to me just to give me a hard time!  I told them to keep it coming…I totally deserved it!  At that appointment, they will do the glucose testing and another blood test.  My appointments now are going to be every two weeks since I’m now in…..the THIRD trimester!!!  Can you believe that?!?!  This Friday, we will be 26 weeks along.  For those out there that don’t know this little tidbit, pregnancies are actually 40 weeks.  Can you believe it?!  

We still have plenty of things to get done around the house, though.  We are currently working on putting new flooring in several of the rooms.  Matt is becoming quite the hardwood floor guy!  Thanks to our friends, Brian and Brett for helping us out!!  

Since Blog posts are more fun with pictures, I had to put this one of our babies over the holidays.  They loved having us around, but missing their naps throughout the day really caught up with them in the evenings.  Check out how cute they are!!!

Sleepy Puppies!!!

Where did December go?!?!

Wow!  January 2011??  Where did December go?  And for that matter, where did 2010 go?? 

We apologize for the delay in posting.  December was a pretty big month for us with travel and family gatherings.

The month started with early Christmas Shopping (early for Meghan, that is!), while also focusing on planning a little birthday party for a certain lady in Ipava, IL.  Our December started with the immediate Butler Family Christmas.  After Nick flew in from Colorado (the plane flew, not Nick...) we enjoyed a great homemade meal and then exchanged gifts with just the five of us....well, 7 actually!  Gotta count Miss Bella and Mr. Charlie!

The next day, December 11^th, we had the Mayall Christmas.  Grandma nearly lost an eye to a marshmallow gun, but all survived!  The next day, we had a party to celebrate Grandma’s Birthday.  That’s right!  Grandma Shirley turned 80 and what’s better than a party?  Even with challenging IL winter weather, there was still a GREAT turnout!!

The following weekend, we headed back to Fulton County to celebrate Christmas on the Butler side.  My brother and my cousin, Brian, were unable to make it.  While it wasn’t quite the same, we text’d & facebook’d throughout the day to let them know just how delicious Grandma Mary’s Fried Potatoes were!  I don’t know if it was the pregnancy or what, but they were a HOME RUN!!!  They really hit the spot!  Baby Allen was very impressed with those potatoes and hopes to have them again very soon!!!  Mmmm Good!!!  And don’t even get me going on Grandma’s Apple Pie.  Holy cow!!  (Oh shoot…Isn’t that a Cub saying?!!)  We are hoping that dad’s Apple Tree trimming wasn’t too crucial to the crop and that we’re able to have some more famous Grandma Mary pies in the spring!! 

The following week, Matt and I were able to load up the car and head to Ohio on the 23^rd.  It was our first Christmas in Ohio and we were very excited!!  I had worried about the travel for months and the trip ended up being one of our easiest.  Thank goodness!  We were able to get into Ohio that afternoon and enjoy Connie’s homemade lasagna!  Again…Baby Allen was a happy baby!  On Christmas Eve day Melanie, Jacob, Tiffany, Gabe, Kirsten and Nick came over and we enjoyed a wonderful meal and TONS of presents!  Matt and I were excited about this part of the trip because we usually just do the gift card thing.  This year, we got to play the “Aunt and Uncle” roles out and buy all sorts of fun stuff!  Make-up and girly stuff for our niece and Remote Control cars and Nerf Guns with EXTRA bullets for the nephews.  That was pretty cool!  On Christmas Day, Melanie (Matt’s sister) had us over for a beautiful Christmas dinner.  Of course, she touched my heart with homemade mac and cheese!  The next day, Matt’s dad was pretty pumped for us to go to one of their favorite hangouts to watch the Browns game.  Sadly, it wasn’t a good outcome for the Browns…but we had fun just being together!   

The following day, we were able to meet up with Matt’s Grandma Alice and enjoy lunch and the afternoon visiting with her.  It’s always nice to catch up and get some Grandma time.  Tuesday we headed back to IL and boy was it a snow-covered IL at that!

Well, I’m sure you can all tell by now…I’m feeling very good!  Food is finally my friend again!  Ha ha!  It’s still kinda strange that I fill up so easily and then end up hungry an hour or so later, but that’s ok.  I just take my time and keep the smaller meals coming.  I’ve really noticed the baby kicking more and more.  I was pretty unsure of it at first, but now I think I finally have it figured out when it’s a baby kick.  I must say..it’s absolutely amazing!  Yet another moment that is beyond words.  My belly is starting to stick out just a bit.  And no…no belly pictures!  As open of a book as I am, that’s one that I don’t think I’ll be doing just yet.  Maybe when it’s more prominent…

Our last doctor’s appointment was December 7^th.   Yes, it was the appointment that we could find out the sex.  NO!  We didn’t..and we’re totally fine with it.  Our family and friends…not so much!  It sure is fun getting everyone’s “thoughts” on whether it’s a boy or girl.  That’s been pretty entertaining!  This visit was the sonogram that they measured several things and checked the organs of the baby.  I wish I could do better with words on this.  It was remarkable how much the baby has grown and looks like this little human!  We were able to see the brain, all four chambers of the heart, kidneys, stomach…and then all the limbs, bones and such!  Once again, the baby’s mouth was moving.  I know, you all find this so hard to believe!!  We got some really awesome sonogram shots.  Hope you enjoy them below!

  

Our next appointment is tomorrow.  We are only scheduled to see the doctor.  No sonogram this time!  Basically just a checkup for me.  I’m sure we’ll get to hear the heartbeat again.

We hope all of you had a safe and joyous Christmas and New Years!  We are so thankful to have such a wonderful time with our families and friends throughout this holiday season.   Time flew, but it was all wonderful and filled with many, many memories that will last for years to come!!

Happy 2011 everyone!  It’s gonna be a great year!!

Meghan & Matt