4 Months!!!!

Zachary went for his 4 month check up today. He is 15 lbs 12 oz and was 26 inches long. Putting him in the 75th percentile for weight and 90th for height. The doctor declared him healthy and growing well. He had to get some shots, which is making for a grumpy afternoon.

Just last week he began rolling from his back to his front. He hasn't mastered the tummy to back yet, so he usually gets pretty frustrated on his tummy. He seems to always have either a toy or his hand in his mouth, i have a feeling teething is coming shortly.

Here are some pictures.

some tummy time

4 months old

flying above mom's head (taken my Steve)

All smiles

Beach visit

Nicole's parents have moved to Myrtle Beach, SC, so a couple of weeks ago we went to visit and took Zach to the beach for the first time. He didn't seem to mind the water and sand. He took a nap both days in his little tent and was tolerant of us putting his feet in the ocean. We are looking forward to future trips to visit them as he gets older and more interested in the sand.

Grandpa putting him in the water

snoozing on the beach

First O's Game

We took Zachary to his first O's game yesterday. It was a hot one, but our seats were on the club level, so we were able to retreat to the air conditioning when needed. Zach made it onto the jumbo tron, but not in Steve or my arms but our friend Lindsay's arms. He slept through a couple of the innings, on Nikki's baby belly (guessing there was some baby bonding going on). Even got a certificate that it was his first game, and a picture with the Oriole bird. Though it was hot we had lots of fun with our friends, and we even WON (and swept the Nat's). Can't wait to take him back again.

Ready for the game

Enjoying the game

meeting the Oriole bird

the girl's... with sleeping Zach

The whole gang

3 Months- catching up

So it has been a month and I haven't had a chance to update the blog, so there might be multiple post done today. Zachary turned 3 months on the 23rd, he is getting bigger and amazing us daily. He weighed 14 pounds last week (per wii fit). He has almost mastered the head holding, and is working on roiling, which I think will be very shortly. He is a super happy baby, except when it is time to eat, then don't mess with him :)

I started back to work, so Zach has been home with Steve and they both seem to be loving it. Just when I started back to work is when Zach decided to start sleeping through the night. Meaning he goes to bed by 8 and sleeps till 4:30- 5 and then will go back to sleep till 8. It works out nicely since I get up at 5 for work anyways, so I am able to feed him before I leave (and sometimes that is the only time I get to hold him all day).

2 Months Old

Can't believe Zachary is already 2 months old, seems like just yesterday he was born. He went today for his 2 month check up and shots. He is 12 lbs 14 oz and 23.5 inches long. He had to get 2 shots,which he was not a fan of and an oral vaccine. He has been sleeping off the shots most of the day, and is definatly not his happy self, but some Tylenol seems to be helping.
Nicole returns to work in 2 weeks, and Steve will be home with Zach playing Mr. Mom. (which he is very excited about). Here are some pictures I took yesterday, his actual 2 month birthday:
Baxter giving some kisses

2 Months old

Weeks 7 and 8

Just in the past couple of weeks Zach as gotten bigger, and more active. He loves to lie on his play mat and kick around at the toys. And he can be half asleep in our arms but as soon as you put up down on his changing table to get changed for bed, he is awake, kicking around, and laughing. We weighed him using the Wii fit the other night and he is 12.5 lbs. We go next week for his 2 month check up (and shots) so we shall see how long he has gotten.

After his bath

Enjoying his play mat

He got tired from playing and decided to nap on the mat.

Nicole, Zach and her parents traveled down to Greenville, NC for Sam's graduation from ECU last weekend. Zach was great and slept in the car the whole time. And was a perfect gentleman through the graduation ceremony, just looking around at all the people. He of course sported his ECU shirt for Aunt Sam.
Zach and Aunt Sam

We celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary on the 14th. Our friends Teri and Dave volunteered to babysit so we could go out for a nice dinner at the Melting Pot. We got all dressed up, and enjoyed our night out (first date night since Zach was born).

One Month old

This is a little late (as he is almost 2 months old) but I tried to post if earlier, and the pictures won't load, and I am just now getting time to update the blog.

At his month check up he was 10lbs 6oz and measured 23 3/4 inches

Here are some pictures:

One Month

Baxter joined in the picture

4 Weeks old

Today Zachary is 4 weeks old. He seems to have had a growth spurt in the past week, so I am very interested to see how much he weighs when we go to the doctors on Friday. He seems to have grown out of the newborn clothes and has moved up the Size 1 diapers. Will report back how much he weighs after the doctors on Friday. Enjoy some pictures.....

Fell asleep during tummy time

Arrgh a pirate... .....DOG

3 Weeks old!!!

Can't believe it has been 3 weeks since our little one arrived. At times it feels like it was just yesterday, and at others it feels like he has always been a part of our lives. Every day he is getting bigger, and challenging us in new ways. He seems to be a pretty calm baby, only really crying when he is super hungry and I am taking to long to feed him. He has had many different outings with us, including trips to the grocery store, Wild Wings, and out to lunch with the girls. He also had his first overnight trip to Grandma and Grandpa's last weekend to help move stuff to our house (they are moving to Myrtle Beach this summer). He has also had many visitors including Nana (Steve's mom), Katie, Nikki, Frank, Poppy (Steve's dad), his Great Grandfather and Great Aunt Trish and some of Nicole's co- workers. He has defiantly been spoiled with holding by everyone.

He has officially christened mommy by throwing up on her twice, and peeing during a diaper change. He even got Teri this weekend, while Nicole took a nap, and Steve was getting ready for a fire pit, Zachary had one of his fountain like throw ups, requiring an entire outfit change. Apparently it was quite comical with Dave and Teri doing their first diaper and outfit change (the onsie goes over the head, not on from the bottom, Dave). Of course no one was able to catch it on film, but Zachary seemed to tolerate it fine.

Here are just a couple of the pictures from the past couple of weeks: Steve and his boys

Nana rocking Zachary

Baxter checking to make sure Zachary is okay

bedtime story.... Good Night Moon

3 Generations of Allens

Poppy and Zach

Hanging with Girlios

sleeping on his future girlfriend or best friend (in Nikki's belly)

O's opening day

Zachary Richards Allen

Zachary Richards Allen arrived Tuesday March 23rd, 2010 at 1148 PM, after a long day of labor, ending in a c-section. For as easy of a pregnancy as I had, Zachary made up for it by being difficult during labor and delivery. The induction went well, but when I got the epidural it didn't fully take, so i was not getting as much relief on the right side as the left. I pushed for 2.5 hours, but Zachary's head would not progress down, so the decision was made to do the c-section. The Anesthesiologist had trouble using the epidural to numb me, after attempting to do a spinal block (with difficulty) I still was not fully numb on the right side, so I ended up going under General Anesthesia for the delivery. This meant that Steve wasn't able to come into the OR, and I was asleep till about an hour after Zachary arrived. During the c-section, the physician poked a small hole in my bladder, but it was tiny, and easily repaired, just meant I had to be watched closer and come home with a catheter for a week. It didn't effect Zachary in one bit. He ended up being bigger then we thought coming in at 8 lb 2oz and 22 inches long.



First family photo

We came home on Friday evening and have been taking it one night/day at a time. He seems to be settling in nicely. He did lose a little more weight then they like to see at first, so we supplemented a couple feeds. But he seems to have gotten the hang of feeding now.

Steve has been going camera crazy, so we have TONS of pictures and he is only 4 days old!!!

Here are just some of the favorites. I am going to probably end up setting up an online album so that we can share more of the pictures.

Meeting Grandpa

Aunt Sam Proud Grandparents
Baxter wanted to say HI!!!

The night before....

At 40 weeks and 3 days we are being induced!!! We will finally get to meet Gummi Bear. We are to be at the hospital at 645 AM, tomorrow. Doubt Steve or I will get much sleep tonight, though I know we really should since it is the last night we can get some uninterrupted sleep for a LONG time. Here are probably the last belly shots:

Hoping that by this time tomorrow we are parents!!! Look for pics of the little one in the days to come.

Now we just wait.....

Now it is just a waiting game to see when little Gummi Bear will arrive. Due to my belly measuring on the smaller size the past couple of weeks, the doc had us get an ultrasound yesterday. Everything looked good, the baby's abdomen was just measuring on the smaller size. So I got a non- stress test, heart rate looked good and doc didn't seem to be to worried. Just means we are going to have a smaller then thought baby... Currently measuring in at about 6lb 3oz. Going to go back on Thursday for another non- stress test, and will be watched slightly closer till baby decides to arrive. Both Steve and I are ready to have this baby here and in our arms. The nursery is all done, car seat is in the car, bags are packed....come on contractions!!!!

Here are some pics of the finalized nursery:

From the door way

Just missing 3 family pictures for the tree