The Season is at an End

From Memphis Juniors

Well, the club volleyball season has come to an end. Bryan and I had a great expereince coaching these girls. We absolutely love them and are so happy with the strides they have made in improving their game.

From Volleyball Moms

From Volleyball Moms

The girls and parents have been so good to us. We are thankful to the moms who were so kind to watch Kirari for us. We couldn't have coached this season without the help we received. We wish the girls the best of luck with the upcoming High School tryouts they have.

A Walk in the Park

From Central Park

From Central Park

The other night we went to Central Park for dinner since the weather was so nice. After dinner we went on a walk. We found that Kirari loves the stroller. The bumpy road put Kirari right to sleep. We are most definitely going to put the stroller to good use.

Miya the Babysitter

From Miya the Babysitter

We have such good babysitters. Whenver Kirari whimpers Miya and Memphis are the first to go and see what is wrong. They don't like us to let her cry at all; they get upset with us. Miya loves to lay right next to Kirari and when we pick Kirari up she feels like we took her baby away from her.

Visit from Aunt Jan and Uncle Paul

From Visit From Aunt Jan

Kirari was spoiled to have a visit from her Aunt Jan and Uncle Paul. Thanks guys for making the trip out to visit us.

Thank Goodness for Moms

I thought I would take time to express my gratitude for my mother. Bryan and I were really lucky to have her spend two weeks with us. I was not too sure how this visit would go. You see I was a bit nervous because Kirari would only be a week old and I knew Bryan and I would still be trying to figure things out and I didn't want to be told how to do things or that I was doing things wrong. My mother and I are so much alike that we would but heads while I was growing up. None of this happened and Bryan and I are so thankful for her time spent with us.

We were truly spoiled. My mom would come in and take Kirari in the early morning so I could get sleep. She would also stay up late with Bryan and Kirari while I slept. She didn't mind the many diaper changes (or at least she didn't say anything). She watched Kirari while I went into work or just so I could get out for a little while. Bryan, Kirari and I were really sad to see her leave and actually thought of ways to keep her with us. Mom, thank you so much for the things you taught me while I was growing up that have helped me to be a mother. Thank you to the rest of the family for sacrificing mom for those two weeks. Mom we love you and miss you.

Kirari's Day at the Doctor's

Here are some pics from our most recent (2 week) visit to the pediatrician. Dr. Harry Phillips III is absolutely fantastic, and we love him! Kirari weighed 8 lbs 11 oz on Tuesday (so she's already gained her birth weight back, plus an extra pound). She is in the 75th percentile for both weight and length. That's my girl! Solid C student. :)

Miya the Huntress Strikes Again

Miya is doing a great job keeping the rodent population down here. She caught another rabbit in the back yard. She did try to eat this one, but didn't get a chance before we confiscated it. We were hungry, after all, and what's better to eat here in MS than rodents and roadkill (PC disclaimer: statements made in this post in no way reflect the views of the bloggers)? Not to be outdone, Memphis caught a salamander in the back yard the other night, too. He was more interested in playing with it than eating it, so he just layed by it, and every time it tried to get away, he would thump his paw down in front it. I don't have a picture of the salamander, but I got a great picture of the rabbit. Bigger and better than the last one.

Happy Easter!

From Easter Pictures

We started Easter Sunday off with a great breakfast. We had Bryan's favorite breakfast, biscuits and gravy. We decided we would attend sacrament meeting and leave after so we didn't expose Kirari to a ton of people. I don't know what I was thinking, but I thought we would actually be on time. The sad thing is that Kirari was actually ready before me thanks to Grandma. Kirari is wearing her new Easter dress Grandma bought for her.

From Easter Pictures

This year we celebrated Easter with Mom Smith and the Sullengers. Mom helped us make a great ham dinner with lots of side dishes and we had strawberry shortcake for dessert. After dinner we dyed Easter eggs. I was going to have Kash and Bryan go on an Easter Egg Hunt, but they were lucky and the weather saved them.

From Easter Pictures

From Easter Pictures

On a more serious note, I am so thankful for this time of year where we can remember our Savior and the sacrifice he made for us. I am so thankful for the atonement and the opportunity I have to fully apply it in my life. Someone told me that you don't fully understand our Saviors love for us until you become a parent and the love you have for your child must be like the love the Savior has for us. I am truly thankful for the gospel in my life and the strength it provides me.

Kirari's Photo Shoot

What a sweet bundle of joy

Bryan and I have been so blessed to have Kirari entrusted to us. We have had such an amazing week getting to know our little one. She has the sweetest temper. She loves to snuggle up to her daddy and has him wrapped around her little fingers. Bryan is so sweet with her and has even changed her diaper many times even though I made him a deal that I would do the diapers and he would take care of any spit up.

She sleeps pretty well and is a good eater. I have found that I am the worry wart mother and will end up annoying the pediatrician nurse. I called on Monday because Kirari's belly button scab was coming loose. On Tuesday it fell off and we went into the pediatrician because I thought it was too early for her to lose it. Our Pediatrican is so good with her. At the doctors office I found out she has gained five ounces and is now 8 pounds. She is a strong little girl too.

Miya and Memphis are fascinated with Kirari and are so concerned about her. Whenever Kirari whimpers one of the dogs comes and get us. They don't like us to leave her alone in the crib. They will also sit and just watch her.

Bryan and I have also had help from Mom Smith this week. Mom has been so great. She has spoiled the three of us. We are so thankful to have her here with us at this time. It is nice to have a reassuring voice to let us know we are doing the right things.

Please give it up for...Kirari Grace Allred!

You may have noticed that the baby counter is now gone. That's because we were blessed with a beautiful baby girl Monday night at 9:45p! Kirari (pronounced Kiari...it's Japanese...Reiko can give you more info on it if you want) Grace came in weighing 7 lbs 11 oz, and measuring 20.5 in in length. Mom and baby are both doing great. Kirari has developed quite the appetite. Reiko spends most of the baby's waking moments nursing her, and she REALLY likes to eat. :) Must take after her dad. We're scheduled to leave the hospital tonight around 11:30p-ish (the baby got some amniotic fluid in her lungs, so they're just monitoring her for 48 hrs to make sure she doesn't have pneumonia or anything (she's clear right now, but they want to make sure she's fine before we leave). We are so in love with her already! She has gorgeous long eyelashes, a TON of dark hair, beautiful dark skin, and crazy monkey toes. Anyway, thank you everyone for all your thoughtful phone calls and messages. We're so grateful to have such loving and wonderful support! You can check out the slideshow below for more pics.

Baby Update

Well, as some already know I am still pregnant after being told three weeks ago that my doctor would be surprised if I made it to Sunday, this was on a Wednesday. Needless to say I am dilated to a five and the baby is at a negative two and I am completely effaced.
Bryan thinks that it is my fault because I didn't want to share my birthday and I could not have her be born on Friday the 13th. The family thinks the baby is going to come on April 1st because I can not deal with odd or prime numbers and to have a baby on April Fools Day would just put me over the edge.
I figure she will arrive in her own time. I think she is just being stubborn. If she has not arrived by April 2nd I will be induced and she should arrive shortly after since I am already so far along.
We will keep you posted.

Gifts to Give...

Gifts to Give...

I got this on my friend's blog. In order for me to recieve a sweet gift from her, I have to post it on my blog as well. Gifts are always good! So if you want to play, leave a comment and be prepared for a sweet gift from me!The first five people to respond to this post will receive something made by me to you. My choice. Made especially for you.

Of course there are some restrictions and limitations:
1. I make no guarantees you will like what I make.
2.What I create will be just for you.
3. It will be done sometime this year.
4. You have no clue what it will be. I promise it will be made with love!
5. I reserve the right to do something extremely strange.

The catch is you must post this on your blog and offer the same to the first five people who post it on their blog. The first five people to do so and leave a comment letting me know they did will receive a FAB-U-LOUS homemade gift from me!! Oh, and be sure to post a picture of what you win.

Miya the Hunter

So last night we had quite the night. Bryan and I decided to go to bed early because we wanted to get up early so Bryan could go running with the dogs and I was going to go walking before work. The dogs were not too thrilled about this because it meant they had to come inside and go to bed as well. We haven't been letting them sleep outside because I am convinced there are coyotes in the woods.
Well, just after 1am Miya decided she needed to go potty, not a problem because I had to do the same thing. I went to let her out and she bolted for the back fence. Next thing I hear is yelping from something. I knew it wasn't Miya, but I was too afraid to go and look. I yelled for Memphis and then Bryan. Memphis came tearing around the corner and out the door he went. Bryan followed shortly behind. He had heard the awful sound. He grabbed his shoes while I got the flash-light.
When Bryan got to Miya and Memphis he saw the rabbit. I had no idea that rabbits could make such a loud sound. Miya dropped the rabbit as soon as Bryan told her to leave it and sent the two dogs into the house. Bryan disposed of the now dead rabbit while I tried to get the dogs to settle down.
I was unsuccessful at calming them down and kicked them out of the room for the night. So much for getting a good nights rest. Sorry no pictures of the rabbit.

UPDATE: Here's a photo of the rabbit that Miya took down. That's my girl.

Let it snow...

Well, we are nearing the end of our short trip to Utah for Aiden's baby blessing. It has been so much fun, and we're sad to have to leave our family. The day we left to fly to Utah we woke up to a nice (in my opinion) surprise: SNOW!

Miya and Memphis loved it, and we couldn't get them to come in. It's not every day that you get snow in the mid-south.

We've had a blast while we've been here. I was able to go snowboarding with Jared Dastrup on Friday. We went up to Snowbird (my favorite for boarding), and the weather was beautiful! There was a surprising amount of powder for not having snowed much in the 24 hours before we went. My favorites: the double blacks to south of the Little Cloud lift, and going through the mountain on the conveyor.

Yes, I was exhausted and a little sore afterward (I never understood why people complained about the elevation...now I know). Oh, and to the guy who took Jared's pack of Gushers...get your own next time!

On Saturday I went snowmobiling with Jeff, Josh, Justin, Frank, Brian, and a couple of other guys. We went up to Mill Hollow, and once again, we had beautiful weather! We were among the first on the mountain, and because of a fallen tree blocking the main path (which we laboriously moved; see the slideshow below), the upper mountain was almost completely untouched. The powder was deep, the sky clear, and the weather warm. In a nutshell, a perfect day snowmobiling.

It was fairly tiring, but oh-so-worth-it! Thanks to everyone who went and made it possible for us to go!

Reiko attended a baby shower on Saturday night thrown by Toshi and hosted and the Lucero's. Thank you to everyone who came, and for all the wonderful gifts! I have to admit that there is one I'm particularly excited about:
Since our daughter will probably only be able to wear this through the end of the next football season, I'm expecting great things out of my Broncos. Come on team, don't let us down!

We attended the baby blessing of Aiden Leigh Sandstrom on Sunday. He was blessed by his dad, and Justin did a wonderful job. It was such an honor to be part of that special occasion. P.S. The food was pretty fantastic, too!

Sunday night we went over to the Lewis' and watched the Super Bowl. We were fairly entertained, considering that most of us didn't really care who won. It was exciting, and it was wonderful to see the Lewis'!

We were able to attend the Draper Temple open house today with Jan, Paul, Nena, Mom Smith, Josh, and Christine. What a beautiful temple! I'm always amazed at the quality of the work and materials that go into constructing such beautiful and sacred places.
We Also got to see Jan and Paul's apartment. They have done such a great job with it! It is so adorable, and feels so comfortable! Thanks for having us over! You've inspired me to try a couple of projects around our home!