Finn is Finny.

We are having so much fun watching Finn grow. He officially has two little chompers and eats LARGE helpings of everything! Rice Cereal, peas, beans, avocados, carrots, salmon... he doesn't discriminate when it comes to food.

We call him Finny way more than Finn, and we have decided that he is spoiled ROTTEN.

(Thanks Grandma:))

FINN (my little man)

Our family is growing! WELCOME to Finn Bradford Allen, born on July 17th at 1:31am. He weighed in at 8lbs 8oz and we are so happy he is here safe and sound.

Lucy is finally accepting her "demotion" from only child. It has been a dramatic process filled with a few tears (both from Lucy and me), but we are working out the kinks and the tantrums and are on our way to a BEST BIG SISSY of the year award.

Life is good!

We are stuck on boy names.

I am feeling pretty much moved into the house and ready for the baby to not be camped out in me anymore! I think he knows that we don't have his name picked out, so he is giving us some time to make sure we know what we are going to call him.

We have had a list of maybe names for a while now and just can't decide on one.

Our list:

Finnley (Finn)

Keller

Harrison (this is Lucy's favorite, but she would call him harry)

Owen

Marshall

Wilson

William

Quincey (Quinn)

Liam

Any suggestions? I know my mom doesn't like Finn. When I told her we were thinking Finn or Keller her response was, "Oh, I like Keller."

I still think of names I like, like Oliver, James, Claude... nothing seems just perfect.

Maybe I will have to see his face to know.

The countdown begins.

I had another ultra-sound yesterday and the tech said the baby is already six pounds! I have heard that babies grow about a pound a week for the last month. That means that if I go all the way to my due date he will be 10 pounds.

AHHH!

It wouldn't be completly odd for me to have a 10 pounder since I was 9lbs 3ozs and my little brother was 10lbs 5ozs. Let's hope not! I will die!

Too Busy for words... pictures will have to do.

I'm getting too big and pregnant (it's a Boy) to deal with toddler dental floss disasters... seems like when Dad is in charge, there are many "quiet messes". The best one yet involved a big container of bread crumbs. Or in Lucy's words... "dirt"

The volcano has been erupting A LOT. If we can't get out of here on our flight to Hawaii I will be MUCHO ANGRIDO!!

Alaska celebrated it's 50th b-day.

HAPPY NEW YEARS!!! Celebration on the town square.

We bought a house! We will move in the middle of May! YIPPIE

Numero Dos On The Way

We are expecting a little monster in July and we couldn't be more excited.

Lucy has been asking for a brother or sister (depending on the day) for a few months now.

When I asked her if she thought the baby was a boy or a girl, she said she thought I had a snake in my tummy. I thought about telling her that actually, the snake put the baby in my tummy... I'll wait a few more years to break that news to her.

Merry Christmas!

Happy Halloween

I promised I would post pictures of my little chicken...

We had so much fun, and Lucy was super motivated to walk all around the hospital parade when she realized there was candy being handed out around every corner.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Alaska is treating us well!

This is a picture of Bradford and our dinner for about 10 nights! We love the fresh salmon for eating and Bradford has found a new favorite hobby! I have a great recipie for salmon cakes, and salmon casidillas! MMMM.

We went to the State Fair in Palmer. It was a nice day to see all the animals, eat fried cheese curds, ride rides and people watch. I thought the people watching was good in West Virginia, I had no idea! All thoes hockey moms and Joe six-packs... hey Sara!



I must be getting old. I always remember thinking that adults were so cheesy when they would talk about how fast time goes, but here I am saying that phrase... a lot! It is amazing when I realize that we are almost through October and approaching the holidays. I just got my big Aveda shipment of all out holiday packages to sell as gifts. They are very beautiful this year with yellow, red and black hand stamped paper boxes from Nepal. We will be putting up our display November 2nd, along with the salon tree and holiday decorations.
I am excited for Ozarks open house this coming Saturday! Ozarks is a great antique store here in Anchorage that always has beautiful little treasures. It is dangerous for me to go there because I can always find something I "need".

Lucy has her mind made up that she wants to be a chicken for Halloween. She says, "My be a chicken for Halween, please!"
She has the funniest phrases lately. Her new favorite toy is a lizard that she calls a wizard. It is a little red lizard that she got at her friend's birthday party as a little favor five weeks ago. It is now missing all of it's legs and soon, I fear, will loose it's tail too. Luckilly I think those grow back.

We went to Ronnie's Sushi a few weeks ago and she was amazed at who was sitting next to us. She looked up at a man with long hair and a beard who was walking in and with big eyes looked at me and said, "Jesus!"

She has been telling me that she wants a little brother. Wonder who prompted that? ...Bradford?

When she tries to get Bradford's attention she doesn't yell daddy, she yells, "BRA-FERD!"

I promise to post pictures of my little chicken.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN, bock, bock style!

Trip to Fairbanks...

July in pictures...

July in Anchorage was been pretty depressing. No sun, lots of clouds and tempratures in the 40s and 50s make for grumpy Alaskans!

Luckilly, we have had some beautiful days the past week. Maybe August will make up for a wet June and July.

We were able to get out of the state of gloom to visit Portland. We met up there with my family to enjoy time together and celebrate Ashley and Dustin's marriage! It was so fun to see everyone and slow down a little with the fam.

Ash and Dustin are the cutest couple ever...

Lucy was the center of attention! AND spoiled by "Puppy"

The Allens came to the reception, It was SO nice to see Dantzelle, Brad, Anna, Corinne and Allen!

Lucy, cousin Katie, Me and Bradford

All the ladies at the Snyder's House.

We visited the new Aveda institute in downtown Portland... it was very nice

The Boys enjoyed fishing and golfing in the sunshine!

Lucy Myreel as she enters the "terrible twos"...

So I think that so far, being a mom is awesome. I have tried to enjoy each day with my little squirt. I wonder if I will learn to understand the phrase "terrible two", or if it will all turn out to be a myth just like having cracked bleeding nipples from nursing. Not that I don't think some moms do have that unfortunate misfortune of bloody boobies... but so far pregnancy, labor, newborn world and toddler days have all been less 'by the book' than I thought they would be. All things considered, I feel really lucky that Lucy is pretty easy going and very fun to hang out with.

This morning when I went in to wake Lucy up she was in a foul mood and she just buried her face in her pillow and told me ..."nooooooooo, momma. nooooooo"

I knew how she felt, because I didn't want to get out of bed either... but the day was starting and we needed to get up. The whole morning was a struggle and included her first real tantrum. Rolling around on the living room floor and covering her face while she yelled toddler jargon obscenities at me which included but were not limited to, NO, MINE, SAD and GO OUTSIDE.

It was an interesting morning to say the least and hopefully not my introduction to the terrible twos! Bedtime tonight was an hour earlier and hopefully that will cure the morning meltdowns!

My excuse...

So, I have been really lagging with the blog posts.
This is my excuse...

www.megallensalon.com

Come check it out and I will update you on everything while I highlight your hair.

HOLY COW!

Well, it is official! I am a business owner.
I just got word that my offer on a space for a salon and spa was accepted and I will have a key to start the renovations next week!
I am starting a salon and spa blog
www.megallensalonandspa.blogspot.com
to keep an online look at the progress of the space...

Happy New Year!

New years in Alaska is really anti-climatic! It gets dark here at three o'clock every day in the winter, and then watching the ball drop at eight o'clock on the east coast... you might as well go to bed!
We did stay up to ring in the new year... just barely though. (we are getting old)

As for New Years resolutions, I've decided that I am done setting myself up for failure. I had good intentions of sitting down and writing out every last detail of things I would start doing, things I would STOP eating and drinking... ect. And then I realized that my list is the same every year and I am still a procrastinator, I'm still chubby, I am still unorganized and I am still lazy. I think this year I just need to embrace my habits and maybe just learn to love myself the way I am.

I did get to the gym today, along with the rest of Anchorage. There were so many people with good intentions! I loved seeing them be able to check off one thing on their new TO DO list of 2008.

We had such a wonderful Christmas with our family in Maple Valley, Washington. All of my husband's siblings and spouses were there. It was the first time ALL the siblings were together in eight years I think. We really enjoyed seeing everyone and it was especially good to see the five little cousins all play together. Lucy had a blast, and she was inspired by the three cousins older than her to start walking! YAY!