OUR GROWING FAMILY: September 29th

Happy Birthday Happy Baby Boy!!

So bad to be this behind on baby boys birthday post!! I almost wish I hadn't recorded anything with any of the kids because there is definitely a difference in the record keeping from the first to the fifth!! I tried really hard to stay on top of it but after three I just couldn't.keep.up. Hopefully he will still know how much we love and adore him even though I don't have any idea when he cut his first tooth or ate his first non baby food :( I will say he does get some extra special treatment being the official baby. He gets away with WAAAY more than the others did just because he's so darn cute and HE'S THE BABY :)
Like I always say, I can't BElieve it's seriously been a year since, sans drugs, I birthed this precious boy in to our lives (yes, he will hear about the fact that I was unmedicated for his birth until the day I die :) But he was all worth it and I would do it all over in a heartbeat!! So unbelievably blessed by this amazing family the Lord has blessed us with. Each child a blessing we never EVER imagined!!

Dear Sweet Baby David-
Oh, how I adore you!! You can brighten up any day!! You are the happiest baby and have the sweetest smile almost all of the time. On the rare occasions that you are not happy (usually due to teething) it breaks my heart to see your little eyes so sad. Thankfully this is very rare and you haven't had any serious sicknesses this year - and for that we are so very thankful!! I can't stand to see any of my kids sick but its hardest to see my babies sick!
I think one of the greatest things about being #5 in the line up is having 3 older brothers and 1 sister who adore and entertain you all the time. Watching your relationships with your siblings is one of the sweetest things I have ever seen!! Watching how they interact with you and look out for you and like to make you smile when you are sad. They would be so different without you! You make them better and that is amazing to me!
Since you were born you have been the easiest, most laid back baby. You have always been a great napper and night time sleeper and for that I am so very grateful. It's like you know things are a little crazy for your momma with all these kids running around and you just don't want to make things any more crazy than they already are. You can entertain yourself quite easily or let your siblings entertain you but you are rarely demanding. Right now you are a little bit attached to me and there are rare times when you are just not happy unless you are on my hip - but I'm okay with it - because you're the baby and this season will pass much quicker than I would like.
As of your first birthday you have 3 going on 5 teeth - 2 on the bottom and the top right and middle tooth with the other middle and right top teeth trying to push through. Your oldest brother James is starting to get loose teeth and soon he will be loosing teeth at the same time you are just getting yours. I'm so sad to loose your gummy smile and also broken hearted about James going back to a gummy smile :) Ahhh, all these bittersweet life changes.
So far you are a good eater. You like chicken, hotdogs, cheese, anything with ground beef, carrots, and broccoli. I need to get better about giving you real food at every meal instead of just giving you a bottle. Poor 5th baby :(
You haven't started really walking yet. You will take a step or two but still prefer crawling to get from point A to B. Just as all the Allen babies, your sweet feet have never been in shoes. I don't do shoes until we have walkers. I will miss seeing your sweet toes all the time once you take off :(
Everyone who is around you just loves you and you soak.it.up. You love to make eye contact and put your fingers in people's face - preferably their eyes or mouth - it's like your way of getting to know them :) You also love to mimmick what others are doing to the best of your ability and you LOVE to click your tongue.
You are really starting to love playing with Ben Ben and you LOVE to climb all over him or try to take his toys away. Sometimes he gets mad and snatches things away from you but you usually just laugh and try to grab it right back. You think everything is just a fun game!
When I found out another precious baby was on the way I couldn't imagine HOW I could do it! At the time I felt a bit overwhelmed with all I already had on my plate. But God... He knew what I could handle through Him and He knew just what our family needed. I had no idea that we even needed you but now that you are here I know that we do! How would we have ever made it without you!! You are the absolute best addition to our family! I love you more than I can even describe!! Like my life verse, you are more than I could have ever asked or imagined!! Praying God pours his grace an mercy over you and draws you to Him like only He can! As much love as I feel for you I know that He loves you even more and has all your day ordained and amazing purposes and plans set for you. So honored that He chose me to be your mommy!!

Playing pretend with Benjamin- I think you were a bit disappointed that there really wasn't something on that spoon!

Happy, happy, happy!!

How we do ball games!!

The Birthday Boys!!

Enjoying your first cupcake!

And enjoy it you did!

The week of your birthday you took your first trip to the beach!!

You were a fan and you loved eating sand :)

It is very rare that I get to hold you like this but if you fall asleep in the car I can often move you to your bed and you will sleep peacefully in my arms. I know this won't happen much longer :(

Trying to get brothers sippy cup - you find this game quite fun - Benjamin, not so much :)

One night the 4 older kids went to a fun Super Hero Night at our local gym so you got to go out on a date night with mommy and daddy all by yourself!! You flirted with everyone around us! I think this was your first restaurant other than Chick Fil A or Moe's!!