Look who's got some choppers!

Dawson's two front teeth are in! You can see the one of the left much better here as the lower right front tooth is through the gums, but is a week behind or so...

Six month photos...

We got family photos taken about a month ago with Laura Zastrow. They turned out so wonderful! Just wanted to share a few (ok, so there is a lot!) of my favorites below...

Big doin's

This last few weeks of Dawson's life have been filled with so much. For one thing, he is now (finally!) sleeping through the night! Ah, can you imagine how happy this makes his mom and dad? Words come short on describing what a full nights rest does for a parent. I will never take one for granted again! He is sleeping from 7:30 or 8pm until 6am or so. Some nights he wakes up one to be reassured that mom and dad are still here and then quickly falls back asleep. Oh pure joy! :)

Dawson also has his first tooth! The front, bottom, left tooth is the first to make it's debut. It's broke through the gums, but still tough to see in a picture. Once it is more noticeable, I'll post some pictures. I think the lower right is close behind.

He is on the verge of crawling as well. He can get up on all fours (but his knees and legs are out to the side like a frog). He also scoots backwards which only makes him more and more mad as he finds himself moving farther from his destination instead of towards it. Before long we will be chasing this little boy around all over the place. Time to baby proof the house!

This last weekend was super busy! Spent some time with our friends the Havercamps, swimming lessons, yard work, even a date night for mom and dad! On Sunday Aunt Jessi graduated from Edgewood College. We are so very proud of her and were so glad we got to celebrate with her!

Enjoy the pics below of Dawson's big doin's. Much love!

 

Bath time is Dawson' most favorite. Check out the mohawk he is sporting.

Mom and D were twirling in the curtains in the hallway during Aunt Jessi's graduation. You should have heard this little dude laughing. It was too much fun.

D with celebrating with the graduate!

Dude, check me out.

Oh boy!

As Dawson continues to grow, his little boy characteristics keep growing right along with him. And I have to admit, I am loving every bit of it! :)

Today he sat and rolled a ball back and forth with Daryn. It was a proud moment for dad! I'll have to post the video of it if I can figure that out...Yesterday at Uncle Jason's baseball game he was examining every blade of grass, stick, dandelion, etc. and then trying to eat them. 

He is constantly throwing his toys or pounding his sippy cup on his high chair tray. He loves splashing around at swim lessons or in the tub too. Dawson also is so intrigued by everything, always trying to figure out how something works, or how he can get something open or reach something to rip apart. He is one busy dude that doesn't like to sit still, that's for sure!

This weekend after swimming lessons, we headed downtown to the farmers market (Dawson's first of many trips!) with the Kalscheur's. The weather was beautiful and it was a perfect morning for a walk around the capital square. Dawson however was so relaxed he feel asleep in the Bjorn carrier. It was pretty funny. After the market, we headed to Verona to watch Uncle Jason's baseball game. Edgewood was up against the top team in the conference and won both games.

Dawson will be seven months tomorrow, which seems insane! Can that really be right? I know I say that every month, but dang. The poor little man has been sick for almost a month now. We had to switch to a new antibiotic since the other wasn't working for his ear infection, so we are hoping our snotty-nosed kiddo is on the mend. He's been such a trooper through it all though.

Check out some new pics below...thanks for checkin' up on us! 

xo- the Allen's

Cheese!

Dawson loves these cups! They are definitely a favorite!

Look at these proud Dads! And Averi picking on Dawson while he sleeps, getting him back for all of the times he picks on her! :)

Daddy and sleepy little D.

Happy boy watching some baseball

Hmmm...how can I get this in my mouth? I wonder what it tastes like?

Dawson and Uncle Jason

First Trip (of many) to Miller Park!

Yesterday we took Dawson to his first Brewer game. He totally loved it. He really is a momma's boy! Between the flashing lights, all the people, the songs he was soaking it all in. He was on his best behavior for sure! It was a little surreal for Daryn and I to bring Dawson as we have been to Miller Park many times, but to take our son for the first time was pretty special. Too bad we were surrounded by a sea of Cubs fans for a not so great (ok, horrible) game. Brewers tanked it. Final score was 12-2, so hopefully Dawson's love for the Brewers runs deep and he can forgive them... He did get to meet Bernie Brewer and got the Brat Sausage Mascot and a "First Game" certificate. Too bad my camera died after taking two pictures! So we had to resort to my camera phone...

Another unfortunate first also happened this weekend....on our way back from the game last night I was talking to my friend Nikki and I mentioned that Dawson had been sleeping horribly the last two nights. (Up about every 45min or so....) he has had a cold for over a week too, but has never run a fever. He has been in such a good mood durning the day as well. I chalked it up to teething and didn't think much about it. Nikki thought that sounded like it could be an ear infection so we stopped at Urgent Care on the way home. Two ours later we left with meds for a double ear infection for Dawson! :( I am glad that Nikki said something about it...Poor little dude. He's such a champ though. He is jumping like a wild man in his jumper as I type this just squealing, laughing and jabbering away. No wonder I was fooled! Last night was a much better night, he only woke up twice, so I think we are already on the track to recovery.

Dawson is jabbering now more than ever. It's so cute. He says "da-da-da" ALL the time, I think he might be on to what that one actually means! He also made his first real attempt at crawling this weekend. Seriously?

He also has been going to swim lessons with the Kalscheur ladies. He is learning the back float, gets dunked, jumps in and sings lots of songs. He loves splashing and jabbering through the class. He is a fish, that's for sure!

Check out the pics below of Dawson's recent happenings! Thanks for checking in on the Allen Crew...

D meeting Bernie Brewer for the first time!

How stinkin' cute is this??

Little fuzzy...but you get the idea!

Little fishy.

D and me at swimming...

Life as I know it...

From the moms I am fortunate enough to have on speed dial to call on for endless advice (you know who you are from your call long or inbox! I can't thank you enough for your guidance, advice, patience, reassurance, etc.,  I am so lucky to have mom's like you in my life!) that once you hit the 6 month mark, things start to ease into place. I am sure it is a combination of things...you relax into your role as a mom and become more confidante in your situation, your child has started to understand himself and his surroundings and is better able to communicate and you have six months experience under your belt (which isn't much, but it's more than nothing)....

If I could go back 6+ months I would tell my "new mom" to relax and to not get so worked up about things....you've got to be able to adapt and go with the flow. As soon as you figure things out, they change anyways! The more I try to control things, the more I realize how little control I really have. And the more I give up my control to God and lessen my grip, the smoother life runs. Besides, God is a way better parent and teacher then I'll ever be....

I've learned so much in my short time of being a mom. I had been changed forever once I laid my eyes on that 6lb, 15oz ball of cuteness. He has taught be so much about myself. There are the obvious things that you learn when you become a parent, like you can never, ever have enough patience, how to function on no sleep, and that you are no longer your number one priority. 

But there are other things that are not so obvious...One of the best things I have learned is to purge my life of fluff. Time is so precious and I want to spend it wisely and invest it in my family, people that I love and things that are meaningful. Handing over control and been a big one for me too, as I tend to like control and order. Communication between Daryn and I has been a learning process as well. Checking-in with one another and supporting each other on this wild ride is vital. There is no one else I would rather be on this ride with though. Daryn is such an amazing Dad. He is incredibly supportive and encouraging. To watch Daryn transition into a father comes short of words. It's no wonder that Dawson loves to babble "da-da-da-da-da-da" all day long...

No one really prepares you for how much change having a baby brings...and how can they really? You are not even in a place to understand it in life before baby. I've been told by many that having a baby is the greatest transition you will ever face in your life, and I would fully agree. It isn't always easy, and can be fairly taxing, but the rewards are endless. Gummy smiles, slobbery kisses, belly laughs, snuggling, rocking a baby to sleep...I wouldn't trade being a mom for anything. It really is the best.

Check out Dawson's recent happenings below....

Dawson and I spent the afternoon at the Zoo with Grandma while Daryn was out of town. Dawson was more interested in the people watching the animals than checking out the animals, but we still had fun!

Cheering Uncle Jason on at his baseball game.

Taking part in his first Easter egg hunt and Gigi's house.

Sitting up all on his own now!

Yummy fingers...

First Vacation!

Dawson has been quite the busy man lately. We got back from Dawson's first vacation in Florida this past weekend. We traveled with both sets of grandparents, GG (Great Grandma Judy), Uncle Ty and Nikki and the Kalschuer crew. It was quite the road trip (16.5 hours of driving...about 19 with stops and such) but D did so great! We left late afternoon and drove through the night so he slept most of the trip. The time that he didn't spend sleeping, he spent chopping on his toes in his car seat. But whatever keeps him busy! :) He had so much fun. Most afternoons D spent napping on the beach with his gal pals Veda and Averi. He enjoyed soaking up the warm weather, that's for sure! We were so sad to have to come back home! We just love Ft. Walton Beach!

Dawson has his six month appointment this Friday so I will be interested to see how much he's grown. So far at six months, Dawson....
- Is able to sit up on his own...he's still a little wobbly but he looks so big when he sits up! I can't believe he can sit on his own already!
- Constantly jabbers away...and I seriously mean constantly. This boy is loud! Lots of "mmm", "dah", "buh", "pah" and "ahh". He loves to vibrate his lips together too and spit everywhere. Is he a true boy or what? Yesterday Daryn came home on his lunch break and Dawson and I greeted him at the top of the stairs. Dawson looked up at Dar and said clear as day with a huge smile "dah-dah". Coincidence, I am sure, but Dar and I about fell over. It was pretty wild.
- Loves, loves to jump like mad in his jumper. After some serious lessons from Averi, this boy has got it down.
- Enjoys spending lots of time at the park, on walks and being outside as much as possible.
- Loves reading lots of books and listening to music

I can't believe our little man is half a year old already?!? I know that everyone says it, but I can't believe how fast time flies! Check out some recent pics below...thanks for catching up with the Allen crew! xo

All smiles in the car ride to Florida. What a rockstar!

Hi there!

Dad and D on the beach for a sunrise.

Mom and Dawson at dinner.

The whole fam!

Playing on the beach and enjoying every bit of it!

Sitting up all on my own!