10 Months

As I watched Allison take her first 2 unassisted steps today I couldn't help but think back to how fast these 10 months have flown by. It's hard to imagine that she was once so small. And as I was admiring the growth of my amazing and beautiful daughter I though I would share one photo from each month.

Wow, time sure does fly right on by! Allie is now 8 months old, and has the best little personality. She brightens up my day all the time! She loves her mommy, daddy, grandmas and grandpas, and all the other family she meets....she absolutely flips when she sees animals and kids. It is just so cute. She is slowly putting up with mommy trying to teach her to crawl but I think she really wants to just skip to walking. We shall see! Oh ow much I love this little girl.

In other news, I am now a stay at home mom since I was RiFed again this year. It has it's good and bad but I'm enjoying my summer and time I get to spend with Allison. Joe is working hard and believe it or not will be turning 30 on Monday the 5th. It seems like just yesterday that we were celebrating his 21st birthday part 2! But I guess it really has been 8 years!!!! Wow! Well I promise to post some new pictures soon. :)

family, love and the cutest baby ever

Well February and the beginning of March were very busy for us. Joe's little sister Amy married Danny on Feb 20th and lots of family was in town to visit. We are so lucky Allie has been able to meet all of her living great grandparents. Also Joe and I celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary on March 6th. We did your traditional Redlands Temple trip and dinner. I can't believe that its already been 6 years, I love my hubby so much. Allie is now 4 1/2 months old and has started eating big girl food. She loves rice and got the hang of eating off the spoon after the first day...I guess she was ready for it. She even had green beans for the first time last night...but that picture is on Grandpa Gilsen's camera. We love her so much...she is the sweetest and happiest little girl.

The 3 newest cousins
Sydnee, Xander, and Allison

All the cute Gilsen Cousins


Generational Pick of Joe's Side

6 wonderful years

Allie's New Trick
My cute little bearThink she likes it?

Allie's Blessing

Allie was blessed on Dec. 27th, by her daddy. She was absolutely adorable in her gown, the same one I wore 26 years ago. Joe did a great job. I love them both so much.

Catching up!

It's been a crazy few months and I apologize for not updating this blog sooner. Life as a new mom has been wonderful. I love every minute of it and Allison is truly the greatest blessing and gift I have ever been given. She is a happy and good-natured little girl and loves everyone she meets. Here are some updated slides of her first few months.

Unfortunately, with happy times also come sorrow and sadness. When Allie was 7 weeks old my grandfather, her great-grandpa, passed away. This is my favorite picture of the two of them together. He was one of the best men I know, and he is greatly missed. I am just so thankful that we were able to spend time with him and capture these memories.

And this one is just priceless!

Allison Kay Gilsen

She's Late!!!!

Even though I thought Allison was going to make her appearance soon...she has again fooled me. I had major back cramping last night, but it stopped after a few hours. So my doctor told me to hang out until Sunday and see if she decides to come on her own. If not than we get to go to the hospital at 1am, if they have an available bed, and get induced. As much as I love having the experiences of feeling her kick and move around inside me, I want her out...so the whole world can enjoy her and so I can actually sleep on my stomach, walk without leg cramps, and yes sadly wear jeans that have a zipper and buttons again. Oh yeah and being able to hold my daughter and see Joe with her is whats fueling me through the thought of labor and delivery. We will keep you all posted and post pictures as soon as we can.

The 9th Month

So I finally got around to posting these pictures of Joe and I. All thanks to my Sister-in-law Amy and her humorous assistant Danny. Love you guys!

Some Things Never Change

Like the fact that I must move classrooms, grade levels and sometimes schools every year. Yes, I was expecting a new grade level this year but thought I would get to stay in my room. Well I should know better then to dare even play with that thought. I had my classroom basically ready to go for my 3rd graders, when Friday morning...yes the morning of my last day of prep...my principal gave us the bad news that someone would have to move to a K-1 Combo. Well he already had my name written down because, yes, even after 4 years I still have the least seniority on our staff. Oh well. So thanks to the help of my loving and kind family I was able to get my new room set up in two and half days and ready for my eager students. It's been an exhausting week and I was probably more relieved for this weekend than my students. Only 175 more school days.

Day At The Beach

June 25th, Joe and I headed to Newport Beach with my best friend Jayme and her husband, Tim, Jayme's dad and step-mom and some other friends. The guys had a great time playing in the water; even though they were only allowed to go out to their knees. We even saw some playful dolphins, but the movie Joe took on his cell phone didn't turn out. Oh well. Great Day with Great Friends what could be better?


Okay here's the belly shot! 6 months along...only three to go!

The cutest blurry pictures ever

So...yeah it's been awhile since I've posted, and those of you who know me don't expect much less. But I figured I had a couple of fleeting moments left in my summer vacation that I could actually handle blogging.

For those of you who know here are the sweet beginning pictures of our little one. We're due roughly the last week of October. It's amazing to me how much changes so quickly...the first picture is of our Gilsen Bean, when we were 6 weeks along


this one was about 14 weeks later at about 20 weeks along....When we found out that we were having a little GIRL!!!!!
In about 15 weeks I will have this beautiful little girl in my arms. Oh and her name Allison Kay Gilsen...although I might have to keep a close eye on Joe around the birth certificate because he said he likes the middle name of either Wonderland or Chains. Hehehe...he's goofy but I love him.

The First Post

Okay, okay we finally got a blog so we can keep in touch with the rest of the world. Hehehe.