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I like to be a leader in most all aspects of my life. I enjoy trying new things and reporting back how the experience was. However, one this day one year ago I became a follower, I became a part of the motherhood crew.
I really had few expectations of what motherhood would be like, I just knew this was going to change our lives forever.....and it has.
My original due date was May 9, 2010. We had taken all the classes and had just gotten the babies room ready. We were doing major home construction, and that too had just finished, so we had been able to move back upstairs from the basement.

I got off work at 8pm, came home ate dinner and watched Law and Order, went to bed, only to be woken up because......my water had broken. Noway was this true, my due date was May 9, not April 9th. I had a baby shower planned for the weekend and still had three weeks left of "me time" A couple of hours went by and then we decided to go ahead to the hospital so they could tell us "false alarm." Much to our surprise, they did, send us back home, only two days later with Eleanor Allyn. There was no false alarm, she was ready to meet her mommy and daddy.

Motherhood/Parenthood has been great, has brought out areas of us in which I never knew we each had. We have both enjoyed it. Who would have thought that watching a little creature explore and learn could be so rewarding. The best I think it just watching her sleep (which she sleeps just like her daddy).

Eleanor Allyn has a special place in our hearts. Not only is she our first born child, but her middle name is after two men I admire most. My father, Glenn Allen and my brother Gregory Allen. Robby and I thought it only fitting that our little fighter Miss Eleanor have such a special middle name. We know that Greg looks down on her daily and watches his third niece grow into a toddler.

Mommy and the new Miss Eleanor

Daddy and Dr. Craddock

First bath (forgot how tiny she was)

Can you really remember when she had straight hair? HA

Merry Christmas everyone



photo shoot




Good morning




First Snow

First swim

Happy Thanksgiving

Mommy's seventh marathon

A walk down memory lane. So excited to make more memories with our family. I shall post again, as the time is near where I am sure she will start walking soon. STRESS.

First Snow

Yes this is titled first snow. Why? Because I am just now getting around to posting stuff again. I really don't understand why we can't have two seasons. Fall and Spring. Winter is depressing, cold, icy, and might I add it gets dark early. GROSS. Summer ( I would settle for 3 seasons to be honest). Summer, how much sweet tea can you drink? It's 9 o'clock and the sun is still out and I need to go to bed. I might sweat out my new hairstyle or better yet through my clothes. Whatever your fancy is, enjoy.

We here in the land of oz, were pounded almost blizzard weather. Blizzard on my dramatic scale. But snow and wind all the same.

Eleanor would stare out of the window and just look at the snow. She told me "mommy, I just want some sunshine." I felt so bad cause I couldn't give her sunshine. I was always worried that the power was going to go out, we would run out of food, or worst case I would have no Internet. No happened as such. However at one point I did think we might get attacked by the ducks. Really, they covered the whole backyard, for those that know me really well, know that I do hate when things attack!

Overall, I would say that I am so happy spring is almost here. Everything feels better in the spring time.

Once a Man, Twice a Child (99 years and counting)

No for all of you worldly scholars I am not Jewish, but I will reference a Rabbi to bring

this weekly blog full circle.

My mother told me that my Mama Thelma (my grandma) recently said "Once a Man, Twice a Child." I took some time and really thought about what she meant. I finally figured it out.
We each come into to this world as small, helpless, dependent children, we become adults and lead independent lives, only to later have someone take care of us. If we are lucky we will have ourselves surrounded by our family and friends as we grow older.

Today our little girl is 9 months old. Who knew that 9 months could go so fast when you aren't pregnant. I think when you are pregnant the same 9 months are multiplied and time slows down. I move on.....

Today, my Mama Thelma is 99 years old. This dynamic woman has witnessed what the history books speak about. My Mama Thelma raised five girls, buried her husband and a son. She saw World War 1 and 2, Prohibition, the Ku Klux Klan form, the invention of the television and suffered through the Great Depression. She was a young lady when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, along when we dropped the "Atomic Bomb" on Japan. She apart of, The Civil Rights Movement and witnessed the first man in space. She prayed for forgiveness of those men who assassinated President John F. Kennedy and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. A grandson, named Rodney was born during her time as well and in this same year she watched the first man  land on the moon. She witnessed 9/11 and the biggest political overcome yet to happen....



Barack Obama, first biracial president in United States History

Mama Thelma has a good bill of health for the most part. She takes one over the counter pill a month, she has great long term memory and 85% good short term memory as well. If I am 99 years of age
and can have half the amount of memory she has I will feel accomplished.

Mama Thelma has taught me many things. Never let excuses stop you, always save some money when you get paid, pay your bills on time, take care of all children and abused women. Give money to a charity no matter how much , and surround yourself with good people and then your family. Cause you can't pick your family so you just accept them, but you can choose your friends. Believe in yourself and put God first.



4 generations

The Year that was.....

2010 has came and gone. 2011 is here and everyone wants to start off right. "New Year's Resolutions," are funny, cause after February most people are back to their old ways. I will jump on this bandwagon as well. My resolution is to be a better friend, a great mom and wife, and a daughter/sister/aunt who everyone wants to be around.

I am making Eleanor's resolution as well, she will continue to grow, and learn how to walk. SIMPLE.

Now let's recap 2010........

January - home construction (really, the pregnant one had to waddle through construction)

February - more home construction (really, really had to waddle)

March - still more home construction (please construction boys stop saying my name and asking questions)

April - lives forever changed. Introduced Eleanor Allyn into the world (TAX DAY. 15.April)

yes, this is me drugged up and holding eleanor.

May- first road trip for Eleanor. Arkansas bound (State 1)

eleanor, great, great mama thelma (99 years old in january), mimi jean, and mommy

June- my 33rd birthday

friends since grade school. natalie, tonya, me, and aine.

July - second road trip for Eleanor. Arkansas bound. first plane ride for Eleanor, death of Grandma Lane. Flew to Illinois (State 2).

grandma lane

August- 3rd wedding anniversary. third road trip for Eleanor. Texas bound (State 3)

September - Robby's 34th birthday. Eleanor's baptism

October - fourth road trip for Eleanor. Mississippi bound (State 4)
November - another road trip for Eleanor. Arkansas bound for Thanksgiving and a little football!

the family

December - fifth trip for Eleanor, Florida bound (State 5). Seventh full marathon

mimi jean mommy, eleanor, daddy and grandpa robert

I would say that overall, we are blessed with a good family and good friends. I have found a new travel buddy in little miss Eleanor. We have a new child to help raise and mold. We look forward to taking this experience all in and making time for our family.


our family christmas morning



'The Cookie Bake"

The cookie bake took place a couple of weeks ago. And as usual it was a huge success. The cookies get better and better every year!



the ladies go to a lot of work preparing all the cookies for swapping

no your eyes are not playing tricks on you, those are rats/mice. very cute and tasty. made from kisses, shortbread cookies, cherry's, and almonds.

the cookie bake started when i moved to kansas. i was bored, lonely, and south sick (created word, meaning, needing to be back in the south)

best way to get people together is food and drinks. so i hosted the 1st cookie bake. it was so few people i knew we all baked our cookies at my house!

the cookie bake has evolved into a night of fun, friends, cookies, and laughter.

Tis the Season



our first family christmas card. please note, only eleanor is featured.

So this is our first year with the papoose. I might add it has been a fun 8 months. By fun i mean, challenging, sleep deprived, confused, and all the other stuff that goes along with being a first time parent. Lots of "out of my control" these days. 

 



eleanor and santa



Robby took Eleanor to see Santa at our local Walgreen's. I was a little unsure of how this was going to go, all I heard was how horrible kids do on Santa's lap. She's too young I guess to be afraid of anything, she did pretty good.

I was reading an article about "baby's first christmas." Some of the points I got out of the article.

1. Don't introduce your baby to too many strangers - FAILED: Already started with Santa
2. Too many toys can be overwhelming. - FAILED: Tree is overflowing with gifts mostly for Eleanor
3. Dont spend a lot of money on gifts because they won't remember any of it :-) they would rather play with the wrapping paper. - FAILED: Credit cards scream ELEANOR, gifts galore.

our christmas tree. photo taken by amy

With all that being said and established, "tis the season" of friends, food, and family. Robby, Eleanor and myself have been truely blessed by all the aforementioned. Family comes in all shapes, colors, and gender. We have established "family members," who are truly a part of our lives. From bringing dinner, coming over in the early mornings, staying late night, or just coming over and allowing adult talk.

Merry Christmas



Lucky 7

Well, it official I am a finisher of marathon number 7. Yes, my name is Brandi and I am crazy. We went down to West Palm Beach, Fl to partake in my 7th marathon. West Palm is beautiful, perfect temperature and flat. All keys to a successful race. If you can handle the heat and humidity....and being overweight too.

We rented a house to make sure we had plenty of room to stretch out. The house was so pretty and in a GREAT area. Again, all things which should lead you to have a successful race....if you can handle the heat, humidity, and.......being overweight.

We went and played golf and the crew had caddies, it was the first time for them to have caddies. Now we can see why Tiger does so well. The caddies are so knowledgeable about the course and the layout and what club to use. The PGA National was well kept and beautiful. I want to go back and play the course.

Race day started early at 6:15am. I drove myself to the course to make sure my mind was clear. I have never started a race that early, but now I understand why they do. HOT, HOT, HOT. Temps started off in the 40's, by the time I crossed the finish line (5 long hours later) it was 67 degrees!

I think I am doing good during the race....until mile 17. My legs stopped! would not move. I happened to be over a draw bridge and was hoping that it would magically drop down and help me out a little, but no such luck. I got my swag back and then it happened, what is it.......A blind man passed me. Really, I can't make this stuff up people. He passed me with two guides on his side. At this point I wanted to go and play in traffic, but I was already in the middle of the road. I thought, "Come on B, you got this last 6 miles." Well, just because I thought it didn't mean my legs wanted to do it. Again, they stopped. AAAAHHHHHH, pick it up honey. So I said a small prayer and trotted on.

I ended up pacing myself with an older gentleman of the ripe of age of 80. He shuffled so I shuffled. He tried to pass me but I fought through it until mile 26. I was just so tired and questioning, why me. Why did I sign up for this race, 7 months after giving birth. Then out of the crowd jumps my mama, that woman hasn't missed a full marathon yet. Just the face I needed to see, cause I was DONE!!!! DONE running, DONE thinking, just DONE. I asked her where the finish line was, she was trying to tell me, but I could see it so my legs STOPPED again. Out of the crowd jumped another lady from Trinidad (that's what her shirt said). She told me to keep going, don't stop honey, I am too close to stop. She trotted with me for a bit saying nothing but encouraging words. I listened and then my mama said, "you got it girl" So the jet packs came on and focused on the finish line. THANK YOU MAMA and lady from TRINIDAD. I started to haul (perception is everything). The tired eyes landed on the finish line. WHOA, then on baby Eleanor. There she was squinting and looking around.



I knew then I had to finish to prove to her, you make no excuses in life. You make a commitment and you stick to it no matter how hard it might be to complete it. I crossed the finish line right about 5:00 hours. I was

slightly behind the older, shuffling, gentleman. I had done it, I had finished marathon number 7. Not in a record time but finished all the same.

Lesson from this race, so with the excuses and just make it happen. The blind man, the older, shuffling gentleman, and yes, the man pushing his "challenged" daughter in a jog stroller. All of these people have reason why they can fall back on and say "they can't," instead they find it in them to say:

"YES I CAN!"