10/23/2011

Evening at the Park

We decided to go to the park after church today and had an impromptu photo session. I am really loving our new camera... It was worth every penny! 

Oh, did I mention how cute Payton is? Yeah, check it out for yourself!
  (Sorry, I am turning into a braggy Mom, I just can't help it).









10/04/2011

Letters to Payton: Month Two


Dear Payton:
This last month has been a big one for you.  Your little personality has come out and you are one feisty little guy! You let us know when you are happy and you let us know when you are not so happy. You have been known to kick your little feet and throw a tantrum. I for one, think its hilarious and oh so cute. I probably won't think that for too long, but for now, just about everything you do is adorable to me.


You’ve started smiling all the time, but your happiest time of day is between 8 and 9 in the morning.  I am not a  morning person, but your smiles and coos are enough to covert me to be.   Many mornings, I set you between us on the bed and we just sit and look at you and watch you smile back at us and laugh at your funny faces and cute sounds. You’ve started “talking” to us and your little noises just make me melt.  I love it.  Sometimes you take breaks from eating and just lay there and look up at me and tell me all sorts of things.  It is so cute.  It is even cuter when you do it with your dad.  It makes me so happy to see you smile at him.  He loves you so much.




You are a champion sleeper.  I’m taking no credit whatsoever for this- I haven’t done anything to make you sleep through the night, but you’ve been sleeping longer and longer each night, getting up to 8 1/2 hours one night.  So keep it up.   
You’re so close to discovering your hands.  Every so often you will catch sight of them and just stare in wonder.  If I put a toy in front of you, you move your arms around- trying so hard to make them do what you want.  One of these days your arms are going to listen to your brain and open up a whole new world.    

You’ve changed so much in the last month.  You have much more of a personality and you’re getting to be way more fun.  You’re turning into a real person, and it makes me so excited as you become less of a blob and more of a little dude.   It makes this motherhood thing so much easier and way more fun.  I honestly can't imagine doing anything else in my life than taking care of you. I am so glad that I am able to be with you all day long.



You love being in your stroller, so we go on walks frequently, especially as it is getting cooler outside- I’m worried your first word might be “Target”. Whenever we're out and about, people comment on how cute you are.  The nurse at the pediatrician's office even said that you were "almost too cute to be a boy."  It is nice to know that it isn't just us that just can't believe how cute you are.  I love that random strangers want to come look at you and comment about what a sweet boy you are and what amazing blue eyes you have. 




Keep up the good work, kid.  You are such a great baby and you make our life way more fun.  Spending my days with you has become the greatest joy of my life and it really does get better and better every day.  It is hard and sometimes I wonder what in the world I am doing, but you make it an absolute joy.  Seeing you grow and develop is amazing to me and I can tell that it is just going to get more fun as you start to learn new things.  Thanks for making our life so great.  

Love,

Mom

9/17/2011

I dare you...

...not to cry. I sure did. Geoff made this for me. Yes, it's totally cheesy but I adore it. 
Cried like a big freakin baby!

9/10/2011

Brainwashed?

Maybe.

But he sure looks cute in this UT onesie. ESPECIALLY when Texas beat BYU (it was a close game but we won and that's all that matters right, winning??)


The best part of all of this is, I had a bet with my Brother-in-law, a die hard BYU fan, that whoever lost would have a picture of their child holding a sign promoting the opposing team on facebook.
Thank goodness Payton will not have to do that. 

Phew.

Hook 'em horns!


9/08/2011

Staying Home

So many people have asked me how I am adjusting to staying at home with Payton after so many years of being a "working girl". Well, to be honest, I am totally loving it! 

Yes, I am totally exhausted some days after late nights with the little guy, but man, is there anything on earth more amazing than caring for a sweet baby?? 

After wanting this for so long, and working so hard to get my little boy... I will never take for granted the blessing of being able to stay home and be with him. I may not always be a stay-at-home-mom, but for now, it's where I need to be and I am loving every minute of it. 

I mean... how could I not when I get to be with this chubby little man all day?? 

Exactly.


9/05/2011

Letter to Payton; Month One

I'm stealing this idea from a stranger's blog that I read. She writes a letter to her daughter every month and I think it is such a great idea. Hopefully I'll be somewhat successful and actually carry this idea out. And hopefully my other children won't hate me if I don't have time to do this for them. My plan is to make blog books since I am a horrible journal writer... we will see how this goes.

Dear Payton,

Welcome to the world my little man. This last month has been both the hardest and best month of my life. You are a remarkably easy baby, but this is still hard work. Possibly the hardest thing I've ever done, but also the most rewarding.


The day you arrived was a bit of a blur. I remember when they rolled you in to meet us and looking down at you, all wrinkly and small and scooping you up to hold you against my chest -- I was just in shock that you were finally here and that you were OURS


There was no doubt in my mind at that moment that Heavenly Father sent you to us. You looked so chubby and cute then. When you were about a week and half old, and had finally gained back the weight you lost your first week, I was holding you up in just a diaper and you were squirming around. You looked so much like you did in your first moment of life and all the tears I had shed when you were born came rushing out all over again. Even now as I write this and think about those first few moments we had as a new little family, I'm fighting back the lump in my throat.


I love the smell of your little head and seriously think they should bottle that smell. It would fly off the shelves. I can't get enough of it. 

Even when I'm exhausted and you just won't go to sleep, there's nothing quite like feeling your fuzzy little head on my cheek and taking as much of that amazing smell in as I can. 





There are several times through out each day when I am holding you and I just am overcome with love for you that I just need to squeeze you and kiss your little cheeks or your chubby little neck. I am constantly yelling to your Dad to look at you and how cute you are. He never disagrees.


One of my favorite things is the smiles you make when you're sleeping. Almost every time you fall asleep a huge smile creeps across your face in the moment when you finally close your eyes. It is like your body is just so happy to finally give in to the sleep. 

Over the last several days you've started smiling for real sometimes but just for me. It is the best thing in the world and melts my heart each precious time it happens
I fall in love with you a little more every time your eyes light up and that huge, adorable smile creeps out.





You are freakishly strong. Seriously. You've been able to hold your head up since we were in the hospital and have just been getting stronger and stronger as the weeks go by. Your arms are so strong that when I have to forcibly move them to get the out of the way for you to eat. You will try and shove your hands in your mouth with your bottle and it never works out. It really takes some effort to work against your strength.

 We call you our little monkey because you are constantly making little monkey sounds, even while you are sleeping.

Your dad and I love you so much and we are overcome with gratitude for your arrival in our family. I have said many times that you were worth the wait and I would do everything all over again to have you. You have made us so incredibly happy and I hope you will always know how much we wanted you. 

You win the hearts of everyone who meets you. I may be a little biased, but you really are a beautiful baby and even though you're still pretty much still just a lump of baby, you'll already a little charmer.

Payton, thanks for coming into our life and letting us be your parents. I couldn't imagine life without you.

Love,
Mom

9/01/2011

The Nursery

When we found out we would have a baby placed in our family, and not knowing the gender... I decided to go with bright, bold colors so that a little girl or little boy would fit well in this room. I searched and searched the internet and fell in love with the owl prints that I have hanging in the room and decided to have an owl themed nursery. The room is nothing too fancy, but I think it's welcoming and if I have to go in that room all hours of the night, I better like what I look at, ha ha!

8/31/2011

Baby Shower

I have been blessed with an amazing sister in law. I don't even consider Heather my sister in law. She is just my sister. I thank Heavenly Father that my brother married her, because she has become one of my greatest confidants and friends. As soon as there was word that Payton would be joining us, Heather started planning a baby shower... and when Heather does something-- she does it OUT OF THIS WORLD! Seriously. Incredible. She should start a business in event planning/party planning.

The shower was so much fun. I got to see some life long friends, and have them meet our little Payton. He was a hit & everyone fell in love. I am so grateful for all these amazing women in my life who were able to come. Here are a few pictures of the decor and people that were at the shower. My friend Tracey (an amazing photographer) took some pics at the shower as well... thank goodness cause I really didn't take very many!

It was a day to remember, that is for sure.






8/27/2011

Hello...

Hi my name is Payton and I am getting fatter every day. My mom loves it! The end.

8/20/2011

First 2 weeks in Pictures

As you can tell... He was asleep for a good portion of the first two weeks of his life ha ha