4th of July and Jayden's Birthday

Happy 4th of July!23 WeeksToday we went to Jayden's 1st birthday party and had lots of fun. Happy birthday Jayden! All American Girls

Katelyn and MaciePayton with her Grandma
The birthday boy!

THE AFTER PARTY:
After most of Jayden's guest left Payton and Jayden got down to their diapers and had an after party. They got to play with the water hose. Payton had a blast spraying everyone and especially the birthday boy. When Payton would spray Jayden he would just stand there happy... he is such a champ!

Dora the Explorer

Payton loves going outside and exploring all of the neat things that nature has to offer. I like to take her outside and let her take me for a walk. We usually end up looking at all of the pretty wild flowers and interesting bugs. She loves picking flowers and smelling them. When it is time to turn around from the walk she usually makes me carry her back which is never good for the back but worth the pain to watch her little curious self take on this beautiful world.

Little Mommy

Baby dolls are Payton's new favorite thing. She loves to hold her baby and pretend like she is a mommy. She makes me swaddle the babies for her and then she tells them to shh shh. This makes great practice for when her baby brother comes. I am working on teaching her how to get the diapers and stuff like that;).

PF Changs with Friends

Tonight Jonathon, Payton, Stephanie, Greg and I drove to Orlando to meet up with Katelyn, Michael, Macie, Randy, Ashlea, Gavin and Grace for a delicious meal at PF Changs. Usually this is not my favorite restaurant but because Jonathon loves it so much I could not turn down the invite. However, after starving from a long 3 hour wait it was one of the best meals I have ever had... the great wall of chocolate cake helped! It is so great to spend time with friends and eat good food (can you tell I am pregnant?) All of the kids were so good at dinner until close to the end when Payton got tired but luckily she fell asleep so we got to enjoy the rest of the night with a sleeping beauty.

The Beach

Jonathon, Payton and I went down to Cocoa for another short family vacation. We had so much fun playing on the beach, swimming and going for walks. Linda and Natalie came up and stayed with us so we got to have lots of fun with them. I did not get beach photos this time because every time we went down I forgot my camera.

After going out to eat at Red Lobster we tried to get down to the beach to take some photos but we ran out of light. I wanted to get some photos of Payton with a swirly lollipop for her playroom and birthday but had no time or light to work with so I will have to try this photo shot again, but until then here is my Lollipop Kid.

Payton trying to get me to open the lollipop.
Payton trying to open the lollipop.

Linda and Natalie
Me, Payton and Britten 21W1D

Beauty Night

Tonight we had a church get together to share beauty secrets. Ashlea hosted the party and she did a great job. I got to learn new beauty secrets and spend time with the girls which are always so much fun! Thanks to all the girls who shared their secrets.

My girly girl

When I was pregnant with Payton I wanted a little girl so bad. I would daydream about having a girl and was often offended when someone would tell me that I was carrying like it was a boy or any of the other crazy wives’ tales that was not in favor of the baby being a girl. It took 5 ultrasounds for the doctors to confirm that it was a girl so until it was confirmed I would go on signs like for example one day I was at work and one of the girls said that her doctor called a girl’s private parts a butterfly because that is what it looks like on the ultrasound and later that day I came into the office after lunch and a butterfly was sitting on my shoulder (when does that ever happen?). I would also hear that song butterfly kisses on the radio all the time even some days more than once. Well luckily I was blessed with a little girl because I could have easily been humbled considering I was probably to set on the baby being a girl. Anyways, my little girl has turned into quite the girly girl with her baby dolls, purses, jewelry and now shoes. Payton has finally conquered the high-heel shoes. I got her on tape and what you are seeing at the end is her getting mad at me and wanting me to put them back on. She followed me around the house all morning with the heels insisting that I help her put them back on if they would come off. I love these little precious memories of her. I just hope to not get any footage of Britton like this;).

One of those nights...

After having a lovely dinner at Linda and Rick's house I was happy to get home and put Payton to sleep so I could get my house cleaned before Jonathon returned home. Payton unfortunately did not fall asleep on the ride home so I put her in my bed (I am too scared to sleep alone ;) and waited for her to fall asleep. I usually will clean my room or get on the internet while she is lying in bed because she usually insists that I stay with her until she does fall asleep. Well... after a clean bedroom and bathroom and no sleeping baby I decide to sneak off to switch the laundry. Now when I leave the room she usually will yell, "Mommy!, Mommy!, Mommy!" and I did not hear this so I continued with a few other chores. Now any mother knows that a quite toddler is not always a good thing and this proved to be true tonight. I came in to see if I lucked out with her falling asleep and found her covered in lotion from a bottle that she found in my bed. Luckily she was smiling which made me smile instead of getting angry because as tired as I am it could have been really upsetting! So anyways I guess the moral of this story is to never trust a toddler even if it is with a harmless bottle of baby lotion. I have had to learn this the hard way when Jonathon was watching her and she opened a red fingernail polish all over our couch. At least I have a fresh smelling baby to snuggle with tonight and she is now asleep so off to cleaning I go ;).

Happy Father's Day!

I want to wish all of the father’s a Happy Happy father’s day and especially to my father-in-laws Ricky and Rick, my father, my stepfather Ron and my wonderful husband Jonathon! It is nice to have a day that honors these amazing men who do so much for their families. Jonathon has been such a great daddy to Payton and I am so lucky to have him. Payton is especially grateful for her daddy’s awesome Wiggle’s songs he sings her and how he shows her unconditional love! Jonathon, I love you so much! Happy Father’s Day!

Happy Birthday Grace, Ben, Brigham & Aishlinn

Payton went to her first birthday party to celebrate Grace, Ben, Brigham & Aishlinn's 3rd birthday . The party was very nice and Payton had a great time.
Happy Birthday Grace, Ben, Brigham & Aishlinn

The kids are finally in their own beds!

The kids are in their beds!
I decided last night to try Payton out in her big girl bed. She was a little hesitant (and so was I) but after staying in there with her for about 30 minutes she fell into a deep sleep. When it was time for Jonathon and me to go to bed we tried talking each other into going to get her but both decided that it would be best if we got her use to the idea of sleeping in her own bed. This is a way harder transition for Jonathon and me than it is for Payton, but I know it will be the best thing to prepare for when Britten gets here and has his late night crying and feedings. Payton did great until she woke up at 3:30am calling for me which was great for me because I sleep better with her beside me (minus the occasional kicks to the face;).


Payton finally sleeping!



As for Cali… well she was kicked out of our bed when Payton was born and had a way harder time with it than what Payton has. She fought us on it for months but finally she is comfortable with her new sleeping arrangements on the couch in the playroom. Every night Jonathon or I will get her blanket out and cover her up. It’s funny because she expects it to happen every night and does not go to sleep until she is tucked in… what a baby!