Christmas!

While last Christmas was certainly fun Payton was only 1 and still required a lot of assistance and explaination. This Christmas Payton was old enough to really get into things and anticipate what was coming. How awesome is it that he got to experience a white Christmas! It was the first measurable Christmas snowfall since they began keeping records in the 1890s. We slept in  then woke to let Payton open his presents. We had his Thomas train tracks all set up with his gifts wrapped up in the middle. He was so excited to see them first thing! After breakfast we all bundled up and went out side to play in the snow. I would be lying if I told you we didn't let Payton make yellow snow ;o)

That afternoon we joined the rest of my family at Granny and Papa's house for gift exchange and yummy food. (the only vegetable was jalepenos with venison wrapped in bacon and the only fruit was the coconut layer in the cookie bars)

He got a ballance bike and a chain saw and just had a blast all around!

8 crazy nights/Happy Hanukkah

 Hanukkah was so fun with Payton this year. He was actually old enough to participate and understand what was going on...for the most part. On the first night Payton had been to a birthday party for his little friend Owen. They had been talking about Hanukkah at the party as well. When we got home we lit the first candle and Payton tried to blow it out and said "Happy Birthday!" When we gave him his present he said "It's my Birthday!" We tried to explain it to him then he said "Oh, It's my Hanukkah!" Close enough. Each night he would say "I want my Hanukkah now". As you'll see in the pictures he really enjoyed himself and had fun learning the prayer as we lit the candles each night.

We finally did it! Payton's FIRST haircut

Payton got his first haircut ever today! We have only trimmed his bangs twice since he has been born. As you can imagine this was quite an emotional event for his mommy. My baby has grown up so much in the last couple of months. His pacifier is now only reserved for nap time, he has been completely potty trained, he is scheduled to start Montessori school next month and now he has

a big boy haircut. I was his stylist (I cried at the first cut) and Jamie was the photographer. Payton did great but he was a little wiggly so it got cut a little shorter than planned. We saved his little curls in envelopes and logged the event into his baby book. My little boy is not looking so much like a baby anymore!

This has got to be the most handsome little boy I have ever seen!!!

Our Little Pumpkin/Fall Fun

                Holidays are getting more and more fun as Payton gets old enough to truly appreciate the festivities! I love that we are developing our own family traditions that we can repeat with our little pumpkin each year. We went to the same pumpkin patch that we went to last year so he could pick out his own pumpkin to decorate and mommy could get her own to carve as well. Payton flashed his winning smile and even scored a bonus gourd for free! He had so much fun helping his daddy cut open the pumpkin, drawing and painting his own and watching mommy carve hers.  On Halloween he dressed as a "construction guy" wearing his uncle Chachi's old overalls, a bunch of tools and a hard hat. He will get out his tools and in a really deep voice say "I'm workin hard! For money!" We went to a trunk or treat at our church first and then hit another carnival. On the drive between the 2 I had given him a piece of candy and a glow stick. After a few minutes he said "this tastes yucky". I knew he had already eaten his candy... I turned around to find my little guy with a glow mustache! He had bitten into the glow stick!

Potty Training Boot Camp

Payton's journey to big boy pants began on October 22, 2009. He was 2 years and 1 month old. We had all the supplies, a clear calender and no excuses. I have potty trained many children in my years as a nanny but this was an adventure!

 I really wanted this to be a crash course, never look back experience. When I said "no more diapers" I meant it. I didn't want this to drag out for months. I read this book and used it for reference. (I would highly recommend it!) We stocked up on Payton's favorite drinks and treats for rewards and began our day.

We started by giving baby "Georgie" drinks and teaching her how to go to the potty, pull down her pants and clean up after herself when she was done.

All we did was talk potty and practice potty all day long. 

Here Payton is practicing pulling down his own pants and sitting on the potty. When ever he had wet pants he was required to practice rushing to the potty, pulling down his pants, sitting down, stand up, pull his pants up and repeat 9 times. Then he had to clean up his mess, change his pants and put the dirty stuff in the hamper. This teaches them the steps, muscle memory and habit. It also teaches them that it is a heck of a lot faster just to pee in the potty in the first place!

When he is done on the potty he is expected to take his potty bowl, dump it in the toilet and return it to his potty chair.

He of course was praised profusely through out the process and received rewards when he had dry pants and stickers for his chart when he pee peed in his potty.

 We started on Thursday morning and by Saturday afternoon he had completely mastered using the potty and has had ZERO accidents since then! He is so proud of himself and of his big boy undies and wants to "tell everybody"!

Payton's official 2 year old portrait...and flashback

While I was the photographer for his 2 year old portrait I was merely the baby wrangler/model for the remaining pictures. They were photographed by The Lynsey Stone D.F.W. Birth Photographer. Who happens to be one of my best friends and the mom of Payton's best girlfriend Naiya. http://www.dfwbirthphotographer.com/

ENJOY!!

age 2

age 1

8 months

4 months

a few minutes old

day 2 of labor

"come this way----> Thanks  Dad<3"

     37 1/2 weeks pregnant

Payton is 2!!

Payton is 2 years old!  I absolutely cannot believe it that my baby is growing up so fast. It doesn't help at all that he acts so old either. Most of his friends are older so he is trying to keep up with them...and doing a good job. He can hold his own in a room full of 5 year olds. I think my toddler has crossed the line over to "little boy" now. (tear) He keeps his dad and I in stitches with his hysterical sense of humor.  He loves to help us and will follow us and say "Good job Mama! Good job Dada!" He adds new things to his resume every day. (Including having mastered every type of lock and safety latch.) I wish there was some way to tell you everything or describe this little wonder to all of you!

On Payton's actual birthday we celebrated at home. His Dad brought him a Happy Meal home for lunch from McDonald's (with 2 toys inside!) and a Cookie Monster cupcake.

After lunch we set him on the counter and gave him his cupcake. We had lit 2 candles for him to blow out but he wouldn't do it until we had sung Happy Birthday to him. So cute! He had been practicing how this whole birthday thing was supposed to work so he would be ready when it was his turn.

He spent the afternoon looking out the front windows hoping to see the UPS truck pull up to our house bearing gifts. Lucky him, it actually showed up! When he saw it he yelled "presents!" and ran to the door. His birthday gifts from his Nanna and Aunt Jen had arrived.

His party was at Cabela's sporting goods store on the Sunday after his birthday. He loves Cabela's because that is where his papa works. This year we had a "digger" themed party. He is always on the lookout for construction equipment. The cake was super cute. It looked like dirt and mud made from icing and crushed cookies with the equipment on top. He thought is was "awesome".

We set him next to his cake and he waited patiently while everyone sang to him (just as he had rehearsed). It was so sweet because he just looked around at everyone that was singing to him. When the song was over, without any prompting, he leaned over and blew out his candles.

Then of course he dug into his cake!