summer's a-coming!

summer is on it's way. to us, that means early evening walks, trips to the park, and days at the pool (and hopefully the beach, too). i can't wait!

our one year old!!!

one word: BLESSED!

can you believe this time last year we were just two fools waitin' on a kid to pop out?! who'd've thunk we'd be SOOOO in love with a 28" tall peanut?! this has been the best year of our lives (especially of peyton's life...) and we are so thankful to be blessed with such an amazing little girl.

peyton reese is ONE -- she's walking 5-8 steps at a time (although only after some serious coercing...), she's talking (about 20-30 words, sometimes 2 at a time!!) and signing another 10 or so. she is FUNNY, and has been given some amazing comedic timing, as she times her condesending laughs a perfect second and a half after all other laughing has stopped ("such a lame joke, mom... not even funny--but here's a pity laugh.") that's our sarcastic girl!! she's enjoying bathtime and pooltime, but not a huge fan of eating time (although you wouldn't know it with those rolls on her legs). after a challenging year, she's finally sleeping through the night (yay/phew/'bout time, girl). she's a bit of a momma's girl when she's tired or overwhelmed, but otherwise plays well by herself and with other babies and adults. she LOVES june--or "good girl", as she calls her, and pets her just like she sees the big people pet her. her 8 teeth make up the most amazing cheeser, and the soft puffy cheeks don't hurt, either! she's brown eyed, may be left handed, and a total cuddle bug.

i still can't believe we had anything to do with making this amazing human. but then, josh kindly reminds me... (wink wink)

happy first birthday, peyton reese. you make our world go round!!

remember when....

remember back in the day, before the chaos, before the diapers, before the exhaustion--back when i used to blog!? ohhhh, the days.... i remember those. i remember having time to myself when i got home from work. i remember having a clean house. i remember meeting my guy for dinner at a different restaurant every night. i remember not rushing home for a 7:30 bedtime. i remember never using the phrase, "well, the nap schedule...blah blah blah."

well, i'll admit that was ONE season, but definitely not THIS season. and i'm thankful for each.

i've done a farily decent job of forgetting josh and i have a blog :-/ it just got pushed to the side, along with vacuuming and dusting... i mean... yeah. but it's been a full year since the peanut was born, and it's time to start FINDING TIME to keep this blog up to date, not just with pictures, but also with stories and random happenings, as i once did. i'm excited to blabber again :)

so with that, i'll leave you with a snipet of what's been taking up so much time. and i couldn't be happier!

elevenMONTHS

peanut of my heart! you were a WILD RIDE to photograph this month. you with your standing, stepping, twisting, reaching, arching, and unsticking... you are something else! :) and to think 11 months ago you sat there like a sack of potatoes. i know that in just a short month or two you'll climb down that chair yourself, and walk to the other side of the house without me. good thing this monthly photo experiment is only planned for a year--at least on that chair!


munchkin, you really continue to amaze us. do you know that the second you fall asleep, i miss your smile and activity!? and the second you wake up, i miss your sweet, sleepy, heavy breath?! oh, the problems i have--will they ever go away!?

daddy and i are having a blast with you and your blooming personality, or should i say "ever-expanding knowledge of things you've officially decided you do and don't want..."! ;-) we think the world of you, sweet pea, and love you always!

xoxo
mommy n daddy

happy birthday, dad!

without you, "hide and seek" would have just been "hide". without you, i'd have had to walk on sand dollars instead of clinging to your neck. without you, i'd have no clue how to travel. without you, i'd never understand how magical a moon could be. without you, i'd throw like a girl. without you, i'd think "hot" was "hot" and "cold" was "cold. LAME. without you, "no matter what" would just end there.

i'm beyond thankful for every day the Good Man Upstairs has given us together. :)
i love you, dad.
happy birthday!!

CRAZYaboutYOU

IT WAS HUGE! you on both knees, a bright, shiny rock in little black box, june running wild, flashes in the background, big hugs and kisses, champagne, family, friends, excitement and joy in ridiculous amounts!

but i remember the sweet, loving embrace we had after we walked into the surprise party.

IT WAS HUGE! you at one end of the aisle, me at the other, people smiling, a train following me, my girls to my left, your guys to my right, champagne, family, friends, excitement and joy in ridiculous amounts!

but i remember running into your arms behind the bushes after the ceremony--our own little moment together. "we really did it!" we said...

IT WAS HUGE! you holding my hand tightly, counting 1-2-3-PUSH, doctor's yelling, nurses running, grandparents crying, tequila celebration, family, friends, excitement and joy in ridiculous amounts!

but i remember the gentle kisses on my forehead as we stared lovingly together at our little blessing.

THANKS FOR THE HUGE, LIFE CHANGING MOMENTS.

but, even more so, thanks for those special little moments i cling to that remind me of how blessed we are to be each other's companions in this crazy world!

i love you, baby. happy 3 year anniversary!

tenMONTHS

thankful for the 20 pound bundle of joy this child is. happy 10 months, peyton reese. your smile is contagious...

NINEmonths

these nine months "out" have been so much more enjoyable than your first nine months "in" :) we love you to pieces, PEAnut. you and your silly open mouth, tongue out, sloppy, dribbly kisses.

EIGHTmonths

peyton reese, are you kidding me with your EVERYTHING?! you are my smile trigger, my chill giver. you are the reason i stretch my face in ways i never knew i could, and make noises i never thought possible. you have brought to life a whole new part of me. and for that, I THANK YOU. and to think how much you've grown! and learned! and become, already! you are who my eyes follow--where they dart in a room. you are who my ear perks up for. i love that i can hear you through a plethora of other noises--how i feel so in touch with the pitch of your squeals and cries. i even recognize your little toots from the other room! how you crack me up, dear peyton. and have i told you how much i adore your voice?! the look on your face when you make a new sound is priceless. the way your eyes light up when your voice is louder than all the other voices in the restaurant (ah-hem...!). and did you know i've seen you struggle with what to do when your most delicious cheeks get in the way of you smiling any bigger!? but i'd never move those cheeks for anything--own those, baby girl--they are definitely your trademark. and that new little tooth of yours is starting to make a dent in the shape of your smile. so precious... i am anxious to watch you grow and change, and to love you more and more each day (although i'm not convinced that's possible, but "they" tell me it is...) but i promise to continue to cherish each day with you as you grow. baby peyton, you've thrown me for the most incredible loop. you look so sweet in pink that i'm actually liking the color myself, these days. BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT YOU DO TO ME. i love you, i cherish you, i adore you.

happy 8 months, pey pey.

love mommy, and your equally obsessed and in love daddy.

got milk?

the munchkin was a cow for halloween.

we had an office party at my office where all the kids came in dressed up. such cuties!!

no trick or treating for us this year--although you can see she's already reaching for treats...

this kid cracks me up with her rolls. i just love that you can see them through her tights...

peyton's friend caden was a skunk--honestly--how cute is his costume!?

i can't believe peyton has friends already...

hope everyone had a happy and safe halloween!

Seven Months Old!!

She’s SEVEN months! Can you believe it! It’s crazy how much difference a month can make. Help me stand! Feed me! Change my diaper! DON’T LEAVE ME HERE ALONE! It’s crazy how much personality this girl has and how much she shows her individuality. She’s constantly whispering, spitting, and trying to stand. Sometimes she’s trying to do all three at once! She’s pretty dang talented. I can just tell that as she get’s older, the greater my need for a shotgun is becoming. Have you seen the cuteness this girl exudes?!?!?!

And it should be noted... taking our monthly photos is becoming ever more challenging. This month's photo doesn't have a "7 month" sticker because--well, because of this...

When we took the sticker away, the blanket and crib became the distraction of the moment...

We even tried standing, in hopes that may make things easier...

...but we couldn't get a cheese out of her!

But really, isn't this the fun of it all?!?

theWEEKDAY

when sunday night comes around these days, it's as if things don't stop until friday afternoon. josh and i are enjoying this season of our lives with a "new baby", (although it seems as if peyton's been around and part of our lives forever, which we just love!) but it IS different than life pre-baby. as an example, here's a typical...tuesday...

5am - gigi up to pump and get dressed
530am - gigi to the park for an early workout--it's bootcamp this month, brought to me by groupon!
645am - gigi home and in the shower
7am - josh is up and at 'em
715am - peyton's up. time to feed and play!
8am - gigi off to work, josh and p off to nana's
WORK ALL DAY AS IF FAMILY JUST DON'T EXIST :-(
5pm - josh to nana's to pick up the munchkin
530pm - gigi head's home
545pm - finally, family at last :-)
6pm - walk at the park with the munchkin and the bug
630pm - josh and gigi cook and trade off playing 1-on-1 with peyt
7pm - nom nom nom for all of us
715pm - peyt takes a 20 min snoozer while we pick up around the house and do the dishes
745pm - josh and gigi are done with the dishes, so we clean our kid in the sink, next
800pm - trade off playing with p again while we pack lunches and bottles for tomorrow

815pm - josh to the trails for an evening run
830pm - peyt's bedtime...a few books and songs, lots of kisses, and one sleepy baby

845pm - josh home from his run and back in the shower
9pm - oh, hi, husband. hi, wife. couch/snuggle date? sure, why not.
10pm - final pump sesh...for geeg, not josh...of course...
1015pm - gigi spends 10 min. getting frustrated picking clothes
1030pm - roll into bed...exhausted

and again, and again, and again, until saturday. i know this isn't unusual for parents that work full time, and we're totally good to go with all this, but i can't begin to express how much we cherish the few hours we have with peyton...

and those few precious moments spent with P around the house often look something like this...

mommy and peyton after a walk at the park

daddy snuggling with peyt on the couch

6 months old and ever so amahhhzing...

our munchkin is 6 months old, and we can't believe it! we adore every inch of her 6 month old skin, love every strand of her 6 month old hair, and nuzzle every roll on her 6 month old body. seriously, can't get enough of this girl.

at 6 months old, peyton is quite the little ham. she loves to smile, and rather than chuckle or laugh, her happy default is an excited, high pitched squeal!! when left to her own devices, she rolls from one end of a room to the other. the rolling thing is great, until we're trying to change her diaper, that is...

we feel so blessed to have peyton as a part of our family. she brings an indescribable joy to our lives--a joy that is hers alone to bring--and we are thankful for that everyday.

vacationing with good friends - las vegas, nv

the past four days have been pure bliss. josh, peyt, and i hit the road midday wednesday and headed vegas (because i have no clue if that's north, east, north-north east, east-north-north. whatever. it's just toward vegas.) but the best part of our trip? we didn't even go NEAR that dirty strip. we hooked a left at vegas and went toward the toll brothers community "red rock" where luxury homes lined paved streets and families did their family thing. suburbia. BLISS.

our good friends, jana and brian, were there as a perk of brian's job (every toll brother's employee gets to stay in one of their houses across the country once a year). we were so excited when they asked us if we'd join them, along with our other good friends, kym and andrew. this was our first "families vacationing together" trip, and i look forward to MANY more. we did not leave the house the entire 4 days. everything was there that we needed! our friends, the pool, food, drinks, a pool table, the tv, toys for the kids, lots of bedrooms, twice as many bathrooms. the house was beautiful (i have yet to see a toll brothers home that doesn't cause your jaw to drop) and the harrelsons did a fantastic job hosting us, even though we kept trying to get them to relax. oh, how was the weather, you ask!? ABSOLUTELY FLAWLESS! i can't believe it ever went over 95 or under 75. the kids weren't too hot, but it was never too cold to take a dip in the warm pool or even the hot tub. here are a few pics of the shinanigans. enjoy!!

5 months and soaking up this world!

peyton,
at 5 months old you continue to bring so much joy to our lives. you have quite the little personality--you're sweet, cuddly, happy, goofy, goofy, goofy, and constantly exploring and putting EVERYTHING in your mouth. you are easily distracted...when you're nursing and you hear june or daddy walk in, you stretch your head wayyyy back looking for them, and i get a little peek of your usually roll-covered neck. then you make noises, blow bubbles, blow air and eventually re-focus. so cute. you roll from front to back and back to front, and you twist all over, but you're not moving in any one specific direction yet. thankfully. i'm not quite ready for you to be mobile. you learned to sit up this month, and you LOVE standing on your feet when people support you up. my favorite thing you do is flash your big, gummy smile at mommy and daddy when we come get you out of your crib in the mornings. i love that you recognize us, and that you associate us with fun and happiness. because that's what we think of you, too!
we love you peyton, no doubt and never changing.
xoxo,
mommy