Peyton's Nursery

Made some updates to Peyton's nursery and I absolutely LOVE it. If Scott and I have a girl in the future, this will be her furniture. But since we bought it before knowing the gender, we tried to make his nursery as boyish as possible. Connie and I even made his cribset bc I couldn't find anything to boyish to match his furniture. We bought his furniture from Lone star baby, glider from amazon, curtains and brown rug from IKEA. His bookshelves are actually photo ledges from ikea. The wooden letters on the wall, I got from hobby lobby (less than $5) and painted them. My friend Katie got Peyton the 3 owls above his crib and the wooden name blocks on the hutch. His room is filled with lots of love and couldn't be more perfect!

On a non nursery related note. I found this picture of myself from the grapevine fest several years ago. I noticed a striking resemblance to one of Peyton:

HA! 

6 months and counting

Ok, here is where I say "I cannot believe my baby is 6 months old"! Despite saying that was cliche in my last blog, I really cannot believe it. I guess it's because he is doing AND saying so much more.

My baby boy turned 6 months old on August 21st. There are no words to express my love for this guy. I love him more and more each day and I truly cherish every moment of being a mother. Scott has often heard me say to Peyton; "I've never loved anything like I love you". The first time he heard me say this, he thought I was stating that I loved Peyton more. <-that's not true, my love for Peyton is just different. It's indescribable!

Here's a look at what Peyton is doing at 6 months:

• He army crawls 
• Sits up on his own for a month now 
• Says "mamamamama" and softly whispers "dada" but these are more sounds than they are recognition of words. 
• babbling and screeching
• more giggly, but he makes you work for those giggles (tough crowd)
•  He Looooves our dog Porkchop 
• Loves the water 
•  Anything that makes him feel like a 'big boy' is a sure smile on his face 
• He isn't too fond of long drives, but he is capable of entertaining himself in the car longer
• walking around his walk around activity center.

He's fixing computers for Blue Door Networks

Seriously! How can you not LOVE that face! 

Things people say to me about Peyton:

• "I just want to eat him up"
• "look at those cheeks"
• "he has such a deep voice"
  AND the #1 thing people say is- "He looks JUST like you Sabrina!"

Most amazing 6 months of my life!

DFW-CVG-NORWALK-DFW, road trip with baby

Thanks to my years spent as a Flight Attendant, I will (perhaps) remember most airport codes...NERD ALERT!

Scott and I recently ventured (I say that lightly) out to Ohio with our 5 1/2 month old. Our choice of transportation was our brand new Toyota Hybrid Highlander. We decided to leave at 8:30 pm on July 27, to drive STRAIGHT to Cincinnati....did I mention, with our 5 month old?? HA! I joke, but we honestly couldn't have left at a better time. So at 8:30 pm, with a sleepy baby, we embarked on a 16 hour drive to Cincinnati. Our drive took us from Texas-Arkansas-Tennessee-Kentucky-OHIO.

Peyton slept the majority of the trip. We were able to make it Ohio in 15 hours, 4 pit stops (gas, potty, diaper changes), and with the help of Yo Gabba Gabba (better known as baby crack). I pumped the whole way up and one of us was always in the back ready for a crisis. Oddly, Peyton who rarely took a binky prior to the trip, was not graciously accepting of one.

Ohio bound

We spent the weekend in Cincinnati and visited with Scott's (and now my) friends. Carly, Justin, and Kellen got to meet Peyton for the first time. And I got to visit with Kellen, whom I hand't seen in 9 months!

Kellen showing Peyton his Helicopter

Carly with the babies :)

One thing I have noticed since having a baby is, I'm so focused on getting cute pictures of my baby, I forget to get pictures of Scott and myself. I guess there are worse things in life. But I really wish I would have gotten a few pictures of Carly and me. I also got to see Paul and Tami's house and meet her for the first time! She was 9 months pregnant with Noah. Again, no pictures!! Thankfully, the last day we were in town, at  the Stone's cook out, Mike made sure we got a group shot.

left to right: Carly's parents, Ron and Carol, Megan, Casey, Kellen, Justin, Carly, Mike (kneeling), Scott, Peyton, ME, Timmy and Katrina. oh, and of course Odon's butt

We had fun visiting with everyone in Cincy, but I was eager to see Scott's family and introduce Peyton to everyone for the first time and to Connie again. I love my in-laws and wished they lived closer!

Uncle Jimmy first time meeting Peyton

Peyton's Great Grandma Young

I LOVE little cute things and absolutely loved this little chair at Grandma Young's house

this is precious. Grammy and Peyton

Grandpa Bill even got down on the floor to entertain Peyton. He's a lucky little guy

I spent the week in Ohio and because this was a working vacation for Scott (He took 2 weeks off work when Peyton was born.) he returned to Cincinnati to work. Peyton and I thoroughly enjoyed spending much needed time with the Youngs. One of the days, Connie, Peyton, and I also enjoyed brunch at Great Grandma Young's house, there eagerly waiting to meet Peyton was his Great Aunt Lizy. 

On a side note, where did "great" when referring to your parent's grandparents and aunt and uncle derive from?

Great Aunt Lizy got Peyton this laughing horse.
 I thought it plus his diaper box made for a good horse and carriage.

I feel like whenever we're in Ohio, we're always doing something besides just visiting. Scott and I got married there and I have been up there many times to do wedding related stuff (pictures, shopping for venues, showers, getting married, etc.) This trip included getting Peyton baptized. Peyton being baptized wasn't the initial reason for our visit, but with my sister coming into town (from NY), and Scott's parent's being there, this was the perfect opportunity to do it. Besides, this church has so much meaning to our family; it is the place we united our love, where Scott went to school, he was also baptized there, and his parent's were married there. With my nomad background, I always appreciate strong rooted families.

That weekend my sister and her family (husband and 2 kids) came down from New York. They stayed in the coolest loft condo in downtown Sandusky. It actually made me want to move to a loft condo.

Peyton's baptism was the following Sunday after we initially got to Ohio. His baptism couldn't have gone more smoothly! He was beyond good, he must have known God was watching him. His baptism took place during mass and the same priest who married us, preformed his baptism. It was very special.

all dressed in white

Peyton and his Godmother, aka Aunt Millie 

these pics are adorable 

My baby boy

Us with Peyton's God parents, cousins, and grandparents 

After Peyton's baptism, we went to the family cottage on lake Erie and had a light lunch, finger sandwiches, chips, and cake. We're simple people.

Connie got this cake for the occasion

The cool thing about the cottage is that the surrounding cottages are all family dating back 5 or 6 generations. This is Uncle David who is really like a 4th cousin...I think

Great Aunt Jeanne

kiddos playing frisbee

Vincent was so smitten with his baby cousin

The journey back to TX was longer 19 hours. YIKES! Scott and I have done this drive a couple of times, but attempting it with a baby was VERY scary. We decided to leave even earlier in the night. I think we pulled out of Scott's parent's driveway just before 7 pm. Peyton was a little fussier on the car ride home, and bc the first trip was so easy I neglected to pump prior. Lets just say, there were several instances I spent hunched over Peyton's carseat trying to nurse him. Needless to say, we made it back okay. Tired, but in one long stretch.

1 month of Peyton!

Peyton's first month of life has been incredible. Who knew you could love something so much in such a short period of time. We're so overwhelmed by the love and support of our family and friends.  It's amazing how something so special can bring us all together and that's what Peyton's birth did.

We left the hospital Friday morning (2/24) and we're shortly greeted with my mom and her husband's arrival. I was still an emotional, hormonal mess and cried about everything once we got home. Later that afternoon, Scott left to pick his mom up at the airport. Peyton had both his grandmother's (Grammy and Mimi) under one roof. 

this makes me happy!

 

Mimi and Grammy

My mom was so happy, I don't think I've ever seen her that happy!

Scott's mom stayed with us for a couple of weeks. I was so grateful to have her here and for everything she helped us with. I really do wish she lived closer. I didn't grow up knowing my grandparents and always longed for the that kind of relationship. Especially when I saw so many of my friends with amazing grandparents. I'm excited that Peyton will grow up knowing his!

Uncle Derek moved in with briefly before he went to travel the world/move to Singapore.

Peyton had his newborn pictures taken when he was 8 days old! Kati Mendez ofMemories Held Still did his pictures and she did an amazing job!

The first month of Peyton's life went by so quickly. Even though he didn't do much, I couldn't seem to put him down or take my eyes off of him. Being a new mom is something I cannot even begin to describe. I feel like my heart doubled in size!