Last Friday we flew to Detroit, Michigan (DTW) and then drove to Ohio. We were going up to Ohio for Wes and Holly's wedding, but what a great excuse to visit family. Scott and I were both anxious about flying with an active 7 month old. This wasn't Peyton's first flight, but he is 1000x more active now than he was at 4 months. We packed as lightly as possible. I even limited toys bc Peyton plays with everything other than his toys.
One thing I HIGHLY recommend when traveling (especially with kiddos) is taking a picture of where you parked. So glad I did this. Even with getting to the airport with plenty of time, when you are traveling with a baby for some reason everything seems rushed.
I knew exactly where we were 4 days later
We traveled with:
2 suitcases (my old flight attendant travel pro)
laptop bag (Scott ALWAYS has to have that)
Travel system -Stroller and car seat. Having that made it super easy to bring the carseat with us to the gate AND Peyton
diaper bag
boppy -loved having that, really helped with breastfeeding and Peyton sleeping
We brought all of this stuff on the plane and curb checked our stroller and carseat. Traveling to DTW was super easy.
our flight was delayed, so Peyton and I got comfy on the floor
Keeping Peyton entertained was what we did the majority of the flight as he did not sleep.
Yo Gabba Gabba, what would we do without you.
Peyton LOVED looking out the window
We made it!!
Scott's parents live 2 hours from Detroit. By the time we landed (plus an hour time change) and made it to our rental car, it was late. Add a cranky baby, 2 hour drive to Norwalk, OH, and cold wet rain = NO FUN! I think I told Scott several times while he was driving to never fly us into Detroit again... He was a good sport and husband and rather than arguing back, he agreed.
The following day, we drove to the Toledo area (which is less than an hour from Detroit) for Wes and Holly's wedding. The ceremony was beautiful. It was held outside in a park. It was cold, but the setting was perfect for a wedding. The leaves were turning to orange and reds. Holly was absolutely gorgeous.
So PRETTY!
Mike who was our best man and who also married our friends Carly and Justin, also married Wes and Holly. Holly's adorable kiddos (Ava and Blake) were her flower girl and ring barrier
I really believe that traveling helps with development. Peyton started fake coughing on the drive up to the wedding. I would cough and then he would mimic me. It was super cute and kept us entertained. I just wouldn't recommend teaching your baby to do this on your way to a wedding. Sure enough, during the ceremony, Peyton was doing his fake cough. He wouldn't stop, I had to take him to the side so he wouldn't ruin it!
The reception was held at the Toledo Zoo. Such a cool place for a reception. We rode on a golf cart through most of the zoo to the reception hall.
Peyton was even dressed to the nines
Holly and Peyton
All the guys plus 2 new additions. Scott has known these guys for over 10 years
The rest of our stay was spent in Norwalk, Oh. I really love spending time with Scott's family and I think Peyton did too. He was busy getting into everything and going everywhere.
he really wanted that light switch
Grammy even got him to take a nap on her lap!
Connie must have made 10 dozen of Scott's favorite cookies
While Peyton was busy getting into everything, Scott spent hours inventorying and looking at coins with his dad. They literally spent hours doing that.
3 generations of Youngs
Peyton and I walked over to his Great Grandma Young's house while they looked at coins
Peyton even crawled into the room to check out the coins
Oh and Peyton also learned how to clap
The last day in Ohio was spent with more coins, naps, Lunch at Great Grandma Young's house, visiting Grammy at work, and saying "Hi" to Great Grandma Hertenstein.
Peyton and Grandpa Bill
I was able to pick up lunch and flowers while Jimmy and Peyton napped
I sadly didn't get any pictures with Great Grandma Young this trip
Peyton's Great Grandma Hertenstein
We made it back to Detroit with plenty of time. We had enough time to have a sit down dinner at the airport, which was nice.
TSA is so strict! ;)
After an eventful fun weekend, we made it back to TX late Monday night
Kati has done all of our pictures this year and her company is called Memories Held Still. Poor Peyton was teething super bad and we could not get a smile out of him. He was also a drooly mess. The weekend after these pictures were taken, his first tooth came in. Despite all of that, I LOVE his pictures and have to share! Embrace yourself for this cuteness:
The last 5 months for Peyton and I have been busy! In April, thanks to Heidi, we joined a mommy group called Stroller Strides. Peyton and I usually go Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and occasionally on Saturdays (only because I tend to sleep in on Saturday). Stroller Strides has been Ah-MAZING for us! I get to workout and socialize with my baby. We also get together for playdates, lunch, and even mom's night out. I cannot say more positive things about stroller strides.
Here are some pictures from stroller strides:
this is the first mom's night out I attended
The instructor and owner Bethany had a baby boy.
We welcomed her back to work by wearing blue.
So many baby boys and this isn't even all of them
Peyton and I also recently joined The Little Gym. I absolutely LOVE it. We go on Wednesdays after stroller strides (a couple of hours after) and the class is 45 mins long. The class consists of educating us moms on ways to stretch our babies, how to properly walk with them, things that help develop their senses, bubbles, free play time, and the list goes on. Needless to say, those 45 mins go by before we know it.
Here are some cute pics from The Little Gym:
Pierce, Peyton and Dylan. ALL February babies
Conor, Peyton, and Dylan
Peyton and Conor. They are 4 days apart in age!
Last weekend Scott and I celebrated 5 fantastic years of being together. I have officially become his longest relationshop. I know thoughts like that shouldn't matter since we are married, but in all seriousness... I WIN! hehe Scott took me shopping on Friday. I desperately needed new clothes, but for some reason all I wanted to do was shop for Peyton.
haha don't think he likes this hat.
Saturday we went to infamous Ruth's Chris Steak House. This was Peyton's first and probably last time (at least for a while) to go. The food was as good as ever, but I don't think we were able to enjoy ourselves. Dinner felt a little rushed and I was anxious.
Peyton really wanted those hear confeti
YUM!
Here are some pictures from today. Peyton is climbing and getting into everything! His favorite things to go for are things he is not supposed to have, OF COURSE!
PEYTON?!?..
what are you doing??
We watched the presidential debate tonight, and apparently it put Peyton to sleep
Am I too old for highlights? Are they out of style for brunettes? I'm not sure what the answer is, but I guess it doesn't matter. Today, Christine came over and highlighted my hair. YUP! I feel like I'm 20 again. The last time I had highlights was when I was 20.
Here are some things I have done to my hair in the past:
prior to today, this was the last time I highlighted my hair.
Flight attendant training. Feels like forever ago!
black -this was several months after moving to DFW from LAX
very long bangs 22 years old
this is just ridiculous and a wig of course
oh, and a picture that was on myspace! ha
After Scott and I moved in together, I decided to bob my hair
it was for a good cause and a fun look. I also went back to black
Peyton is HUGE. Last weekend I held my friends 10 week old and my eyes began to fill with tears. He was so tiny, so light, and so effortless.
Peyton is 7 months old now and a whooping 20.2 lbs and 27 5/8". He has 2 teeth too! I know hard to believe.
Here's what 7 months looks like:
Crawling on hands and knees
Climbing on and into everything
Refusing certain foods
Hair is growing back in and thicker
Able to hug and hold on to mommy and daddy
Running around my walk around activity center
Able to pull myself up and hold myself up with one hand
Can walk with daddy holding my hands (although we learned last week, that's the incorrect way to teach them to walk since their center of gravity is in their core)
I can feed myself
Teething was really hard on me. Mommy said it took about two weeks to get both teeth
We do stroller strides Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and we also just joined the little gym.
We're still breastfeeding
here's a video of me climbing. This little girl kept trying to help, but my mom was insistant on me doing it myself
Grandpa D. and me
Go Browns!
always on the move
I make it nearly impossible for my parents to put a diaper on me
Things I find myself constantly saying to Peyton:
"Peyton, do not climb on that."
"Peyton, you cannot chew on cords."
"You're okay baby"
and lastly and my least favorite
GASP "Oh no Peyton, that's GROSS" as I pry the dog bone from his paws...I mean hands
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:
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
