My PB + J

Payton’s Winter ONEderland

 All of the stress and party planning that consumed my life for nearly six months has come and gone. Payton’s first birthday on the eighteenth was more than we could have ever asked for. Jim and I are more than thankful for everyone that made her day even more magical than expected. Going into the days before her birthday I was emotional; I was in a juxtaposition of being overjoyed and sad that my baby was no longer a “baby”. My nerves, emotions, or, how I put it, adrenaline had set in on her birthday. At every minute from 4:30 pm on the seventeenth I recalled every emotion as if it were last year all over again. At 9 pm, I recalled Carla, my admitting RN, and our conversations. We joked how my only fear of child birth was getting my IV. Or, how at 12:10 am I was 7 cm and just got my epidural and an hour later I was fully dilated. I was ready to meet my baby and just as my adrenaline had set in then while I pushed for three hours I never gave up even when they told me I was going to have an emergency c-section. My life from December 18, 2009 at 9:46 am has left me obsessing about my perfect angel. Her every move, sound, milestone and smile has kept me going. The adrenaline has never stopped. It has gotten me through sleepless nights, not from a baby that does not sleep through the night, but for the days where I have worked so hard to make her days better. I have balanced being a: first time mother, a wife, a sister, a daughter, a granddaughter, a full-time working woman and an entrepreneur. I never thought that a year later I would sit back and say out loud that this past year has been easy. I will never look back and say it was hard, because everyday has been a miracle, a miracle from God that he and the ones around me have given me the strength to make it. My angel has given me more in the short amount of time she has been here than I could have ever imagined and for her first birthday I could not do anything short of perfection. Many may say she will not remember it, but I will, her Daddy will. We celebrated the day our lives changed for the good and like I stated one year ago, I have fallen in love all over again. 
Dearest Payton Rylee, Happy 1st Birthday! 
Picture Overload Begins. . . 

One-Year photography captured by the amazingly talented Tessa, of Grin & Share It Photo

Her party was a Winter ONEderland theme with red, aqua and polka dots everywhere.  The day of the party it was raining so it forced all sixty guests inside. It was a little crazy since almost all of my friends have children, most of which are infants. It was intimate and very memorable! I cannot thank everyone enough that attended! You are all more than generous and now we must build a room addition to house all of her new goodies! Payton had started off the party by sneaking a mini red velvet cupcake off of her dessert table and then ran red-handed into the kitchen where we caught her with frosting all over her. I guess she couldn’t wait to get the party started!

All paper goods (except invites) were custom made by: Sweet Tea & Pickles

Custom sugar cookies baked with love from: Two Southern Girls

 

Her prior to the party starting. 

Invites made with love by none other than me. 
Of course I had some help from my elves (Jim, Jinger & Geoff)

Special Touches Made possible by:

Payton’s Onesie Custom Made from: Head Over Heels
Headbands: Dolce Vita Mia
Custom sugar cookies baked with love from: Two Southern Girls
Cupcakes: Me
One-Year photography captured by the amazingly talented Tessa, of Grin & Share It Photo
All paper goods (except invites) were custom made by: Sweet Tea & Pickles
Thank you Cards: Tiny Prints

A Letter to Payton – 11 Months

My Dearest Payton, 
    I have found this months letter to be the hardest to write. Hence, why it is finally coming to fruition one week past your eleven-month birthday. Saying, or even thinking the term ‘birthday’ brings so many emotions on me. Everyday I think of where I was last year at this time and how anxious I was to finally meet the little girl I had always been in love with even before I knew you were mine. I think of the moment when I sat down in your complete nursery for the first  time and tears swelled my eyes because I was “ready”. I remember getting to Thanksgiving when I went on maternity leave and I was so ecstatic to go shopping on Black Friday to get last minute items for you and then hearing that one Christmas song. Hearing the first song of the season gave me the same emotions last year as it did this year. It was like I had gone back eleven months, I was experiencing the same emotions, yet this time I could see you; and you could see me. We have fallen in love with each other and those songs that have brought me to tears everyday for the past week are tears of complete and udder joy. Each day you bring more happiness upon me and I am amazed with every intuitive move you make. You get this from your Daddy, you know. Your curiosity amazes everyone, you are well beyond your age already and this scares me. It has all gone so incredibly fast and I am more than thankful that I have documented your life because as much as I have tried to remember every minute of your life many are slipping away, just like the baby in you. My dearest Payton, I never want you to grow-up. I wish I could freeze these last few weeks before you turn one but sadly, I cannot. You will grow-up and I will get older. I only wish that you never forget how to be a child and be thankful for all that God has blessed you with. You are one amazing child and I am more than thankful to call you mine. 
– You say: “Hi”, “kiki”, “momma”, “Dada”, “oh”, “num-num”, “lilah”
– You can wave “hi” and “bye”. We are teaching you how to blow kisses and you have given a few high-fives. 
– You have learned how to walk, run and pick yourself up all in a matter of two weeks. 
– You do not conform to being held behind a gate and always find a way out. 
– You are starting to listen to things like, “go get the ball” or “bring me Elmo”. 
– You have finally gotten back to being cuddle bug. You give hugs every morning right away and say, “hhhhhiiiii!”. This also happens right after nap time. Actually, “hi” is your favorite word. 
– You can throw and kick a ball. You also have started doing exercises Daddy teaches to his basketball team. 
– You are very social! You go up to other babies and give them hugs and hold conversations with them. You are a crack up. I think you will be the social butterfly of the family seeing as Daddy and I are more introverts. 
– You have eaten more table foods, but you mainly love your veggies and fruits. You eat more than me on some days! 
– You are a dare devil. You love free-falling and you still continue to test your limits with opening and closing doors. Especially the patio door! 
– Size 18-24 months, size 3 diapers (still why I have no clue, no booty?). 
We love you Peanut!!

It’s either a: “on your marks, get set, GO!” or “21, 56…HIKE!”

Inspecting the bark before you indulge. 

Your hair is getting so long!

and crazy! 

A Letter to Payton – 10 Months

Dearest Payton,

    Today you are ten-months-old. This has been the hardest month so far this year because the realization of you being ten months equates to the amount of time you stayed safe in my belly. I miss laying with you, cuddling and just listening to you breathe. Your sudden deep breaths, lip smacking and hearing you suck on your pacifier was like listening to the ocean waves hit the shore. You are growing into a toddler, which is exciting in itself everyday, but my baby is slowly leaving. You have grown so much in the past two weeks, leaving all your baby chubs behind and gaining a few additional teeth and inches! You explore more and more and have a routine to test your limits with me every morning. You babble a little more and have gotten out a few new words like, “hi”, something that sounds like “doggie” and “papa”. You recognize any dog that gets your attention, point and say “da”. Your love for Elmo is astonishing and when you see him or any other Sesame Street character you get so excited. You have started to dance and clap whenever it is necessary. You have started to let go of the coffee table and other like stabilizer’s and have taken up to six steps on your own. You can stand for a while with nothing around and have even stood straight up from a squat. We’re just waiting for you to “go” any day now. Though, since you were born you have been a conversation stopper you have stopped more strangers in the past week just awing over you and how “advanced” you appear and of course how gorgeous you are. I feel as though I am bragging, but my darling, this happens every time we step out of the house. You love meeting new people and love engaging in conversation and wave good-bye as they depart. There is just so much that occurs everyday that it is hard to sum in one letter. I love waking up to you, still, and love kissing your belly until you cry because you are laughing so hard. Your laughter and smile is my cure all! 
I love you baby. 
What else you have been up to. . .
– Wearing size 18 month + clothing 
– Lovin’ all food! You have been given table foods like: homemade sweet potato fries, a blueberry bagel (which you loved!), cheerios, baby goldfish, chicken and black beans just to name a few. 
– Wearing size 5 shoes. 
– You got in two more teeth! The second top tooth came in on 10/18 and the third top tooth came in on 10/20. You have an uneven smile, three and three with the left side lacking an appearance. I think the fourth bottom is days away! 
– You love to bite! We kid around saying you’re a vampire. You have left a few bruises on my shoulder from your love bites. 
–  You roll your ball to and from us. 
– You play “chase” or “follow the leader” 
– You are finally beginning to snuggle! We love that you put your head down on our shoulders again now that your getting older.
– You give kisses like crazy, which we love and please never stop!
Love you baby girl! 
xoxo, 
Mommy and Daddy 

walking with daddy
 
going down the slide solo for the first time.

 

A Letter to Payton- Nine Months

Dear Payton, 
    Sweet baby girl, we cannot believe how big you have gotten. With each day you grow more and more into your sweet personality one deep bellied giggle at a time. We have a gut feeling you will be the center of attention with your silly personality and you might even have your Daddy’s New Jersey sense of humor. You test our limits and with each infant experience good or bad you always turn to us with a perplexed cock in the head and say, “OH!” You are noticing your surroundings and love looking out the windows to what the world has to offer you. You carry on “conversations” and point at whatever catches your eye. On many occasions if we do not give your our complete attention you get our attention by grunting and pointing out of frustration. You definitely got your Mama’s patience. This past month has been exciting and bittersweet as you move closer to your first birthday. It is amazing to us how fast the past nine months have gone. You amaze us everyday and we look forward to picking you up from your evening dreams. 
What you have been up to:
     – 20.8 pounds, 75th percentile
     – 28 3/4″, 95th percentile 
     – You have four teeth! Third bottom and one top came in on 9/17, where’s the matching top tooth?
     – You run around the coffee table and have started testing your limits with walking. 
     – You have tried almost every food and have not rejected anything. The only thing you have not had is red meat, which we are holding out on for a while. 
     – Dr. Martinez suggested that we start adding in whole milk to your bottle to get your tummy used to it before your first birthday. 
     – She also predicts you will be 5’8″ or taller. So we shall see. . .
     – You are wearing size 4 shoes, which almost made me cry. You have the cutest fat feet, but geez little lady! 
    – Still wearing Pampers size 3. 
    – You are back sleeping 10+ hours a night since your last two teeth broke through. Thank you!
    – You are very social and have not shown any signs of separation anxiety. 
    – Your hair is coming in like crazy! You have longer pieces behind your ears, we cannot tell if it is going to curl or stay straight. 
    – You say, “da-da”, “mom-mom”, “Lilah” and “OH!” 
   
We love you Peanut!!
  

An okay view of her four teeth. 

This is how she spends 90% of her day. 

Sitting a booster and drinking out of a straw for the first time. 

A Letter to Payton – 8 Months

Dear Payton –
   Another month has flown on by and I am more than grateful to see the sight of the eighth month. Each month has their ups and downs but for some reason month seven was our roughest in terms of sleep and fussiness. I chalked it all up to a major growth spurt, teeth breaking through with more on the way and the beginning stages of separation anxiety. You do not have anxiety during the day however, you are happy playing with your toys, cruising the house discovering what you should not have like: cable/electrical cords, doggy’s food, cake plates which you now know hurt when you knock them down on your head and that the coffee table is your new friend. While at night you were waking up some nights every hour just to have one us come in to see you and would instantly fall over to your tummy into dreamland. It is extremely cute but it was wearing on us physically and mentally as we were only getting three hours of sleep. I am happy to report that over this past week you only wake-up once around 5 am and we just give you a bottle and change your diaper and your out until 8 am. I do miss the months when you slept for 12+ hour blocks, but I am more than hopeful we will see this again soon. You have gotten really mobile and super fast this month! You have started testing your limits and your limits with us. It is quite funny watching you do something you shouldn’t be and we tell  you “no” and you look at us giving the Payton grin and keep doing it. Daddy and I foresee our future in your teenage years when you look at us that way. You have also mastered standing, pulling yourself up on anything including scaling the side of the couch and moving from the coffee table to the couch. You have extreme control of your body movements which is great to see, considering you are still an infant. You can also back down off of the couch with ease! My proudest moment was when you listened to me after a few tries and started waving “hi”. I screamed with giddiness when you waved to Daddy, you now wave “hi” to everyone including yourself in the mirror, too cute! Daddy taught you how to give a high-five and we have started the beginning stages of sign language. This month has been amazing in terms of how well and fast you are learning your surroundings. I also have to report that you love Elmo, pray for me. . . please. I often find myself singing “la-la-la, la-la-la Elmo’s world” or any playtime Disney jingle for that matter. Daddy and I always laugh at ourselves when we do this, pondering what has become of us. But honestly, you have become of us, you are our happiness and our reason for living. The past two months have been rough for us with me not having a job and you have gotten us through this rough pasture into what we know now as a greener one. You brighten our days as you learn something new or just give us the biggest grin when you wake-up. You are our ray of sunshine Sweet P!

– As of Monday night you now wave “bye-bye”.
– You fashion yourself after Sunny Baudelaire from “Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events”.
– You have moved on from the army crawl to full-on speed crawling.
– You are wearing 9-18 month clothing depending on what the item is.
– Size 4 diapers (but just moved back to size 3 since we switched back to Pampers)
– You are on Stage 3 foods, you have yet to reject anything.
– You love snacking. No surprise there since Daddy and I graze. 🙂
– Your first word this month was “da-da”, then “ma-ma” a week later and now you mumble “hi”.
– You love free-falling and spinning. You remain fearless.
– You think Doggy’s tail is the coolest thing since sliced bread.
– Your crib was lowered to the lowest setting after you woke-up one morning practically hanging out the crib.

We love you baby girl!

xoxo-
Mommy