Snow day

My first snowman

Peyton first saw snow back in Iowa over Christmas. However we decided it was too bitter cold to take her outside to play. Since Saint Louis has such mild weather I was worried that she wouldn't get to have her snow day.

What luck! We got nice sloppy-warm-snowman making snow after all.

<3 Daddy

Hi Kinny!

Merry Christmas Baby!

Sweet girl

Peyton had fun at Christmas Eve Service! We all got a turn to hold her as we passed her down the pew and she was delighted when the candles were lit for "Silent Night".  Our little pyromaniac!

After, her true loves gave to her... three iToys, two Sesame Street puppets, and a bulky noisy Fisher Price playdoor. (perfect fit for the car ride home *wink wink)  

Before heading back to Saint Louis we made a tour of Iowa and saw all five great grandparents.  Fun first Christmas if you ask me!

Aunties helping me with gifts

Another iToy

One of the girls

Little drummer girl

Rat-a-tat-tat

Peytie got to open up a couple of presents from Mommy and Daddy before we headed out of town. I thought this little drum would be a good idea, but she may be a tad too young because all she did was suck on the mallet!

Kissy Kissy

Star of Bethlehem

Against my better judgment, I present Peyton and Daddy's first small screen production, "The Nativity Story."

Do not open until Christmas

Naughty list

We left her alone for only a minute and Peyton saw her opportunity.  She rolled over to the tree and started opening up her present.  Naughty naughty!

Daycare Surprise

Our first gift

Today we received our first Christmas gift from Peyton, this hand painted masterpiece she made at daycare.

Peyton started attending daycare two days a week after I returned to work.  The Safari Tots really enjoys having Peyton in their classroom because of her sunny disposition and napping ability.  Each day when I pick her up we receive a daily report card that outlines her napping/feeding schedule and lists the days events.  Peyton and I always have fun reviewing her report card in the back seat of my car before we leave each day.  I particularly find some of their activities rather humorous: 

• Squished colored shaving cream in a plastic bag
• Listened to soft jazz music (a regular staple)
• Tickled with a feather duster
• Went on a buggy ride (this ridiculous eight seater red plastic buggy that they roll outside, park, let the kids stare at a tree, then roll back inside)  
• Slip-slided in cool whip        

Toyland

Baaaaa

Over the past couple of weeks I've been able to break out the toys I received at my baby showers.  Peyton caught on to her farm puzzle right away.  I was thinking to myself, "Wow... genius baby!" because this puzzle is for 12+ months.  However Jon was quick to remind me that all she can do is pull the pieces out and suck on them... a bit more hard to impress.  "Moooo-Baaaa-Neighhhh", says crazy Mommy

The other new game she plays is empty out the toy bin.  I have an orange bin full of stuffed animals, dolls, and various rattlely type toys.  She likes to sit in the glider with me as she requests the contents of the bin.  She squeezes each item real tight before throwing it to the ground and requesting the next doll.  This goes on until the entire bin is empty.  Then we pick up and start over again!  Yeah.

Ring things

I will get you beetle!

Younger man

Baby talk

Peyton had a playdate with her friend Gavin.  It was the first time I noticed how social she has become!  

She gibber-gabbered and squealed and swung her arms all around.  Actually kind of freaked him out.  We decided that Peyton may need to learn how to play hard to get. 

Please help me mom!

Oh Christmas Tree

Let me help!

Peyton was very helpful when it came time to trim our tree.  She helped hang some of the fancy glass ornaments and had a great time grabbing at the pine needles.  No broken ornaments and no pokes from the ornament hooks.  I'd say it was a successful night!

All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth

Sitting up

It's time for a stat update!  She had her 6 (and-a-half) month doctors appointment this past week.  She was 27.5 inches tall (92%), 15 lbs 6.8 oz (29%), and 16.8 in head circumference (49%).  

In the last few weeks she learned to sit up (November 30th) which has been great because it's much more fun playing with her ring stacker sitting up!  She also got her wish... two bottom teeth.  She is not shy about leaving bite marks on our fingers either. : )

iToy

Daddy's toy

What is on Peyton's Christmas wish list this year?  An iToy of course.  She loves Daddy's iPhone, loves Mommy's iPhone, and Kinnick's iPhone is sooo much fun! 

Mommy, on the other hand, prefers Pey playing with books and puzzles.  Good thing Peyton love those things too! : )   

Mommy's toy

Nativity Activity

"Hee-haw," says the camel 

Actually I have no idea what a camel says.  I've wanted a nice nativity scene for a looong time.  So after Thanksgiving we went out to find a nativity scene at Catholic Supply, which has the largest selection in all of Saint Louis.  

It was a bit overwhelming but there was a clear standout.  A top of the line Little People Set.  Chew friendly!   

Pretty baby

What a turkey

Gobble gobble

We're thankful for...

1. Giggle attacks with a happy little girl
2. Yummy turkey and Aunt Katelyn's balsamic reduced brussel sprouts 
3. Peyton always sleeping through the night 
4. Finishing the Turkey Trot, even though I was kinda slow, eh, very kinda slow
5. Kinnick loving Peyton 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Here I am

Warming up

Sea sick

I'm going to yak!

Peyton went swimming for the first time with daddy.  It was going well, she enjoyed splashing and laying on her back!  

But... then daddy thought it would be a good idea to dunk her.  Just a bit at first, than a bit more the second time, and the third time it was a full dunk.  

After the full dunk she made this face and Jon handed her to me before she threw up a gallon or so of water formula mix right on mom.  It was impressive!  So impressive that they shut down the pool for 30 minutes and Peyton and I hid in a bathroom stall to avoid glares from the swimming lesson kids' moms.  I don't think we'll be going back any time soon. : )

Ahhhh

Warm and dry again, I heart daddy!

Airing our dirty laundry

Peek-a-boo

Look who daddy found while folding the laundry?  Hope you enjoyed the spin cycle Peyton!  Laundry is getting a bit out of control.  Let's just leave it at that...

Happy 6 months Peytie!

Give me cake!

Peytie is growing up very fast!  She is quite the chatterbox, loooooves her mobile, and spazzes out whenever she sees mommy or daddy's iPhone.  But her favorite thing is eating.  

She consistently takes 7 oz every 3 hours and when she's done with her bottle she flails her arms like a bird and huffs n' puffs.  But I know that giving even one more oz means more laundry for mom and dad!  Instead we go work on some peaches or pears.  Thats a far cry from our little newborn barely finishing 3 oz. : )

Tooth fairy

Num Num Num

The tooth fairy came this week and gave Peyton her first bottom tooth!  We have several teething thingamajigs available to Peyton but she prefers apples and ice chips.  Not straight ice chips, they go in a nettie contraption so she can suck on them safely.  Give us a little credit. : )

Elephants, donkeys, and a mouse

Election day Peyton went with me to the polls.  While we were in Minneapolis she developed the love of squeaking.  Well, still on that kick, she squeaked the entire time I was voting.  So much so I skipped pages 5-9 so not to bother the fellow voters.  Who knew Peytie was so opinionated?!    

Ya Ya, You Betcha

Miss Kiss 

Peyton took in the sights... visiting the sculpture garden, shopping and dining in Edina, watching football in the Packers pub.  But her favorite thing was hangin with her bestie!  We had a great time.

My bestie

Oooh the white box!

Its a bird, its a plane

Ahoy Minneapolis!

Peyton made it through her first flight like a champ!  I must say it was the perfect setup.  We flew to Minneapolis to visit Aunt Katelyn on a direct- almost completely empty- flight!  Peytie settled in with a pacifier, a good book, and soon fell fast asleep until baggage claim.  Easiest... baby... ever.    

"Are you a cow?"

Trick or Tweet

Sweetie Tweetie

Peytie was a verrrrrry scarrrrrrry bluebird for Halloween.

I wanted to make Peyton's costume this year so I envisioned a bluebird, picked out the fabric, and the fabric sat and sat and sat on the dining room table for weeks.  I was dreading the thought of threading that bobbin and had flashbacks to the months I spent sewing the simplest bunting flags for her room.  

Nana came down to babysit a few weeks back and I conned her into making a pattern and sewing the body and hood.  The next week Grandma came down and I bamboozled her into sewing on the wings and beak.  They should be very suspicious when we invite them down next October. : )

Playdate with Dr. Riley

Why not?

Scrub a dub dub

Squeaky clean 

Peyton graduated from her baby bathtub.  The kitchen counter was getting tooooo wet from her kickin' and splashin'!  Now she has a spacious inflatable seal tub.  Life is good!

One small step...

...for Peyton 

Jon loves space.  Jon loves Peyton.  Not surprisingly Jon thinks Astronaut Peyton is out of this world!

Once again Jon is having a blast watching Peyton while Mom is at work.  Jon isn't one for taking pictures, but he had quite the mini photo shoot with her in this nerdy costume.  Jon cannot wait to take her to the science center planetarium.

Let's play airplane

Strike a pose with Dad's bedtime storybook 

Say Cheese

Team spirit

We went to the Packers Rams game sans Peyton.  She stayed home with her nice babysitter but still showed her team spirit.

There were easily more Packers fans than Rams fan.  However we ended up sitting right in front of the most enthusiastic 8 year old Rams fan... "WHO'S HOUSE!!!" "Go JACKSON!!!" the ENTIRE game.

Pack win

  

Boo hoo hoo!

Our lil' punkin

Pumpkin patch take two... maybe not such a great idea!

Target practice

Fun stuff

While filling out Peyton's baby book, I was asked what places she likes to visit near home.  That's easy...Target!  I feel uncomfortable perching the carseat on the front of the cart.  Instead Peytie fills up the majority of the cart and I've learned to fill every available crevice with supplies.

By the end of the shopping trip she has items toppling all over her.  It's quite the mess.  Lucky for us she loves squeezing the bread!

BREAD!!

    

Tater Tot

I prefer candy

Our little tot had her first big girl veggie on October 13th.  Sweet potatoes went over well and over the next few days she starting grabbing the spoon to try and feed herself!  Since then we've tried peas and bananas.  She really really enjoys the peas!

Ahhh mom