In Her Own Time

My not so little girl is turning 9 months old in a few days and I can hardly believe it. It seems like for all of her life I have been waiting for the next stage to begin. Being a child development specialist, I am cursed with a constant worry of if she's developing on the right time, at the right pace. I was worried because she wasn't talking, worried because she wasn't pulling up, worried because she didn't have teeth...pretty much worried or anxious about every developmental milestone she hadn't reached. Well all that has changed in a matter of two weeks. It seems as if my baby has sprung to life in the past few weeks and I can't keep up! She started this "growth spurt" by pulling her self up in her crib (which she does constantly now, making nap time a little more difficult). She then said "Dada" (which she now screams constantly all day long, so much for 'soft spoken'), she then started teething and in a matter of two weeks has gotten both of her bottom front teeth (which causes her to be a lot more cranky than we're used to). She now cruises around the furniture, holding on and walking around anything within her reach (which blasted that whole "I know where you are at all times" stage out of the water), and finally she is now sitting up by herself (no more easy diaper changes). So, while I am extremely excited about these milestones she's reached I have been completely slapped in the face with the reality of how my baby just isn't a baby anymore. My worries are gone and I now have the peace of mind to know that Peyton is doing just fine and in her own time she'll reach every milestone, I just hope it's not too soon!

Puppy Love

A long long time ago before Peyton was a "twinkle in our eyes" as they say I begged Dustin to get me a puppy. I was dying for a lab puppy and even bought books to show my husband just how responsible I could be with my new "baby". After months of deliberation Dustin hesitantly gave in and allowed me to get the most adorable yellow lab on the Earth. So began our lives with Cooper. Have you ever seen "Marley and Me"? Well that dog from the movie must have been Cooper's long lost twin. Cooper was just about the worst puppy on Earth. He chewed up EVERYTHING, go off his leash more than he stayed on it, jumped all over everyone, pooped everywhere daily, and had more accidents than a normal puppy should. We still loved him, however he was getting bigger and bigger by the minute and when we found out we were pregnant with Peyton we knew we had to give hm away. Raising a disobedient puppy and a baby at the same time just wouldn't be practical. So my dear dear sister and brother in law took my puppy in and have raised him through the "rough times". He still gives them problems, but he's getting much better.

Well, the first time Peyton saw big Cooper it was if she new that he was her canine brother. She hooted and hollered, screamed and shouted, and waved her arms and feet so much I thought she was going to fly away. It was the most excited I have ever seen her! She let Cooper lick all over her hands and was so proud!

Her love of Cooper is evident all around her. The other day we were shopping in Target and were on the isle of dog food and she eyed a shampoo bottle with golden retriever and yellow lab dogs on it and she just had to carry it around the entire time we were shopping and kiss each of the dogs repetitively. Then, we passed a display with a huge picture of a boy with a yellow lab and she all but peed all over her self, screaming and kicking her legs until we strolled back to the display for a closer look.

I guess one day we'll have to get a puppy...but shhhhhh don't tell Daddy, he's not ready for that news just yet! :)

Head Gear

If ever there was a baby you could play dress up with it would be my child! She is so sweet and lets me have my fun and dress her in silly clothes and hats. I thought I would share with you some pictures of the head gear she's endured. Hat's off to you Peyton!

Taste Testing

I am beginning to think that my baby girl might just have a future career in taste testing! It seems that everything she sees goes straight into her mouth, which I'm aware is typical of babies this age, but I can't help myself from snapping some priceless shots! Easter Egg

Mountain Dew

Sweet Tea (Thanks Aunt Candis) Lemon Pickle

Twizzlers

Park Days

With life as busy as it is it has been quite a while since I last "blogged". :) We'll try to catch you up on all of the going ons in our lives in the past month and a half!

Peyton and I are both outdoor girls. Thus a perfect spring time day in our eyes is a visit to the park! Peyton loved our times there...she was all smiles and giggles while she was swinging or strolling around the park. Take a peek...

We even visited the park where Daddy was playing a softball tournament and he took time out to play too!

Hoppy Easter Everyone!

A while back I purchased this little bunny ears head band at the dollar section of Target. It has been my saving grace as of late in keeping Peyton distracted while I change her diaper or give her medicine. Today, with Easter just around the corner I put them on my funny bunny and showed her herself in the mirror and she thought they were just the funniest things in the world. I had to snap a few pictures of her. I could not keep from cracking up at how much of a ham she was in them. Enjoy and Hoppy Easter!

Post Much?!?!?

I'm finding it harder and harder to find the time to post about our lives now that Peyton's more active and less tired (naps are not as long as they used to be). But I figured I should let everyone know what's been going on in the Thompson household!

At Peyton's last doctor visit our not-so-little girl weighed 22.2 lbs!!! (on April 2nd) Because of her weight we have had to take her out of her old car seat and have switched to what I like to call her "big girl car seat". She loves sitting up more, but it really makes for an uncomfortable sleeping position as you'll see in the picture below

In typical spring fashion we experienced some very cold weather (the snow back in March) and then it turned around and was sunny and 80 degrees. Peyton and I absolutely loved the warm weather and spent many afternoons laying on a blanket in the grass blowing bubbles and exploring the world around us. We even ventured out for a nice summer-like stroll around our neighborhood. Peyton really enjoys the outdoors and is a great sport in her stroller as I attempt to loose a few pounds for bathing suit season.

Saint Patrick's Day was a lot of fun. We didn't do much celebrating aside from dressing up in an adorable headband, but it was fun to spend yet another holiday with my sweet girl. Next year I dream of green milk and green pancakes with green syrup...oh the possibilities are endless!

Kaya's one year old birthday party was by far the highlight of March for us! On March 28th by sweet niece turned a year old. It was a bittersweet day for all of us as we came to the realization of just how quickly the time is passing. All I could think was that Peyton was next. Ugh....I'll push that thought away for a while. Kaya was so sweet at the party and spent much of the day pushing Peyton around in the stroller. It has been such a blessing to watch the two of them grow up together. They are really a blast to watch now as they are interacting more and more with each other. Their friendship is truly a gift from God. Peyton is growing up so fast. She is entertaining her self more and more these days and I find is not relying as much on her mommy for fun (sob sob boo hoo). Just the other day I decided to use some unconventional toys to distract her while I was doing the dishes. I was truly surprised at how much she loved banging and "stirring" with the pots and pans. Her Daddy has high hopes that this is the beginning of a passion for the drums.

We recently had the opportunity to meet a few old friends for lunch. I worked at a day care called Pocketful of Miracles for 7 years or more. While I was there I made some life long friends in the staff. Chris, Justin, Erica and I staffed the after school program for a couple of years there and had the time of our lives doing the summer camps. We had many activities to keep us busy...we took the children to the movies, the park, played Fear factor, had mock Olympics just to mention a few things. Last year because of my pregnancy I wasn't able to come back to the summer camp and work. Since then Peyton's kept me pretty busy and I've only been able to see my friends a couple of times. Just the other day Peyton and I met them for lunch and it was like the time had never passed...never a dull moment with that crowd. Peyton really enjoyed their company and I cannot wait for her to get to know them better.

Just to keep you updated on Peyton's progress @ 7 months she is now...

• *Sitting up all by her self
• *Doing 180's on her bottom and belly
• *crawling backwards
• *grunting and screaming to get attention
• *pulling up on fingers
• *blowing raspberries with her tongue
• *grabbing anything within her reach
• *looking for Mommy whenever I leave the room
• *crying for Daddy all the time
• *sleeping 10 to 12 hours a night, but has reduced her naps to just two small naps a day
• *eating all kinds of baby foods, bread, Cheerios, rice puffs, Potato Salad (thanks Papa), oatmeal and jelly bread

Just recently we visited the doctor and found out that she had pink eye in both eyes and a double ear infection! She's been on an antibiotic for a few days now and seems to be feeling much better. She's a bundle of happiness all the time and has the greatest disposition. She is mild mannered most of the time but has quite a temper when you do something she doesn't like (i.e. sucking snot form her nose or making her take medicine). I can't believe how in love with her I am and what amazes me the most is how much that love grows everyday.