Happy Birthday Baby Girl

Today my little girl from heaven turns 1!!! I can't believe it. On Saturday we had her first birthday party, and, if I do say so myself, Payton was dressed for the occasion.



I mean seriously, how can she not look A.D.O.R.A.B.L.E. in a brown and pink tutu with a cupcake top?

Payton's cousin Jack came all the way from Amarillo to celebrate with Payton.



Here is the cake I designed myself. And by designing myself, I mean taking the invitation to the bakery and saying I want something that looks like the invite.




Little Miss Payton was not impressed with her cake. She just picked the icing off and then held up her hand like now what?




I thought I would help things along by smashing her hand into and putting some on her lips. I thought for sure when she tasted the icing she would go nuts because she has 1/2 of my DNA, but it was a no go.




So....... sensing a melt down at any moment, Mommy got her out of the highchair and cleaned up to open presents.





Present time with her big cousin Addison to help. The kiddo didn't "need" anything prior to her party, but that didn't stop people from spoiling her rotten!!! She got so many gifts!!!! Mema got her a baby doll with all the accessories, Granny and Pops got her clothes, more clothes, a Little Tike's swing set, Pa Pa Sammy and Granpat got her the Pottery Barn retro pink stove, Mommy and Daddy got her the Pottery Barn retro pink oven (Santa is bring the fridge), and all our friends got her books, clothes, tea sets, kitchen pots and pans!! I am telling you the kid made out like a bandit, and Mommy and Daddy are trying to figure out where to store all the goods in our house.






It was such a wonderful day!!!!

It is so hard for me to imagine that one year ago today that Miss Payton came into our lives. I can't imagine not having her. I am more than thankful that we all made it through the first year. When we brought Payton home Derek and I were scared to death. I remember looking at her thinking, "I can't believe the hospital is letting us leave with her? What do we know about babies?" I remember driving home with her in our car (she slept the whole way) thinking how tiny she looked in the car seat.






This year has had it ups and downs. We have learned a lot as parents and are still learning as we go. However, despite Mommy and Daddy's learning curve, I know that Payton has always felt love and happiness from us. She is our world. Happy 1st Birthday Baby Girl!!!!!!!!!

Ice, Ice, Baby

Payton's birthday party was Saturday and it was a blast. I will be posting pictures and video when I get a chance; however, I want to take this time to blog about Ice at the Gaylord.

Since we had all our family in town, we thought after the party we would go see Ice. We purchased our tickets for 5:30 and thought we would be out in plenty of time for the guys to watch the Cowboys game at 7:00. WRONG!!!!

Ice...... was awful. They were running an hour and half behind. It was extremely crowded with long lines. Long lines and small children equal BAD, BAD, TIMES!!!!

The tickets were over $20 per person and the experience was awful. I am so upset with Gaylord. In an effort to get people in they started crowding too many people in the exhibit so you couldn't even really move around and see everything. If you pay that much money for a family event it seems that the Gaylord would have their stuff together. FYI GAYLORD TEXAN....... don't sale so many tickets when you know you can't handle all the people.

I felt so bad for my in-laws and SIL rushing to get there in time to be met with long lines. I will NEVER do that again. I am seriously so upset by the whole event I am thinking about writing to the Gaylord and asking for my money back.

Other than the ICE ordeal, Payton's birthday was a success.

The Big Day

is fast approaching!!! Payton will be turning the big ONE on Tuesday and her party is planned for this Saturday.

Here is her invitation. (Okay, not her actual invitation because this is a birth announcement I found online, but this is the invitation we used).



We changed the wording to say:


"We are Over the moon
for our little
Payton June
Please come share the fun
to celebrate Payton turning one!"


I can't believe my baby girl is going to be one. I remember when we first brought her home and my mom was over helping us get settled into parenthood. My mom told me to remember this because she will only be a baby for a little while. It is so true. Although she is still my "baby" she is more like a toddler now. She is walking and "talking" and getting into everything. It is still amazing to me how much she has changed in just one year. Don't get me wrong, I love the stage she is in now, but looking back at pictures when we first brought her home makes me sad that she has grown so fast.

I know that her party on Saturday will be a mixture of emotions. I will be happy because we made it through her first year, thankful for all the friends and family that travelled to share in her party and love us so much, delighted to see her with her cake, sad that my baby is growing up so fast and honored to be her mom all at the same time.

So Much to Say

First of all we went to West Texas for Thanksgiving and had a wonderful time. Payton was such a trooper on the car ride up there. I did take tons of photos; however, they are on a different card. Payton did experience her first snow on Sunday as we were leaving Amarillo. She wasn't that impressed with it.

However, Payton did meet this fella last night (again she wasn't impressed).





Payton is getting to be such a big girl and had to sit at the kids table with all the kids at the Christmas party. Miss Thang thought she was just as big as the other kids.




Then on Saturday we had her professional one year old (again ONE YEAR OLD!!!) pictures made and holiday pictures with Cooper. You can't take pictures inside the session, so I snapped this one after she was done.




Here she is in her holiday outfit. We have been working with Payton all week to show us her teeth (a.k.a. smile) for her pictures. What do you think? Do you think we over practiced???





Then on Saturday night we stayed with Grandpat and Cooper. The Cousins had on their matching pjs and Payton loved giving Cooper hugs. Aren't they just too cute for words?




This has to be my favorite picture. Cooper is calling Santa (on Payton's rattle) to let him know that he has been good and what he wants for Christmas. Payton is in the background "stealing" Cooper's sippy cup of milk. I am telling you........ these two are nothing but trouble waiting to happen.




We tried to get a picture in front of the tree, but Cooper couldn't take his eyes of Polar Express and Payton was just wanting to roll around.





Can't really explain this one, but Payton LOVES her Cooper. She is always wanting to hug him and play with him. Cooper is such a trooper for putting up with her little antics.



Grandpat may be upset for this picture, but the story is too cute to pass up. Cooper crawled into Grandpat's lap to watch the movie. Well, Payton wasn't going to be left out in the cold; therefore, she had to be in Grandpat's lap as well. She had no interest in sitting with Grandpat until Cooper decided he wanted to.




We also put up our tree this weekend and decked the halls. I also went out and purchased Payton's birthday party supplies. Now all I have to do is get Christmas cards out.

Daisy Love

Payton just loves her doggy, Daisy May. Payton is so brave and just loves to crawl up on her doggy bed and give Daisy hugs. It is so funny because we are trying to teach Payton to pet Daisy. However, Miss Payton's idea of a pet is to go over and hit Daisy on the head.




Daisy was asleep and enjoying some down time when Payton walked over to give her some love.






Payton would just stand up and give Daisy a hug and then do it over and over and over again. Daisy is such a trooper. She just lets Payton do whatever she wants and doesn't move an inch.




However, after about 10 minutes Daisy did get up and move to her second favorite spot to sleep. Of course Miss Payton followed and brought her a gift.




Payton continued to love on Daisy, even after she moved.




You can see the pure joy on Daisy's face. Daisy is thinking, "Isn't it time for Payton to go night, night?"

In all seriousness, Daisy is wonderful with Payton. We couldn't have asked for a better big sister to Payton. I have to admit I was worried about Daisy and Payton being together, but you can tell Daisy just loves Payton and is so kind and gentle with her.

Friday Night Lights

No, this post doesn't have anything to do with football. Derek's birthday is November 1st, so the Friday before his birthday we all went out to dinner at Bob's Chop and Steakhouse to celebrate.

Our good friend Jaime took this picture and it makes me dizzy to look at, but it is the only picture that me and Hubs took together.






The gang!!!



It was such a good evening to spend with good friends, food and wine. I should also probably blame the wine for the picture quality because I think I flipped the camera to "action" mode. Oh well, it was a wonderful evening.

Video of our Little Walker

Here she is......... our little walker. She has her sippy cup and spoon in hand.





This was on her 10 month b-day. Granpat and Pa Pa Sammy bought her a sit and ride truck and she loves it.





Also, this video is from when she was 5 months old "driving" her jeep. Look at how much she has changed. Our little baby is growing up so fast. *Sniff* Sniff*

Oh, One Other Thing

We have a walker. It is official. Payton now walks everywhere. It is so darn cute. I will upload some video someday when I have more time.

Halloween Pictures.... Finally

I know it has been awhile, but I have been having camera issue. On Halloween day we first went to the park were Cooper waited in line to take a hit at the pinata.





While at the park, Payton played on the swing.




And then watched the big kids play.




Then we were off to my sister's house to get ready for trick or treating.




My lady bug waiting to go trick or treating and playing with her antennas.




All the kiddos posing for pictures. Can you guess what Cooper was for Halloween?

Why a shark......... of course.




Mom and her little Ladybug.





My Ladybug wearing her antennas.


Mema came into town to celebrate Payton's first Halloween. I can't wait to see Mema's pictures because she always takes the best pictures.




Halloween weekend was great and Payton loved playing with the big kids. Also, Grandpat is taking her little shark and ladybug to the picture people next week to get some more pictures taken. I will post the "professional" pictures and the pictures from Mema when I get them.

Are you Ready.......

to see pictures of the cutest darn lady bug in Texas? Well, so am I, but you will have to wait. I keep forgetting to bring my camera so I can upload the pictures. However, there is no need to fear. You will be able to see all the pictures soon. Plus some pictures from our evening out on Friday to celebrate Derek's birthday with great friends.

Stay tuned............

The Fur

Ever since my Mom purchased the fur coat, she has been waiting for perfect cold weather for Payton to wear it. Well, on Monday it was chilly, so my Mom just had to dress Payton in her fur for their outings.




Note..... the picture was taken from Granpat's cell phone. However, you get the idea and cuteness of the fur.

She is not wearing the matching hat because the particular outfit she was wearing that day had its own matching hat. Payton is styling in her purple tights, matching green and purple dress, purple hat and of course the fur.

Pater, Pater Pumpkin Eater

Oh, what a fun filled weekend. First of all, our nickname for Payton is Pater. (Think Tater or Gator with a "P"). Hence the title of this post.

Lets see........ on Saturday morning we woke up and got ready for the pumpkin patch. Payton was playing with her hat on the floor, so of course I had to take some pictures.




Then we were off to the Pumpkin Patch. Payton napped the entire time there and was a little disoriented at first.





Of course you go to the pumpkin patch to get a pumpkin, but you also go for taking pictures. Here is Payton still looking a little out of it and unsure of why Mommy and Daddy are making her seat here next to that scarecrow.




Then we had to have this picture taken. By this point, Pater is probably thinking what the heck is going on.



Daddy then insisted that we do the Corn Maze. You think it wouldn't really be a complicated maze, right? Wrong. It was all fun and games for the first 5 minutes, but then when we really started to try to find the exit it wasn't so fun anymore. However, Payton had fun pulling and grabbing at the corn.




Then we were off for taking a few more photos.............




and to pick out our pumpkins. We purchased 3. Two big ones for Mommy and Daddy and one little one for Pater.




After the Pumpkin Patch, Mommy and Pater went to meet Grandpat at the salon where Grandpat was getting a pedicure. Payton had so much fun playing in the "tub." She just loves going to the spa.




Then on Sunday we went to watch Cooper's soccer practice. Miss Chloe was there to watch her brother play. Chloe is twelve days older than Payton and both the girls were sporting their finest leopard prints.




After playing with Chloe, Payton needed a water break and found Grandpat's sonic cup.
Don't worry.......... it was empty and just had melted ice in it.




Then we went shopping, and look what I found in the window while shopping.




Then we were off to Grandpat's house for Sunday dinner with Grandpat and Pa Pa. Of course, I wanted to take some more pumpkin pictures, but Payton and Cooper were not cooperating.

This is the best I could get of Cooper




and Payton.





It was such a fun weekend and the weather was perfect. Payton loves her big cousin Cooper so much, and he is super loving with her. He tells everyone that Pater is his baby.