Peyton Crawling

So of course, right after I do the blog update that says he isn't crawling, what does Peyton do? Starts crawling!!! I was laying on the floor with him but I was watching TV. He was playing with some toys and he flung one a little bit away from himself. I saw him moving out of the corner of my eye but that wasn't too shocking since he's been scooting for a couple weeks. But then it dawned on me...I heard distinct thumping with every move forward. Jayson was walking into the living room about then and I said "I'm pretty sure he just started crawling." Jayson looked at me and said "No way." I responded, "No, seriously I think he did. Move his toys away from him and see if he does it again." So we moved his toys away and guess what? He started crawling! (Told ya so Jayson :))

It was so cute! He just started moving forward. I loved it! It was SO hard to not just pick him up and dance! He did it almost perfectly too. He was slow and you can tell that it takes him a minute to think about his movements but he's doing it. It's like he's been watching and just waiting for whenever he felt like it was necessary to move, haha. I sure love this little man and I'm so excited for this new stage in our lives!

Eight Month Update!

Believe it or not, we have hit the eight month mark. I wouldn't believe it if I didn't have such amazing math skills :) He is so big now! We had to take him in to check if his ears were infected again (they were) and when they weighed him, he was 22 pounds! I love this chunky man.He finally has all four teeth and he is working on his fifth and sixth tooth as we speak. He looks so stinking cute with all those teeth but it is just one more reminder that he isn't staying little forever like I want him too. I guess he's going to be a rebel from the beginning :)

I'm not sure why but about two weeks ago, he started doing this weird, hilarious, blink-spasm thing. He will look at the light, or you, or anything, and blink and twitch at the same time. It's a 'hard' blink too, with his eyes all scrunched up. It is SOOOO freaking funny. I bust a gut every time he does it and he has gotten to the point that sometimes when I go "Peyton.....do it...." he will start doing it just for me. Sometimes, to top it off, he makes this throat clearing noise when he does it and that just sends me over the moon!


Tell me this isn't the funniest thing you have ever seen?? I just love it!!

He is ALMOST crawling but just like with the rolling thing, he gets halfway there, gets frustrated and gives up. He can move backwards and he gets around the rooms by laying on his stomach and then pushing himself forward. Then he sits up and rotates the other direction. He does this several times and gets himself wherever he wants to go. It's pretty cute to watch him scoot around. He is loving the fact that he is somewhat mobile but I really can't wait until he is fully crawling. It'll make my life a little bit more crazy but a little bit more sane at the same time. And only you other mommies will understand what I mean.

He does the funniest things to interact with me these days. He is eating finger foods, like Cheerios and the Gerber Graduates Puffs. Sometimes, when he eats too fast, he coughs/chokes a little on his saliva. I always say to him "Be careful buddy," and he will look at me, smile and then fake cough a few more times. Then I will say "Oh, you are such a little faker!" and he will just giggle!! My nerdy little man.

Jayson and I have hit the middle of our semester and I can't wait for it to be done! It's not that our classes are hard, by any means. I am just so SICK of driving to Saint George three times a week. I was tentatively planning our next semester (which will also be at Dixie State) and if it all goes like I want it to, we can make it so we are only driving down to Saint George one day a week! That means spending less on gas, less on daycare and maybe Jayson and I can afford a date night once in a while. If we're only going to class one day a week, we would spend the same amount on daycare for the whole semester as we do in six weeks now and gas is no different. We are filling up our tank about once a week which means we are spending at least $150 a month on gas; keep in mind, our income is $1000 a month. I'm sick of being so strapped so I seriously can't wait for next semester! Plus, our classes should be a little more challenging. Biology, Chemistry, English 2010 and elementary algebra (ya, the one they do in high schools; we're dumb).

Anyway, that's about it for us this month. Jayson and I are getting excited for Peyton's first Christmas. We aren't sure where we are spending it this year. It was going to be with my family but unless they quit smoking by then, we will be spending it with Jayson's family. That will be really hard for me; I really wanted Peyton's first Christmas to be with my family but I don't know if I'm going to be able to. I guess only time will tell. So anyway, we'll hang on until next month and see ya then!

As always,

Peyton,
You are getting bigger every day. I sure wish you would try crawling! You get so close, and it makes me so happy to see you learning new things. You just need to try a little harder and you'll have it. I can't believe just a couple more months and you will be a year old. It really isn't fair and someday, when you have kids of your own, you will understand all of the excitement and heartache I go through every day. You make everyone around you smile and you don't even have to try, it's just a natural quality you seem to have. You are the BIGGEST flirt I have ever seen. You got mad at me because I stood between you and a female clerk at the store the other day. You hollered at me until I moved and then you sat there and smiled and winked at her. You made the poor girl blush. I love you so much Peyton. You are my biggest little man and I love how much you have changed my life. Some days are hard but they are completely worth it. I love you so much honey. Keep smiling and keep growing; I know you need to, even if I wish it happened a little slower. Love you buddy.

Love,
Mom

Seven Months Update

Wow. Time doesn't seem to be slowing down at all. Peyton is already seven months old. And we are loving every minute of it! He is getting so big, trying to crawl, trying to walk, trying to eat more of mom and dad's food. This little man just grows a little bit every day. Poor guy had his first ear infection and we thought it was a constipation problem (because his infection was causing him other issues) and ended up taking him to the ER twice for it. He would feel better for a few days and then get stuck again. On the third time, it was during the week (where the first two times were late in the evening on the weekend) so I was finally able to take him to his regular doctor. He suggested several things for me to try, most of which we had already done, and went to check the rest of him out and lo and behold, an ear infection! He's been on antibiotics for 5 days now and seems like he is doing so much better. We'll have to wait until he is off the antibiotics to see if that's truly what was causing the constipation. Let's hope...I hate it when my little guy is in pain because there is only so much that I can do.Peyton is working on his top tooth and I can't wait until it is fully popped out. The tip of the tooth is visible but doesn't look like it is going to come out much more for a while. We have plans to go up north to Salt Lake City and Logan in two weeks and I hope it is more visible by then so I have something new to show off for him (not that he doesn't have enough already!!).

We finally had to cut his hair. I didn't cry. I definitely wanted to but I didn't cry. He looks so handsome. It's amazing how something as little as getting his hair cut can make him look so much older. He does, he really looks more grown up now. However, it looks like his hair is going to be just like his dad's-growing at the speed of light! It's only been two-ish weeks and we're going to have to give him another one soon.

Jayson and I are getting closer to being sealed. I can't stop thinking about it. I can't wait for the time we can be sealed together as a family. We have made a lot a progress both as individuals and as a couple and family. I don't know when we finally get our temple recommends but I truly can't wait. I have also been working on genealogy for my mom's side of the family. Basically her whole side of the family is Catholic and needs to have their work done for them and I can't wait to be one that can do baptisms for my ancestors. There are so many that I won't be able to do them all myself but I know that Jayson will help me and when our kids are old enough, they will help as well. I'm not sure how my mom's family would feel about me doing this so for right now, it isn't going to be something I freely advertise. The time will come, I just need to be patient.

I am so blessed that I have such an amazing family. Not just Jayson and Peyton, but his family and my extended family. I recently received a Patriarchal Blessing and one of the things that stood out to me the most was I was told that I would be instrumental in the conversion of my family. Nothing would delight me more. I am so thankful that I live in a time that the Gospel is so readily available. I am glad that I have the chance to teach it to my growing family and those around me.

As always, I want to end with a note to my special little guy:


Peyton,
You are still growing, as you will for years to come. It makes me cry sometimes but they are always tears of happiness and love. I want you to know how hard your Dad and I are working so that we can be sealed as a family. The road has been, and will continue to be, hard at times but we know that it is infinitely more worth any of the hardships we go through to get there.

You are learning that it isn't fun to just sit there all the time. You are starting to pull yourself up onto your toys, onto people that you sit with, and on pretty much anything else you can get a hold of. It is so cute to watch you, especially when you don't know that I am there; turns out, you are quite the 'mama's boy' and if you see me, you quit trying whatever you were working on because you want me to pick you up, and I almost always give in. I'm going to have to start getting a bit more strict or you aren't going to learn. I think this is what everyone always refers to as 'tough love'. More than once, you have pulled yourself up onto something, only to realize that is as far as you can go! You still aren't quite brave enough to do much else. I've tried to entice you with graham crackers to get you to take a step away from the couch, but to no avail. You aren't there yet, but it won't be long before you are completely walking all on your own. I can't wait but I don't ever want it to come. You'll understand this someday when you have your own children.Peyton, I know that you are going to do great things in your life. Even at this young age, you have already brought so much positive change just to our little family and I can't wait to see what you do later on in your life. I know that it will be great. Just remember to keep smiling for me; those cute little smiles I get (especially after I've been gone to school all morning) make my heart melt and keep me going through those hard days. I love you so much Peyton. So very much.