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.

Where Does the Time Go?

(I really wrote this on his 'birth-day' but forgot to publish it!)


It's happened. We've hit the six month milestone. I'm really not sure where the past six months have gone but boy, have they been fun! Peyton is getting so big, he's already over nineteen pounds! The little stinker still isn't rolling over from his belly to his back but he's giving it more of an effort now. I honestly think he is going to be crawling before he figures out the rolling thing.Peyton is one of the happiest babies I have ever seen. He laughs at everything these days. I recently bought the movie Rio for us (okay, I really wanted to see it and even though he is only six months old, Peyton is now my excuse for watching little kid movies again!) and he loved it! All those bright colors and the music, it was hilarious to watch him, watching the movie. I didn't manage to get any decent pictures of him doing it (they are all on my phone) but, since we were watching it on dad's computer (the main house power was out), he was able to lean REALLLLLY far forward. He was almost bent in half leaning towards the computer screen, it was so cute.

I've started 'walking' with him across the floor. He can take about ten steps before his legs begin to give out but he is getting so good at taking steps. Before, he would just drag his feet along but now he is getting the concept that it's easier to pick up your feet.We recently had another bout of teething and this time it was the top two coming in. The right hand side broke through for just a minute and then went into hiding again. His no-longer-toothless-grin is so adorable, I just love it.His new 'trick' is to make funny faces whenever I pull out the camera. Just a few examples:


Jayson and I have started school again. It's a little weird going to school with a baby because most of our classmates aren't even married, let alone parents, so we get some pretty strange looks when we talk about Peyton but that's okay. Better late than never, right? :) I love being back in school. We are going to Dixie State College, which is in St. George, about 40 miles away from where we live. Once we have enough credits (24, I believe), we plan on transferring to the better school, Southern Utah University, that is here in Cedar City. The classes we are taking right now are just general education courses, which are a little boring, but at least it's something. I just can't wait until we are in our nursing course classes, it'll be so much more interesting.

Jayson and I are also working on our personal issues so that we can be sealed together in the LDS Temple. I'm working on removing the tattoo on my foot, since it is the only one that is visible, and once we can afford it, I will probably get the others removed. I have just come to realize that there are so many more important things in life than a tattoo and just like I once had to 'give up' my belly button piercing, I'm doing the same with my tattoos. I used to think that I never would hit this point in my life, or that if I did, I wouldn't be happy about it. I couldn't have been more wrong. Although I love my tattoos because they all mean something special to me, being sealed to my husband and son are SO much more important.

So that's about it with us. Peyton is continuing to grow, much to my amazement and disappointment. I am so happy he is growing and healthy but it breaks my heart that he is already six months old. He'll be in kindergarten before I know it! Even though that idea makes my heart cry, I love being a mommy and wouldn't trade it for a single thing in this world.

As always, I want to end with a note to Peyton:

Peyton,
Hey there my little man! You are getting SO big. I love that you are learning with every single day and I love helping you learn. I can't wait to show you all the beauties that this world has to offer. I can't wait teach you about church and our beliefs. Today, I watched a lizard scurry across the parking lot on our way out of class in St. George. I thought it was so awesome to see something like that, right out in the open and I can't wait to watch your face the first time you see it. You are my sweet little man and I know that no matter how old you get, you always will be. We, Dad and I, really love you; more than anything in the world. Even though I love being back in school, I miss being home with you. It's only for a few hours, three days a week but I miss that time in the morning when we snuggle in bed. It's not for very long but it's one of my favorite times of the day. I love you so much sweetheart. So very much.

Love,
Mom

5 Whole Months!

So I am a little bit behind in posting; vacations, job changes and life somewhat got in the way so bear with me :)

My little man is a whole five months old! Can you believe it? I know I sure can't. I'm not entirely sure where five months went but he is getting so big and so much fun!He still won't roll over from his tummy to his back but has finally figured out how to do it from his back to his tummy (which is backwards for most kiddos and generally harder than tummy to back. What can I say?). I came home from work on the 21st of July and Jayson came upstairs and said "Come look at this!!" Peyton had rolled over in his sleep and was comfortably sleeping on his stomach. Soooo cute! When I try to get him to do tummy time, he still just whimpers until I finally give in and roll him back over. We've tried everything: moving toys across his field of vision, me moving and calling him from the other side. Nothing works. He just follows it until the object is out of site and then lays his head down. Pretty cute, I just wish he'd roll over. Oh well, it'll happen when it's time.

On the 26th of July, after almost a month of solid teething, his right bottom tooth finally broke through. Two days later, so did the left! He looks so cute with two little teeth. They are still pretty small but when they get a little bigger, I will get a picture with my little man's latest fashion accessories. Such a handsome boy.

He is sitting up mostly by himself these days. He still has moments where he leans too far forward and can't save it or off to the sides where he'll just tip over. It's so cute but it makes him so mad!

I love this man so much. He is just my little sweetheart and makes me smile 1000 times during the day....sometimes more. :)

As far as Jayson and I are concerned: I had a job for a few weeks working with girls that had anger or substance abuse issues. I really liked my job, even though dealing with 20+ teenage girls could sometimes get annoying, but I quit this week. The management was a joke and wouldn't work with the schedule I needed (and told them when I was hired) and it was just really hard being away from Peyton during the evening. I didn't have this much trouble with a day job but I just felt like I was missing too much with him at night. So, after some prayer and talking it over with Jayson, I decided to quit. I was a little nervous at first and spent the entire next day out in Cedar City looking for jobs and filling out applications. Then, on Wednesday, we received a letter from the Veteran's Administration saying that Jayson had been approved for his housing allowance. Not only had he been approved for it but it is about $250 more than we were expecting! We'll be receiving about $750 a month, which with me only working part time, was about how much I'd be bringing in. So if everything works out, I may not work at all. Jayson and I can just go to school full time and spend the rest of our time with Peyton and working on homework. I sure how we can do that. It would be so nice.

Anyway, that's pretty much all that's new with us. I am super excited to start school in 17 days. The sooner we start, the sooner we're done! :) I just want to end by saying how grateful and thankful I am for the blessings I have received in my life. I am very lucky woman and can't wait to see what the future brings!

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

Peyton,

You are growing WAY too fast! I wish sometimes that I could slow down time and enjoy you more as you are right now. You are such a smiley man and it makes my heart sing every time you look at me with those gorgeous blue eyes and that smile that is no longer a toothless grin. I am so thankful you were given to me and I can't wait for our family to be sealed together. I know it is taking longer than we want but I just want you to know that you are the drive behind it all. You are the reason that we are focusing so much now, even though we should have been doing it sooner.
I love watching you explore your surroundings. I love watching the look on your face and the concentration in your eyes as you study something new that you haven't seen before. You love to learn and I can't wait to help you learn all that you want later in life.

You are my sweetheart Peyton. You always will be, no matter how old you get, or how much you may not want to be. You will always be my little man. I love you so much and I can't wait to explore the world with you. Keep smiling, you are my sunshine.

New Job

So I finally have a job. It's not working as a Medical Assistant which kind of stinks but it's a job nonetheless. It's working at a group home for teenage girls that have anger issues or problems with drugs and alcohol. I can't give too much detail but suffice it to say that it will be an interesting job.

I have never been one to be assertive about what I want or keeping people in line. I can do it, but I would rather keep the peace than risk a confrontation. That won't be the case here. I am to watch these girls like a hawk, and write them up for everything I feel is necessary. The list of "consequences" (the things we can write girls up for) is three pages long and most of them are broad enough that several things could fall under one consequence.

I am excited to start a new job. It's nice to know that we'll have a little income besides our student loans. Jayson isn't sure what is going on with the Army GI bill yet so we don't know if we'll be approved for it. I sure hope we will because that's at least an extra $500 a month income, but I'm trying to be patient and let the things that will happen, happen.

Part of the reason I am excited to start this job is because it is something different than I am used to. It is going to get me out of my comfort zone. It's going to get ugly sometimes and there may be days that I don't want to do it or don't know how to handle a situation but I'm going to try anyways. I think this experience could help me later on in my career. I eventually want to be an ER nurse and that job can get pretty ugly too.

Anyway, so that is what is new with us. Peyton is growing every day but the little stinker still hasn't rolled over yet. We had to take him to the pediatrician last week and he had gained over a pound (19 ounces to be exact) in 3 weeks! My little chunkers :) He laughs all the time and has gotten quite used to Cedar City and the different noise level in the house now. Every day, I think I can't possibly love him anymore than I already do and every day, I prove myself wrong. I love this boy so much. Between him and Jayson, I'm pretty much in love all the time now.

The Johnson Family Reunion is coming up this weekend and as always, I'm sure will be a hoot. Peyton will be five months old in 13 days, but who's counting? I hope all is going well with your families and that everyone had a safe holiday. My love to everyone and remember to keep smiling!

The Jenkins/Pilon Children

So for my mom's birthday this year, since, as of right now, I won't be there to celebrate it with her, I finally got pictures of all her kids. Once again, my amazing sister-in-law, Jennifer, did them for me. They are going to be stinking cute! As of right now, these are the only ones I have gotten back from her but I will upload them anyway. I love them all! :)

Jenifer, 21 years old 6-25-11

Chelsea, 17 years old, 6-25-11





Sydney, 13 years old, 6-25-11




Tristan, 4 years old, 6-25-11





Kaycee, 4 years old, 6-25-11

Four Months...and Changes

So on June 25th, Peyton turned 4 months old. I can't believe how fast he is growing!! At his last check-up, he was 15 pounds, 7.5 ounces and almost 25 inches long. He's a chunk!! He still hasn't rolled over yet, and still hates his tummy time. He is getting closer to rolling over but after about three minutes on his tummy, all he does is cry. My cute, pathetic little man :) The last week and a half or so, he has been pretty fussy and I wasn't sure why, but now I think we are teething. On his bottom jaw, there looks like there might be two teeth struggling to break free. He still sleeps normally through the night but is fussier during the day. That's okay, he's still super cute!



So the biggest thing that has changed is we have finally moved to Cedar City. We are living with Jayson's parents and it looks like we will be here for a while. I'm so thankful that they are putting up with two more adults, a baby and two dogs moving into their basement! I'm glad to finally be down here but it's bittersweet. I haven't ever really moved away from my family before and now that we have a little one, it seems even harder. Being in Cedar City means that we're finally going back to school but I still miss my family like crazy. Before we left, Jayson and I took the family to the Living Planet Aquarium in Salt Lake City (well, Sandy). It was so much fun! There was a sea turtle and penguins...all that I needed to be happy!
The picture is a little blurry because he was swimming so fast...this little guy booked it around his tank! It was so cool!!



So that's pretty much all that is new with us for now. It's been a fast and crazy month but a good one overall. My mom and I are already devising plans for me to be able to come up to Logan next month around her birthday so hopefully it works out so that I can! I just want to close by saying how in the past month, my testimony of Jesus Christ has increased so much. I know that without Him and the Church, I wouldn't be able to go through this--while moving down here is a good idea, it's still very difficult for me to be so far away from my family--and without His help, I would be a complete mess. I am very thankful for the Church and for His guidance and I know that the Church is true and I say these things humbly in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.





P.S. A note for Peyton:
Everyday with you is an absolute adventure. I love watching how much you grow and learn every day. It's like I can almost see your thoughts as you see something new for the first time, like when you were watching the sea turtle swim by with your daddy. I love you so much Peyton, I don't think you will ever know how much. You and your daddy are my everything. I can't wait to see what the next day will bring! I love you!!

Three Months!

So I'm a few days late in posting this (our computer crashed and my amazing husband has spent the last few days fixing it, successfully!!) but Peyton is three months old already!! I can't believe how big he has gotten. He tries to roll from his back to his front but hasn't quite figured it out yet. He gets all the way to either side...he usually accomplishes this by trying to eat his fist, which, the harder he tries to reach it, the farther it goes.

He talks all the time and is so aware of his surroundings. He loves to watch TV (sad, I know)--I think the moving colors fascinate him; or at least that's the justification I try to give myself for my 3 month old watching TV. We are finding more and more ticklish spots to make him giggle. His laugh is the cutest thing in the world. I can be having the worst day ever and one little giggle from my little man is all I need.

He likes to play peek-a-boo and has gotten very good at anticipating the "boo!".

Look at that face!!! I about died laughing!!!!

He has finally gotten big enough that I feel okay with bathing him in the big tub. I, for the life of me, cannot find one of those little baby sponges that you bathe babies on so we just use a towel with the top rolled down for a headrest. Works for what I need it to :)

Not a very modest picture but he's three months old so deal with it. :)

He looks so tiny in that big tub but he likes it. Last night, he discovered if he kicks, he can splash, and that made him smile. Pretty cute! :)

I sure love being a mom. I couldn't have asked for a better lot in life. Some days, when I am starting to get down or frustrated, all I have to do is look at my beautiful family. Peyton has made such a positive impact in our lives; we are currently getting things in order so that we can be sealed in the LDS Temple. I hope to be sealed next year-Jayson and I had our first date July 16, 2007 and I think it would be neat to be sealed the same day. I don't think we will make it this year but hopefully by 2012, that can be accomplished. I tell Peyton every day how special he is and how he is encouraging us to do something we should've done a while ago. Better late than never, right?
As far as our personal lives, Jayson and I both got accepted into Dixie State College. We start classes on August 22nd. I am super excited to be going back to school! Jayson and I are both going into nursing so we are taking the same classes for as long as we can (there are some classes I might not have to take). It will be so nice to have a study buddy right in my own house! Jayson is pretty excited to be going back too. However, with going back to school, that also means moving. Jayson's family is being gracious enough to let us stay with them as long as we need to. Our plan is to go to school full time fall, spring and summer to hopefully get done sooner. It is going to be a nightmare at sometimes with both of us in school and with Peyton, but it will be so worth it. We'll hopefully be done before Peyton gets into kindergarten! I have interviewed at an office in St. George but I am not for sure if I will take it-I won't be able to go to school except for one class in the early morning and one at night.

Moving is going to be hard. I have cried on each trip to Cedar City for a good portion of the trip. I have never been away from my family, and now that I have my own little baby, it makes me really sad that I won't be able to run over to my mom's house when Peyton rolls over, or sits up completely on his own. Jayson has been really good about it, talking me through all my crazy emotions and telling me about when he had to leave his family for the Army. I know it will be okay. It just will be a bummer for a while. But hopefully, with school and Peyton, I will have enough to keep me occupied.


Well, that about catches us up. Hopefully, our computer won't crash again and I will be able to keep going with my blog.




And, as a special note to my little man:

Peyton,
I love you more than words can ever describe. You have no idea how special you are. You are making so many things happen that you may not even comprehend for years to come. I am so thankful that my Heavenly Father blessed me with you and I cannot wait until we are all sealed together as a family. You are growing up so fast, I can't even believe it. Every month that I post these notes, I can't believe another month has gone by. Next thing I know, you'll be walking, and running, and going to school. I am excited for the future but I will definitely miss these days with you. I love you so much.

Love,
Mom :)

Peyton Saying Hi To Aunt Leah and Uncle Wayne

Little Peyton 'saying hi' to my Aunt Leah and Uncle Wayne, who live in Montana! Love you guys!!