January 2014

The BIG thing that happened this month is that PAY STARTED WALKING! It was like she woke up one day and said, "I'm going to walk today!" And she did. She walked across the whole living room. She took at least 20 steps. The first time. No falling. No stumbling. She just took off and hasn't stopped walking since.

She loves these pokey ball things that fall from our trees.

She's discovered dirt and decided she didn't like the taste.

I made and hung up this banner.

Pay has become obsessed with doors and opening and closing them.

Breakfast at Rudy's-Weekly date with Daddy and Mommy!

Still loving her wagon rides.

So this month was a little rough at some points.  Along with learning to walk this little one was simultaneously teething.  Therefore, nap time was non-existent for a few days.  This is a picture of her actually napping after a 3 day nap-time hiatus! It was a glorious moment :)

 She LOVES brushing her teeth with her new Elmo toothbrush. I love that she's holding it correctly!

Christmas 2013

This Christmas was a million times better than last Christmas.

Last Christmas wasn't so fun because Payton had just been born and I was still really sore {and hormonal} from having a c-section.

Also, I didn't put much thought or effort into the gifts I gave because...you know...I JUST had a baby.  And that's one of my favorite parts of Christmas...GIVING gifts.

Also, because I was a new, stressed-out, sore, and hormonal mommy I never really got in the TRUE Christmas spirit.  I think I was too engrossed in the whole new-mommy thing that I never really thought about the birth of Christ.  Let me tell ya...I WILL NEVER LET THAT HAPPEN AGAIN!

So THIS Christmas I did my best to keep my mind on Christ.

I thought a lot about our Savior's birth and everything else surrounding it.  I thought about Mary bringing the Son of God into this world and how heavy of a burden BUT also blessing that must have been to her!  I thought about the sacredness of it all and the humble way he came into this world --- in a stable.

So this Christmas the ornaments that I bought represented our Savior's birth.

This Christmas was more fun also because Payton was older.  Yes, she's only 1 and didn't understand what was going on at all, but she enjoyed opening presents and playing with her new gifts!  It's true when they say that Christmas is more fun as a parent than as a child.

Merry Christmas, Ya'll!

Can you believe I actually sent out Christmas Cards?

Meeting Santa at Bass Pro Shop

Christmas Eve breakfast at Rudy's.  Walking around with Cousin Brooke.

All dressed up and looking all grown up for church the Sunday before Christmas.

These antlers had bells on them and she would shake her head when she wore them so she could hear them jingle.  Or she would take it off and play with it instead of wearing it.

This girl was IN LOVE with the Christmas tree.  Her favorite was pointing {and trying to grab} all the ornaments.

She got a wagon for Christmas and it was an instant hit.

Watching the fire daddy made to burn all the boxes and wrapping paper.

She also got blocks and loves them.

South Padre Island-Pay's First Visit to the Beach

We spent the weekend after Thanksgiving on South Padre Island.  The highlight of the trip was definitely taking Pay to the beach. She had a blast!

By the way, I tried an aerial on the beach and I did it.  And it was surprisingly easy peasy!  My back killed afterward, but still...I could do it!

Payton's 1st Birthday Party

We threw a little party to celebrate both husband's and Payton's birthdays since they are only a week apart.

It was just me, hubby, Pay, Grammy, Poppy, Amber, Brooke, and Tatum.

Brooke went with me to Party City to get Pay a birthday crown {should have gotten one for husband too!} and since she had never seen streamers before we got some of those too and she helped me put them up!

I made a strawberry JELL-O cake for Pay...it's a family tradition.  And I made a Pina Colada poke cake for husband...it's his fave.

I ended up stacking a piece of each cake for Payton's Smash Cake.  It was ugly.  BUT OH SO YUMMY!

She was mesmerized by the candle. Curious about the whip cream.  And then upset because daddy smashed some of the cake in her face.  It was HILARIOUS!

HAPPY 1ST BIRTHDAY, PAY!