Brayden laughing at Payten

I love this video!!!  A couple days ago we were playing on my bed and Payten started jumping up and down and Brayden thought it was soooo funny. I had tears rolling down my face. I thought it was pretty cute. I love how happy my kids are.  :) (Most of the time!) haha

Still having fun under the crib!

Payten has always loved to hide and play under her crib and now Brayden's crib. I have always loved this picture of Payten playing. I think she was around 2 years old. Two years later she is still having fun under the crib. When Matt comes home from work she likes to hide underneath the crib....and of course Matt always knows where to find her. When we are playing hide and go seek...where do you think she hides? Yep, you guessed it...underneath the crib. And we always act like we are shocked to find her there! Being a parent is so much fun!!!!  :)

Then and Now

My sweet Payten is almost 4 years old. Tonight the kids got to bed early and there was nothing on t.v. so I decided to take a look at old pics....and man have I taken a few!! haha Major understatement. I take lots of pictures, but I am glad I do because it brings back such great memories. Here are some pics of Payten when she was first born and then at almost age 4. She still looks the same and hasn't lost those adorable cheeks that I still to this day cannot quit kissing. And I am speaking for Matt too...even daddy cannot resist those beautiful cheeks. I am hoping to go back through and update a few more pics of the past. I want to get my blog printed as a book at the end of this year and it would be nice to have some pictures of Payten as a baby since I didn't start the blog until she was 1 1/2 years old. Enjoy! And Payten....I hope your cheeks are always this cute. :)

My sweet baby boy is six months old!

Brayden Matthew turned 6 months old yesterday. I can't believe it! He is growing up so fast. Before long he will be a toddler running around trying to keep up with Miss Payten. We had his 6 month check up and shots yesterday. He didn't even cry when he got his two shots! I was completly shocked because usually he screams pretty loud. He weighs 16lbs. and 13 ounces and is 27 1/2 inches long. He is in the 25-50% in his weight and 90% in his height. Looks like he is going to take after his sissy...long and lean. He has just started eating solids really well this past week. His first food was sweet potatoes. He did okay with them. He has just had a hard time learning how to swallow food, but he is doing great now. After sweet potatoes I gave him carrots and then peaches and now we are on to squash. He really likes food!!!  :) And loves to get it all over his face. He is such a joy to our family. I love him so much!

6 month milestones and things he loves:

*He is starting to sit up all by himself. He can actually sit up, but after a few seconds he slowly starts to lean forward.

*He sleeps 12 hours a night. Goes down around 8p.m. and gets up at 8a.m. the next morning. He used to be a horrible sleeper/napper...but now he sleeps great! I do the same thing everyday...shut his blinds/curtains, turn on the fan (drowns out the noise),  start his music, give him some kisses and then lay him down in his crib with his passy in his mouth and a blanket for him to hold. Payten used to love a blanket to rub on her face when she was his age and he loves to do the same thing. I love it!!!!

*He is a good talker! haha  He loves to talk in a high pitch tone! Really good on the ears. We just laugh at him when he starts to do this.

*He can grab and hold toys really well now. Loves to bang things...likes loud noises!! haha

*He really likes the exersaucer. I usually put him in this for his morning playtime.

*He can roll from front to back and back to front. He is better at back to front then front to back. I think it is usually the opposite for most babies.  :)

*He loves bath time. He gets really excited when he sees the bath water running. I usually give him and Payten a bath together. They laugh and play together in the tub and it's a lot easier to give them a bath at once.

*He loves to dance! During the day I turn on some music and I hold him and dance around and sing to him. He just smiles at me!

*He loves to go on walks/runs. Enjoys the outside as long as it's not too hot. 

*He LOVES to be held....all the time! 

*He loves to cuddle with his mommy and I must say I love to cuddle as much as he does.

*He LOVES his Payten. He just looks at her and starts laughing. I pray everyday that they will be close and that God will bond their hearts! And I already see Him answering my prayers.  :)

*He loves his Daddy! Daddy loves to play with him and talk with him. When daddy talks to him you will see Brayden just staring at him and then he will start to talk back and coo at him. 

Payten's Graduation May 2009

Payten graduated from the three year old class at CCS last Thursday. She had a presentation and party for her last day. She wasn't feeling well the night before. She had a 100 degree fever but woke up feeling okay, so I decided to take her. It was a lot of fun and Payten enjoyed her party and getting up on stage and singing for everyone. Below is a video....you can tell she was a little tired. :) Payten really enjoyed school this year and learned so much. She learned all of her shapes, how to count objects, how to count to 30, all of her colors (she already knew them before), how to make patterns. She also can recognize all her letters and is in the process of learning how to write them. She can write the letters P, B, E, T, S, L, H and O. She is also learning how to write her name. She is doing a pretty good job, but for some reason she wants to write it backwards. I am going to work on that this summer, so hopefully she will get the hang of it before too long. On Payten's Report Card, Mrs. Gaynel wrote, "Payten is a delight to have in class. Payten wants to please her teachers and loves being rewarded and praised for making good choices. Payten has many friends and is a very sweet girl. She really enjoys art class!" She got mostly M's (Most of the time) on her report card, but got an S (Sometimes) in her cutting abilities. :) She said that sometimes she has a hard time cutting straight lines. Mrs. Gaynel told me that Payten listens really well and always does what is asked......she said she has come a long way since the first day of school. I was very happy with everything Mrs. Gaynel told me. Overall, I think it was a successful year and Payten is already looking forward to next year.

Payten's class celebrated her birthday last Tuesday since she has a summer birthday. I brought up a vanilla rasberry cake and everyone sang Happy Birthday to her. She kept telling me that it wasn't her birthday until July 5th. I explained to her that since she has a summer birthday and there is no school in the summer time the school celebrates a little early.

Payten's Water Day

Payten had water day on one of her last days of preschool. She had a blast. They played in the sprinklers, had lots of fun playing in shaving cream, ate popsickles and blew bubbles. She loved playing with her friends.

First Day at the POOL!!!!

Last weekend was our first trip to the pool. The weather was perfect and we had so much fun. We stayed about three hours and then Brayden was ready to go home. I think Payten could have stayed at the pool the entire day! She LOVES the water park and had a blast. She jumped off the diving board about 100 times and didn't want to stop. She is such a good swimmer. I am so glad she knows how to swim. Brayden enjoyed the water too...for about 10 minutes and then he was ready to get out. He kept getting splashed and I think it kinda made him a little upset. He took a really good nap though, which was nice. I am really excited about this summer...now if I can just master taking care of two kids at the pool!!!! :) Below is a video of Payten jumping off the diving board. Check it out!

Family Fun with Meme and Papa

The other part of our trip we went with my parents to Branson, Mo. We had such a relaxing time. It was wonderful....although it was cloudy and rainy the entire time except the last day. We went pattle boating, swimming (of course), took nature walks, rode go garts, ate lots and lots of really good food and last but not least rode the Branson Duck! It was great and I have lots of pics to prove it. Thanks mom and dad for the great trip. Payten just woke Brayden up and he is screaming so I will have to post more on this trip another day!!!