Happy 1st Birthday Peyton

Peyton's actual 1st birthday was on Tuesday, September 15! I cannot believe how fast this past year has gone by. For his special day, Paw Paw came over and we had cake again and let him dig into his piece, which of course he thoroughly enjoyed! We all wore winnie the pooh 1st bday hats and mommy made his cake and decorated it all by herself! I think I did a pretty good job for my first time really doing a "decoration" on a cake! I'm proud of it! Anyway, we had a lot of fun watching Peyton get messy and even putting icing on the walls and in Preston's hair. And, out of all our boys' 1st birthdays, I have to say that Peyton enjoyed his cake the most! Not that the other 2 didn't, we thought they were maniacs with the cake too, but after seeing Peyton, we now know that he was the craziest with it! After cake, Peyton opened the few presents we saved for his actual day! Happy Birthday my baby boy!

1 Year update: Peyton has 6 teeth now, the 4 top ones and the 2 middle bottom ones and he now says "Buba," along with the usual moma, dada, and uh-oh!

Personality: He is still so sweet and so cute! He has a touch of the, as Paul calls it "Guerra-tude" but not as bad as Preston did/ does. Peyton will lay on the ground and kick his legs and put his head down when he doesn't get what he wants! He has little Paul's "climbing" abilities, and he loves, loves, loves big pillows and stuffed animals and anything he can lay on top of on the floor and kick his arms and legs out and laugh! (Preston did this as well, but not as much). He loves balls and can throw them pretty well for his age. A ball will entertain him for a long time! He also rides his little four wheeler all by himself very well, and has been since about 10 months old! But mostly, he loves playing with his big brothers, especially Paul because he's older and not as mean as Preston is to him (meaning Paul understands Peyton is a baby and doesn't know any better), but he still loves playing with Preston when Preston is in the mood! He really misses them when they are gone at school. Also, for those of you wondering about his ability to give "the best hugs ever?" Yes, he still does....he literally gives the best hugs I have ever had a baby give. He is just too sweet!

Physical advances: He started walking Saturday, September 5 with about 5 steps in the living room and then kept doing that half walk and half crawl thing they do for a while. It wasn't until the 17th of September that he began the more walk than crawl phase, which he is getting better and better at, so basically he's walking. He walked out of his room the other day and across the living room several times now. I find he really walks everywhere unless he wants to go faster....I guess he's impatient! He reverts to crawling when he wants to "catch up" with his brothers and he knows crawling will get him there faster! Other than that though, he walks! Our last little boy! We are cherishing every moment of this phase!

Preston's 1st day of preschool

Preston started his 3 year old preschool the day after Paul on Wednesday, September 9. It was a sad day for me because it was my first time dropping him off at school. I had a few tears, and apparently so did he, but he does seem to like it. It's just the initial getting out of the car that still has him sad. My little boys are growing up so fast! And Peyton gets noticEably sad when his big brothers are gone! He's so used to having them aroud to play with he doesn't know what to do with himself when they're gone!

Paul's 1st Day of School

Paul started pre-K on Tuesday, September 8. He was so excited! He could not wait to go back to school. Mommy likes it too because it gives me a little break! I can't believe he is in pre-k already! He's such a big boy!

Preston and Peyton's combined bday parties

Sunday, September 6, we had Preston's 3rd and Peyton's 1st birthday parties together at my mom's house! It was just family there because Preston still does not like too many people and of course Peyton doesn't know better anyway! We really had a great time. Preston enjoyed swimming, which we knew he would ,and Peyton, out of all our kids, probably enjoyed his cake the most! Thank you mom for making the 1st birthday cake again! (It's tradition in our family to have a teddy bear cake for everyone's first birthday!) I'm sure mom is waiting to do a pink one again one day when one of my siblings has a girl...haha...we were joking that she hasn't made a pink one since Amy was 1! Grandma and Grandpa brought a pinata for the kids! They had a blast! It was a great party overall! Thank you so much Mimi for allowing us to have it at your house and for all of your hard work! After all that, mom surprised me and Grandpa Jack with our own cake to celebrate our birthdays together! Thanks mom, that was so sweet and such a great memory for me with my grandpa!

Happy 3rd Birthday Preston

Preston's 3rd birthday was on Tuesday, August 25. I cannot believe how big he has gotten! We now have a 4 year old and a 3 year old, and let's not forget the baby who is almost 1! Wow! Paw Paw and Maw Maw came over to celebrate Preston's big day! We had an ice cream cake and he opened a few presents. He had to wait for his and Peyton's birthday party to open the rest! He had a great day! We love you Preston! He's such a handsome boy!

Peyton is 11 months!

Saturday, August 15 was Peyton's 11 month milestone! He has done some incredible things this past month and is growing so much! It makes me sad; as we all know, he is my last little one! He got his first actual tooth on Wednesday, July 29 at 10 1/2 months, clapped all by himslef for the first time on Monday, July 27, and he said his first sort of word (aside from mommy and daddy) on Sunday, August 23. It was "uh-oh!" He was saying it over and over yesterday and would even drop things on purpose just to say it! Oh, and about 1 week ago, he stood up all by himself for the first time without holding on to anything, though I don't think he knew he wasn't holding on! He's so cute! Anyway, he has had an ear infection and antibiotics, so he's doing better, but he still isn't feeling the greatest right now. He is also still a happy baby, but I have noticed within the last month that he is going through that phase where he wants his mommy. He's not too into other people holding him right now, at least, not like he used to be. Here is our little boy:

Peyton turns 10 months

On the day Keely and Kate came over, Peyton turned 10 monts! I cannot believe how fast time flies! I am trying to enjoy every moment of this age because I know how fast it goes by! I had forgotten to report that on June 20, the day after Amy left from helping us, Peyton waved bye- bye for the first time! Also, he had taken one step by himself before my surgery, but then didn't do again until about a week ago. He is noticeably a little stronger on his feet now, so he should be walking by his first birthday! He'll stand up by himself for a bit, but then he sits down softly because he's afraid to move...he's so cute! Yesterday, he clapped by himself for the first time! ADORABLE!!! He is also teething quite a bit now and poor baby is miserable; that first tooth should be popping up soon! I only have one picture of him the week of his 10 month Bday because of my computer, but here it is:

Peyton is 9 months old

Mommy was still practically in bed for Peyton's 9 months, but I did get to spend some time with him. Nanny was here for his 9 month milestone and took some really cut pictures of him for me! Thanks Nanny! He continues to be a wonderful baby, but has more fussy days now that he is really teething! I don't know if you remember we posted he got his first tooth at 6 months that the doctor found and it was on the top. We were saying how weird it was that he got a tooth that early because neither Paul nor Preston did and it was on the top and both Paul and Preston cut their first teeth on the bottom. Well, it turns out the doctor was mistaken because whatever it was is no longer there, so he is still toothless, which makes him the latest of our kids to get his first tooth! We expect to be posting soon about his first tooth though because it seems like it will be coming out soon! He hs been biting everything! He even stands up at the boys' table and bites the side of it! Happy 9 months Peyton!

Peyton's first step

Peyton took his first step Tuesday, June 2 without holding on to anything! I was holding his hands and walking with him and when I let go, he balanced on both feet and then lifted one foot and stepped towards me without falling! Way to go Peyton! I'm sure it will still be quite a long time before he actually walks, at least I hope it will be a long time, but it was so nice to experience his first step! He's my last baby, so I want him to stay just like this for awhile! He has been pulling up on everything for months and he's also teething pretty badly. He stands up and grabs anything he can to get his mouth on and bites it! I love this age!!! He's so cute!

Happy 4th Birthday Paul!

Paul's birthday was May 24, so we had a family day to celebrate. I can't believe he is 4! I feel like I just had him....and Preston....and Peyton.....LOL! Wow, the years have really flown by! He will be starting pre-K this year! Anyway, we watched daddy cut the grass while we painted the patio with outside WASHABLE paint. Paul and Preston also helped daddy cut the front yard too, while Peyton napped and Mommy did some clothes! Then, we got an ice cream cake and sang happy birthday to Paul and let him blow out his candles. We had a wonderful day!

He still very much a handful and I'm wondering when he will stop having his crazy ideas! At least he is very creative though and apparently, very smart! In fact, just today I went to check on Preston in the bathroom (who by the way has been in big boy undies for 4 days now and has not had an accident today or yesterday!!!!) Anyway, I went to check on Preston and I came back just in time to catch Paul writing on Peyton's arm with a permanent marker! Luckily, he didn't get much writing done on him! He had decided to climb on the counter, get the lock to the marker drawer, and then proceeded to unlock it and take them out. Ohhhhh, the craziness! But, he's so cute and such a sweetie! Happy birthday Paul, we love you!!!