First Steps!

The Little Miss wanted to make sure she did something noteworthy for Nonnie and Deeda.

She was cruising around the couch and held her hand out towards me. I told her to come here and she let go and took 3 steps to my waiting arms! Yall, I wanted to cry! My baby is almost a toddler.

Southbound 35

Payton and I are taking a little road trip with Mom and Allie today! We're headed to Big B to see Nonnie, Deeda, Uncle Tod and Josh. They haven't seen P since we were at the river in March! It will be interesting to see how she does in the car for 2 and a half hours. Luckily, someone will be in the back with her to help keep her entertained.

I'm hoping to make it down to Salado to do a little shopping... with or without Miss Priss. Although, I'm sure there will be some eager babysitters ;)

New Hue=New House

I've come a long way on the mistreatments since this post in just a few weeks! We (Lane) decided we should take the house off the market and I figured as long as we were staying, I'd change a few things to make me happy!

Here's the family room... You can't tell in the picture, but the rod is all the way up to the ceiling and the panels graze the floor. The material on the bottom third of the panels is what we're using to upholster the ottoman. We already had the rod, just moved it up a bit; some ring clips, hot glue, fabric and trim, and voila! Once the ottoman is finished, I'll post pics of the entire room.

This beauty is in the breakfast nook. Since the windows in both rooms are basically one big wall, I wanted them to compliment each other but still show separation between the two rooms. I decided to use the same fabric and trim, but change the technique. Pleats are tacked to the wall with upholstery tacks. I love that it still has some "looseness" to the bottom like the topper in the family room.

The downstairs bathroom was an easy fix! I changed the shower curtain and hung the little nest tassel over the towels. It's amazing how a simple switch completely transforms a room.

PS - I'm available for hire for a nominal fee ;)

9 months

We just got back from Payton's 9 month well baby visit. Again, she's either on track or ahead the developmental milestones! She weighed 19 pounds 13 ounces (65th percentile) and is 28 inches long (63rd percentile)! She's movin' and groovin' and just growing up so fast!

Click on the picture and look closely...you'll see her top 4 teeth

Rub a Dub Dub, Nekky Baby in the Tub

Lately P has been taking a bath in the guest bath. She LOVES it and it keeps her in the water, but out of the sun in the middle of the day.

She gets so excited and just squeals with delight and starts telling me all about it!

Towards the end you'll hear her say Momma

9 month pro pics!

Today we took Payton for her 9 month pictures. Here's the "official" shot:

Mom wanted a picture of Payton in the blue dress she wore around 9 months and then I wore for my 9 month pictures.

Mom, circa 1959

Me, circa 1982

Payton Elizabeth, 2008

If you cover up the hair color, it's incredible how much the 3 of us look alike.

They Say It's Your Birthday!

Yesterday was my 27th birthday! I guess I'm officially out of my mid-twenties.

The day started with bible study, P took a great nap when we got home and then it was out to lunch with two of my most favorite people, Jenni and Melissa, and their kiddos. I had a facial scheduled so Lane came home early to watch Payton. Once I got home, the three of us went to dinner.

I made a few comments about wanting a spa day and not knowing how much it cost so I wouldn't feel guilty about going. My wonderful husband totally came through! I have a full day at Cooper Spa!!! I can't wait to get it on the calendar.

5 Things...

1. What were you doing ten years ago?
It was the summer before my senior year of high school. I was moving back to Belton (from WI) to live with Nonnie and Deeda so I could finish with all my friends and establish TX residency for college. I'm sure I was going to all sorts of Thomas' baseball games and hanging out with Mandy.

2. What are five things on your to-do list today?
- buy fabric for living room and breakfast nook
- put away the clean clothes
- returns!
- reframe pictures and hang them
- start upholstering the ottoman Lane built

3. Snacks you enjoy?
- popcorn
- apples, bananas, strawberries, watermelon... fruit
- almonds and dried apricots (had this every day for months after P was born)
- chips

4. Places you’ve lived:
- Belton, TX
- Chippewa Falls, WI
- Denton, TX
- Huntsville, AL
- Pittsburg, PA

5. What are 5 things you would do if you were a billionaire?
- Buy my dream house with dream appliances, dream furniture, dream accessories, you get the idea ;)
- Share with my family and best friends
- Travel, travel, travel
- Give to charities that I feel passionate about
- Set up a trust for P and future generations so that all education and related expenses are paid for

Breakthrough!

Finally! Payton has been trying to cut 4, yes 4, teeth for what's felt like forever. We were playing yesterday and I happened to get a peek in her mouth and the top 4 teeth are just through her gums.

Dancing Queen

Payton has started "dancing" whenever I sing to her or she hears any sort of music. After several attempts to get her "dancing" on video, this is what I was able to record. P thinks she needs to stop what she's doing and smile at the camera.

Mail Lady

Cuteness!

She LOVES to crawl under things!

Poor Scout just lays there as P climbs all over him.

Look! No hands! She's standing up all my herself!

Her "I'm so excited face"!

Threading

I'm sure yall have seen the Indian ladies in the malls with thread in their mouth and someone reclined in a chair. I was curious about the technique after reading several rave reviews on some message boards. My sister, the esthetician, told me it hurt terribly, left you red and was unsanitary. Since she's lived with Mom and Dad, she's been doing my monthly brow maintenance. When I asked her to tweeze my brows this week, she said she stopped taking appointments.

Mom and I were at the mall on Saturday and I thought, what the hell, why not? It wasn't that painful... it hurt less than waxing. I was barely pink and that was for just a few minutes. As for unsanitary, the tech wore gloves and the thread was in her mouth for tension... it was never near me. My brows look amazing! I use to pay $25 for sugaring and my eyebrows didn't look this good. For $10 and 3 minutes, I will be returning as soon as I see any regrowth!

Water Water Everywhere

We planned to go swimming at the Graham's house after the kiddos had their afternoon naps. Payton went down for her nap at 12:30 and we had to wake her up at 4:00! Yall, my child does not sleep like this. We planned on cooking out, but being in the sun and water wore P, Nate and Cayman out so we decided to just come home.


Jenni and Nate

Corey and Cayman

Payton and Nate after swimming

They were playing great and loving on each other and then Payton started screaming... turns out, Nate was using her as a teether ;) She has 2 little bruises from his top teeth on her arm. I thought we weren't going to deal with biting until MDO starts this fall (totally kidding Jen... Nate didn't do it on purpose).

Come Out, Come Out, Wherever You Are

I was organizing my new little craft/quiet time area (catty corner to P's room) and turned around and didn't see Payton. I looked in her room and this is what I saw...



How can you ever be upset with this face?

Hey Good Lookin', Whatcha Got Cookin'?

I found this interactive kitchen for $30 on the classified section of a local website! The little girl outgrew it and they wanted it out of their garage. A little all purpose cleaner and it was as good as new. It recognizes the food put on the burners and asks all sorts of questions. They also gave us a copy paper box full of play food and utensils, which the majority of is packed away for future use.

Just Breathe!

Whew! I finally have a chance to sit down and upload pictures from the last 2 weeks.

Monday through Thursday was Vacation Bible School at church. Initially I was the snack lady, but there were so many kiddos (what a blessing!), I ended up teaching 2nd grade with 3 other lovely ladies.

Not sure if yall know, but in college, I switched my major from fashion merchandising to teaching and then back to merchandising (because I was a stupid 20-something that thought a higher salary was more important). After graduation, I wasn't ready to move home, so I subbed in Denton for the Spring semester. I LOVED it!!! When I got the Kappa job and knew I'd start grad school, I entered a teacher certification/masters program. After the fall semester, I didn't want to stay in Pittsburgh any longer than I had to, so I decided to go the "easy" route and get my MBA. If I hadn't made that choice, I wouldn't have moved back to Dallas and met Lane.

This week I can't tell you how many people asked me if I was a teacher. When I said no, they said, "Well, you should be". What a compliment!!! I think God is telling me something. Once our last kiddo hits 4, I'll most likely start an alternative certification program and finally do what I should've done all along.

Down On The Farm

Last Saturday, Payton and I went with Mom, Dad, Allie, and Michael to Uncle Bob's in Emory (Lane was golfing at Possum Kingdom). We started the afternoon with some watermelon and then went to see the cows and horses.

I think she liked it!

Dad took her into the pasture to get a closer look.

This is Trey...the sweetest old horse ever! P wasn't too sure about holding his mane.

Payton was more concerned about sucking on the gate than looking at the camera.

Update: Window Mistreatments

Fusible webbing ironed on the salvage edge

"hemmed" edge

I didn't take pictures as I was folding the Roman shade.



Using upholstery tacks, I tacked the top where the wall meets the ceiling to make the windows seem extra long, and then hot glued cream fringe to finish off the raw edge.

Material - 3 yds @ $5/yd =$15
Trim - 1 1/2 yds @ $2.5/yd =$3.75

Total cost is less than $20 for 3 windows!!

Ma ma ma ma ma ma ma!

I can't believe I forgot to post about Payton saying momma!!

She started this several weeks ago and is now leaving off a few of the "ma's". She knows what it means too... whenever she's crying in her bed, I'll hear ma ma ma ma through the monitor. It's so great to be loved by this amazing little person!