Dear Peyton

Dear Peyton,

Tomorrow you are one, and I am sitting here trying to figure out where the last 365 days have gone and wondering how this year flew by so fast. I guess being completely obsessed with you has made the days tick away faster and faster! I went back to the letter I wrote you before you were born last year and that seems like a lifetime ago, becuase it is hard for me to remember my life without you in it.

I thought I was prepared for the feelings I would have becoming a Mom, but I can honestly say that you have taught me so much more about love than I ever expected about love. I think my love for you grows a little more each day, at each kiss, at each smile...I could go on and on.

You are such a joy to be around, your beauty is not only skin ddep as each day your little personality shines  through. You have a way to make every person feel so special. Every teacher you have had at daycare, thinks you love them the best. You share the love so strongly with the people around you. I can't tell you the number of people who remind me how lucky I am to have you, but they don't know the half of it. Although, teething has been tough this past week, you are so much more than I could ever have expected.

If the past is any gauge of the future, and this was year one, I can only imagine what the future holds for our family.

You will always be my first, my little sweetheart, my Sweet P! I love you my little sweet baby girl! Have fun being a ONE year old tomorrow and your first day as a toddler!

Love,

Mommy

Thanksgiving 2011

This was Peyton's first Thanksgiving. She began her celebration at her school feast at school on Wednesday. When I picked her up, Miss Jennifer commented that she loved the meal, she even had 3 helpings of stuffing with cranberries. (That is definitely my favorite part of Thanksgiving, glad to know she has at least a few of my qualities.)
On Thursday we started our celebration at my Aunt Donna and Uncle Daniel's house. I have been anxiously anticipating this day for a few weeks now, becuase I was in on a little secret that I knew was about to be revealed. Once the Ash Family arrived, Avery announced that she was having a baby. Since she says that kind of stuff often, so Nana didn't really believe her at first but after a quick check from Jill, it was confirmed. Baby Ash is expected to make his/her arrival in June 2012. I am so excited and happy for Brian, Jill and Avery. Avery's had a lot of practice being the big cousin to P, but I cannot wait to see her with a sibling. I absolutely LOVE being an Aunt, it's probably 2nd to being a Mom, and now between Jill and Jennifer's 2012 babies, I get to become an Aunt to two more little loves. What a wonderful blessing to be Thankful for!

After the celebration and great food at the Holak's house, we headed to Papaw and Gramsy's for another meal and more visiting. The meal was wonderful and Peyton ate several more helpings of Thanksgiving comfort food and stole all of the attention. Everyone got a kick out of her rendention of "Deck the Halls" if I sing a verse and then say "Fa la la la la la" she looks at me and sings her own version of "La la la" with a HUGE grin on her face. She LOVES music and if I need to distract her I can sing the theme song to "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse" and she will stop what she is doing and bounce to the music.
After all the meals, rather than collapse from exhaustion, Christine and I decided to be brave and go out for Blakc Friday sales. We started at 9 pm at Toys R Us and while the crowd was pretty intense, they were very organized so it wasn't bad at all. We stocked up on Christmas gifts and then headed to the Mall which opened at midnight. Although it was intense, the deals were worth it and Christine made waiting funny. This is definitely going to become a Thanksgiving tradition.

P with Grampa

Aunt Chrissy...still not ready!!

P loves her Uncle Ryan

The reaction of Avery telling Nana she is having a baby.
I love the way P looks at Avery.

Meme Rose, surprised by the announcement

Reading the shirt more clearly.

Avery, the Soon to be BIG SISTER

Cousins and Avery

Ryan, Jill, Meme, Papa, Christine and me

All the Ladies

All the guys + Avery

P in her Thanksgiving outfit

Just looking at Avery makes her HAPPY!

Family Portrait

I love that smile!!

Getting all the attention at Gramsy and Papaw's

She has him wrapped around her finger!!

More love from Aunt Debbie and Mamaw

Christine and I prepared for some shopping Thanksgiving night and into Black Friday morning.

What a wonderful Thanksgiving we had!! Soo much more now to be Thankful for. I know that I had a post about being Thankful before, but this last weekend made me realize more than I ever have, how lucky we are to have the families that we do. 

Thankful for my P!

With tomorrow, being Thanksgiving there is so much in my life right now that I am thankful for. We are so blessed with a precious family, amazing friends, and the world's best baby!! I really think that if there were a contest for the happiest, most well adjusted baby in the world my Peyton would win hands down!

I am so thankful for full night's sleep, for 6 teeth coming in and she still has a smile on her face, for a laugh that make my heart smile, for open mouth kisses, for a mohawk that only she could pull off, for the teacher's pet, for my mini Ethan, a 7:00 p.m. bedtime with no fussing, for such excitement everytime when I pick her up from school, for a big beautiful blue eyes, for 3 hour naps, and a toothless grin.


This morning before her Thanksgiving feast at school.



The Lighting of the Doves

On Saturday, Peyton, Nana, Gramsy, and I headed up to The Woodlands for the annual Lighting of the Doves. Gramsy's church choir was singing so we came to show our support and check out all the fun. Peyton had the opportunity to show her Christmas Spirit for the first time of the season. She was Santa's Little Helper and got TONS of attention! Everywhere we went there were comments and a police officer even took her picture. She was the cutest little elf I have ever seen.  She was still a little young for the festival, but next year she will be able to participate in all the festivities.

My Little Elf on our way!



Check out those ears!!



Gramsy singing

North Oaks Baptist Choir



Cheering Gramsy on!!!



Baby Boy Bucher

Monday we found out in the midst of Peyton's double ear infection that Jennifer and Danny are having a BOY!!! Being raised in a family of girls and with all the little girls that we have on my side of the family, a boy is a welcome sight!  Peyton will only be around 16 months older than Baby Bucher, so they will be great playmates and friends. I love the thought of Peyton growing so close to her cousins. I love the relationship that I have with mine. At times, it feels like I did have a little brother and sister, because we were and still are so close the Ryan and Christine. Needless to say, we are sooo excited for Baby Boy Bucher arrival!!

Sleepover

Last Friday, Jill and Avery picked up Peyton and met me at Meme and Papa's for lunch. While saying Grace, Avery asked God to please let her spend the night at Aunt Ray's house. How could I say no to that??? So Avery came home with us and we had a fun night together. After an afternoon, where neither girl had a nap, we headed over to Papaw and Gramsy's for spaghetti and some visiting.

Avery wanted to play in P's Crib

Papaw reading a book to Peyton.
Check out Avery in the background, she was having a ball on the little piano.



Showing P how to drive her car



Playing the Xylophone on her tummy!

So talented, she can play with her feet!

Someone spotted the piano

 

Avery working on sharing



Riding Abigail the Horse (named by Avery)

After a bath, getting to play the keyboard with Cindy (Gramsy)

 

She was sooo proud of herself, and kept requesting the song with the girl.
(Somewhere Over the Rainbow)





11 Months

Time has picked up and is apparently moving at warp speed!! Only 1 more month and Little P is ONE!! Just thinking about that is a bit overwelming, but I am so proud of how she is growing and learning every day!!

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

At 11 Months:

• Crawling EVERYWHERE! She can pick up speed when she wants to get to a toy before Macy gets to it!
• Eating solids, almost exclusively!
• Still drinking a few bottles, but we have begun the transition from formula to milk and bottle to sippy cup and she has been fine with it.
• Can pull up on the coffee table and stand assisted.
• Wearing size 9-12 months in most clothing, but has started to need 18 mth pants and pjs because she is long.
• I can "kinda" clip a bow in her hair without a headband, but there is still not much to hold on to.
• Will bounce and dance when she hears music of any kind
• Will give "kisses" when she feels like it.
• Can clap, "snap", call a "Touchdown" for the Texans, and LOVES Mommy's Cell Phone. She on numerous occassions has called Auny Jilly, Gramsy, or Nana while playing and I don't realize it until I hear a noise coming from the phone.

Calling Daddy

"Hi Dada!!"