Payton's 1st Christmas!!!

Whew it was one busy Christmas. But it was so fun and we enjoyed getting to see everyone. We are so blessed to have such wonderful family and friends. We wish we could see everyone on Christmas but for those of you who we couldn't; like my family in Michigan, Kenley in Florida, our friends scattered all over the country, and friends near who we don't get to see enough; we hope you all had a great Holiday.

Here's a run down of the festivities from Payton!

On Christmas Eve, we went to my Grammy and Papa's house and my daddy cooked lots of meat and my Grammy and mom cooked lots of fixings. I played with Auntie MiMi and RL for most of the day.
Then after that yummy dinner we opened our presents. I got so many toys. My favorites are two doggies that sing. I also got some cute clothes from my Aunts. They sure have good taste when they pick out clothes - not like my mommy who makes me wear dresses. I also got a really neat toy for my crib that makes lights on the ceiling. So many presents. I am one lucky girl.

Then I started to get fussy so my Papa bounced me for a while and then I went to sleep so the grown ups could do whatever it is that grown ups do.

Then I woke up on Christmas day at my own house. Isn't it funny how you can fall asleep at Grammy's and wake up at home. Anyway - Santa came to see me and boy I must have been a good girl because I got toys, and clothes, and a doodle bug bathing suit, and three pairs of shoes. But I didn't get a pink pony like I asked Santa for - maybe he thinks I am still too little.

I also opened my gifts from everyone else. Everything was so nice - I love it all. I really like my dolly that Davis and Jen sent me all the way from Maine!

Then it was time to eat breakfast and take a nap so I could be ready for the trip up to the north side to see all of daddy's family. After my nap I got dressed and ready to go. I slept the whole way but I was a really good girl when we got there. I let everyone hold me and I even took another nap. There sure were a lot of people there. I am so lucky that so many people love me so much.

But the most entertaining person there was my cousin Kate. She was so silly. And she has a really nice Papa too - it must be a rule that you have to be nice to be a Papa.

There were so many people and so much going on - I decided I had enough excitement and needed to go to sleep.

Then it was off to my Grandma K. and Grandpa J.'s house. I told you it was one busy Christmas but so worth it. After all my napping I was so playful at Grandma's house. I got some great gifts, but my Daddy was the most fun toy of all. I was so silly and giggly.

And then..... it was time to go home and say our prayers for all our blessings and the blessing of Christmas. We missed everyone so much who we didn't get to see and we wish you all a Happy New Year!

So Much Blogging So Little Time

We have been so busy lately. And Payton is growing so fast. I apologize to all of you who read my blog on my lack of updates. Read below for a brief run down of what has been going on. I promise I will try to keep my updates more up to date. We love ya'll and hope you all have a Merry Christmas!

My Baby Girl is Growing So Fast

She actually sat in her high chair for 30 min and watched me cook dinner. Of course I had to take breaks and make the dolly sing again but she was so good. She is so short though - it's a good thing she doesn't have to eat in her high chair yet - how would she reach her Cheerios?

My Daddy is the Best Playmate

Sunday we spend the day around the house and cleaning up and getting the last few things done for Christmas.

While I was cleaning the house Drew was occupying PP. They were sure having a lot of fun while I was doing chores!!! Doesn't seem very fair - but it feels good to finally have all the laundry done and my closet cleaned.

Daddy's Little Doodle Bug

Daddy bought PP some Doodle Bug jammies!!! They are too cute - the feet are lady bugs complete with antennas.

She was just too cute he couldn't resist getting her picture. And I can't resist sharing.

THE PONY!!!!!

Well, kind of! Aunt Marcia bought Payton this jumperoo pony and she's finally able to kind of sit in it. She can't reach the ground yet but her Daddy bounced her and she loves all the horsey noises that it makes. She especially likes that it sings She'll Be Coming 'Round The Mountain! I know this is going to be a favorite when she can get those short little legs to reach the ground.

Cousin Cole is Finally Here!

William Cole Wesley arrived Dec. 17th, 2008.

We finally got to go see him on Saturday. He is so sweet and cute. We are so happy for Kye and LeAnne.

It's going to be so fun with Cole and Payton only 2 months apart!

Grandma E.'s Birthday

It was Grandma E's 85th Birthday last week. We surprised her on Saturday by stopping by. I think Payton was the best present. She seemed to be feeling better and all her neighbors and nurses oohed and aahed over Payton - she was one proud great-grandma.

Grandma's Never Run Out of Cookies.....

.....or hugs and kisses! Payton enjoyed her first Christmas Cookie Extravaganza!

We (Me, Kimmie, Justin, RL, and Mom), baked and decorated all kinds of Christmas cookies this past weekend.

And Papa and PP supervised.

Well they supervised for a little bit and then Papa said that he's sure PP would much rather watch football then bake - she must have agreed.

But, when she realized that Papa was watching the Detroit Lions lose AGAIN - she wanted back in the kitchen - but she had only one interest - the swing!

After all that baking - this was the end results. See if you can guess who made which plate of cookies.

We baked cookies from 10 am to 6 pm. No kidding!

Santa Baby....

Well, what you can see anyway.... Remember I told you I got a new camera - evidently I didn't have it on Auto Focus!!!!!! But Miss Payton was really good and cute. And the Jolly Fat Man was so sweet. He really was a good Santa. She told Santa that she wanted a real pink pony (Did you hear that Daddy?)

And just so you can see how cute she looked in her Christmas dress here's some pictures we took before we left.

Even Bo and Diesel couldn't resist giving her a kiss.

New Camera

Sooooo.... I bought a new camera - a really nice Nikon SLR. After we had Payton's pictures done and spent a fortune on them - we decided that we would just buy a good camera to be able to take pictures with. Since she is growing so fast and I want to capture every minute of it. Anyway here are a few trial pictures.

It's begining to look a lot like Christmas!

Well, kind of. Christmas is by far my favorite time of the year at my house. I love to decorate for Christmas and Drew likes to do the outside decorating. And if any of you have ever seen what he does to our house at Christmas time you would never have another doubt in your mind that Drew is just a little kid trapped in a man's body. Huge colored lights, pink flamingos pulling a blow up Santa in a tube from the boat. Trust me - we become the Clampets at Christmas time - for Drew it's the tackier the better. But however, since the Doodle Bug has kept us pretty busy - the only thing that made it out of the attic this year was the tree and the stockings. And I didn't do any theme for the tree, I just put all of the ornaments on it. But it really doesn't seem to bother anyone when you have the prettiest Christmas decoration of all......

4 Generations

My Grandma and Grandpa Lewis (and Aunt Marcia and Uncle Ed) came down from Michigan for the Thanksgiving holiday and to see Payton. While my grandma was here we had a 4 Generations picture taken. It was so nice to have my grandma here - I think it's really times like this - having a newborn baby and the holidays that you wish all of your family was closer.

And I know Payton loved being held by her great-grandma. My grandma is a very special person to me. She used to watch me when I was little and even when I wasn't so little. My grandparents have lived over 1000 miles away from me for most of my life - but I never felt like they were really that far. We used to fly up for holidays and summer time vacations and we would spend weekends there when Drew lived in Chicago- but now that I've gotten older I don't get to go up there nearly as much. And I miss that. But I know that she's always just a phone call away - weather I need a recipe or advice on something - or just need to chat with her. I am so glad that they were able to come down - I hope that my little girl will get a chance to enjoy my grandma like I have - and I hope that she has as close of a relationship with my mom as I do with my grandma.

* and yes the princess never woke up - no matter what we tried.