Almost there.

I have a lot of things to post about

• Trip to Boise
• Trip to Victoria
• Updates on Payton
• Our summer fun
  

One more week until graduation. One more week of homework. One more week of stress (haha yeah right....maybe there will be a bit less stress then). One more week till I can take time to post about all of those things. I can do one week, even if it includes 6 papers, 3 exams, several blogs and "mini" assignments....I can do one week.

Payton, updates, pictures and video.

ike always, we have been very busy. Devry and I are both working full time and going to school part time. This last weekend we went to Pocatello to visit Devry's brother Ted and his family. Ted's wife Shayla is pregnant, so we got to go to her baby shower. It was a fun little trip.
We are going to drive to BC on the 29th to go to my friends wedding. Hopefully Payton does well on the trip. I have about a month till graduation, and 2 months till we go visit my family. Devry is anxious to be done with his semester and off for the fall.

Payton has been walking more and more everyday! Before today he would take steps towards us, but that's about it. Today he took 9 steps all on his own from the couch to his car. He is getting so big, I just can't believe it. Here are a few pictures of him, and a video of him walking ( I took it about a week ago, so he is a bit more unstable then he is now). I have been trying to figure out a way to get a picture of his new teeth. He has little fangs since his 2 front teeth aren't through, but the ones next to them are. Its really funny, but you can't see it when he smiles.



All smiles! I am so lucky to have such a happy, good natured baby. He is very social, and smiles and waves at everyone.


Emptying out his toy basket....probably for the 20th time of the day. He definately enjoys emptying it way more then playing with anything in it.

Blowing kisses?? That's what it looked like to me...and I blow him kisses all the time, so maybe he is learning?


And here is a video of him walking. When he walks to me or Devry he tends to dive the last step or two (or 5)...so we have to be on our toes :)

Payton is walking.

Payton took his first steps (3 of them to be exact) on May 28th. 10 months and 1 day old.
I will post a video as soon as I can catch a good one.

10 months

After almost 10 months (he will be 10 months in 2 days), Devry has taught Payton to throw a football! It is SO fun to watch them play. I got a really cute video of it this morning.



It is so crazy how much Payton is growing up! His 10 month events and milestones:

• He is 23 lbs...and out of his infant carseat.
  
• He is trying so hard to walk, and falling alot in the meantime.
• He says Mama, dada, bubba, grrrr, hi,ahhh and kkkkk (?).
• He is extremely ticklish, and giggles if I even touch is sides.
• He is crawling EVERYWHERE, and getting really fast.
• He pulls himself up on everything! And stands up on his own
  
• He tries to climb everything. He has figured out how to get up on the couch, and thinks it is so fun to throw himself back...he just assumes I will always be there to catch him. not so fun for me!
• He loves food. Anything he sees us eating, he wants.
  
• He always wants to hold our hands and walk. He won't do it with only one hand though. As soon as he grabs that second hand he takes off (even if we are not ready)
• He LOVES his pacifier. We are working on only letting him have it during nap/bed time....although he is really good at sneaking it out of his crib with him. No matter how many pacifiers we take away, he finds more.
• He is getting a ton of teeth. his two lateral incisors are through, and it looks pretty funny because he doesn't have his front ones yet, so he has fangs. His gums are swollen where his front two teeth will be, and at least another one on the bottom. He had his first two teeth at 4 months...then nothing until now and he is getting a ton!
• He gets into everything. Any drawer, cupboard, shelf...anything. He likes reaching up and pulling anything he can reach off the table.
  
• He is getting to be a horrible napper. He used to take 2, 2 hour naps everyday. Now I am lucky to get an hour in the morning and an hour in the afternoon. I may have to start taking a way his morning nap (or cutting it short) so he takes at least one good nap in the day.
  
• He was really sick the last few weeks, and I am very glad to have my happy and content baby back! He ended up having Roseola, a weird childhood virus. It is gone now, and he is back to himself (besides hurting a bit from teething).
• he gives me hugs and kisses...and it melts my heart. Even if his kisses are drooly open mouth ones..I still love them!
• I love this little boy so much!
  

Mother's Day

My first Mother's Day was so wonderful! Devry and Payton took me out to dinner on Saturday, and we did some shopping. Then Sunday morning I woke up to breakfast in bed (waffles yumm), and some very very thoughtful gifts! Devry got me a hammock, which I am SO excited for! He also got me a Willow tree figuring. I have started a collection of them since Devry and I got married. He was so thoughtful and found the perfect one to add to my collection! It's called "child's touch."






After church, we went to Devry's parents for Dinner. It was great to be able to spend time with family. The weather was great so we all played outside.

I am so grateful to be a mom. I never realized how amazing it is until I had Payton. I love every minute, and simply adore my sweet little boy. Being a mom has also helped me realize how much I truly appreciate my mom. She has been such a love and support to me, and I am lucky to have her. I am also very grateful for my mother in law, who does so much for us. Both of these amazing women are such great example.

Payton woke up monday morning with a fever. It started at 101.6, and just kept getting higher and higher. We gave him motrin and tylenol, but it still was up to 104.3 by 2pm. I suspected an ear infection, and took him to the doctor. He confirmed my suspicion, and started him right away with a shot of antibiotics, then oral antibiotics for the next 10 days. His fever stayed through the night between 102-103, and he was not himself at all. All he wanted was for me to hold him and rock him. He fell asleep in my arms 5 or 6 times...which he hasn't done since he was a couple months old. I could tell he was so uncomfortable, and felt horrible that there was nothing I could do to take it away. He woke up a lot through the night, just wanting me to hold him. The next morning his temp was down to 100-101, and he seemed alot better. Still not himself, but better. Then in the afternoon his high fever of 102-103 came back, and last night was pretty much a repeat of the night before. I can't even explain the joy and relief I felt when I went in his room to get him this morning and he just started smiling. I hadn't seen that smile for a few days, and missed it! His fever is staying down today with the help of tylenol and motrin, and he is actually eating, smiling, laughing and babbling.
In the last 3 days I have spent hours and hours rocking, singing to, holding, and comforting him, and I would have spent more If I needed to. I would do anything for this little boy. I love every single part of being his mom, and wouldn't trade it for anything.

Discouraged

I'm becoming very discouraged about loosing weight. I have been working so hard lately to eat healthy, and exercise 5 days a week. I have been doing really well with it! I am eating extremely healthy. I either run or go to zumba 5 days each week. I have stayed about the same weight for the past several weeks. I keep thinking, ok that sucks, but next week maybe it will start coming off. Nope. This week I gained 2 lbs! How?! ugh. I feel stuck. I lost about 14-15 lbs so easily, and then I have stayed the same ever since. I keep working at it thinking that one of these days it will start coming off.
It's one thing to have the motivation to keep going when you are seeing results. But why am I giving up all the foods I love when I gain weight with or without them? I know. It's about lifestyle, and being healthier. I feel better when I work out and eat right. But I'm not seeing a difference in the way my clothes fit, or on the scale. I wanted to be 30 lbs less than I am right now by Payton's birthday. At this point I don't see that happening, and it is so frustrating since I have been working so hard at it.
I had an appointment with a nurse practitioner the other day, and I expressed concerns to her about it. She was surprised I am not loosing with how hard I am working at it. She gave me several options of things to try. One of the options was the HCG diet..which, after doing some research, I decided not to do. The other one is a appetite suppression medication, which I ended up getting, but haven't taken it yet. I don't know how I feel about it. I really don't have that much of an appetite, so I don't know how it will help.
Any one have any suggestions? Here is what I am doing now:
I am eating 1200-1400 calories per day, divided into 6 small meals.
I eat fruits/veggies with each of my 6 meals, and protein.
I have almost completely cut out junk food (chips, pop, desserts)..with an occasional "cheat".
I run 2-3 miles about 3 times a week. I go to zumba at least 2 times a week.
I am not perfect with it, and maybe thats' the problem. Most days I eat exactly what I plan out, and nothing more. The days after I work, I don't eat at all until the afternoon, but then I have 2 small meals instead of 6. Would not eating for most of the day on those days throw me off? I struggle on Sunday. It is usually the day I slip up. We usually get together with Devry's family for Sunday dinner, and I struggle to not eat the delicious food, and desserts. The Nurse practitioner suggested only taking the medication on Sunday morning or something, to help me that day. That's an option I guess.
If anyone has any suggestions, I am desperate! My 30lb weight loss goal by July 27th is pretty much not an option, but I am really hoping 20lbs still could be. 20lbs in 2 1/2 months..that's healthy right?

Spring is finally here!

We are finally having some wonderful weather! It is rainy today, but the past week or so has been warm, sunny, and BEAUTIFUL! I love being able to take Payton outside without layers and layers of clothes. He loves it too. We have been going for walks every day, and he loves being in his stroller. He is getting so big, so fast! About 2 days after he started crawling he decided it wasn't enough for him, and started pulling himself up on all the furniture. Every single day he is doing something new that shocks us. He is cruising around on everything, and trying to stand up on his own. He loves to hold our hands and walk everywhere (watch the video below), and sometimes forgets he can't walk on his own, and tries. He has discovered how to open cupboards and pull things out. He is such a handful...but I love it!

What about Devry and me? I blog all about Payton and often forget to put any updates on us. We are both in school for the semester. I am taking my last 2 classes and will be graduating in July with my Bachelor's of Science in Nursing. I am very very excited to be done school. Working, going to school, and being a mom has been a challenge and I'm anxious to be done with school for now. A Masters Program will be in my future, but I want at least a year off. I am trying to pick up some extra shifts at work for full time hours while Devry finishes up school.
Devry was originally registered for 14 credits (5 classes) for the semester, but after meeting with an adviser and the chairperson over his department, 3 of his classes were waived. This makes it so he can graduate a semester earlier then we thought. So he is taking 3 classes this semester, and will take 4 next winter. He will graduate with is Bachelors degree in Automotive Technology and management in April of 2011. He is working tons on the farm. They are busy with planting and preparing everything for the summer.

This summer is going to be a very very busy one! We will be going to Boise the end of June for Payton's surgery, then again the end of July for a follow-up. My best friend Samantha is getting married the beginning of July in Vancouver, B.C. and we are going to try to drive up for it if possible. If Devry can't get the time off school, then I will fly with Payton. We are also planning a trip home to Nova Scotia for the end of August. I am SO excited to be going home. My mom, dad and sister (and alot of my aunts, uncles, grandparents etc) haven't seen Payton since he was 11 weeks old, and my brother has never met him. Everyone will get to see him this summer. I am so excited for everything that is coming up this summer, and also excited for the nice weather so we can enjoy daily activities outside.

Payton cruising on the couch while playing with his toys.
First time on the grass. He was not quite sure what to think of it. He kept crawling on his hands and feet because he hated the feeling of the grass on his knees.


Payton playing with Dash. We have two WONDERFUL dogs, who are so kind and gentle with Payton. Dash just lays there while Payton crawls all over him, and pulls his fur, tail and ears. And daisy is so gentle with him. Payton loves them! I'm glad we have such great dogs who have been so easy to train and well natured.


And here is a video of Payton "walking" around the yard holding Devry's hands. This is what he wants to do ALL the time.