Graduation!

I have officially graduated with my BSN! I am so excited to be done with school for a while.
Graduation was really great! We had commencement in the Hart Auditorium, where Richard G. Hinckley spoke along with a few others. Then we split off into the different colleges for convocation, where we walked and received our diploma holders... Devry and his parents came to watch, which was really nice. We left Payton with a babysitter, since he is only entertained lately by running around, and talking very loudly which would have made it really hard for Devry.

Here are a few pictures from graduation.


Walking across the stage after receiving my diploma holder.
Me and my wonderful, supportive husband. Love you sweetie!!
Two other nursing students, and great friends, Janelle and Cynthia!! (The white cords are to signify nursing students, Janelle didn't have hers on here though)


Devry, Payton and me when we dropped Payton off at Leslie's (thanks for babysitting!!!)
After Convocation, outside the Taylor building.
Me and Payton after we got home, it was about 10pm, so Payton was quite tired, and we were happy that we got this much of a smile.
It was a great night, and I am so glad I worked to complete my Bachelors. I am excited to be done, and even more excited that I can be just a mom and a nurse and not a student.
I want to say thank you to all of the many wonderful people who have helped me in getting my education. Thanks Mom and Dad for always emphasizing how important school is, and for supporting me through it. Thanks to my wonderful in-laws who are a great support, and who babysat countless times when I needed to get an assignment, or test done. Thanks Devry for being my biggest supporter of all. For listening to me when I was frustrated about an assignment, a teacher, or something else. For encouraging me, and being my best friend. I could not have done it without you.
The past four years at BYU-Idaho have been memorable. I met my husband my first year, married him my second year, bought a house and had a baby my third year, and enjoyed my wonderful family my fourth year. The entire time, I gained a wonderful education in a field that I have such a love and passion for. I would not trade the last 4 years here for anything. I look forward to many wonderful things ahead, but will miss BYU-I.

Payton's turning 1!

Payton will have his first birthday on Tuesday! I can't believe its been a year! We had my friend Whitney take his pictures, and they turned out amazing! THANKS WHIT!! (visit her website at www.whitneykathleen.com) I can't believe how big Payton has gotten, and how much he is not a baby anymore. He is a little toddler. He is walking all the time now, and getting into everything. He is learning new things every day. I am so grateful to be his mom and to spend my days having fun adventures with this sweet little boy.






Here is the birthday invitation Whitney designed for us. We are celebrating his birthday sat July 31st at our house. Come and celebrate with us!!

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.