Park

We had some nice weather this weekend, so much that we were able to enjoy a lot of fun time outside playing/working in the yard, going for walks and going to the park.

Papa was over on Sunday on we went to Riverside to play on the jungle gyms. Payton had a blast going down the slides. This kid is fearless, I tell you. She went belly down, head-first down one of the tube slides. The enclosed slides that we cannot hold her hands on. This was by choice, too. Fearless and klutzy, such a great combination.

You might notice in these shots that she has a boo-boo on her nose. That's from going head-first out the kitchen door and onto the breezeway carpeting. Rug burns on the nose can't feel good. Yikes.

Payton also had fun playing in the backyard with Papa, swinging next door and going for a walk. She LOVES being outside, to the point that we sometimes have to hide her shoes and coat or she'll attempt to put them on and go to the door and throw a fit about going out. Fearless, klutzy and temperamental.
This outta be fun!

Our Peep

Daycare held an Easter Egg hunt today and Payton was, being new to this whole experience, her stoic self. She started to get a bit "into" it as it progressed, but what we don't have pictures of are the two adult-sized bunnies that appeared and waved to the kids. So not having that. And they were on the other side of the fence.

Overheard

Scott & I usually takes turns getting Payton into the tub and ready for bed. The other night while drawing her bath water, Payton was playing in the bathroom and I heard this:

Hey, get out of there (as she must have opened the vanity door and got under the sink).
Payton! Seriously. Do you really want to play with tampons?
We've got another 12-13 years, I hope, until you have to worry about those.
And then Lord help us all.

Walking

Payton just started walking this past week and she's really pretty good at it. She was having a good time this weekend and walking a lot. It wears her out, I guess, because she's been sleeping pretty well.

Here's a highlight from the weekend.



Payton Walking from Dana Jacob on Vimeo.

BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

NOT REALLY SURE WHY THIS DIDN'T POST WHEN I ORIGINALLY WROTE IT, BUT HERE IT IS - A BIT DELAYED.



Baby, it's cold outside. Forget, cold. It's Anarctica, frost-bite-inducing, freeze your ---- off cold. I wish I had taken a photo of it, but my thermostat in the car said -11 on the way to work Friday. That doesn't include the windchill which made it feel more like -26 outside. Needless to say there's been a lot of cancellations around these parts and we haven't been venturing out too much aside from the neccessary.
Last weekend we had a good batch of heavy snowfall. Scott got all geared up to snow blow and Payton was a tad upset that her Daddy was leaving, so we went to the window to watch him. She thought it was pretty funny when he blew the snow onto the window. She loved watching him. So then we decided to bundle her up and take her outside for her first experience in winter and sledding. She didn't seem to mind much, and really loved when I would run fast pulling the sled behind. I'm not much of a winter person, but I think taking Payton outside for some good ol' fashioned fun, fresh air and physical activity is good for us all.

Poor thing

A Christmas post is coming, I promise. It's just been a hectic week since. Payton is on the supposedly stronger antibiotic and as of yesterday she wasn't showing signs of improvement. In fact, daycare called and said she was really fussy and inconsoable at times. We were scheduled to follow-up with the doctor on Friday, but I called and the nurse agreed that Payton needed to come back in. Scott took Payton to the pedi today where they agreed that she's a sick little girl. Her infection had become worse (how does that happen while on medicine?) and they heard enough junk in her lungs to say she has bronchitis. Daddy had the great joy of holding Payton down long enough for a breathing treatment with the nebulizer and for a shot of antibiotic directly into the leg. He was less than thrilled about this doctor's visit. It sounds like this respiratory infection/virus, whatever it is, is going around daycare so they advised us not to take her back. Could be a couple long nights and days ahead. I'm hoping she's on the mend, though, as she appeared to be eating a bit better today. Thank God, because she has had little to no appetite through all this. I just hope she soon starts feeling like her good, ol' jolly, happy self again because the sick Payton breaks my heart.

Right ear

A trip to the doctor's office on Tuesday confirmed that Payton indeed has another ear infection. That or the same infection from about a month ago has never gone away, considering it has been a rough few weeks. All in all, she still is a fairly easy-going baby so it's very apparent when she's irritable that she isn't feeling well.
This time a different antibiotic with hopes that it clears everything up, but her Daddy, Papa, Grandma & Grandpa Jacob are all sick right now too.
We just hope she's not heading down the same road as my niece, nephews and Uncle Seth, all of which had numerous ear infections.
After a bit of crankiness this mid-morning, Payton turned it around and was such a baby doll today for her first Christmas. She really didn't nap, despite a couple attempts, and she held on strong like she knew today was her big social event of the year! What a trooper. And Santa was very good to Miss Payton, and Mommy too! More to come on that soon.

Moving on up

I've had the chance to talk a bit more with the 'teachers' at daycare about Payton's transition from the Bunny room to the Turtle room. Since Scott has to be at work lately at 6 AM, I'm taking Payton to daycare and have more opportunities to see and hear what's going on. I am very happy with the daycare and I think Payton, the social bug that she is, enjoys it. They like to call her 'Nosey Rosey' there since she's all about everyone's business.

So far, the transition seems to be going well. I'm impressed with how flexible Payton is and how easily she goes with the flow. Even more impressed with how she is taking one big long nap (2-3 hours!) and often not in a crib. In the Turtle room, the big kids take naps on mats with blankets and they eat at small tables instead of high chairs. WOW, our baby girl is turning into such a big girl.

As much as it makes me sad about how fast she is growing, I also realize how ready she is for the next step, figuratively and literally. She's ready for the next room and all the new learning, discoveries, challenges and frustrations that come with growing. I'm still holding her hand every baby step of the way.

Tres bebe

It was a brief visit but I had the opportunity to visit with my good friends Eric and Julie who continue to invite me over and include me in some BC Enquirer functions despite leaving the paper almost 2 years ago. While there, I got to see little Henry and Darby and her son, who's about the same age of Henry. The funny thing about this photo is that the boys are about 5 months younger than Payton yet they all three weigh the same.

I'm so used to everyone having boys, and big boys they are, that Payton always looks so petite. Let's hope she doesn't get that huge growth spurt in her teen years where she gets all tall, awkward, clutzy and uncoordinated because her body is growing faster than her brain. Because I bet that would be really stressful and to whom would she turn for support and guidance?

Bake-a-thon

Don't ask me what sugary goodness was up with my sudden desire to bake about a dozen dozen cookies yesterday. I think maternal instincts took over or I was suddenly possessed by a spirit of Paula Dean because I couldn't stop. In fact, just to get started I had to go to the grocery story in blowing snow, freezing temperatures and on bad roads to get one ingredient - shortening. Because peanut butter cookies just aren't right without lard.

So much chocolate and so little desire to eat it once the cookies and treats were finished. Does that happen to anyone else? When you bake you have no desire to eat the goodies afterward. It's probably from tasting the dough and smelling all the sweetness for hours. Here's a glimpse at my lusty all-day affair with chocolate in the form of chocolate chip cookies, peanut butter blossoms and magic bars. And to think, I was happy this morning that I squeezed into a pair of pre-pregnancy old corduroys that haven't been worn in a couple years.