4 Months Old

    Payton Joy is 4 Months Old! I can't believe how time has flown! She is 15 lbs 6 oz (75th percentile) and 25 in. long (50th percentile). She wears size 3-6 Month clothes, size 2 diapers, and size 1 shoes. At daycare, She drinks 6-7 oz every 4 hours. At home, she nurses for 10-15 minutes every 3 hours. We introduced formula for the first time shortly after she turned 3 months. I am not considering weaning her and don't have any plans to switch to formula anytime soon, but it made things a lot easier to have the option every now and again if necessary. For example, I keep an emergency formula stash in her daycare bag in case she goes through the milk I've pumped for her more quickly than usual and gets hungry again before I'm able to pick her up. They have needed it once or twice and that gives me peace of mind that she won't go hungry.  Right now, we are going through the 4 month sleep regression, so she wakes every 2-3 hours to nurse during the night, but she only nurses about 5 minutes and falls right back to sleep. We had started having her sleep in her crib at night until she got croup, then we put her back in our room. Lately between the sleep regression and the sickness, she's been sleeping in bed with me more than usual, which I don't mind the extra snuggles one bit!

      She is getting so strong! She can sit up on her own for about 3 seconds before she starts to lean and fall over. She's finally got the hang of tummy time and will play on her tummy for 30 minutes or more at a time. She loves to sit and stand and jump in all her different activity toys. At school, she likes to spend time in their walker, but she can't make it go very far. She also loves to sit in their bumbo and watch the other kids play. She is ALWAYS smiling and laughing. She will just start giggling for no apparent reason. We definitely gave her the right middle name!! She is such a happy baby. She brings so much joy to our lives.

     I can't believe how big she's getting and how much she's doing. I wish time would slow down, but since I know it won't, I cherish every moment I spend with this sweet girl. I give her lots of hugs and kisses and cuddles, and I definitely am in NO rush to have her grow up! I don't even mind getting up with her at night, because to me, that makes it feel like she's still a newborn, and it gives me a few extra minutes each night to spend just enjoying her.

So Much for a "Normal" Week: A Scary Night

      Well we were back into routine for one day, before things got crazy, but such is life, especially life as a parent of young children. Yesterday was a pretty good day, it was a typical Monday, I scrambled to get ready on time, dropped the girls off at daycare, and headed to work. Had a great day with my kiddos at school, Ryan picked up the girls and we were all home together by 5. Then it was time for Payton to eat, and she wouldn't. She was crying like she was hungry, but she would latch on for maybe 5 seconds at a time then pull back like she was in pain. I though maybe she was gassy, so I gave her gas drops and then put her in the bath, trying to give her tummy time to settle before attempting to feed her again. When she got out of the bath, she became hysterical for no apparent reason. She began making an awful "honking" sound, kinda like a goose, and we worried that she couldn't breathe. She kept making the sound, then started gasping for breath, she got purple in the face, blue around her lips, then she stopped. She stopped struggling, stop making noise, and went completely still in my arms; she was exhausted. I panicked and moved her postion, and she startled and went back to crying/"honking." I  immediately put her in her carseat, we put the girls in the car, and to the ER we went.

    By the time we got there, she had fallen asleep and was no longer making the sound. Her color had returned to normal, and other than a raspy wheezing sound when she slept, she seemed okay. But I knew something was wrong, and I was scared she was going to start up again and my worst fear was that she would stop breathing. We knew that ER visits could take a while, so Brandon offered to come get Rylee and take her home so she could sleep in her bed. That was amazing because Rylee was happy, and we could focus on helping Payton get better. As soon as Brandon got there, we were called back, we kissed Rylee goodnight and went to see about Payton. The nurse in triage took her vitals and  her blood pressure and oxygen levels were normal, but since she had become discolored at home, we were told she probably was low on oxygen at one point, and it was able to get back up to the normal levels once she calmed. We still didn't know what had happened, and I was scared they were going to send us home without any explanation since she wasn't doing anything at that point. We were sent back out into the waiting room, and she started "honking" again, but because we were in the ER, and I didn't feel as helpless, I realized what it was: she was coughing, not a typical little cough, a big, bad, croup cough.

    We were taken back to see the dr, and she immediately confirmed just by hearing her cough that she had croup. They wanted to do more tests to be sure nothing else was going on, too, so she ordered chest x-rays, a soft tissue throat x-ray, bloodwork, and an rsv screening. Her white blood count was a little elevated, and there was a small amount of swelling in her throat, but everything else was clear. They gave her a steroid shot to help her fight off the cough and reduce the swelling in her throat, and instructed us to take her outside into cool air if she began another coughing fit. This would keep her from becoming short of breath again. We were also instructed to have her sleep in our room so we could hear if she had a coughing fit or began having difficulty breathing, and were told to definitely not send her to daycare until she no longer had the croup cough, and finally we were able to go home.

     She was so worn out, she slept soundly last night. I kept waking to check on her, but she was fine. She coughed a little, but not a ton, and was able to get rest. This morning, she seems a bit better, very lethargic and tired, but not coughing a ton, and not crying. The crazy thing is she didn't have any symptoms before last night, her Daycare teacher said she was fine all day, I hadn't noticed anything that morning or anything. It hit her very suddenly, and that's what had us so freaked out. She also never ran fever, so I didn't think about a virus like croup. I'm glad she's okay, and I'm so thankful for my sweet baby girl. Rylee has never been to the ER, and was never sick as an infant. She got her first bad stomach virus just after she turned 1, and got her first bad cold that developed into bronchitis, when she was 18 months, but she was never, ever sick as a little baby. It was terrifying seeing Payton so miserable, and I'm so glad she seems to be on the mend.

[Trying to get] Back in the Swing of Things

    We had a blast celebrating the holidays with those we love the most over our Christmas break, but this week it was time to go back to school, or at least that was the plan. However we had record low temperatures on Monday and Tuesday, so they postponed our Teacher inservice to Tuesday, so that students wold not have to be out in the single digit temperatures waiting on the busses early Tuesday morning. And what joy it was to go to teacher inservice on Tuesday only to find our boiler had gone out and we had no heat! It was a long cold day, but they got the heat back working and we had our first day back with students on Wednesday. Then Wednesday night we got some ice that made the roads too hazardous to risk having the busses run, so we were out of school on Thursday. Friday we were back in school, but it was really hard to maintain any sort of routine this week.

     The weather has been super bipolar. We go from ice, to temps in the 50's and back to ice all in the same week. It's insane. But with all the cold weather we've been having, we've been spending most of our time indoors. Luckily the girls have lots of Christmas gifts to enjoy inside. Rylee has been super into drawing and painting lately. I like seeing this more creative side to her.

       On Thursday, I spent most of my day "off" working on report cards and lesson plans, but I did take some time out of my morning to work with Rylee. She has gotten pretty good at writing her name, but Thursday was the first time I ever had her attempt her last name. I'd say she rocked it for it only being her first time! I am so impressed at how far her motor skills have come. Her gross and fine motor skills have always lagged behind her peers, but lately she's caught up and even surpassed her peers in some areas. I can't believe my baby can write!

       Speaking of motor skills, Payton sure isn't behind by any means. She's started jumping in her exersaucer, grasping toys and bringing them to her mouth, trying to hold her bottle, rolling over both ways with ease, and scooting when she's on her belly. She's also super alert and observant. She loves to babble and coo and "talk" to everyone and everything around her.

        We are well-rested after our break, and I can honestly say, I hope for NO snow days this week. I am READY to get back into routine with my sweet students, and for my precious girls to get back into their routines. We discussed in Sunday school today how God is a God of order and her created the Earth in a certain order, and that is why we long for schedules and routines. That is definitely true for me, my family, and my students.  We are also trying to get back into routine of going to Sunday school on Sunday mornings and getting to church on Wednesday nights. Ever since we had Payton, we've only been making the Sunday worship service, and I've really felt it lately. It's amazing how if you draw nearer to God, He draws nearer to you, and it feels like a drastic change if you start missing any time with him. I definitely don't want to miss out. It's hard when you get caught up in the day to day things of having small children to care for, and work, and a marriage to tend to, but my relationship with God has got to take priority or else everything else suffers! I am definitely determined to do better and draw nearer everyday. We are doing a new series, Reading God's Story, at Mary's Chapel. It is the Bible laid out in chronological order. It has really been helping me shift my focus and things already feel so much better. I'm excited to see what blessings it brings throughout 2014.

2013 in Review

 

      This is how we spent New Year's Eve last year, and it was a blast. We plan to bring in this new year in a similar manner, but before 2013 ends, I want to rewind for a second and think about all the amazing things that have happened this year. On New Year's Eve last year, Ryan was unemployed, Mary and Bailey were living with us, we were a family of 3, and I taught first grade. A LOT has happened this year!

 

       This time last year, Ryan and I were just beginning to start talking about adding on to our family. Who knew everything would happen so quickly, and we'd be bringing in 2014 as a family of 4?! Now I can't imagine life without my sweet Payton Joy. I'm looking forward to watching her grow in 2014 and seeing how her and Rylee's relationship develops as she gets bigger and able to do and interact more.

      These kiddos have grown so much this year, not necessarily physically, but they have definitely matured a lot. There's no denying it, these 3 are no longer babies, they are big kids with big ideas and big personalities. I cant wait to see what memories they create together in 2014.

     What does God have in store for us in this coming year? I have no idea. I cannot see how 2014 could be any better than 2013, and I'm a little sad to see this year end. I am thankful for all the big and little changes that occurred this year that led us to where we are right now.



Christmas 2013

      The girls started their Christmas celebration last Thursday with their preschool Christmas party. They participated in a gift exchange, making present for home, and they each received gifts from their teachers. When Rylee got home, she said, "I didn't eat the food, it was yucky, but I got a Barbie, and a pretend Santa came. So Christmas is over, now?" Sweet girl she would have been happy with just that one gift, but that's why it's so easy to spoil her rotten, because she's got such a good heart.

     As a family, we started our Christmas celebration last Sunday with our church's Christmas breakfast. We had a wonderful time in fellowship with one another, sang Christmas songs, and heard a great message on Isaiah 53. It was good food and a good time.

     Next came our intimate family Christmas celebration. It has been our tradition to open our presents on Christmas Eve and it works out so the kids get a chance to play with their toys, and there's no rush like there would be on Christmas Day. We woke up Christmas Eve morning and it was present time. The girls got so spoiled. But Rylee brought me to tears when she insisted that Payton open her presents first and she opened every single one of Payton's gifts for her before she even touched one of hers. It was definitely a proud mama moment. I swear Rylee is the sweetest big sister ever. She may express her emotions differently than other children, but she sure is a sweetie! After they opened all their gifts, we surprised them with their big gifts which were hiding in the playroom. Rylee got a huge wooden dollhouse and Payton got a jungle-themed exersaucer. They sure are spoiled!

     Then we headed to the Jones residence for our annual Christmas Eve party. We had a lot of fun exchanging gifts, watching the kids play, and eating junk food. We all got great gifts and the girls got even more spoiled. After dinner, we sang Happy Birthday to Jesus and ate cake. It was a good night, but both of my girls were a little over stimulated after a long day and after the millionth meltdown, we decided to head home and let them get a good night's rest before Christmas day.

      Christmas day was the busiest day of all. We started out by opening our stockings at home. We all got some great little goodies in there. Rylee got nail polish and insisted I give her a manicure right then. Of course, I loved to and was glad she liked her gift so much.

     Then we got ready and headed over to Granny and Paw Paws for Christmas breakfast. We ate and then opened presents. The girls got tons of stuff and got totally spoiled. After the presents were opened, we all sat back and watched Rylee, Austin, and Jenna play. They have such a good time together, especially since they don't get to play together very often. And little miss Payton got to enjoy being passed around and loved on by everyone.

      After we headed home for naptime, we headed over to Nonna and Granddaddy to celebrate with them and Mel, Josh, and Austin. We had a delicious Christmas dinner, during which Payton took a nap on the kitchen floor! And then we opened presents, and more presents, and more presents. The girls got SO many great things, and so did Ryan and I. We were all very blessed this Christmas. Rylee had the best time playing with Austin's new train tracks, and she got a new Nabi tablet from Nonna and Granddaddy. She is going to be too busy playing to have any time for anything else throughout the rest of this Christmas break!

     Tonight we wrapped up our Christmas celebrations with Christmas with my parents. Didn't the kids look adorable in their coordinating PJs?! We watched the kids ride fourwheelers, opened gifts, ate dinner, and enjoyed watching the kids play. After the evening was over, Rylee insisted on going home with Aunt Liz for a sleepover. she lasted about 2 hours, but when it came time to go to sleep, she decided she wanted her mommy and Uncle Brandon took her home. Overall, we had a fantastic Christmas and our kids got way too spoiled. Now I'm looking forward to spending the next week with my sweet girls, watching them enjoy their new toys!


3 Months

     Payton Joy will be 3 Months Old on Christmas day! She is growing up on me! She is about 14 lbs and 23 in long. She wears size 3-6 month clothing and size 2 diapers, but she can still fit into newborn size shoes. Little miss tiny feet! Ha! When she's drinking a bottle, she can put down 6 oz of breastmilk easily. Obviously, I don't know how many oz she drinks when she nurses. She eats about every 3-4 hours. She's not really on a schedule, I just feed her when she lets me know she's hungry. She goes to bed around 7 pm, and when we have school, she gets up around 5:30 am, otherwise, she will happily stay in bed until 7 or 8 am. She usually gets up once or twice during the night. Sometime around 11pm-2 am, and then once more in the early morning hours depending on what time she got up the first time. She still sleeps swaddled in her packnplay in our bedroom, but we are transitioning her to her crib soon. I think she will sleep better in her crib, she seems to find it more comfortable than her packnplay.

      I love this age, she is getting more and more reactive and playful everyday. She smiles a million times a day. She has great neck control and has started playing in some toys that require her to sit or stand. I'm careful not to let her spend too much time in these toys just yet, though. I don't want her to hurt her little neck! She and Rylee are 2 peas in a pod. Rylee loves to read to Payton, and she especially loves to have Payton come sit in one of her toys in the playroom while Rylee is playing. They are so darn sweet together sometimes I think my heart is going to explode!

    It seems like just yesterday, we were heading to the hospital to have her, I can't believe it has already been 3 months. I love this sweet girl more every single day, and I feel so incredibly blessed to be her mommy.

Passing Down Holiday Traditions

       One of my absolute favorite holiday traditions growing up was making and decorating Christmas cookies. We would dye my mom's homemade icing all sorts of pretty colors and decorate dozens of cookies. I wanted to pass this holiday traditions along to Rylee and eventually Payton because I always loved it so much. We invited Kade and Bailey over for the fun, and fun it was.

      So, I used store-bought icing and we only made 1 batch of cookies instead of batch after batch after batch, but it turned out even better than I imagined. The kids participated in every step of the process, mixing the dough, using the cookie cutters, and of course decorating with icing and candy. I love how the cookies turned out: too cute! And, of course, they had to taste test the sweets as they went along. I think Bailey ate half of the tub of icing, and Rylee and Kade were eating the mini m&m's by the handful, but that's the best part!

     After we were done, the kids were all smiles. I love passing along holiday traditions and starting new ones of our own with these sweet kiddos. I have no desire to have 6 children of my own, but I love how our kids are getting to grow up experiencing what it is like to be part of a big family. I love their bond and I adore watching how it grows stronger and stronger over time. Having a houseful of kids at the holidays makes them all the more fun!

Holiday Fun

      Last night, we took the kids out to dinner and then to Christmas City to see the Christmas lights. It was a little chilly, but we had a lot of fun. Rylee was the first one to meltdown, but in her defense, she had the least amount of warm clothing and she is usually in bed by 8, and it was just after 8 when she fell apart.

      It was too cold to get Payton out, especially since she has had a little cold all week. So Ryan stayed home with her while Rylee and I went to Christmas City. I missed Ryan and Payton, but I had a blast and I loved the chance to focus completely on my Rylee girl.

      Last weekend, we had a 3-day weekend due to a "snow day." Unfortunately we didn't get any snow, just yucky ice, so we spent the weekend inside in the nice warm house. The girls had a blast playing together, though. Rylee is loving that Payton is doing more now, and they just have a ball together.

      Today, we went tot church. The girls wore cute Christmassy dresses. After church, we went to lunch to celebrate granddaddy's birthday, then the girls went to Nonna and Granddaddy's house, while Ryan and I went and did a little more Christmas shopping. Plus, I had to get a new camera because mine stopped working suddenly last night at Christmas City. I was sad when it broke, but I am excited now because I have a new, even better camera to capture the rest of our holiday memories with!

Happy Birthday to me & my Birthday Buddy

      I've had the pleasure of sharing my last 4 birthdays with this little man. My birthday is December 2, his is the 3rd. He was born the day after my twenty-first, and we've been sharing our special days ever since. The day he was born was one of the best days of my life, and it was the greatest gift ever to be able to witness his birth. Ever since then he has been my little man, and my birthday buddy. I love him like he is one of my own babies, and I adore watching him grow into such an amazing little person. He is the most well behaved kid I know, and he has such an amazing personality. He can put a smile on anyone's face in a heartbeat. I love you, Kaden Scott Jones! I can't believe you're already turning 3!

      So all weekend we have been celebrating our birthdays! Friday night, we had a mini birthday party for me. My mom made homemade pizza, we spent time together as a family, and I got presents and oreo pie. It was a blast.

      Saturday was Kade-man's party. We got him a giant monster truck, just like he asked us to. :) It was a little cold, but all the kids had a blast playing at the park. It was definitely the perfect location for his firetruck party! He got so many amazing gifts. We went over his house to play with them all after the party.

     Today is my birthday. It should be against the rules for a birthday to land on a Monday, but otherwise it was a great day. Ryan got me the newest season of Big Bang Theory on DVD and the girls got me a card. We went out to dinner, and Kade-man chose Los Portales. That boy loves him some "big quesadillas!" :) I had a blast having dinner with all of the people I love the most!

     This is me. 24 years young. I feel so incredibly blessed. At 24, I have an AMAZING husband, 2 beautiful, precious baby girls, a career that is also my calling in life, and 2 incredible sisters that keep me smiling no matter what, not to mention so many other people I love that mean the world to me. I would say I've done pretty well for myself.