2 Year Check Up

     Payton Joy at her 2 Year Check Up today. She was 28.5 lbs (75th percentile) and 34 inches tall (75th percentile) She has started to get tall like her sissy was. Her head was still off the growth chart, but it appears to be leveling off some. Luckily, since she has no other symptoms, we know that she is perfectly healthy. And she is really stinkin' cute, too.

      I took both girls to the Dr. so they could get their flu vaccines while Payt got her check-up. Rylee got the nasal mist, but Payt had to get the shot since she has had to have some breathing treatments in the past year. I hope we have better luck this flu season than last year! After we left the Dr, we headed to Chikfila for lunch and play time.

      Payton Joy is growing up so quickly. She is wearing size 6-7 shoes and size 2t-3t clothes. She wears pull ups during the day and diapers at night. She is getting REALLY good at potty training, yesterday she wanted to wear big girls panties and wore them the whole day without any accidents. She asks to go potty all the time. I feel like once we have our 2 weeks of Christmas break at home, she will be trained, but I won't be upset if she isn't. It took Rylee Love until she was 2 and a half to be completely trained. Payt won't be 2 and a half until this spring.

       This girl has more personality in her tiny body that seems possible. She is so full of life and energy. She is so silly and smart. She has an amazing vocabulary and talks so well for a 2 year old. She tries to understand everything around her and asks lots of questions. It's really like she's a grown up trapped in a 2 year old's body.

       And she's also one of the most precious gifts God's ever given me. I could watch her sleep for hours. She is so sweet and lovable. I hug her and kiss her a million times a day, but it will never be too much. We are working on taking the paci away, but she loves it so much and it's hard to see her upset.  I tried to take it away completely and she spent nearly the whole day crying and inconsolable, and I just couldn't do that to her. We have all her pacis up high in a cupboard now, and I only let her have one when she's getting into bed. Baby steps....

Baby Levi is Here!

    Baby Levi arrived on October 1, 2015, at 11:35 am weighing 6 lbs, 14 oz and 20 inches long. A week ago, Liz started noticing some weird symptoms, she was swelling excessively and had a headache and just didn't feel good. Her mother-in-law came and checked her blood pressure and sure enough it was high. Monday, she ended up in the hospital, but after monitoring her closely, they sent her home and put her on bedrest to try to let Levi cook a little longer. Wednesday, her blood pressure went up even higher, so the Dr. decided to induce. They began the pitocin at 3:30pm, and broke her water at 4:45pm. Levi took 20 hours to finally make his appearance, but he was certainly worth the wait.

    I spent the night at the hospital with Liz and Brandon and Brandon's mom waiting on Levi to come, and we all were able to be in the room when he decided to arrive. It is such a powerful experience. There is no greater evidence of a wise and powerful Creator than childbirth. Ryan had Kaden, Rylee, and Payton at our house, and once Levi made his arrival, he headed to the hospital so the girls could meet their new cousin and Kaden could meet his little brother.

     They are all so in love with baby Levi. He is going to be one spoiled, and well protected little guy! We all love him so much!

    After spending Wednesday night and Thursday night at our house, KAden was not ready to leave on Friday until he realized that baby Levi was going to going home with him. It is so sweet how excited he is to be a big brother. Levi got to stop by our house for a minute to pick up big brother, then yesterday we spent most of the day over at their house loving on him. Today we stopped by for a little bit after church. We just can't stay away from the little cuteness!

     Friday after work, I got my hair cut, and I feel like a whole new person! Lol. This afternoon and I spending some time with my 2 favorite girls, with all the focus on the new baby, I have missed my 2 babies (and yes they will always be my babies no matter how big they get!).

Payton Joy is 2!

    Payton Joy turned 2 on Friday! I cannot believe it. I would say she had a wonderful birthday. She started out her day with her daddy getting her her favorite breakfast: McDonald's hotcakes and sausage. Then she got to have a cupcake party with all her "school" friends. It was a huge mess, but they all loved it.

    For dinner she got her favorite chicken nuggets from Burger King. She ate all of hers and most of Rylee's, too! She doesn't usually get fast food any more than a couple of time a month, so for her to get it twice in one day, she was in hog heaven!

    After dinner, she got to open her presents from mommy, daddy, and Rylee. Everything she got was minnie mouse themed, and she could not have been happier.

    Then we sang Happy Birthday to her and she got to eat her second cupcake of the day! After bath she played and played with her new gifts until she couldn't stay awake one minute longer. She was exhausted from all that fun and needed to rest up for Saturday: party day!

     Saturday she had a Minnie Mouse birthday party with all her friends and family.

    She cheered when Hunter arrived and cried when it was time for him to go. It's so sweet how she already has made a little best friend. He was very helpful when it was time to open presents. ;)

    Being the opposite of her sister, she loved all the attention and soaked up every minute of everyone singing to her. She didn't eat much of her cupcake. I think she had enough after having 2 the day before. Then she spent the entire evening playing with Aunt Liz. They have such a strong bond. I know she is going to be soooo jealous when Levi gets here, but she's also going to love him to pieces!

     Alright, Payton Joy. You are no longer a baby, can you stop growing up so quickly on me now?! I want to soak up every minute with you! You have such a fun, electric personality. I can't imagine our lives without you in it! 2 was my absolute favorite age with Rylee Love, but she wouldn't stay 2 forever like she promised. Will you?!

Labor Day Weekend 2015

   First off, this girls is doing AMAZING in Kindergarten. She absolutely loves it now and her teacher says she is really shining academically and behaviorally. I am so proud of this big girl!

    We started Labor Day weekend by having a slumber party Friday night with Bailey. Since Bailey lives in Dyersburg now, the girls don't get to see each other nearly as much, so they really enjoyed this chance for a whole night together! Payton thought she was one of the big kids and just joined right in on all the fun!

     Saturday, Liz, Brandon, Kaden, Mary, and Chuck came over and we had a cookout. I had spent the whole morning at the urgent care with a kidney infection, so it was a big relief to have a fun evening with my family.

     Yesterday we went to church, then out to lunch with Granny, Paw Paw, Nonna, Granddaddy, and Emily, then spent the rest of the day relaxing. Today we took one last swim in Nonna and Granddaddy's pool before they put the cover on it tonight. Then we ate hamburgers and hotdogs. It was a blast and a great way to end this 3 day weekend.

     I love my little family so, and long weekends with them are the best! Now I feel totally refreshed and ready to face a new work week. It has definitely been an adjustment being in a new grade at a new school, but I feel like I'm finally getting the hang of things and I love my little class, and I love, love, love my new school. I can't wait to see what the rest of the school year has in store.

Rylee Love Goes to Kindergarten

     I can't believe it, but it is true: Rylee Love is officially a kindergartener! Today was her very first day at MES. She has been counting down to this day, and I have been dreading it. It's so hard to handle my first born growing up on me! Waaaa!

    She rocked her Mario backpack and Lunchbox and her Toadette bow for good luck. My girl is one of a kind! She was so excited all morning, then came time to be dropped off and she got a little nervous. She didn't cry or act out, but she shut down and I started to get worried, but she let me walk away without a fuss, so I thought we were in the clear.

     Then Ms. Tiffany came into my room around 11, and it was meltdown time. If you've followed my blog you know, Rylee Love has struggled with anxiety from a very early age, so I wasn't shocked, but it's never easy for either of us when it happens: Rylee Love had a panic attack. We aren't sure what exactly set it off, she may have been scared of the megaphone siren at recess, she could have just been worn out from a fun-filled morning, who knows? But she became very upset, and she said her whole body hurt, and she couldn't breathe, and I just felt terrible for her. Thankfully, I was able to leave my class with my assistant, so I could talk to her and get her silky out of my car (which she proceeded to carry around the school for the rest of the day-yep my kid is THAT kid...), but honestly Ms. Tiffany was able to calm her down better than I was. It feels so good to know I am leaving her in such caring and capable hands each day! After that minor setback, the rest of her day went without a hitch! She even got to move her clip up because she knows how to count by tens. She was so proud of herself.

    It may sound crazy to some, but I am so very proud of my big girl. She canNOT help her anxiety, but the way she copes with it and continues to go on after something as mentally and physically exhausting as a panic attack amazes me. I'm not sure I could bounce back the way she does. She is only 5 years old. I just love her so! I cannot believe how growny she is! Why must my babies grow up so quickly?!

Summer Break has come to a End

     On Saturday, July 18, I hosted a shower for Liz and baby Levi. It turned out great. We had it at a local restaurant, and the food was good. Baby Levi got lots of great stuff! And it seemed like everyone had a good time. I would call that a success!

    On Monday, Rylee Love had a dental appointment. She got her teeth cleaned and got her first set of x-rays. They said her permanent teeth are coming in great and her teeth look fantastic. After the appointment, we had lunch, then spontaneously went to the movies. I wanted to enjoy every minute I could with the girls as summer came to an end, so it was the perfect way to spend an afternoon.

    Tuesday I went and registered Rylee Love at our new school. It was such a hard decision to leave RPS, but I know the MES is going to be a perfect fit! Rylee Love was a little apprehensive about starting a new school, but now she has warmed up to the idea. After we registered her, we went school supply shopping. She had a blast picking out all her new supplies!

     Wednesday was the first day I got to see my new classroom, so Liz and Brandon kept the kids for a "cousin day." The had so much fun. The girls were WORN OUT by the time I picked them up.

    Saturday we went swimming. It was a lot of fun. we had a small scare at one point when Kaden removed his floaties and ended up going under, but Rylee and Ryan worked together and got him up before any harm was done. So scary!

  I had new Teacher orientation this week with Tipton County, so I have missed these sweet girls. I was off today, so I took them for one last trip to Bounce With Us before school starts back full time next Monday. It was fun, but we didn't stay long because Rylee Love has some sinus drainage and jumping was making her head hurt.

    I have had so much fun with these silly girls this summer. I am so excited about my new adventure at Munford Elementary, but it's still hard to leave these sweet faces each day. Rylee Love starts kindergarten on August 12, and I just can't believe how quickly she has grown. I will be glad once she starts because her class is only 3 doors down from mine. It will brighten my days to know she is so near to me!