Webb Family

Our New Family Website...

2010-03-10T21:34:00.002-05:00

CLICK HERE to visit our new family website. It is still in the works, but ENJOY!

Peyton in Snow - March 2010

2010-03-03T17:26:00.001-05:00

Sorry for no pics...

2009-12-11T08:52:00.006-05:00

Peyton Elizabeth Webb - 21 months

Well, I am really bad and didn't take any pics at Thanksgiving with family in Arkansas...although we did get some family professional pics while there that I will scan it at some point. And, I didn't take any pics while we were in South Dakota. But, I do have some Christmas pics to post. This whole not having internet at the house thing is wearing on us. Here's what I've got...

I love saying "cheese"

opening presents

"I draw"

trying to figure out this stocking thing

Fun Moments..

2009-11-04T14:45:00.003-05:00

Here are a few pics from the last month or so...just some fun around the house!

making cookies with mom & licking the batter...

I like to "help" dad drive the car when he gets home from work in the afternoons.

Cole likes to play in my cabinet with me when he comes over.

A much better view for football

Halloween 2009

2009-11-02T08:40:00.003-05:00

dressed as Tinkerbell

We had a fun Halloween weekend. On Friday evening, we took Peyton took a fall festival at a church for a few minutes before heading to Andrew & Heather's for a pumpkin carving contest. Buck & I were the judges and did not participate. It was a lot of fun hanging out though. Then on Saturday evening we went trick-or-treating at the Outlets . She was a little more comfortable with the process by the time we were done there.

taking a break

walking with dad

Finishing the Kiddie Maze

2009-10-08T08:20:00.001-04:00

Peyton enjoyed the kiddie maze at the pumpkin patch

Pumpkin Patch...

2009-10-06T09:00:00.004-04:00

sitting in front of the pumpkins saying "cheese"

I will return with more Disney pics later, but here are a few shots from our trip to the pumpkin patch last week.

holding my very own Peyton-sized pumpkin and saying bye-bye to the pumpkin patch

walking through the "kiddie" maze

showing dad my pumpkin

holding a big pumpkin

squatting down because mom was squatting down to take my picture

War Eagle, Hey!

2009-10-05T13:41:00.001-04:00

Peyton first learning to say "WAR EAGLE, HEY!" It has gotten a little more clear throughout the season. And, I love when she spontaneously begins!

18 months...

2009-10-05T12:11:00.003-04:00

Well, Peyton is 18 months and just becoming more of a little girl every day. She loves everything about being a toddler including the independence. She likes to go up and down the stairs without us by scooting or stepping. She tells us which one she is choosing for the moment. She is talking all the time. She loves to say bye-bye which is a full routine "bye-bye, blow a kiss or two, and then peace out". She really enjoys calling people by their names over & over again. She is learning a lot about what is the right & wrong thing to do. When she comes out from timeout she has to apologize for her attitude (usually what got her there). So, she responds with "sorr...tude" translated "sorry...attitude". She is 29 pounds and almost 34 inches, which keeps her around the 95% for both. She also now thinks there is a baby in almost every belly including her own, although she will often come up and lift my shirt up to give "baby sister" a kiss...just working on where the appropriate place to do that is (i.e. not the doctor's office). That is just a glimpse into our life with her...so much fun while being so hard to be intentional & consistent.

Disney: Day 3

2009-09-23T14:20:00.004-04:00

Characters at the Park Opening

These are a few more pics from day 3 at Disney. We visited the Magic Kingdom. They definitely had the best opening of all of the parks! We headed straight to Fantasyland and rode four rides in about 30 minutes!! Peyton liked Winnie the Pooh the best. Then we headed to Pooh's Playful Corner to let her run around a few minutes before heading to Toontown to stand in our longest line of the trip to see the Fairies in Pixie Hollow. Next, we rode the train around to the front of the park and met Pluto before heading to lunch at the Crystal Palace:)

Dad & Peyton on Dumbo Ride

Pooh's Playful Playground

Lunch at the Crystal Palace was wonderful. Pooh, Tigger, Piglet, and Eeyore visited our table. Peyton loved every minute of it...although she was so excited about which character was coming next she sometimes forgot about the one visiting her right then!!!

Disney: Day 3

2009-09-07T09:37:00.001-04:00

There will be several posts for Day 3 at Disney. We spent the day at the Magic Kingdom and packed in a ton of fun!

Disney: Day 2

2009-09-03T14:23:00.010-04:00

Buck with the Tree of Life in the background

The fam with Baloo & King Louie

We spent our second day at Animal Kingdom. We didn't go back after naptime, so just did as much as we could do. We went on the Safari, through several of the walking trails, spent time at Rafiki's Planet Watch, met many characters, and started the Lion King show. It got canceled about 10 minutes into it (don't worry, we came back on Wednesday before we headed home and caught the entire show). Buck rode Expedition Everest twice. We ate lunch at Pizzafari.

Giraffes & Rhinos on the Safari

Peyton & Mommy on Safari and the fam with Rafiki

Gorilla on walking trail & elephants on Safari

Peyton at the petting zoo

Many people told us that Animal Kingdom was a 1/2 day park, but we could easily stay longer than that--especially with all of the characters there are to meet here.

Drummers & Dancer in Africa

Peyton showing us the tiger - she also saw a real tiger

Meeting Safari Mickey

That evening we headed to Ohana at The Polynesian Resort. This was our favorite meal. Peyton enjoyed the food & entertainment. The shrimp was amazing & Buck enjoyed the steak. The meat is all you can eat. They bring the skewers to the table until you cannot eat anymore.

The grill at Ohana

Pictures after dinner at the Polynesian

Disney: Day 1

2009-09-03T13:28:00.005-04:00

Peyton at the Yacht Club

Epcot

Our first day at Disney was Buck's birthday. He wore his birthday button:) and had so many cast members wish him a happy birthday. We headed to EPCOT first thing in the morning; in fact, we were the only people on the bus from our resort. I think our longest line for the day was about seven minutes & that was for Buck to get a fastpass for SOARIN! Peyton loved the The Seas with Nemo & Friends Pavilion. We met several characters which took her awhile to get used to, but they were all great interacting with her. We ate authentic fish & chips that were wonderful in Great Britain and we had a steak dinner at The Captain's Grille at the Yacht Club (just a short boat ride from Epcot). The Chinese Acrobats were a great way to end our day. We had an excellent start to our Disney vacation! Enjoy the pics...

Meet & Greet w/Goofy & Minnie

Meet & Greet with Aladdin & Princess Jasmine

Fife & Drum Corp in American Pavilion

Peyton in Bruce's Mouth in The Seas Pavilion

Peyton at the Yacht Club

The Seas with Nemo & Friends Pavilion Entrance

Dad's Birthday Dinner at the Yacht Club

A Few Firsts...

2009-08-18T18:02:00.003-04:00

Yesterday, Peyton and mom went on a nature walk. This was Peyton's first walk in our neighborhood without a stroller. The weather was cool & breezy which made for a good day for a walk. Peyton collected all sorts of treasures to bring home & learn about.

Today, it was raining and Buck decided to take Peyton out to "feel" the rain. Well, she really liked it & decided to more than feel it, she played & played until she was soaked--she would stay outside forever if we let her!

Cheesy Smiles...

2009-08-13T08:59:00.001-04:00

Peyton loves to "smile" for the camera these days...

Apparently, so does dad...

...

2009-08-04T08:53:00.001-04:00

Can't wait!!! Mountain Lake Church's Grand Opening, Sunday, August 9, 9:30 am & 11:00am! Gonna be awesome!!! mountainlakechurch.org

15 Months Old...

2009-07-16T19:28:00.002-04:00

I cannot believe Peyton is 15 months old already. She is such a joy each day & we are amazed with how much she is learning and growing.

Here are her numbers...she is still a giant among her peers:)

Weight: 26.8 pounds (92nd percentile)
Height: 32.5 inches (94th percentile)
Head circumference: 18.8 inches (92nd percentile)

She seems to be doing new things each day. Here are some of her new milestones & favorite things:

1. She loves climbing. She will climb up to the kitchen table and just sit in a big chair, until today when she decided that wasn't enough & made it almost all the way on to the table. As soon as I turned around, she caught my eyes and hurried down!!!

2. She loves to spin around until she almost falls over...I think all little kids enjoy doing this at some point.

3. She loves to talk & give everything names which is really fun. Just about every day she says a word we didn't know she could say. I think she can say about 50 words unprompted now...we understand most of them most of the time:) Some of her favorites these days: bear, frog, giraffe, dog, ruf, roar, hi, uh-oh, remote (she calls it a boat), shoes, and socks. And, she loves pointing out all of your facial features, so don't be surprised if she walks up and pokes you in the eye to tell you "eye" or grabs your face to say "face":)

4. She likes to dance...especially when we hear music in restaurants.

5. She is still eating a ton...pretty much anything we put in front of her which is great. Then, she usually hands us her plate and says, "MORE"

6. She usually wants whichever one of us isn't there. Whoever goes to get her out of bed, she will point out into the hall and ask for the other person.

She is just loads of fun right now. We are enjoying sharing life with her & watching her learn. Thanks for joining us on this journey!

One Cute Cow...

2009-07-10T17:32:00.004-04:00

We went to Chick-Fil-A tonight for Cow Appreciation Night. Peyton actually kept her costume on for awhile, before rearranging the spots later. Either way, she is one cute cow...

4th of July Pics...

2009-07-05T17:26:00.003-04:00

We had a nice relaxing holiday weekend. Here are a few pics of Peyton in her cute dress from Aunt Kim...

Catching up on a Few Things...

2009-06-27T08:15:00.006-04:00

Here are some random pictures to update you on our summer so far...

Her Trip to Chuck E Cheese's

Playing with Golf Balls at the High School Event (above)
Sitting with Dad at same event (below)

Trip to Six Flags
taking a water break

Monster Mansion with Uncle Josh

Playing in the water park--really the only thing in there she liked

Riding in her new car--she likes to get in and out & move her rock from the front to the back...driving somewhere is only an added perk

She likes wearing her sunglasses, though only for a short time

This is a fuzzy picture, but she love to get out of the cart and push it straight ahead even though she cannot see a thing

Peyton's new hallmates --Meagan & Talicia moved from Washington & are staying with us for awhile

Outside Picnics (when it's not blazing hot -- 21 straight days in the 90's already)

Uncle Daniel came to visit & go swimming with us

We also went to Pensacola this week to visit Peyton's Great-Grandparents, Great Aunt Kim & Uncle Rick, Uncle Barrett & Aunt Lillie--but my camera batteries died, so no pictures

It's Been Awhile...

2009-06-12T14:34:00.004-04:00

Well, I have a lot of catching up to do on here, so here is just a bit of what we have done over the last month or so.

Peyton went to Chuck E Cheese for the first time. We went with my mom & Josh. She loved running and exploring and of course riding the rides. I forgot the camera...so, no pics...sad!

We went to Dax's Preschool Graduation & then celebrated with pizza afterwards.

We booked our first Disney Vacation: 86 Days To Go!

The Isbells, Crystal Corn, Talicia, and Meagan came over for Memorial Day. We cooked out and at a lot together. Peyton had her first bit of watermelon and really enjoyed it.

I went to camp with our middle school students, so Peyton and daddy had a few days together--I think they had a good time--I missed them terribly.

This Summer
Peyton took her first trip to the library & checked out a few books and movies for home. She loved running around and didn't take too many books off the shelves.

We went to the free movie last week: Nim's Island. We only stayed for the first 30 minutes or so. Peyton's favorite part was taking her cup in and out of the cupholder attached to the seat.

She is learning to color a bit more. We got her the special crayons for kids that are easy to hold. She still would much prefer to eat them than color with them.

Peyton at 14 Months

She is talking up a storm--she says about 20 words that we understand, and is trying to communicate more every day.

She loves to run away when you say "come here"--her favorite game.

Her favorite toys are her blocks, "kitchen toys", empty boxes, and baby dolls.

She enjoys checking the mail. As soon as I ask her she runs over to the door and says "bye bye".

She does not like being held or riding in anything when we go to the store (except the grocery store) because she would much rather walk--we have had to have some serious talks about this.

You can often find her sitting in her chair reading a book:)

Peyton Dancing at Six Flags Show

2009-05-15T19:22:00.003-04:00

Peyton Clapping at Six Flags Show...

2009-05-15T19:22:00.001-04:00

Six Flags on Mother's Day...

2009-05-15T15:03:00.005-04:00

Mother's Day started off great with breakfast in bed. I really do appreciate the days when Buck gets Peyton up & I can just stay in bed a few more minutes. Then we headed to Six Flags to meet YaYa, Papa Joe, and Uncle Josh. We didn't stay too long, but it was a very relaxing and fun trip. I was so shocked at how excited Peyton was about riding everything...No fear yet. I am sure Buck thinks she is about ready for the coasters. She even sat through the Looney Tunes Talent Show clapping & dancing. Thanks to my family for a wonderful day. I love being a wife, mom, and daughter!

Exploring...

2009-05-08T13:54:00.002-04:00

Some of my favorite moments with Peyton are when she is being spontaneous & learning, when she is exploring new things. She has "her" cabinet in the kitchen. This is the only one she is allowed to open, and for the most part she honors that. Anyway, this picture is from about a month ago. She just climbed right in the cabinet. I guess it was more fun that pulling everything out. It was even more fun watching her figure out how to get out.

2009-05-07T09:39:00.004-04:00

My friends Farah & Lindsay both gave me a blogger award. I am glad I still have so many friends blogging...I am much better at keeping up with people this way!

So here are the rules:

1. When given the award you write about the seven things that you love

2. Pass the award to 7 bloggers that you love, and be sure to tag them and let them know they've won. (You can copy the picture of the award and paste it on your sideboard.)

Seven things that I love:

1. Jesus--He IS everything I need

2. Buck, the love of my life who I know will always be leading me on this journey

3. Peyton, who brightens everyday when she reaches for me

4. My friends & family who love me just as I am, but encourage & challenge me to grow

5. Food--I am God gave us something so enjoyable to do to sustain life!

6. Getting Away--vacations are way underated, short & long

7. Auburn--It's Great to be an Auburn Tiger!

Now I give this award to seven friends and bloggers.(this means you get to put this cute little award on your blog so don't let me down by not participating and passing it along.)

I give the award to:

1. The Updegraff Family

2. The Friday Family

3. The Ross Family

4. Meredith Evans

5. The Luippold Family

6. The Wisor Family

7. The Newton Family

Our Trip to the Zoo...

2009-05-05T08:13:00.002-04:00

Buck, Peyton, and I went to the zoo this past Saturday. It was a lot of fun! There were times when she wasn't sure what she was looking at, but there were some animals she really liked. She would wave and point to a lot. She really enjoyed the petting zoo, but her favorite exhibit was the new parakeet exhibit. You walk into and atrium with 500 parakeets. You can buy a feeding stick for $1 & they will fly right onto it and eat. She also got to get down and walk around in there chasing the parakeets. Overall, it was a good experience for our family.

Peyton Walking...

2009-05-01T12:42:00.001-04:00

Easter 2009...

2009-04-12T20:11:00.008-04:00

Well, this was Peyton's 1st Easter because it was before she was born last year. We went to MLC yesterday for a great day of celebrating Jesus. I am so thankful that His grace is BIG enough for ME and all my failures. Today, we headed to Peachtree City to my mom's & had lunch and hung out. Peyton enjoyed playing with her Easter Basket, eggs (w/cheerios inside), stuffed lamb & duck, and new purple ball!!!

Two Birthday Parties...

2009-04-04T10:57:00.004-04:00

BIRTHDAY FUN!!!

I had two birthday parties for my first birthday. My first was with my nana, and cousins Olivia & Annika. They came a couple of weeks before my birthday, so we celebrated with them. They got me a princess balloon & a chocolate cake just for me.

I'M TURNING ONE!!!
My second party was with my friends and family that are close by. We had quite the crowd--twenty-nine people in all. My mom fixed a strawberry cake just for me & then a big one for everyone else to share. The theme was zoo animals, because I love animals and we were supposed to go to the zoo the next day...but, it stormed all day.

my birthday party dress

My friends Colin, Ryan, Cole, and Dax came to my party.

I was playing peek-a-boo with Mr. Louie using my books.
Uncle Daniel came to my party too!

eating & enjoying my cake--I ate all the strawberries off the top before I dove in

opening my presents from YaYa, Papa Joe, and Uncle Josh after everyone left---I was exhausted.

An Update on Peyton at 1 Year!!!

2009-04-01T13:01:00.003-04:00

Well, Peyton is one now & is doing so many big girl things besides looking so big! So here are a few quick things about our girl:

31.1 inches (97%) - not really shocking
21.8 pounds (63%)
Head: 18.2 inches (81%)

Things I Like to Do:

Talk, Talk, Talk (especially at home) - words I say: dad, WOW (my favorite), moo (but I say boo), quack (whack), yeah, no & no-no (there is a distinction to her), what's that?, dog, bye bye, more, momma (on accident sometimes); I also like to repeat all sorts of things or just make up words...I am trying to say giraffe because of a video I watch & when I don't know how to say something I usually say wow or dog instead:)
I am way more interested in solving problems & talking than walking, so I'm taking my time. I walk all over the house with my walker and around all the furniture. I really like to push the dining chairs around the room. I took four steps on my own last weekend, but just get bashful when I try to walk--so, I'll keep crawling for now.
I love cleaning up my toys now (mom likes this) by putting them in the basket, bin, or my animals in the ark
I enjoy my stacking rings, but I get frustrated when there is one missing because the other one won't go down all the way.
I like to show love to my toys & dolls by holding them against my shoulder and putting my head down on them
I like to point at everything
I love to do the motions to different songs like "The Itsy Bitsy Spider"
She is wearing 12-18 month clothes (they look so much bigger than the 6-9 month stuff)
She loves to look at what you ask her about like "Do you want to go to bed?" and she will look at or go to her bed. She does this with outside, baby doll, her walker, her kitchen toys, and some other things--it is fun to watch her learning about new things
I still love to read! YAY!
She will "blow" when you come to wipe her nose...it is cute!
She is learning to stack things just to knock them over; she concentrates so much when she is doing this.

Happy Birthday Peyton...

2009-03-31T21:03:00.003-04:00

Well one year ago I was in labor with our beautiful girl. She was born at 9:13pm...3 hours short of being an April Fool's Baby. I cannot believe how fast this last year has gone & how much we love having her as a part of our family. I will spend the next few days updating, sharing pics, and remembering this first year. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PEYTON!

Happy Anniversary...

2009-03-26T20:32:00.001-04:00

It's been four years with you, babe. I love you. Thanks for loving me.

Playground Fun...

2009-03-09T09:59:00.004-04:00

On Friday, Peyton and I went to the park with Dax, Cole, and Farah for a picnic and some play time. I forgot my camera, but she had a blast. She went down the slide, crawled around a lot, tried to climb various things, and walked around the edges some. She was actually quite dirty & completely exhausted when we got home. On Saturday, Buck and I took her to the neighborhood park. She played so hard and laughed a lot.

11 MONTH PICS...

2009-03-06T16:17:00.004-05:00

Here are Peyton's 11 month pics. She is getting so big & doing so many new things. We are really enjoying this time:

Are we done yet?

Thank You...

2009-03-03T10:50:00.002-05:00

No one wants to go through tough times, but these days it just seems like the norm around us. What I do know though, is that most people do not have an amazing support system around them. God has given us that & I must be thankful. Over the past few weeks, life has been tough dealing with this miscarriage in the midst of so much other uncertainty in our lives. But so many people have been there for us, so thanks...

Rodney & Sarah, Louie & Lindsay, Bryan & Karen...our growth group--we love doing life with you; we are so thankful for you--thank you for the flowers, card, food (so much food, Lindsay!) and coming over to help with Peyton. Thank you for your prayers every step of the way.

Amy Chase & Bev Maloney - thank you for coming to our home and taking care of our girl

The Mountain Lake Staff - thank you for loving us, praying for us, providing meals, and picking up the slack around the office without me there (especially with volunteers)

Tricia Lovejoy - thanks for letting me know there is someone out there who has been in the same place & came out the other side still able to praise God for all He has done. Thank you for the encouraging words & listening ears.

Farah - thanks for being a great friend--I know you are always available, always there to listen & remind me how great our God is

Peyton - thanks for giving me lots of love even though I could not pick you up for several days or play with you how I like

Buck...thanks for choosing to walk through life with me. I cannot imagine it without you. Thank you for taking time to go to the doc with me, stay home with me, take care of our girl, keep our home clean, make me rest, make me drink water, make me rest, and just be there with me. I love you, babe.

FREE PANCAKES...

2009-02-24T07:22:00.001-05:00

Hey, I just wanted to let everyone know that today is NATIONAL PANCAKE DAY and so today they are giving away free shortstacks of pancakes all day...so stop by sometime today!

Some of My Favorite Things...

2009-02-19T12:38:00.002-05:00

These are some things I love to do now that I am ten and a half months old:

climb the stairs at our house--that's been loads of fun
play with anything electronic--cell phones, remotes, computers, the Wii
say "yes" and "no"
rub bananas in my hair--this just started out of the blue
sit & read
carry my baby doll around wherever I go
practice walking with my walker
lay my head down on anything soft and "rest"
ignore my mom & dad when they tell me to do or not do something
stand up next to my crib and pull my blanket through the slats so I can roll around in it & play peek-a-boo with someone or just with myself

My New Chair...

2009-02-17T07:53:00.003-05:00

While we were on vacation, we got Peyton a new chair from IKEA. We thought it would be awhile before she could get in it herself, but yesterday afternoon she climbed right up into it.

Our Mini Vacation...

2009-02-15T11:33:00.004-05:00

This week our family went on a mini vacation. On Wednesday, we went to Auburn for a visit. Buck & I went to the Auburn v. Arkansas basketball game. WAR EAGLE! We visited lots of friends & walked around on the campus that has changed so much I can barely recognize it.

Thursday afternoon we drove back to my mom's house & visited for the evening. Then, on Friday night, my mom kept Peyton so that Buck & I could go to a hotel for Valentine's Day. Buck splurged all weekend on me & we had such a good time. Friday night we went to Longhorn for an early dinner. Dan Reeves was eating there too. Then we went back to the hotel and relaxed for a bit before going to the Cheesecake Factory for dessert. Saturday morning we slept in!!!! Then we went to Honeybaked Ham for brunch before doing some shopping and watching "He's Just Not That Into You".

We came home last night & are taking today to relax and finish our vacation. Here are a few pics:

Peyton sitting next to the Auburn seal

Peyton & Beth in front of Samford at the Auburn sign

Peyton with Suellen & JD Good...Mike & Jess were already gone. We also visited Theresa Ward, Steve Thompson, and the Updegraff family.

Want to Buy Our House...

2009-02-10T08:30:00.000-05:00

Do you know anyone looking for a home?

http://www.82highlandpointcir.com/

Almost 10 Months...

2009-01-29T10:06:00.004-05:00

Peyton with mom on Christmas Day

So, it has been awhile since I posted, so I thought I'd give an update of things Peyton is doing at 10 months (2 days away).

getting a bit braver in her "walking" --holding on to furniture & moving around--hopefully she will take her time on this one
she has two bottom teeth & has started to "crunch" her cheerios when she puts them in her mouth; we have started brushing her teeth, but she thinks it is a game where she is supposed to stick her tongue out which of course covers her teeth
she loves grabbing a blanket & throwing it over her head to play peek-a-boo
her favorite word besides dad is "yes"...most of the time it sounds kind of like "duh"
she has slowed down a bit in her growth & is not way bigger than other babies now
still loves bathtime and has even decided that is a great place to poop a couple of times
has shown a few signs of separation anxiety, but is fine in about 30 seconds--this is a very new feeling for me
still loves to eat everything--she had a kids meal at Applebees this past week (a mini burger & fries) and loved it; she also loves quesadillas with beans, green peppers, and cheese and macaroni & cheese could be her favorite thing
she enjoys dancing; usually she will stand up at the coffee table & stomp her feet to the beat

Unprovoked Love...

2009-01-26T08:29:00.003-05:00

There are not many things better than Peyton showing me love. Give me a hug. Give me a kiss. She usually responds with a hug or kiss or a big smile. But, last night was maybe my best moment with her yet. I slipped out of our student ministry environment a bit early to pick her up. We had a meeting before, so it had already been a long day and she had been in childcare for most of it. So, I went in to pick her up and was talking to the ladies in the room. Peyton leaned over and gave me the sweetest kiss on my cheek without me asking. Simple & Sweet. I could not have asked for more. I am so glad she is my daughter.

Teaching Kids About Money...And So Much More...

2009-01-22T12:31:00.002-05:00

My friend Farah was telling me about these banks she found online that have different compartments (see the blog link to the right) to teach kids about spending, saving, giving, and investing. I also think you can make some cool ones. I found this website that gives parents & teachers great ideas for teaching about these ideas: The Mint So, check it out!

A Few Pictures...

2009-01-13T19:29:00.002-05:00

Here are a few pics from our trip to Pensacola. My Great Aunt Kim took these!

out at the beach with family...

learning to eat spaghetti...my Great Uncle Carmen wanted me to learn to slurp

laying on the floor in the living room...just being happy

I blinked

just relaxing in my pj's

CONTEST on the SMARTER SPENDING blog...

2009-01-08T21:51:00.001-05:00

Click here to visit my other blog & check out the new contest. You can win a $10 giftcard just for sharing your ideas with me and other readers!

Stay Tuned...

2009-01-07T22:16:00.002-05:00

Well...the internet hasn't been that great on our mac (where all the pics are), so that is why there has been a break from pics. I still have some great pics from Christmas coming soon, plus lots of updates on our family...so, STAY TUNED!

Nine Months Old....

2008-12-31T20:23:00.008-05:00

So, our girl is nine months old as of yesterday. Here is a bit of an update:

20lbs. & 29 inches long - she is started to level out a bit
We have our first tooth...it has pushed through this past week
She is crawling fast & loves to be chased
She started eating meats--she has had ham, turkey, and ground beef. I think she liked them okay, but the texture of the beef was a little weird to her
She went to the beach for the first time while we were in Pensacola for Christmas
She got a big girl carseat, even though it has to face the back for a few more months

Christmas 2008, Part 3

2008-12-30T13:49:00.001-05:00

Enough Said...

Christmas 2008, Part 2

2008-12-30T09:12:00.005-05:00

We spent Christmas Eve & Christmas morning at our house. It was peaceful, and ended up being a good plan since Buck and I were both sick. After we ate breakfast, read the Christmas story, and opened presents Christmas morning, we packed up the car and headed out of town. First stop: Peachtree City to have lunch with my mom. Here are some pics from that part of the trip:

Christmas 2008, Part 1

2008-12-29T19:36:00.004-05:00

So, I have quite a few pics of different parts of Peyton's first Christmas. I will try & get everything posted over the next few days. Hope everyone had a great Christmas!

Here are the pics from Christmas Eve reading her new Polar Express book & and pictures & and video from Christmas morning.

Stomach Virus on Christmas Eve...

2008-12-24T10:11:00.001-05:00

That's probably all I need to say. We are holding out that Peyton won't get it. Buck & I have had a long 24 hours. I am sorry to anyone else I got sick. I thought I just had a cold.

Anyway, MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Very Interesting & Very Plausible to me...

2008-12-22T18:28:00.001-05:00

Click Here & Read this for Yourself

Catching Up on Christmas Fun...

2008-12-17T10:09:00.006-05:00

Peyton opening her first wrapped Christmas present. It is a book from Crystal Corn.

Last Thursday, Peyton and I went with our friends Amy and Ryan (he is six months older than Peyton) to see the reindeer at Harry's Whole Foods in Alpharetta. I think they had a fun time! The rain held up for a few hours at least. Here are some pics.

Peyton in her reindeer ears.
Ryan checking out the reindeer.

One of the reindeer checking out Peyton.

Peyton & Dad hanging her "Baby's First Christmas" Ornament on the tree

I'm So Glad She Loves to Read...

2008-12-14T13:54:00.003-05:00

This is how I found Peyton in her room the other day. I am so glad she loves books & reading. In her room, she likes to drag the basket of books over and take them out one at a time to read them. So cute!

8 Month Pics...

2008-12-09T13:15:00.004-05:00

Sorry, these pics are a little late. Here are pics of our girl growing up!

2008-12-05T07:08:00.003-05:00

So, I have been tagged by my friend Caci! Apparently when you are tagged you are supposed to retrieve the 4th picture from the 4th album on your computer and post it. So, here it is:

This is a picture of some of the girls from our student ministry in Tacoma at Discovery Community Church. This is a camping trip we went on in the summer of 2006. Fun Memories!
I will tag Farah, Lacey, Karen, Carrie, Maggie, and Kristin

These are a Few of my Favorite Things...

2008-12-04T08:40:00.002-05:00

PEYTON IS CRAWLING!!

She hasn't taken off yet, but she did manage to get to her Christmas present under the tree...Buck caught her before all the wrapping paper was off. Now I have to watch her and Buck around the presents.

She is also sitting up in her crib which can be frustrating when she cannot lay back down. Two of my favorite things from the past week are her singing & getting dressed. Whenever there is music on (and she is paying attention) she will start humming & rocking back and forth...way cute. Also, I have been letting her hold her pants while I am changing her diaper or shirt while we are getting dressed. She has started trying to put them on. She will lift up her legs & start hitting the pants against her feet. She obviously is not at all close to getting them on, but it is still fun watching her learn.

I am sad...

2008-12-04T08:05:00.003-05:00

That is the best way to put it. I am sad that Auburn fired Tuberville. Most days I am so glad to call myself an Auburn Tiger. Then there are those few days I am disappointed to be affiliated with those few people who think they can run Auburn anyway they like. We all know who they are & they have once again made a decision that is not in the best interest of the university. I am sorry Tuberville. I cannot think of a worse decision that could be made right now. We will miss our great coach. And, I cannot think of anyone to bring in that would be an upgrade.

New Blog...

2008-12-02T07:48:00.003-05:00

I have started a new blog to share all the ways our family saves money. We do little things that allow us to spend less every day. Hope it will help you & encourage you!

Click Here

The Day after Thanksgiving...

2008-11-30T08:46:00.005-05:00

We had a great time as a family the day after Thanksgiving. First, we went to the Christmas tree farm to pick out a tree and cut it down. We also looked at the farm animals they had there. Then we came home and baked sugar cookies, decorated & ate them, and decorated our tree. Peyton enjoyed helping!

Making & Decorating my cookie

Enjoying my cookie

Here's the perfect tree, dad!

Thanksgiving Photos...

2008-11-29T11:52:00.003-05:00

My first Thanksgiving meal...I had a bit of Turkey--the first meat I've tasted!

...

2008-11-26T10:22:00.001-05:00

HAPPY
THANKSGIVING!

I am thankful for...

Jesus, who gave His life so that I may have true life,
my husband who does whatever is necessary to take care of our family,
our beautiful daughter who smiles all the time and is doing new things every day,
beautiful fall weather - crisp & cool,
my friends who gave me their money when I beat them in poker last night; now I am going to get a beautiful Christmas tree,
God's continued provision,
Black Friday shopping with friends starting at midnight (I'll let you know how it goes),
wonderful family & friends,
our church--that cares about loving God & loving people,
Christmas music & movies,
having more than enough so we can give some away,
college football--BEAT BAMA!,
our friends, Bryan & Karen who are letting us spend Thanksgiving with them,
mashed potatoes,
peppermint flavored treats at this time of year,
dates with my husband,
our pediatrician who cares about our family,
Facebook (it is better at keeping up with people than me),
indoor plumbing--it's cold outside today,
our mac,
my husband who always thinks I'm beautiful,
the scale I stepped on this week,
our country even in all its distress--we are so lucky,
Jesus, for watching over me and helping me not worry so much

Our Sick Girl...

2008-11-21T19:54:00.001-05:00

Peyton has an ear infection.
See how fast the medicine kicked in...

Peyton's Wish List...

2008-11-20T09:38:00.001-05:00

This post is not for everyone, but I just wanted to let you know that I posted a wish list for Peyton to the right. These are a few things we were looking to get her as Christmas & her birthday approach. If you do get her something on the list, let us know and we will take that off of the list. There are multiple retailers where some of this stuff can be found, I just found the easiest link to get to online. Thanks!

TOP T.V. SHOWS...

2008-11-19T08:00:00.007-05:00

Buck and I were talking the other night about our favorite t.v. shows. These are shows that at some point in our life, we rushed home to see or try to catch some other way. These are shows that we love watching the reruns of over and over. These are shows that I quote and laugh about still. So, here is my top five, and maybe Buck will post his soon:

1. LOST - I love this show for so many reasons, but mostly for the character development. There are some times it is too scary or a little unrealistic, but I love the story from week to week and season to season. We are actually watching it from the beginning this fall with some friends who haven't seen any of it. It is fun watching it through again.

2. The Cosby Show - I still laugh so hard when I watch reruns of this show. I think about certain scenes and laugh out loud. I also love that it was cutting-edge in its day regarding family & status.

3. Friends - Okay, so the show was a bit scandalous...okay, so scandalous that I quit watching it for awhile. But, it was amazing. Not just because it made me laugh. But, because it gave that picture of community that we all crave, that we were created to need and rely on every day.

4. The Office - It makes me laugh! Those who know me well may be shocked that I like such a "stupid" show, but I have grown to love it. It was not an instant classic in my mind, but gets better all the time.

5. Law & Order (all of them) - I know it's the old-school crime & trial show, but I just like it. I would gladly sit down and watch one right now over so many of those newer shows--plus, I didn't have to close my eyes as much with this one.

Almost Made the Cut: Everybody Loves Raymond (I love the reruns, especially now that I am married), Sportscenter (I would watch the same show for several hours in the mornings as a kid), Survivor (We are nerds...we still watch it...I love the premise & the challenges....not the drama so much)

Hours of Entertainment...

2008-11-17T08:46:00.002-05:00

Well, maybe not hours, but Peyton loved playing in the box Buck sat her in. No toys.
No mommy or daddy. Just sitting in the box playing.

Because I Love My Daddy...

2008-11-15T09:57:00.003-05:00

This is my new Arkansas outfit that my Nana got me & my new Razorback cheerleading doll. I really like having her around. My mom is happy that I am happy, but said she still prefers me in orange & blue.

What a Wonderful Birthday...

2008-11-10T11:20:00.003-05:00

My mom, Joe, and Josh came up for my birthday. We drove up to Helen for the day. It was a gorgeous day and a lot of fun!

Peyton & Grandma

Peyton & Uncle Josh

beautiful Helen

Peyton laughing at Papa Joe

Peyton & Dad

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Peyton Clapping...

2008-11-05T21:24:00.003-05:00

Adjusting and other things...

2008-11-03T06:51:00.002-05:00

Well, our next few days will be spent adjusting to the end of Daylight's Saving Time. Peyton did pretty good yesterday only eating her meals a little early, and she took an extra nap in the middle of the day for about twenty minutes.

Peyton clapped on her own for the first time yesterday. We play clapping games all the time & I wasn't really sure if she was interested in trying it herself. She seems to just really like it when I do it. But, last night we were just sitting around. Peyton was sitting in Uncle Daniel's lap & just started clapping. I was probably way too excited!

We visited a different church yesterday just to check some things out & decide what we are really looking for as Buck starts looking for a job at a new church. Then we got home and I went to change Peyton. She had the cutest little sticker on the front of her diaper that said "I was changed" Then it had a box for them to mark "dirty" or "wet". How helpful! That was not my only take-away, but I really liked the sticker.

And, here is Peyton sleeping. She sleeps just like me--on the edge of the bed, in an "L" shape, holding most of her blanket rather than covering up with it--just thought this captured all of that.

Happy Halloween & Happy Seven Months Old!!!

2008-11-01T10:02:00.003-04:00

My hat didn't really fit, but I had a fun time with it anyway!

Ryan & Peyton Playing...

2008-10-25T19:39:00.003-04:00

Ryan is Peyton's friend from church--his mom Amy keeps Peyton one afternoon each week too. He is almost exactly six months older & she really like hanging out with him.

WAR EAGLE!!!

2008-10-23T09:37:00.003-04:00

Auburn plays a Thursday night ESPN game against West Virginia tonight. Peyton is ready! She loves exploring new things like this shaker. But, she would much rather have me hand it to her than make her crawl to it. She is also good at the chewing on the handle of the shaker when the game is tight--see her practicing the technique.

Two videos to watch...

2008-10-21T08:42:00.003-04:00

I don't think I would have responded very well, but this sure did make me laugh:

Well, Steve Spurrier and South Carolina said the referee was just getting out of the way and should not be punished by the league for his actions....make your own decision:

Learning to Stand...

2008-10-17T10:00:00.003-04:00

Peyton has taken an interest in standing lately. She enjoys standing at our coffee table to play. She has let go of me a couple of times and stood briefly on her own. Here are some pics of her this morning.

Giving Ourselves a Raise...

2008-10-13T08:09:00.005-04:00

Our new series at church is called "Give Yourself a Raise". I feel like this series can impact a lot of homes, especially during the tough economic times we are facing. One thing Shawn said is that we are only responsible for what God gives us. Over the course of the last year, we have attended Rethink Money and had some tough, honest conversations. Here are some things we have done & still do to give ourselves a raise. Some of them may seem crazy to most people, but are allowing us to be responsible with the small amount we have been given.

We have paid off about $8000 in debt over the last nine months
We bought a refrigerator and washer & dryer
We have a monthly spending plan that balances out to zero (most of the time)
We tithe 10% of our income and give away about another 5%--we want to be out of debt so we can raise that percentage
We sold one of our cars--and we only have about nine months of payments left on the Saturn we have. 1 car is okay about 88% of the time
We make all of Peyton's food and it costs about $3-$4 a week
We don't have cable television. We still get CBS & PBS!
We have enough money in savings to cover our highest deductible
We have started saving for Peyton's college with UPROMISE
We bought our first home
We use coupons for everything: we join e-clubs for restaurants, we use lots of baby coupons, we find as many food coupons as we can
We use REDBOX for our movie rentals and get a free rental every Monday

Thanks to all of our friends & family who have supported us and encouraged us in the journey of becoming financially free! We suggest that everyone take control of your finances. A great first step is attending Rethink Money. We are pulling for you in these tough times.

We Love Rainy Days...

2008-10-08T13:59:00.001-04:00

What's Happening at Six Months...

2008-10-06T15:50:00.002-04:00

Well, Peyton is six months old now. It seems like she is doing new things every day, so here are a few highlights of this stage:

She is 27 inches long & weighs 17lbs 13oz now
She is eating all sorts of fun foods: oatmeal, apples, bananas, pears, squash & carrots
She loves to laugh & smile and is becoming very ticklish like her mom
We are working on clapping and patting
She enjoys sitting up & playing too much to be interested in crawling
The only place she really rolls over a lot is her bed
She enjoys playing peek-a-boo
Walks are one of her favorite things--she loves feeling the rocks, leaves, grass and watching the butterflies
She loves reading and eating books
She is starting to drink from her sippy cup
Her personality is beginning to develop--I think she does a lot of things (like going to sleep) the same way I do

Six Month Pics at the Pumkin Patch...

2008-10-03T07:33:00.004-04:00

Well, here are the pics. Peyton was much more interested in playing (I mean eating) with the pumpkins & the straw on the ground...but, I think it was an okay first trip to the pumpkin patch. Thanks to Bryan & Karen for taking the pics.

6 Months Already...

2008-09-30T08:15:00.002-04:00

Peyton is six months old today. Wow! I am so glad she is a part of our family. We are going to the pumpkin patch to take her six month photos later this week. I'll post when I get them.

My Big Girl Shoes...

2008-09-25T10:13:00.004-04:00

I really liked wearing my shoes for a bit, but I couldn't find my feet.

Peyton's Eating Habits These Days...

2008-09-23T20:38:00.002-04:00

It has been fun trying new foods with Peyton. It is also nice that she can eat with us at the table now. I have been making her food which is way easier than I thought & actually super cheap...well right now anyway. It just bothers me how long those jars of food last...what exactly is in them? I am going to get a few for "emergencies", but I'll try to make most of it. We bought this cool new steamer which I really like & can do two foods at once. So far she has had rice cereal, oatmeal, green beans, and squash. Tomorrow she will have carrots for the first time. We'll see how that goes, but so far so good.

Well...I'll do it for Mae...

2008-09-23T14:09:00.002-04:00

Mae just tagged me and I like her, so I'll do this...plus it's pretty short & easy!

Here are the rules: 1) Link your tagger and list these rules on your blog. 2) Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird. 3) Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs. 4) Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Facts.....

I have the greatest husband in the world, Buck, who loves me with the love of Christ!
One of my favorite hobbies is Fantasy Football...all three of my leagues are going well right now.
Our daughter Peyton will be six months old next week...my how time flies. I love going on walks with her, playing with her blocks, feeding her squash, cuddling with her when she's tired, and just watching her explore.
I have been learning to play poker. It is something Buck & I can do together. I am getting better.
I have four younger brothers (Daniel 25, Adam 24, Barrett, 19, and Josh 10)
Autumn is my favorite season. I love that our windows are open right now. Walks are comfortable with a cool breeze. Football is on all the time.
I am an Auburn University graduate. Auburn is a spirit. It is an attitude. It is a way of looking at life and at one another. It is, almost, a way of living. Unless you have experienced it, you will never know what it is; you will never understand it. Once you have experienced it, you will never be the same. A part of you will, forevermore, be an Auburn man or an Auburn woman.

Check out some of my friends' blogs...the links are on the right!

Something We All Agree On...

2008-09-20T12:25:00.001-04:00

My Big Girl PJs...

2008-09-19T09:21:00.006-04:00

Last night I wore big girl pjs...no footies (I am too long for most of those) and it was two pieces. My mom was sad to put me in them, but I really liked the comfort they provided. This morning when mom got me up, we both put on our slippers & went downstairs. We have been sleeping with the windows open because of the nice fall weather, but it makes it a little chilly in the morning if you don't have footie pjs on. So, here's a pic of me this morning!

My Happy Girl...

2008-09-18T09:09:00.002-04:00

Well...the sunlight was not at a good spot, but she was happy so I grabbed the camera for some pics. Her personality is really developing. She is pretty laid back like her dad & kinda quirky like me....I guess that's a good mix! Enjoy the pics.

This just makes me laugh....

2008-09-16T07:24:00.001-04:00

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

Trusting...

2008-09-15T10:58:00.002-04:00

Trusting God = easy in the good times and tough in the tough times

What I know...
God wants us to be involved in ministry in the local church
God has wired us in specific ways
God gives us our abilities & passions
God has always provided for us
God is good all the time
God has a plan
God has not forgotten us
God is sufficient for me
God loves when we give
God loves when we trust Him...
God give me the courage to trust you no matter what my circumstances look like

Peyton Chillin with her dog...

2008-09-11T13:11:00.003-04:00

Yes, she sometimes loves the dog way more than me...but that's okay. She is cute!

Palin...

2008-09-10T15:38:00.005-04:00

This may be the first time I have ever blogged about politics. I cannot remember an election where I felt so strongly about the decision we have to choose our next leader. Maybe it is because I now have been in the workplace, have a family, have an education, have medical bills....I don't know, but who our leader is matters. Anyway, my preference on candidate has not changed because of Sarah Palin. What she has done though, is give me someone in this campaign that I feel like I could sit down and have coffee with, someone that has reminded me of what I value. She has connected me to the issues of the campaign. I feel like she has connected with my generation especially, not to mention moms all over this country. She has reminded me why our country is still great...even with all the issues...even with the politics...even with the economy...and the war. Anyway, that's all I have to say right now...I have enjoyed watching her enter the national spotlight!

5 Month Pics...

2008-09-08T07:57:00.004-04:00

Big Girl Things...

2008-09-05T21:09:00.006-04:00

I am learning so many things these days...like eating...today was my first taste of cereal. Besides the fact that I tried to feed myself & therefore covered my hands in it, I did pretty good. I mostly just sucked it all off the spoon, but I didn't spit any out...it just didn't all quite make it in!!!

I also decided yesterday that I can feed myself my bottle. Mom & dad didn't know I could since I only have one or two bottles a week...but, I showed them.

I am about to have to retire some of my little baby things like my bouncy seat, because I just sit up in it instead of relaxing back. Mom puts me in it for movie time, but big girls don't lean back...we sit up.

I have really begun to like playing peek-a-boo. My mom disappears behind her hands & then reappears & says "peek-a-boo!!!". Sometimes it makes me laugh; sometimes I just stare at her and try to figure this out. She is really funny though:)

Peyton's First Gameday...

2008-09-02T08:15:00.004-04:00

watching a 3-D video with Dax & Cole

Well, I think Peyton's first college football gameday experience was good. Auburn & Arkansas won! Uncle Josh came to visit for the weekend. Buck's birthday was fun. We relaxed and enjoyed our three-day weekend!

Bath Time...

2008-08-30T12:46:00.003-04:00

Happy Birthday Buck...

2008-08-29T12:56:00.003-04:00

Happy Birthday, babe. I love you. I am so thankful you are in my life.

We are in the middle of a series at church called The Marriage Project. I have been so encouraged throughout the series mostly because I know God has a desire for our marriage to be great. He designed it. He has a purpose for it. He wants marriage to be a picture of his love for the church. I truly believe this is the only opportunity on earth we will have to see this love played out. That is why a healthy marriage is so essential. I have also realized how blessed I am. My husband believes the best about me. I have not realized until lately how rare this is & how thankful I am for it. He believes God has a purpose for everything we are going through. He is not perfect, but he lives each day to make the most of Jesus in our family. I am not worried about the example our children will have of a husband or a father. He is so intentional about loving and serving us.

So, thanks babe for leading our family, for working hard every day for us. I love you.

...

2008-08-28T11:46:00.002-04:00

WAR EAGLE...

2008-08-26T07:10:00.001-04:00

Little Things are Big Things...

2008-08-22T21:12:00.003-04:00

Well, today Peyton did something fun...she moved her keys from one hand to the other. I missed it at first, but then I watched and saw her move them back. I love the little ways she shows she is learning & growing. I am having such a fun time being her mom. I love taking walks with her. I love going swimming with her. I love cuddling with her when she isn't quite ready to wake up. I love listening to her when she is slowly fading to sleep. I love watching her laugh with her dad. I love the way she watches people. I love when she crosses her eyes because she is concentrating so hard. I love the way she grabs your finger & attacks it with her mouth. I love that Jesus gave her to our family. We pray every day that she will know His love by the way we love each other and the way we love her.

Peyton Playing with Dad...

2008-08-21T21:11:00.003-04:00