Happy Mediums.

Look who likes to show off what a big girl she is. She wants everyone to know...and know they will.

I will look away for just one minute and find this...

Standing up underneath a chair

Crawling into the kitchen and playing with the oven

Playing peek-a-boo mommy. (She does pull ups to try and get out of her play pen.)

Needless to say, my days are very limited to what I can do now. My used to be leisurely mornings have turned into scavenger hunts and chases. My hands are full and I'm trying to grasp onto every minute I have left with my BABY. She manages to get into everything and once toys have lost their appeal, she will go on to crawl and find the next most appealing thing. Usually not toy related. I am very blessed though for an extremely happy, affectionate, loving baby. But because she is so sweet, loving, and affectionate she is very very clingy. Not that I mind so much per se', we all know I'm a sucker for some sweet baby love, but it does get impossible to get anything done. SO I've resorted back to my baby wearing days and we are both enjoying the time together as she keeps me company during my daily routines. We giggle. We sing. We dance. It's a happy medium. I don't have to run around like a chicken with its head cut off now at the end of the day. I can't speak for tomorrow though.

We are leaving for our week long family vacation to San Diego on Sunday! First stop though...Monterey! We will be hitting the Monterey Bay Aquarium on Sunday and I am beyond excited to see and take in the exquisite scenery, marine life, and what Payton will think of it all.

The only thing stopping me from jumping up and down in excitement like a little school girl is the thought of everything I have to do. I am a procrastinator to the worst degree. Always have and always will be. One of my worst faults; And although I thrive under the pressure because it forces me to do it...it is never much fun doing so. So tomorrow while most of you are having fun I hope...I will be packing, doing laundry, cleaning, doing more laundry, and cleaning some more. All while taking care of an 8 month old.

Phone Pictures

I did it. I did it. I did it. I finally uploaded the 700 pictures off of my phone yesterday onto the computer. Yes that's right...SEVEN HUNDRED!!! I didn't even know phones could hold that many without exploding. That's impressive. And quite the accomplishment on my part. I am starting Payton's memory photo book of her first year and photos from my phone are a must since they contain the only pictures from Payton's birth. My goal is to start creating the pages now so that it is made by her first birthday. Shutterfly.com has an awesome deal going on right now [Free Shipping on orders of $30 or more] and [20% Photo Books]. I would take advantage if I could but I have until July to splurge. And ooh baby will I ever.

A small fraction of my beloved phone pictures:

Moments in time.

Wednesday was good, not that it was any different or special than the rest but I broke out the camera and went a little crazy. Layne was sick so I took the camera to accompany Payton and I for the day instead. 

Lately I have been wanting to capture every present and fleeting moment in my daughter's life. I think it might be the reality of how fast time is really flying, or that I just find it really fun to capture these moments in time. Whatever the case, I don't want to look back and regret not having enough pictures or not being able to remember "the time when..." such and such happened.

I am hoping to do a little commemorating on my part and make Payton a First Year scrapbook. Just another thing to add to my wonderfully long to-do list of crafts that I have embedded into my brain but have yet to make into the works.

On Wednesday we just enjoyed. Nothing more, nothing less. We had each other's company, a few moments of springtime bliss outside, and a rendezvous with an assortment of play things, her favorite of which was me.

And did I forget to mention she already has her own set of keys? She really is growing too quickly.

She loves sitting beside mommy in her high chair where she can observe all the going ons.

And we just recently introduced her to the world of Puffs. I am pretty convinced now that there isn't anything she wouldn't eat. These little puffs of magic keep her occupied long enough to allow me to get things done for 5 minutes. Slipping that into my bribery tool bag. Bad mommy!

I can't help but 'ooh' and 'ahh' over every little new thing she does! 

I'd like to say I was productive and I got a lot done, but that is usually not the case when the hubs is sick. These particular days I use as an excuse to give Payton my undivided time and attention for the whole day. Those are my favorite days. No need to worry about the everyday mundane things (Don't you wish every day was like that...). But by 6 p.m. I'm beat and ready to pass out for what I wish was days. Gone are the days when I could easily stay up until 2 a.m. and sleep until 11 p.m. Now it's more like stay up until 2 a.m. (not by choice) and get up at 5 a.m. (also not by choice) and happily go about my day singing songs of love. Eh, well I wish, but I think I do a pretty good job of not biting people's heads off on my little to no sleep. That's something right? 

"When life gives you a hundred reasons to cry, show life that you have a thousand reasons to smile."

Mind you, I have one of the best reasons to smile...

 

Yesterday we had to bring this sweet little face to the doctor because she has a diaper rash gone bad. I mean like really bad. Sores and peeling of the skin...if you wanted to get graphic with it. You can also add in a lump in her throat and a goopy eye that won't go away. 

Apparently she also has an ear infection, which might have some affect to the conjunctivitis in her eye. The girl is her father's daughter. It's one thing after the other. But we have antibiotics, creams, drops, and lots of lovin' for her! 

Spring is in the air.

Spring is a comin' and I am welcoming it with open arms. The sun-filled air and warm breezes are mother nature's gift to us all after cold winter days that seem to last forever. Spring welcomes a certain kind of calmness and comfortableness that I am quite fond of. It has its bipolar days like yesterday's rainy and cold nonsense. I'll take it though with the promise of a beautiful tomorrow.

I love California weather for the very reason that just an hour north of us (in the mountains) they could have snow while we are basking in sunny deliciousness. I also love the fact that we are surrounded by nothing but beauty. Within close proximity we can choose mountains or beach, city or seclusion.

But right now I am just soaking up all the good spring time feelings that March brings.

Blossoming flowers and trees.
Beautiful blue skies and bird songs.

Walks in the park with my little girl.

Dresses, barefeet, and all things cute and colorful.

The darling hat Grandma C got Payton for Christmas.

And best of all, with the beginning of spring comes another new beginning and chapter in our lives.

Little missy is well on her way to becoming a big girl and is now pulling up on objects and standing at any given chance she gets. In other words, at 12 AM when she should be sleeping she is standing...and playing. She's learned that this new trick brings mommy into the room a countless number of times. So, without fail, we are up for 2-3 hours straight at night wide awake. Not to mention the cute little alarm clock I get at 4-5 AM.  I am solely functioning in a sleepless daze of motherly love and coffee. Who wouldn't wish they were me?!

It makes my heart swell with love though to see her so happy with arms out and ready for me when she sees me walk in the room. Can't beat that mother/daughter unbreakable kind of love. It's a superhuman power. 

And it is just as equally heartwarming to see the complete adoration she has for her daddy - the playmate and protector.

Good news: we are all starting to feel back to our old selves. Yay. Sickness be gone!

Bad news: A laundry list of about a million things, including laundry. 

Happy Spring! At least for some of us.