Santa Baby

James did not have a good time visiting Santa this year. We talked & read books about Santa and asked James if he wanted to go visit Santa. He always replied excitedly yeah! We decided to go to Willow Bend mall this year instead of Northpark becauase the line at Northpark was always so long. We only waited about 20 minutes and James was excited to see Santa. Well, when it came time to actually sit on Santa's lap he was not too happy. I promise as soon as he climbed off of Santa's lap and we held him he was fine. Two minutes later he was running in the mall laughing! We will try again next year with both of the boys!

Potty Time?

I think I will be going to buy this book tomorrow! I had no intention of trying to potty train James until he turned two, especially since I have heard boys take longer than girls and are a little harder to potty train. But, James went pee pee in the potty all by himself tonight! It was bathtime and he helped take off his clothes, as usual, then I was about to help him into the bathtub and he pointed to the potty. I asked him if he wanted to sit on it and he said, "Yah!". I picked him up and helped him sit on the potty and he went immediately all by himself! I flushed the toilet, clapped, and said, "Yay James!" He had the biggest smile on his face and was so proud of himself. I put him in the bathtub then he climbed out and asked to sit on the potty again. He tore off toilet paper, pretended to wipe, threw the tp in the toilet, then flushed it all by himself. Apparently Mr. Independent wanted to do it all by himself the first time because he then climbed back in the tub and we continued with his bath routine as normal. Honestly I have not had time to read or research anything about potty training but since he is so interested I need to start!

1-18-11

We have a date! Our baby boy is scheduled to arrive on January 18, 2011, which is also my grandmother's 90th birthday. We had a doctor's appointment today and after the quick check of baby's heartbeat and usual questions about how I am feeling I asked Dr. Matthews when we could talk about scheduling the c-section. He said, "Let's go to my office and we can schedule it now." It seemed kind of strange scheduling our baby's birthday but since I do have to have a c-section I would rather have it scheduled than end up having to have emergency surgery.

The earliest the hospital will allow Dr. Matthews to schedule a c-section is one week ahead (at 39 weeks) so that would have been January 13th. But, I want our little guy to stay put and develop as long as possible. So that left Monday the 17th-Thursday the 20th (my actual due date). We thought the 18th would be the perfect date. Not only is it Grandmom's 90th birthday but it is a Tuesday and the day ends in 8. James was born on a Tuesday and his birthday is the 28th of April. We are so excited! 35 days to go...unless our little one decides to arrive early. I know things don't always go as planned! ;-)

34 weeks

Blog Neglect

I have been seriously neglecting the blog! I have started many posts so I wouldn't forget what I want to write about but still need to actually write and/or add pictures. I think there are 8 posts that I have started and will try to finish and catch up on this weekend! We have been so busy lately and I want to just slow down, spend time with my little family, and enjoy one of my favorite times of year!

Thanksgiving 2010

Simon & Ellie spent the week of Thanksgiving with us. On Thanksgiving day we went over to Grandma-ma and Papa's house for a yummy Thanksgiving dinner! I am so incredibly thankful for my family, husband, son, and baby boy on the way!

Mom's pretty table

Love this picture of Simon & Ellie
Sitting in Papa's lap-James LOVES his Papa
TIff & Sean
Simon & Sean
Getting a picture of the 3 of them is hard! I can't imagine what it will be like when there is 4 :)
Daddy & the kids

James was a little busy

It looks like I swallowed a whole turkey!

Grandma-ma feeding James cool whip

Great-Grandmom, Simon & Ellie

4D ultrasound

We had our 4D ultrasound today at Dr. Matthew's office! It was so fun to see our baby boy moving around and his little fingers and toes. We saw again that he is definitely still a boy. We could also see him breathing, which I thought was amazing! Unfortunately he was not very cooperative and had his arm in front of his face most of the time so we don't have a great picture of his face but you can still see part of it. At one point the ultrasound technician used a little buzzer and put it on my stomach to make him move. He then turned away from the camera completely so we could only see the back of his head. He is a stubborn little thing already!

18 month appointment

James had his 18 month appointment today but I wasn't very good about taking pictures. Poor baby had to get two shots in his leg and cried almost the whole time Dr. Smith examined him. I guess he knew the shots were coming up next. I took one picture of him playing in the waiting room and an "after" picture with his lollipop. Dr. Smith said James is doing great and was very impressed with how many words he knows and says. Below are his official 18 month stats:

Height: 34 inches (95th percentile)

Weight: 27 pounds (75th percentile)

Happy Halloween!

This afternoon we went to the pumpkin patch at The Arboretum and took some great pictures of James. He was a busy boy running everywhere and climbing all over the pumpkins!

What a difference a year makes! Below is my favorite picture of James from the pumpkin patch at the Arboretum in October of 2009. He was only 5 1/2 months old.

Tonight we went over to Wes and Kim Morgan's house in Allen and went trick-or-treating with all of the Morgan brothers and families. Sean grew up with them all in San Antonio and has been friends with them for years. We are now all great family friends. There are 6 kids in all, so far, and they range from 1-6 years old so it is a fun group to get together.

James was supposed to be Elmo for Halloween and actually wore the costume at school on Friday for the school Halloween Party. I had yet to get him to wear the costume but Ms. Deb & Ms. Vanessa, James' teachers, can get him to do things that I can't, ha! We have a video clip of James as Elmo that our friend Dan took but Sean and I were both at work so we were not at the party so we do not have pictures of James as Elmo. It was too warm outside for James to be Elmo tonight so his backup costume was a fireman. He wore his fireman hat, red t-shirt, and jeans. I was surprised James really got the concept of trick-or-treating. He was quite social and would smile and try to talk to everyone who gave him candy!

18 months old

Dear James,

You are 18 months old today and growing up so fast! I am sure I probably say that in every letter I write to you but it's true. I can't believe how fast the months go by and what a big boy you are. I think back to this time last year and taking pictures in the pumpkin patch and it seems like it should only be a few months ago. I know these last two and a half months before your baby brother is born are going to fly by so I am trying to cherish every moment I spend with you and give you all of my love and attention. I know it is going to a big adjustment when your baby brother arrives. You have been the center of my world these last 18 months and soon you will have to share Mommy and Daddy! Speaking of Daddy, we have spent so much more time with Daddy lately since he changed jobs and you are definitely becoming a Daddy's boy! You were all about Mommy for the longest time but I think it was because Daddy was working long hours and we didn't get to see him as much as we all would have liked. We are so happy to have him home in the evenings each day and to not have to work Saturdays any more!

So James Peyton, what are you up to at 18 months old???

You are 34 inches tall (We will have your official stats after your 18 month appointment next week!)

You weigh 27 pounds

You wear a size 4 diaper

You wear size 24 month or 2T shirts and 18 month or 24 month pants or jeans

You wear a size 6 1/2 shoe

You have 12 teeth-the four top front, four bottom front, two bottom back molars, and two top molars.

You love to point out your eyes, nose, lips, chin, and ears. You also point to Mommy and Daddy's eyes, nose, lips, chin, and ears and name all the parts of our face as you point to them!

You are a wonderful eater. At school you learned about the five senses and one day the focus was on taste. Ms. Deb told us that all of the kids in your class got to taste and try different foods. You were the only one that tried them all and even asked for more!

You also sign more when you want more of something and also sign please. You are learning to say the words too.

You are talking so much and say new words all the time. For the longest time you said "Uh oh!" if you would drop something but now it hast turned into "Oh no!". You also repeat everything so Mommy and Daddy are trying to be careful with what we say!

At bath time you like to undress yourself (with a little help) then run through the house naked to throw away your diaper in the kitchen trash. It is so funny, we laugh every night when you do this! You always run right back to the bathtub and get in.

You are finally wearing hats! It started with a fireman's hat Grandma Janie gave you but now you like to wear other hats too, especially Daddy's.

You still take a nap from 12:00-2:30 at school and usually sleep from 8:30-7:00 each night. Sometimes you wake up a little early so Mommy and Daddy put you in bed with us and we all go back to sleep! It is my favorite time of day because you are the best snuggler.

You are such a good helper! You really like to imitate what we are doing and even like to pick up your toys and "clean". Sometimes you get a kleenex or baby wipe and wipe the table or even your toys.

In a few days it will be Halloween and you are going to dress up as Elmo! You love watching Sesame Street and Elmo is your favorite (you actually call Sesame Street Elmo) but we only watch a little each day. At night before you go to bed we have to wave at the T.V. and say goodnight to him. We are hoping you will wear your costume. It was your cousin Myla and Adyn's costume when they were little and you were so excited when it arrived! You like to carry it around though and were not too thrilled when we put it on you! We also have birthday parties and Thanksgiving coming up in November. Mommy is looking forward to a week off from school and spending time with you.

We love you so much and can't wait to see what adventures are in store for us next month!

Love,
Mommy

Third Trimester

Pregnancy Highlights

How Far Along: 28 weeks

Size of baby: According to babycenter.com approximately 2 1/2 pounds and almost 15 inches long. He can now blink and has eyelashes!

Total Weight Gain: Gained 10 lbs

Maternity Clothes: Definitely wearing maternity tops and pants now

Gender: Another boy!

Movement: Our little guy moves all the time and seems to like hanging out on my left side

Sleep: I try to go to bed at a reasonable hour, around 10:00 p.m. but it doesn't always happen.

What I miss: laying on my back and sleeping on my stomach

Cravings: loaded baked potatoes

Symptons: I was sick with a stomach virus earlier this week but it was not pregnancy related. Other than that I feel great but am usually physically tired at the end of the day from being on my feet so much and walking at school!

Best Moment this week: Realizing I am now in my third trimester! Yay!

Arboretum & Papa's New Truck

We had a playdate at the Arboretum on Saturday with our group of moms and toddlers from our baby yoga class that James and I went to from the time he was 8 weeks old until he was 7 months old. It is so fun that the kids have known each other since they were tiny babies and we are all still friends. I tried to take pictures but was not very successful. I spent most of my time chasing James. He is so fast these days!

James & Evy in the wagon

Playing with Avery's soccer ball

Mommy trying to take a self-portrait

James hugging Mommy

Love the tongue sticking out!

After the Arboretum we headed to Fort Worth to visit Mom, Papa, & Grandmom. Papa got a new truck and after dinner at On the Border James got to "drive" it. I think Papa is his new best friend! James LOVES cars and trucks and had the biggest smile on his face. It was too cute!

Bye Mom!

"Driving" Papa's truck

26 weeks

I am actually 26 weeks and 6 days in this picture but realized I had not taken my 26 week picture yet! The weeks are flying by and I still have energy and feel great. We have not officially decided on a name yet but have one that has been at the top of our list for a while! We may or may not announce it before our little guy is born. According to babycenter.com our baby boy weighs a little less than two pounds this week and is about 14 inches long. The network of nerves in his ears are more developed and he is able to hear our voices now!

State Fair 2010

James, Daddy & Mommy

Watching Ellie ride a roller coaster!

James riding his first ride!

Tiff & Sean

Ellie rock climbing

Ellie & James exploring-love this picture
We went to the State Fair last Saturday. James LOVED watching all of the rides and people. He even rode two kiddie rides for the first time. His two favorite things are cars and airplanes so of course those were the two rides he got really excited about and wanted to go on! It was a gorgeous day and we had a great time!

25 weeks

I can't believe how fast the weeks are going by. How am I 25 weeks already??? My belly already feels big but I know I still have third trimester to go and I remember how shocked I was how much bigger I got the last 3-4 weeks with James! I am going to try to enjoy every minute of it though because this is probably the last time I will be experiencing all of this!