Our Girls

I know I have not added any pictures in a while....sorry. On Saturday I tried my hand at being the photographer for the girls. It did not go quite as well as I had hoped, but got a few pictures of them nonetheless. I apologize for Riley's crazy grin and was not able to capture Payton with one of her big smiles. I will keep trying, but for now these will have to do.

On Tuesday, Payton will be 3 months already! My how the time is just flying. This week will be my second full week and her first week at daycare. Mom was so nice and stayed with us last week to help me transition back to working mom again. This week will be the true test of getting two kids out the door on time and getting myself to work on time as well (actually I like to get there early, since I have things to accomplish before the arrival of the kids.) She continues to grow and change every day. No idea how much she weighs now, but we know she is constantly growing heavier and longer too. She teased me by sleeping through the night for 6 nights in a row, but has been up once the past 3. Guess I got excited too early. She is becoming more active, perfecting her smile, and finding her voice. I keep trying to capture this but when I try, she becomes completely silent. Hoping she adjusts fine to being at daycare.

Riley continues loving being a big sister. She is also excited that Payton will now be at the same place that she is. She has done an excellent job at transitioning back to going to preschool/daycare all day long. She continues to amaze us with how smart and grown up she is getting! Recently she has begun spelling out some words and is always asking us how to spell words so that she can write them out. It is too cute. The best are the notes she puts in daddy's lunch. She writes her name, then mommy, and then from. I know it brings a smile to Mike's face when he opens his lunch to see the note! We are so proud of the big girl that she is....and how well she has done with the changes over the past 3 months.

Just a few pictures

Here are a few pictures that I have taken over the past week of the girls.

One Final Outing

Today the girls and I met mom and dad at the zoo. I go back to work on Friday, so it was our last outing of my maternity leave:( It was also Payton's first time at the zoo (well, out in the real world that is...she took a few trips while in my belly). It was a beautiful day and we all had a great time. Payton was a super good girl, she only had to eat twice and just let her "mark" a few places around the zoo. Riley was her usual big girl self and had a blast having fun with Grammy and Papa. We thoroughly enjoyed our day and I am sad that it is our last big during the week adventure. It guess that is the life of a working mom though. Fortunately I will have many long weekends and breaks ahead of me. And school will be a quarter of the way done at the end of my first week. I think I can do it:) Mom is also going to be a HUGE help in helping me with this transition. She is going to stay with us for that first week, so Payton can have a week to adjust a bit to having me gone and so I can adjust to being a working mom again before having to get 2 to daycare. She really is the BEST...I know I say that a lot, but I really mean it.

Under the Big Top!!!

A few weeks ago I saw in the paper that the circus was coming to Channahon. I asked Mike if he wanted to go and he made a face, so instead I invited Grammy and Papa Bruce. And of course they said yes! Thursday was the big day and we had a blast!!!! The circus had way more than I had expected. Before entering the circus they had lots of animals to ride and see....elephants, camels, ponies, and snakes. I tried so hard to convince Riley to ride an elephant or camel, but had no luck. (She wouldn't even ride a pony....) Inside was just as much fun and way more to see. The circus lasted almost 2 hours including the intermission and had all the fun circus things...cotton candy, popcorn, and a green light sabre. There were many fun acts including tigers, clowns, a juggler, an acrobatic family, and a flame eater. I forgot my camera, but papa got lots of great ones that I will post when he shares them with me. Thank you to Grammy and Papa for going with me and Riley and to the Kelly Miller Circus for a great time!
(Mike and Payton enjoyed cuddling at home. She slept almost the whole time....even through a feeding!)

I LOVE YOU!!!!

Riley and Payton are so in love and they love cuddling! Almost every morning (and then throughout the rest of the day) Riley asks to hold Payton and/or snuggle with her. Riley is just too cute in her big sister role and Payton enjoys being the little sister too....she usually responds by staring into her sister's eyes. In the truck when it is just the two of them in the back, I often look in the mirror and see them staring at each other. Sometimes Riley holds her hand or lays her head in her seat. And the other day she was singing the songs from her movie to her. It is just so darn cute to see them interact and show their love. Riley is a great big sister and helper. In fact, I miss when she is not in the back because she is so good at comforting Payton and giving her her pacifier. Here are a few of them together.
I am enjoying every moment that I am home with my girls! Sadly my maternity leave comes to an end next week and it is back to work on Friday:( Guess I knew it would come to an end but it has just gone so fast! Maybe I should start playing the lottery....

Cookies, Popcorn, and Lavalicious Fudge Cakes!

It is fall and that means fundraising time at school! Riley is selling cookies, popcorn, and lavalicious fudge cakes if you are interested. I am going to attempt to attach the information and if you have any questions, let me know. All of the items are $11 and she has to turn in the order and $$ on 10/7. I am picking up the items on 10/30 and then we can make arrangements to deliver. No pressure...just thought I would see if any of our blog viewers were interested:)

Happy 2 months!

Yesterday Payton celebrated 2 months since her birth! She has been up to a lot in the past 2 months. She can now smile, is cooing and finding her voice, and loves to pump her legs. OH and did I mention, growing like a little weed?! She has put on almost 6 pounds since she was born!! She continues to be a great eater, as you can tell, and is a great sleeper too. We have begun putting her in her bed at night and she is doing fabulous. (I think this was only a difficult transition for mommy and maybe daddy too) She has a long stretch of 6-8 hours in between feedings at night too, so this is good for mommy. Even though the time begins at 7 or 8.

She had her 2 month appointment today and the doctor is super pleased with how well she is doing. She smiled and cooed for the doctor. Payton also showed off how strong her neck is and really moved her legs like she wanted to go somewhere when she put her on her tummy. The only downside was that doctor still has no advice for me about her spitting up (and occasional returning of whole meals on me). She thinks it is just that her tummy is still adjusting and the valve at the top needs to get stronger. Hopefully by 6 months it will be much better and after the next appointment we will get to add in solids and she said that will help too. Payton got 3 shots and an oral vaccine too. I was able to hold her during the shots and she really only cried when she got stuck. She was a super patient today!!

Here is how she stacks on top of, oh wait, I mean up to other babies:
13 pounds 3 ounces (96th %tile) WOW is right...you can all say that again!
22 1/2 inches (56th %tile)
And her head is almost 16 inches around (88th %tile)

I now realize that I was not imagining that she was growing out of her 0-3 month clothes (and current seize diapers..)and I am all set to go with the next size:)
Double biceps pose for daddy!
Look at those chubby thighs:)
Here are my growing feet....