5 months!

I know every month I am surprised it has been another month... But, really, where does the time go?! My baby girl is getting so big so fast.  She is now five months old!!  (Well, today she is about 5 1/2... But I am playing catchup!)  Five months of watching her grow, of being "on call" 24/7, of transforming my life... It has gone by SO fast.  It does not feel even close to 5 months since I last clocked in at work.  It is crazy.  Little Peyton has sure become my whole world in the best possible way.  I think I am starting to get the hang of things and more comfortable with the whole mom thing.  It is truly the best thing ever!

But, enough about me!  Here are some fun five month Peyton facts:

• She is 23" and probably 13 1/2ish pounds... Not sure on the weight since she didn't have to go to the doctor, yay!  (Side note, I should probably just get a scale!)
• She is still wearing size 1 diapers!  I know last month I said she would be moving up... But, I ended up waiting.  I did finally order the 2's so once she is done with this box, she will be moving up a size.
• She wears 3 month and 0-3 month clothes.  Yes, the 0-3 are on their last cycle through.  She is growing out of her 3 month sleepers, so I get to do some shopping!  :)  Lucky little lady gets a brand new wardrobe ever 3 months!
• She has come to love her monster (our dog)... Particularly, she loves to pull his hair... Poor dog.
• She is so much more interested in her toys and everything else.  If she can grab it, she will.  If she can't she will try any way.
• Everything she grabs goes straight to her mouth... She has even tried to eat the dog's hair!
• She is a rolling machine!
• She can sit up pretty darn good!  Such a strong little girl.
• Speaking of strong, we got her a bouncer which she just loves.  She would probably bounce on our laps or in the bouncer all day if she could.
• She wants to crawl but can't quite figure it out.  It is pretty cute to watch her try, until she gets frustrated.
• Sophie is still one of her favorite toys.
• She really recognizes Mom and Dad.  She always gives us big smiles. She gets super excited when Paul gets home from work... Super cute!
• She loves fishes!! We probably have to get her an aquarium now.
• She sleeps through the night at least twice a week!
• LOVES bath time.  She splishes and splashes like crazy.

Like always, here are some of her 5 month birthday pictures!

mom jeans

I am a mom.  That above all else, is my single greatest accomplishment.

So... I am sure I am not the only one, but having a baby, and the post baby body takes a lot of adjusting.  Being short, barely 5'2", I have always felt like 5 pounds might as well be 50.  Weight just shows up so much faster, and well, lets face it, doesn't go away like it comes on.  

After Peyton was born, I was determined to get back into pre-pregnancy shape again.  I was specifically wanting to be able to fit into my wedding dress again, and I wanted to do it by my anniversary.  I learned very quickly just how unrealistic that was.  I was in the best shape of my life, I think, on my wedding day.  And I was the heaviest ever, as totally expected and worth it, the day I gave birth.  Peyton was born on Match 27th and my anniversary is May 8th.  That was a difference of about a month and a half.  Getting my cute pre-pregnancy clothes on?  No way!!  

Accepting the fact that the weight would probably take as much time to come off as it did to come on was  a harsh reality check.  But, I was able to come to terms with it.  My whole body went through major changes to give us our beautiful baby girl.  So, no matter what the final "product" would be, I would be okay with it because she makes everything worth it.  That said, I was still determined to work my butt off, literally (bad pun, yes, I know).  As a SAHM and being up at all hours with a new born I had watched the Insanity infomercial more than a couple times.  After about 8 weeks post baby, I decided it was time.  I went online and ordered it.  I was determined.

Before the baby, and before the wedding, I had done P90X a few times.  I was bored with it.  I didn't want to see Tony Horton's face telling me to work harder any more.  Insanity was new, and told me I would see results in 60 days as opposed to 90 with my former workout.  I was in.  I was committed.  As Paul will tell you, once I set my mind to something, I make it happen.  I am one of the most determined people like that.  However, I didn't know just how hard this would be with a baby.  Getting 40 minutes to an hour, uninterrupted, to work out?  Doesn't always happen.  But, I was going to try, every single day.  It was the hardest work out ever.  It never got easier but I started feeling stronger and in better shape.  

After my time with Insanity was over, I was proud of what I had done. I had finished it.  I missed a total of 5 workouts over the course of the program.  I was so close to pre-pregnancy size I vowed to do it again so that I could get into those old jeans.  I was starting to feel like me and feel fit, and that was totally worth it.  Feeling like that was more worth it than any pair of old jeans.

Old jeans, being a size 2 again, being totally fit, being put together all the time... These things may never all happen at the same time.  But, like I said before, I don't care about my old skinny jeans.  I would love to wear them again, but if I can't, it is okay.   I am learning to embrace my new curves.  I always had some before, but my hips are a little bigger and so is my rib cage (weird, I think).  And, these curves were the product of making the most amazing thing.  My baby girl. And looking at her face, and her smile, her laughs... Well those things make me infinitely happier than any pair of old skinny jeans.  

No matter what, she is worth it. 

19 weeks post baby!  Starting to feel and look like my old self :)

Love my P!

Kisses for my princess!

four months!

Where does the time go?!  It is hard to believe Sweet Pea is already four months old.  It has been the best four months of my life.  Looking back through her pictures, she just is getting to be the cutest baby ever.   Over the past month, she has had some firsts... First trip to the cabin, first time to the aquarium (when she was awake), and her first dolphin and sea otter sighting!  Okay, so she probably couldn't actually see the sea otter or dolphins as we walked on West Cliff in Santa Cruz, but they were there, and I thought it was pretty cool!

The unfortunate part about being four months old, meant a trip to her pediatrician for more shots... The poor little thing had FOUR pokes.  I felt SO bad for her... Then I felt even worse when she got her first fever from them.  Tylenol, lots of love, and a calming bath and our little princess was on track to being back to normal. 

Some of her fun monthly statistics:

• She is 13 lbs and 22.5 inches!  I think she is probably 23, but who knows. 
• She is still in size 1 diapers, but probably only until we run out of what we have... Then we will move her to size 2.
• She wears 3 month and 0-3 month clothes... She has one 3-6 month onsie that fits, the rest are all still too big.
• She smiles and laughs.  Her laugh is by far the best noise I have ever heard.
• When she is not laughing, she likes to tell me all about whatever is going on in her head... Although I can't understand, her sweet noises are just that, sweet.
• She can now roll both directions!  Time for us to start baby proofing the house... 
• She loves to grab anything and everything and put it in her mouth.
• Foster, our dog, amuses her.  She likes to "pet" him... Well, pull his hair... But he is so good with her and just lays there, poor little guy.
• She is pretty particular, and will let you know right away if she doesn't like something... Especially when you sit down.
• She has mastered tummy time and is starting to move her little legs like she wants to crawl... All too soon!
• She loves being outside.  If she could be outside all the time she probably would... Too bad it's been close to 100 degrees so we have to stay inside where it is air conditioned.  Mornings and evenings though... We are out looking at the trees and the world!
• She loves bath time and sitting in her pool.  I think she is going to be a water baby, just like her mom.
• She is really working hard to sit up on her own, and she is almost there.  She loves to stand even, when we are holding her up of course. 
• Her newest thing is that she has become a little squeeker... Makes me laugh.
• She loves to not only suck in her bottom lip but suck on her top lip too. So stinkin cute! 

And if you were ever in need of some cuteness to make you smile:

Happy Princess Peyton

 

Working on rolling over

 

Love tummy time with her cute ruffle butt jammies

 

Those eyes!! And lips!!

All smiles!

 

See, she tries to eat everything...

 

 

first getaway

Last weekend, we finally got a change of scenery.  We took Peyton on her first road trip/weekend vacation.  We are lucky enough that my grandparents have a cabin in the Sierras that we can use whenever.  We thought it would be the perfect place to get away.  Nothing but the woods for the weekend sounded like the perfect thing.  

We headed up on Thursday evening.  Unfortunately, we didn't think about it being a holiday weekend.  4th of July fell on a Wednesday, so it just didn't even become a thought in my head.  So, our drive took a bit longer than expected.  We had to stop 3 times (I think...) to tend to Sweet Pea.  The drive took 4 hours.  She was NOT a happy camper during the last hour or so of the trip.  Broke my heart.  It probably didn't help that it was getting late and she was in the car.  I had hoped she would just fall asleep, but to no avail.  She did eventually fall asleep, which let Paul and I relax a little more for the last bit of the ride.

We arrived at the cabin around 9:30 PM and still had to eat dinner!  Luckily, we had thought a little ahead and made a lasagna to throw in the oven.  It tasted so good after our hours spent on the road.  And, as Paul says, "everything tastes better in the mountains".  Not sure how it works, but everything we ate that weekend was absolutely delicious.  

Our friends came up Friday to spend the weekend with us.  Brandon, Shannon, Elena, and Brett headed up Friday afternoon and also fell victim to that pesky holiday traffic.  But, once everyone was up there, it was good times!  While we waited for their arrival, we spent the day enjoying the perfect weather and the peace and quiet that the woods provide.  We walked down to the lake where I spent so many summers as a kid.  It was nice and quiet there too!  Maybe there aren't as many kids living up there anymore... Who knows.  I can't wait until Peyton is a little older to spend evenings at the lake fishing and the days swimming around and lounging in the sun.  I have fun memories up there and I can't wait to make some with my own family now.  On the way back from the lake, I got to pick a little bouquet of wild sweet peas.  Sweet peas for my Sweet Pea.  Perfect.

That night, it was taco night.  Something easy and quick with everyone just getting there sounded perfect.  And, they were delicious.  It was a fun night with drinks (Whipped cream vodka and root beer? AMAZING!), games (Apples to Apples is always fun), and pie.  Peach pie.  Delicious.  Overall, a super fun night and a great way to kick off our weekend.

Saturday morning started out with Paul's very berry pancakes, one of my all time favorites.  Then we decided to head to Columbia.  It is a small historic state park influenced much by the gold rush.  The little town is super cute.  Paul was super excited to pan for gold... Until he found out that the gold panning troughs were stocked.  The boys still did the gold panning, and even found some treasures! Though they didn't find much gold, it was definitely fun.  In town, we stopped for some handmade candy and a refreshing sarsaparilla.  Traditions that I get to continue with my little family definitely make me smile.

Back at the cabin, Saturday night (our last up there for the trip) was going to be grillin night.  The menu called for some surf 'n' turf.  YUM!  We grilled up lobster tails (yes, they were amazing!), steaks and some scalloped potatoes.  We had fruit salad, normal salad, and bread.  Overall way too much food.  But an amazing meal.  We played Scatagories and ate S'mores.  A perfect evening.  

The weekend went by way too fast.  We had a great time, and Peyton was so good.  I can't wait to go more places with her.  Next time we head up there, I definitely want to go longer, and go for a swim in the lake!