Peighton's 3rd Birthday

Cannot believe my little girl is 3 today... that this morning at 1148 three years ago she finally made her appearance... it was a difficult labor but I wouldn't trade her for the world :) I am amazed how much of a person she has become in just three years... she is definitely her own unique, individual self... with great spunk and enthusiasm. And I am also pleased to say that she is potty trained, woohoo! We passed that benchmark and I was so worried she'd be leaving for school still wearing diapers, ha! Peighton has known all week long that her birthday was coming soon... she received a few birthday cards earlier in the week as well as a singing teddy bear from Brandon (which i have heard over and over and over, but i know she loves it so because it came from daddy). We also took mini cupcakes to her class yesterday in honor of her birthday... she was very excited to share them with her friends. But I loved how she came down the stairs this morning and into my room with no idea that the day had finally arrived... today was her birthday and when i told her she acted surprised... but then she saw her presents sitting on the table and the excitement grew. So of course, we could not wait any longer the presents must be opened! I've learned that a birthday after Christmas has its downside... she gets so much for Christmas it becomes hard to find the right things for her birthday only a month later. Plus, she is getting older and is becoming more particular in what she plays with... and she keeps her toys longer- they are growing with her. She received a Princess Ariel crown to go with her dress, a numbers matching game, four princess books, a DVD, a grandma and brother doll to go with her dollhouse (she was very excited about this becomes she has her own "Mimi" now)... plus some stickers and dry erase markers to go with her most wanted present thus far- an art easel. She insists on doing art daily and she especially loves to "color" on dry erase boards... so now she has her own space to do it all! We also received several phone calls from her favorite people... she loves when she can talk on the phone :) She has said for several weeks now that she wanted a pink cake... so this afternoon she helped me make her pink birthday cake with sprinkles of course. It was very tasty too... she loves to bake! All in all, I think Miss Peighton had a fabulous birthday well suited for a wonderful three year old :)

Baby Update

Well I am almost to the finish line... 36 1/2 weeks today... about 3 weeks left to go!! Hopefully, he wont make me wait till then but now its just a waiting game... I'm getting very anxious to meet the little guy... cannot wait to see what he looks like... ahh! I'm going to be so in love :) I can't wait to see Peighton's reaction to him... I know she is going to be a great big sister!! I am hoping these next three weeks go by fast... I am over being pregnant and ready to feel "normal" as soon as possible. I had my doctor's appointment today... and not too much to report... he has dropped and his head is in a good position... and there is some softening but I have not dilated any... his heartbeat is good and I measured at 36 cm. I was a bit annoyed to discover that I don't have another doctor's appointment till February 8th even though I should be seen every week from now on; but there were no available appointments and since I am not a high risk patient I just have to wait till then to be seen again. I guess it doesn't bother me that much considering I know if I have any problems or concerns they would see me if need be; however I'll just be in the dark about how I am progressing for another two weeks... and in two weeks a lot can change! Maybe I'll get luck and I wont have to go on the 8th because he will already have arrived :) The doctor did say to expect him early due to the fact that Peighton was over a week early and subsequent babies tend to follow the same pattern... let's just hope he isn't as BIG as his sister was! I think that's why I want him to come early so he can't pack on the pounds :)

Revision

Just wanted to let y'all know that I have his address and have posted it on the blog! I'm sure Brandon will love whatever is sent to him... little reminders of home :)

One Full Week down :)

Yay!! We survived our first week of this deployment... it seemed some days dragged on and then again I can't believe its already been over a week since Brandon left. Time really does fly by in the grand scheme of things :) I am happy to report that he has arrived at his final destination at FOB Salerno and is adjusting well. He has already been busy at work transitioning and preparing with the unit to take over come February. Brandon says that its not too bad there... reminds him of Fort Irwin and Fort Huachuca... very desert like with lots of mountains around him and the weather so far has been sunny and nice. He seems in high spirits and making the most of it! We are very lucky that he is MI and will be staying right there on the FOB... that fact has been a real stress reliever for me especially! He is also lucky enough to have his very own room... they are staying in buildings that are divided into about six rooms... I know he will be more comfortable when he is able to get his action packer with all his creature comforts he had sent over there earlier. We are also very fortunate that he has Internet access right there in his room... that is going to be so nice :) The pros keep getting better... he has been able to call daily so far and even Peighton has been able to talk with him. I don't know what we'd do without modern technology... its been a true blessing!!

I still don't have an address for him yet... but as soon I get one I will be sure to pass it along. I am sure he would love to start getting stuff in the mail especially some goodies!! I can also let y'all know any specifics of what he might need or like. There is small PX there... but with thousands of others soldiers using it ... there quantity and selection can get limited! Plus, I love being able to spoil him even 8000 miles away :)

Peighton and I are doing fine... trying to keep ourselves in good spirits... more me than her... as children will react to how we feel. We are keeping busy... her going to preschool helps keep us in routine and makes the time go by. Just think it wont be long before I am posting a one month update :)

Update!

It seems like a lot has happened since my last post... just a week ago. It has been one of those weeks!! Brandon left for Afghanistan early this week... a few delays but he is almost there. He is in a transition spot there in the country and should be arriving at the FOB later on this week. We have been adjusting as best as can be expected... Peighton just thinks he is at work still... which technically he is... just 8000 miles away :( I have received a few emails from him as well as a couple of phone calls which have made the week so much better. Communication should be more convient once he reaches the FOB... I should also be getting his address soon which I will pass along to y'all. He seems to be doing well... adjusting to his new environment and getting use to the massive time change. He is 10 1/2 hours ahead of us... so for most of y'all that would be only 9 1/2 hours. We still aren't sure whether he will be allowed to come home when the baby comes or if he will just be taking an early R&R... which will probably be in April. Just continue to keep him in your thoughts and prayers as well as the rest of the unit. I am so PROUD of my soldier!!

Now for the latest on miss Peighton... she has done fairly well since Brandon's leaving... her age has been a blessing because she is not old enough yet to understand... and we just got done with a nine month separation while he was away at school so in some regards she knows no different. We started potty training her last weekend... serious training... like only panties during the day... and she has done REMARKABLE :) I knew she could master it... and all before her 3rd birthday. She has had minor accidents and she has even pooped on the potty for the past couple of days. Peighton will even go when we are out and she went at school this week as well as staying dry!! YAY :) I am so excited... I really did NOT want to have to deal with two kiddos in diapers and I knew she was smart enough to catch on. I was worried she might regress with Brandon being gone but she has continued on... and I am so proud of her. Let's cross her fingers she will not regress with the arrival of the new baby... but I know if I stay on her and keep working with her she will not even be phased by it. Its so NICE not changing her diaper anymore :)

Well that has been our week... we have a quiet week coming up then its busy, busy for us for awhile... oh yeah and only about 4 weeks till baby is due!!

Snow Pics

Peighton all bundled up... she loved it though!

Driving her jeep through the snow in the backyard :)

It was so pretty, but after a bit it was just cold!

Brandon & Peighton with the snowman they made... haha!

I am happy to say that after three days of snowing on and off... the sun finally came out today! The snow has melted away but it is still bitter cold out there... high for the day still in the 20's. We are looking forward to later in the week when it warms up to a mere 40... but at least it will be above freezing :)

Snow Day :)

Today, we woke up to snow!!! It was very exciting to see a white blanket covering everything... it has been snowing on and off throughout the day as well. Brandon still had to go to work today... and even Peighton's preschool was still open, but we opted to stay home and enjoy the warmth of indoors :) Pete (our dog) did not like the snow too much... he has barely left our front yard to go to the bathroom then its right back in... I don't think he likes the cold or snow on his paws... he is more a warm weather dog!

Yesterday, I had my 34 week OB doctor's visit. Baby is doing fine... he is measuring about a week ahead... and he is no longer breech... she did an ultrasound and he is head down! Peighton was able to see her baby brother on the monitor... he looks like he might have a big head like her... haha :) So we are still aiming for the 20th of February but not to be surprised if he is a week early... I'm ready whenever he is. Just about a month left to go... I head back to the doctor on the 25th of January... then every week after that!

We are fortunate that Brandon is still here... he has not left yet... the date was pushed back due to flight scheduling. Its a bit annoying to get yourself set for one day and it be pushed back to a later date... and we still aren't sure on the current date. But we've been blessed and will take any extra days we can have with him :) I will be using this blog to keep y'all updated on him while he is over there... including his address and any updates he sends me. Just keep him as well all the others that over there in your thoughts and prayers as well their families... we can't wait till the countdown for him to come home begins :)

Christmas 09 Pics

Riding in her new Jeep at Mimi's & Papa's

Peighton must have been a very good girl this year!

Our house all decorated for Christmas :)

Holiday Recap

Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and New Year's. I know we surely did... well for the most part :) This was a very exciting Christmas for Peighton... its the first year that she actually got it... she understood what Santa was all about and what was going to happen. So needless to say, presents were bought without her knowledge and not placed under the tree until Christmas Eve... ensuring the Santa fantasy. We had decided to stay at our house for Christmas morning this year since we never have before and also since Brandon wont be able to spend the holidays with us next year. So our plan was to have Christmas at our house then wake up early the next morning and head to Summerville for a couple of days. It was too funny that morning... it was almost like Peighton forgot all about it... she came down the stairs and straight to our room (like any other morning)... she asked for her shows and milk... then when we walked into the living room and she saw the tree with presents she remembered and was like oh, santa came! Then she was all excited :) She was even a very cautious unwrapper... making sure all the paper was off of her presents. It was hard to keep her focused... each present she wanted to play with right then... she didn't understand that she could unwrap them all and go back and play. Luckily, she only had the presents that we got her under the tree.. and it didn't take too long... about 20 minutes total I believe. Then of course, we had to open them all and take them out of their boxes to play with them!! Peighton must have been a very good girl this year (as usual) because Santa left her some very good presents :)

The rest of the day wasn't as peachy due to Brandon got sick early that morning and stayed sick the rest of the day :( So we didn't get the Christmas dinner... I wasn't going to cook up a big storm just for no one to eat it... thus, Peighton and I ate chicken nuggets and macaroni & cheese... at least we can say we had each other :) Other than that... it was a perfect day... we all went to bed early because there was a 4 am wake up call for us to get on the road! We ended up getting on the interstate about 530ish... and had an uneventful drive down with minimal traffic problems... which is always nice! We arrived about 5pm and Peighton got to do Christmas again with all of my family... Santa must have thought she was an exceptionally good girl because she got lots of goodies :) We had a wonderful time... eventhough it was a short visit... I think we got in all that we wanted to accomplish. We went to church Sunday morning... Brandon and I went out with Celeste, Dustin, Tim & Ashley on Sunday night. Monday was filled with some girl time... Peighton got her 3 year pictures taken... she did a good job even if she wouldn't crack a smile... the pictures still say Peighton!! We also managed some shopping that day :) Tuesday was our last day but not for Peighton. Brandon and I left Wednesday morning and Peighton stayed with Mimi and Papa until Friday when we picked her up in Atlanta. We had a good two days of just the two of us... and enjoyed New Year's Eve with dinner out!

We were truly blessed this year with all of the wonderful time spent with family & friends!! Brandon is off till Tuesday and we are looking forward to spending some last minute, quality time as a family :) I will be posting pictures very soon of the holiday adventures!!