Peighton Update!!

Here are so recent pictures of Miss Peighton!! As you can see, she is getting SO big!! It amazes me how much she looks like a big girl... she is not my baby anymore :) I did cut her hair about a month or so ago to help get rid of some of that baby fine hair... and since it has gotten a lot thicker and its much easier to manage everyday! The first picture is at the house from the other day... she was painting... she discovered that at preschool and loves arts & crafts!! I think she painted like 5 pictures in one sitting that day :) The second picture is from the Ghouls of Glassmere which is a Halloween festival at the Nashville Zoo. We went there Friday night... we had a lot fun even though it was chilly that night... hence the jacket and hat! The zoo had about 20 trick or treat stations around the trail for the kids plus carnival games, a monster lab, a hayride, a carousel, and pumpkin painting. Peighton had a good time... I think she liked the idea of trick or treating :) The last two photos were taken one day before preschool... she loves going. It has been ideal for her... I am amazed at how much she has learned just in the few weeks of going there and how much she has come out of her shell especially around other kids. She isn't as timid or hesitate of playing with other kids as she use to be... especially new kids. For example when we go to the park by our house if there are other kids already playing, it doesn't seem to bother her and she goes and plays. Another thing I noticed is the way she talks... once you can get her talking... she is much more clear in what she is trying to tell you and she remembers everything!! Peighton has also learned to draw a face... which I think is so smart... she describes it to you while she draws it as well. She'll tell you that the face is a circle with two eyes, two ears, a nose, a mouth and hair. When I first saw her draw that, I was shocked because we didn't teach her that at home so I was happy to know she was paying attention and learning at school :)

Little Miss Peighton is also getting very protective of Pete (our dog)... she gets very jealous if someone comes up to pet Pete or play with him. We were at the park a couple of weeks ago.. a little girl wanted to pet Pete and Peighton was very standoffish ... she got sad... and kept saying that's my puppy. It was so cute :) I wonder if she will be that way with her baby brother?!? We have been working on potty training what seems like forever. This past week we finally broke progress and she actually went several times a day for almost a week... and even staying dry sometimes between potty breaks... Brandon & I were thrilled... and Peighton seemed like she was happy about the idea. She would even tell me when she needed to go. This week is another story... its like last week never even happened!! I have to make her sit on the potty and after a minute she's over it... so much for progress! I'm not giving in yet... going to keep at it as long as it takes... our goal is by her 3rd birthday so we still have a couple of months.. and if that fails she will be potty trained by kindergarten, right?!?

Great Long Weekend

One of the perks of ARMY life is the invention of the four day weekend... we were so happy that Brandon had Saturday thru Today off. It was such a nice break :) We had a good time just spending it as a family... these weekends are so precious and rare. On Sunday the weather was gorgeous... low 60's and sunny... we decided to take advantage of the day and headed downtown Clarksville to explore. Most of the shops were closed because it was Sunday but we did find a great restaurant to dine at for lunch... the Blackhorse Pub & Brewery... fantastic sandwiches! If you ever come visit, we will have to take yall there :) We also went to the Clarksville Museum & Customs House. Admission is free on Sundays which is a nice plus... and there was a train room with working model trains including Thomas the Tank Engine... Peighton loved that! There was also an exploratory area similar to a children's museum.. it had a bubble room, toddler area, kitchen area, grocery store with mini shopping carts and shelves lined with "groceries", and an area with puzzles & board games. Peighton really enjoyed it there... will have to return there this winter when the weather prohibits our outdoor time.

The model trains caught Brandon's attention and has become his new project... we've already been to Hobby Lobby twice over the weekend and to Home Depot. He made a table out of wood for his train set... soon enough we can have our own model train exhibit... haha. Peighton is fascinated by it... I guess she can be Brandon's little helper! My hobby over the weekend was to working on the nursery... its so cute... as soon as its finished I will post pictures... I'm very pleased with it :) Today was a nice day for Brandon and I... Peighton had school this afternoon... so we got to spend some time just us (no kiddos)... we stayed on post and had lunch... went to the 101st Museum on post and went to the library... it was just nice not to have Peighton to occupy and entertain... it reminded us of what life was like before kids!

All in all... we had a very long, relaxing but productive weekend! Sad to see it's over and tomorrow Brandon goes back to work but only 3 days till the next weekend :)

Baby Update

Well I had my 20 week ultrasound this afternoon...and its a BOY!! We were so relieved... I had an ultrasound at 12 weeks and it appeared to a boy... but I was thinking in the back of my head what if was too early to tell and what if its a girl. But the little guy was not shy and he is definitely a boy :) He is growing very well... he was very active during the whole session. Brandon got to be there and see the little guy! The technician was able to get a still of him sucking his thumb... too cute. We are thrilled! Cannot wait to meet him in February!!

Peighton Update :)

I am pleased to say that she is still loving preschool... we went yesterday for our second day and she was very excited to be there!! In only took me a minute to say bye to her...she walked right in and had no problems. Its so cute... there is a routine and she already knows it and tells me what I need to do. The children have to wash their hands upon entering the classroom... there are two little sinks that are the perfect height!! She knows that her bookbag goes in her cubby which has her name and picture on it. Then she gets to pick a station to go to... yesterday she chose arts & crafts... they were making pumpkins. The only qualm so far is that she has lost her hair barrette for the past two times so from now on I am going to just leave them at home. I have to say she is the cutest kid in her class :) Peighton looked very cute yesterday... it was cool and windy so I dressed her accordingly especially since they go outside to play. She had on jeans and a long sleeve t-shirt that had cheerleaders on it and her pink converse shoes... too adorable! I am enjoying all the years I get to dress her without any backlash from her :) I look forward to picking out her outfit for tomorrow!! Now if I could just get her potty trained, we'd be set... haha :p

Peighton's First Day of Preschool

I am pleased to say that it went wonderful!! I was a little nervous about her first day especially since she woke up at 7 am that morning and I knew she wouldn't get to take a nap...I was afraid of a meltdown. Luckily for us, our drive to the preschool on post is about 20-25 minutes and she fell asleep a few minutes after we got in the car and slept until we pulled into the parking lot. So Peighton got her power nap in and she was excited to be at school. She is in the toddler program which has three teachers and about 15 kids maximum. When she turns 3 in January, she will transition into the other side which is the more preschool design for 3-5 years old. I was pleased that her classroom didn't have too many children and with 3 teachers there is plenty of supervision/attention to go around!

Peighton was ready to go into her classroom when it was time!! She has her very own cubby to store her belongings :) All of her teachers were very nice to her and welcomed her to the class. They have different stations set up for the kids to go when they first come in the class. Peighton picked the puzzle table...she sat down and began her puzzle. I told her goobye and gave her a hug and told her I would be back soon. She was a little whiney... but no crying and after a few minutes she was over it... I think some of the anxiety came because two other children were having a hard time and Peighton was just a little nervous. So I left her and checked on her in the window for a few minutes and she was just fine... finishing up her puzzle. She is SUCH a big girl and I was so proud of her!!

Three hours is a LONG time or so it seemed... I was a bit lost of what to do without Peighton in tow. Then I kept thinking I wonder how she is doing?!? When I walked into her class to pick her up... she came running towards me... MOMMY she said!! She looked happy so I could tell she had a good time and was just fine. Her teachers said she did well...no problems and that she had fun! Peighton told me some of what she did in her own words...she got to paint which she loved and she had a picture to bring home. She had ritz crackers and cheese and milk for a snack... and they played outside too. She seemed excited about it and when i asked her if she wanted to go back ... she said yes. So it was a very sucessful first day!!

A funny story... yesterday morning when we were talking about school she asked if she was going to ride the bus school...haha... I told her mommy was going to take her and she said oh okay. I told her one day she'll get to take the bus to school... can't believe my baby is going to preschool... ah time flies :)

the Latest...

Its been awhile since my last blog...not too much has been happening...its been quiet and fairly routine!! We are anxiously awaiting for Brandon to come home...can't wait till the 3rd of October. It was too funny the other day Peighton was talking to Brandon on the phone and told him he needed to come home so she could see him...and that he worked too much. I agree!! This week has been especially hard for us with him not being allowed to use his phone...they are suppose to be in "real war" training. So we've been a bit lost without getting our daily phone calls. I know he is exhausted but I think he is well prepared and knows what to expect come January when deployment time comes. Hopefully, he will get a bit of a break when he gets home...we would sure like to have him around the house :)

Peighton has been testing me again...ahh the life of a 2 1/2 year old! Some of her behavior is due to daddy being gone again...its rough on the her and i when its just the two of us day in and day out. However, some of her behaviorisms are due to lack of a nap the past two days...we have been busy on post with lots of errands and appointments!! I am happy to say that Peighton will be starting preschool come Thursday!! YAY :) I have been looking forward to this...I know she will benefit greatly from this experience and I know she is looking forward to it as well. It will be nice for her to have that environment and social interaction with other adults and children. I am very excited to see how she excels and what all she has to say everyday when I pick her up. Peighton will be going on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1-4. They have a morning program as well but it was filled up which sort of lucked out for us...I think 1-4 is a better time frame for us. We get up early but it takes a lot to get us all out the door!! I think I will enjoy the time "off"...it will be a good break for us and a chance for me to miss her :)

Pete (our dog) has recovered very well from his surgeries!! He is back to his old grandpa self :) He has been quite a good companion for us...especially these past weeks with Brandon being gone. Its funny to think how much a pet makes a difference in our families. He definently makes my day more challenging...all the daily walks he requires (another con about not having our own yard but he keeps me in shape) and not being able just to leave the house without making sure he is set for the duration we will be gone. Whoo! Come to think of it...Pete is just another kid but its worth it having him around after Peighton has gone to bed...I don't feel quite by myself!!

Doggie Update :)

Well, it's quiet around here today...Pete (our dog) had to go the vet this morning to get "fixed." He had to be there between 730-8 so it was an early morning for us. Of course, since we got him from the shelter, you are not given a whole lot of information about him. But apparently, he has some major dental problems that needed to be taken care of and since he will already be put under for his surgery this would be the best time to do it. Pete apparently was not taken very good care of...he had a mass on the top of his mouth and some of his teeth are rotten and will need to be pulled. So my hundred dollar vet bill is turning into two hundred and fifty dollars! What are you going to do though...say don't worry about it and let his mouth rot away so he has no teeth left! Pete is apart of our family now...i can't let his health just deteriorate. The doctor also thinks he has to be older than just 3 due to tartar build up on his teeth and the shape of his teeth....which i can agree with it...because he is a mild dog who likes his sleep and has no interest in playing. He has to stay over night...so I'll be picking him up tomorrow. They are going to call me after his surgeries are done to let me know how he is doing...hope all is goes well!! Peighton was sad when he left the vet...she didn't understand why Pete had to stay :( Hate to see Pete gone...will be lonely without him tonight...but it will be a lazy day for me because I won't have a dog to walk a dozen times today!!