April Photo Shoot

Hopefully everyone had a wonderful Easter weekend...we sure did! The weather was perfect, and we were able to spend time with many of our friends. Payton enjoyed Raegan's baby pool, and the lake, although both were still chilly (to us, anyway)! Our pool opens this Saturday, so I foresee many upcoming weekends spent poolside....holding my breath to muster up the courage to get in the water with Payton. Brrrrrr! And one of these weekends, we'll probably find some time, amongst all the other ongoing household projects, to clean the boat and put her in the water. On that note, the nursery is coming along, though slowly, coming along. The bamboo flooring was installed last week, and we are hoping to get the trim put up this week. All that will be left is to hang the French doors, and the outside trimwork. Then the fun part...moving all the baby's furniture in, and decorating (which will happen after the baby is home).

We wanted some professional pictures taken commemorating Payton's first birthday, and some of our family. We met Steve Cook, the photographer, out at the Dairy Barn, at Anne Springs Close Parkway, in Fort Mill, SC. The weather, although a little chilly, was beautiful. We woke Payton up to get her ready, so by the time we actually got into taking the pictures, it was already naptime for the sleeping beauty. Steve was able to get some great shots, so we think, despite the crankiness of Payton. Her "bunny blankie" or "BB" came to the rescue, and makes appearances in several of our pictures. Getting some good shots of ALL of us was a little more difficult. I've included some of our favorites. Enjoy :)

Pregnancy update: Not much to report. I've hit the 24 week mark, or 6 months pregnant now. Moving full steam ahead! All is still going great. I get slight back aches at night, but they are cured with a good night's rest. I'm still managing to continue my jogs/walks, although the baby enjoys tap dancing on my bladder, and holding around 5-6 pounds weight gain. Since I'll be having a csection at 39 weeks, that leaves us just 15 weeks to go!!! Until then, we are making the most of our family of 5 (hey, the doggies count!) and trying to get out of the house while it's still mostly manageable. We are both excited and scared to death about meeting our new little one...we can only hope and pray that "he" is half as great of a baby that Payton has been!

Raegan's First Birthday Party...

We had the girl's first birthday party together, but Jeremy has such a large, extended family, that a separate party was thrown for Raegan, so they could include everyone. Cheryl and Jeremy had everyone over to their house, and it turned out to be a gorgeous day, after heavy rains in the morning. The girls loved being able to have cupcakes two weekends in a row, and Raegan actually blew her candle out on her own! Payton decided ice cream was WAY better than cupcakes! After most everyone had left, the girls cuddled up on Raegan's fold-out Mickey and Minnie "love seat" for a cup of milk, and a good book. Enjoy the pictures of the BFF's!

First Lake Day 2011!

The morning after the big party, we all slept off our hangovers ;) and woke up a little late. Brian's parent's, Nana and Granddude, were still in town, and took us out to breakfast. Payton decided she was still tired from her big day, and quickly went back down for a LONG nap! Once she woke up and had lunch, we packed up the car and went over to Adrianne's lake house, as our boat has yet to be spring-cleaned! The weather was nice, mid 70's and sunny, yet the water is still VERY, VERY cold! Payton and Madi played in the sand for a while, then Payton discovered the water. She walked in it, splashed in it, sat in it, crawled until her face was in it...and would have kept going if I didn't "rescue" her. I can't believe how little she cared about the temperature. Kids will be kids, though! The girls had a great time, and so did the dogs. Everyone enjoyed the first day out on the lake, and we look forward to many, many more to come!! I really need to invest in a good raft for the summer....as I figure it will be the only way I can get any relief unless I sit indoors, in air conditioning...and what fun is that? Payton enjoyed wearing the new "sunnies" that Ben and Jan Topham gave her for her birthday, and Madison wore her Mommy's sunnies!