Beginnings

I'm laying in bed typing this on my phone, should be asleep because our furniture is arriving bright and early. Today Payton started ballet. I was going to wait and post about it chronologically after our road trip recap but by then, I may not remember every detail that made today special, the beginning of our new journey.

Ever since I found out I was having a girl, I could not wait to get her dance shoes and put her in dance. I dreamt about it all the time. Dance was my life until I joined the Coast Guard and can't wait to finish healing so I can pick back up. I won't force Payton to dance, but I figured it wouldn't hurt her to try. She has awesome rhythm and already performs so...

(yay blurry phone photos... eh oh well)

We woke up this morning and asked her if she wanted to go to ballet 'yes, I'm a ballerina' my heart melted. She got all dressed ready to go. She was excited, I was an anxious wreck. The best part is her teacher is one of my favorite tap teachers from back when. When class was ready to start the teacher took Payton by the hand and walked her into the studio and placed her at the bar. Payton looked so comfortable like she was meant to be in there. She did her plies and twirled and pointed her toes. Yes, I was on the verge of crying. The happy kind though. For the most part she listened and followed directions. As much as you can expect from her first structured lesson. I'm so proud of her for trying something new and not being afraid. However, if I get this emotional over ballet, I'm a goner next year when she starts tap.

Park Independence

It's fun to see how much Payton has developed by going to the park. Today for example we went and she could walk up the steps alone and go down the slides without needing a catcher. It's sad that she's growing so fast but it's a fun adventure all the same.

The stairs are such a big feat for Payton!

Oh and she found her inner drummer today too :) Girl has some rhythm thankfully.

Thankful For: Her Little Hands

Payton has been waking up almost every night this past week, and the only remedy has been for her to crawl in bed with me and a glass of water. It's tiring, she wakes up at a different time each night, 5am, 2:30am and last night was before I even fell asleep. So I go pick her up, her blanket and Minnie in tow, to comfort her and poor little one was all sorts of congested. I tell her we're going to go get her some medicine and some water and she replies 'okay.' She's never responded like that, I love how her vocabulary is changing into conversational and using it in context. But what was even better was her tone in the reply. The sound of trust and comfort that she was with me and everything was going to be ok, she was going to feel better. We went and got her a little medicine to help her nose and water and proped her up in my bed and we snuggled and chatted. Yes, I chat with my two year old. She finally got settled in and comfy and I asked her if she wanted to hold my hand and we did just that. She held my hand till she fell asleep. Palm to palm and her fingers are just long enough to reach to the other side of my hand. What a difference to just wrapping it around one of my fingers what seems like not too long ago. The same hand she uses to hold mine when she's walking up steps or stairs and squeezes with all her little strength trusting I'm there to help her over those obstacles. Being a mom is tough, being a single mom is even more tough at times, but I wouldn't trade anything for having that little hand to hold when she needs.

She Painted Her Nails Red

 I painted Payton's nails for the first time today. I've been wanting to for some time now but nervous if she would hold still enough etc. Well, yesterday I was cleaning out my cosmetic stuff and was testing a polish and Payton walks up to me with her hand out ready to get hers painted. I about died laughing. It was so cute. And she was in her tutu and dress up to boot. :) So, anyways I decided to go for it today and see how she reacted.

Oh yea, I still have my Caboodle from the 90's... it's vintage now right?

She couldn't wait to open it and dig through the goodies.

Maybe she wants a harmonica for Christmas?

She picked out the red over multiple shades of pink.

She inherited someone's (uhem, mother) crazy toes so that was fun trying to work around that and explain to Payton to hold still. But she did really well

She loved her 'pretties'

After the tosies she convinced me to do her fingers too. 

How can you say no to that?

I'm not the greatest nail painter but I'm practicing now, along with hair-do's for Miss Payton.  We had a fun little beauty day. I love doing girlie things with her. :)

Baking with Payton

So you saw that we had homemade pumpkin bread for our Alice tea party, well, Payton helped make it last weekend. :)

Yes, she was still in her nightie. Hey, it was before lunch time. Yes, I made the nightie. And no, I did not pick out the boots to go with them. That was all her.

Needless to say it was some yummy pumpkin bread. 

Oh yea, she LOVES her camera now. 

P & T Photos...

I was backing up my photos and realized I didn't share these from our trip to California. There's quite a few but they're so cute of Payton and Trent!

Oh yea and Diesel too. 

I love, love, love this one!

Payton is 36" tall here, just giving you perspective on how big Diesel is :) 

Payton never hides how she feels...

Who can resist Trent's lips? Muah!

Just veggin' out.

This was Payton's birthday outfit. I made a circle skirt with liner and just added tulle to the liner. Of course with matching belt and hair bow. She squealed when she saw it, so worth it!

Pattern Review: Olivia Pea Coat

Okay final pattern review for the Olivia Pea Coat from Peek a Boo Pattern Shop. I was really nervous about making a jacket, but it actually wasn't too bad. The annoying part was hand sewing the buttons on but that was my choice of buttons. :p

Sleeves were a little long but not too shabby huh? 

Payton's New Kicks

So one of my therapists gave me some new shoes. Not those...

These. My ankles aren't straight so I wear these sometimes to help. I don't mind them too much, just glad they're pink. 

They make fun sound when I'm on the floor, but they're slippery so mom doesn't let me wear them a lot with out regular shoes.

Thankfully my Gram got me my Chucks to wear with them. They hide the braces pretty well.

I can still play and climb like normal just a little weird.

They're pretty cool though. Till next time. Love, Payton

Sleeping Beauty

While we were staying with my brother, Payton was taking a nap and she was so cute :) Anyways, I couldn't help myself.

She always sleeps with her baby doll, Minnie Mouse and glow worm... She kicked off her blanket already, it was a little toasty...

Just lovely... I'll miss these moments one day.

Adventures: Balboa Park

We got to go to Cali to see family at the last minute which was really nice. It was either that or try to hold down the fort for Hurricane Irene. Um, I'll go to Cali thank you! So anyways, (everything was okay when we got back) we spent the first few days in San Diego and got to go to Balboa Park. We did a lot of strolling around and just enjoying the day but found a fountain that the Payton and Trent enjoyed.

Payton liked modeling...

And Trent wanted to go for a swim...

Gram with two of her grandbabies. Mom had to hold Trent's leg because he kept dunking his foot in the water. His shoe was soaked!

She looks miserable but she's really just people watching, she wasn't tortured. Promise.

We found the playground there and they went down the slide together :)

This shot and the next two were by my cousin, she took over my camera from me :)

We had a great time at Balboa and can't wait to take Miss P to the museums there!