Funny different things look now

4 Years ago today.......... Nathan proposed to me.

I had to work a half a day and then we had plans to go out that night.  When he got to my house I could tell he was a little annoyed that I wasn't ready to go so I hurried and got dressed and then we left.  I asked where we were going and he said that we were going downtown Charleston.  I said ok great and just kept talking.  We got down there and parked and he said lets go to the swings, I hesitated but finally agreed since it was cold out, but I love being down there on the water so I was willing to go.  We started swinging and talking and then he started telling me how much I meant to him and at that point I realized what was happening, he got out of the swing and down on one knee and asked me to marry him.  It was such a magical moment.  We had been together for so long and I knew he was going to propose soon but it was still a very exciting night that I will never forget.

Fast forward 4 years and we are married, have a house, a dog, and sweet little Payton.  Tonight we will probably go to bed before the ball even drops as Payton wakes up between 7:30 and 8.  I love our life and wouldn't trade it for the world and its so awesome to see how much has changed in the past 4 years.  

Nathan, I love you so very much and you are such a fantastic husband and father.  I could have never imagined 4 years ago we would be here today.  We have had our ups and downs but we ALWAYS find a way to get through it.

These are the swings

Moments after he proposed

 My ring!!!

Thanks, 

Payton's Mom & Nathan's Wife

Food for a 1 year old

I have really struggled lately with what to feed Payton.  I know I have to progress beyond purees but I am really having a struggle with it.  I don't eat a lot myself so its really hard for me to think of things to fix her since I don't eat much.  

Yesterday I spent two hours digging through websites and blogs and books trying to come up with a meal plan for her.  I can finally say that it is done and hopefully I will do better at sticking to it.  Its hard for me to remember that now I have to kind of plan ahead and know that shes going to he hungry at a certain time since normally she just screams at me and then I get her a bottle or puree.  She is really doing well with table food.  She loves fruits and veggies she is not a fan of meat yet.  She is funny though, if I give her mixed veggies she eats all the green ones first, then the orange and then usually just plays with the corn. 

This is her menu this week.  I hope it will help both of us.  Her 1 year appointment is next week so hopefully that goes well.

Thanks,

Payton's Mom

One of the BEST Christmas's ever

Christmas was so much fun this year!! Getting to see everything through the eyes of a child was such an amazing feeling. She was not a fan of Santa but loved all the other parts, probably her favorite parts were the bows she loved pulling them off and carrying them around. She had the biggest smile on her face when we brought her downstairs to see what Santa brought. Our house looks like Toys R Ys exploded in it but we are getting it organized.

11 Months!

My sweet little angel is 11 months old today.  I don't really know how to handle this.  Its SOOOOO much fun bc that little baby NEEDED me so much and this little girl pushes me away and wants to feed herself and drink out of her cup herself.  She has such a little personality now! I just can't help but miss that little snuggly thing that was so sweet.  I am also dreading the fact that she is almost 1.  I am not prepared to have a toddler.  

Thanks,

Payton's Mom

Day 4

Today is EXHAUSTION

I never realized how truly tired I could be.  I feel like every ounce of energy is sucked right out of my by the end of the week.  I want to be able to do more with P sometimes but I am just so exhausted especially on weeks like this when my husband is EXTREMELY busy at work and not around much.  I never blame him because I know he has to work and without that we would be lost but we barely got through bath time tonight. I still have laundry and dishes that have to get done because P has no bottles left to drink out of and I am pretty sure she is going to want one in the morning.  I am now going to go finish my chores and then head to bed!

Thanks,

Payton's Mom

Day 3

Today back to a struggle.... remaining emotionally stable

I have been going through some emotional things for the last few days and potential betrayal by someone I thought I could trust and its been painful.  I realized today though as I was crying that for the past two days other than yesterday at mom's group I haven't been a very good mother.  I have wallowed in my own self pity and let P just kind of play alone a lot.  I decided today that no one is worth me being upset for so long that it takes away from this precious time that I have with my BABY because she won't be my baby for much longer.  She is growing up SOOOO fast and is ever changing and I feel bad because I missed the past two days because I wanted to feel sorry for myself because someone was doing something shady.  I have decided they have there reasons for being the way they are and I can not change them I can just show them how a person that lives with grace and humility will handle this.  This person is not leaving my life and I have to be a mentor to this person so I am going to rise up and be a bigger person and not let myself go to there level.

Monday, I learned from a very wise woman that I need to put my raincoat on and not let there storm get me wet.  The great thing about storms is that they eventually end.  If you look at every complication that comes your way as a storm that will END it will make weathering that storm just a little bit easier.  I am not here to tell you that there won't be storms that feel like category 5 hurricanes but they will end and the sun will come out.  The lesson I learned was that I can't let other peoples troubles and downfalls create troubles in my life.  I have a larger responsibility and that is to raise a beautiful little girl into the best woman she can be.  I hope that I can dust my raincoat off and bring myself up to a better place.

Thanks,

Payton's Mom

Day 2

Today I am going to share one of my joys of being at home.

I joined a mom's group through meetup, we are all first time moms with babies born in the last year or so.  I really loved that I got involved in this group.  They have been my sanity sometimes.  I know that I have things that I can look forward to doing that get us out of the house and are FREE (budget is big since I am at home). I love getting to play with all the babies and remember the old ages and seeing whats just around the corner for P.  I think Payton really likes seeing her "friends".  We enjoy getting together and just talking and chatting.  I recommend this to any SAHM it is truly a lifesaver to have people that know what your going through.

Thanks,

Payton's Mom

Day 1

Ok so lets start with Marriage and Staying at home

I have a terrific husband that works insanely hard to provide me this terrific opportunity, BUT it has been a learning experience for him as well.  He used to could come home and play a few games on the computer and unwind before having to "deal" with me because I was on facebook or doing something else also unwinding from my day.  WELL not anymore, when he gets home A. I want someone to talk to since as cute as she is P just doesn't converse back with me, B. I need help with her she is a crawling moving machine and it takes a lot out of me chasing her all day.  This doesn't leave much time for him to unwind and that has been a struggle for us to find balance.  He knows we both have had rough days and need a break but we have to find a balance.  Its been a work in process.  

I have also been struggling with after she goes to bed.  We both just want to truthfully go to sleep, and most of the time that is what happens and then by Friday night I am sad because I realize we have not spent much time together.  Its been really difficult to find time for just the two of us.  We are trying to work on communicating our feelings on both topics a little better.

Thanks,

Payton's Mom

31 Day Challenge

So I have seen this going around on other peoples blogs and I decided to join in.  I have racked my brain about what my topic should be and I figured since this is all about being a SAHM I would continue that theme and each day I will tell you why I made the decision to stay at home, why I think I am crazy for staying at home, what freaks me the hell out about being at home, and tips about getting through being at home.  Can't wait to see what I come up with.

Thanks,

Payton's Mom

Welcome!

Welcome to my new blog!!! I am going to try this again since I did not do as great with my other blog.  Life is fast but I want to make time to sit down and write out my life.  This will be a place for me to laugh and cry and let all of you know how I am doing with my new venture of being a Stay at Home Mom. Let me start by showing you my new boss.

This is Payton Allie Dyer born Jan 5th at 5:37pm

 

This is Payton now almost 9 months later

She is a hand full but I love every minute of being at home with her and sharing these precious early years with her.  I always thought I wanted to be a SAHM because I wanted to be able to take her to the movies on a Tuesday morning if that was what we wanted to do that day.  Then the day came to make that decision and I will admit it was much harder than I ever expected.  I still think on a weekly maybe daily basis did I make the right decision.  So here goes nothing I am going to hopefully show you how we survive everyday.

Thanks,

Payton's Mom