Payton is happy to say...

a new baby Wood is on the way! That's right, Payton is going to be a big sister! We are expecting baby Wood #2 the beginning of July and we couldn't be more excited. 2011 should prove to be another exciting year!

A Country Christmas

We headed to Nashville on Saturday for a few days to enjoy some shows and get in the Christmas spirit. Saturday night we headed to the Grand Ole Opry. I have been stressed out about Payton sitting through this show for a few months now. I told myself that I just needed to chill out. I have two words for anyone who needs a toddler to sit through something like this. RING. POP. That glorious candy bought us at least 45 minutes of silence. No, I'm not ashamed to admit that I bribed my child either. She really did very well until she got tired. The show starting at 7:00 combined with a five hour car ride that day was not the perfect combination. Overall, she did very well until the very end when she just couldn't stay awake and wanted a bed to lay down in. Of course, this was all about the time that Brad Paisely made a surprise appearance, but I was able to sneak in to see a few minutes. Jonathan and I made a deal before we left that he would take her out of the Rockettes, if I handled the Opry. He got a few good shots from our seats.




We were very bummed to find out that Opry Mills was still not open from the flooding last year. We did shop for a while around Bass Pro until Payton had finally had enough. She also got her picture taken with Santa there. Let's just say that mommy ended up in the picture also.


Monday night we went over the Opryland Hotel to see all of the decorations.


At this point, it was way past Payton's bedtime and she crawled under her stroller to rest for a minute.



The outside lights and nativity were absolutely beautiful. Tuesday morning we went over to ICE! The theme was Santa Clause is Coming to Town and everything in the building was ice sculptures. It was quite chilly, but very interesting. Payton kept saying "Payton touch ice" and then would pull her hand away when she realized how cold it was. Disclaimer: We did try to get our child to wear gloves but she kept pulling them off.










Tuesday night we saw the Radio City Christmas Spectacular with the Rockettes. It was amazing! Payton hardly moved at all for the first hour (no ring pop was even involved). Between the acts, Santa would could out and talk/sing so it kept her attention pretty well. The props and dancing were also amazing. She did very well during the show until the very end, when again, it was past her bedtime.


Jonathan had gotten up with her but brought her back in during the nativity scene at the end. It was beautiful, and Payton loved seeing the live animals. She kept saying "sheep says baaaa" along with "baby Jesus go night-night."

We had such a wonderful trip and are now paying the price of trying to get everything done before Christmas is here.

Christmas Card Prospects

Our Christmas cards almost looked like this...


Yeah, she though it was pretty funny.

December Happenings

We decorated our Christmas tree this week after it sat in our living room for a good three or four days without any decorations. Payton helped Nana and Pop put a few ornaments on their tree last weekend, so she was up for the job. She was of course very eager to help, and couldn't be patient long enough for daddy to put hooks on the ornaments for her. Jonathan and I laughed hysterically as we watched her attempt to hang them. She would start off good, holding the hooks and trying to get it on the branch. However, each ornament somehow ended pushed back into the tree towards the trunk. All of the ornaments she put on the tree were all crammed together. After she went to bed, I found at least 10 ornaments that were just pushed back to the back of the tree. It made for a very entertaining night.


Friday night we got to celebrate Bamama's 80th birthday! What a blessing! We didn't get too many pictures, but Payton loved telling her Bamama "Happy Birthday to You!"

Payton thought Christmas came early when she got to sit in Ba-B's lap and eat a cupcake.

The kids were restless and made their way to the rocking horses at the front of the restaurant. They had a ball! Payton and Kayden are both FEARLESS. Sweet Emmerson just sat there happy as can be. What a doll she is!

After we left there we headed to Christmas in a Railroad Town. Sadly, the choo-choo train got a flat tire shortly after we arrived. We ended up riding through the Victorian porches and heading home.
Saturday morning was the Auburn Christmas parade. Payton had a ball! She loved waving to everyone, watching everyone go by, listening to the music, seeing uncle Jeremy drive the fire truck, and of course Santa Claus. She was hilarious as she would wave and say "Merry Chri-mas!" To top it all off, she got to enjoy a candy cane from Santa at the end. It has been a very fun and eventful weekend around here.

Thankful

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving spending time with amazing family. Our family has so much to be thankful for, and it's nice to slow down for a minute and really reflect on it all. It hit me around Thanksgiving how much I take for granted to the fact that we have family to celebrate the holidays with. I just know that on Thanksgiving morning the entire crew is going to join at Bamama's house to eat, laugh, and play. We are so blessed with such large and loving families that enjoy spending time together. Not to say that any of us are perfect in any way, but I feel like my family and Jonathan's family really value and cherish that time in a way that many don't. I hope that Payton always grows up knowing that her family loves her unconditionally and enjoys spending time with them as much as I do.

We went to my grandmother's house Thanksgiving for lunch and enjoyed seeing everyone. Payton had more fun playing with Kaitlyn's dog, Sophie, than anyone else. Unfortunately, we didn't get any pictures of anyone except for Payton and Sophie. We had a great time, and of course enjoyed a delicious meal.



We then headed to Jonathan's mom's house to enjoy Thanksgiving with his family. The kids had a blast playing together. After the meal, they somehow convinced someone to give them all popsicles. It's crazy how both sides of the family has kids all of a sudden. A few years ago there were no babies from either family and now it's wild and chaotic, but oh so fun!

This picture is from Thanksgiving night when we got home. This just gives you a little glimpse of what we do on a daily basis. Payton plays with baby dolls ALL. DAY. LONG. I have been meaning to do a separate post lately on what all Payton has been up to, but just haven't gotten around to it. I love hearing the new sentences and phrases she comes up with on a daily basis. She started several weeks ago putting a few words together, and it has just taken off from there. It's so great to get to have conversations with her. She can pretty much count to 10 and loves singing her favorite songs. She amazes me daily and makes my heart so happy.
Last, but not least, we finally got our Christmas tree last night. This picture was while we were picking it out, but the guy was cutting it so no picture with the tree. Now we just have to get it decorated.

Oh, and WAR EAGLE!